Dangerous games at night being played by kids

With the overturning of the acquittal of Sam Ke Ting in the
‘
basikal lajak’
 case in Johor
, it seems that young children may now believe that they are protected by the law even if their action of dangerous and irresponsible. They now feel emboldened to play on roads and not only inconvenience other road-users but also put themselves and others in danger.

This 19-second video posted by
Facebook user Che Kumar
 recently shows a group of children along a narrow road said to be in the Taman Anggerik area in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The video shows them purposely lying on the roadside as a car approaches, and because the area is not well lit, the driver might only see them at the last moment.

They take positions lying down right next to the path of the car and just after it passes, one boy rolls across the road, perhaps to give the impression that he had been hit. Had the driver been shocked or confused by such a strange situation, he or she might have lost control of the car in panic and then an accident would have occurred.

Source:
FB Che Kumar

Hopefully, the police (who are quick to notice videos on social media) will take action before someone does get hurt and an innocent motorist might be jailed even though he may not be aware that such ‘games’ are played in the area at night.

Still considered guilty even after two acquittals in ‘basikal lajak’ case?


Lunaz Begins Work On Most Complex Electric Range Rovers

Following the announcement a year ago that Lunaz Design was taking orders for its first batch of classic electric Range Rovers, demand has been growing and now accounts for 45% of the marque’s total production. The orders are for two configurations – ‘Town’, which focuses on rear seat and driver comfort, and ‘Country’, which incorporates engineering features that enable ‘better-than-new’ off-roading capability – which will be made in a 70:30.

The company says that the first two units are the most complex Range Rover builds ever undertaken by Lunaz Design. The first is a Long Wheelbase variant in ‘Town’ configuration and the second is a fully open Safari model – the same type that featured in the James Bond film,
Octopussy
 – in ‘Country’ specification.

Created for two different customers on each side of the Atlantic, the ‘Town’ Range Rover will be 80% chauffeur-driven and kept in Monaco, while the ‘Country’ Safari model will be used as a sailing yacht tender in New York.

The restoration and conversion process represents re-engineering from the ground up. It starts with an exhaustive inspection. Each corner is then weighed to understand the original weight distribution to the gram. This information informs decisions on chassis set-up, powertrain packaging and suspension. The original internal combustion engine and associated systems are then removed and the chassis is prepared for electrification.

The car is then 3D-scanned; this allows the engineers to create detailed CAD models to ensure technical perfection in every step of the process.

After being stripped to bare metal, each base car is reinforced with box section steel in preparation for its significantly uprated all-wheel-drive powertrain. The specifics of Lunaz electric propulsion technology are closely guarded, but each classic by Lunaz is designed, developed, engineered and tested in-house using the highest specification modules available for automotive applications.

Following its installation – and subject to customer preference – this will deliver roughly 360 bhp/610 Nm, which is approximately 177% more power than the original V8 engine – and with zero emissions, of course.

Six and four-piston disc brakes will be fitted to the front and rear respectively. The brakes also feature a regenerative function, recharging the car’s battery when decelerating or braking. The suspension on both SUVs will be subject to a complete overhaul. All bushings and linkages are replaced then adjustable, long-travel coil-over suspension will be fitted.

Traditional coachbuilding and restoration skills are then employed and the car is stripped down to a bare metal shell. Even imperceptible body defects are addressed by hand before the surface finish process begins.

Range Rovers by Lunaz specified in ‘Town’ configuration receive significant bespoke treatments. Alongside more simple requests for personalised exterior and interior colourways, features requested by customers include integrating vintage clothing into the vehicle’s fabric palette, Starlink wifi connectivity and switchgear and seat fabrics made from upcycled ocean plastics.

Nearly all ‘Country’ vehicles have been commissioned based on their owners’ estates. From ranches in Wyoming, vineyards on the Cote d’Azur and shooting estates in Scotland, each Range Rover by Lunaz has been meticulously tailored to the specific climate, terrain and lifestyle demands of their owners.

While upgrading the off-road capability of the car is often prioritized, customers have integrated field sports equipment stowage and even ski equipment racks with ‘warm boxes’ for hats and gloves in preparation for a day on the pistes.

In the cabin, the utility of the original interior design has been significantly elevated, balancing the integration of the latest technology, such as Apple CarPlay-enabled infotainment with a 6-inch screen and modern audio upgrades powered by a 1300W amplifier, with the iconic Range Rover aesthetic.

The interior of the Long Wheelbase model uses a colour palette inspired by the customer’s second home in Scotland. Rugged greens, warm oranges and rich mineral tones are rendered in both leather and durable box-woven wool on the seats – each electrically operated, heated and cooled with massage functions.

The customer also requested a specific wood species, walnut, for use in her Range Rover, which flows from the dashboard into the centre console. The console itself features wireless device charging facilities, warming and cooling drinks carriers, a separate water fridge and a watch winder for four timepieces. The exterior is finished in a bold coral colour, designed by the customer herself, with a contrasting jet-black roof.

On average, the transformation of each vehicle requires 30,000 hours to complete. However, in the case of the long wheelbase model, experts across Lunaz’ design, engineering and craft functions spent more than 50,000 collective hours.

The open Safari model required significant body and chassis reinforcements using triangular steel section to brace the car in preparation for its uprated powertrain, but also remain stable without a roof.

Electric vehicles have usually been expensive due to the advanced and new technologies but those that have become mainstream models have the benefit of economies of scale to push prices down. Not so with the classic electric Range Rover by Lunaz, each of which is expected to start at £245,000 (about RM1.342 million), ex-factory, because of its very small production volume.

Lunaz turns 1960s Aston Martin DB6 into electric sportscar for more than US$1 million

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


PROMO: Fancy A French Theme This CNY? Check Out These ‘Ong’ SUV Deals From TC Euro Cars!

TC Euro Cars (TCEC)
, the sole franchise holder for
Renault
 vehicles in Malaysia, has announced its ‘Capture More with Renault’ campaign offering customers the chance to win up to
RM8,888
 in cash, MORE deals and MORE peace-of-mind in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities.

“Chinese New Year is a season to reconnect with loved ones. To spend more time with family, build stronger bonds and revel in more happiness. It is also a time when people usher in a more abundant new year for health and longevity, prosperity and fortune, as well as larger families to pass on the family name,”
 said
Kuan Kim Luen, CEO, TC Euro Cars Sdn. Bhd.
“In line with these sentiments, the ‘Capture More with Renault’ campaign reflects our desire to give more to our customers as we offer them more rebates on Renault vehicles, more cash prizes to enjoy and more reassurance for their travels on the road,”
 he added.

Through the campaign, customers can test their powers of estimation in the Renault ‘Guess and Win’ challenge for a chance to gain some fantastic cash prizes. The first prize winner will drive home with
RM8,888
, the second prize winner
RM3,888
 while the third prize is worth
RM1,888
. To participate, customers who purchased
any
 Renault vehicle within the campaign period can take a gander at guessing the total number of “mandarin oranges” that will be packed into the ample, versatile boot space of a Renault Captur. The featured Captur will be on display at all eight Renault showroom branches located in Petaling Jaya, Glenmarie, Puchong, Setia Alam – Selangor, Setapak – Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Ipoh and Johor Jaya.

Attractive deals on selected models are also on offer during the ‘Captur More with Renault’ campaign, which runs from now. The trendy turbocharged
Renault Captur
 crossover is available at
RM99,999
 (normal price, RM105,980). This promotional price includes a free service package inclusive of parts and labour for five years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) as well as a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage.

Blending all the cues of an urban crossover that modern drivers have to come to expect, the Renault Captur features expressive exterior styling with chic two-tone body colours, premium black leather seats, sliding rear seats for more boot space, seven-inch Infotainment multimedia system with reserve camera and built-in navigation, four high efficiency airbags and Hill Start Assist and excellent fuel efficiency of up to 5.4 l/100km (based on NEDC test method) with a single full tank.

“The Renault Captur has been the best-selling crossover model in its class in Europe, with global sales of 1,116,357 units.”

Koleos
, Renault’s flagship model, is also on offer. Under the ‘Capture More with Renault’ campaign, limited units of the
Koleos

2WD
 are attractively priced from
RM169,840
 (normal price, RM173,840). For enhanced customer peace-of-mind, the Koleos also comes with a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage and free five-year or 100,000km (whichever comes first) service package, inclusive of parts and labour. Additionally, customers will also enjoy an extra
free gift
 in the form of a
Raytech Solar and Security tint
 worth up to
RM1,800
.

A premium D-segment SUV, the Koleos best class-leading interior space with refinements that match a luxury car and features a powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine, a large 8.7-inch touchscreen R-LINK 2 multimedia system, customisable LED cabin lighting, premium leather seats, six airbags and blind spot warning system.

All promotions and promotional prices listed are for Peninsular Malaysia and subject to terms and conditions. All prices of vehicles stated are on-the-road inclusive of SST, without insurance, for Peninsular Malaysia and private individual registration only

For more information about Renault in Malaysia, please visit
www.renault.com.my
 or
www.facebook.com/RenaultMalaysia
.


All you need to know about the new BMW M2 Competition

BMW Malaysia has officially unveiled the latest BMW M2 Competition earlier today at the Sepang International Circuit. Set as the ultimate premium performance machine, the new M2 Competition stands its ground in setting new records for precision driving and euphoria.

According to Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, “M is synonymous with power and has been the symbol of Thrilling Sportiness for many generations now. Every time a new generation of the M is born, a new benchmark is set. Paying homage to the first turbocharged BMW vehicle introduced in 1973, the New BMW M2 Competition has built upon the legacy of the BMW 2002 Turbo to introduce a true motorsports masterpiece for this generation.”

Sitting under the hood is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology which now produces a whopping 410hp and 550Nm of maximum torque. The new power unit which was injected with M3 and M4 goodies now has over 40hp and 85Nm torque more than its predecessor.

