McLaren build purple 720S for special customer

Ever wondered what a purple McLaren 720S would like? Neither did we, but apparently someone had the British supercar maker do exactly that. Micheal Fux, a well known collector of rare and exotic cars, commissioned McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to have his 720S, defaced.

MSO, as the name implies, is a special division within McLaren that is responsible for churning out bespoke supercars for those wanting something out of the ordinary. Fux, had the team paint the car in a colour called ‘Fux Fuchsia’, which was created by Rolls-Royce just for him.

In fact, he owns this striking hue, and will retain exclusive rights to its use on any other McLaren vehicle. It isn’t to everyone’s taste, but the Woking based automaker did a fine at making the paint scheme look just right.

McLaren not only recreated this colour, but built a theme around it. As such, not only is the body colour ‘Fux Fuchsia’, but so are parts of the lightweight wheels, door appliqués, pinstripe on the steering wheel and even the rear-view mirror. It contrasts the largely white leather interior including white stitching and White Alcantara® floor mats, pretty well.

The car’s exhaust and windows are finished in stealth grey while the carbon fibre components taken from the MSO catalogue, add to the level of sportiness. Like the body colour, these features can be ordered by anyone through MSO and they can be fitted to just about any McLaren.

Jolyon Nash, McLaren Automotive Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing, said,  “MSO provides McLaren owners with virtually limitless possibilities to tailor a car exactly to their needs and tastes.

He added, ” unique paint colours and finishes, custom leather and stitching and exotic materials are all available within a bespoke commission, while beyond this there are opportunities all the way up to complete vehicles designed to individual specification.”

Mike Flewitt, McLaren Chief Executive Officer, will personally be presenting the car to Flux in Monterey, USA, during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Later, it will be placed on display for the ‘Concept Lawn’ on Concours Sunday.

Fux, is an  entrepreneur and philanthropist who is known for his collection of rare McLarens. He currently has an Orange McLaren 12C, a purple 12C Spider and a green McLaren P1. A fan of cars that scream for attention, Fux can add the Fux Fuchsia 720S to his garage, though we doubt he will be content with just four oddly coloured cars.


Naza Kia Appoints MBf Automobile As Newest Dealer @ MAI Autoshow 2018

Naza Kia Malaysia
 (NKM), the official distributor of KIA vehicles in Malaysia, today held a signing ceremony at the
MAI Autoshow 2018
 to mark the appointment of
MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd
 into their ever-growing dealer network.

Present at the event to represent Naza Kia Malaysia was
Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings
 who signed the agreement in tandem with
Daniel Choo, Group General Manager of MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd.

This new dealership appointment symbolises Naza Kia Malaysia’s relentless pursuit of brand excellence and brand reach in the country.
Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings
, said,
 “We are grateful for the immense support from our dealers over the last few decades and we welcome MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd to our existing network of dealers. This dealership reassures us of Kia’s growing presence in Malaysia and the confidence that dealers such as MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd place on us.”

In addition, Naza Kia Malaysia continues to creatively improve consumer engagement using key elements of future design and technology. MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd will set up its first Kia outlets incorporating the Korean brand’s new corporate identity for its Kia Concept Stores. The first 3S Kia City Concept Store Experiential Showroom in Malaysia is set to be established at Menara MBf with an investment of RM5 million, along the bustling Jalan Sultan Ismail by mid-2019, giving visitors a one-of-a-kind immersive experience at a state-of-the-art facility.

MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd will also undertake an existing Kia outlet located at Jalan Maarof, Bangsar and invest RM1.5 million to revamp the premises into a Kia City Concept Store that will begin operations in the third quarter of 2018. As a new dealer onboard, MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd expects to invest RM6.5 million in total for the two Kia outlets.

“This year, we plan to continue intensifying investments to further grow our network with five new outlets nationwide and expand customer touchpoints to ensure an extraordinary experience throughout the consumer journey,”
 added Dato’ Samson.
Naza Kia Malaysia currently boasts 51 sales and service centres in the country and have plans to open up new outlets nationwide in 2018.

About MBf Automobile…

MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBf Group, a multinational corporation whose portfolio has grown substantially to a range of sectors and regions to embody one of the Asia Pacific’s leading private conglomerates. With this appointment as a Kia dealer, the MBf Group is making as serious comeback in the automotive business in Malaysia. The company’s principal business activities span across nine different sectors, namely automotive, agribusiness, banking & financial services, commercial printing & engineering, education, healthcare, logistics, property development & management and retail.


