Malaysia’s Largest Standalone Volkswagen Dealership Opens In Gombak

Malaysia’s first Das WeltAuto (DWA) independent dealership was officially opened today by Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and its dealer partner, MHV Autohaus. DWA Gombak has a total land area of 18,500 square feet and contains two additional parking bays for automobile delivery in addition to space for up to 55 vehicles. This makes it Malaysia’s largest Das WeltAuto standalone dealership.

The Gombak dealership is handled by MHV Autohaus, one of Volkswagen’s top dealers in Malaysia. By winning the Best Volkswagen Dealer of the Year Award from 2017 to 2020 in a row, MHV Autohaus has amassed numerous honours throughout the years in Malaysia. This prize honours dealer partners that provide exceptional customer service throughout the whole sales and after-sales process.

DWA is Volkswagen’s global used car programme, which was introduced in Malaysia in 2019. It provides customers with certified used automobiles they can rely on, supported by its professional knowledge, standards, and procedures. Das WeltAuto has received numerous honours for its outstanding used automobile services, including 2016 “Used Car Programme of the Year” by Car Dealer Magazine, and the 2019 “Best Used Car Website” at What Car? Used Car of the Year Awards.

Customers can choose from a wide range of certified pre-owned vehicles at DWA. When buying a Volkswagen from Das WeltAuto, customers can benefit from appealing financing choices, a 1-year extended warranty, and 1-year roadside support.

All models that are accepted for trade-in will go through a demanding 133-point inspection that is carried out and certified by Volkswagen technicians. All Das WeltAuto vehicles come complete with proof of service at licenced Volkswagen service centres, are fitted with original parts, are accident and flood free, and provide a worry-free experience.

Yes, that’s right. You can even bring in your 70s Beetle for a trade-in as long as it passes the 133-point inspection and is in good condition.

Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM said “This opening validates our commitment to strengthening the DWA brand with our dealer partner. Customers can rest assured knowing that they are investing in long-term reliability and quality cars. I’d like to congratulate the MHV Autohaus team on this momentous launch.”

Additionally, Volkswagen clients can use the ‘Sell Your Car’ function on the
Das WeltAuto website
 to sell their vehicles. The website’s “Nearly New Cars” section, which includes approved vehicles with less than 12,000 kilometres on the odometer and that are within a year of their registration date, is another noteworthy component.

Das WeltAuto is available at 11 Volkswagen dealerships:

Volkswagen Setia Alam
Volkswagen Puchong, Volkswagen Tebrau
Volkswagen Skudai, Volkswagen Gombak
Volkswagen Juru, Volkswagen Alor Setar
Volkswagen Seremban
Volkswagen Glenmarie
Volkswagen Ipoh
Volkswagen Melaka


Porsche confirms assembly plans in Malaysia, to start next year

As reported earlier
, Porsche will be setting up assembly operations in Malaysia, the first time the sportscar maker has produced its cars outside Germany. The company has confirmed that small-scale local assembly operation in Malaysia will join the company’s two other production sites – the original one at Zuffenhausen and the 19-year old one in Leipzig.

It is believed that the plan to assemble in Malaysia has been under consideration for at least 5 years though it was only early this year that it became known outside the company. There is interest in the Southeast Asian region which is unified under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and member nations have agreed to allow intra-ASEAN exchange of goods and service without import duties. The agreement was signed in the early 1990s and was implemented in the early 2000s.

Carmakers have welcomed the AFTA agreement which allows them to set up a large factory with big volumes in one country to make vehicles for the region. This allows good economies of scale compared to the situation before where each country had low-volume assembly plants to cater only for the domestic market. The regional approach lowers production costs which benefits consumers who get lower prices or better features with the money saved.

Porsche would have likewise seen a similar opportunity, especially since Volkswagen began assembly in Malaysia. However, the initial plan is to assemble in Malaysia from 2022 for the local market only but it’s almost certain that there will be exports later on. This will enable pricing of some models to be more attractive and competitive as they will not be subject to the high import duties that the countries impose for vehicles originating from outside ASEAN.

Sime Darby to be local partner

Not surprisingly, Porsche will have Sime Darby Berhad as its partner in local assembly.
Sime Darby Auto Performance
, a subsidiary of Sime Darby, also handles the Porsche brand in Malaysia and another subsidiary, Inokom, has an assembly plant in Kedah. Some of the brands assembled at the plant, which began operations in the 1990s, are BMW, MINI, Mazda and Hyundai. BMW engine assembly is also carried out by a subsidiary adjacent to the plant.

The Inokom factory in Kedah.

Mazda is among the brands that has assembly operations at the Inokom plant.

BMW also has engine assembly operations at a facility adjacent to the plant where some of its models are assembled.

First Porsche production facility outside Germany

The local assembly operation will not only be something special for Malaysia but also for Porsche as it has never before had to have a CKD (completely knocked-down) process which is required for assembly overseas. It is not just a matter of picking a model and putting it into a box in disassembled form for assembly in another country. The model has also to be engineered for local assembly, taking into account the level of automation at the facility and capabilities of the workforce.

It is possible that the ‘SKD’ (semi knocked down) approach will be taken initially although this approach was stopped by the government in mid-2019. With SKD, bodyshells can be imported already welded together and in some cases, even painted. One thing that will prevent Porsche from exporting from Malaysia initially will be the requirement of 40% ASEAN content in each vehicle in order to qualify for the duty-free privilege. This usually takes while as suppliers have to be found or if they are new, then they will need time to also establish their operations.

Porsche will have Sime Darby as its partner in the local assembly operations and the two companies are already familiar with each other as Sime Darby Auto Performance, a subsidiary, handles the German sportscar brand in Malaysia
.

Willing to learn and adapt

“We’re fortunate that, due to careful planning, our existing factories are more than up to the task of meeting current and future global demand for our cars,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche. “However, the new assembly site in Malaysia meets specific market needs and, although a standalone project and modest in size and capacity, it signals our willingness to learn and adapt to specific local market conditions.”

“Malaysia and the whole ASEAN is a region of great potential, and we look forward to the first locally assembled models reaching our Malaysian customers next year,” added Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche. “As Porsche is moving into a new era of mobility, Malaysia and the ASEAN region are gaining an increasing importance. This step now is part of a long-standing initiative to keep pace with rapidly evolving customer and market demands.”

Shell and Porsche team up to provide first cross-border high-performance charging network in Southeast Asia


Hyundai Ioniq Receives Full 5-Star Asean NCAP Safety Rating

The
Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid
 has been declared as one of the
safest cars in its class
 after being awarded an overall five-star safety rating by the New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP). The ASEAN NCAP is a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Global NCAP.

The IONIQ was tested using a stringent 2017-2020 rating system and achieved an outstanding overall score of 91.98 points. It fared well in three categories namely, Adult Occupant Protection (46.34 points over 50.00), Child Occupant Protection (21.48 points over 25.00) and Safety Assist Technologies (24.17 over 25.00) making it one of the safest cars in its segment.

“We are elated with the latest five-star ASEAN NCAP award to add to the list of IONIQ’s safety awards, including the 5-star Safety Rating by Euro NCAP in 2017 and the 2017 Top Safety Pick+ Award from IIHS (Independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) in the US. The IONIQ has proven to be one of the safest cars in its class featuring advanced safety features. With a starting price of RM94,788 (On-The-Road Price without GST and Insurance, WEF 1
st
 June 2018) it is certainly value for money, coupled with its award-winning design and a host of convenient features,”
 said Mr
Dennis Ho, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors – Malaysia, Thailand & Taiwan.

According to the ASEAN NCAP, the IONIQ scored impressively thanks to its advanced safety equipment, which includes effective braking and avoidance technologies such as the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Seatbelt Reminder System (SBR)
 including rear passengers,
ISOFIX
 and top tether that is standard across all variants. The IONIQ also offers several advanced safety technologies such as
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for City, Inter-Urban and Vulnerable Road Users Technologies, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
and
 Lane Keep Assist (LKA).
(These features are only available in the HEV PLUS variant).

The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) alerts drivers to emergency situations, braking autonomously when required. Using front radar and camera sensors, AEB operates in three stages; initially warning the driver visually and acoustically, controlling the brake according to the collision danger stage and applies maximum braking force just before the moment of collision. When the car senses a vehicle or pedestrian, the system is activated and avoids a collision or minimizes damage when a collision is otherwise unavoidable.

Other features that contributed to the IONIQ’s five-star rating include:

Lane Keeping Assist System including Lane Departure Warning

This alerts the driver acoustically and visually if the car crosses road markings without indicating, and applies slight force to the steering wheel in order to guide the driver back to a safe position. (The feature is only available in the HEV PLUS variant)

Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert

This system warns the driver of surrounding vehicles, passengers or other objects that may lead to a collision if unnoticed while the car is in motion – a further safety feature of the IONIQ. (The feature is only available in the HEV PLUS variant)

Passive Safety

A total of seven airbags are positioned around the interior of the IONIQ, including a knee airbag for the driver

A host of local awards that the IONIQ has won in 2017 include the 2017 Hybrid of the Year at the Vehicle of the Year Awards (VOTY) by DSF.my in collaboration with Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad, 2017 Hybrid Vehicle of the Year by CarSifu Editor’s Choice Awards, 2017 Sedan & Hatchback of the Year (RM100,000-RM130,000) category and the 2017 Hybrid Car of the Year Category at the Malaysia Car of the Year Awards.

