Jaguar XE SV Project 8 does it again at Nurburgring (w/VIDEO)

The Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations-developed XE SV Project 8 has demonstrated its performance capability by setting the fastest Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time for a 4-door production car again: 7 minutes 18.361 seconds.

The Project 8 is also the first vehicle to set an official whole lap record in the Nurburgring’s mid-range production car class, lapping the circuit in 7 minutes 23.164 seconds.

2.9 seconds faster than previous benchmark

This new officially-verified time on the 20.6-km lap is 2.9 seconds faster than Project 8’s previous benchmark set in November 2017, and 7 seconds faster than any other 4-door production car has achieved.

Returning to the legendary German circuit in a production-specification 2-seat Track Pack version of Project 8 was development driver Vincent Radermecker. The car’s height-adjustable twin-spring coil-over suspension was set in ‘track’ ride height, with adjustable front splitter and carbonfibre rear aerodynamic wing positioned for maximum downforce and stability.

To maximise performance and steering precision, for the final record runs, the car was fitted with new off-the-shelf ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres. Tested and chosen by SV engineers for their capability on the track, the road-legal tyres use rubber compounds directly transferred from Michelin’s competition tyres.

The original Nurburgring time set by Jaguar XE SV Project 8 demonstrated the extreme performance envelope of the world’s fastest production sedans, but the SV team is driven by a motorsport mentality and knew Project 8 could go even faster.

600 ps V8 and all-wheel drive

Powered by the most highly tuned 600-ps version of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre Supercharged V8, the all-wheel-drive Project 8 is capable of 0 – 100 km/h in a claimed 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 320 km/h). It features a fully-enclosed flat underbody for enhanced aerodynamics, which is key to its performance.

Production of the limited-edition Project 8 will finish this year. There are three distinct 4-door specifications available, with the Touring specification – the ultimate Q-car – limited to 15 units worldwide. Prices start from £149,995 (equivalent to RM770,300) in the UK.


8-Series Concept Previewed At BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion [+Video]

BMW Malaysia has presented the
BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion

in Malaysia, happening from
Thursday, 22
nd
 February 2018
to
 Wednesday, 7
th
 March 2018.
Unveiling a new brand presence and fascination for its luxury segment vehicles for the very first time in the country, BMW M’sia also took the opportunity at this
‘experiential event’
 to reveal the
BMW Concept 8 Series
 for the very first time not only in Malaysia, but in South East Asia…

Quite a stunner isn’t it?
“The
BMW Concept 8 Series
 is BMW’s take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine, a slice of pure automotive fascination. While it is immediately recognised as a BMW, it also displays new design ideas and form-building techniques. The BMW Concept 8 Series showcases a new approach to the use of forms, reflected particularly prominently in the car’s surfacing. A handful of crisp lines mark out clear surfaces, and the car’s volumes are powerfully sculpted. Together, these elements equate to an outstanding model brimming with character” –
BMW
.

Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia
 (above, right) said,
“It is an absolute pleasure for us to be able to share our new brand presence and expression for our luxury cars here at the BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion. From Toronto, Canada to Malaysia, we hope to share our vision of the luxurious appeal of our brand through this one of a kind experiential programme, further demonstrating how we have redefined the idea of modern luxury in the auto industry.”

On the BMW Concept 8 Series, Han added that it serves as a taster of an upcoming BMW model – the new
BMW 8 Series Coupé
, which is slated for launch this year as part of the biggest model offensive in the premium automaker’s history.

“The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW and this exclusive concept sports car exudes Passion, Power and Performance. The upcoming BMW 8 Series Coupé is certainly one to look out for, but for now, the BMW Concept 8 Series will express our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine created in the tradition of large sporty coupes.”

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW Group AG, Harald Krüger said
.

BMW’s new expression and brand presence can be experienced exclusively at the BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion from
 Thursday, 22
nd
 February 2018
to
 Wednesday, 7
th
 March 2018.

The
BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion
 is also presented by partners
Dior, Hugo Boss, Moet Hennessy Diageo, Jaeger-Le Coultre, Wei-Ling Gallery, Leica, illy Coffee
and
 SPACE
.

BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion Photo Gallery…

For more on the 8-Series Concept, click this:
Press Release – BMW Malaysia sets a New Benchmark in Luxury Driving Pleasure with the exclusive BMW Luxury Excellence Pavilion


F1/Round 13: Preview & Starting Grid For 2021 Dutch Grand Prix

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

The last time a Dutch F1 Grand Prix was held was in 1985 – 36 years ago – so almost all the drivers taking part in Round 13 this weekend were not born yet. However, the Zandvoort Circuit in northern Holland is not entirely new to some of them as they drove around it during their Formula 3 years. Older fans would remember the great drivers of that period – like Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Rene Arnoux – who won races at Zandvoort.

The 36-year gap is the longest in the Formula 1 championship and the reason it had dropped off the calendar was due to financial difficulties that prevented it from being modernized and upgraded as the sport evolved. It was only in 1995 that proper investment was made with a new owner and the circuit, which had its first race in 1948, was redesigned and redeveloped.

The 4.3-km layout of today’s circuit differs greatly from the one that existed in the first 50 years, so comparison of lap times with those of today are meaningless and besides, the cars have advanced greatly too. The last F1 race was won by Lauda when he was with McLaren, which also won the championship that year.

The younger drivers will recall the challenging track with 14 corners, many of them fast and sweeping and the ‘Tarzan Corner’ hairpin at the end of the start/finish straight. The Zandvoort track layout stands out as one of the more unusual circuits on the 2021 F1 calendar, with an old-school feel.

It’s also an undulating track, rising and falling between the sand dunes, with a rollercoaster-like vibe similar to Portimao and an elevation change of almost 8 metres. And being located across the road from the North Sea, strong wind can be expected, sometimes blowing sand onto the track and affecting grip (an issue normally associated with places like Bahrain).

One of the most striking elements of the track is the super-fast, steeply banked Turns 13 and 14. The 18-degree banking will add significant load to the tyres through this section, which will impact the durability and life of the tyre compounds. Given the banked final corner, high-speed turns and undulations, it’s not surprising that Pirelli have picked the hardest tyres in their range.

Alfa Romeo ORLEN team members getting a feel of the banking at the circuit.

The banked final two corners, which feature a banking angle twice as steep as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will definitely be challenging for the cars and the tyres, putting a lot of forces through them. But they should be fairly simple for the drivers to tackle. Getting this section of track right is crucial for the run onto the main straight, which leads to one of the few overtaking opportunities at Turn 1.

“This track is epic. It brought back so many memories when I first got out there, from when I drove here before. I knew it was great when I was in Formula 3, but in a Formula One car it is just something else!” said Lewis Hamilton, who was born in the same year the last Dutch GP was held.

It is, of course, a home race for Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen who is Dutch. He’s only raced once at Zandvoort in his Formula 3 days atthe 2014 Zandvoort Masters when he went from pole position to chequered flag – becoming the youngest winner in the race’s history at just 16. “I’m really looking forward to coming here for the Grand Prix. To have a home Grand Prix will be even more crazy than usual in terms of support. I hope it’s going to be a highlight of the season, but it will all depend on the Sunday result. But we’ll do everything we can to make sure it’s a good one,” he said.

Alfa Romeo ORLEN’s Kimi Raikkonen, who announced that this will be his final season in Formula 1, will not be able to take part as he has been tested positive with COVID-19. His place will be taken by the team’s reserve driver, Robert Kubica (right).

After the controversial rain-affected Belgian Grand Prix last weekend, F1’s first half-points were awarded with positions based on starting grid positions. The last time half-points were awarded was at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1979 as the race had to be stopped due to heavy rain. Max Verstappen was declared the winner and got 12.5 points, taking him to 199.5 points or just 3 behind championship leader Hamilton. In the Constructors Championship, Mercedes-AMG is up to 310.5 points, seven ahead of Red Bull Racing.


F1 (Round 2): Preview & Starting Positions Of 2023 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The 2023 Formula 1 World Championship continues in the Middle East after the opening round in Bahrain with Round 2 at the seaside resort and port city on the Red Sea where the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is being held this weekend. Situated 30 kms from Jeddah, the is the third time that the  city is hosting a round on its Corniche street circuit.

Like the Bahrain GP, the Saudi Arabian GP will also be run at night on the 6.174-km circuit, the second longest in the 2023 calendar (after Spa-Francorchamps). Designed by Carsten Tilke, the son of the famous F1 circuit designer, Hermann Tilke, this is the fastest street circuit in the F1 calendar at the moment. Speeds on simulators have averaged over 250 km/h around the track which has 27 turns, the most of any circuit this year.

Race starts at 8 pm in Jeddah | 1 am (Monday) in Malaysia

Several track changes have been made following last year’s race ‘to deliver smoother, safer, and even more exciting racing’, say the organisers. These include ‘rumble lines’ which causes traction to be lost and slow the cars, with steel kerbs replacing the bevelled kerbs at 6 of the turns.

Driver sightlines, a concern in the last two races, have been improved with the fence wall moved back at Turns 14 and 20 by 7.5 metres and 5 metres, respectively. The fence wall at Turns 8 and 10 have also been adjusted to improve visibility of the corner ahead.

The car set-up will therefore be very different from Bahrain. For Jeddah, it’s important to have good stability throughout the fast corners that characterise the track. The circuit offers a medium level of grip but the sand blown onto the surface can influence this on the low-abrasion asphalt.

With no 90 degree turns on the Corniche Circuit, the drivers have to use the brakes only 8 times on each of the 50 laps. The brakes will be used for just under 11 seconds per lap amounting to 13% of the race; only Monza has lower absolute values and percentages.

