EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology is the culmination of everything Subaru engineers know about safety. Adding confidence to every trip, EyeSight monitors traffic movement, optimizes cruise control, and warns you if you sway outside your lane. The Pre-Collision Braking feature can even apply full braking force in emergency situations, helping you avoid or reduce frontal impacts.
EyeSight is a driving support system that uses a range of functions to assist the driver in making decisions in order to provide for more safe and comfortable driving and to reduce driver fatigue. It is designed to help assist drivers, not replace them.
When equipped with EyeSight, all 2017 Subaru models receive the highest possible 2017 rating for front crash prevention by the IIHS. EyeSight is available on the all new Subaru XV (Crosstrek) and the popular Forester.
The core of the EyeSight system is its set of dual color cameras. Intelligently and unobtrusively placed near the rearview mirror, they scan the road for unanticipated dangers.
This advanced system provides extra awareness, safety, and added peace of mind every time you drive. Watch the videos below to see how each component of EyeSight works together to bring you a safer road ahead.
Ford has officially entered the SUV performance segment with the reveal of the new 2019 Edge ST. WIth the Edge being Ford’s best-ever selling SUV in 2017, it makes sense to add an “ST” badge to the vehicle and make it more appealing than ever before.
The new Edge ST model is the first SUV that Ford Performance has ever tuned, and tune it they did. It comes packing a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine that pushes out 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Music made by this engine exits out of a dual-exhaust setup that sounds like you would expect an ST model to.
Put the SUV into Sport Mode and the song the Edge ST makes gets even heavier and more visceral. Mated to the EcoBoost engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels.
Ford also states that the 2019 Edge ST is their smartest SUV ever. Such a title was given to the SUV thanks to the inclusion of Post-Collision Braking, Evasive Steering Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will spend USD1 billion to upgrade its Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan to build heavy duty Ram pickups and a full-size Jeep SUV, the automaker announced Thursday.
The investment is a continuation of a plan already announced by the automaker, which shuffled SUV and crossover production between Ohio, Michigan, and Mexico plants.
Production of the next-generation Ram heavy duty pickup will move from Saltillo, Mexico, to Warren in 2020. Jeep will build a new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUV at the same facility, the first time the automaker has announced production plans for its upcoming SUV lineup.
The Saltillo plant will shift to building commercial vehicles, FCA said in the announcement. FCA announced that the investment would create roughly 2,500 jobs at the plant in Michigan.
Warren Truck currently builds the latest Ram 1500 pickup, although production of next year’s truck will move to Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, which is also in Michigan. FCA didn’t immediately announce what Warren Truck would do between production of the Ram 1500 leaving and Ram heavy duty arriving, although plants often shut down for a time to retool for new production projects. Other automakers have built last-generation models and new-generation models at separate facilities to reduce plant downtime, and have offered the older models at discounted or fleet prices during production overlaps.
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) is ushering in the Lunar New Year by extending its prosperity sales promotion exclusively for the Ford Ranger XLT.
For starters, new Ranger XLT owners can drive home the feature-packed truck with extended ZERO maintenance costs for five years or 100,000km. Valid from now until February 28, 2018, the consumer-first promotion includes rebates up to RM5,000, shopping vouchers and exclusive, limited-edition angpow packets.
SDAC is also offering more rebates and goodies for other Ford models. New owners of the Ranger WildTrak, for one, will receive an extra-special New Year gift of up to RM5,000 in rebates, shopping vouchers and exclusive angpow packets.
To ensure a safer, smoother journey home during the festive holidays, SDAC is encouraging Ford owners to take advantage of a free, 27-point vehicle inspection by Ford-certified technicians using only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
There are also discounts of up to 20 percent on selected parts, including brake, timing belt and lubricant package; and a 10 percent labour discount on selected packages.
Customers who spend more than RM350 on a single valid tax invoice will also receive free Ford merchandise available only at authorised dealers. The promotion is available nationwide from December 18, 2017 until February 17, 2018 while stocks last.
The Problem: In almost 3,000 Ranger vehicles from the 2006 model year, the airbag inflators pose a higher risk of rupturing during a crash. These airbag inflators are from Takata, which have caused automakers to recall millions and millions of vehicles in recent years.
Ford says it’s taking this action because there have been two fatalities related to ruptures from Takata inflators built on the same day. The first death was reported back in January 2016, but a new one has come to light. Ford received notification late last year that a second crash in West Virginia over the summer of 2017 involved a ruptured Takata inflator on the driver’s side. The automaker confirmed the death was linked to the inflator rupturing.
The Fix: Ford urges owners of affected 2006 Rangers to stop driving their vehicles until the proper repairs are made. Dealers are now available to pick the vehicles up directly from customers, and the parts are also in stock. Drivers may receive a free loaner vehicle while their vehicles are being repaired.
Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: The recall affects certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks built from August 10, 2005 and December 15, 2005 at the automaker’s former Twin Cities Assembly plant. An estimated 2,712 vehicles are in the U.S. and federalized territories and 190 are in Canada.