HSDM offers a
 five-year or 300,000km
 (whichever comes first) warranty for the vehicle, three-year or 60,000km (whichever comes first) free service including parts, labour and engine oil. It also comes with an
 eight-year unlimited mileage warranty for the battery
 and a battery price below RM10,000 for the following eight years if the battery needs replacement. A
24-hour road assist service
 is also available for new and existing Hyundai vehicles.

Price in Malaysia:

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 1.6 (A) HEV –
RM94,788.00

Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 1.6 (A) HEV Plus –
RM109,988.00

(OTR prices w/o insurance & after 0% GST)


Sime Darby Auto ConneXion participates in 14th Ford Global Caring Month

Big corporations continue to be successful because of the support and business the communities they operate in give them. Never forgetting this, companies like Ford Motor Company have a Global Caring Month where thousands of its employees around the world participate in community projects to reciprocate and to create positive impact in people’s lives

For the 14
th
 year of the Global Caring Month, Ford together with its sole distributor, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), organised a full-day activity for the elderly at the Sincere Care Home to help improve their living conditions as well as to provide emotional support. During the full-day visit, SDAC-Ford volunteers offered help with housekeeping and meals preparation and entertaining the senior folks. Apart from food and games, a spa corner offering manicure, pedicure, facial and haircut services were also set up by the talent volunteers to help groom the residents of the nursing home.

Sincere Care Home is a nursing home dedicated at looking after senior citizens who were found living on the streets, sent by families who are less able and referred to by the hospital. To help reduce the financial burden of its daily operation, the volunteers also made contributions in kind and in cash.

Enhancing quality of life

“Ford Global Caring Month programme is a great platform and we are proud to be a part of it. Each year, we get to contribute to a different cause and make a difference in people’s lives. Together with Ford, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people in our communities where we live and work” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Bin Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

Ford Global Caring Month is a signature annual event of the Ford Volunteer Corps. Since its launch in 2005 by Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Ford Volunteer Corps members have contributed more than 1.5 million hours of community service in 50 countries, representing more than US$40 million of in-kind community investments. During the month, the Ford Volunteer Corps tackled hundreds of projects in cities, towns and villages in six continents. Ford Fund is contributing more than US$675,000 in grants to purchase tools and supplies for many of the global projects.

“Ford volunteers are improving access to clean water, feeding the hungry, building homes, renovating schools and providing opportunities to help make people’s lives better all over the world,” said Todd Nissen, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “Each Ford volunteer is making a valued contribution to stronger communities and a better world.”

Click here for other news and articles about Ford and SDAC in PISTON.MY


New Volvo XC60 rolls off production line in Sweden

Volvo’s XC60 has just started rolling off the production line at the company’s plant in Torslanda, Sweden. It was the T5 AWD Inscription  (in Crystal White) that was the first variant to come off the line.

The new vehicle replaces the original XC60, which has been produced for nine years since its launch and has gone on to become the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe and allowing Volvo to sell nearly a million of them globally. Due to its popularity, the XC60 accounts for 30 per cent of Volvo’s sales worldwide.

“This is a proud day for everyone at the plant,” said Magnus Nilsson, vice president of the Torslanda plant. “We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ready to start delivering new XC60s to customers.”

Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on Volvo’s SPA (Scaleable Product Architecture) which already underpins three other models in the company’s current line up inclduing the 90 series cars. The SPA platform has improved overall efficiency and has had a positive effect on employment at Volvo, with thousands of new jobs being created in production, research and development, and other areas.

Like the rest of the line-up, The XC60 features cutting edge safety tech which include Steer Assist, City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation which help avoid head-on collisions and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) that works with Steer Assist to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.

Apart from that, there’s also Pilot Assist, which is available as an option. It’s a semi-autonomous driver-assistance system, that takes over the tasks of steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads at speeds of up to 130km/h.

Inside, the cabin features a CleanZone four-zone climate control system that removes harmful pollutants and particles that enters the cabin. The XC60 is available with a T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid  that delivers 407bhp and allows it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstil in just 5.3 seconds.

Volvo has also fitted an infotainment system that comes with connected services such as Sensus and Volvo on Call. It also offers smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Volvo XC60 will be made available in markets across the world gradually as the automaker aims to make 2017 another record-breaking year.


Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster & Huracán EVO GT Celebration unveiled

The recent Monterey Car Week in the US showcased a lot of cool cars and Lamborghini wanted to do something special to commemorate the event. They did so by unveiling the very cool and limited Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster as well as the Huracán EVO GT Celebration.

How limited? Only 63 units of the iconic V12 super sports machine will be built for the Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster whereas the Huracán EVO GT Celebration is limited to only 36 units worldwide. The Aventador pays tribute to company’s founding year of 1963 whereas the latter celebrates Lamborghini’s double victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the past couple of years.

For the Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster, Lamborghini’s design team went through virtually all the limitless colour and trim options and came up with eight exclusive new design expressions. These unique combinations are exclusively available just for the Roadster version of the SVJ 63.

These combinations include a selection of matt and shiny carbon fibre upper parts which blends exceptionally well will its Leirion forged rims finished in matt titanium. To those who wish to stand out above the crowd and beyond, this bad boy is just right for you.

Don’t let the pretty façade fool you. Underneath all that beauty lies a V12 superpower that produced 760hp at 8,500rpm and 720Nm of maximum torque at 6,750rpm. Only 2.9 seconds is needed for it to launch to 100km/h from a standstill and 8.8 seconds to reach 200km/h. top speed? 350km/h.

As for the Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT Celebration, the designed is inspired by the livery portrayed by the GRT Grasser Racing Team in a cool colour combo of Verde Egeria Green and Arancio Aten Orange. A total of nine combinations can be customised together with three new body colours created by Lamborghini Ad Personam in collaboration with the Centro Stile.

Each car comes with racing inspired looks and the number ‘11’ which gave Lamborghini four grand victories so far. Other cool features include:

20-inch single-nut wheels’

Custom colour brake calipers

Alcantara upholstery with contrasting stitching

New racing seats

The same aspirated V10 engine used in the racing car can be found in the Lamborghini Huracán EVO GT Celebration but sadly it is only available for the North American market. First deliveries will roll out from the showrooms sometime in 2020.

Lamborghini Urus debuts in New Zealand – RM900,000


Headlights on Future Ford vehicles will be able to predict conditions ahead for greater effectiveness (w/VIDEO)

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

The built-in headlights in every car today have been around for about 100 years and over the decades, the lighting systems have evolved to make the illumination stronger, giving a better view of the road or ground ahead. From making headlights more powerful, the engineers have also been making them operate ‘intelligently so that optimum illumination is achieved with changing conditions.

Driving in the dark can be stressful, especially on unfamiliar, winding roads. Ford is therefore working on a new technology to increase comfort and safety when driving after sunset. The company has already done pioneering work in the camera-based recognition of traffic signs and lane markings to optimize headlights in order to better illuminate streets in the dark, especially at intersections.

Now, engineers from Ford Research and Advanced Engineering Europe are testing technology that uses real-time location data to effectively show the car the way to go. The predictive ‘smart’  headlight system directs beams into upcoming corners – even before drivers may have seen them, illuminating hazards and other road-users more quickly and effectively.

How it works

The prototype advanced lighting system uses GPS location data, advanced technologies and highly accurate street geometry information to accurately identify turns in the road ahead. An algorithm calculates the trajectory and speed of the vehicle to proactively adjust the direction of its headlights, providing optimal light coverage of bends, junctions – and even hazards lurking around the corner.

If the vehicle encounters a stretch of road where location data is not available, the system will work alongside camera and steering‑based dynamic headlight-bending technologies to continue to intelligently light the road until the location data improves.

Researchers have made extensive use of ‘digital twin’ simulation that recreates the physical world in a virtual environment. The simulator accurately calculates how light falls and reflects in the real world, enabling researchers to better visualise and optimise the technology for drivers. The Ford researchers used a simulation that reproduces the real world in a virtual environment. The simulation environment calculates the correct reflection of the headlights as in the real world, so that the researchers can visualize the lighting technology realistically and optimize it in terms of traffic safety.

“The predictive lighting technology we are now developing could one day make driving in the dark so easy that the driver basically just has to follow his headlights,” said Michael Koherr, Lighting Research Engineer, Ford of Europe. “This new map and location-based system is the next step in our search for how we can make driving at night as easy as it is during the day.”

Road Edge Detection – available today

The advanced lighting technology will complement another new technology that Ford has developed which can be especially useful on rural roads at night – Road Edge Detection. Roads in rural areas can be tricky as they may not only lack proper lane markings but also give way to open land, muddy ditches and sheer drops.

Ford’s new technology can help make rural driving easier as Road Edge Detection scans the road ahead and can gently steer the vehicle back on track when needed. Designed for use at speeds of 70 – 110 km/h, Road Edge Detection relies on a camera located below the rearview mirror to monitor road edges 50 metres in front of the vehicle and 7 metres to the side.

How it works

Where a paved road becomes a soft side, gravel hard shoulder or grass, the system provides gentle steering support as required to prevent the vehicle from drifting off the carriageway. The system features an advanced algorithm that determines when there are clear structural changes from the road to the area beside the road. It can also provide steering support on marked roads when the lane marking is obscured or hidden by snow, leaves or rain.

If the driver is still close to the edge following initial steering support, the system vibrates the steering wheel, to prompt the driver to steer. At night, the system uses the illumination from the headlights and functions as effectively as during the day.

While predictive lighting technology is still under development, Road Edge Detection is already available in Europe on certain models and will be offered in more models in future the way advanced safety systems like Pre-Collision Assist and Automatic Emergency Braking have been progressively included in almost all models.