The brake system will be used the hardest at Turn 27, the last one on the circuit. As they come into the turn, they will be travelling at speeds of up to 319 km/h and braking will occur for 2.5 seconds. This will bring the speed down to 113 km/h over a distance of 123 metres, during which time a  driver will experience up to 4.9g as the car decelerates.

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Owing to its nature as a street circuit, Jeddah has a high risk of incidents leading to Safety Cars coming out. During the two previous Saudi Arabian GPs, there were two full Safety Car periods, two red flags, and five Virtual Safety Car periods.

“The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been quite unpredictable because of the frequent Safety Cars and neutralisations, being a typical street circuit. A one-stopper was the fastest option in 2022, when a Safety Car led to an early pit-stop for most of the drivers, who went on to finish the race on hard tyres,” Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, recalled.


Porsche Taycan Driven by Karamjit Singh – Behind The Scenes Story

They say that many good things happen at a bar. And I would agree to that, many good things have taken place at many watering holes. And one of those good things is the topic of this article.

There were three of us at a bar in Petaling Jaya, and one was no other than Malaysian rally legend himself – Karamjit Singh.

We were discussing many things that day, from how rally life was like back then, to how a mechanic forgot to add engine oil during a race, forcing Karamjit out of the race. And to how, despite being 59 years old now, he is faster today than he has ever been, you can watch Karamjit talking about that in the video below.

And then it came in the form of an email, the invite to drive one of the fastest electric cars ever built – the Porsche Taycan. And it struck me, why not get Karamjit to drive it, he was already sitting opposite me anyway.

“Bro, how would you like to drive an electric Porsche at Sepang,” I asked Karam.

The look he gave me was one of disbelief, the type that couldn’t believe I had just asked that question.

“Of course la, I have never driven an electric car before, what more an electric Porsche at Sepang. Im in,” was his reply.

The reply from our friends at Porsche was also of disbelief.

“You sure you want to send Karamjit ah? He will still have to drive like any other member of the media you know, he has to follow a pace car. He won’t be able to drive the car to its limit.”

Yes, Yes, I know, but it will be interesting to see what a rally champion has to say about the Taycan.

A couple of days passed, and I found myself picking up Karamjit and heading to Sepang Circuit at about 8am.

“I usually do the driving,” said Karamjit to me.

“Kinda in a hurry bro, you drive on the way back?” – was my nonchalant reply to this multiple time rally champion, only to realise what I had said a few moments later.

Nevertheless, I got some good driving tips all the way to Sepang.

“It is smaller than what the photos make it look like,” was Karam’s first comment upon seeing the Taycan for the first time.

“It is actually smaller than the Panamera,” was mine.

The Taycan is indeed smaller than the Panamera, and is one of the reasons why it is outselling the Panamera in some markets like the UK. And this is giving rise to speculation that the Panamera could be discontinued if this trend continues and the shift towards electric cars gets stronger.

But that’s a different story.

After breakfast, an introduction to the overall drive program as well as the instructors, all of whom have either worked with Karamjit in a racing capacity, or at some point or another, we got on with the drive.

First up, sitting position. This is where lead Porsche instructor Admi Shahrul demonstrated the ideal sitting position when driving the Taycan or any other car.

From my vantage point (because I was not given a drive seat since I chose to give up my seat for Karam), I found Karam listening attentively. I thought that was incredibly gracious of him, considering he probably understands the importance of sitting positions better than anyone else there that day.

After that came the acceleration test, a part that had some Malaysian motoring journalists and youtubers giggling like girls (insert eye roll emoticon here) after experiencing what is said to be one of the fastest acceleration in a production car this side of a hypercar.

The two cars on hand were the standard Taycan 4S as well as the Taycan Turbo (there was no Turbo S for us to experience that day).

I didn’t expect Karamjit to be fazed by the acceleration, after all this is the man who said that the most powerful car he had ever driven was the Ford Escort Cosworth Group A rally car, which is a proper fire breathing monster that puts out over 300hp at the wheel in a lightened and strengthened body (pictured below).

“The acceleration difference between the two cars is huge,” said Karamjit. There is zero wheel spin despite the Taycan 4S putting out 650Nm of torque (with Performance Battery Plus, and 640Nm without the dearer battery) while the Turbo puts out 850Nm. Of course this is due to the Traction Control and Electronic Stability Control playing a role in keeping the wheels in check during hard acceleration.

There is no telling how the car would have felt with all the electronic safety nets turned off, and if there is anyone that could have tamed an out of control electric car, it would be Karamjit. But there were strict instructions to not turn anything off.

When asked what he thought of the acceleration, Karamjit had this to say, “The Turbo is fantastic, the G-Force is amazing, there is no drama, it accelerates very fast in a straight line and it doesn’t twitch. It is an easy car to drive fast. I love the instance response.”

The next program was a classroom session that explained the intricacy of the Taycan, but after that there was the track drive and that is where Karamjit got to drive both the Taycan 4S and the Turbo around the north track of the circuit.

“You do feel some body roll in the Taycan in normal mode, but in Sport mode the handling is very impressive for such a heavy car. The brakes are not so bad either, this is a car that weighs over two tons so you have to brake much earlier.”

“I also took some corners at over 160km/h and it does feel like you’re driving a race car around some parts of the circuit, this is still a proper Porsche.”

When asked about whether there is anything he didn’t quite like about the Taycan, Karamjit simply pointed out that excessive body roll in normal mode (but perfectly fine in Sport and Sport Plus), and his concerns about charging the car.

“I like this car, there is no doubt that this is a sports car you can drive everyday, but the disadvantage it has is charging it.”

“You have to plan your route very carefully to ensure there are charging points. You then have to spend 20-30 minutes while the car charges up and then point the car towards the next charging station.”

“But in terms of driving, the Taycan is a fantastic experience. I really like the fact that it has four-wheel steering. This minimises the turning circle and makes such a heavy car feel quite agile in corners. I just don’t understand why people need four-wheel-steering to help them park the car.”

But ultimately, what does a rally legend who has spent a huge part of his life with internal combustion engines think of the paradigm shift towards electric cars?

“Electric cars are the future we have to accept that, I used to worry but this is a great example of how awesome an electric car can be. It drives well, it accelerates well, it stops well, and it is still very much a Porsche, and a great Porsche at that.”


The pathway towards carbon neutrality in Malaysia’s future

Shell Malaysia and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Malaysia today hosted a virtual forum in conjunction with the launch of Shell Malaysia’s “
The Tree, The Sky, The Sun: A Pathway towards Malaysia’s Carbon Neutral Future
”.

The Tree, The Sky, The Sun
 tells the story of how Malaysia could reach for the
sky
 – becoming carbon-neutral by 2065 – with its unique advantages of
tree
 and
sun
. Shell’s story illustrates a technically possible yet challenging pathway for this country to meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to keep the rise in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a stretch goal of 1.5°C.

Developed by Shell in consultation with key local stakeholders, Shell’s pathway forum gathered more than 1,500 participants and stakeholders from the government, private sector, media, academia, non-governmental organisations, and energy consumers. The launch also saw a roundtable discussion by the CEO Action Network, featuring energy leaders and representatives from Shell, The Ministry of Environment and Water, Climate Governance Malaysia, and Boston Consulting Group.

Becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050

“It is exciting to see Malaysia having open and more transparent discussions on the true scale of the climate challenge and the actions needed for achieving carbon-neutrality. By publishing
The Tree, The Sky, The Sun,
Shell hopes to contribute to the national conversation about Malaysia’s energy transition and to the framing of the nation’s priorities in the run-up to COP26 and beyond. This is in line with the global ambition embodied in Shell’s Powering Progress strategy to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050,” said Ivan Tan, Chairman of Shell Malaysia.

“
The Tree, The Sky, The Sun
 combines policy-making with science-based targets to help us all see the benefits and opportunities of a sustainable future more clearly. The support of everyone – from energy producers to energy consumers – will be critical for achieving the milestones described by Shell’s aspirational pathway. We hope today’s gathering will spur more informed conversations about how we can all contribute towards building a carbon-neutral energy system for Malaysia and the world,” explained Marco Winter, Executive Director of MDBC.

5 significant influences to moderate emissions

The pathway described by
The Tree, The Sky, The Sun
 highlights 5 critical ‘increase levers’ that are likely to have the greatest influence on moderating carbon emissions in Malaysia. These levers are: 1) the increase in forest acreage and density; 2) the introduction and gradual increase in the carbon price; 3) the emphasis on energy efficiency; 4) the greater push for electrification; and 5) a more widespread use of renewables, especially solar energy.

Solar has become the country’s single largest source of energy, as coal has been phased out. Factories like this one in Selangor make substantial use of solar energy which is available in abundance with our tropical sunshine.

Shell’s aspirational pathway reveals that the Malaysian energy system of 2065 will look significantly different from today. The economy-wide transformation required to achieve a carbon-neutral state will be underpinned by carbon pricing, or the external cost of carbon, which is phased in starting from 2026, the commencement year of the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026 – 2030). This drives reallocation of capital and resources toward low-carbon and energy-efficient choices.

Renewable energy sources to dominate by 2065

By 2065, renewable sources of energy will dominate a deeply electrified energy system. Solar has become the country’s single largest source of energy, coal has been phased out, while the remaining natural gas in the energy mix acts primarily as a means of supporting the use of renewable energy sources. Biofuel has displaced oil as the preferred liquid fuel for transportation and is used increasingly to meet the demand of difficult-to-electrify sectors such as aviation and shipping.

Reforestation of Malaysia’s land mass can capture up to 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Gains in energy efficiency lead to a marginal increase in the country’s final energy demand, despite healthy economic growth during this period. Any remaining emissions from the energy system are removed by nature or technology – reforestation of an additional 5.8% of Malaysia’s land mass can capture up to 29 million tonnes of CO
2
 each year, effectively bringing forward Malaysia’s carbon-neutral date by 15 years to 2065.

