31/05/2026

theSunday Special XVI ON SUNDAY MAY 31, 2026 Foton launches bold new Tunland twins FRESH OFF its preview at the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle

the compact pick-up trucks sold in Malaysia and full-sized ones that ply American roads such as the Ford F 150 and Toyota Tundra. The powertrains are identical. That comprises an Aucan 4F20 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that was co developed with Cummins and fea tures a variable geometry turbo (VGT) with a 48-volt mild hybrid sys tem fed by a lithium-ion mild hybrid battery. Drive modes comprise six separate settings that include Mud, Sand and Snow. With mild hybrid assistance, fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litres/100km.

early-bird buyers will also receive a RM2,000 launch rebate and two years of free maintenance. Despite the different names, both are essentially identical, only sepa rated by which American pick-up truck’s front end it was “inspired” by. Measurements are the same for both at 5,617mm long, 2,090mm wide and 1,955mm tall with a 3,355mm wheel base. If they appear huge in photos, it is not an optical illusion. The Tunland twins are 292mm longer, 190mm wider and 140mm taller than the cur rent eighth-generation Toyota Hilux. Physically, this places them between

Exhibition (MCVE), the Foton Tunland V7 and V9 pick-up truck siblings have been officially launched in Malaysia, bringing plenty of road presence with their American inspired styling and larger footprint that would appeal to lifestyle-driven owners. The Tunland V7 targets more com mercial use and is priced at RM123,800. On the other hand, the Tunland V9 is better equipped for personal use and goes for RM143,800. Both come with a 7 year/200,000km warranty while

GWM expands Tank 300 range

plant shutdown in March 2026 and the second falling upon sales from new model launches. Furthermore, the fig ures for the month are also up by 17% over the corresponding period of April 2025. As for the year-to-date figures, tallying them up brings it to 254,318 units. This is a minor 2% increase com pared to the corresponding period in 2025 that stood at 250,239 units. The 2026 total industry volume (TIV) remains at the forecasted 790,000 units but is not predicted to eclipse or even match 2025’s record-breaking 820,752 units, as the MAA cites the rising cost of living and weaker con sumer purchasing power as the reason behind it. The Tank 300 HEV comes packaged with a number of warranties and extensive coverage for the owner that comprises a lifetime warranty for engine and transmission (only for first-hand private owners), an 8 years/180,000km power battery warranty, a 6 year unlimited mileage vehicle & HEV system warranty, a 5 years free maintenance (inclusive of labour and parts) and a 5 years free L2 vehicle telematic service. Existing GWM owners will also receive an additional RM3,000 rebate if they purchase a Tank 300 HEV. GWM MALAYSIA has doubled its GWM Tank 300 range in Malaysia with the introduction of the Tank 300 HEV, bringing hybrid refinement and electrification to the proven off-roader for just RM259,800. The Tank 300 has cemented its genuine off road capabilities, winning the Off-Road SUV Champion title from 2021 to 2025 in China. That confidence has echoed here in Malaysia with over 1,000 owners to date of the internal com bustion Tank 300 variant. Under that rugged exterior is a 2.0-litre turbo charged engine producing 245PS and 380Nm of torque, paired with an electric motor deliver ing an additional 106PS and 268Nm of torque. Combined, the system’s weighs in at 346PS and 648Nm of torque. The battery is a 1.76kWh lithium-ion hybrid pack that feeds the electric motor for a smoother, quieter and more responsive drive. Despite the hybrid powertrain, the Tank 300 HEV retains its body-on-frame ladder chassis for all the real-world capability and off-road condi tions. A nine-speed hybrid automatic transmis sion sends power to the full-time four-wheel drive system. Its arsenal of off-road weaponry includes a full-time on-demand 4WD system, 4L low range gearing, multiple terrain modes (Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand and 4L), Tank Turn Assist for a tighter turning radius and Crawl Control for challenging terrain. There will be three exterior shades for the Tank 300 HEV, made up of Crystal Black, Pearl White and a HEV-exclusive Sand Beige.

Chery goes premium Tiggo 9 signals brand’s bold push into upscale SUV territory KLIMS HEADS BACK TO MITEC The Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) 2026 is set to take place from 12 to 21 June 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), Kuala Lumpur. The event is organised by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) and managed by Qube Integrated Malaysia, with strategic partners including MARii and Mida under Miti. It is also recognised under MyCEB’s “Meet in Malaysia” and Tourism Malaysia’s “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaigns. Confirmed participating automotive brands include Dongfeng, GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Jetour, Kia, Maxus, Mazda, MG Motor, Nissan, Perodua, Proton, Proton eMas, Smart, Toyota, Wuling, Xpeng, and CHERY MALAYSIA has previewed the Chery Tiggo 9, its upcoming flagship SUV that will sit above the Tiggo Cross, Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 8 Pro in the brand’s local line-up. Registration of interest for the Tiggo 9 is already open. At the preview, Chery Malaysia revealed an estimated price of below RM189,000 for the Tiggo 9. The stan dard package includes a seven-year or 150,000km vehicle warranty, along with a seven-year or 150,000km engine warranty. Chery has also teased an early bird launch package, although details have yet to be announced. For Malaysia, the Chery Tiggo 9 is offered with a 2.0-litre TGDi turbo SHORTS

ventilated discs in front and discs at the rear. The Tiggo 9 also rides on 20-inch wheels wrapped in 245/50 R20 tyres. On the safety front, the Tiggo 9 comes with 10 airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a 540° HD pano ramic camera, Isofix, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist, hill descent control, electronic stability control and traction control. Two exterior colours are listed for now, Matte Grey and Carbon Black. Since the Tiggo 9 is positioned above the Tiggo 8 Pro, which is cur rently priced at RM159,800, expect a slightly higher starting price for the Tiggo 9.

charged petrol engine producing 256PS and 390Nm. The engine is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel drive system. The SUV also gets seven drive modes which are Eco, Normal, Sport, Sand, Mud, Snow and Off-Road. In terms of size, the Tiggo 9 meas ures 4,810mm in length, 1,925mm in width and 1,741mm in height, with a 2,800mm wheelbase. Boot space is listed at 448 litres, expandable to 2,065 litres with the rear seats folded. Suspension consists of MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear, while braking is handled by

CAR SALES CONTINUE UPWARD TREND

Zeekr. Ticketing for KLIMS 2026 is split by day and visitor category. Based on the published ticket table, entry is free from Monday to Thursday, while Friday, weekends and public holidays are priced at RM30 for adults and for senior citizens (RM15), OKU visitors and students with ID. Children below 12 enter for free. An Unlimited Access Pass (RM80) is also available. Visitors can access Mitec through bus pickups from MRT Titiwangsa and LRT Pasar Seni, van shut tles from Matrade open car park and National Hockey Stadium, as well as shut tle services from nearby locations includ ing Miti, Matrade, Publika Shopping Centre, Hyatt Midtown Hotel and selected Jalan Duta venues.

New car sales for April 2026 recorded a 14% growth over the preceding month of March 2026, according to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA). This marks the second consecutive month of sales growth and maintains the association’s trajectory for the year. A total of 72,113 units were recorded in April 2026, equaling the 14% increase over March 2026 figures, which in turn grew from February 2026. The MAA stated two primary reasons for the continued growth, with the first being a higher production volume of 70, 611 units in April 2026 following the Raya