To experience Ford’s safety technologies, ask any authorised Ford dealer for a test-drive. To locate a dealership in Malaysia, visit
www.sdacford.com.my
.

New Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition Redefines The Pick-Up Truck


Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept is in Malaysia now?

In conjunction with the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 currently happening until 14 April 2019, Honda Malaysia will be showcasing the very awesome Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept aka “The World’s Fastest Front-Wheel Drive Production Car” at MAEPS Serdang all weekend long.

In line with the event theme this year, ‘Mobility for All’, Honda’s booth located at Hall A at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) will feature the theme “Frontier of Innovation”.  With this, all visitors are welcomed to experience the latest of what Honda has to offer in the present and future of mobility.

According to Toichi Ishiyama, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia, “The Malaysia Autoshow 2019 is a good platform to showcase our breakthrough and innovative advanced technologies. At Honda, we are committed to offer products that are of high value equipped with advanced technologies to provide joy to our customers.”

“The Civic Type R stands out above the rest in Honda’s product line up, delivering the best package in its class that is race track-worthy yet highly adaptable to daily driving demands on Malaysian roads. We strive to ensure all our models provide the Joy of Driving to our customers with unique advanced features and stylish design. I would like to thank our customers for their continuous supports towards the latest technologies that Honda introduces,” added Toichi.

Looking at the Civic Type R Mugen Concept, this baby not only carries the best of what Honda has to offer in automobile technology but also a huge dose of the company’s true racing spirit whilst maintaining the ‘Fun to Drive’ element in the mix.

The Mugen Concept brings is a more powerful character thanks to a few upgrades presented in the already impressive package. Dressed in that seductive Carnival Red colour scheme, the Civic Type R Mugen Concept comes ready the Mugen concept bodykit that consists of:

Carbon grilled garnish

Front lip spoiler

Rear under spoiler

Side garnish

LED tail lamp

20-inch wheels

Mugen body sticker

Wheel nut set

Sports steering wheel

Leather shift knob

Sports mat

Scuff plate

To check out this beautiful beast, head over to the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 happening all weekend long at MAEPS Serdang where it is being showcased in Hall A together with other exciting Honda models such as the Civic Type R Mugen Concept, other models that will be displayed include CR-V Mugen Concept, Jazz Mugen and BR-V Special Edition (SE).


F1 (Round 21/final round) – 2019 Abu Dhabi Starting Grid

Race starts at 5:10 pm in Abu Dhabi/9:10 pm in Malaysia on Sunday

Final assignment for the F1 Safety Car and driver Bernd Maylander.


Making things easier for Volkswagen owners in Malaysia during these difficult times

These are difficult times for everyone and reducing expenses is even more important than ever before. To help those who own a Volkswagen vehicle,  Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has come up with a few initiatives that can save them money and give them some ‘breathing space’.

Extended payment plan with 0% interest plan

Vehicles need to be serviced periodically, even though their usage may have decreased considerably due to the restrictions of Movement Control Orders over the past year.

For those who send their vehicles to selected authorised Volkswagen dealers, there’s a flexible payment plan which allows them to spread out their bill over 6 or 12 months. Even better – no interest rate will be charged (terms and conditions apply). However, payments must be by a credit card.

20% service discount

Those who have registered for Volkswagen Care Plus (VCP) will enjoy more savings. These include three 20% rebate vouchers for maintenance service at authorised Volkswagen service centres. The vouchers can be used from the fifth year of service and the following two services during the period of 3 years. Additionally, customers will enjoy 2 years of free roadside assistance under VCP (terms and conditions apply).

30% discount for repairs

Every ringgit saved is a ringgit earned, and this is the basis of VPCM’s Repair Packages offerings. There’s a 30% discount on selected Repair Packages when they repair their cars at authorised Volkswagen service centres. This is applicable for Volkswagen models older than 5 years.

The Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP)

The
Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP)
 has many benefits which will prove valuable if repair claims are necessary after an accident. If the vehicle is not more than 10 years old, there is no betterment cost for any replacement parts used. The comprehensive coverage includes various value-added services without any extra charges. Additionally, there is an agreed sum and insured value for vehicles up to 10 years old in the event of total loss.

Other VIP benefits include prioritised claim approval, windscreen replacement approval within 2 hours, roadside assistance with 24-hour emergency towing, and assurance that repair work conducted at authorised Volkswagen Body & Paint centres are in accordance with Volkswagen repair standards and only genuine parts are used.

Visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
 for more information or to locate an authorised dealer and service facilities anywhere in Malaysia.

Click here for more news and articles about Volkswagen.


Aston Martin V8 Vantage Arrives In Malaysia! [+Video & Mega Photo Gallery]

Vantage
. Seven decades as an iconic model and heartbeat of Aston Martin; the evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars – the revolutionised rendition made a grand arrival at Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur today. First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, Vantage was quickly established as a model in its own right. Highlights include the William Towns-designed V8 vantage, spectacular twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage. Today, this formidable sporting dynasty is poised to hit new heights with the introduction of the new Vantage.

“This car is the second new model under our Second Century Plan. The second of seven new models in seven years,” explained Ms.
 Nancy Chen, Head of Sales Operations for Aston Martin,
Southeast Asia
 (below, right) during the launch.
“It (Second Century Plan) is a bold plan, and it is working. We have made a strong start with the DB11, taking Aston Martin back into profit earlier this year. The new Vantage will build on this success, and take the company to greater heights.”

Predatory Stance-Inspired Design…

The spectacular new Aston Martin sports car, powered by
4.0-litre, 510PS/685Nm twin-turbo V8
mated to eight-speed transmission, is channeled by its bold and distinctive design language. Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent with the car. Its new head and tail lights form dramatic new signatures, giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong, individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range. FULL specifications can be found after the photo gallery below.

“The new Vantage is purposefully designed as an independent statement of poise, performance,
and a beautiful distinction of meticulous British craftsmanship that commands a predatory
character, whilst retaining the key principles; purity and beautiful proportion.
It is crafted for the independent thinker, one who has a strong and individual identity who wants
to make a statement with their car,”
 said Mr.
Gabor Csurgai, Regional Managing Director of
Wearnes
(two pics above, left).

For the FULL details of the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, click to download this:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage PR

And here’s the video of the official roll-out of the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, its maiden debut in Malaysia!

The new Vantage will be available for viewing in the showroom. For viewing appointment, please call
 +60 3 2163 1196
. Estimated price from
RM1,600,000
 after duties. The Aston Martin Service Centre is located at Lingui Industrial Park, 15 ½ Miles, Sungai Pelong, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. For more information, visit
www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com

For the FULL Spec sheet of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, click to download this:
SPECS AM New Vantage V8


Renault to debut new Megane R.S. at Monaco

Renault will unveil the latest iteration of its ever popular Megane R.S. in Monaco on Friday 26th May. The unveil has been timed to coincide with the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. And fittingly, the Renault will be sporting a yellow and black livery that complements that used by the namesake’s F1 car. This has been done to commemorate the French automaker’s 40-year involvement in Formula 1.

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault’s Formula 1 team driver will drive the car onto the stage for the big reveal. According to Renault, the Megane R.S. has benefited quite a bit from technology developed for F1 including aerodynamics and suspensions. As such, we can expect good things from the new generation Megane R.S..

If you would like to know more about the the three generation of Megane R.S. cars and a video of them, visit the automaker’s site at
press.renault.co.uk
.


F1/Round 21: Preview & Provisional Sprint Race Starting Grid For 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Sprint Race starts at 4:30 pm in Brazil/3:30 am (Sunday) in Malaysia

The 21
st
 round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship continues in the western hemisphere 7,500 kms south of the last venue in Texas. It’s the Sao Paulo Grand Prix which many will know as the Brazilian Grand Prix. The change of name occurred last year (the 2020 F1 race was not run due to the pandemic) and was said to reflect the greater involvement of the city as well as to give it more prominence globally.

The circuit also has two names; officially, since 1985, it has been known as the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, honouring a Brazilian F1 driver who had his only win there in 1975. However, racing fans have usually referred to it as Interlagos, the name being taken from the area that the track is in.

Whatever the name, it has been on the F1 calendar since Brazil’s first F1 race in 1973. While most of the rounds have been held at Interlagos, in 1978 and between 1981 and 1989, the Brazilian GP was held at the Jacarepagua circuit in Rio de Janeiro.

Dane Kevin Magnussen of the Haas F1 team took his first ever pole position in qualifying. He will start the Sprint race with World Champion-designate Max Verstappen alongside. The finishing order of the 100-km Sprint race will determine the starting grid for the main race on Sunday.

The 4.31-km track is situated 800 metres above sea level, the second-highest altitude on the F1 calendar after Mexico City, which is 1,500 metres higher in altitude. It is a track of two extremes. The first and third sectors require a low-drag car for the long straights, but the middle sector is twisty, requiring high downforce.

There is 1.2 kms of driving at full throttle between the exit of Turn 12 and the braking zone for Turn 1, with an elevation change of 33 metres. The biggest difference in elevation is from the start/finish straight to Turn 4 where there is a 40-metre drop in elevation.

Run anti-clockwise, it’s a very flowing circuit with a lot of combined corner entries (requiring the driver to corner and brake at the same time), meaning good stability is important. However, there is also a need for a good front end for the low-speed middle sector.

Cornering speeds and gears used by Mercedes-AMG drivers at Interlagos.

Track temperatures can reach some of the hottest of the season in Brazil, up to 60°C. And thunderstorms are common around this time of year, which can make things interesting over the weekend when there is the Sprint race on Saturday and the main race on Sunday.