Major shift required

Ultimately, the point at which Malaysia achieves carbon-neutrality depends on how aggressively these levers discussed are pursued in steering the economy towards a more sustainable post-pandemic recovery. Other pathways are possible and depend on societal and policy preferences, but a major shift in how society produces and consumes energy is required to limit the rise in global temperature and address the risks of climate change.

Crucially, it will take robust policy frameworks and more open public engagement to create societal support for action and enable the development of lower-carbon solutions and green technologies. Strong collaboration across government, business, and society will be crucial to make progress at the pace required for Malaysia’s energy system to be carbon-neutral by 2065.

Toyota Mobility Foundation’s CATCH offers two solutions to address Kuala Lumpur’s mobility and city planning challenges

The National Vaccination Program in Malaysia is free of charge.


Maserati To Kill The V8 Engine After 2023

The Maserati V8 engine family, a collection of 90-degree, naturally aspirated and later turbocharged, V8 engines have been created, developed, and produced by Maserati for nearly 45 years.

The V8RI, a racing variation, debuted in 1939 with the Maserati 5000 GT, a road-going derivative, following in 1959, and later the Maserati 3200 GT, which ended production in 2002.

Production of the engines, which had a displacement range of 3.2-6.46-litres, lasted until 2002. It was eventually replaced – but not to be confused with – by the Ferrari-Maserati engine, which was created entirely by Ferrari and utilised in a number of Maserati cars.

However, the tides have changed and the end is nigh. The Trofeo versions of the
Levante
,
Ghibli, and Quattroporte
, together with the Ferrari-built powertrain, will cease manufacturing in late 2023, according to the manufacturer, signalling the end of the days for Maserati’s turbocharged V8.

Until the V8 is replaced in the lineup’s future by the
Nettuno V6
 and the Folgore EVs, the models will continue to be sold until 2024, as long as the stock presently on hand lasts.

Speaking of V6, the twin-turbocharged V6 engine that powers the Ghibli was initially rated at 404 hp for the Ghibli S, but in 2017 it was increased to 424 hp. Despite having similarities to the Alfa Romeo V6 engine, which is also made by Ferrari, the Maserati engine is distinct from the Alfa Romeo engine because it is a 60-degree V6 rather than the 90-degree unit used by Alfa Romeo (using a block cast by Chrysler). The high performance Levante SUV and some Quattroporte versions utilise the same component.

Maserati Levante Trofeo

Given that Maserati has produced more than 100,000 vehicles since 1959, the company’s decision to end manufacture of its V8-powered models is a big one. For fans of Maserati and automobiles in general, this change is bittersweet.

The twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine’s current iteration, which is renowned for its exceptional performance, will be the last in the brand’s history because Ferrari no longer supplies Maserati. In its most recent configuration, the engine powers the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte Trofeo, which made its debut in 2020, with 572 hp and 730 Nm of torque.

The Ghibli 334 Ultima and Levante V8 Ultima special editions will be unveiled by Maserati at the July 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a farewell to the V8.

2021 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo

The fifth Motor Valley Festival, which took place in Modena between May 11 and 14, is where the dreadful news about the V8 was revealed. The Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte Zèda editions were displayed by Maserati at the event’s Piazza XX Settembre. The unique versions were developed to “celebrate the V8,” mimicking the special 2019 Maserati GranTurismo Zèda’s blue, grey, and white gradient scheme. Additionally, the one-of-a-kind GranTurismo Prisma, which is based on the new generation, will be displayed at the dealership on Viale Ciro Menotti beside two vintage vehicles.

According to recent reports, Maserati’s next models are about to undergo a substantial change. The new Quattroporte and Levante, which are expected to make their debuts in 2024 and 2025, respectively, will embrace a purely electric future and do away with internal combustion engines (ICE) completely. Maserati will still satisfy the needs of fans of performance, nevertheless. With the advent of zero-emission Folgore trims, the GranTurismo sports car, Grecale SUV, and MC20 supercar will continue to offer a variety of models propelled by the powerful Nettuno V6 engine.

By 2025, Maserati committed to offering fully electric models across the entire range of its vehicles, and by 2030, it will only be producing electric vehicles (EVs).


Steve McQueen racer that is almost lifelike

The advent of modern robotic systems have made our daily lives a whole lot easier. There’s the robotic vacuum that’s able to maneuver around your sofa set or dining table while vacuuming. It can even remember where it has or hasn’t been to ensure that every inch of the floor has been cleaned.

But the robotic piece we have today, is a whole different kettle of fish. It’s something only a 9-year-old would have thought about creating, which I suspect is how this product actually came about. Enter the life-like Steve McQueen racecar, based on the original character from Pixar’s ‘Cars’ franchise. Built by a company called Sphero, the car is able to voice and mimick phrases and actions from the various Cars movies. Yes, that’s right, it is able to move about just like Steve McQueen does.

Through the use of the phone App, the car can be driven as a regular RC car. It’s pretty fast and nimble, as expected but it’s something many wont bother trying out. That’s due to the immensely fascinating robotic movements the car is capable of executing. The windshield is made of an LCD screen that displays McQueen’s eyes in a rather life-like manner. The front grille, I mean the teeth, actually move as the car says various phrases from the movies.

Sphero are currently offering the Steve McQueen car on their website for $299.99 or RM1280.30, which is relatively affordable considering its abilities and the hours of fun-filled entertainment it is capable of providing.

It’s the kind of toy car that we dreamed of having as children but never could. check out the video and you will understand what we mean.

Sphero, in case you didn’t know, gained recognition around the world about two years ago, thanks to its miniaturized bluetooth controlled version of the BB-8 droid that was featured in the Star Wars Force Awakens movie. It operates and moves just like the cute spherical movie character we have all come to love. Take a look at the video below to understand its capablities.

The company also has a number of other products in the works which include a Spider Man type thing that has yet to be revealed. Check out their website
www.sphero.com
 for the extensive list of what they currently offer.


BMW Group AG Appoints Harald Hoelzl As New Managing Director & CEO Of BMW Group Malaysia

BMW Group AG
 has appointed
Harald Hoelzl
 (above) to assume the roles and responsibilities as the new
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BMW Group Malaysia
 effective March 1
st
, 2018.

Hoelzl will take on the role from current Managing Director and CEO,
Han Sang Yun
 (above, right) who, in turn, will take on the role as the new President of
BMW Group Korea
.

Hoelzl first began his career with the BMW Group in 2002 and has served in various functions in the Sales, Marketing, Dealer Development and IT departments. With an impressive track record, BMW Group AG appointed him as Head of Marketing at BMW Group Central South Eastern Europe in 2011 before leading the BMW Group’s operations in the Czech Republic.

Han Sang Yun
, (below, right) meanwhile, will be the new President for BMW Group Korea effective March 1
st
, 2018 in place of current President Dr. Hyojoon Kim who will assume the roles and responsibilities of Representative Director and Chairman for the premium automaker in the country.

With over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry in his native country Korea, Han Sang Yun was appointed the Managing Director and CEO at BMW Group Malaysia in January 2015.

In his time in Malaysia, Han led the premium automaker to its
best-ever performance growth in 2017
 and he was also the key driver in growing BMW Group Malaysia’s portfolio of Plug-in Hybrid vehicles to 55% of its total volume delivery in the country, further driving the premium automaker’s strategy for Visionary Mobility.


Customized Ford Rangers showcased at 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas

The Specialty Equipment Market Association show (SEMA) in Las Vegas is all about personalization. It’s an event that even carmakers attend to showcase what extremes their models can be taken to when it comes to adding accessories. Ford sees the automotive aftermarket space (in the USA) continuing to grow at a tremendous pace from powerful street machines to the latest trends in overlanding and off-road. This means a lot of personalization opportunities for its Ranger in countless ways to give owners the flexibility to make their vehicle unique.

Ford Performance Parts Ranger at SEMA

Ford Performance Parts has lots of accessories developed for the Ranger, including a Ford Performance-tuned Fox off-road suspension leveling kit providing 2-inch front lift, Ford Performance Ranger Raptor wheels with BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tyres, Ford Performance Ranger bonnet-hinge light kit with Rigid DSS-Series lights,

Other components include a Warn 9.5 XP winch mounted on a winch-capable front bumper, Ford Performance by Warn Industries heavy-duty recovery kit and red tow hooks, Tepui HyBox rooftop tent, Decked truck bed storage system, RSI Smart Cap, ARB Elements refrigerator/freezer and ActionTrax recovery boards.

And here are customized Rangers from other aftermarket companies to give you ideas for your truck…

2019 Ford Ranger Tjin Edition
 –
The Ranger Tjin Edition is the creation of a father and son design team. The Tjins were looking to create their unique take on Ranger, going the opposite direction of a lifted Ranger, which is one of the most common modifications made to Ford’s popular truck. The Tjin Edition is among the first new-generation Ford Rangers slammed to the ground via an air suspension, lowered 203 mm in the front and 230 mm in the rear.

Yakima Ford Ranger
 –
Ford Accessories partner Yakima has created an all-sports, overlanding special upgraded with Ford Performance Parts components. A truck bed rack, JayLow kayak mount and HangOver vertical 4-bike carrier with BackSwing mount showcase Yakima utility products.

Advanced Accessory Concepts Ranger XLT
 –
Advanced Accessory Concepts has

transformed the Ranger into the must-have accessory for exploration. The truck, boasting AFN bumpers, skid plate, rock sliders and Ford Performance rear differential cover, is a showcase of strength and protection. It features a conversion at the rear to an AFN aluminium tray bed with canopy.

Hellwig Ranger
 –
This Hellwig 2019 Ranger targets the ultimate adventure vehicle for outdoor enthusiasts who value sustainability. The truck is designed to get to remote locations with such features as a 3.5-inch Icon suspension, 17-inch Icon Compression wheels and Falken tyres. Where this off-roader finds its own path is with the addition of Goal Zero solar power, allowing users to reduce their carbon footprint while out in the most remote locations.