This translates to 0-100km/h in only 4.2 seconds and for the first time, the new BMW M2 Competition comes with two selector switches in the central console to directly adjust various characteristics and settings for the engine, steering and Drivelogic functions.

All that power is carefully controlled by its seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with several modes or preconfigured driving programmes like Comfort, Sport and Sport+. This results in ultra-smooth gear shifts (and a very, very exciting downshifts).

Everything about the new M2 screams performance from what lies under the hood to how the exterior looks. New front skirt with modified air intakes help to optimize air follow to its cooling system which not only looks good but also a very sophisticated feature.

Rounding up the entire front end are the larger BMW kidney grille in high-gloss black, side gills, and classic LED headlights. To ante up the ‘M’ characteristics, M-specific twin strut side mirrors can be found which helps to improve aerodynamics even further.

Looking for a car with one hell of a fabulous soundtrack? Don’t think too much and just buy one! This baby comes with a newly revised exhaust system that features dual branch design, new muffler and four tailpipes. This beauty will keep things popping all day long.

Two electrically controlled flaps ensure that the New BMW M2 Competition delivers the distinctive BMW M tune, which the driver can adjust by selecting a driving mode with M Dynamic Performance Control – by pressing a selector switch on the centre console.

Other exciting features include:

Recalibrated Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system

BMW Active M Differential

M Dynamic Mode (MDM)

M Compound brakes

19-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke style 437 M

Harman Kardon HiFi loudspeaker

BMW Malaysia has priced their latest BMW M2 Competition at RM626,800 (OTR without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty). Different colour options are available from Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic, Long Beach Blue Metallic or Hockenheim Silver Metallic paired with Black Leather Dakota upholstery with blue contrast stitching, or in Sunset Orange Metallic paired with Black Leather Dakota with orange contrast stitching.

BMW Vision M NEXT – The future of driving


F1/Round 16: Preview & Starting Grid For 2022 Italian Grand Prix

The Monza circuit celebrates its 100
th
 anniversary this year and the 16
th
 round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship being held there this weekend will be the 72
nd
 time it has hosted a round. When the track, also known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, opened in 1922, the first race it hosted was the second Italian Grand Prix (pre-F1).

Monza is a high-speed track; in fact, it has the highest speeds of any F1 track. Due to the long straights and large portion of lap spent in eighth gear, with the highest average cornering speed of any F1 track today. It also has the lowest downforce level of the year and requires a special rear wing, just for this event.

The tow is massively powerful in Monza and is particularly important in qualifying, leading to battles on track to find a tow – you don’t want to be at the front of the pack, punching a hole in the air for everyone else. It can bring as much as 0.25 second of lap time per lap. So it’s all about pace, with 85% of the lap distance taken at full throttle.

Race starts at 3 pm in Italy/9 pm in Malaysia

Monza, known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, has a 100-year history and this weekend’s race will be the 72nd time it has hosted a Formula 1 round.

“If you nail the tow around here in qualifying, it will definitely make a difference but it’s high-risk-high-reward so not something we’re putting a lot of emphasis on. Qualifying sessions are where you learn the most about the car and the tyres, and they’ve been the sessions we’ve struggled most with this year, so I think we’ll both be going out like any other quali day and trying to nail the basics,” said Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell.

Cornering speeds and gears used by the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS drivers at Monza.

“With a new generation of car comes uncertainty,” said Tom Stallard, race engineer in Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren team. “Monza was a great event for us last year and ended very well. However, the car this year is very different with the new regulations. Our car now suits the high-downforce circuits, not the low-drag circuits, so we’re not expecting that we will see the same kind of performance this year, as we did last year – but we will do our best.”

“We can adapt the car from corner to corner by changing the switches, which means we can adapt the car to suit the driver much better. From an F1 engineer’s point of view, that is quite an interesting challenge,” he added.

Besides having a minute’s silence at the track, the F1 teams also placed this plaque on their racing cars as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday afternoon in Scotland.

The positions on the starting grid will again not reflect the qualifying times as there will be repositioning due to many drivers having various penalties. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen will have a 5-place penalty and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz too will be moved back. Having already used three engines, Lewis Hamilton is now on his fourth one and that incurs a penalty that will mean he has to start from the back.

The other drivers who will also be demoted, whatever time they get, are Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez (10-place penalty), Alfa Romeo ORLEN’s Valtteri Bottas and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda. For changing too many gearboxes, Haas F1’s Mick Schumacher also has a 5-place penalty.

It’s rare for F1 drivers to skip races but Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon has no choice since he has appendicitis. His place is filled by Nyck de Vries (right), who has been racing in Formula E.

The top scorers
Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have an equal number of F1 victories at Monza – 5 each, with Hamilton last winning in 2018. Sebastian Vettel had his first F1 win at Monza in 2008 when he was with Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Ferrari has won 19 times with the first win taken by Alberto Ascari in 1951. The team’s most recent victory was in 2019 by Charles Leclerc.


Honda Malaysia aims to sell 80,000 units in 2022 and introduce Certified Used Car business

After a difficult year in 2021, Honda Malaysia will make a big push in 2022 with a target of 80,000 units, a 50% increase over the volume last year. This is based on the
forecast of 600,000 units
 which the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announced last month and would give the brand a 13.3% market share (10.4% in 2021).

The target has been set taking into consideration the global microchip shortage that is causing disruptions in vehicle assembly. However, the company also expects the introduction of two new models during the year to help boost the numbers.

The 5th generation City accounted for 36% of total Honda sales last year.

The company has maintained its No.1 position in Non-National Passenger Vehicle Segment for 8 consecutive years since 2014. The Central region was the largest contributor to the total sales in 2021 with more than 25,000 units sold, followed by Southern region and Northern region with more than 9,800 and 9,100 units, respectively. Model-wise, the
City
, HR-V and CR-V were the best-selling models, contributing 36%, 21% and 14%, respectively to the total volume.

“We started 2022 on the back of the strong momentum gained from the launch of the
All-New City Hatchback
 in December 2021. This model raised the benchmark in B-hatchback segment, offering advanced technology, namely e:HEV,
Honda SENSING
 and
Honda CONNECT
. This excellent start to the year continued with the launch of the
 All-New Civic
 last month. We set a new benchmark for the C-segment by offering VTEC Turbocharged and Honda SENSING as standard features for all variants. The model’s exceptional interior and exterior further complemented the All-New Civic’s overall package, making it stand apart in the C-segment,” said
Madoka Chujo
, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, at a media event this evening.

Honda e:HEV powertrain in the latest City RS. It can run on the petrol engine and/or electric motor, enhancing performance while saving fuel and reducing exhaust emissions.

Having introduced Honda’s e:HEV hybrid technology with the new City, Honda Malaysia plans to further popularise this technology among Malaysians. It is available with the
new City Hatchback
 as well and as hinted by Ms Chujo during the new Civic launch, there is also a possibility that we might see an e:HEV version of the model (it is available in Europe). One strategy that Honda Malaysia will be using will be to make such hybrid models more affordable.

In addition to the new model launches (likely to be the
new BR-V
 and HR-V which have already been launched in neighbouring countries), Honda Malaysia will introduce the Honda Certified Used Car business, a new business activity that will provide another option for customers to become Honda owners.

Honda Malaysia won’t say what the two new models are but we’re pretty certain they will be the new BR-V (above) and new HR-V (below), both of which are on sale in neighbouring countries.

While the company’s network of authorised dealerships nationwide already offer sales and aftersales services of a high standard, the company will continue to enhance the after-sales services experience by expanding its mobile service. This additional option for servicing the vehicle is expected to add convenience and satisfaction for Honda owners. They can make an appointment via the
HondaTouch application
 and Honda Malaysia mobile teams will come to their home or any location they provide to service their vehicle.

To locate a showroom to view or test-drive Honda vehicles in Malaysia, visit
www.honda.com.my
.


Milivie 1 – a legendary icon evolved to become the ultimate performance classic

These days, it seems that reviving iconic models is a growing trend and while doing so, designers also use the opportunity to reimagine the model. While retaining the iconic elements, they make subtle (or not so subtle) changes to modernise the design which still remains immediately recognisable.

The Milivie 1 is such a car, instantly recognisable as the legendary Volkswagen Beetle but evolved in various ways. It is the brainchild of Jonathan Engler, an artistic engineer with the vision to celebrate extinct German automotive icons and discreetly re-engineer them anew as an exclusive machine for the very select few.

Engler and his team start with a carefully selected donor VW 1303 model. While many will think of the Beetle as a product in the 1950 or 1960s, the 1303 in particular was actually produced in the 1970s when the model was given a bigger engine. Once the unit is acquired, it will receive over a thousand hours of craftsmanship and engineering. This evolved it into a car that shares little other than the metal monocoque section of body and the floorboards with the donor. Even these areas  are vastly modified from the original car.

The aim is also to provide a driving feel that is tactile, active and agile, hence every single component has been enhanced with a spec list that rivals the ultimate performance classic. The chassis is enhanced and onto it goes an air-cooled 2.28-litre flat four powertrain, precision-built for each car, tuned to the specific car’s use case and eventual environment. The Carrera 2-sourced ZF 4HP transmission is totally reworked to deliver the engaging, thrilling drive that will be the car’s signature.

The body, at first glance seemingly unchanged, is elegantly and artfully crafted to produce a smoother, more contemporary silhouette that combines shared DNA with a unique stance. The interior echoes familiarity but offers modernity. The vision for creating the interior design was to entirely replace the dominantly geometric and static design with a ground-up surface dynamic that elaborates on the exterior. Yet those shapes that are faithful to the original organic design base are the details characteristic to each generation of the donor vehicle’s history.

Engler has combined a subtle and unobtrusive exterior appearance with a complete reappraisal of driver and passenger desires that blends an old school driving feel with cutting edge technology and contemporary comforts.

