This week: Merc GLE, Sonata, Passat, Golf GTE, X-Trail, MINI JCW, XC90 T8, Kuga, etc

It’s been a long time coming, for the third-generation Nissan X-Trail is finally open for bookings. It first appeared at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and was launched in Japan earlier this year, so it’s about time now we receive a refreshed version of what was once a successful SUV in its prime…

This is it, the all-new third generation Ford Focus RS, also the most extreme Focus to roll out of the model line to date. It’s introduced under the Ford Performance banner as part of a programme to produce 12 new high performance models by the year 2020. Its powertrain is expected to be derived from the Ford Mustang’s EcoBoost 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine…

Ford, through Sime Darby Auto Connexion, has introduced a limited edition variant of its popular compact SUV, the Kuga Special Edition. It’s priced at RM168,888 inclusive of road tax and insurance; that’s nearly RM8,000 more than the standard Kuga…

While the MINI Cooper is already a competent little number and the Cooper S was seen terrorizing Putrajaya, the F56 MINI gets sportier with the announcement of the John Cooper Works variant. Not that the Cooper S is under-powered, but who’s complaining?…

As previously hinted, Volvo’s top-of-the-range XC90 T8 is said to produce a total of 400 hp and 640 Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain – even up to 450 hp here. However, this 2.0-litre engine is no ordinary four-cylinder mill. In the XC90 T8, it’s not only turbocharged and supercharged to produce 318 hp and 400 Nm of torque …

According to Mercedes-Benz’s new naming convention, their M-Class SUV will now be known as the GLE; but instead of presenting the all-new GLE, the German carmaker went on to introduce the sportier and more athletic sibling first, called the GLE Coupé …

Race fans, rejoice! The much anticipated Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix officially gets the green light, as announced yesterday during the press event held at Mandarin Oriental KL. The race, which will feature some odd 20 to 30 cars – including the Lamborghini Huracan – racing at the heart of the city doing speeds in excess of 200 km/h! …

Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) earlier in the evening held a special viewing for some of the models that they plan to introduce to the Malaysian market sometime next year. Models like the all-new Passat B8, the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE and the all electric e-Up! were specially flown in for the event …

It’s finally here now, after nearly nine months since its global debut in South Korea. The seventh generation Hyundai Sonata is undoubtedly a handsome looking car, and as per previously reported, its design is based on the evolved Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, and looks strikingly similar like the flagship Genesis, also on its way here …

The all-new, seventh generation 2015 Hyundai Sonata is set to make its Malaysian debut tomorrow, following the periodical teasers released via Hyundai Malaysia‘s Facebook page recently. [Read full launch story here] The Hyundai Genesis inspired D-Segmenter had its world debut earlier in the year in South Korea, and adopts the brand’s evolved Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy …

There’s always the risk of compromise when it comes to producing a more civilised version of a world famous high performance sports car, with many said efforts resulting in weight increment – the bane of all sports car makers …