Chery’s All-Domain Power Architecture ready for next 30 years

China’s auto industry made limited progress in the decades before 1980 and the vehicles its manufacturers produced were technologically outdated. In the mid-1980s when the country opened up and the economy rapidly grew, demand for cars also rose quickly and the young carmakers initially had agreements and joint ventures with foreign companies to acquire modern technology.

At the same time, companies like Chery also worked towards developing its own technology base and reduce dependence on ‘imported’ technology. It was a long journey and by 1999, the company was able to produce its first engine. From then on, with more advanced R&D and greater investments, its engine range widened and evolved. Today, many of its engines are in the third generation and nine of them have been listed among China’s Top 10 engines. To date, the company has made over 10 million engines which power vehicles in China and other countries.

An early Chery engine in the 2003 QQ model.

All-Domain Power Architecture

As demand for New Energy Vehicles (NEV) grows with the demand for reduced energy consumption and low carbon emissions globally, Chery is taking its All-Domain Power Architecture – encompassing traditional, hybrid and fully-electric powertrains – to the next developmental stage, to respond to these demands.

Currently, three of the company’s 4
th
 generation engines have completed thermodynamic development and are in the bench calibration phase, and development of the first 5
th
 generation engine has been given the go-ahead. The design of this state-of-the-art engine is expected to be finalised by the end of June 2023 and will be installed in a production model by 2024.

Chery’s R&D team includes multi-national experts in the powertrain field.

Hybrid powertrain

This new engine is a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, direct fuel injection, an i-HEC 4.0 intelligent high-efficiency combustion system and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation technology. It is said to be able  to achieve an industry-leading thermal efficiency of 43.9%.

The preliminary research programme on high-efficiency engines, adopting pre-chamber jet ignition and lean-burn technologies, has met its target of better than 45% thermal efficiency in the laboratory.

One of Chery’s latest engines, used in the Tiggo Pro SUV.

Chery has also developed a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) with dual motors, 9 operating modes, 11 gear combinations and twin-shaft drive, making it the first of its kind amongst Chinese brands.

Key R&D project

Earlier this year, a national key R&D project headed by Chery – the ‘new-type, cost-effective, passenger car powertrain development vehicle integration project’ – passed project acceptance in Wuhu, China. The outcome of the project was Chery’s first-generation DHT – 3DHT125 – which found its way into the Tiggo 8 Pro e+.

In March, the company’s ‘dedicated hybrid engine (DHE) development’ project, another national key R&D project, passed the appraisal of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and the jury of experts for project acceptance. This project focuses on research into high-compression ratio deep Miller cycle and high lean-burn combustion to enhance the performance of Chery’s 4
th
 and 5
th
 generation engines.

The company aims to further optimise its 3-speed DHTs for mid-sized plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) while developing a single-speed DHT for compact and sub-compact PHEVs and hybrid electric vehicles.

Having made its debut in the NEV market in 1999, Chery’s powertrain matrix does not end at combustion engines and hybrids. In 2017, the Chery EQ1 battery electric vehicle (BEV) was launched in China and two years later, Chery exhibited its 3
rd
 generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with 30 kW fuel cell stacks that can be topped up with hydrogen in 3 minutes. The range achieved by these vehicles is said to be over 700 kms.

Chery’s All-Domain Power Architecture thus encompasses all types of current and future powertrains that use fossil fuel, electricity or hydrogen. Its technological capability is therefore comprehensive to cover automotive powertrain development during the next 30 years.

Chery Malaysia will return to the Malaysian market with these SUV models


Toyota GR Supra to get manual transmission this year

Toyota GAZOO Racing has done a lot of upgrades to the GR Supra since it returned in 2019. But the one thing which fans wanted that this Supra has not come with is a manual transmission. The shared development with BMW made it more convenient to use the same type of transmission – an 8-speed automatic – rather than separately engineer for a manual transmission. Although people may think that it’s a simple matter, everything involves time and cost and there must be a good business case too.