RTR Rambler Ranger
 –
This Ranger is meant to be ‘the ultimate overlanding and support vehicle for owners seeking to enjoy the great outdoors – taking adventure to the next level and beyond’. The truck joins the line-up of RTR Mustang and RTR F-150, with the Ranger created to deliver a balance of street-ability, overlanding and trail capability.

To know more about the Ford Ranger Raptor which you can buy in Malaysia, visit
www.sdacford.com.my

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion offers free Ranger Raptor Deep Dive Workshop for owners


Lamborghini Huracan RWD used as ‘Follow-Me’ car at Italian airport… what a waste!

It seems like such a waste for a Lamborghini to be assigned to do duty as a ‘
Follow-Me
’ car at an airport. Such vehicles usually have to travel at a low speed and guide aircraft to their parking bays or to taxi to the runway for take-off. Needless to say, the aircraft travel slowly so the car also has to do likewise and not be too far ahead.

Apparently, Automobili Lamborghini has had an arrangement with Guglielmo Marconi Airport, an international airport located in Bologna which is adjacent to Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini’s home in Italy.

This is the sixth collaboration between the airport and the carmaker and this time, Lamborghini has supplied a Huracan RWD for the job. The supercar has a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 engine which develops 580 ps to give it the ability to reach a top speed over 300 km/h. But that capability is wasted since the aircraft typically taxi at no more than 35 km/h…

Obviously, it’s a promotional thing for Lamborghini and the car sports a very special livery designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile. The orange body features graphics depicting the typical machines maneuvering in the airport areas, and the exterior is enhanced by the Italian flag on both doors, roof, front and rear intakes.

Like the other considerably less powerful Follow-Me vehicles at airports, the Huracan RWD has an orange light-bar on the roof and distinctive stickers that say “
Follow me
”. The car is also fitted with communications gear to stay in touch with the control tower and get instructions.

Click here for other news and articles about Lamborghini at PISTON.MY.


Don’t overlook brake fluid when servicing your vehicle!

There are different fluids flowing around in a car, each having a function that is important. Engine oil is perhaps the most important as it is like the blood in your body. It circulates to not only protect engine parts and reduce friction but carries away particles to the oil filter. Fluid in the cooling system is also vital as it carries away the heat generated by the temperature to the radiator where it is transferred into the air blowing through.

There’s also the fluid for the automatic transmission and we should not forget fuel, which is also a very important fluid as the engine will not run without it! But one fluid which is usually overlooked is the brake fluid and it is, from the safety point of view, especially important.

Water is the enemy of brake fluid

Brake fluid, as its name indicates, it ensures the brakes can function properly. Like any fluid poured into the engine, it is at its best when new. However, its properties and quality will change over time. Part of the reason is that brake fluid is hygroscopic and that means it absorbs water.

The container holding the brake fluid is usually at one side of the engine bay and its cap may have warning messages as well. When the cap is removed, moisture in the air can be absorbed into the fluid so open it only when necessary.

The moment you open the can or bottle, it will already start absorbing moisture though not in big amounts. But over time, the fluid will draw moisture through the microscopic holes in rubber hoses and seals. There is also a ventilation hole to allow atmospheric pressure to balance fluctuating brake fluid levels and this too allows moisture to seep into the system. So don’t think that even though it is in a ‘sealed’ system, it is airtight.

As the amount of water in the brake fluid increases, it affects performance, in particular the boiling point which will become lower. The boiling point varies, depending on the designation of the fluid which is usually based on the standards established by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). There are 6 designations (DOT 1 to DOT 5.1), with the one having the bigger number able to perform in more extreme conditions where operating temperatures are higher. However, DOT 5.1 is for more specialised and high-performance vehicles as it has a different composition.

DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluids are commonly recommended, with DOT4 being formulated for higher performance.

DOT 5.1 has the highest performance for commercially available brake fluids. It is typically used in racing cars and military vehicles.

Which type is used for your car will be mentioned in the Owner’s Manual and it would be recommended based on the anticipated usage conditions. If you are uncertain, you can consult the service centre which should have the information or ask a reputable brake fluid manufacturer. DOT and DOT4 are usually recommended and the difference in the boiling point between the two is that dry boiling point DOT4 is 230 degrees C. and 25 degrees C. higher than DOT3 (which costs a bit less).

There is also a wet boiling point and this refers to the fluid’s boiling point when it has already absorbed water. For DOT3, it can drop to 140 degrees C. while for DOT4, it is 155 degrees C. Naturally, you want the highest boiling point so that the fluid can handle more heat which is generated whenever the brake system is used. So, where possible, using DOT4 would be best but always refer to what the car’s manufacturer recommends.

When to replace?

Like engine oil, brake fluid doesn’t last forever and needs to be replaced. The intervals will be mentioned in the Owner’s Manual but if you have an old car and no manual to refer to, it is recommended that you change the fluid every 50,000 kms. However, you might also top up as the level drops when the brake pads wear out.

The procedure for replacing brake fluid is not complicated but it is better done by a mechanic at a workshop who will have the correct tools and equipment. The old fluid has to be flushed out of the system before the fresh new one is poured in. Handling of the fluid must be done carefully as it is corrosive and can damage paintwork.

Then there is the all-important ‘bleeding’ process to ensure that air bubbles do not form in the system. The bleeding is like a venting process and allows any bubbles to come out and then the system is sealed. If bubbles are in the system, it can be very dangerous because they create a ‘gap’ in the fluid; when you press on the brake pedal, this air gap compresses but the force is not transmitted. The result is that the pedal might suddenly feel ‘dead’ and go to the floor, and there is no braking occurring – which might cause an accident.


MILITEM turns the Jeep Wrangler into a luxury Extreme Utility Vehicle

There’s something about American SUVs which gives them a certain authenticity. After all, it was in America that the original SUV was born and from the end of the 20
th
 century, the rest of the world decided that they also liked SUVs. And just as with passenger cars, there are companies that specialise in customising SUVs for a small clientele.

One of them is MILITEM, an Italian company started by Hermes Cavarza, an entrepreneur from Milan with 40 years of automotive experience in the Gruppo CAVAUTO company (MILITEM is a brand of the company). Over the part 5 years, MILITEM has taken America models, specifically from RAM and Jeep, and given them more exclusive looks as well as Italian craftsmanship.

Extreme Utility Vehicle

The brand has been steadily expanding its reach beyond Italy and has just opened its first dealership in Germany. For this special occasion, MILITEM had the world premiere of a new model, the FEROX500 which it refers to as an EUV – Extreme Utility Vehicle. The FEROX500 tops out the range which has the FEROX, another SUV, and the
FEROX-T pick-up
.

The FEROX500, which started life as a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, is the fifth model in the brand’s range. Priced ex-factory from 149,500 euros (about RM700,000), it comes with a typical American engine – the V8 HEMI with a displacement of 6417 cc and power output of 470 ps at 6,000 rpm, with 637 Nm of torque at 4.300rpm. That gives it supercar acceleration with a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds.

75% of the massive torque is available at the low end of the rev range. To ensure that all of it reaches the road, there’s 4WD and the transmission is a robust, proven 8-speed automatic TorqueFlite unit. To maximise off-road capability, the adjustable suspension has been re-engineered by the MILITEM team.

Cylinder deactivation to save fuel

While the engine has a big displacement, owners can still bring fuel consumption down with  Fuel Saver technology in the engine management system. This deactivates half the cylinders when maximum power output is not required.

Fitted as standard are MILITEM Performance Shocks dampeners, which have separate twin gas and dual-effect hydraulics. The suspension is made of aluminium and coated in carbonfibre. The system also includes the Track Bar (torsion bar) that can be calibrated and is an efficient steering damper.

The black performance Dual Mode exhaust system was engineered in-house by MILITEM and is fitted with 4 tailpipes and valves. These can be activated via a dashboard button to match that sound to the setting and route taken.

The brake system is exclusive to the FERO500 and developed in collaboration with Powerbrake. It is one of the model’s strong features, with large slotted, semi-floating discs with radial expansion and contraction featuring 72 ventilation channels and a surface coating. The radial calipers are of turned aluminium machined from billets with internal fluid crossovers and 6 pistons crafted from stainless steel.

Completing the set-up are high-performance brake pads and aircraft- grade cables in low-expansion braided steel. In the rear, the brakes adopt 4-piston calipers, also with high-performance components and tubing in low-expansion braided steel.

Differentiation for a flagship

While sharing the same name as the rest of the range, the FEROX500 has been given unique features to distinguish it. While the ‘wide body’ design is common for all FEROX models, the bodywork of the FEROX500 has been enhanced with modifications to the front end and rear. There are more refined, colour-matched, chrome inserts but the elegant looks are balanced by the strong sporty edge.

Aesthetically, it is recognizable from the logo on its flanks and the spare wheel on the rear door is also omitted. This allowed the model to be completely redesigned, which saw the elimination of the airscoops too. The styling change has made the vehicle more elegant and modern than the original, while also improving rear visibility.

Facing forward, the carbonfibre grille in matt boasts a new Dual Colour with a black and red finish. This colour choice is also repeated in the cabin. The logo on the bonnet is all-black like the hooks, bonnet inserts and side grilles set behind the front wheelarches.

A more luxurious cabin

The cabin has been completely refurbished to be much more luxurious than the Wrangler. Much of the work is handcrafted with the materials and finish appropriate to the high status of the vehicle.

The seats have been redesigned by MILITEM and have a racing-derived shell shape, with integrated headrests. Hand-fitted nappa leather and ALCANTARA finish is in contrasting colours sporting MILITEM stitching. The leather finish can also be extended to the dashboard, instrument panel, steering wheel boss, gear knob, door panels and luggage compartment lining, pairing well with the carbonfibre and all-black inside.

