Great Wall Motor (GWM) has updated its offerings for the 2025 off-road SUV model, the Tank 300, introducing a brand-new diesel engine variant for customers.
The Tank 300 diesel is powered by a 2.4-liter turbo engine that delivers 181 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque.
With a nine-speed automatic transmission (9AT), the Tank 300 is said to provide a smoother driving experience, boasting an efficiency rate of up to 97 percent!
In addition to the 2.0-liter turbo petrol variant (217 hp/380 Nm), the Tank 300 is also available in a Hi4-T plug-in hybrid version.
The total output of the Tank 300 Hi4-T can reach 402 hp and 750 Nm of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 6.7 seconds and offering an emissions-free range of up to 105 km.
Ten driving modes are also available.
Significant changes have been made to the cabin, with the Tank 300 now featuring a 14.6-inch infotainment screen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, a 12.3-inch digital cluster display, a column-mounted gear shifter, and a new steering wheel.
Additionally, it includes a 12-speaker audio system, Coffee OS 3 operating system, active noise cancellation, and Nappa leather seating.
Due to the relocation of the gear shifter and the revamped layout of the functional buttons on the center console, the cockpit now appears more spacious and tidy.
In terms of exterior design, the 2025 Tank 300 retains the same aesthetic as the existing model, but it adds a new desert yellow color option.
In China, the starting price for the 2025 Tank 300 is 199,800 yuan (RM122,070), with the diesel variant starting from 234,800 yuan (RM143,454), and the Hi4-T variant starting at 249,800 yuan (RM152,618).
Starting September 2025, Malaysians will be able to enjoy the use of Euro 5 petrol, with full specifications expected to be achieved by 2027, according to Sinar Harian.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, during an event held on the Shah Alam Expressway yesterday (November 13).
According to him, this implementation aligns with the Environmental Quality Regulations (Control of Fuel Content for Petrol and Diesel) 2007.
“As such, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRES) and the Department of Environment (DOE) will work closely with the industry to ensure a smooth transition.
He further stated that the use of Euro 5 will encourage the Malaysian automotive industry to enhance vehicle technology, including for commercial and heavy-duty vehicles.
He explained that vehicles with Euro 5 emission technology will operate more efficiently and produce cleaner emissions, thereby positively impacting the air quality in the country.
“Previously, the country took proactive steps to address air pollution issues by introducing Euro 5 diesel fuel since April 2021, and it has since achieved full specifications by April 2023.”
The government has been urged to implement the targeting of RON95 petrol subsidies based on vehicle type rather than household or individual income.
According to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute (Minda-UKM) director, Professor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, the concept is similar to vehicle classification for toll payments on highways.
He further added that, in the context of petrol subsidies, the classification should be based on vehicle engine capacity.
“It is common for those with low incomes to use motorcycles as their daily transport, while wealthier individuals tend to use vehicles with larger engine capacities.
“If a wealthy person uses a Perodua Kancil, they should qualify for the subsidy because they consume less fuel.
“Of course, there will be some leakage in every classification, but it can be minimised,” he said at a special press conference on the 2025 Budget on Thursday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, announced in the 2025 Budget on Friday that the targeting of RON95 petrol subsidies is expected to be introduced by mid-2025.
Additionally, he stated that the government is advised to assist the underprivileged through alternative methods without disturbing market prices.
“I prefer to maintain market prices, and we cannot live in a state of denial.
“If we continue to suppress prices at a low level for an extended period, it will create a burden.
“If a war occurs in the Gulf countries, it will certainly lead to an increase in petrol prices; the public needs to be informed, and the government must provide assistance through alternative methods without interfering with market prices,” he said.
IF you own a car or have a driving license, you surely know that there are generally two main types of fuel, namely petrol and diesel. Both of these fuels are very different and serve as the fuel for two different types of engines.
However, errors in filling fuel are quite common, such as mistakenly filling petrol into a diesel engine vehicle or vice versa.
This mistake can be caused by various factors such as forgetfulness, frequently changing cars, lack of awareness, or any other reason that could be the cause.
In this article, we will explore what happens if you mistakenly fill fuel or oil into a vehicle. Most importantly, we will also look at what can be done to ‘fix’ that mistake.
What are the consequences of the wrongdoing?
The consequences or effects of this error essentially involve damage to engine components. Each petrol or diesel engine operates differently, and petrol and diesel have different properties.
It’s like if you were supposed to add sugar to a drink, but mistakenly added flour, the drink would surely be ‘spoiled’, right?
Diesel in a petrol car
In actuality, it’s quite difficult to include diesel in a petrol car. This is because diesel nozzles mostly do not fit into a petrol car’s fuel inlet. However, if diesel is included, it will damage the internal engine components and fuel system.
Petrol is thinner and diesel is denser. If diesel is introduced into a petrol engine, it will cause blockages in the system since petrol engines are not designed to handle the denser diesel fuel.
Subsequently, the fuel injectors will be blocked, the spark plugs will also be damaged. The engine will stutter, there might be white smoke before the engine dies and cannot be restarted.