The entire team has drawn on 70 years of air-cooled history and acted to build on the 78,000 incremental OEM changes made by the original manufacturer during the vehicle’s production period. To Engler and his team, the original story is an unfinished one deserving of a final, respectful yet totally modern evolution to mark the final chapter.

The number of cars that will be offered for sale – 22 – honours the 22 million total production output of the original Beetle, making each car representative of one in a million. In creating a car that is not only approachable in style but exclusive in every single detail, the Milivie team looked back not only to the donor vehicle’s extensive DNA, but also to wider evocation from air-cooled classics.

Complementing their evolution study references were drawn to pay homage to early Porsche designs, enabling them to respect and embrace the design vision of the car’s original creator – Ferdinand Porsche. 904 bodyline elements lead into the distinctive ducktail; the 935 echoes in the exhaust tips; and the 956 in the high-cut rear fenders and bumpers. The 964 inspired the concave indents of the rear fenders, not revealed until you glimpse the top view. The subtly inverted angle rear bumper from the type 64 results in a higher and longer rear end.

The slightly lower and more centred placement of the actual headlights and turn signals are inspired by the Rallye and buggy culture of the donor and once again evoke the 718, whilst the high-tension running lights are the stretched oval outlines of the Porsche RS Spyder headlights. The execution of painstaking design and artfully considered evolution delivers an initial silhouette that seems immediately familiar, whilst the detail intrigues and draws in the passionate driver for closer inspection.

Milivie is now taking orders for the cars which will have prices starting from €570,000 (around RM2.633 million). The first car will be delivered in July 2023 with subsequent units going to customers thereafter up till May 2025.

The Beetles that never made it to the showrooms


THROWBACK THURSDAY: VW Golf GTi 2.0 TSI Reviewed In 5-Minutes! [+Video]

Oh boy, this is gonna be a tough one. You see in this line of work, which now spans for half my lifetime (no, really, I started out in my early 20’s and I just turned 50, wow.) I’ve driven a LOT of cars. Some were good, some were wanting, and some were just downright dismal. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the automotive industry, especially from this side of the fence, the biggest one of course being the advent of digital media. Don’t forget when I first started out we were still using print film. What’s
‘film’
 you ask? Sheesh, ever heard of
 ‘proofs’
? Very soon, you never will again, mark my words.

Why is this gonna be a tough one? Well, with any car review, there are always pros and cons, good and bad, pretty and
pretty ugly
. It’s our job to best convey all this in the most presentable and tactful manner, for if it’s one thing I’ve learned in the last quarter century, “it’s not what you say but how you say it”. This old adage still rings true today, digital world and all. Here comes the problem though (finally); after a week with the Golf GTi, I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about it. I couldn’t find one thing wrong with it. As such, my usual 5-minute in-car review became a whopping 13-minutes! Sorry ya, I lied in the headline. Here it is…

I’ve pretty much covered everything I wanted to say about the Golf GTi in that video, so do take a minute (well, 13 anyway) to watch it, because I even went as far as giving marriage advice and helping you justify to the other half why you
‘needed’
 to buy a Golf GTi. And by the way, if you need to know the price and detailed specifications, you can click and download this:
VW Golf GTi Price & Specs

One of the things I can never comment about though is long-term ownership of course, but at my last interaction with the folks at VPCM, I was informed that the thorny
“DSG issue”
 had been sorted out a long time ago. And while no specifics were given, I’m quite certain it all boiled down (pun intended) to our climate, traffic conditions, and in particular our heat & humidity, which caused a ruckus in that whole system earlier.

(NB: To ALL car and bike importers here, “tropicalisation” is a
must
 for any vehicle you introduce. I’ve said this countless times)

With that sorted, it’s heartening to know that with
230Ps
and
 350Nm
 of torque, the Golf GTi is every bit as fun as you’d expect a hot-hatch to be. There’s oodles of low-end torque on tap, because the GTi makes all of it between 1,500rpm and 4,600rpm. Think of it this way; from just over idle speed, you have 350Nm of torque at your toe-tips. So ferocious is the power delivery in Sport mode that I actually felt torque-steer for the first time since reviewing the Mazda3 MPS.

The true beauty, or rather, the most impressive aspect of the Golf GTi though is that you really don’t need to drive like the devil himself is after you all the time. Yes, there’s Sport mode for that odd occasion you find yourself on your favourite stretch of deserted road, but I would reckon 90% of the time the GTi will be in Normal or Eco mode, and that’s fine too. I kid you not, it’s like having two cars in one.

See? 4-doors, back seat. Family car what! Ahem 😉

Come to think of it, that’s the most appealing aspect of the GTi. It allows you to be a teenager all over again, while at the same time, allows you to revert back to your current self, in the here and now. And that way, even after 25-years, and after the 90% Normal & Eco modes are put away, this car will make you feel the way you felt the very first time you got your license and your first car.

It’s exhilarating, it’s intoxicating, it’s a veritable fountain-of-youth. As I said in my video, don’t take my word for it, go drive it for yourself. The Golf GTi made me realise why I’ve been doing this for the last quarter-century, so despite its quarter-million sticker price, to me, it’s priceless. –
Chris Wee.

For more details on the VW Golf GTi 2.0 TSI, click this
link
.

VW Golf GTi Photo Gallery…

				See? Family car leh! 😉


ProDrive develops extreme SUV from Bahrain Raid Xtreme’s Dakar Rally machine, to sell for RM7.05 million

Prodrive, founded by former WRC co-driver David Richards, has lots of experience developing high-performance machines, especially for off-road use. A recent project was the Bahrain Raid Xtreme competition car driven by 9-time World Champion, Sebastien Loeb, in the Dakar Rally. Now using all its expertise and 40 years of successful off-road competition, it has developed the Hunter, a 600 bhp, 4-wheel drive all-terrain adventure vehicle with performance and capability to cross any landscape.

The rallycar used by Sebastien Loeb of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team in the 2022 Dakar Rally.

Designed and intended for desert sand, dunes and rough mountain tracks, the Hunter is even more extreme than that driven by Loeb, with a 50% increase in power from the V6 engine and more suspension travel to absorb the harshest of terrain.

But while the car is even faster and more capable than the rallycar, it is also more refined.  Ian Callum, who styled the exterior of the original competition car, returned to the project to create a new interior more in keeping with everyday use than rallying.

Aiming for Middle East markets

“There are numerous hypercars on the market; however, they all need good roads or even racetracks to show their performance. We identified that, in certain parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, there are vast expanses still to be explored that go way beyond the access provided by asphalt roads. Therefore, why not create a vehicle that gives the opportunity to explore these regions with performance way beyond that offered by any off-road vehicle before?” explained Richards.

The Hunter retains the Dakar competition car’s engine, drivetrain and suspension. To improve driveability, the manual sequential gearbox has been replaced by a 6-speeder with paddle shift, giving a smooth gear change in just milliseconds.

Higher power output

As the hypercar does not have to comply with strict competition regulations, the power output has been increased by more than 50%. The 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 has been refined and retuned to produce over 600 bhp and 700 Nm of torque while making its power delivery smoother and easier to drive.

Prodrive estimates that this would give it a 0 – 100 km/h time of less than 4 seconds and a top speed of nearly 300 km/h. The vehicle is fitted with bespoke 35-inch off-road tyres designed to optimise grip over rough terrain and sand, rather than on tarmac.

Hyper rallycar for the road

“We took the deliberate decision to keep the Hunter Hypercar as close to the original as possible. It’s about giving owners the opportunity to experience what it is like to drive Loeb’s Dakar car across the desert, but with all the comforts of a road car and the ability to drive it from your home, through a city, to any destination of your choice,” said Richards.

The whole car is built around a high-tensile steel spaceframe chassis, giving both a rigid platform to optimise the suspension geometry and performance and an FIA standard safety cage to protect the occupants. The all-round double wishbone suspension with twin adjustable dampers on each corner has 400 mm of travel – an increase from 350 mm on the competition car – to give a smoother ride and even greater ability to cross the roughest terrain at speeds unimaginable in any other vehicle.

The whole vehicle has been designed to minimise overall weight and optimise the weight distribution and centre of gravity. All the bodywork is made from lightweight carbon composite, which includes recycled materials produced by Prodrive Composites.

The first development Hunter is already going around the Middle East where potential customers are being offered the opportunity of driving it and confirming their personal specification for production vehicles, each priced from £1.25 million (about RM7.05 million) to be delivered later this year.

ProDrive’s Hunter T1+ competition car to run on sustainable fuel for FIA off-road events


‘Born to race’ Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is America’s new supercar

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was born in 1963 and was intended for racers as it was fitted with an  optional Special Equipment Package intended for racers. Now, 58 years later, the next chapter in the Corvette journey begins with the introduction of the new Corvette Z06 which arrives 2 years after the
first production mid-engine Corvette Stingray
 debuted.

While the Z06 was created to dominate on the track when it debuted in 1963, the Z06 nameplate has also come to symbolize the American supercar. The performance envelope of Z06 builds on the foundation laid by the Stingray, as does Z06’s design language. Expanded material offerings, new interior packages and features unique to Z06 enable owners to customise their car.

Raising the performance bar

“Corvette has always brought a discerning customer to the Chevy family,” said Steve Hill, Vice-President of Chevrolet. “This new Z06 is designed and engineered to set a higher bar with increased levels of craftsmanship, personalization and performance so customers can truly have their own bespoke performance car.”

The Z06 is set apart by its all-new LT6, with 670 bhp – the highest horsepower of any naturally-aspirated V8 in a production car today. An all-new flat-plane crankshaft design allows the driver to spin the engine to 8,600 rpm, accompanied all the way up by a distinctive, rich exhaust tone unlike anything ever heard from a Corvette.

