13/07/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2025

Proton evolution New X50 now with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and four-cylinder engine!

Smart Lane is a double-edged sword!

WHY does it seem like every time we move for ward as a nation, we seem to be taking two steps back at the same time? And that seems to be true across the board. I am not talking about politics, but road safety, again. The Smart Lane is something that not many

to go back home to visit out ailing parents, to just go about our daily lives. And this has resulted in more traffic on our roads. So, how do we naturally cope with more traffic? We expand our existing roads and

PROTON has officially pulled the covers off the All-New Proton X50 in an exclusive preview for members of the Malaysian media, showcasing a reimagined version of its best-selling B-segment SUV. We now get to share with you all the best details and upgrades done to the car. Building on the success of its predecessor – launched in October 2020 and having amassed over 134,000 units sold – the new X50 signals a new chapter in Proton’s SUV evolution, with a sharper design language, elevated interior appointments, and com prehensive tech upgrades. The latest X50 marks a significant depar ture from the outgoing model, both visually and technologically. The exterior receives a substantial make over, featuring a redesigned front grille and bumper, a sleeker rear spoiler, and quad exhaust tailpipes that lend a sportier edge to the SUV’s rear profile. A new two-tone colour palette adds fur ther sophistication, while intricately tex tured alloy wheels tie the styling together. Returning colour choices, include Snow White, Passion Red, Jet Grey, and Armour Silver, are now joined by a new standout hue, Teal Bayou Green. One of the most notable upgrades is the inclusion of a 72-colour rhythmic ambient lighting system, allowing own

environment to their personal tastes. At the centre of the technological over haul is a commanding 14.6-inch infotain ment touchscreen, offering seamless inte gration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This generation also introduces voice recognition in Bahasa Melayu, reflecting Proton’s push to enhance accessibility and user-friendliness for Malaysian drivers. These features build on the model’s 5 star Asean NCAP safety rating, reinforcing its status as one of the safest SUVs in its class. Powering the new X50 is the cutting edge 1.5-litre i-GT turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engine, .delivering 181PS and 290Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the SUV now sprints from 0 to 100kph in 7.6 seconds – an improvement of 0.3 seconds over the previous model. In tandem with this performance boost is a 4.7% increase in fuel efficiency, offering improved economy without compromising on driving engagement. Proton’s latest offering redefines expec tations for compact SUVs in Malaysia. With its dynamic new look, intelligent features, and enhanced driving dynamics, the All-New X50 positions itself as not only a flagship for the brand’s growing SUV line-up but also a strong contender to lead the seg ment in style, safety, and innovation.

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

build news one. But all that costs money, and that is something that is not easy to come by. Besides, expanding and build ing takes time. And that’s where the Smart Lane comes into the picture. The idea is noble. It is a quick fix to a very real problem. And it works too. But it is a paradox of sorts – a double-edged sword. The Smart Lane works by tempo rarily transforming the emergency lane into a regular lane. When traffic is heavy, there will be signages and messages dis played on the electronic variable message signs that we see on our highways, indicating that the Smart Lane is now active. The problem is some drivers miss the message that says the Smart Lane is closed and con tinue driving on the emergency lane. And the more serious prob lem is that cars and motorcycles tend to get mixed up in Smart Lanes and serious accidents occur. Often fatal, as we saw recently when a high-powered BMW motorcycle collided with a pick-up truck on the Smart Lane. Cars and motorcycles are never a good mix, and the Smart Lane, as noble as it is, makes the problem worse. The other problem it creates is that it completely cuts off access for emergency vehicles. Say there was a serious accident some where and traffic is at a standstill. The emergency lane is com pletely cut off because it is oper ating as a Smart Lane. How then do emergency vehicles reach the victims? The Smart Lane serves its pur pose. I acknowledge that it is there for a reason and that it fixes congestion, albeit temporarily. But it also creates a ripple effect and causes more problems. So, what can the authorities do? May I suggest placing more per sonnel along Smart Lanes? Have more Emergency Services vehicles patrolling the highways when traffic is heavy. Ensure their vehicles are equipped with all the right first aid kit including stretchers, neck braces, defibrillators and perhaps even include one personnel trained as a first responder. Perhaps then our roads can be safer when traffic is heavy. And please, let’s future proof our roads in the meantime, and include some proper public transport infrastructure.

are familiar with, but it is a feature on Malaysian highways introduced as far back as 2019. First introduced as traffic man agement initiative, the Smart Lane is an idea cooked up by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM). It is designed to alleviate traffic congestion on all major highways particularly during peak hours or during heavy traffic flow espe cially around festive seasons or public holidays. It was introduced because the two and three-lane national high ways that connect our states sim ply cannot cope with the ever increasing traffic. A trip from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur used to take anywhere between 90 to 120 minutes. These days, three to four hours is the norm, even on regular work days. The increase in the number of cars can be attributed to a numer ous things, such as a lack of pub lic transport infrastructure, we all can agree that Malaysia could really benefit from a high-speed rail network. Can you imagine living in Ipoh where you can buy a really nice, landed property for about RM500,000 and commuting to Kuala Lumpur for work daily by train in just an hour? It’s not far fetched, it is the norm in many countries such as in Japan, for one. Road safety is another thing that torments Malaysians who might consider taking an inter state bus back to their home towns or wherever it is they need to go. The sheer number of people dying on our roads is no joke. And yet there are some quarters that came out with their pitchforks when the government made it mandatory to wear seatbelts in buses. It’s just a seatbelt folks, no one is asking you to sacrifice a kidney for public safety. Anyway, these issues have ulti mately led many Malaysians towards purchasing their own cars. It doesn’t matter that the taxa tion rates on our cars are among the highest in the world, and that we pay through our noses for up to nine years for the hire purchase loans that makes it possible for the regular man to afford a Perodua Axia. We need wheels to get work,

ers to cus tomise the c a b i n

Bookings open for Honda HR-V ahead of launch

HONDA MALAYSIA has officially opened bookings for the highly antici pated new Honda HR-V, ahead of its scheduled launch in the third quarter of 2025. Bookings can be made at all author ised dealerships nationwide as well as through the brand’s online platforms. The updated HR-V arrives as a refreshed contender in the B-segment SUV category, reinforcing its position as one of Honda’s most successful models in Malaysia. With over 169,000 units sold since its local debut in 2015, the HR-V has long established itself as the country’s best selling non-national B-SUV. For the first five months of 2025, it has continued to dominate sales for Honda Malaysia.

Building on its legacy of style, practi cality and performance, the latest itera tion of the HR-V boasts an enhanced exterior and updated mechanical offer ings. The new design presents a bolder and smarter aesthetic, featuring a streamlined minimalist front grille, striking 18-inch two tone alloy wheels, and a full LED taillight strip that emphasises the vehicle’s mod ern presence. The new HR-V e:HEV RS variant leads the charge with its intelligent hybrid pow ertrain, combining efficiency with an engaging driving experience. The 1.5-litre e:HEV system produces 131PS and 253Nm of torque, delivering smooth acceleration and responsive hybrid performance.