It is finally back! Held once every few years, the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) for 2018 has brought in quite a few special vehicles, exciting previews and long awaited launches for the year. What makes this year exciting is the venue location and size at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) where it will be the biggest KLIMS ever in terms of floor space. Previously held for many years at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), this year sees 74 participating companies occupying two levels and six exhibition halls. The 10-day motor show with the theme 'Beyond Mobility' is currently ongoing until 2nd December 2018.
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
Visitors to Honda’s booth at KLIMS 2018 will be able to view the brand’s range of vehicles including the Japanese carmaker’s Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle. The Clarity FCV is a model that converts hydrogen into electricity which then is powered to a 174 hp electric motor with 300 Nm of torque. Because it is hydrogen based, refuelling takes just minutes with an operating range at about 600 km’s. However, due to its nature, the Clarity FCV is only offered on lease in countries like Japan, UK, Denmark and in California, USA. The car is in line with Honda’s vision 2030 strategy in preparation of more enhanced electrification technologies in its models for a global market.
Toyota iRoad
The nimble and compact single seater i-Road is Toyota’s concept for future mobility. Combining the safety of a car with the compact size of a motorcycle, the i-Road is an electric vehicle that’s frugal, stable and enclosed. The front wheels move independently, so turning the steering tilts the vehicle into a lean. In terms of power, the lithium-ion batteries can provide about 50 km on a full charge running at an estimate 30 km/h.
Toyota FT-1
When unveiled at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show, Toyota did not disclose much about the FT-1. But years on, it’s been confirmed in the form of the GR Supra Racing Concept and a sports car Toyota has been developing in partnership with BMW. The new Supra will share the same platform as BMW’s latest Z4 and through uncovered documents, has indicated that it will come in both a straight six and four cylinder engines. Anticipation is high as the 2020 Supra will make its debut at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show in January.
Toyota TS030 Hybrid LMP1
The Le Mans Prototype 1 was built and used in the 2012 and 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship season, where it was the first petrol-hybrid engine car to participate in the championship. Despite challenges and setbacks, the TS030 successor, TS050 Hybrid went on to win this year’s 2018 Le Mans with a one-two finish, becoming the second Japanese manufacturer since 1991 to win at the world’s oldest active endurance race.
Lexus LS+ Concept
The LS+ Concept is Lexus’ example for new autonomous technologies for its flagship car by 2020. Whether it is knowing when to join and leave a motorway, provide the driver a range of assistance including automatic-lane keeping, merging, overtaking, keeping the car in a safe distance plus using information from other cars to prevent potential issues. Lexus is using this new technology to break new ground, and it is calling it Highway Teammate. It is also a goal for the brand to achieve Level 4 autonomy on all types of roads.
Crafted for Lexus
The Japanese luxury brand also included an artistic installation known as the Lexus Crafted Parts Box. It features components from Lexus vehicles elaborately cut and uniformly painted to showcase the detail and craftsmanship of each Lexus component that’s good enough to form an artwork.
Hyundai i30 N
In terms of unique number of previews, Hyundai’s section at KLIMS 2018 has a list of the most. What’s most exciting for us has to be their i30 N hatchback with Performance package outputting 271 hp and 353 Nm of torque from 1,450 to 4,000 rpm mated to a six-speed manual (there’s shift lights in the instrument cluster, as well as launch control). With this Performance package on show, the i30 N sports 19-inch alloy wheels, Pirelli P-Zero tyres, 18-inch front brake discs and that century sprint time of 6.1-seconds.
Hyundai Kona Electric & Turbo
Hyundai’s compact SUV makes a debut in two versions, a fully electric vehicle with a 64 kWh battery and a capable range of up to 470 km and a 1.6-litre petrol with 175 hp and 265 Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The former joins the brand’s more sophisticated Nexo Fuel Cell Electric vehicle.
Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell Vehicle
The eco-friendly flagship for Hyundai is hydrogen powered like Honda’s Clarity FCV. However, Hyundai isn’t leasing the Nexo when it goes on sale before end 2018. In terms of power, the Nexo churns out 181 hp (127 hp from the fuel cell and 54 hp from the electric motor with a range of about 600 km.
Hyundai Accent
This will probably be more exciting for the masses than the ones above, as the Accent competes directly against the Honda City and Toyota Vios. The model seen at the show is powered by a 1.4-litre Kappa 4-cylinder unit with 99 hp, 132 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm and paired to a six-speed automatic. Equipment wise, there’s keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, cruise control, six airbags, ESC and more. What do you think? More variety for Malaysians if this comes in?
