Weekly wrap-up: Toyota Yaris G Limited launched, New City Hatchback bookings open, Tesla Model 3 Performance price revealed

This week was quite eventful for Malaysian automotive enthusiasts, with the exciting launch of the Toyota Yaris G Limited and the commencement of bookings for the new City Hatchback. Along with that, the pricing of the Model 3 Performance was also revealed, igniting interest in the premium EV segment. In the meantime, the global auto industry witnessed several big unveilings with the kickoff of the 2024 Beijing Auto Show in China. 

In case you missed the top auto news of the week, we've got you covered with a quick recap of all major happenings. 

Toyota Yaris G Limited launched 

UMW Toyota has expanded the Yaris lineup with the launch of the Yaris G Limited. It is based on the Yaris G and comes equipped with performance-oriented enhancements such as shock absorbers, an agile chassis with a better tyre grip, a throttle controller, and a cold air intake. The Yaris G Limited confirms its unique identity with the red aero kit and G Limited badging. Limited to just 600 units, the special-edition Yaris is priced at RM 99,600.00 (on the road, without insurance). Toyota offers a full 5-year unlimited mileage warranty for the vehicle and 1 year/20,000km warranty for performance parts.

New Honda City Hatchback bookings open

Honda Malaysia has started accepting bookings for the all-new City Hatchback facelift. Set to hit the local roads in Q2 2024, the upgraded hatchback features several new design elements such as a honeycomb front grille, an aggressive bumper with front fog garnish, sleek rear bumper garnish, and stylish Berlina Black 16-inch alloy wheels. The car also benefits from interior enhancements, along with the availability of Honda Sensing as standard across all variants. Under the hood, things remain the same as earlier.

5-door Suzuki Jimny bookings open

The 5-door Suzuki Jimny is finally on its way to Malaysia. Globally revealed last year, the upcoming iteration of the off-road SUV features two additional doors for more practicality. Compared to the 3-door Jimny, it is 505 mm longer and also spans a 340 mm longer wheelbase. The design and feature highlights are expected to remain identical to the 3-door counterpart.

2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance price announced

Back in October, Tesla introduced the Model 3, in two variants - Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range AWD in Malaysia. Well, now the American EV maker is geared up to add a third trim to the range i.e. Performance AWD. Touted as the most powerful Model 3 ever, the Performance trim is powered by a dual motor setup propelling the EV from zero to 100 kmph in just 3.1 seconds. Interested folks can now reserve the EV, priced at RM 242,000 (before registration, options, and insurance charges), The deliveries are set to begin within the second quarter of the year.

Tesla Malaysia drops Model 3 and Model Y prices 

Tesla has also reduced the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y EVs in Malaysia, following similar price adjustments seen in global markets. The reductions amount to RM 8,000 across all variants, except for the 2024 Model 3 Performance. 

2024 BMW iX3 Final Edition launched

The final iteration of BMW’s premium electric SUV, the iX3, is now up for grabs in Malaysia. Dubbed as the BMW iX3 Final Edition, the EV is based on the 'Impressive' trim level and features additional M Performance equipment such as M Performance carbon mirror caps, M Performance rear spoiler, M Performance carbon fibre door sills, and the Adaptive M Suspension. It is priced at RM 319,600 (inclusive of extended warranty), which is RM 30,000 less than the donor model.

Yamaha NVX gets a colour upgrade for 2024

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor has upgraded the colour palette of its popular 155-cc scooter, the NVX. The list of new colour options includes - Blue, Bronze, Cyan Sky, and Premium Navy. The 2024 Yamaha NVX price also witnessed a slight revision; it is now priced at RM 9,998 (up by RM 400) for the standard trim and RM 11,698 (up by RM 200) for the ABS.

International news

2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition kicked off

The 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition kicked off in China on April 25, 2024, displaying a number of stunning models. Some of these are - 

Mazda EZ-6: It is an all-electric sedan, set to replace the Mazda 6 in China. Jointly developed with Changan Mazda, the EV is based on the Deepal SL03. The production of the Mazda EZ-6 is set to begin later this year.

Mazda Arata concept: During the show, Mazda also revealed the Arata concept, a crossover SUV that hints at the future CX-5 successor. It sports the brand’s latest Kodo design language with a focus on being "soulful, futuristic, and modern." The automaker aims to launch the road-ready Arata in China next year, featuring both fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain setups.

Toyota bZ3C and bZ3X EVs: Toyota has put on display two bZ (Beyond Zero) EVs - bZ3C and bZ3X. The bZ3X is the production version of the BZ FlexSpace concept while the bZ3C is based on the bZ Crossover Concept previewed at last year’s Auto Shanghai show. Developed in partnership with FAW and GAC, the EVs are specially designed for the Chinese market and are expected to hit the roads within a year.

Honda EVs: Honda unveiled three new electric cars - P7, S7, and GT Concept in China. These EVs are part of the brand’s newly introduced Ye Series and are designed specifically for the Chinese market. The Ye P7 and Ye S7 are electric SUVs underpinning Honda’s newly developed dedicated EV platform. They will go on sale in a rear-mounted single motor or a four-wheel drive dual motor by the end of the year. The Ye GT concept, on the other hand, is a sporty sedan with a "low & wide" silhouette, which is expected to hit Chinese roads next year.

Chery Tiggo 9: Chery showcased the Tiggo 9, the flagship SUV in the Tiggo lineup. Larger than the Tiggo 8 Pro, the new Chery SUV gets two engine options - a pure internal combustion drivetrain and a PHEV setup combining a 2.0-litre turbo engine and Chery’s ‘3DHT’ electric motor. It is set to launch in China in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Lynk & Co 07: Geely’s sub-brand Lynk & Co introduced the 07 D-segment sedan, positioned above the 03 sedan in the lineup. It is based on the brand’s CMA Evo platform and is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, an electric motor, and a three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission. The PHEV offers 102 km of EV range (on the CLTC protocol) with an 18.99 kWh battery pack.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class EV breaks cover

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the all-new G 580, the first fully electric variant of the iconic G-Class. It features four electric motors, advanced off-road capabilities, and a 116 kWh battery providing up to 473 kilometres of range (WLTP). The all-electric G-Class pricing starts at EUR 142,621, which is approximately equal to RM 730k.

Kia Tasman teased ahead of next year's debut 

Kia is set to enter the pickup truck market with the model named ‘Tasman.’ The automaker recently unveiled the first official images of the ute featuring a unique camouflage wrap designed by artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop. Under the hood, the Kia Tasman is expected to get a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine or a 2.5-litre turbo petrol hybrid setup.

First-ever BYD pickup truck name revealed

After teasing its first-ever pickup truck earlier this month, BYD has now revealed its name i.e. ‘Shark.’ It also confirmed that the ute will be based on the dual-mode off-road (DMO) plug-in hybrid powertrain, just like the Fang Cheng Bao 5 4x4 off-road SUV.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned with us to know all the latest industry updates.

Also read: Review: 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro - A tale of unexpected affection