“There aren’t any big demands on the tyres in terms of traction and braking because of the very flowing layout, and the lack of slow corners means that the teams are able to control the degradation on the rear tyres,” commented Mario Isola, Motorsport Director of Pirelli.

“It will be particularly interesting to see what will happen on the track and, once again, the key role of the different strategies that can be used: in 2021, the grid on Saturday was equally split between drivers starting on the medium and the soft tyres. Despite the short length of the track, there’s normally plenty of overtaking. Just think of Lewis Hamilton who was the protagonist of a comeback that brought him to victory from 10th place, using a 2-stop strategy. So the new generation of cars and tyres seems set to provide us with another thrilling race this year,” he added.

With both championships decided, the focus moves down the order. In the Drivers’ Championship, Sergio Perez is just 5 points ahead of Charles Leclerc in the battle for runner-up. Among the Constructors, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team collected a chunk of points at the US GP to close the gap by 27 points. This puts the team 40 points behind Ferrari and with extra points from the Sprint race available, there should be a strong effort put in.

Alain Prost has won at Interlagos 6 times before, followed by Michael Schumacher who took 4 wins. Among the constructors, Ferrari has won 9 times at Interlagos, with McLaren one less. However, if all Brazilian GPs are taken into account (including those held at the other track), then McLaren has 12 victories whereas Ferrari has had 11.

This is the sixth F1 event to include a Sprint race and Interlagos is the first venue to hold two. The Emilia Romagna and Austrian Grands Prix had Sprint races earlier this season, with the British, Italian and Sao Paulo GPs staging the popular 100-km race in 2021. Max Verstappen is F1’s leading sprinter to date, having won in Britain, Emilia-Romagna and Austria.

Click here
 to go to The Piston Show for more videos.


F1 (Round 11): Results And Highlights Of 2020 Eifel Grand Prix

♦ Spectators were again allowed to watch the race from the stands and some 20,000 were present at Nurburgring.

♦ When the lights turned green, Kimi Raikkonen shot off from the starting grid on his 323rd Grand Prix and that makes him the record-holder with the most F1 starts, ahead of Rubens Barrichello.

Kimi Raikkonen celebrated his 323rd F1 start, which made him the driver with the most F1 starts ever.

♦ 14 minutes into the race, Romain Grosjean alerted his team that his finger seemed to be damaged by what he believed to be gravel hitting his hand during lap 7.

♦ Red Bull Racing’s Alexander Albon was the first driver to return to the pits for a tyre change at the end of lap 7 as he seemed to have flat-spotted the tyres.

♦ Valtteri Bottas had gotten a good start to lead, with Lewis Hamilton chasing him. He lost the lead when he locked up going into Turn 1 and Hamilton swept past him. The tyres were flat-spotted so he headed into the pits for a change.

♦ On lap 14, Williams Racing’s George Russell got bumped off at Turn 1 by Kimi Raikkonen and his departure brought the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) into action. The VSC was tested in 2014 and found to be useful so it was adopted from the 2015 season. The Stewards looked into the collision and whether Raikkonen was at fault.

♦ As the VSC ended about a lap later, Albon crossed the path of Daniil Kvyat and damaged the front wing of the Scuderia AlphaTauri. The collision got Albon a 5-second penalty. Anyway, the THial Red Bull Racing driver retired on lap 24 after returning to the pits.

♦ On lap 17, as the first few drops of rain were felt in some areas of the track, Bottas’ car suddenly lost power and he had to bring it back to the pits, and had to retire as the Power Unit had problems. Meanwhile, at the front, Hamilton was pursued by Max Verstappen.

♦ A few laps before the race reached the halfway mark, Esteban Ocon had to retire due to a suspected hydraulic problem and then Lando Norris reported that his car was losing power. He struggled to keep up the speed as Sergio Perez got past him.

♦ At the halfway mark, Hamilton and Verstappen were way ahead in the lead, a 5-second gap separating the world champion from the Dutchman. Almost a minute behind was Daniel Ricciardo, the Renault driver. Four cars had retired.

♦ By lap 45, Norris’ McLaren pulled over, smoke coming out and because it was in a rather tricky position, the Mercedes-AMG Safety Car was despatched while removal was underway. The other McLaren driven by Carlos Sainz Jr was in close contention with Sergio Perez of BWT Racing Point.

♦ 10 laps were left when the Safety Car withdrew and Hamilton managed to get a strong start ahead although Verstappen almost bumped into him. The Mercedes driver even set a new lap record to make sure he had the dominance to stay ahead till the end.

♦ Hamilton took his seventh win of the season with a 4.4-second lead but more significantly, it was the 91st win of his career which now puts him equal with Michael Schumacher.


Bentley’s Azure range goes beyond superlative comfort to the wellbeing of each passenger

At the very top end of the car market, the luxury models have long been known for their comfort, usually described in superlative terms. For limousines that cost over a million ringgit, the comfort experienced by the occupants must be nothing less than the best and engineers as well as interior designers work very hard to ensure this.

Now, besides comfort, the wellbeing of the occupants is also given a greater deal of attention. Certainly, when one travels in a Bentley, the experience will also provide a heightened sense of wellbeing, but the company now wants  to deliver driver and passengers to their destination more relaxed than when they set off.

With the new Azure range that will be available across the full Bentley model line-up, the occupants will have a curated selection of features designed to enhance wellbeing and comfort. The aim is that at journey’s end, they will step out feeling refreshed, alert and ready to resume their busy lives.

The science of wellbeing

But what actually promotes wellbeing? To analyse and develop Bentley’s new concept of ‘wellbeing behind the wheel’, the Azure development team engaged a creative neuroscientist to work with them. Considering everything from light, to the patterns we see around us, to the impact of in-car posture and the importance and thermal comfort, the neuroscientist’s research paired with Bentley’s own measurements to give science-based analysis to the relaxing experience of travelling in a Bentley, as a driver or a passenger.

The two most crucial influences over onboard relaxation are ride comfort and NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). Research that tracked thousands of people over a 4-year period found that those exposed to traffic noise over 70 dB were 65% more at risk of depression.

Taking the new
Bentayga EWB
 as an example, measurements showed it to be quieter inside than its competitors, by between 4% and 26%, depending on frequency and position inside the car. Secondary ride comfort is another key variable that affects onboard wellness – obviously, the smoother the ride, the more calming the journey. At typical road speeds and in the crucial frequency range of 5 Hz to 20 Hz, the Bentayga EWB has up to 27% lower secondary ride vibration than its competitors.

Science-Informed Design approach

Facts like these inspired Bentley’s team to adopt a Science-Informed Design approach, using a variety of interdisciplinary methods to create the most positive sensation of wellness and comfort for drivers and their passengers. And because a car is a multisensory environment, this approach involved designing not simply for the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell but also for the position of our bodies (proprioception), gravity and acceleration (vestibular), temperature and even the body’s internal sensation (interoception).

Escaping the outside world into a personalised environment, with less outside noise, that could otherwise reduce attention, impact memory and increase stress response. Where once a vehicle acoustic engineer would have focused on the suppression of NVH as much as possible to create the quietest possible cabin environment, the focus is now is also on the quality of sound.

“We have to understand how we all detect and respond to sounds and then work out how to engineer those sounds into the components that make a Bentley,” explained Bentley Acoustics Engineer Andy Jackson. “We balance the sound from the vehicle and cocoon the occupants from outside world by minimizing sound penetration. We harmonise the acoustics with the other sensory inputs in the vehicle. The sound is literally in the vehicle’s DNA; it’s authentic and crafted.”

Most advanced seat design

Seating is one of the important elements too. It is important to keep the body in the right posture because when we slump, our bodies can take in as much as 30% less oxygen, affecting our ability to think and placing additional stress on the body.

This led to the most advanced seat ever fitted to the car – Bentley’s Airline Seat Specification. Available in the rear cabin, the seat has 22 ways of adjustment and world-firsts in a new auto climate sensing system and postural adjustment technology.

In Relax mode, the seat can recline to 40 degrees, whilst the passenger seat is motored forward and a footrest deploys from the back of the front passenger seat. In Business Mode, the seat moves into its most upright position to make working on the move more comfortable.

The Postural Adjustment function uses new thigh and shoulder pockets, plus additional lumbar massage pockets, to subtly yet continuously change the shape of the seat to ease pressure points around the body, preventing ‘dead spots’ and fatigue build-up. The use of air pockets enables more continuous and complex movements to be made – which are virtually imperceptible to the passenger – rather than the linear movements resulting from the use of seat motors.

The system goes beyond the 2D motions typical of adjustable seats, able to employ a 3-dimensional twist to relieve pressure points. Six independent pressure zones can provide 177 adjustments every 3 hours to ensure consistent seat comfort, regardless of the length of the journey. Studies have shown that actively supporting body weight in a dynamic way relieves strain, which can bring on mental stress and cause lack of focus. Natural supported postures have been shown to alleviate stress from tensed muscles.

Besides the heating and ventilation function in the seats which help to maintain the body’s optimum temperature for comfort and alertness, there is also a massage function with 6 programmable settings. This massage function promotes the constant micro-adjustments in muscle and posture that are so vital in preventing fatigue.

Even scent is important

When we see pleasing forms, shapes and colours, our brains release chemicals such as dopamine that not only make us feel good but are good for our body and sense of wellbeing. This led the Azure team to consult with neuroscientists to understand the interrelationship of colour, texture, tactility and even scent to create an atmosphere of relaxed serenity.