Perodua X-Concept
The Perodua of tomorrow takes shape in the company’s latest X-Concept. The five door hatchback does have the ‘X’ theme throughout its design and shape, including the front fascia, grille, intakes, and lines and details in the concept. Suicide doors, dynamic lights and the full digital treatment is as a concept should be. Perodua says that the X-Concept is meant to be a connected car of the future, with access to maps, e-mails, car service appointments, weather and flight times.
Perodua Myvi GT
Who doesn’t like a sporty hatchback? Perodua has taken the lengths to kit up the current generation Myvi with a GT badge. At the front, the complete front bumper has a large intake with DRLs at the sides. There’s a noticeable red accent line from the front that goes into the headlamps, ala Golf GTI and its also visible on the lower bumper. At the sides, what visitors will notice is the 17-inch rims in gunmetal and the red Brembo calipers with cross-drilled rotors. At the rear, the red accent strip is also present along the lower bumper with twin exhaust pipes. Inside the Myvi GT gets quite an overhaul with red treatment on the dashboard, gear lever, bucket seats, and door trim. The steering wheel is a unique D-shape with alcantara.
Perodua Advanced Tech, Powered By Daihatsu
The brand’s booth at the inner section showcases a cutout hybrid system that Perodua says is based on Daihatsu technology. The system includes a battery source that supplies electricity when starting the engine, aiding efficiency; generates power and charges the battery simultaneously during acceleration and also converts kinetic energy during braking into electric power. The technology is compatible with existing Perodua Advanced Safety Assist features of Pre-collision Warning and Braking.
Upcoming Perodua SUV
Perodua has teased that something exciting is coming soon, hidden in a box at KLIMS 2018. While nothing much can be seen even through the peepholes, it’s evident that it is based on the latest Toyota Rush. Our experience with the Rush is very much positive, with a few crossover equipment seen in the current Myvi brought over to Toyota’s seven-seater. Assuming Perodua will be continuing with its model names, this SUV could well be the next generation Perodua Nautica.
Nissan Note e-power
There isn’t only one electric vehicle at Nissan’s booth in KLIMS. In fact, we think the Note e-power is the most underrated vehicle on show this year. Unlike most hybrid vehicles that still merges a combustion engine with an electric motor for power, the e-power drivetrain uses its 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol combustion engine solely as a generator to charge the batteries. In the industry, this is currently called a “series hybrid vehicle”.
For Japan, this hybrid technology is unique, and globally similar technologies are in the BMW i3 range extender and Chevrolet Volt EV. Despite the 47-litre fuel tank size on a compact, Nissan claims that the Note e-power will be able to achieve a theoretical range of 1,300 km. The Note e-power is currently only sold in Japan, where it has variants of the Note, including a 4WD version.
Peugeot 308 GTi
Although it was previewed in 1 Utama just last month, the 308 GTi is accessible to visitors here. The 270 hp 1.6-litre turbo engine has 330 Nm of torque at 1,900 rpm mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Differences includes bucket seats with alcantara upholstery and red accent stitching, GTi badging, aluminium additions and more. Although Peugeot Malaysia’s website doesn’t have the 308 GTi listed, pricing seems to be approximately at RM 199,888 on-the-road without insurance.
Kenstomoto Valkyrie
While we don't focus much on motorcycles, this was too hard not to include. Seen at Art of Speed in MAEPS past July, the Valkyrie makes its appearance at the Art of Speed section at KLIMS. The bike is fully custom built with the purpose for show by designer Kenny Yeoh of Kenstomoto. Underneath, the engine is a Kawasaki Ninja 650R just 5 cm off the ground. There are plans to rebuild the bike for proper road use.
Cadillac Escalade 180”
The stretch Escalade limo has a description that reads “white exterior with black interior, black lacquer and carbon fiber bars with fiber optics, wood floor, fibre optic ceiling, laser, strobe and neon lights, 2 TVs with DVD, premium sound system Bluetooth hookup, LED dome lights, mood lighting, and a driver partition. Holds 15 adults or 16 kids. Displacement is a 6.2-litre V8, 8-speed automatic and 420 hp with 624 Nm at 4,100 rpm.”
McLaren 650S GT3
This GT3 is race prepared, with a large carbon-fibre splitter, enhanced air intakes on each side of the nose. The revised front hood provides additional cooling to the car’s internals, reshaped side air intakes to send more air into the engine, and redesigned side sills make sure the racer remains planted at high speeds.
1968 Chevrolet Impala
1966 Renault Caravelle
1959 Cadillac De Ville (only unit in Malaysia)
1978 Rolls Royce Shadow II
What do you think? What cars made it to the top of your list this year? Did you wish there were more brands participating at KLIMS? Share with us your thoughts in the comments!
In case you missed it, click here for the additional previews and launches at KLIMS 2018!
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Keyword: These are the Interesting Cars at the KL International Motor Show 2018!