With the same versatile characteristics of the Wrangler 392, the body-coloured hardtop comes in 3 sections to make it easier to remove. It is also possible to have an electric soft-top fitted, combined with removable rear windows for a wider panorama and a cabriolet drive.

MILITEM FEROX-T is a Sport Utility Truck, not a mere pick-up truck


New Toyota 86 – to be called the GR 86 – revealed, on sale in Japan from October

The Toyota AE86 – also known by names such as Levin, Sprinter Trueno, Corolla GT. GT 86 and Hachi-Roku – was originally launched in 1983 as a sporty coupe variant in the Corolla fifth generation of what would become the world’s bestselling model. It was not the first coupe variant of the Corolla, nor was it the only one, but somehow, that particular model has become legendary long after it ceased production.

Low-priced sporty variants faded away after the 1990s as the sportscar segment diminished in size, leading to most carmakers not favouring them as the volumes did not present a good business case. Enthusiasts missed the cars although many had grown older and gravitated towards SUVs. But there were still those who remembered the sportscars and Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation since 2009, was one of them. Wanting to bring back fun-to-drive cars, he encouraged the development of a new and sporty range of models that began with the 86 in 2012.

The original Toyota AE86 or ‘Hachi-Roku’ as it is known in Japan. Produced in the 1980s, it is still a much sought-after model today and can fetch high prices.

The modern 86 was conceived in the same way as the original with front-engine and, rear-wheel drive, delivering the sort of driving experience that was long missed. A total of more than 200,000 units have been sold worldwide, some used for motorsports.

When the 86 was launched, the GR high-performance brand was not in existence yet (although GAZOO Racing was) but in recent years, the company has promoted this new brand and used for models like the 86,
Supra
 and
GR-Yaris
 besides GR-customised versions being available in Japan.

After a rather long 9-year run, the 86 goes into its second generation as the GR 86 and again, its development was shared with Subaru which sells their model as the BRZ. Collaborating with Subaru makes sense given the potential volumes for this sort of car, economies of scale can only be good for a business case if they are combined by the two brands. That’s part of the reason why the Supra is shared with BMW although the GR-Yaris was a separate matter as it was intended as a ‘
Homologation Special
’ to support motorsport activities.

The BRZ, which made its debut earlier
, has its own following and engineers from each company approached chassis tuning with their own philosophies. While the extensive resources of Toyota have utilised in the car’s development, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has focussed on the dynamic qualities of the new 86 with the aim of making it better than before.

Same size, more aerodynamic

The dimensions of the new GR 86, which will go on sale in Japan in the fourth quarter of this year, are almost identical to the previous model. It has a generally similar appearance to the previous model with the sleek coupe profile. The front end has been reprofiled for better aerodynamics and gets a GR-specific Functional MATRIX Grille. Some of the aerodynamic components have been developed for 86 models that participate in motorsports and include air outlets, side sill spoilers, and other parts that improve steering responsiveness and stability.

New generation has a improved aerodynamics with a restyled front end. Previous generation, launched in 2012, shown below.

Limiting both the overall height and hip-point of the vehicle helps lower the center of gravity and enhance turning performance, and so delivering the agility required. Under the skin, body rigidity has been improved, with torsional rigidity raised by approximately 50% over the previous model.

Size-wise, the dimensions are almost the same as the previous generation (below).

The use of aluminium for the roof panels results in a lower centre of gravity, while aluminium fenders and updated front seats and mufflers contribute to reduced weight. Keeping weight low has been a priority and is one reason why an all-wheel drive system has not been adopted (Subaru really wanted it but Toyota was against it).

Bigger engine, same flat-four layout

As before, a horizontally-opposed flat-four engine is used and while this configuration is common in Subarus, it is unique for a Toyota. The flat-four layout places the mass of the engine further down, which is good for lowering the centre of gravity.

The displacement has been increased to 2.4 litres from the previous 2 litres – with no turbocharging – raising power output to 235 ps with 250 Nm of torque. Toyota has installed their own direct fuel injection and port injection system known as TOYOTA D-4S for fuel delivery. 0 to 100 km/h acceleration is claimed to be 6.3 seconds, quicker than the 7.4 seconds before, and customers have a choice of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

More comfort-oriented cabin

The previous 86 interior may have been designed with a rather purist approach, so it had a stripped-down look like a racing car. However, for this new generation, there appears to be a bit more ‘comfort-oriented’ philosophy with a 7-inch TFT screen that has an opening animation sequence inspired by the piston movements of the engine.

The cockpit has been designed with the hard driving in mind, and sightlines as well as the seating position have all been set from experiences in racing. While the centre display is a touchscreen, the interior designers have provided either rotary knobs or rocker switches, both of which are easier for the driver to operate while driving (especially if wearing gloves).

Subaru Eyesight system used

Although Toyota has its own Toyota Safety Suite (TSS), Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is used for the GR 86 with automatic transmission. Like TSS, the Eyesight system has active safety technologies using radar and camera sensors to help the driver avoid a collision or reduce the effects of one.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created


Honda Malaysia invites everyone to celebrate their 900,000th unit grand finale

Honda Malaysia is inviting everyone to celebrate their
“Road to 900,000th Unit Milestone Campaign”
 Grand Finale on the 28 and 29 September 2019 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium open car park (free entry for all). There will be loads of activities as they celebrate 17 successful years since their establishment here in the country.

According to Mr Toichi Ishiyama, Managing Director & CEO of Honda Malaysia, “In July 2019, we launched the “Road to 900,000th Unit Milestone Campaign” with the tagline “Terima Kasih 900K”, to thank Malaysians for their unwavering support towards Honda Malaysia by giving away nine Honda models as a reward. I am pleased to note that the giveaway campaign is getting active participation from customers nationwide.”

“We are also arranging a Grand Finale to celebrate the significant achievement with Malaysians as well as present the nine Honda cars to the lucky winners. On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to invite all Malaysians to celebrate this meaningful occasion with us and join the activities at the Grand Finale, which are specially arranged for Malaysians, from kids to adults. At the event as well, we will be previewing the New Civic to the public.”

Themed “Frontier of Innovation”, Honda Malaysia will also be showcasing Honda’s Next Generation Advanced Technologies such as Sport Hybrid i-DCD X-ray Scanner as well as Sport Hybrid i-DCD and VTEC Turbocharged Game Tower. Other fun activities included are:

Giant Water Slide

Insta-Luminous displays

Pedal Cart

Racing Simulator

Test drives + more

As part of the “Road to 900,000
th
 Unit Milestone Campaign”, Honda Malaysia will also be giving away nine of their latest models and the second prize in the form of a brand-new Honda HR-V has found its lucky winner. Mr Lim Hong Ngee was ecstatic when he found out that he was the second winner of the campaign.

“I am very excited that I will be the owner of a new HR-V, which is my second Honda SUV. I particularly like the sporty exterior design and spacious interior as well as the convenience that it provides for family travel. Overall, I am very happy and looking forward to driving my new Honda car,” said Mr Lim.

Seven more Honda cars are still up for grabs, folks! To know more, head over to
www.honda.com.my/microsite/900k
 or visit its official Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/hondamalaysia/
.

2019 Honda Civic facelift now open for booking


Another WRC win for Hyundai’s Ott Tanak in Ypres Rally Belgium

The Hyundai Motorsport team scored another WRC victory at the Ypres Rally Belgium as Ott Tanak took his Hyundai i20N Rally1 to win with a 5-second margin. The Estonian driver, co-driven by compatriot Martin Jarveoja, inherited the top spot late on the penultimate day when his team-mate and long-time leader Thierry Neuville understeered off the road and into a ditch, shattering the Belgian’s hopes of a repeat home win.

Tanak, who had also won the
last round in Finland
 earlier this month, carried an 8.2-second buffer over Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) into Sunday’s final leg, which comprised 4 short and sharp asphalt stages in the Flanders region. Although Evans did not make things easy for the leader, with two fastest time times on the opening stages, he was still unable to close the gap.

Tanak’s success reduces the gap with championship leader Kalle Rovanpera. The Toyota GAZOO Racing driver got nothing from this rally as he rolled his hybrid rallycar out of contention on Friday morning. The 21-year-old Finn was, however, able to collect 5 Wolf Power Stage bonus points and, with 72 points, remains on track to become the youngest WRC champion in history.

The two Hyundai wins have not managed to take the team any higher and the Manufacturers’ championship situation remains unchanged. The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team remains behind Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT with an 88-point gap. In third is the M-SPORT Ford World Rally Team, 191 points behind the leader.

“To win here is a big surprise for us – more or less the same as it was in Finland,” said Tanak. “We didn’t expect it from anywhere basically, but somehow we were able to pull it together during the rally. It’s great to see that some WRC results are coming, but there is so much we can improve and we could still be a lot stronger, so there is still some work to do.”

For Evans, it was a case of what could have been. He gave away valuable seconds on Friday when a slow puncture forced him to run a wet weather tyre in dry conditions. He was also lumbered with a 10-second time penalty for arriving late to SS8. Without that, the outcome could have been different.

Rally2 & Rally3
WRC Rally2 cars also finished within the top 10, with FIA WRC2 victor Stephane Lefebvre leading the charge in a DG Sport Citroen C3 Rally2 ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen (Toksport WRT Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Yohan Rossel (PH Sport Citroen) and Chris Ingram (Toksport Skoda), who won the WRC2 Junior division. Armin Kremer took WRC2 Masters glory, while Jan Cerny topped WRC3 in a Ford Fiesta Rally3.

Public debut of hydrogen-fuelled Yaris
The public debut of the Toyota GR Yaris H2 concept took place on the stages in Belgium, and was completed by Toyota rally legend Juha Kankkunen driving the Power Stage ahead of the competitive field in the hydrogen-fuelled car.