“Sensory receptors convert physical stimuli in neural activity, creating changes in our brain and nervous system. Every fabric, sound, motion, colour and touch continuously impacts our nervous system and the Azure cabin has been finessed accordingly,” said Maria Mulder, Head of Colour & Trim at Bentley Motors.

To that end, the Azure interior design specification includes ‘wellness quilting’ which has fractal patterns of precisely crafted diamond quilted upholstery creating an eye-pleasing interplay of light and shade. And while Bentley customers will always have access to the full range of wood veneers, the Azure range includes 3 open pore veneers with a softer, satin, reflective quality that can bring on a calm mood.

A personalised climate within

For most passengers, just having an environment with a comfortable temperature would be pleasant enough on any journey. But in a Bentley, there is Seat Auto Climate where each passenger can  select their desired temperature. The contact temperature and surface humidity are then directly measured (cushion and backrest independently) and the heating and ventilation are adjusted to achieve the required temperature.

This is continuously monitored to ensure it remains constant as optimised body temperature is vital when the focus is on individual wellbeing. In studies that have manipulated body temperature via external means, it has generally been reported that cognitive function is reduced by decreasing body temperature below normal. A comfortable thermal environment can also alleviate fatigue, reduce irritability, and improve driving safety.

Bentley stretches the Bentayga to create a new flagship model


VW Polo available now for just RM69,888

Same cheerful hatchback, but at a more afforable price

Volkswagen Cars Malaysia has seen it fit to drop the price of their stalwart hatchback to an acceptable RM69,888 for a limited time. Owners only need to pay RM737 as their monthly loan repayment, however, it’s best to visit your nearest VW dealer to know exactly how the repayment scheme actually works.

What you are getting for your money, is the same cheerful Polo we see zipping around our city streets. It’s powered by the same 1.6-litre 16-valve Multi Point Injection (MPI) engine that puts out 103bhp and 153Nm of torque. This powerplant is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic. VW say that when driven sensibly, the Polo should be able to to achieve a fuel consumption figure of just 6.3 litres per 100km.

Despite the reduced price, VW didn’t skimp on equipment, the Polo is fitted the the new RCD 330G head unit that offers a number of connectiviy options well as the multimedia ones which include a CD player (WMA/MP3), USB and iPod connectivity, AUX-IN support, SD card slot and Bluetooth with MirrorLink connectivity.

If you are interested to know more about the Polo, visit the VW Malaysia website at
www.volkswagen.com.my
 or visit your nearest VW dealership.


Perodua EZ MOBi subscription plan now available for business entities and government agencies

Perodua has introduced a new approach to purchasing vehicles – EZ MOBi – which is an all-inclusive vehicle subscription service. Currently available in the Klang Valley and only for business entities and government agencies, EZ MOBi simplifies management of vehicle fleets (Perodua, of course) throughout the period of use.

“The value offering of this service is that Perodua EZ MOBi provides end-to-end convenience to our customers as various packages are available to fit each client’s mobility needs,” explained Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Single monthly rate

With EZ MOBi, all costs of owning and operating vehicles are covered by a single monthly rate. These include roadtax and comprehensive insurance coverage, scheduled servicing and maintenance, as well as replacement of normal wear and tear items. In fact, the only thing not included is fuel!

Additionally, each vehicle is supported by a 24/7 Auto Assist service when needed and a free telematics system is installed so the vehicle’s location can be tracked. This will be useful for fleet managers who may wish to know the movements of their vehicles or when it is stolen.

All costs related to scheduled servicing and maintenance are included in the subscription rate.

“In essence, EZ MOBi represents Perodua’s value contribution towards its customers’ growing mobility needs. The overall package includes vehicle registration, insurance renewal, servicing cost, parts replacement cost, courtesy car, vehicle disposal and replacement under one subscription plan,” Dato’ Zainal said.

Value-added features

Other valued-added features of EZ MOBi include a concierge service to provide assistance and a courtesy car, should the customer’s vehicle be kept in the service centre for a longer period than necessary. And those who choose EZ MOBi can also get their vehicle faster, which is often important for busy businesses.

All the latest Perodua models are available with the EX MOBi subscription plans.

Flexible plans

Customers enjoy a lower downpayment as well as lower overall cost. The subscription periods can be from 3 to 7 years with mileage options of 30,000 kms or 40,000 kms each year. Customers can also upgrade their vehicles, but this is subject to a minimum subscription period. At the end of the subscription period, disposal of the vehicle is hassle-free, with depreciation not having to be factored in.

Click here
 to find out more about Perodua EX MOBi or call
1-800-88600
.

Lower-priced childseat now offered by Perodua


Intrepid Aura – for those who want a more exclusive Aston Martin DBX

Aston Martin’s DBX, the first SUV from the British marque, has established a presence in many markets around the world, including Malaysia. While owning an Aston Martin is already something exclusive as the numbers sold are small, there may be some customers who want their Aston Martin to be more exclusive.

For those who require this extra degree of exclusvity, Aston Martin KL offers the Intrepid Aura. This adds a sportier flavour to the SUV with a highly liquid, reflective Yellow Tang body finish, or if your prefer, Ceramic Blue, Stratus White or Lime Essence.

The side window surround is finished in Gloss Black, the dark theme complemented by mirror caps in the same colour with smoked rear lights and black 22-inch sport satin alloy wheels. The Aston Martin Wings and wordmark also have a black chrome finish.

Handcrafted interior with Dark Satin Chrome

The luxurious yet functional cabin comes with a Dark Satin Chrome interior jewellery pack and Metallic Black Caithness Leather upholstery with embroidered Aston Martin Wings logos. The colour of the seat stitching is coordinated with the exterior colour – Electron Yellow, Blue, Chancellor Red or Lime Green.

Overhead is Black Alcantara headlining while Piano Black wood veneers are installed around the cabin, with the Obsidian Black Carpet in the footwells.

Abundance of technology

There is an abundance of technology for driver assistance as well as entertainment. A 10.25-inch TFT screen sits flush in the centre console while a huge 12.3-inch TFT screen provides a wealth of information to the driver while on the move. Apple CarPlay comes as standard, as does a 360-degree camera system and ambient lighting that offers 64 different colours in two zones.

Muscular powertrain

Power for the DBX comes from a muscular 4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the same unit found in the DB11 and Vantage. This muscular engine delivers its 550 ps/700 Nm through a 9-speed automatic transmission. It is claimed to be able to reach a top speed of up to 291 km/h after sprinting past 100 km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds.

As would be expected, the drivetrain is an all-wheel drive system, and it is not just for off-road use but also enhances performance on the road. It  has active differentials at the centre and rear, the latter being an electronically limited slip differential. This allows the torque to be sent in the precise amount need fore and aft of the vehicle and also across the rear axle.

The SUV comes with adaptive triple volume air suspension, combined with the latest 48V electric anti-roll control system and electronic adaptive dampers. At the touch of a button, the ride height can go up by 45 mm or down by 50 mm, so the DBX can be adapted to a wide range of terrain. The system can be further programmed to aid with ingress, egress and loading requirements on a practical level.

The base price of an officially imported DBX is RM818,000.00 (excluding duties), while the Intrepid Aura version is available from RM958,000.00.

Aston Martin can design an exclusive garage for you too


4 more rounds added to F1 calendar, making it a total of 17 for 2020

The 2020 Formula 1 World Championship, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic just as the opening round was to take place in Australia in March, will end the season with a toral of 17 races. Following the announcements regarding the initial thirteen races of the revised 2020 calendar, 4 additional races have been confirmed which will take place in the months of November and December.

While it was already expected that Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will host the last rounds (the former running two races), a newcomer is Turkey which will have the Formula 1 DHL Turkish Grand Prix 2020.  The race will be held at the Istanbul Park Circuit which was opened in 2005 when the first Turkish F1 GP was held. The venue was included on the F1 calendar up to 2011 and then left out over the past 8 years.

The Intercity Istanbul Park Circuit last had a F1 race in 2011.

Familiar circuit to top drivers

The circuit, also designed by Hermann Tilke, the F1 track specialist, has a length of 5.34 kms and 14 turns. Past races have been run for 58 laps with the lap record still held by of 1:24.770 still held by Juan Pablo Montoya when he was driving a McLaren in 2005. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel would be familiar with the circuit as they have raced and won there before.

“We can confirm that a number of races in the revised 2020 season will be open to a limited number of fans, including hospitality, and we are working with each promoter to finalise the details. While we want to see as many fans as possible return as soon as it is safe to do so, our priority remains the safety of the Formula 1 community and the communities we visit, and we review fan access on this basis,” said Chase Carey, Chairman & CEO of the Formula 1 organisation.

Strict SOPs still applied

This means that the races will continue to be held without spectators and with a minimum number of participants allowed into the circuit. So far, the strict measures taken have ensured that there are no COVID-19 infections spreading and when the health authorities are more comfortable with the situation, perhaps there will be an opportunity for spectators in the stands.

“Sadly, we will not be racing in China this season and want to thank our partner Juss Sports for their support and engagement in recent months and hugely look forward to returning to Shanghai next year,” Carey said.


Uber FAILS in London

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything from Uber these days but the latest news surrounding the once successful company here in the country is not a great one. It seems that their operations in London have fallen and their operating license has been stripped (for the second time in two years) on 25 November 2019 after failing several safety and security measures.

Image credit: Venture Beat

According to a recent report made by
The Star Online
, a change in the Uber operating system has allowed unauthorised drivers to upload their credentials and details on other registered drivers accounts and pick up passengers. This has happened over 14,000 times in London based on Transport for London. Yikes.

“TfL has identified a pattern of failures by the company including several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk. Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.”

