Fast Lane: Toyota, Charge+, Apple CarPlay Ultra, Skoda
Electric wagon: The Toyota bZ4X Touring, known as the bZ Woodland in North America, is expected to be sold in 2026. PHOTO: TOYOTA EUROPE
Rugged Toyota EV in the pipeline
Toyota has stretched its bZ4 electric vehicle (EV), which is a sport utility vehicle (SUV), to create a slightly rugged-looking wagon. Called the bZ Woodland in North America and bZ4X Touring in Japan and Europe, the EV will go on sale in those places in 2026.
At 4,830mm long, the electric Toyota is exactly the same length as the BYD Sealion 7. But its wheelbase is 80mm shorter than the popular Chinese EV, at 2,850mm.
A front-motor 165kW version a nd a dual-motor 280kW version have been announced for the European market. Depending on specification, the EV has up to 560km of operating range. The maximum DC charging speed is 150kW.
The Japanese automotive giant is stepping up its EV efforts after pushing back for years. Singapore was slated to get the bZ4 earlier on, initially as part of a car-sharing scheme, but that has not come to fruition.
In March 2025, the company announced that it will be launching nine EVs in Europe by 2026, of which three are Lexus models.
Plugging in across the border
Make connections: The new charging station in the Ayer Keroh area has six charging points to serve EVs on road trips.
PHOTO: CHARGE+
Singapore electric vehicle-charging service operator Charge+ ha s set up a charging station in the Ayer Keroh area in Melaka state.
Located at the Amverton Heritage Resort, the charging station has six charging points: Four are DC and two are AC. The station is said to be a three-minute drive from the North-South Expressway and is accessible by motorists heading in either direction, whether northbound towards Kuala Lumpur or southboard towards Johor Bahru.
Along with the opening of the charging station, Charge+ announced it will be working with EV Edaran, a subsidiary of Amverton Group, to develop EV-charging infrastructure beyond Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.
In its press statement on May 13, Charge+ said the partnership is part of the company's ongoing efforts to support Malaysia's goal of establishing 10,000 EV charging stations across the country by 2025. More broadly, Charge+ is establishing a network of chargers across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Go to www.chargeplus.com for more information.
Apple CarPlay turbocharged
Improved integration: Apple CarPlay Ultra incorporates vehicle data, presenting them on the driver's instrument display.
PHOTO: ASTON MARTIN
Aston Martin is the first carmaker to offer Apple CarPlay Ultra, which is the next generation of the phone mirroring technology for the iPhone. Other brands, including Kia and Porsche, were said to be partnering Apple to incorporate the software in their models.
The new software integrates the vehicle's instrument cluster to present information such as the speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge, going beyond mirroring the phone's functions.
The look of the interface will be customised to suit the requirement of each carmaker. Access to the features can be via on-screen controls, physical buttons or Apple's digital assistant, Siri.
A range of Aston Martin models will have Apple CarPlay Ultra ready within the next 12 months, said the British company on May 15.
Futuristic Skoda motorcycle
Tribute act: The Slavia B Concept is the first of a series of reimagined classics that Skoda plans to release.
PHOTO: SKODA
Skoda has created the Slavia B Concept, a two-wheeler that pays tribute to the brand's 1899 motorcycle. Notably, Skoda began as a bicycle builder in 1895, then went on to produce motorcycles and cars.
The original Slavia B was designed and built under the Laurin & Klement brand, the company that would later become Skoda Auto. The two-wheeler was essentially a bicycle with an engine in the middle of the frame.
References to the 1899 motorcycle include the integrated leather tool bag, which is said to be a homage to a Skoda factory rider who finished the 1901 Paris-Berlin race with a Slavia B.
The Slavia B Concept is the first in a new series of reimagined Skoda classics.
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