The rally was the first time for Toyota to drive an under-development hydrogen-engine vehicle on public roads outside Japan. The GR Yaris H2 served as a testcar and ran ahead of a Safety Car that confirms safe conditions before the start. After driving the GR Yaris H2 himself on Saturday, Team Founder Akio Toyoda had the chance to ride alongside Kankkunen.

Ott Tanak wins Rally Finland to give Hyundai Motorsport maiden victory


Proton’s 10-Month Volume For 2022 Has Passed Total 2021 Volume

Two months remain for this year and Proton’s total sales volume for 2022 has passed the full year’s sales volume of 2021. Announcing its October numbers today, the Malaysian carmaker said after 10 months of sales, its cumulative volume has reached 115,362 units. In the same period in 2021, it was only 114,708 units, or a difference of 33.6%.

The 10-month sales volume, which was contributed by the addition of 13,013 units (including exported vehicles) in October, was also noteworthy as it was the company’s highest volume since 2014.

By Proton’s estimation, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of new vehicle sales in October was over 60,000 units for a third consecutive month. Proton’s share of the market would 21.1%, and for the 10-month period, 19.9%, while its overall position remains steady in second place.

SUV market leaders
Proton’s SUVs have been the most popular in the market, with the X50 being the national sales leader. During October, 3,602 units were delivered to raise the cumulative volume to 33,193 units for the year.

The X50’s bigger brother, the X70 which has been in the market since December 2018, remains popular with 1,391 units delivered in October. Its total volume for the year has reached 15,536 units and together with the X50’s volume, Proton’s SUV sales volume (including exports) should reach 50,000 units soon.

To celebrate the fourth birthday of the X70, Proton has special deals for buyers during November.

“Proton’s fourth consecutive year of volume growth coincides with the brand’s entry into the SUV market with the Proton X70. It’s an achievement the company is proud of and despite the launch of newer rivals, it remains a class leader and was even named Best Large SUV at the
2022 Carsifu Editors’ Choice Awards
. Therefore, to celebrate its upcoming fourth birthday, we are offering customers gifts comprising accessories worth RM1,499, interest rates as low as 2.52% and many other surprises from our dealerships if they purchase a Proton X70 in November,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Proton.

Other popular models
The Saga remains the bestselling Proton model and last month, 5,262 units were delivered nationwide. Its cumulative volume for 10 months has reached 45,965 units, which is a 42% increase over the previous year. Although being a model that is at the right price point and value for money, its appeal was further enhanced with the introduction of an updated model in May this year.

The Persona and Iriz meanwhile have been making a steady comeback in the market while the Exora remains the leader among the C-segment MPVs.

Growing sales outside Malaysia
Aside from local market success, Proton’s total volume growth for 2022 has also been boosted by the performance of its export division. With 416 units were exported in October, the total number of vehicles sent to other markets has reached 4,741 units, the highest since 2013. As with domestic sales, the Saga is the company’s bestseller overseas (2,106 units) followed by the X70 (1,608 units).

Proton SUVs on display at a shopping centre in South Africa.

“The growth in Proton’s export division in 2022 is in line with our intention to penetrate more overseas markets. While Malaysia will be the company’s main market for some time to come, export sales has more untapped growth potential that fits in with our long-term growth targets to be a major regional automotive brand,” added Roslan Abdullah.

12-Month Extended Warranty For Proton Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles


Naquib Azlan shows that sim racers can also perform well in real-world racing

It’s always been an interesting question – does racing on simulators help to develop driving skills? A whole generation has now grown up on sim racing and there are some very skilled racers in the online world who even race against the real-world racers like F1 drivers. What if they are put inside a real racing car… would they be able to perform just as well?

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia and UMW Toyota Motor are finding out with their
GR Young Talent Development Program
 which started last year and the first batch of rookies, most of whom have been racing in the virtual world for many years, are taking to the track this weekend in the first round of the TGR Festival Vios Challenge at the Sepang Racing Circuit.

They have been given training which has been rigorous both physically and mentally, with guidance from veterans like Alex Yoong and Tengku Djan, the latter a champion in the Vios Challenge. The cars are also provided, and all are prepared to have identical performance so it is really down to driver skill and strategy.

Naquib Azlan, one of the rookies, has ‘driven’ thousands of laps around the Sepang International Circuit – in the virtual world – so he is thoroughly familiar with the layout and would have learnt the fastest lines through the turns. However, for the qualifying laps and the real race today and tomorrow, he will be racing only on half the circuit, otherwise known as the North Track.

From his performance, it seems that all those thousands of laps have helped him as he clocked the fastest time in the official practice session of the Vios Challenge. And it’s the first time the 20-year old is doing a saloon car race. He clocked 1 min:26.614 seconds to post the fastest time of the day from a field of 45 racers who included celebrity, amateur and professional drivers, completing a total of 29 laps in official practice and another 20 laps in unofficial practice.

Walking around the circuit to study the surface and the corners is what the professional drivers do, Guiding Naquib and the rookies is Alex Yoong, one of the instructors.

“Yesterday was mainly about getting as much information as I could, especially running on newer tyres, and to prepare the car for today’s race. The main aim was to prepare for this race weekend – no intention of becoming quickest,” said Naquib, who has qualified in pole position on the starting grid with a time of 1:26.012 after completing the Qualifying session.

“It definitely came as a surprise to me to post the fastest time. We (the rookie racers) are sharing the same grid with some of Malaysia’s best drivers – racers like Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin and Hayden Haikal and they are all super quick. I didn’t expect to be the quickest but I believed I had the capability to be close to them and it was nice to do have been able to that…This is my first ever race in real life,” he said.

Naquib agreed that all the hours on a simulator have paid off in being super beneficial in preparing him for his real-world racing debut. In the simulator he has used, it has not been in a Toyota Vios but that has not made a difference as he settled into the racing car provided by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.

UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia have been supporting eSports which sees strong participation from sim racers, some of whom can now transition to real-world racing like Naquib.

“In sim you don’t feel anything, unlike the sensation of being in a real racing car. It’s not 100% the same as when driving with the simulator but what you learn in sim in terms of entry speed, how much braking you use, and how early you can be on the throttle definitely translated perfectly for me in real life and really helped me prepare for this weekend. I try to perfect this in sim so that when I jump into a real race car and I have that extra sensation it becomes easier,” Naquib explained.

“Being able to drive to the limit and being on the limit is a skill that is very difficult and that was what I wanted to find. I would add that the Vios is rewarding to drive and I get much confidence even though it is new to me,” he said.

Practice is one thing, the real race, however, can be an entirely a different story. “The way I mentally prepare is I focus on what I have to do for the race. I don’t focus on what the other competitors are doing because this is when you start to get nervous and over-think things. I focus on the job I have to do and what I have to do to achieve the outcome I want – and that job this weekend is to drive fast and win!” he said.

The GR Young Talent Development Program aims to develop the best talents across the country and propel grassroots racing to the pro stage. With guidance, careful and proper nurture, young drivers like Naquib and the other five drivers are now on the journey to becoming a champion.

Click here to read about the first day of the TGR Festival/Vios Challenge Season 4

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program


THE 8 X JEFF KOONS – most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history

Jeff Koons, an American artist, and BMW have had many years of association, going back 12 years to the time when Koons created the 17
th
 BMW Art Car. Since that time, he wanted to create a special edition of a BMW model as a personal project and finally, he got his wish with THE 8 X JEFF KOONS.

Only 99 units of this exclusive edition based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe will be available. Describe, as a ‘rolling sculpture’ by Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, it is the most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history.

11 different exterior colours

The expressive and striking design combines 11 different exterior colours, ranging from blue to silver as well as from yellow to black. The multi-coloured interior uses high-end materials, fine leather and the cupholder lid includes edition badging and the artist’s signature. The seats are made up of the striking red and blue which reflects the colours of superheroes from the comic book universe as well as those of the company’s high-performance unit, BMW M.

Overall, the energetic and powerful design includes both elements of pop art as well as geometric patterns paying homage to the sporty 8-Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. The exploding lines of colour at the rear, in turn, are their own unmediated homage to the artist’s 2010 BMW Art Car, while the ‘POP!’ on each side as well as the vapour thrust imagery symbolize the power and speed, according to the artist.

Over 200 hours of manual work

Over 200 hours of manual work were spent by highly specialized professionals at two BMW Group plants on the exterior paintwork alone, where the colour samples were often applied with magnifying glasses. Dozens of engineers and designers were involved and Koons had many days of discussions on design options with the BMW employees involved.

“I was thinking very intensely about it: What is the essence of the 8-Series Gran Coupe? What is the essence of power? How to create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element?” he said.

The original 850i was the first model of the 8-Series launched in 1990 and was celebrated as creating a new perspective of progress in advanced motoring, appealing to the connoisseur who acknowledges elegance and performance as the ultimate blend of perfection. THE 8 X JEFF KOONS also continues this tradition.

The original 8-Series launched in 1990.

The artist’s dream car realised

“My edition of the BMW 8-Series is my dream car! It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. I can’t wait to drive it and ride in it, and I hope that people will enjoy the Gran Coupe just as much as I do,” said Koons.

“On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the bonnet towards the boot, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapour thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space and I like the idea of the car being a global car. What matters is how we relate to each other and our awareness of everything we are surrounded by. For the driver and all passengers, there is a heightened state of pleasure. This is what my car has to offer,” he explained.

Each car will come with a large-format certificate signed by the artist which, in addition to Zipse’s signature, also contains the individual Vehicle Identification Number. The artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver’s Manual, while the signature of the artist is set into the cupholder panel in the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo.

Following its world premiere in Los Angeles this month, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be presented at numerous art fairs and events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Initially, the car will be on display for the general public in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Plaza before one car from the series, signed on the tailgate by Jeff Koons,  will be auctioned off at Christie’s in New York on April 4. All proceeds from the highest bid will go to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), a non-profit NGO which Koons has been personally involved with for over 2 decades.