Petrol in a diesel car
The likelihood of filling petrol in a diesel vehicle is higher. This is because petrol nozzles are smaller and can easily fit into a diesel tank inlet. Unfortunately, filling petrol into a diesel tank will cause greater damage to the diesel engine.
In a diesel engine, compression ignites the fuel. Therefore, the fuel will enter the internal engine parts, and the fuel also acts as a lubricant.
So, if petrol enters this engine, its evaporation properties can damage the engine components. Fuel injectors that require lubrication will not function properly as well. The worst part is, it’s not easy for us to realize the presence of petrol in a diesel engine.
By the time you realize it, it is likely too late, and the engine is severely damaged.
What can be done if a mistake is made?
Now, let’s also look at what can be done if a mistake is made.
Diesel in a petrol car
If you realize it while filling, don’t worry, if it’s still a small amount, continue filling the tank with petrol. If a little diesel has mixed in, you can still safely drive the petrol car.
The best course of action is to remove all the diesel from the tank and refill it with petrol.
If you filled it up completely, do not start the engine. Immediately contact a tow truck to take your car to a workshop for further action.
Lastly, if you’ve already started the engine, turn it off immediately. Contact a tow truck and take it to a workshop.
If you have driven a long distance, stop and turn off the engine immediately as well. This is the worst-case scenario, and if you realize it, the car’s fuel system needs to be inspected and cleaned. Components like fuel filters and spark plugs may need to be replaced.
Petrol in a diesel car
Handling this situation is almost the same as above. When you realize you have filled petrol, immediately tow the vehicle so the fuel system can be cleaned and refilled with diesel.
If you’ve already started the engine, petrol might have flowed further in. Your diesel engine will need a thorough inspection.
The worst situation is if you have driven the vehicle for some time. Petrol may have entered all areas of the engine and many components will be damaged. Immediately stop the vehicle, turn off the engine, and contact a tow truck to take the vehicle to a workshop.
Tips to prevent filling errors
Some tips to prevent the above situations from happening are:
Use fuel stickers – These act as quick warnings so you do not mistakenly fill the wrong fuel.
Double-check when entering a gas station – Always be aware of the station and pump you are entering.
Get out of the vehicle when refueling – It’s better to step out of the vehicle than to let the attendant do everything for you. Also, make sure they are filling the correct fuel into your vehicle.
THE policy paper for the rationalization of subsidies for RON95 petrol has not yet been brought to the cabinet for implementation. This was stated by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He mentioned that the re-targeting of subsidies for this purpose would not be implemented in the near future.
“There is no policy paper that can lead us to implement it (the rationalization of RON95 subsidies) quickly. There have been studies all along, but we think it’s better to first observe the steps taken regarding electricity and diesel subsidies,” he said in the Parliament yesterday.
He responded to an additional question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) who wanted to know if the government intended to implement the re-targeting of RON95 petrol subsidies.
Anwar, however, stated that in his opinion, the re-targeting of RON95 petrol subsidies should have been implemented long ago, but he was aware of various constraints that made it difficult to reinstate the subsidies for the fuel.
“If you ask me, re-targeting RON95 subsidies should have been done a long time ago. But this is not easy, as the problem we face is that 3.8 million foreigners are using this oil, just as the wealthy are. This is something that is crucial and important for us to halt,” he added.
He also criticized the opposition’s statement for continuously “manipulating” the issue of re-targeting diesel subsidies, claiming that it burdens the people.
“Until now, there are still those who are ‘riding’ on the issue with various accusations of the government being oppressive and claiming that subsidies have been completely withdrawn.
“Is the re-targeting of these subsidies a wise decision for the economy? All (Members of Parliament) agree, even though they expressed disagreement during the campaign.
“When (the previous government) was in power, they also said that (re-targeting diesel subsidies) was necessary, but because they knew it would heat up the political temperature (it was not implemented).
“However, I acknowledge that the implementation aspect can be disputed. I accept this, but what we are hearing now is only the accusation of an oppressive government, cutting subsidies and repeating the campaign (in the past), today in power, tomorrow oil prices will drop,” he said.
Several years ago, vehicle manufacturers presented their plans to transition their model lineups to electric vehicles (EVs). Some even set dates for phasing out the production of oil-based vehicles (diesel and petrol).
However, many are now reassessing the future. Sales are dwindling, customer interest is waning, and now nearly half of EV owners in America are considering switching back to petrol. What is happening?
According to a study by McKinsey & Co.’s 2024 Mobility Consumer Pulse, they found that 46 percent of EV owners in the United States want to revert back to petrol due to inadequate charging infrastructure.
This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 29 percent who want to switch back to fossil fuels. 35 percent of global respondents said public charging networks are not good enough.
34 percent said the ownership costs of EVs are still very high, and 32 percent said EVs heavily impact their long-distance driving habits. As of May, the U.S. had 183,000 EV public chargers, but it is still insufficient.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 allocated a $5 billion grant to build fast chargers, but the implementation is taking too long.