For now, Uber has no comment or feedback regarding the matter and they only have three weeks to appeal for continuation of their services in the city. With over 45,000 registered drivers in London, we’re guessing that Uber might try and make amends but not before addressing the major issue where essentially anyone can get into their app and start picking up unwary passengers.

PUSPAKOM: Only 35 out of 200,000 e-Hailing cars inspected in first 10 days


Important Vehicle Data Collected For Industry Development under Technology Transfer Apprenticeship Programme

The Technology Transfer Apprenticeship Programme (TTAP) developed by Malaysia Automotive Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) and Persona Energy Sdn Bhd reached its completion through the TTAP appreciation awards and handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), recently.

The TTAP is a unique technology transfer programme to develop local automotive talent, expertise and technology value chain through apprenticeships of selected local engineers to procure important engineering insight within endurance racing technology at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

In June this year, 4 TTAP apprentice engineers were sent to be part of the JOTA team at the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, to enhance automotive skills and knowledge of local talents through apprenticeships with experienced race engineers, in international racing events with professional motorsport teams.

Throughout the programme, the apprentices are considered as team members, and were given real-time engineering responsibilities on certain segments of vehicle development for each race. These responsibilities include collection and analysis of the performance of race car components, design and layout of workshop equipment and tools during races, repair and maintenance of race cars, and other engineering activities that are required during the development and race day.

An important aspect of TTAP is the collection of vehicle data during the six legs of races throughout the WEC, which provides important information from high performance vehicles that can be utilised in the development of future vehicles and components. This data includes durability, performance, and many other forms of information that can be used in engineering analysis of future vehicle technology including autonomous and electric vehicles.

As technology in motorsports are far more advanced than that in the manufacturing line, such information procured through the TTAP program will bring a new dimension to the development of the automotive dan mobility sector, either at the vehicle assembly level, or component manufacturer.

At the WEC, the JOTA team clinched a 1-2 finish in the 8 Hours at Portimao leg in Portugal, and achieved a podium finish in every race in the WEC.

Audi to compete in Dakar Rally 2022, return to WEC, and leave Formula E after 2021


Toyota RAV4 becomes Suzuki ACROSS PHEV for European market

Two years ago, Suzuki and Toyota agreed to work together on joint projects for technological development, vehicle Production, and market development. Apart from the mutual supply of vehicles for the Indian market, where Suzuki has a strong presence, the two companies have also worked on sharing models.

For Toyota, it would mean a higher volume for a model and help push production costs down while for Suzuki, it would mean having a new model without the high cost of developing it. A win-win situation.

The first model to be shared is Toyota’s latest RAV4 which has been supplied to Suzuki and sold as the ACROSS. While the ‘double octagonal’ RAV4 design is evident, Suzuki’s stylists have given their SUV a different frontal look from Toyota’s model. Under the front bumper is silver garnish that underlines the off-road image of the vehicle.

The front end of the Suzuki has a different look from the Toyota RAV4 (below).

For European market

Intended for sale in the European market from the third quarter of 2020, the ACROSS has also uses the same Plug-in Hybrid system as that for the RAV4. The powertrain consists of a front electric motor producing 134 kW/270 Nm and a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine, both of which are Toyota items.

Suzuki is offering the ACROSS only as a PHEV for sale in Europe which has tough emission regulations that a hybrid powertrain can meet more easily.

Electricity storage is in an 18.1 kWh (50.9 Ah) high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack  mounted beneath the floor. The engine functions as a charger for the battery pack and provides power assistance to the electric motor during high-speed driving if required.

The hybrid powertrain helps Suzuki to meet the tougher carbon dioxide emission regulations as well as offer high fuel efficiency.

Electronic 4×4 system

The Across also has Toyota’s E-Four electronic 4×4 system for additional capability in off-road or slippery conditions. The system uses an independent 40 kW rear motor that works in conjunction with the front motor to provide front:rear torque variation ranging from 100:00 to 20:80.

Beneﬁts of this system include enhanced stability during take-off on slippery surfaces such as snow-covered roads, and more stable handling when cornering on varying road surfaces. A ‘Trail Mode’ uses an automatic limited-slip diﬀerential control to ensure the best possible grip and control on slippery surfaces.

Central to the E-Four system is the highly sophisticated AWD Integrated Management (AIM), which controls not only drive force distribution, but also engine throttle control, transmission shift scheduling, Electric Power Steering assistance and braking, according to the driving conditions.

Same interior as RAV4

The interior environment is pretty much similar to the RAV4’s and not surprisingly shares the same high-quality materials with soft padding on the dashboard and door trims.

While cabin space is designed for the comfort of occupants in both the first and second rows, cargo space has been maximised in the spacious rear compartment. It has a 490-litre volume with the rear backrests up and up to 1,604 litres with both backrests folded down.

Advanced safety/technology features

To meet the demanding safety expectation of consumers in Europe, the ACROSS comes with a package of safety systems to help the driver. These include a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Tracing Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Crossing Traffic Alert.

If the systems sound familiar, they are the same as what it found on the RAV4, which again saves Suzuki money as they do not have to incur development costs to make their own safety systems.

In Europe, new vehicles are also required to have eCall, a feature which automatically alerts emergency services with a phone message when the vehicle is involved in a traﬃc accident. The message includes the precise location of the vehicle, helping the emergency services to reach it faster.

The practice of one manufacturer making and supplying models to another is not new and has been going on for quite some time. In fact, it is quite common in Japan. With the market becoming more and more challenging and competitive, it only makes sense to share models and reduce cost. Each brand will have its own loyal base of customers who will be happy to have an extra choice, even if it is not made by the company.

Toyota and Suzuki Strengthen Ties with Capital Alliance Agreement


Tested: Locally-assembled Kia Carnival 2.2D

The new locally-assembled Kia Carnival shows how Korean design has come a long way in 50 years, having started with adapting foreign models (under licence) and then trying to design their own cars. They tried to be different, seemingly for the sake of being different and there were strange forms and shapes which were unnecessary. After realizing there was no need to ‘reinvent the wheel’, they began to get experienced foreign designers – the best known being Peter Schreyer who gave Kia a recognizable identity.

From having foreign designers, they also opened design studios in Europe and America where their designers could be immersed in the markets that they were developing products for. As a result, the designs today are original and appealing, without the oddities of trying to be different.

New design approach
In the case of the new Carnival, the design originated from Kia’s studio in California which has been in existence since 2008. It’s therefore not surprising that the design is polished, of high quality and has a unique combination of MPV and SUV. In fact, Kia designers have coined the term ‘GUV’ – for Grand Utility Vehicle – to reflect a slightly different class of MPV.

While it has the long monoform of a people-carrier, it doesn’t have the bulkiness and has styling elements that make it look like a long SUV. Besides the lifted front top of the bonnet to give the feel of a large SUV, a skidplate on the bottom edge of the front and rear bumpers are elements which give the SUV-like impression.

The headlamps don’t have conventional covers, with each of the DRLs and lighting elements being separate. The appearance is a bit futuristic, which also gives originality to the Carnival’s design. The grille, sized proportionately to the vehicle, is quite a simple execution which looks like the ‘Tiger Nose’ has finally evolved away from its familiar look.

Most MPVs have a pretty dull side view but the Kia designers have given the Carnival a more eye-catching and sporty appearance here. Apart from the ‘floating roof’, the tapered and angled C-pillar provides a unique look, and the texture garnish adds a touch of class too. The texture is also found on the dashboard trim, contributing to the premium image that Kia is aiming for.

2.2-litre Smartstream turbodiesel
Like the imported version we drove earlier, the locally assembled Carnival also has a turbodiesel engine and it is the same all-aluminium 2.2-litre Smartstream 4-cylinder unit. With high-pressure commonrail fuel delivery (Euro5 B7 biodiesel), it develops 199 bhp/440 Nm, with the strong torque available from 1,750 rpm.

The engine is mated to a conventional torque converter automatic transmission with 8 speeds. There’s no conventional lever for selecting transmission positions; instead, a large E-Shift knob (with a high quality finish) on the centre console is rotated to select the R, N and D positions. Manual selection of gear can still be done using paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The PARK position is easily selected by just pressing the button in the middle of the knob. It’s probably the way transmission control will be in future but for now, some might still miss a lever.

There are also drive modes for quicker acceleration or better economy as well as a SMART mode which is adaptive. It learns the behaviour of the driver and gradually adjusts the characteristics to suit the driving style. Over time, the driver will find the transmission operating smoothly and almost predictably. However, a different driver who takes over may not necessarily like that character and if this new driver uses the vehicle for a long period, then it will gradually change to his or her style. Perhaps then there should be a ‘memory’ function to store preferred characteristics, just like seat positions.

Spaceship-inspired interior
The interior is where the new Carnival impresses, and not just with spaciousness that would be expected from its exterior dimensions. The designers have created a more premium image and feel to the cabin with convenience features for everyone on the three rows. The interior designers were inspired by the minimalist yet elegant spaceship interior in the classic 1968 movie
‘2001: A Space Odyssey’
 so their initial idea was a family vehicle for going on space travels! Even the dashboard panoramic display that stretches across the driver’s side is intended to give the feeling of being in the cockpit of a high-tech spaceship.

The spaciousness is enhanced by the large windows, especially on both sides of the second row. There’s a panoramic view of the world passing by and with the High version, there are also dual sunroofs overhead to make things feel even more airy.