Automakers, having invested billions in advanced diesel technology, have vowed to make sure the powertrain doesn’t disappear. “Diesel is worth fighting for,” Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in July 2017.
Daimler’s efforts to protect the powertrain are paying off at its Mercedes-Benz brand. “Since the beginning of the year, sales of diesel vehicles from Mercedes-Benz in Europe have actually increased slightly compared with the previous year’s period,” a Daimler spokesman said. JATO Dynamics confirmed that Mercedes’s diesel sales are up 4% in the period, to 512,622, second-highest in Europe after the VW brand.
“To do away with the diesel would be a big mistake from both an ecological and economic perspective,” said Mario Muerwald, head of development for diesel powertrains at Daimler. “We are deliberately not committing ourselves to one solitary form of drive system, but to a coexistence of efficient and clean gasoline engines, diesels, plug-in hybrids, battery and hydrogen drive systems.”
Daimler’s new OM 654 and 656 diesels, developed at a cost of 3 billion euros, will appear in more models next year. The engines, introduced in 2016 on E-class models, were engineered to meet Europe’s new Real Driving Emissions (RDE) standards for particulates such as nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Mercedes’s new 4-cylinder diesel premiered in the E220d version of the E class. Mercedes has invested billions of euros in its new diesels to make sure they meet tough NOx emissions limits.
The Nissan X-Trail has always been known for its sculpted and muscular styling, with chiselled lines, high wheel arches and elegant curves on the bonnet. All of those characteristics remain, and are now showcased through a distinctive and robust redesign of the front end, adding a new dynamism and more premium styling cues.
At its heart is Nissan’s latest ‘V-motion’ grille, wider than before for a more impactful appearance on the road and echoed in the design of the bumper beneath. The redesign makes much greater use of the X-Trail’s body colour, with the visible black plastic benefiting from a smart new gloss black finish.
On either side of the grille are new headlamp clusters which feature a contemporary new version of the X-Trail’s ‘boomerang’ Daytime Running Light signature. The front fog lamps have evolved. Cleverly integrated into the new front bumper, they have changed from a round shape to a rectangular one. At the rear of the new Nissan X-Trail, the bumper has been redesigned to give it a more robust look with new chrome detailing. The rear lamp signature has been upgraded to become full LED, while the parking sensors are improved, as at the front of the car.
The upgrades have resulted in a very slight change to the overall length of the car – an increase of 50mm means it’s now 4,690mm from bumper to bumper. There is no change to the new X-Trail’s width (1,830mm), height (1,710mm) or wheelbase (2,705mm). The exterior changes have not affected the new X-Trail’s aerodynamic performance, with a Cd rating of 0.32.
Six of the eight existing exterior colours have been carried over, with four vibrant new additional shades added – Orange Pearl, Red Pearl, Blue Pearl Metallic, and Dark Brown Pearl.
Premium new interior with even greater refinement
The cabin of the new Nissan X-Trail boasts a raft of upgrades to enhance the existing high-quality feel. Entering the car, the striking new steering wheel is the first thing drivers will notice. It echoes the design of Nissan’s newest models globally and is standard across the X-Trail range. Now D-shaped, the horizontal base means easier entry and exit for the driver, as well as providing a more sporty look and feel.
The steering wheel’s compact central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer, creating an upper space that’s larger by 17% to improve instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combimeter display (left spoke) and cruise control (right spoke) are new, and offer customers more intuitive use and reduced ‘eyes off the road’ time.
The rim’s width has been widened – from 34mm to 37.5mm – to provide a more comfortable and safer grip. A new premium style comes from the satin silver detailing on the central spoke which echoes the shape of the car’s iconic ‘V-motion’ front grille.
Other cabin upgrades add to the higher-quality ambience and increased refinement of the new X-Trail. A new leather knee pad on both sides of the centre console has been added, while the area above the glovebox has been given a more contemporary finish. The air vents now feature a new gloss black surface.
The interior practicality of the new X-Trail makes it perfect for adventurous families.
It continues to offers exceptional space and comfort, including best-in-class knee room in the second row of seats. It has clever storage solutions and practical features, such as the sliding / reclining functionality of the second row seats. On seven-seat versions, which make up 40% of the sales mix in Europe, access to the roomy third row is simple and convenient.
New hands-free practicality for the tailgate
The two highest grades of Nissan X-Trail have previously come with an electric tailgate as standard. This feature has been enhanced on new X-Trail with the additional of hands-free functionality. Customers with shopping bags or holding young children close by can now kick their foot under the centre of the car’s rear bumper to automatically activate the opening mechanism.
The boot on the new Nissan X-Trail is larger than before. Capacity on seven-seat interiors (445 litres) remains unchanged. Total space with all seats folded flat increases to 1,996 litres. Every X-Trail boot comes with Nissan’s innovative Flexible Luggage Board System, which allows for shelves and dividers to be adjusted in any one of nine configurations. These include a hidden compartment to keep valuables out of sight, making it the ideal base for family days out.