This BMW M3 GT2 was aesthetically reworked by the US artist Jeff Koons and in 2010, it was unveiled as the 17th model in the BMW Art Cars series. The car bears the racing number 79 – a tribute to the BMW M1 body work-over presented by Andy Warhol in 1979. The striking colours of Koons’ Art Car exude a boisterous sense of power, motion and energy. As with Warhol’s M1, Koons’ BMW also participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race.

BMW Art Cars now available for viewing from anywhere in the world and with AR too


Perodua briefs KPDNHEP enforcement officers on imitation parts

No matter how much the carmakers and authorities warn consumers about the dangers of using imitation products and parts, there are still motorists who buy them knowingly or unknowingly. And these days, the imitation parts can be hard to differentiate from the original items so consumers may be misled even though they should be suspicious if the prices are too cheap.

In a move to address this situation in the market, Perodua recently took the initiative of providing enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) with an understanding of the problem and how to identify imitation parts.

Comprehensive briefing for enforcement officers

Some 120 KPDNHEP officers attended an engagement session at Perodua’s Sungai Choh headquarters where, together with select service dealers and stockists, they received a comprehensive briefing. They were acquainted them with Perodua’s range of genuine products and parts, where they are sold, the logistics flow and shown real and fake items.

“Perodua is aware of the circulation of non-genuine products and parts that bear Perodua branding in the market, some of which are almost indistinguishable from the originals. These include lubricants, oil filters, shock absorbers and brake pads,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.

Be sure to buy Perodua Genuine parts from authorised service centres or stockists.

Warranty is void if imitation parts used

ProGanti parts are an affordable alternative and you won’t lose your warranty using them.

“This is very alarming as they are critical items. Customers may be misled into buying and using such items, which have not been tested by Perodua, on their vehicles. Besides voiding warranties, this could greatly jeopardise the safety and running condition of their vehicles,” he warned.

“We hope that the engagement session was informative and insightful, and that it will help them in their duties to identify, pin-point and put the brakes on counterfeit Perodua products and parts in the market,” added Dato’ Dr Zahari. “We urge the public not to be lured by unscrupulous traders selling imitation Perodua items, and to only buy and use genuine products and parts from authorised Perodua stockists or any of our 179 authorised Perodua service centres nationwide.

“Genuine Perodua products and parts are fairly priced and most importantly, they give you total peace-of-mind. As an alternative, we have the ProGanti range of parts that’s easier on the wallet but still tested and approved by Perodua,” he said.

Visit
www.perodua.com.my
 to locate authorised service centres where genuine Perodua and ProGanti parts are available.


Racing Simulator Instead Of real-world DTM

BMW works driver Philipp Eng is a talented all-rounder behind a steering wheel. He has won Formula races, as well as in a host of different BMW racing cars, including the M4 DTM, M8 GTE and M6 GT3. He has also been a sim racing expert for many years and in today’s difficult situation, virtual races are the only opportunity for racing drivers to practice their craft.

While actual race weekends are unthinkable at the moment, the sim racing calendar is growing all the time. Last weekend, 4 major races were held and Eng was in action in two of them. On Saturday, he made it through to the final against a top-class field in ‘THE RACE All-Stars Esports Battle’. One day later, he finished third in the ‘F1 Esports Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix’, the first sim race officially staged by Formula 1.

“I am glad I have my race simulator at home at the moment. In these times, when everyone has to avoid moving about in public as much as possible, it is basically my ‘substitute racing drug’,” said Eng. “The virtual races help me to stay in race mode, particularly mentally. Although the simulator doesn’t feel exactly the same as reality, my instincts are the same as on an actual racetrack. It allows me to keep them sharp. For me, sim racing is more than just fun, it also really helps me to improve as a professional racing driver.”

Additional pillar in the BMW Motorsport programme

BMW Motorsport identified the benefits of sim racing and its increasingly important role at an early stage, making it an additional pillar in its motorsport programme. “In my opinion, BMW Motorsport’s intensive involvement is currently giving sim racing another huge boost,” he said. “When a major manufacturer like BMW gets involved to such a degree, the general public picks up on it and the perception of sim racing changes in a positive way.” As far as Eng is concerned, sim racing has already earned the right to be regarded as a motorsport in its own right, particularly in the future. “I see it this way: as a motorsport fan, watch the DTM race at the Nürburgring in the afternoon and then why not watch the livestream of the sim race in Sebring in the evening,” he said.

First simulator stuck in place with tape

Eng was just a teenager when he first ventured into the world of virtual racing. “I was 17, I think, and my simulator was such that I had to shift my exercise books to one side, clamp my steering wheel on my desk, and fasten the pedals to the floor using tape,” he recalled. “The way sim racing has developed since then, and particularly in recent months, is very impressive.” Today, Eng no longer has to use tape for his pedals. His equipment is of the highest standard – as is his driving in the simulator.

Despite that, professional racing drivers still cannot quite compete with the best sim racers in the world. Eng has an explanation: “That is mainly because of the incredible amount of time that these guys have spent on simulators over the years. I like to compare it with fitness training. If I train regularly and do, let’s say, 350 kilometres per week on my bike, then I will be pretty fit. If, however, I have two weeks off because I am away somewhere racing, then my fitness level drops again. That is exactly the difference between me, who is not regularly in the simulator during a normal season, and a professional sim racer – who is also very talented.”

Sim racer in the real world

Eng does not necessarily believe that a top sim racer would automatically make a good racing driver in the real world. “I am sure that the best have the necessary technical know-how and driving potential. However, in a real race car, they must first learn to deal with the fact that they could get hurt if they make a mistake. I notice that with myself. I always take more risks in the simulator than I do in a real racing car.”

Unlike driving a real race car, a simulator offers the opportunity to do a lot of testing and gain experience without any risks, in a controlled environment, and without it costing too much. For that reason, simulations also play a huge role in all BMW Motorsport’s actual racing projects. The BMW Motorsport simulator in Munich is used intensively for vehicle development and race preparations.

“The simulator I have at home is pretty good, for something that ordinary citizens can buy. However, it is miles away from what the BMW Motorsport simulator can do,” says Eng. “As the BMW Motorsport simulator moves on a flexible platform, you, the driver, feel every kerb and bump, just as you would do in reality. For me, the way the car handles is barely different to reality.”

BMW Drivers Will Be Racing At Super Sim Saturday With Races All Around The Virtual Globe


Michelin Malaysia introduces BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A tyre for SUVs and pick-up trucks

With the explosive growth in SUVs for many years now, demand for replacement tyres for such vehicles has obviously been growing. So besides offering passenger car tyres, companies have now to also offer SUV tyres which have to be a bit more robust and handle heavier loads, and be off-road capable.

There are many brands on the market nowadays which offer SUV tyres but it’s always better to buy tyres from a reputable and known brand. BFGoodrich is a brand in the Michelin group, so it is obviously a trusted brand and Michelin Malaysia has brought in a new tyre from the brand for SUVs.

The new tyre is the Trail-Terrain T/A, a premium ‘on-road plus’ tyre which can perform well on highways and also handle light off-road motoring (which is what most SUV owners do). Its performance is due to having an optimized footprint design, and resistance to chipping and tearing, and a serrated shoulder design optimized for soft-soil traction without increased road noise.

The tread has Full-Depth 3D Locking Sipes that provide good tread block stability for even wear so tread life can be longer. The tyre also provides a quiet and comfortable ride on all surfaces.

The Trail-Terrain T/A is available in 41 sizes so it covers a wide range of SUV models and can also be used for pick-up trucks. However, availability of sizes will be dependent on dealer’s stock, but they should be able to order from Michelin Malaysia anyway. The tyre covered by a 6-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The new BFGoodrich tyre is suitable for many SUVs and pick-up trucks, including the Nissan X-Trail (above) and Isuzu D-MAX (below).

“The BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A responds to the post-covid adventure mindset and the growing DIY trends that target drivers of All-Wheel-Drive crossover utility vehicles, sports utility vehicles and light trucks. These are adventure-ready vehicles offering versatility for hobbies, carrying gear, and outdoor recreational activities – perfect for the next exploration ahead,” said Michelin Malaysia’s Managing Director, Oliver Biggart.


BMW Malaysia Introduces The Exclusive BMW M Performance Editions + CNY 2019 Promo!

BMW Malaysia
 recently introduced the
BMW 330e M Performance Edition and BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition
, each equipped with BMW M Performance Accessories to offer avid BMW motorsports enthusiasts the ultimate driving pleasure. Only
300 units
 are offered for each of these exclusive
BMW M Performance Editions.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia
 (below) said,
“We are constantly looking for ways to add to the exclusivity of our premium vehicles while maintaining the unparalleled driving dynamics and performance of the BMW brand. By carefully selecting two highly collectible models and offering them with our motorsports-inspired BMW M Performance parts, we are proud to have crafted a unique on-road motorsports experience for our customers. Through perfect dynamics and captivating visual features, they can now enjoy the best of both worlds and experience BMW’s motorsports DNA come to live while on the road.”

Drawing from BMW’s extensive skills and experience in motorsports, the BMW M Performance Accessories are built with the same passion and craftsmanship as with the iconic BMW M models. With the M Performance aerodynamic kit seamlessly blended into the best-selling premium Plug-in Hybrid Electric models, the BMW M Performance Editions of the BMW 330e and BMW X5 xDrive40e have been transformed with an athletic edge, combining the best of BMW driving dynamics with benchmark performance and efficiency.

The BMW 330e M Performance Edition.