Versatile seating a strong point
By far, it was the seating that attracted a lot of attention with its variability. As mentioned before, the locally-assembled model is available as a 7-seater or 8-seater, whereas the CBU version we tested in February was an 11-seater. The layout, with maximum people capacity, would be 2-2-3 or 2-3-3. In both versions, the third row folds flat into the floor but for the second row, the seats are fixed in the 7-seater due to the many electrical systems in them. For the 8-seater, they can be adjusted in various ways, turned around the face backwards and even removed completely.

Turning the seats to face backwards requires a bit of work as the left and right side seats have to exchange positions. They are not that difficult to remove and there are security features to ensure that they are locked in place when installed. Most people should be able to handle the task but it’s not something that might be done frequently either.

For the ultimate in comfort, the 7-seater comes with two Premium Relaxion (not a spelling error) seats for the second row. These are wide and when reclined, there is an additional pad that extends forward and up to provide support for the lower part of the legs. Pivoting armrests on the outer side of each seat provide a place to rest the arm while being out of the way when getting in and out.

The seats (which are made locally) have heating and ventilation within and for keeping the entire cabin cool, there are air-conditioning vents on the ceiling over the middle and rear sections. The fan speed and temperature can be controlled separately from the front system but because the panel is situated just behind the driver’s seat (on the ceiling), it can be difficult to reach for most passengers.

The third row, for 3 persons, is quite comfortable, as we found from sitting in the section for about a third of the journey to Penang. You can’t say that of all MPVs but with the Carnival, there won’t be reluctance to go to the back. Legroom is also pretty good and more importantly, even though the seats are over the rear end, there’s no bumpiness.

The powered sliding doors on both sides are a nice luxury feature but to be expected considering the price. Getting into the third row is easy as the second row seats tumble forward, but when getting out, the passenger in the third row might need help as the release handle is right at the B-pillar. Presumably, there will be a driver to help, or someone in the second row will also be getting out.

Enough cargo space for moving house
The standard boot space when the third row is in use is limited but there’s a deep compartment below it for storing items. This, however, means that only a temporary spare wheel can be carried. This is the skinny tyre for emergencies which is lighter and saves space too.

The cargo volume is variable so it depends on what you want to carry. For maximum volume, the third row can be folded into the floor and the second row seats removed. This gives a space that would rival a pick-up truck – and it’s enclosed. So that adds another dimension to the term ‘multi purpose’ as you could probably do house-moving with just the Carnival alone.

Most features are common to all three versions and the extras that the High versions have are the dual sunroof, memory function for the front seats, larger digital instrument panel and a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. There won’t be fighting for USB recharging ports as up to 7 are provided plus a wireless charging pad. The sound system is from Bose and has 12 speakers placed around the cabin. The only thing missing for a family-type vehicle would be a cooler box but that’s something that can be purchased as an accessory anyway.

Driving impressions
At 5 metres long and almost 2 metres wide, the Carnival is an imposing vehicle and for some, it may be intimidating. It would fit right into the landscape in America but in Malaysia, with our narrower roads and tighter congestion, a large vehicle might seem impractical. However, as we discovered back in January when we drove the 11-seater, the size does not mean it is difficult to drive. In fact, when on the move, it doesn’t feel much different from a smaller MPV and there is the added stability of being 2,100+ kgs.

Where you become aware of its bulk is in tight situations, like parking, but even then, it is not as cumbersome as a pick-up truck. The Surround View Monitor is a great help here and we found that parking was a ‘no-sweat’ exercise and the vehicle could be positioned properly within a bay.

Even more surprising is the way the vehicle behaves on winding roads. Apart from the competent chassis design, the low ride height also helps keep the Carnival stable and hardly any lean could be felt. With motor-assisted power steering these days, big vehicles like the Carnival are no harder to drive than small sedans. The feedback is good and assistance is progressive. The body control is certainly light years from what we remember of the original Carnival (the one that was also sold as a Naza Ria) which wallowed when pushed too hard in turns.

The 2.2-litre Smartstream engine provided enough power for brisk motoring but it has also to be said that our two drives did not have the maximum number of passengers aboard and the load was fairly light. With all 7 or 8 seats occupied, perhaps the performance might feel different but as we kept hearing from our convoy leader ‘Enjoy the drive’, and unless you are in a rush, the engine should be able to provide decent performance.

The weight also helps with ride comfort although the pressures were on the high side as the vehicles had come straight from the plant with pressures meant for maximum load. It’s not super quiet in the cabin but the ambient noise level seemed to be consistent. Conversations with people next to you are fine but because the seat rows are far apart, you sometimes have to raise your voice to talk to the drive (certainly if the person right at the back is talking).

Priced (excluding insurance) from RM231,228 – RM261,228, the Carnival is a breath of fresh air in the MPV segment, with smart styling and it has not just a premium image but also the feel to go with it. We would go as far as to say it sets a new benchmark for the MPV class and even those who have not had a liking for MPVs will find the Carnival appealing.

Dinamikjaya Motors opens new Kia Flagship 3S Centre in Selangor


The Father and Daughter racers in the Vios Challenge

When a father has a passion for a sport, it often gets picked up by his children too and as they grow up, they learn the skills from him and can one day also become stars. In many cases, it’s often the boys who get the father’s encouragement and support but in Eddie Lew’s case, it’s his daughter and clearly, he believes that the sport is not restricted to just males.

So at this weekend’s Season 5 opening round of the Vios Challenge one-make race series (part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival) at the Sepang International Circuit, we have the presence of a father and daughter in the racing. It is probably the first such pair in Malaysian motorsports and while they are not racing directly against each other (in the same class) or even on the same team, perhaps one day that might happen.

Exposed to racing since 3 years old

Eddie’s daughter is Adele, 20, who’s been tagging along with him and his friends to races since she was 3 years old. “He used to compete a lot at the then Pasir Gudang Circuit (Johor Circuit), and I’ve been following him to all his races ever since, from the Malaysia Championship Series and the MSF Series to the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race,” Adele said, revealing that she started driving fun karts only last year and just managed to do it for a month before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force.

She is currently an undergraduate at one of the private institutions of higher learning in Kuala Lumpur and her father resides in Johor. So Adele’s training sessions have since gone online with the two spending hours communicating. “Believe me, our calls can last for hours with super long conversations on racing!” she revealed.

“When we’re together, he makes me drive a manual transmission car and we spend time on the racing simulator where he teaches me to become familiar with the many racing lines and braking points,” added Adele.

GR Young Talent Development Program

While her father, an accomplished racing veteran with a history that dates back to the early 90s, inspires her, Adele has also been given an opportunity to develop her racing skills through the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia/
GR Young Talent Development Program
. She is among the six young Malaysians who make up the second batch of the program. Candidates selected are between the ages of 16 and 20 who are keen to transition from karting and simulator racing to real-world  saloon car racing. It is part of UMW Toyota Motor’s initiative to provide young drivers with a platform to climb the motorsports ladder, and to bring new blood into the sport.

The GR Young Talent Development Program provides intensive training just like what professional racing drivers go through. Simulator time is an important activity and top Malaysian drivers provide valuable guidance.

Adele and the other 5 rookies have undergone systematic training which covers core aspects of becoming a professional driver. From top drivers like Alex Yoong, Tengku Djan Ley and Mark Darwin, they learn racecraft and how to prepare themselves in fitness, nutrition and even psychologically. It is quite an intensive program and when they have graduated, they are given opportunities to race in the Vios Challenge and other events, as Adele will be doing this year.

“Compared to the others, I am a real beginner with limited experience and that means I have to put in twice the effort. We’ll see how things go as the season progresses, but I’d really like to get on to the podium and make my Dad proud. From several sessions on the track with the Vios racing car and being guided by several different coaches – some of whom were last year’s Rookie Class racers – I’ve learnt a lot especially in mentally preparing myself. And the car is also very easy to drive,” she said.

Not racing directly against Dad – yet

Technically, Adele will be competing in the Rookie Class (for the graduates of the program) while her father is in the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers. However, father and daughter will be in the same race as the two classes run together. So who knows – Dad might just see his daughter’s car appearing in his mirrors one day!

“This is a very special moment for the both of us. In order for me to be able to race my father shows just how long he has been in motorsport. This is going to be a whole new experience for the two of us and my dad is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare for my first ever race weekend,” said Adele.

Racing fans and enthusiasts have been able to catch the weekend’s action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at
www.toyota.com.my
 and on the
Toyota Malaysia
 and
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia
 Facebook pages

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program


Shell partners Waze to warn you of accident-prone areas

Shell Lubricants Malaysia’s Shell Helix, has partnered with the mobile navigation app, Waze, to make driving home this festive season, a little bit safer. From 16 May to 15 July 2017, those using the Waze app will receive special alerts courtesy of Shell Helix about accident-prone areas during their travels.

So far, the partnership has identified 50 spots that are considered accident-prone areas. The app will infrom Waze users nearing said areas with an alert in the App, urging road users to be extra cautious while driving through these areas. This will lend a helping hand to road users and should some-what help relieve their worries while making the long journey home this festive season. According to Shell, the alerts should be displayed when the vehicle is ‘stationary to avoid any further distractions’.

Speaking of the newly added feature within Waze, Shell Lubricants Malaysia and Singapore, Marketing Manager Alex Lim, said, “This cooperation with Waze reflects our desire to take our commitment in road safety to the next level by engaging drivers in real-time. We are delighted to work with Shell Helix to launch this initiative that reminds drivers to stay extra safe. By reducing crashes, we also reduce traffic jams and this benefits everyone.”

As an added bonus this festive season, Shell will be offering a special oil change discount during the pre-peak travel period at selected Shell stations and Shell trade partners across the country. A unique promo code will be displayed in the Waze up, which the app user can use at said Shell outlets to redeem a RM30 discount on the cost of an oil change service at participating Shell Helix branded workshops and retail stations’ Lube Bay service outlets.