The X-Trail continues to be offered with numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning. These technologies increase customer’s confidence and trust in their car, making it the new X-Trail the perfect car for family adventures. The new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Confident drive: new X-Trail is as refined as ever
Confident drive is what Nissan calls a common product attribute – something that’s engineered into all vehicles around the world. It means a smooth and refined feeling on the road, with precise and stress-free steering and handling. It’s measured and benchmarked in three scenarios – on motorways, on country roads and in the urban environment.
The confident driving characteristics of the Nissan X-Trail have been carried over to the new model, providing customers with predictable and safe performance for the life of the vehicle.
Ford recorded its highest ever commercial vehicle (CV) sales of 123,958 in 2017, while marking 41 consecutive years of car sales leadership and 52 years of commercial vehicle (CV) sales leadership in the UK.
With the extension of its scrappage scheme into 2018, Ford is carrying significant sales momentum into 2018, extending its leadership in total vehicle, cars and CV sales.
Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: “Our CV sales growth was particularly positive in an increasingly challenging market. Ford has consistently provided UK customers with the most appealing vehicle range and our CV line-up is the best ever, offering class-leading vehicles in all key segments.
“We continue to carry sales momentum into 2018 with the extension of our popular scrappage scheme through to the end of March, and we continue the launch of the all-new Fiesta with the Active and ST models completing the line-up of our most technologically advanced small car later this year.”
According to the official SMMT figures, full year car sales in the UK in 2017 were down 5.7 per cent at 2,540,617 registrations, compared with 2016. Ford sold 287,396 cars in the UK last year, with a market share of 11.3 per cent and 78,934 sales ahead of its nearest rival.
Ford is also the clear leader in retail car sales, which most accurately reflect the preferences of private buyers. Ford’s December retail car sales share was 10.6 per cent, 2.8 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival. For the full year, Ford’s retail car sales share was 11.7 per cent, a lead of 4.0 percentage points.
The Ford Fiesta is the UK best-seller for the ninth consecutive year, recording registrations of 94,533 for the full year; 19,928 sales and 0.7 percentage points of market share ahead of its nearest competitor.
Ford’s comprehensive CV range helped deliver Ford’s best ever commercial vehicle sales in 2017. Figures from the SMMT showed UK CV sales in 2017 were 370,162, down 3.5 per cent, compared with 2016. Ford CV sales in 2017 of 123,958 were up by 3.4 per cent compared with 2016.
Ford Transit has led the UK CV sector from its launch in 1965 and Ford’s CV range secured a 32.2 per cent share in 2017, up from 30.6 per cent in 2016. Ford’s CV sales lead increased in 2017 to 79,986, and 20.8 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival.
The Ford Transit Custom was sixth in total vehicle sales in 2017, with a rise of 4.5 per cent and total sales of 52,277, twice those of its nearest competitor.
Ford commercial vehicles lead all of their respective segments for the full year, including the Ford Transit Connect which achieved record sales in 2017; 19,805 up over 27 per cent compared with 2016.
Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved a new record for unit sales in 2017 and for the first time passed the mark of 400,000 vehicles sold. The division has thus grown continuously for five consecutive years. On the basis of initial December results, the division increased its overall wholesale unit sales by around 12 percent to a total of around 401,000 vehicles.
All model series contributed to this growth with best-ever figures. Mercedes-Benz Vans also sold more of the van icon, the Sprinter, than ever before in its last full year before the launch of the new model. The strongest growth driver – in addition to the very successful fleet business – was once again the strong demand for the Vito van and the V-Class multipurpose vehicle.
In 2017, both of those models were for the first time fully available in the world’s biggest vehicle market, China. The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class, the first pickup with the three-pointed star, was launched in November 2017. The division’s final figures will be announced at the annual press conference of Daimler AG on February 1, 2018.
Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans: “Our ‘ Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’ growth strategy was very successful once again in 2017. Four consecutive record years represent an outstanding performance by our global team. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of them.
“We have great plans also for 2018: With the new Sprinter, the most important market launch in the van segment from our perspective is coming up soon. We will now open up the digital era in this segment with this new model. With the new Sprinter, we will provide exactly those solutions in the vehicle that will help our customers make their business more efficient in a connected world – in the form of hardware in the vehicle and with new, connected services.”
“We are very satisfied with the start of our new Mercedes-Benz pickup in Europe. Customer response is extremely positive. We will launch the X-Class in further markets this year, and that will additionally boost our sales,” continued Mornhinweg.
Joining the Ford pickup truck lineup in 2018 will be this new variant, the Ford Ranger Raptor. This is the high-performance off-road truck you’ve been waiting for. This new Ranger pickup truck will carry the American Ford Raptor nose (pictured below is the US made Raptor) and some enhancements under the sizeable skin to give it the title truck of the year.
This Ranger Raptor will arrive sometime in the middle of 2018 and it is highly likely that it will get a beefed-up powertrain and suspension system. The Ranger Raptor will also get thicker all-terrain tires, as well as an increased ride height. Price should reach a lofty RM199,000 or so as the indicated price in Thailand has been set at 1.6 million baht.
More details about the Ranger Raptor will be released soon.