Racing at its core

The sound and appearance of the Z06 take direction from Corvette Racing. The direct knowledge transfer from the track to the street comes from the Z06 chassis based on Corvette Racing’s C8.R since it began competing in 2020. Thanks to a shared chassis, similar engine architecture and exterior proportions, the C8.R has been referred to internally as the ‘Z06 hiding in plain sight’.

Apart from the more dramatic styling, the Z06 is 9.4 cm wider than the Stingray, accommodating massive 345-series rear tyres and allowing more airflow through side air vents. The standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminium ‘spider’ wheels are the largest ever fitted on a production Corvette. Carbonfibre wheels are also available and take away 18.6 kgs.

The all-new 5.5-litre DOHC V8 all-aluminium engine with 623 Nm marks a return to natural aspiration for the track-capable performance model. A version of the LT6 has powered the C8.R race cars since 2019, and the demands of endurance road racing helped engineers refine the engine’s performance and durability. An 8-speed dual-clutch transmission with a shorter 5.56 final drive ratio (compared to the Corvette Stingray) enhances acceleration.

Track-proven performance technologies

The new Z06 retains the SLA-type front and rear suspension design of the Corvette Stingray, but more specifically calibrated for its higher performance capabilities. Magnetic Selective Ride Control 4.0 is standard and can be adjusted for touring comfort or maximum track performance via the Driver Mode Selector. Like the Stingray, the selector tailors more than a dozen features of the Z06 to suit the driver’s preferences. These include Launch Control and adjusting the engagement rate of the electronic limited slip differential.

The Z06 is based on the same robust architecture as the Stingray so it can be offered in as a hardtop convertible. Inside, exclusive features include a carbonfibre-wrapped steering wheel, shift paddles and new carbonfibre interior trim.

“Racing was the reason the Z06 was developed in 1963, and it continues to support development of the road models that make them better on the street and the track,” said Tadge Juechter, Executive Chief Engineer, Corvette. “It also means we’ve tested the Z06 on the best tracks around the world, from Circuit of the Americas here in the USA, to the Nurburgring in Germany.”

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is North American Car of the Year for the third time


Mission E: First Fully-Electric Sports Car From Porsche Named Taycan [+Video]

The future of sporty sustainable mobility has just gotten another step closer, since Porsche has announced that the series production of the first purely electric Porsche is set to begin next year, and in preparation for this, the vehicle has now been given its official name: The
“Mission E”
 concept study, the name currently used to describe Porsche’s complete electric offering, will be known as the
Taycan
.

The name can be roughly translated as
“lively young horse”
, referencing the imagery at the heart of the Porsche crest, which has featured a leaping steed since 1952.

“Our new electric sports car is strong and dependable; it’s a vehicle that can consistently cover long distances and that epitomises freedom”
, explains
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG
. The oriental name also signifies the launch of the first electric sports car with the soul of a Porsche. Porsche announced the name for its first purely electric series as part of the
“70 years of sports cars”
 ceremony.

Two
permanently excited
 synchronous motors (PSM) with a system output of over
600 hp
 (440 kW) accelerate the electric sports car to 100 km/h in well under
3.5 seconds
 and to
200 km/h
 in under twelve seconds. This performance is in addition to a continuous power level that is unprecedented among electric vehicles: Multiple jump starts are possible in succession without loss of performance, and the vehicle’s maximum range is over
500 km
 in accordance with the NEDC.

Names with real meaning

At Porsche, the vehicle names generally have a concrete connection with the corresponding model and its characteristics: The name Boxster describes the combination of the boxer engine and roadster design; Cayenne denotes fieriness, the Cayman is incisive and agile, and the Panamera offers more than a standard Gran Turismo, which is what allowed it to win the Carrera Panamericana long-distance race. The name Macan is derived from the Indonesian word for tiger, with connotations of suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics.

Future investment doubled

Porsche plans to invest more than six billion euro in electromobility by 2022, doubling the expenditure that the company had originally planned. Of the additional three billion euro, some 500 million euro will be used for the development of Taycan variants and derivatives, around one billion euro for electrification and hybridisation of the existing product range, several hundred million for the expansion of production sites, plus around 700 million euro for new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility.

Extensive modifications and expansion at the Zuffenhausen headquarters

At the Porsche headquarters in Zuffenhausen, a new paint shop, dedicated assembly area for the Taycan and a conveyor bridge for transporting the painted bodies and drive units to the final assembly area are currently being constructed. The existing engine plant is being expanded to manufacture electric drives and the body shop will also be developed. Investment is also planned for the Weissach Development Centre. Production of the Taycan is creating around 1,200 new jobs in Zuffenhausen alone.

“70 years of the Porsche sports car” celebrations

The sports car manufacturer is celebrating its anniversary with numerous activities throughout 2018. For the weekend of
June 16–17
, Porsche will host employees, local residents and prospective customers at a celebration in and around the plant in Stuttgart. The event will include activities for visitors both young and old, plant tours, music, food trucks, live coverage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the broadcast of the World Cup game between Germany and Mexico. Entry is free of charge.


Locally-assembled BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence launched today, priced from RM673,323

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information.

It used to be that only models that could sell in sufficiently large volumes would be assembled locally, limiting the number of models that could enjoy preferential taxation policies. With BMW Group Malaysia, that meant just the 3-Series and 5-Series, with the 7-Series having been assembled briefly. But it’s different these days as the company keeps widening its BMW and MINI range of models assembled locally each year at its facility in Kedah.

The latest to be added is the X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence, which is the model that the top of the SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) range. According to Hans de Visser, BMW Group Malaysia’s new Managing Director, this move to localise the assembly of one of our largest models in the BMW X range further demonstrates the company’s longstanding confidence in Malaysia’s potential as a regional hub for the luxury automobile segment.

“We are proud to be redefining the ‘Story of Progressive Luxury’ with a new addition to our portfolio of locally-assembled vehicles in Malaysia. The new model is also a testament to our commitment in the local market, as we further innovate our fleet of premium Sports Activity Vehicles to complement the most luxurious of lifestyles in Malaysia,” said Mr. de Visser.

Similar looks as CBU model

The locally-assembled X7 has a similar appearance to the model that was introduced two years ago, with the kidney grille creating a strong presence with its massive size. The massiveness is contrasted by slender BMW Laserlight headlights that can give strong illumination up to 600 metres ahead.

With an overall length of 5.1 metres and overall width of 2 metres, the X7 is a really big vehicle with an obviously spacious cabin containing three rows of seats. As a flagship variant, it features the opulent ‘Crafted Clarity’ handmade diamond-cut trim element and a range of standard equipment including a sport leather steering wheel and electrically adjustable comfort seats.

Large instrument panel with HUD

The BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which runs on the BMW Operating System 7.0, combines the fully digital, user-configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster with an equally large central Control Display with touchscreen functionality. The most important information the driver would need while in motion is also projected on the windscreen by the Head-Up Display. And to minimise taking the hands away from the steering wheel, there’s the voice-controlled BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Gesture Control.

Other highlights of the X7 include the Welcome Light Carpet feature, 5-zone air conditioning, a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 16 loudspeakers, and electric roller blinds for each window. The Rear Entertainment Professional system is also available while the spaciousness is further enhanced by the large panoramic sunroof complemented by large windows.

While the doors feature a soft-close, the tailgate is powered to open and close on its own without the owner having to even touch the door. When open, there’s easy access to a variable-volume luggage compartment with up to 2,120 litres available with the backrests folded down.

Those who have an iPhone can make use of the BMW Digital Key which not only locks/unlock the doors but can also program certain vehicle functions with limitations, in the event it is driven by someone other than the owner. There’s also wireless charging for compatible mobilephones as well as smartphone connectivity.

3-litre TwinPower Turbo engine

Under the long bonnet is a 3-litre 6-cylinder petrol engine which can produce up to 340 bhp/450 Nm. With an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, the 2,320 kg SAV can get from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.1 seconds. Fuel consumption at its best is said to be 10.5 kms/litre which means a full 83-litre tank should give a range of almost 900 kms.

The xDrive badge means all four wheels are powered, not just for off-road driving but also to maximise traction, agility and handling stability (especially on slippery surfaces). Additionally, there is Dynamic Stability Control which takes note of the load on board as registered by the air suspension sensors and factors this data into braking modulation for optimum stopping performance. Executive Drive Pro with active roll stabilisation is included as standard.

Assisting the driver

The X7 driver can enjoy the drive while electronic systems help make mundane tasks easier. For example, the Reversing Assistant assists in safely manoeuvring out of a tight parking space, while the Driving Assistant has a comprehensive range of functions to help avoid accidents. The Active Cruise Control varies cruising speed to maintain a safe gap with other vehicles and can operate right down to standstill.

The X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence will be in the showrooms from this weekend and if you already know you want one and it’s just a matter of choosing the colour, here are the exterior/interior choices available: Black Sapphire and Sophisto Grey exterior with Cognac Leather Vernasca upholstery; Phytonic Blue and Manhattan Metallic exteriors with all-Black design-perforated Leather Vernasca interior; and Leather Vernasca in Coffee with Black design perforations exclusively with the Mineral White exterior finish.

Monthly instalments from RM7,468

Priced
 from RM673,323.61
 (excluding insurance), booking can be done via
BMW Shop Online
 with just RM5,000 but due to a scheduled website maintenance at this time, the facility will only be from May 11, 2021 onwards. Those who use BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia can choose from various financing packages with monthly instalment plans starting from RM7,468 (terms and conditions apply).

BMW Group Malaysia was the leader in the premium automotive segment in 2020


5th generation Honda City has world premiere in Thailand

The Honda City started off in the mid-1990s as an ‘Asian Car’, a lower-priced model that could be slotted below what had been the original entry-level model, the Civic. With the appreciation of the yen after the mid-1980s, the Civic’s price level had gone beyond what was ‘entry-level’ so Honda had to offer a model that could help it retain a strong presence in that important segment which brought people into the Honda family.