The now enhanced BMW 3 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology comes with sportier aerodynamics and aesthetics, which include M Performance side skirts, side sill foils, and front grilles in high-gloss black, as well as the lightweight M Performance Carbon mirror caps for the side mirrors. The vehicle features a front attachment in Matt Black, a rear spoiler and a rear diffuser, in addition to the aggressive M Performance dark tail lights that round up the dynamic look. The interior meanwhile features M Performance stainless steel pedals and footrests. The exterior colour offerings for the BMW 330e M Performance Edition include Sunset Orange, Black Sapphire, Estoril Blue or Alpine White; while the interior is furnished with Black Dakota Leather.

The retail price (on the road, without insurance) for the BMW 330e M Performance Edition is
RM 258,800.00
. With the Easy Drive Programme from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW 330e M Performance Edition can also be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from
RM 3,278.00
 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a four-year tenure, with a mileage capped at 20,000km per year).

The BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition.

The exclusive BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition is also equipped with M Performance side skirts, side sill foils, and front grilles in high-gloss black, along with M Performance Carbon mirror caps for the side mirrors. Both ends of the vehicle are framed with a Carbon front attachment and a rear spoiler in high-gloss black and Carbon rear diffuser. The stainless steel pedals add a striking motorsports feel to the interior. The BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition comes in Carbon Black, Mineral White or Space Grey. All exterior colour offerings are paired with Black Dakota Leather, whereas Carbon Black offers an additional option of Terra Dakota Leather.

The retail price (on the road, without insurance) for the BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition is
RM 390,800.00
. With the Easy Drive Programme from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW X5 xDrive40e M Performance Edition can also be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from
RM 4,878.00
(based on estimates of an 80% loan on a four-year tenure, with a mileage capped at 20,000km per year).

Complete Premium Ownership Experience.

New owners of the BMW M Performance Editions can also experience the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:

BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Program

BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Program for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services

BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline

The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card

BMW Service Online

Customers may view, enquire or place orders for the limited BMW M Performance Editions at any nearby BMW dealership.

CNY@BMW

Celebrate this Chinese New Year at BMW with attractive promotions, rebates and competitive financing solutions starting from 0.88% across a wide range of BMW models, at all authorised BMW dealerships. New owners of the BMW 530e, BMW 740Le and BMW X5 xDrive40e will receive a complimentary BMW i Wallbox Plus and BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable at no additional cost*, through the BMW i Wallbox Promotion.

With any purchase of BMW Plug-In Hybrid vehicles, new owners can also take advantage of the BMW ChargeNow Promotion which offers a complimentary BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable and BMW ChargeNow card. In collaboration with GreenTech Malaysia, the BMW ChargeNow card offers owners unlimited, complimentary access to the ChargeNow mobility services via the ChargEV platform for an entire year. The CNY@BMW campaign ends on
31
st
 March 2019.

* The promotion excludes installation costs of the BMW i Wallbox.

BMW 318i Luxury, BMW 530i M Sport, BMW 630i GT and the BMW X1 sDrive 20i Sport

Just in time for the New Year of the Earth Boar, BMW Malaysia also took the opportunity to announce the
new pricing of the BMW 318i Luxury, the BMW 530i M Sport, the BMW 630i GT and the BMW X1 sDrive 20i Sport
. The BMW X1 sDrive 20i also receives new designed wheels in the form of 18” Y Spoke Style 566 Alloy Wheels as well as a new Exterior Trim and Roof Rails in Satinated Aluminum.

The new retail price
(on the road, without insurance) for the BMW vehicles are as below.

BMW 318i Luxury                                                                 RM198, 800.00

BMW 530i M Sport                                                               RM 372,800.00

BMW 630i GT                                                                         RM 430, 800.00

BMW X1 sDrive 20i Sport                                                  RM 220, 800.00


UMW Toyota Dominates May Sales, Provides Low Carbon Transport Solutions

UMW Toyota Motor finished May in a commanding position, selling an incredible 7875 Toyota cars and 129 Lexus for a combined 8,004 units in total in May 2023. This is an increase over the combined 6,767 units reported in April 2023.

Year-to-date sales for May 2023 totalled an impressive total of 39,990 units, representing a significant increase of 8% over the 36,972 units registered for year-to-date sales as of May 2022.

In order to accomplish its obligation to offer low-carbon transport options that meet the varied needs of Malaysians, UMWT took a proactive stance in May. To undertake market research and technical evaluations on regional road conditions, UMWT brought in sample vehicles of the eagerly awaited Toyota bZ4X, an all-electric car. This is in line with Toyota’s multi-pathway approach, which offers a variety of options, such as battery electric cars (BEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), in an effort to attain carbon neutrality.

Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, stated that Toyota has a multi-pathway strategy towards carbon neutrality and this is obvious through these green powertrains, each of which was created to best satisfy the specific needs of customers in various regions of the world. Given the fuel used to generate its power and the accessibility of charging facilities outside of urban areas on Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast, Toyota believes that HEVs are the most suited vehicle for Malaysians. “In 2023, we’ll launch more HEV models,” he said

May also saw the official launch of Klang’s first
eco-friendly Lexus showroom
, which was a significant development. This green showroom is a prime example of Lexus’ commitment to lowering its carbon footprint and taking substantial steps to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The trade-in programmes offered by PCM Klang Motor Sdn Bhd, a licenced dealer, allow Toyota clients to switch from their current vehicles to Lexus models.

More great news for the month of May came in the form of the much-awaited fifth-generation Lexus
RX
, following its global debut in June of last year. The most recent RX, which is 90 kg lighter than the model it replaces and features better performance and fuel efficiency thanks to the enhanced GA-K version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), is also covered by a comprehensive five-year, unlimited mileage guarantee. The Lexus RX is available in the RX 350 Luxury form, which has an on-the-road suggested retail price of RM468,888 without insurance.

With its June campaign, UMWT reaffirmed its dedication to offering Toyota Extra Mile customers great services. Take advantage of deals worth up to RM8,000. The All-New Vios offers cheap monthly installments starting at just RM688, while the Toyota Corolla offers installments starting at just RM1,108* each month.


Extreme E Island X Prix: Rosberg X Racing wins again to maintain championship lead

On the same weekend that Formula 1 was having its 17
th
 round of 2021 in Texas and the 2
nd
 round of Vios Challenge Season 4 was being run in Malaysia, the fourth round of the Extreme E series took place in Sardinia, an island adjacent to Italy. Unlike the cars in the other two events, those in Extreme E do not consume any petrol or diesel and emit virtually zero toxic emissions. They are fully electric SUVs and the series is all-new, with a focus on environmental issues as well.

The round in Sardinia –  called the Enel X Island X Prix – was won by Rosberg X Racing (RXR), which made it 3 wins from 4 rounds. This puts the team, owned and managed by former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, in a commanding championship lead.

“It was pretty slippery out there, so it was a bit difficult to judge at first. From that point, it was just trying to manage the risk and I think that is what we did really well. Johan brought it home and again it was just an amazing effort by all of the team. We had a very challenging weekend from our side, but we never gave up and are very happy to be the winners here,” said RXR’s Molly Taylor, who was partnered with Johan Kristoffersson.

Consistent in changing conditions

The RXR drivers remained consistent in changing conditions to seal a dramatic victory ahead of ABT CUPRA XE, who secured their best result of the season in second. It was heartbreak, though, for long-time leaders in the Final – SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing – after Sara Price’s crash on Lap 2 caused terminal damage and meant she had to stop on track, ensuring the team could only finish as high as fourth on their Finals debut.

That moved JBXE into their third podium finish in succession with third place despite also suffering damage out on the course. Bad luck once again befell X44, the fastest qualifiers, in the final as Sebastien Loeb was forced to stop out on track and retire with broken steering. Loeb was running in second behind SEGI TV’s Kyle LeDuc despite driving with a slow puncture at the time of the stoppage, which meant the team now fall even further behind winners and championship leaders RXR in the standings.

Wet Final, new challenges

A heavy downpour prior to lights out made for the first ‘wet’ Final of the Extreme E season, providing the 5 finalists with a new challenge to overcome in their bid for victory. X44 was able to take their place in the Final despite suffering heavy damage in the opening Semi-Final of the day. In a sign of the unique camaraderie demonstrated across the Extreme E paddock, X44’s efforts to rebuild their damaged car were boosted by the support of mechanics and engineering teams from the Andretti United Extreme E team. The joint efforts ensure that their ODYSSEY 21 e-SUV WAS ready in time for the Enel X Island X Prix showpiece.

In treacherous conditions, 4 of the 5 teams were able to get off the start line cleanly, although ABT CUPRA XE were left with plenty of work to do after Jutta Kleinschmidt stalled on the grid. It looked like X44 had staged a remarkable comeback to lead into the first corner, but were beaten spectacularly by LeDuc who managed to get in front after using the alternate route.

A spin for Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky put JBXE at the back of the field, while the slow-starting Kleinschmidt quickly made up ground on RXR’s Taylor to battle for third. This soon became a 3-way tussle for second as Loeb began to lose pace as he struggled with a slow puncture, allowing LeDuc to build an impressive lead out in front.

After Loeb was forced to retire with broken steering, Taylor and Kleinschmidt remained nose-to-tail in their battle for second as they headed towards the Driver Switch zone. As LeDuc exited his car in the zone following a superb opening lap, it appeared the so-far luckless team was about to complete a heroic turnaround and bring home their first Extreme E win. However, they were cruelly denied as Price suffered terminal damage to her car after making contact with a rock out on the course, which ruled them out of contention for victory and meant they could only finish as high as fourth.

This left RXR’s Kristoffersson in the lead and chased by Mattias Ekstrom, who continued on at great speed despite driving without his left-hand door throughout the lap! The ABT CUPRA XE driver was no match for Kristoffersson, though, who kept up the pressure to extend his lead and take RXR’s third win of the campaign and put his team as the firm favourites for championship glory at the final of the season in the in December.

CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows next evolution of e-SUV