Other reasons given by owners for switching back to petrol include the inability to charge at home (24 percent), concerns about charging (21 percent), and the need for charging mobility (16 percent).
Only 13 percent said they dislike the driving experience. Some drivers prefer combustion engine vehicles, such as 18 percent in the U.S. and 28 percent in Germany.
Interestingly, Americans are not the largest group considering a switch back to petrol, but Australia, with 49 percent of EV owners. On the other hand, Japan has the lowest percentage, with only 13 percent of EV owners willing to revert to petrol.
Other countries with low percentages include Italy (15 percent), France (18 percent), Germany (24 percent), and China (28 percent).
IT is safe to say that the transition towards full electric (EV) is not progressing as some manufacturers expected. Several manufacturers have delayed their electrification goals.
Just last year, Volkswagen projected that EVs would account for up to 80 percent of vehicle sales in Europe by the end of this decade. However, the lukewarm reception of their ID models has led VW to reassess their strategy.
Of the 180 billion Euros (RM914 billion) budget allocated in 2023 for new-generation EVs, the German manufacturer will now use one-third of it for the development of combustion engines.
This announcement came from Arn Antlitz, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Volkswagen Group. “The company aims to spend approximately 60 billion Euros (RM304 billion) to ensure our combustion cars remain competitive.”
He added, “The future is electric, but the past has not yet ended.”
Last year, VW CEO Thomas Schäfer referred to ICE as “old technology” in the context of e-fuel. He stated that synthetic fuels were just “unnecessary noise,” even though Porsche, also part of the same group, is actively involved in synthetic fuels at its plant in Chile.
Another premium brand under VW is also researching how sustainable fuels can evolve. Bugatti plans to build fuel stations that can be installed at owners’ homes and filled with synthetic fuels.
Lamborghini believes combustion engines can be saved by making them run on fuels other than fossil oil. Bentley is also exploring fuels with almost zero carbon emissions.
It is clear that more car manufacturers are reassessing their EV strategies as consumers are not yet ready to let go of ICE engines.
Manufacturers are somewhat aggressive as emission standards become stricter, necessitating investment in cleaner-running petrol engines. At the same time, the influx of EVs from China is also concerning major manufacturers.
THE government has set the retail price of diesel fuel at RM3.35 per liter starting from midnight tonight (June 10, 2024).
According to the Second Finance Minister, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, the new price will be enforced at all petrol stations across Peninsular Malaysia. The retail price of diesel fuel in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan will remain at RM2.15 per liter.
Through the implementation of diesel subsidy targeting, the government has set the diesel prices for eligible sectors as follows:
Subsidized Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 using fleet card method for logistic vehicles, set at RM2.15 per liter
Subsidized Diesel Control System (SKDS) 1.0 for public land transport vehicles including school buses, express buses, ambulances, and fire engines at RM1.88 per liter
Subsidized diesel for fishermen remains at RM1.65 per liter
The subsidy targeting is introduced in the form of cash assistance through the following initiatives:
Individual BUDI Cash Assistance of RM200 per month for citizens who own private diesel vehicles
Agri-Commodity BUDI Cash Assistance of RM200 per month for small-scale farmers and commodity smallholders
It is understood that the first group of over 30,000 recipients will benefit from Individual BUDI and Agri-Commodity BUDI assistance starting tomorrow (June 10, 2024).
A pilot project to test the MySubsidi Diesel system of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Fleet Card system of petrol companies through six selected goods transport companies will be implemented with effect from February 1.
Its minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the implementation of the pilot project was for the expansion of granting subsidised diesel quotas to the land transport (goods) sector through the Subsidised Diesel Control System 2.0 (SKDS 2.0).
The six companies are Perceptive Logistic Sdn Bhd, Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd, Mun Chuen Transport Sdn Bhd, Tan Swee Hee Sdn Bhd, Sim Yew Enterprise Sdn Bhd and Rantau Panjang Haulage Sdn Bhd which were selected after their Skid Tank quotas expire this month.
“An engagement session was held to give exposure to pilot companies and petrol companies about the guidelines to apply for quotas and reporting under MySubsidi Diesel System and the Fleet Card system,” he said during a press conference.
Earlier Armizan made a working visit to review the preparations of Syarikat Perceptive Logistics for the implementation of the pilot project in Port Klang.
He explained that SKDS is currently given through two channels, namely Skid Tank which involves manual application and processing and Fleet Card which uses the MySubsidi Diesel KPDN system.
“At this point, only the land transport sector (public) uses the Fleet Card channel while the goods transport sector (land), river passenger boats as well as ferries and boats to the main island still use the Skid Tank channel,” he said.
He said the use of Fleet Card can reduce the offence of misappropriation and smuggling of subsidised diesel since the system will be digitally monitored by KPDN and oil companies while Skid Tank only involves reporting by the companies involved.
“KPDN will continue to monitor the implementation of this pilot project and get feedback from the industry to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the system which is expected to be implemented in the second quarter of this year,” he said
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