It was certainly a good move as the primary market, Thailand, was also moving upscale in its own way. Consumers were showing a preference for passenger cars with more comfort instead of the pick-up trucks that dominated the market. The City was an affordable and well built product from a brand that was well respected.

Fast forward to 2019 and four generations have passed; what had been a regional product has become a such a significant model for Honda that the launch of the 5
th
 generation today was billed as a World Premiere.

Speaking at the launch, Masayuki Igarashi, Chief Officer for Regional Operations (Asia & Oceania), Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and President & CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd, said: “Honda City, one of our most important models, was developed and launched as a regional model back in 1996. It has consistently received overwhelming feedback from the 1st through the 4th generations, with accumulated sales of 4 million units in 60 countries worldwide. The Asia & Oceania region is an important market for Honda City, with more than 100,000 units sold in the region in 2019 (January to September 2019), which accounts for almost 70% of Honda City sales worldwide.”

He said that as Thailand is the leading market for the City, the Thai people are given the honour of being the first to see the al-new generation of the City. “We expect to create an unprecedented phenomenon as it exceeds the expectations of customers and sets a new standard for Thailand’s automotive market once again,” Mr. Igarashi said.

A bigger City

Just as the Civic ‘grew up’ and became a larger car in many aspects – just compare today’s generation to the first Civic sedan of the late 1970s – so too has the new City gained additional millimetres. Now measuring 4553 mm in overall length, it is 113 mm longer with 53 mm added to the width to broaden it to 1748 mm. But interestingly, the wheelbase has been marginally shortened by 11 mm to 2589 mm, which is negligible. The roofline is also lower by 10 mm and this reduction helps in giving a sleeker profile for the lengthened body.

Sharp character lines give the new model distinctiveness and sportiness, along with the projector headlights incorporating LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and LED tail lights. Chrome is used for the front grille with a Shark Fin Antenna on the roof. There are also newly-designed 15-inch alloy wheels fitted (16 inches for the RS variant).

Premium with more space

“Premium” is what carmakers strive for these days and even at the lower end of their range, they try their best to give a ‘premium’ feel because it helps in creating a more positive perception. Honda has been pretty good at it and this is evident in the cabin.

The interior design, with efficient ergonomics and more space creates an environment with seating that provides optimal comfort for the driver and all passengers. For the Thai market, customers can choose a black interior or leather seats with a two-tone ivory/black interior (SV variant only); a Piano Black console, and chrome inside door handles.

As before, there are useful features such as the Multi-information Display (MID) with illumination, 8-inch Advanced Touch Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Siri Voice Control, Multi-function Steering Wheel with HFT, Bluetooth connectivity, and an automatic air-conditioning system.

RS variant for the first time

For the first time, the City is available in a RS variant that gives it a sportier and more premium look. The RS variant comes with a complete set of sporty aeroparts including a Gloss Black front grille with RS logo emblem, sporty front bumper and grille, LED Headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED Fog Lights, Sporty Black Power-retractable Side Door Mirrors with Turning Lights, Gloss Black Boot Spoiler with an ‘RS’ logo, and new sporty-design 16-inch Alloy Wheels.

The RS cabin is undeniably sporty with newly-designed suede leather seats with red stitching, a Multi-information Display with red illumination, and an eye-catching new Ignite Red exterior colour only available for the RS variant.

All-new 1-litre engine

This will be the first City with a 1-litre Earcth Dreams engine, but the displacement belies the real performance of the powerplant. It’s a new 1.0-litre DOHC 3-cylinder, 12-valve, VTEC TURBO engine with an output of 122 ps at 5500 rpm and maximum torque of 173 Nm from 2000 to 4500 rpm. With driving performance said to be superior to the 1.5-litre engine in the previous generation and torque equivalent to a 1.8-litre engine, customers are likely to ignore the displacement that traditionally indicated performance levels.

The engine is mated to a 7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) for high fuel efficiency which is claimed to be up to 23.8 kms/litre. The environmental credentials of the new City are also strong with a low carbon dioxide rating of 99 gms/km, Euro5 emission levels and compatibility with E20 petrol.

As for safety, it is only to be expected that Honda will raise the standards and offer better protection for the occupants. The new City’s advanced safety technologies include a G-CON (G-Force Control) body structure with 6 airbags, ABS + EBD, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and A Multi-angle Rearview Camera.

First deliveries

Manufactured in Thailand, the all-new City will be in showrooms there from December 24, 2019. It will be launched progressively in other markets although Malaysia may require some extra time as there is a high degree of localisation of parts.

Looking at the prices in Thailand won’t really give an indication of how much the new model will cost in Malaysia when it is launched as the tax structures are different. However, for those who are interested, the range is from 579,500 baht (equivalent to
RM80,000
) to 739,000 baht (
RM102,000
) for the RS variant.


Renault Used Trucks launches T 01 Racing model

With the inclusion of the 13-litre engine with 480 bhp in its range of used trucks, Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group) now offers the T 01 Racing model. The appearance of this used prime mover semi-trailer tractor of the last Euro6 generation was done by the Halle du Design (HDD), Renault’s own design facility.

The designers were inspired by the world of motorsport to create a modern and dynamic design that reflects the technical performance of the vehicle. From the outside, the T 01 Racing is presented in three colours on an EKLA white background: glossy black, bright red and bright yellow.

The inside of the headlight covers is painted in bright red. Reflective retro stickers that are reminiscent of the world of motorsport are affixed to the outside of the vehicle. The painting of the Viscope outer sunvisor, the rims, the radiator grille and rearview mirror housing complete the sporty appearance. Optionally, a customer can order additional parts in carbonfibre, accessories for LED lighting or horns, or even a special paint job.

The spacious cabin has door sills also specially painted in bright red and bright yellow. An anthracite grey interior with carbonfibre elements is provided with red buttons that stand out clearly from the dashboard.

The T 01 Racing is transformed in the Used Trucks Factory, Renault’s own conversion and adaptation facility for used vehicles, using the same assembly procedures as for new vehicles. Only certified original parts are used, and the selling points are low mileage and a manufacturer’s guarantee of 12 months or 120,000 kms.


The Ford F-150 Lighting can be a mobile ‘powerbank’ for the whole house (w/VIDEO)

These days, many people carry around powerbanks to recharge their devices, mainly mobilephones, when necessary. The invention of the powerbank has certainly made it possible to have an electrical supply available wherever you go, and it is small enough to be in your pocket or handbag.

Now imagine the same idea being applied to providing an entire home with emergency power supply. Of course, the little powerbank in your pocket won’t be enough unless it’s like the nuclear powerbank that was used by The Terminator (in ‘Rise of The Machines’)! Instead, the portable ‘powerbank’ is a truck which can store a large amount of electricity in its battery pack and share it with a home.

With the new electrically-powered
F-150 Lightning
 pick-up truck, Ford is the first in the USA to offer this ability for vehicle owners to power their homes when the power supply is cut, which could happen during a natural disaster in the area. It gives energy independence to houseowners and also provides emergency power for rescuers in remote areas.

This independence is important: according to the US Energy Information Administration, Americans experienced the most power interruptions on record in 2020. With F-150 Lightning, homeowners can use their truck to maintain their routines during brief or extended outages.

Ford is partnering with Sunrun, the country’s leading solar company, to enhance home energy management, making use of the substantial onboard battery capability of the F-150 Lightning. Sunrun will be the preferred installer of F-150 Lightning home charging solutions, including the 80A  Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System. This enables the vehicle to store and supply power to homes in a variety of ways.

Ford Intelligent Backup Power, making its debut on F-150 Lightning, gives owners the ability to use bidirectional power technology from their truck to provide energy to their homes during an outage, whether sheltering in a storm or keeping cool in a heat wave.

The extended-range battery system can store 131 kilowatt-hours of energy and deliver up to 9.6 kilowatts of power in a cleaner, quieter, more efficient way versus petrol-powered generators, and with greater capacity than many wall battery units. The  F-150 Lightning can also offer lower-cost energy storage in a product of their own – their truck.

With the Sunrun-installed system in place and the F-150 Lightning plugged in, the system automatically kicks in to power the home if the power supply is cut. Once power is restored, the system automatically reverts back to utility power. Based on an average American home at 30 kilowatt-hours of use per day, an F-150 Lightning with its extended-range battery can provide full home power for up to 3 days, or as long as 10 days when used in conjunction with solar power or rationing. Of course, that assumes that the owner doesn’t drive the truck around during that time.

In the future, Ford will introduce additional features to help customers potentially save money and take pressure off the public electric supply during peak usage. Ford Intelligent Power, for example, will allow vehicle owners to power their homes with their truck’s battery when electricity rates are higher, while charging the truck when rates are lower – or from their own solar-powered rooftop. This load shift can also help buffer the load on the nation’s grid and help reduce the use of higher carbon energy without affecting daily routines or charging schedules.

“F-150 Lightning brings new innovations to customers, including the ability to power their homes when they need it most,” said Matt Stover, Ford charging and energy services director. “Teaming up with Sunrun leverages their expertise to bring solar power to even more customers, giving them the chance to turn their truck into an incredible energy storage source – and future truck features can help accelerate the development of a less carbon-intensive grid.”

All-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning revealed

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and although you may not show symptoms, you could spread the coronavirus to others. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.


TCEC Announces Winner Of The Renault Twizy @ “Buy & Win” Contest!