Shell’s initiatives this festive season should help reduce congestion and vehicle breakdowns as well as help Malaysians get to their destinations safely.


Tracy Morgan’s Bugatti Veyron hit – 30 minutes after leaving showroom!

New York is one of a few places in the world where if you want to be seen, you have to drive something outstanding. A Bugatti Veyron will do just that but for one particular Tracy Morgan, his experience was short lived – 30 minutes to be exact.

Tracy Morgan bought a Brand new Bugatti in NYC today & someone in a Honda sideswiped it minutes later.
pic.twitter.com/twGSOC0POq

— TheHipHopGuru (@thhguru)
5 June 2019

Hollywood celebrity was seen by paparazzi leaving a high-end vehicle showroom in New York City with his ‘brand-new’ Bugatti Veyron (which is actually a used 2012 model as pointed out by Bozi Tatarevic on his Twitter feed).

Less than 1km away, a Honda CR-V driven by 61-year-old Jocelyn Madulid sideswiped Tracy Morgan’s freshly purchased Bugatti Veyron. The incident itself is nowhere near serious (a slightly higher version of a fender bender) but we can only imagine what Tracy Morgan was going through at the time.

Witnesses stated that the Hollywood superstar was understandably furious about the situation to the point where he was banging and cursing at the poor old lady soon after the incident took place. So much so that Tracy Morgan even tweeted in response to the whole fiasco.

Thanks for any concern but I am totally fine.  My NEW CAR?  We shall see. Love you all.

— Tracy Morgan (@TracyMorgan)
4 June 2019

Whatever the case may be, we’re pretty sure that the car will be fixed in no time. A Bugatti Veyron (no matter what year) is still an awesome car to own but at the end of the day, we know that Tracy Morgan will be cool enough to joke about the whole incident. Not in the near future, though (for obvious reasons).


Peugeot Hybrid4 500KW to power Peugeot hypercar for endurance racing in 2022

After a decade-long absence, Peugeot will return to endurance racing, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, in 2022. By then, it will have completed development of an all-new hypercar defined in the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) regulations.

Development by Peugeot Sport and Total

The hypercar will be known as the Peugeot Hybrid4 500KW and its powertrain is now being developed by Peugeot Sport and Total (and its subsidiary, Saft). Details of the powertrain which have been revealed show a mid-rear, 2.6-litre, 500 kW (680 bhp), twin-turbo, V6 , petrol internal combustion engine combined with a front-mounted 200 kW (272 bhp) motor generator unit, with a high-power density battery. The smart powertrain will have energy flow management, a key to high performance.

Although the 165-kg engine can deliver 500 kW and the motor generator unit has a capacity of 200 kW, the regulations set a maximum power output of just 500 kW during races. The regulations also forbid the use of electrical energy below 120 km/h, so the motor generator unit only engages once this speed has been reached. The car must pull away from standstill under the power of its internal combustion engine alone.

At full power, the power output is limited to 300 kW and adjusted as a function of the power delivered by the motor generator unit at 200 kW which is directly dependent on the battery level. When the motor generator unit comes into use, the car automatically switches to 4-wheel drive, thereby modifying its drivability – through high-speed corners, for example,

When the battery pack is empty, the engine reverts to 500 kW power output and the transmission returns to rear-wheel drive. During races, the battery will be fully charged prior to the start by means of a mains-connected plug-in hybrid charger. Once on the track, the battery will function completely independently and be charged only by the kinetic braking energy recovery system.

The robotised sequential 7-speed (plus reverse) gearbox will be controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and the Peugeot Sport-developed brake-by-wire system will also be managed electronically.

The driver will be able to adjust the level of engine-braking generated by the electric motor under deceleration and the force applied by the pads to the braking discs to achieve the optimum electric regenerative/hydraulic braking split. Optimal energy management, both under acceleration and during energy recovery, will consequently be key to the car’s performance and efficiency.

The architecture of the Peugeot HYBRID4 500KW powertrain is the result of a highly- detailed brief shaped by the new FIA WEC regulations,” noted François Coudrain, Peugeot Sport’s WEC Programme Powertrain Director. “We initially considered a single turbo, but that would have prevented us from achieving our engine’s centre of gravity target. A twin-turbo V6 block offers the best trade-off between technology, weight, packaging of the engine’s ancillaries, reliability and performance.”

Innovative battery concept

The high-density, high-power battery pack has been developed jointly by Peugeot Sport and Saft, a Total subsidiary. As one of the keys to high performance, it will need to be integrated perfectly, physically inside the car and in the powertrain’s energy-management process. Working from a specification written by Peugeot Sport, Saft’s engineers selected the best type of cells for the battery which favours power over energy density, consistent with the needs of endurance racing.

“The main parameter will be to optimise how the energy stored in the battery is used,” explained Kamen Nechev, Saft’s Chief Technical Officer. “To achieve this, you need an extremely short charge-time combined with high-capacity storage cells to form a package that enables maximum power to be delivered as rapidly as possible. The most competitive solution resides in the management of charge optimisation and the amount of power available in real time.”

The new battery will be located in a carbonfibre casing inside the car’s monocoque structure, behind the driver and underneath the fuel tank. It has been designed to combine durability with consistent performance during races of durations of up to 24 hours, and even beyond.

Click here for other news and articles about Peugeot.


TOYOTA GAZOO Racing takes first win of the new Hypercar era of the World Endurance Championship

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

The signs were good when TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned a historic first-ever Hypercar pole position as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) began its new era. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, an early entrant in the Hypercar category, had its new
GR010 HYBRID
 ready to go and locked out the front row in qualifying for the first round of the ninth season – the Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Almost 15 hours of testing and free practice sessions had taken place earlier in the week when the #7 Hypercar of World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose María Lopez led the field away, trailed by the #8 car of the team which had Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley.

Close challenge from Alpine team

After a dramatic and tense battle at the front, overcoming a close challenge from the #36 Alpine in second and their own team-mates in the #7 car, it would be the #8 car that won the race, getting place in the motorsport record books.

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the first of six in a revised 2021 WEC calendar, was an incident-packed race. The Hypercars fought relentlessly from the moment the race started. The #7 Toyota was in the lead but by lap 11, #8 took over and the pair of GR010 HYBRIDs were hotly pursued by the #36 Alpine.

As the first pit stops approached, the race took its first dramatic turn when the #7 car was in the pits. Time was lost when the car did not leave cleanly, before Sebastien visited the pits a lap later. At the end of that stop, the fuel nozzle was removed from the #8 before the 35-seconds minimum refuelling time had elapsed, breaking a new regulation. This resulted in a 30-second penalty, taken at the car’s next pit stop, when Brendon took the wheel.

Drama in closing hour

With the #7 requiring a fluid refill when Mike handed over to Jose, the #36 Alpine took over at the front. At half distance, Jose was closing in and just a few seconds behind, with Brendon further back in the third-placed #8 car.

The battle showed no sign of easing off, and neither did the drama. Jose made contact with a GT car, slightly damaging the front bodywork. Then with just under 2 hours remaining, the #7 slid off the track and got stuck in the gravel, requiring a rescue vehicle to recover it before he resumed in third. It was the position that would remain till the end of the race, with the Alpine splitting the two Toyotas.

A United Autosports Oreca 07 finished among the top five in the first race of the 2021 WEC season.

“What a dramatic and unpredictable start to this new era for our team. Today was a strong start for our next generation of Racing Hybrid technology but we are still learning and improving with our GR010 HYBRID. It has not been the smoothest week for the team at Spa but this has highlighted areas to improve so we will work hard to do this before the next race, and particularly before Le Mans,” said Hisatake Murata, Team President.

The competitiveness of the Alpine A480 (above) was clear, and will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the season. “We had the satisfaction of battling with the Toyotas even though the strategies are obviously different because of the different technologies we use,” said Philippe Sinault, Team Principal of the Alpine Elf Matmut Endurance Team Principal. “Our first target was to reach the finish, and we did so. Although the podium was predicted by many, we managed to finish second by pushing the Toyotas. The assessment of this first race is positive, and we will work hard to aim higher at the next round in Portugal.”

Toyota GAZOO Racing reveals GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar for 2021 WEC


Ford contributes $5 million to support automated technology

Ford Motor Company has contributed $5 million (RM21 million) to the American Center for Mobility (ACM) to support connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology development. This will designate Ford as a Founder-level sponsor and member of a government-industry team that supports ACM’s efforts.

The investment will help ACM create an automated vehicle proving ground in Southeast Michigan. This is where companies will be able to develop their CAV technologies and work on other areas that include creating the appropriate standards and education programmes.

Located at Willow Run in Ypsilanti Township, the new non-profit 500-acre state-of-the-art testing site will be used for testing, validation, product development and education purposes. This facility’s first phase will be operational at the end of this year, signaling the beginning of major studies into autonomous transportation.

This latest investment brings ACM’s fundraising total to $95 million (RM397 million), which will go a long way in helping it accomplish its goal. This will also allow for better synergy between entities who share the same goal of creating more advanced autonomous systems.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have Ford Motor Company join the ranks as a Founder. When we first announced our plan to develop the American Center for Mobility, it may have seemed a little ambitious to some,” said John Maddox, president and CEO of ACM.

“However, we’re well along in making this a reality as national and global partners continue to support the facility,” he later added.

Ford’s contribution has allowed it to join ACM Founders Toyota Motor North America (TMNA, Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and AT&T in paving a path for the future of mobility.