07/06/2026

Contributing Editor Keshy Dhillon / keshy@piston.my Editorial

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SUNDAY | JUNE 7, 2026

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Should owners of diesel powered vehicles be worried?

check with the official service centre of your mechanic on what to do now that B15 has been introduced. In fact, this is not the end of it as there are plans to introduce B20 and B30 with B50 being mooted for future introduc tion as well. How will this affect diesel vehicles particularly second hand value is any one’s guess at the moment but there is bound to be an effect. Should you put off that purchase of your dream pick-up truck though? Not at all as the powers in charge are actively engaging car makers and plan ning for a future that is both sustainable and inclusive at the same time.

There are some excep tions though. Bermaz Auto, the official assembler and distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, has advised against using B20 biodiesel in models running on the Skyactiv-D engines, such as the CX-5 and CX-8. The company has said that

diesel users that that there will not be any issues with their cars due to this switch. But that may not be entirely accurate. While the government has given plenty of time for vehi cles to be compatible with B20 blend rates ever since it announced the move in 2020, but older cars might face a problem.

OWNERS of diesel vehicles have been getting the short end of the stick for the past few months. Price per litre has increased to never before been seen levels and if that is not concerning enough, the introduction of B15 biodie sel has got some owners concerned. The blend rate in Peninsular Malaysia has increased from B10 to B15 beginning June 1, and this new biodiesel may not be suitable for all diesel powered cars, particularly older models. The new blend rate now comprises of 15% palm methyl ester (PME) and 85% petroleum diesel. Previously it was at 10% PME . There is no change in price though. The government has assured

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

both models can run on B7 diesel as stated in the owner’s manual, while using any other blends will affect the performance of the engine as well as the vehicle warranty. So if you own a diesel vehicle, par ticularly older models, you may want to

Almost all car makers have assured diesel buyers that their cars will not face any issues. In fact, most new diesel engines in Malaysia can handle up to B20 without impacting the warranty of the car.

New face City

THE 2026 Honda City facelift has officially been revealed in India. The biggest change is clearly at the front. As seen in earlier leaked images and teasers, the City now gets a much sharper face with slimmer bi-LED headlights, a full-width hon eycomb grille and a redes igned front bumper. The old chrome bar across the grille has also been removed. Instead, the Honda badge now sits above the grille, with a new light bar running across the front. The headlights also fea ture segmented daytime run ning lights that double as turn indicators. Lower down, the front bumper has been redesigned with a larger cen tral intake and more aggres sive vertical side elements. At the rear, changes are more subtle. The taillights retain the same U-shaped lighting signature albeit now in clear lenses, while the bumper has been redesigned with a large mesh-style cen tre section and reflectors placed at the outer corners. From the side, the overall silhouette remains familiar, although the facelifted City gets new 16-inch aero-style alloy wheels. In terms of size, the India-spec 2026 Honda City measures 4,594mm in length, 1,748mm in width and 1,489mm in height, with a 2,600mm wheelbase. Inside, the dashboard lay out is largely similar to the outgoing model, but Honda has updated the infotain ment setup. Based on the India brochure, lower SV and V variants get an 8-inch integrated touchscreen, while higher ZX and ZX+ variants receive a larger

10.1-inch

floating

touchscreen. The cabin also gains ambi ent lighting, including illumi nation across the dashboard trim and footwell lighting. Another key addition is front seat ventilation, a feature that should be particularly useful in markets like India and Malaysia. Honda says the system provides cooling over a 40% larger area, although this feature is reserved for the top ZX+ variant in India. The facelifted City also gains a 360° camera with moving object detection, with the camera button located at the end of the left stalk. This is also limited to the ZX+ variant, while LaneWatch is offered on the ZX and ZX+ variants. Other equipment listed for higher variants includes a 7 inch HD full-colour TFT meter, one-touch sunroof, wireless charger and Honda Sensing. In India, Honda Sensing is fitted from the V variant onwards, while six airbags are standard across the range. In India, powertrain options remain unchanged. The standard petrol model continues with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cyl inder engine producing 121 PS and 145 Nm, paired with either a six-speed manual or CVT. The e:HEV hybrid also continues, using a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with Honda’s two motor hybrid system and e CVT. The petrol engine pro duces 100PS and 131Nm, while the electric traction motor produces 109PS and 253Nm.

Sharper front, redesigned bumper give car more aggressive look