TCEC, the sole franchise holder for Renault vehicles in Malaysia, recently handed over the Renault Twizy 100% electric vehicle to the lucky Grand Prize winner of the Renault ‘Buy & Win’ contest. At the prize-giving ceremony held at the Renault Petaling Jaya showroom,
Lam Ming Wei
, 26, from Johor shared that he will be passing on the Twizy to his mother for her daily commute.
“This is an unexpected win and I feel very fortunate as I thought my chances were slim. The Twizy will be ideal for my mother as her workplace is a short distance from home,” said Lam, who won from his purchase of the Renault Captur. I was looking for a quality compact vehicle that is unique and offers good value-for-money. After test-driving several brands and models, the Captur impressed me the most. It packs a punch in performance, is well-equipped with innovative technologies and comprehensive safety features and offers remarkable handling and grip, all at an attractive package,”
 he added.

Meanwhile, three other winners from the final draw of the Renault ‘Buy & Win’ contest drove away with RM1,500 worth of travel vouchers each. The three winners are Nur Izzati binti Rozali, 24, from Bangi, Chang Jun Wei, 26, from Ampang and S. Suraindiran a/l Sathiamurthy, 50, from Puchong.
“Customer satisfaction is a top priority for us and campaigns like the Renault ‘Buy & Win’ contest is one of many ways through which we show our appreciation for their support,”
 said
Kuan Kim Luen, CEO, TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd.

The Renault ‘Buy & Win’ contest ran from 1 January to 30 June 2018. During the campaign period, customers who purchased any Renault model were automatically in the running for the grand prize and holiday prizes. Winners of the holiday prizes were drawn every two months (three winners respectively from January to February, March to April and May to June ), with the final draw also including the grand prize winner.

“Even though the contest has ended, we strongly urge those looking for a stylish vehicle with continental quality and safety standards to take advantage of the zero-rated GST to enjoy additional savings before the tax holiday ends,” added Kuan. For more information about Renault and the zero-rated GST prices for models available in Malaysia, please visit
www.renault.com.my
 or
www.facebook.com/RenaultMalaysia
.


Honda Civic ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition

Since its establishment in 2000, Honda Malaysia’s position in Malaysia has constantly grown, with volumes and market share increasing year after year. In 2003, it began assembly operations at its own plant in Melaka, with the firm commitment to use as much local content to meet the government’s expectations of the local industry.

New models were added each year and today, Malaysians have a wide variety of models, all assembled locally, enabling their pricing to be attractive. The popularity of Honda vehicles has never been higher with the brand maintaining its
leading position in the non-national category
.

This year, the cumulative volume of vehicles assembled at the Melaka plant and sold throughout the country passed the 1 million mark, 18 years after the first vehicle rolled rolled out. To commemorate this significant milestone, Honda Malaysia is having the ‘
1 Million Dreams Campaign
’ this month to show its appreciation to customers for their support in this achievement.

During the campaign period, which will run
until March 24, 2021,
 the company will be having various activities and will also be giving away 7 vehicles to lucky customers. These are Special Editions with very exclusive features – money cannot buy – on each of them. The Special Editions are of each of the current locally assembled models – the BR-V, Jazz, City, HR-V, Civic, Accord and CR-V.

The exclusive features on the exterior are a Dual-Tone finish (with black roof), red highlight line on the black grille, red highlight line on the door mirrors, red highlights on wheels with a black finish and of course, the ‘
1 Million Dreams
’ emblem.

Inside, the leather upholstered front seats have an embossed ‘
1 Million Dreams
’ signature as well as a plaque on the dashboard. The steering wheel is also leather-wrapped and has sporty red stitching as well as a red mark at the 12 o’clock position, a visual indicator often found on sportscars to keep the driver aware of where the wheels are pointing.

Each owner of a Special Edition model will also receive this exclusive Honda Leather Pouch.

Other than the cosmetic exclusive features, the technical aspects of the cars are similar to the top variants of each model. In the case of the Civic Special Edition, this would be the 1.5 TC-P with a turbocharged 4-cylinder VTEC engine. This 1.5-litre engine, developed with
Earth Dreams
 Technology, produces 173 ps with 220 Nm of torque, more than the 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine available in another Civic variant.

With a CVT delivering power smoothly and efficiently to the front wheels, the Civic is capable of a top speed of 200 km/h after getting to 100 km/h within 8.2 seconds from taking off. Stopping power from high speeds is assured with disc brakes on all four wheels, the front ones being ventilated for fade-free performance.

The Civic comes with an extensive list of convenience features that include keyless entry with pushstart button for starting/stopping the engine, paddle shifters, cruise control, and 8-way adjustment for the driver’s seat. The engine can also be started from a distance, allowing the air-conditioner to be activated to cool down the interior before getting in.

Advanced engineering is used to protect the passengers in the event of an accident. Besides the G-CON collision safety body technology designed to withstand collisions with vehicles of other sizes, the Civic also has Honda SENSING to help the driver avoid accidents. Honda SENSING has been introduced in recent years, bringing an integrated suite of active systems for drive assistance. These include Automatic Emergency Braking which activates if the driver doesn’t take the appropriate action if a collision might occur.

Besides the rearview camera which shows different angles, the Civic also comes with Honda LaneWatch, an innovative feature which functions as a Blind Spot monitor for the left side of the car. Instead of just a sensor and warning light or icon, the system gives the driver a real-time image of the area along the side of the car (when the left signal is activated). The image, captured by a small camera on the door mirror, is displayed on the monitor in the middle of the dashboard. This reduces the amount of turning that the driver’s head must make and the image also gives a better idea of what sort of hazard might be in the blind spot.

While the Civic Special Edition cannot be purchased, there are three variants of the Civic available for those who want to own this model. Priced from around RM114,000 – RM140,000, they come with a choice of two engines.

As for the Civic Special Edition, there are 6 ways (shown on the chart below) for you to become the owner of the exclusive model. Basically, you get a number of entries for certain Honda-related activities and obviously, the more entries you can get and submit, the greater your chances of winning. If you are
Honda Touch
 (a smartphone app) user, you get 5x bonus entries so it’s worthwhile to download the app.

The lucky winners will be announced at a Grand Finale scheduled to be held by the end of this month.

Visit any authorised Honda dealership nationwide to participate. Locations of dealerships can be found at
www.honda.com.my
.

Although Honda began assembly in Malaysia in the early 1970s with the N360 model, it was the Civic that was the first global model assembled locally towards the end of the same decade, initially at the Oriental Assemblers plant in Johor. The Civic Sedan which joined the hatchback in the 1980s, quickly became a popular model and eventually, Honda Malaysia ceased producing the hatchback locally. When Honda Malaysia set up its own plant, the Civic Sedan was added to the line and in 2007, it had the honour of being the 100,000th vehicle (below) to roll out from the plant in Melaka.

Visit

www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information.


Auto Bavaria Sets Up EV Charging Facility At Gurney Plaza Penang

With the population of electric vehicles (EVs) set to increase at a fast pace from now on, there is an urgent need for the charging station network to also grow quickly. The government has set a target of 10,000 charging stations nationwide by 2025 and has asked the car companies selling EVs to also be involved in achieving this target.

Unlike cars with combustion engines which are sold and then providing fuel is left to the petroleum companies and their networks (which are the product of many decades), the EV charging network requires the involvement of the car companies, energy providers and other stakeholders to be established as quickly as possible.

Official opening of the MINI EV Charging Facility at Gurney Plaza Penang recently.

BMW Group Malaysia has been among the companies which has put in a lot of effort in this respect and its authorized dealers are also making the necessary investments to set up charging stations. One of them is Auto Bavaria, the Sime Darby Motors unit which sells BMW and MINI vehicles and has installed charging stations at many of its outlets.

For the northern region, Auto Bavaria has now set up an EV charging facility for MINIs at Gurney Plaza in Penang. Located on level 6 of the building, the MINI charging facility comprises 3 units of the MINI Gen 3 Wallbox. These units can charge both fully electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. Offering scalable charging power of up to 22kW, the charging operation on the MINI Gen 3 Wallbox is a hassle-free process.

While the facility has MINI branding, it is not exclusively for vehicles of the brand. Members of the public with EVs that are compatible with the charging station can also use it from 10 am to 10 pm daily. There is also another existing charging station in the same building.

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“In 2022, the
MINI Electric
 accounted for over 30% of the MINI models delivered by Auto Bavaria Penang, demonstrating a growing demand for EVs in this region of Malaysia. The new facilities for charging MINI vehicles at Gurney Plaza aims to support this growing demand for electric vehicles as well as offer more access to public charging in the northern states,” said Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Bavaria.

Mr. Vi said that Gurney Plaza was chosen for the facility as it is a popular mall strategically located in the heart of Penang. It is a location convenient for EV owners to charge their vehicles while they are shopping at the mall or nearby.

PLUS And TNB Collaborate To Add More DC Fast-Chargers For EV Users Along N-S Expressway

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Hyundai IONIQ 6 ‘Electrified Streamliner’ launched in Korea

These days, there’s a new electric vehicle (sometimes even more than one) being launched or previewed every month and the technical aspects sound pretty much the same. The technologies to are generally similar with each company having some advancements of its own to shout about.

So with the new IONIQ 6, Hyundai Motor seems to skirt the technical parts and instead draws attention to the inside of the first sedan in its EV sub-brand. The interior of the ‘Electrified Streamliner’ is developed to serve as a comfortable and personalized ‘hideaway’, providing a unique and distinctive experience for drivers and their passengers.

“IONIQ 6 is designed and engineered to seamlessly enhance our daily lives as space to awaken your potential,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice-President, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Customer Experience Division, Hyundai Motor Company. “The innovative interior is meticulously thought out as a cocoon-like personal space, enhanced with the latest technologies to create a safe, fun, and stress-free driving experience. The spacious interior, with sustainability and usability at its heart, once again represents a step forward for electric vehicles, in line with the values of our customers.”

The cabin takes advantage of the E-GMP (the Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform) which allows an extremely long 2950 mm wheelbase, supported by a choice of 20-inch or 18-inch wheels. The E-GMP supports a streamlined body with an overall length of 4855 mm, 1880 mm width and 1495 mm height, which puts it in the D-segment.

