There are few silver linings to the COVID-19 pandemic, but free-flowing traffic is certainly one of them!
For the essential workers who still must commute each day, driving to work has suddenly become much easier. The same applies to the trucks delivering our surging e-commerce orders. Removing so many cars from the roads has even led to cleaner air, clearer views, and more room for outdoor recreation, even in major cities.
And for the rest of us? Well, maybe it's time to go car shopping again as there’s definitely no better to enjoy the highways surrounding your suburb than now! And the following are some of the top picks from the myriad of automotive releases in our neck of the woods for you to consider.
This article was first featured in The Peak Malaysia's 2/2021 Issue
Lexus LM 350
Instead of stretch limousines favoured by the moneyed set in the U.S. and Europe, luxury passenger minivans are more popular throughout Asia as a chauffeured vehicle for the jet-set, thanks to their easy entry and exit, standing room, spacious interiors and the infinitely more comfortable captain’s chairs. With the new LM350, Lexus affords the Toyota Alphard people mover with a get-out-of-the-right-lane front end, featuring a ginormous version of Lexus’ spindle grille, flanked by slim LED projector headlights with signature arrow-shaped daytime running lights and sequential indicators. Inside, there are only two jetliner first class-style captain’s chairs. Endless legroom is ensured through the rearwards positioning of the seats, which come with large headrest surrounds, AdaptiPedic rate-sensitive response foam and powered ottomans with reclining backrests. And yes, the entire rear compartment is separated from the front through a cabin partition. What’s absolutely identical to the Alphard is the 2GR-FKS 3.5 litre naturally-aspirated and direct-injected V6, producing 296 hp at 6,600 rpm and 361 Nm of torque. Paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it gets from zero to 100 km/h in a respectable 8.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 180 km/h.