A modular touchscreen dashboard integrates a 12-inch full-touch infotainment display and 12-inch digital cluster that houses advanced technologies for an enhanced digital user experience that can be customized to meet their needs. The infotainment system provides real-time travel radius mapping based on the current state of charge, while connected car services help search and plan the best route to include a charging station along the way.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto bring favourite smartphone apps to the widescreen display. For those without compatible smartphones, there’s also Bluetooth multi-connection support available. Two devices can be paired at the same time — one for phone calls and one for music streaming.

The premium Bose sound system’s 8 speakers, including a subwoofer, are strategically placed throughout the vehicle for a high-quality listening experience. Complementing this is a ‘spaceship-like’ sound with a sound texture that changes based on the vehicle’s driving status. How this will be received by the occupants of the car remains to be seen. Perhaps the new generation of car-buyers brought up in the digital age will appreciate such sounds!

The optional Relaxation Comfort Seats in the first row promote leisure by simply adjusting the seat angle. In addition, all of its seats are specifically-manufactured for all-electric models, and they are approximately 30% thinner than those in other conventional models, providing more space for passengers.

Dual Colour Ambient Lighting allows a driver to customize the look and feel of the interior space by selecting from a spectrum of 64 colours and 6 pre-selected themes. The Speed Sync Lighting mode adds emotion to the driving experience by changing the brightness of the interior lighting in the first row based on the car’s travelling speed.

The IONIQ 6’s personalized driving experience is further enhanced by the EV Performance Tune-up system. This allows the driver to freely adjust steering effort, motor power, accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline mode. Drivers can create a variety of different combinations with just a few button clicks to meet their individual needs.

Of course, we still need to tell you something about the technical aspects and here, the powertrains are varied. Customers can choose a long-range 77.4-kWh battery with 2 electric motor layouts, either rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD). The top-of-the-line dual motor set-up is an AWD option producing a combined power output of 325 ps/605 Nm, with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h of 5.1 seconds.

Hyundai Motor claims an impressive energy consumption rate of under 14 kWh/100 kms, with the 53-kWh standard battery pack, 18-inch tyres and RWD. It supports 400V and 800V charging infrastructures and with a 350 kW charger, the recharging time from 10% to 80 percent is said to be within 18 minutes. A fully charged battery pack should be good for over 610 kms.

The IONIQ 6, like the IONIQ 5, is also able to function as a mobile power station to charge electric devices. This would be ideal not only for camping but also when there is a disruption to power supply. In addition to the external power outlet, there is a second outlet under the back row seat which can be used for charging laptops, phones and other devices.

This EV Is Hyundai Motor’s first model to offer the Over-the-Air (OTA) Software Updates for various controllers. This allows owners to upgrade the car’s controllers for electric devices, autonomous driving, battery, maps (and more) without having to go to a service centre. As such, the systems will be kept up to date and optimised.

In the Korean market, the IONIQ 6 is priced between 55 million – 65 million won (about RM185,000 – RM218.000). Production is to begin production in the third quarter of 2022. Sales are expected to begin before the end of the year with exports to selected markets starting in early 2023.

Hyundai to use new Integrated Modular Architecture for all future BEV models


Fuel Price Updates For December 26, 2020 – January 1, 2021


Safety First On The Road With Digi’s “Connected Cars” Solution

Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
 (Digi) has introduced ‘
Digi Connected Cars with AXA FlexiDrive’
, an initiative to encourage Malaysians to stay safe on the roads and reward them for good driving behaviour. The first in Malaysia, the product helps drivers of insured vehicles learn and better understand their driving behaviours through the installation of a telematics security device and the AXA FlexiDrive mobile app.

Digi’s
Chief Digital Officer Praveen Rajan
 said that this initiative is part of Digi strengthening its foray in IoT with a comprehensive Connected Vehicles strategy.
“Connected Cars with AXA FlexiDrive is part of our strategy to offer a spectrum of solutions for private vehicles and insurance providers. This is in line with our effort to connect Malaysians to what matters most – which in this case, is to keep themselves and loved ones safe on the road,”
 he said.

AXA FlexiDrive is Malaysia’s first telematics motor insurance that offers safe driving discount (SDD), encouraging drivers to stay alert and safe on the road while giving them the peace of mind in knowing that their driving behaviour is monitored.

Praveen attested that Digi seeks to forge partnerships and new product innovations of various kinds that will benefit their customers and all Malaysians.
“Our partnership with AXA Affin General Insurance, coupled with Digi’s solid network, will allow us to reach a broader audience by offering digital solutions that will provide better value for our customers,”
 he added.

AXA Affin General Insurance Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Nivet
 said,
 “Road safety is a serious matter and we want to keep everybody safe. AXA FlexiDrive was conceptualised with Malaysians in mind, and we hope we are able to reach more Malaysians and incentivise them to make smarter decisions on the road with it.”

AXA FlexiDrive motor insurance was launched in 2017 together with AXA’s official telematics partner CSE (Communications & Security Electronics) Group, a local research, development and manufacturing centre which cemented its name in the telematics back in 2002. The product was awarded the New Insurance Product of the Year Malaysia award at ABF Insurance Asia Awards in 2018.

Via Digi Connected Cars with AXA FlexiDrive, motor owners can get up to 20% safe driving discount, which is dependent on the driver’s behaviour such as speed, mileage and driving style in addition to other benefits such as automatic accident alert and assistance as well as 24/7 vehicle security and theft recovery at no additional premium. Private vehicle owners can find out more and register their interest for the Digi Connected Cars with AXA FlexiDrive product at any Digi Store nationwide from December 18th 2018.

Upon completion of registration, customers will be contacted and arrangements will be made to install the product in the car. Installation is free of charge, and customer will only be charged a refundable deposit of RM70. Customers also have the option to activate CSE Smart Track Security for only RM240 per year. This optional feature offers smartphone car alarm, real-time tracking, trip review and accident compensation up to RM2,000.

For more information on
Connected Cars with AXA FlexiDrive
, please head to the nearest Digi Store
https://new.digi.com.my/support/digi-store
.


Advice for motorists travelling in East Coast during monsoon period

The concessionaire of Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) – LPT2 Sdn Bhd – urges motorists who are affected by flooded roads during the monsoon season to make use of its highway.

“We encourage the public travelling on the East Coast to use our LPT2 highway as it is a safer, more convenient and easier route. Our highway provides not only clean rest areas but also a force of  60-strong LPT2Ronda officers and 30 highway patrolling units to assist,” said LPT2 Regional Business Manager, Roszi Ibrahim.

LPT2Ronda personnel

A Rest & Service area along the highway.

In case of any emergencies, motorists can make stop at any of the Rest & Service Areas in Perasing, Paka and Ajil. However, remember the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are in force which require social distancing (at least 1 metre apart) and use of face masks in public areas, especially where there are many people.

The 24-hour LPT2 Helpline is
1-800-88-0220
 and provides highway users can obtain the latest traffic updates and emergency assistance along the 184-km stretch that runs from Jabor to Kuala Terengganu.


Bridgestone Malaysia appoints new Managing Director

Bridgestone Tyre Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is proud to announce their latest appointment of Mr Michael Ching Wing Kay as the new Managing Director. Mr Michael Ching will be the leading man in terms of sales and operations divisions for Bridgestone Malaysia to help solidify the brand’s presence amongst Malaysians with his 30 years of experience in general management, manufacturing operations, as well as sales and marketing experiences.

According to Mr Michael Ching himself regarding the newly appointed position, “I am truly honoured to begin this amazing new journey alongside my team of incredible colleagues. I believe that together, we will be able to continue accelerating the overall growth of our business, and ultimately establish ourselves as the market leader for all tyre segments in the country.”

Bridgestone Malaysia currently has more than 192 Bridgestone Pro Shop retail outlets and 3 Bridgestone Select stores (B-Select) nationwide to provide Malaysians accessibility to its exceptional products and services – an initiative that will continue to be championed by Michael during his tenure as the new Managing Director.

To know more about the extensive range of Bridgestone tyres available here in Malaysia, head over to
https://www.bridgestonetyre.com.my/en
 to view their selection for all sorts of vehicle models and performance.


The last front-engined Lamborghini sportscar

With the exception of the LM 002 and Urus SUVs, all Lamborghini cars today have their engines mid-mounted, behind the passenger compartment. The last model to have its engine in front was the Jarama, which celebrates its 50
th
 anniversary this year.

The Jarama GT made its debut at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and was a 2+2 grand touring sedan. It was technically based on the 400GT and Islero, maintaining the same mechanical layout but with a revised chassis.

Styled by Bertone’s Gandini

Marcello Gandini at Bertone styled the new bodywork, adopting a silhouette which followed the design trends of the 1970s with taut and angular lines. The bodywork of the pre-series units was assembled by Carrozzeria Marazzi, which had just finished production of the Islero, while the actual production car would be produced in Carrozzeria Bertone’s plant in Turin.

The engine, powered by 6 double-body Weber 40 DCOE carburettors, was the well-proven Lamborghini V12, with double overhead camshafts per bank, capable of delivering 350 hp for a top speed of 260 km/h.

The improved chassis had a brake system with 4 large discs, of which the front ones were ventilated – high-performance features back then!  The track width was widened by 10 cm to 1490 mm  and 15-inch Campagnolo wheels of magnesium were installed at each corner.

Luxurious,. spacious cabin

The interior was very luxurious, with leather upholstery, air-conditioning, and a comfortable passenger compartment for a sportscar. The was generous space allocated for the boot area for the four occupants’ luggage.

The Jarama was further evolved and a GTS version was displayed at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show. This had 365 bhp and was distinguished by a transverse air intake on the bonnet and two air outlets behind the front wheel arches.

The dashboard was redesigned with new instruments and aluminium trim, and restructured front seats improved the roominess in the back. Also different on the Jarama S version were the alloy wheels –  less elaborate and without the single central nut.

One of the special  Jarama models was the Rally, a project by Lamborghini’s test driver, Bob Wallace. It had a modified 3.9-litre V12 engine with an output of 380 bhp and a top speed of 270 km/h. The Jarama Rally was never entered in any competition and was later sold off.

Ferrucio Lamborghini’s favourite model

Production of the Jarama spanned 6 years, during which time 328 units were produced. Ferruccio Lamborghini personally owned a Jarama S which he said was his favourite model and his car is among those displayed at the Lamborghini museum next to the factory.

Save lots of money by building your own Lamborghini Huracan EVO!


Fuel Price Updates For August 12 – August 18, 2021


Dodge Durango SRT given a HEMI V8 and impressive performance characteristics

Dodge’s Durango SRT is set to be one of the most powerful 3-row SUV in existence. Based on the standard Durango, this SRT version gets a whole host of upgrades most notable of which is the 6.2-litre (392 cubic-inch) HEMI V8. It produces 475bhp and is able to launched the car from 0-100km/h in just 4.4 seconds, mind-blowing numbers considering what is supposed to be a people carrier.

New exterior tweaks include a widebody design that include aggressive new bumpers, fenders and skirting that give the entire vehicle a sporty appearance. The SRT hood scoop on the bonnet, is fully functional with an air inlet duct flanked by head extractors.

Inside, there’s (in Dodge’s words) Demonic Red Laguna Leahter upholstery  a new carbon fibre trim with Durango SRT branding, paddle shifters, as well as heated and ventilated front and heated second-row captain’s chairs with embroidered SRT logos .

As icing on the cake, owners of this vehicle will be given a one full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, to help them hone their skills of taming this beast of an SUV.

“The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America. “This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, 8,700-pound-toy hauling, three-row muscle car.”

Changes that were made that set it apart from the base vehicle include the following:

New performance-tuned AWD system

Standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission specifically calibrated for the Dodge Durango SRT

New Brembo high-performance six-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers and vented rotors

New SRT seven-mode drive system

New Track Mode delivers maximum performance track driving with 160-millisecond shifts and up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels

Sophisticated Active Damping System opens and closes the Durango SRT’s suspension’s damper valves

Stiffer front springs (3 percent), stiffer rear springs (16 percent) and stiffer rear sway bar (18 percent)

Dodge is offering the vehicle with seven different exterior colours, which include B5 Blue, Billet Clear Coat, Bruiser Grey Clear Coat, DB Black Clear Coat, Granite Clear Coat, Octane Red Pearl Coat and White Knuckle Clear Coat.

Customers of the Dodge Durango SRT can expect to see this vehicle in showrooms by the end of 2017 with prices near to that of the automaker’s high performance muscle cars.


2022 Mazda MX-5 RF gets Kinematic Posture Control

‘Jinba-ittai’
 – the unity between a horse and its rider – is something which Mazda engineers make sure is in every model that the company sells. It’s what makes a Mazda enjoyable to drive and the MX-5 Miata shows it best. Yet, in the spirit of
kaizen
 (Japanese for constant improvement), the engineers believe they can make it still better and for the 2022 model, they have given attention to reducing body roll further.

Body roll can be good as well as bad, and it does in some ways provide the driver with feedback during fast cornering. To reduce the roll and achieve a flatter cornering attitude, the engineers have come up with a new system called Kinematic Posture Control (KPC), which uses braking to reduce body roll. While it uses braking forces like torque vectoring, it works on a different principle to generate a downward pull on the inside rear suspension.

This ‘anti-lift’ force pulls the car’s body down when the brakes are applied, thereby suppressing roll and optimising the posture when cornering. This takes into account the rear suspension control arms swinging rearwards while rising as the suspension compresses. Likewise, when the suspension moves towards the back, which happens under braking, it also moves upwards.

The difference between KPC and torque vectoring is that KPC does not rely on driver input to react. It functions when it senses the difference in speed between the two rear wheels while going round a curve. This enhanced stability, especially when cornering hard and fast, makes the MX-5’s handling even better while also improving ride comfort.

Apart from KPC, which doesn’t add any weight, the latest MX-5 RF has the same specs and features as last year’s model. The rear-wheel drive roadster is powered by the proven SKYACTIV-G 2-litre engine with a 181 bhp/205 Nm output. Customers have a choice of 6-speed automatic or manual transmission, with the latter having a top speed of 220 km/h, 20 km/h more than the automatic.

Mazda’s suite of active safety systems is known as i-Activsense and consists of Adaptive LED Headlights, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Driver Attention Alert and Lane Departure Warning. There is also Smart City Brake Support which is an autonomous emergency braking system that uses a laser sensor mounted at the top of the windscreen. The brakes will be applied automatically if the driver does not take the right action when a frontal collision is likely.

The 6 colour choices are Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Snowflake White Pearl, Polymetal Gray, Deep Crystal Blue and Jet Black. Pricing starts from
RM265,964
 (with 50% Sales Tax Reduction until June 30, 2022). Warranty coverage is for 5 years/100,000 kms (whichever occurs first after registration) and Bermaz also includes free scheduled maintenance for the first 5 years (or maximum of 100,000 kms).

To know more about the MX-5 RF and other Mazda models in Malaysia, visit
www.mazda.com.my
.

How Bose has been developing premium sound for Mazdas over 30 years


Porsche Unveils The New Cayenne

Although the development of a future all-electric Cayenne is already well underway, Porsche has still put together a thorough upgrade for the current combustion-powered vehicle. Porsche presented its third generation of the Cayenne at the Shanghai Motor Show.

The Exterior

Although clearly updated, the new Porsche Cayenne resembles the previous model in terms of appearance. This is to be expected after a makeover, but there are many small adjustments that keep it looking new.

The vehicle’s width is highlighted by a new front end, more aggressively arched wings, a new bonnet, and aesthetically pleasing headlights. It’s fitted with High-definition HD Matrix LED Headlights that provide road illumination tailored to every driving situation.

The redesigned Cayenne’s rear end features revised rear aprons with integrated number plate holders, uncluttered surfaces beneath, and three-dimensionally sculpted tail lights. You get quad tailpipes as standard, and the Coupe model has a subtle ducktail spoiler on the tailgate as before.

The side profile resembles the previous model very closely. As with the previous model, you have the option to order your Cayenne as an SUV or as a Coupe type with a sportier-looking roofline.

20-inch alloy wheels are the standard size, however, 21- and 22-inch alloy wheels are also offered.

Also available are three new hues which have been added to the colour pallet and lightweight sports packages that reduce weight by up to 33 kg for the Cayenne Coupé.

The Interior

Complete interior upgrades have been made to the Porsche Cayenne. You also get new technology and a fresh dashboard design.

It features an entirely new curved 12.3-inch digital driver’s display that’s similar to the one found in the Porsche
Taycan
 and does away with the analogue rev counter in the centre. It gets the same steering wheel as the Porsche
911
 sports car. An optimised head-up display is available as an option.

The Cayenne comes with native apps like Spotify and Apple Music to maximise connectivity. The passenger side now has a 10.9-inch display for the first time. To prevent distractions while driving, it has a special film covering it so it can’t be seen from the driver’s seat

Like the Taycan, the gear selector has also been relocated to the dashboard. As a result, there is now room in the centre console for some extra storage, a wireless phone charging pad, and a new set of climate controls with silver switches.

On the topic of climate control, it features innovative air quality technology when it comes to climate management. There is a dust sensor to help keep allergens out, and it can utilise navigation data to detect when you are approaching a tunnel and turn the air conditioning to recirculate.

Additionally, buyers will have access to a wide variety of new and improved assistance solutions. These include the adaptive cruise control’s upgraded Porsche InnoDrive as well as the active speed limitation, swerving aid and cornering help. This indicates that the new Cayenne is even more effective at assisting its driver in risky situations as well as in congestion on highways and main roads.

The Chassis and Suspension

The new Porsche Cayenne comes standard with steel springs and adjustable dampers. The new shock absorbers are designed to be more comfortable and handle better than the previous model. This includes Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).

Additionally, adaptive air suspension is an option. This will increase comfort even more and minimise body lean in the corners. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to get the tyres dirty, the air suspension may also be configured for off-road driving.

The Engine and Performance

Three different engine versions are available in Europe and it is not yet clear which will be offered in Asia.

The First

3.0 litre turbocharged V6 engine with 353 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque powers the base Porsche Cayenne. This is an increase of 50Nm and 13hp over the previous model.

The Second

The former V6 engine in the new Cayenne S has been replaced by a significantly improved four-litre V8 biturbo engine developed by Porsche. It has a maximum output of 474 PS and 600 Nm of torque. This is 34 PS and 50 Nm more than its predecessor. It has a top speed of 273 km/h and can accelerate both the SUV and the SUV Coupé to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds.

The Third

The Cayenne E-Hybrid uses the same 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 as the entry-level model, only now it has an electric motor to provide a combined 470hp. This new E-Hybrid also has a larger battery pack than before which is an increase from 17.9 kWh to 25.9 kWh. Its range has increased to 90 km, which is more than double that of the previous vehicle. Despite the larger battery capacity, a new 11 kW on-board charger now reduces the charging time at a suitable power source to less than 2.5 hours.

The Higher Variant

Are those three options available not fast enough for you? The highest Cayenne model is still the Turbo GT, which was created for maximum on-road performance, in most Porsche markets outside of the EU. The Turbo GT’s four-litre V8 biturbo engine now produces 659 PS. It has a top speed of 305 km/h and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds.

The Price

Prices are expected to start from around £78,000 (RM430k). We would most definitely like to see the all-new Cayenne enter the Malaysian market soon.