Toyota’s Executive Chief Engineer (involved in the high-performance products) Tetsuya Tada had explained that the automatic transmission for the GR Supra is an ‘excellent transmission’ and it also handles lots of torque well. So that’s helpful when it comes to tuners bumping up the output as they are less likely to destroy the transmission.

But he never ruled out the possibility of having a manual transmission too and now, three years down the road, the GR Supra will soon be available with a manual transmission. An official communication from Toyota Europe says that ‘all-new, tailor-made manual transmission is coming soon’. It ends with a hashtag
#savethemanual
 which is probably a sentiment supported by Tada-san’s boss, the President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda.

All previous Supras have had manual gearboxes (besides automatics) with the last generation also having a Getrag unit in some markets.

Details of the transmission are not revealed, and the only images shown are the pedals. Toyota Europe also offers pictures of the three pedals in the GR 86 and GR Yaris, with the GR Supra having a throttle pedal that is floor-hinged whereas the other two cars have it top-hinged.

The last generation of the Supra had two types of manual transmissions – a 5-speed Aisin W58 unit and in some markets, a 6-speed V161 (Getrag 233) transmission. The Getrag unit was well known to be a robust unit and praised for its ability to handle very high outputs. If there were transmission failures, it was mainly due to missed shifts.

Throttle pedals in the GR 86 (above) and GR Yaris (below) are top-hinged whereas the one for the manual Supra will be bottom-hinged.

Perhaps Toyota GR will use this proven Getrag gearbox again. From the words ‘all-new’, it is likely that this is an independent development by the Toyota GR team and so they can choose their own hardware. Or it could also be the gearbox from the M3.

The current powertrain line-up has two BMW-sourced turbocharged engines – a 3-litre in-line six and 2-litre in-line four – and it is likely that the bigger, more powerful engine will get the manual shifter. Whether it will be a limited edition or an addition to the line-up is uncertain. Toyota GR has done some limited editions and one more hint about the new variant is that it will be identified by a new red-coloured ‘Supra’ badge.


First locally-assembled Euro 5 MAN trucks now in operation on Malaysian roads

In support of the moves to reduce air pollution and improve efficiency of powerplants, MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) introduced its new truck generation with low-emission engines that meet Euro 5 standards. These standards set very low levels of sulphur content (among others) which is not only better for the engine but also the air we breathe.

Its trucks are assembled at its own plant in Serendah, Selangor, and the first batch of the New MAN Truck Generation was recently handed over to the first operators in the country. These operators are six transport companies, of which two are first-time MAN Truck customers.

At the handover event of the seven trucks, MAN Malaysia Managing Director Andrew O’Brooks thanked the customers for joining the sustainability journey with MAN. “In November 2021, MAN became the first truck manufacturer in Malaysia to offer Euro 5 engines as standard across its entire product portfolio.  It was a bold move as we were challenging Malaysian transporters to join the journey and take the lead in reducing carbon emissions.”

Mr. O’Brooks said the company was delighted that the Malaysian transport companies took up the challenge, with overwhelming market response. “This clearly demonstrates that transporters in Malaysia are more than willing to do their part as the nation aims for carbon neutral status by 2050.  They know that with our New MAN Truck Generation, they can attain both profitability and sustainability,” he said.

The six companies to use the new trucks are LTS Distribution (M) Sdn Bhd, Sim Aik Chan Trading Sdn Bhd, Sea Hawk Global Lines Sdn Bhd, Timur Permai Haulage Sdn Bhd, Rani Transport Sdn Bhd and Globonus Sdn Bhd.

The models available have varied specification to suit different transport requirements. There are 5 variants which can be used for three main applications: 4×2 and 6×2 for haulage/container; 6×4 for construction and heavy-duty use; and 4×2 and 6×2 with ADR (Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) specifications.

Customers can choose from 2 engine options. The 4×2 and 6×2 variants for haulage and transport of dangerous goods are powered by the proven and reliable MAN D20, 10.5-litre, 6-cylinder inline Euro 5 diesel engine. The heavy duty-oriented 6×4 variant has the bigger but equally efficient 12.4-litre D26 engine. Both engines are coupled to a smooth and quiet 12-speed MAN TipMatic intelligent gearbox with advanced software and selectable driving programmes for different applications.

Meeting the Euro 5 emission standard means significantly lower emissions of toxic nitrogen oxide (NOx) gases. This is achieved  through the use of low sulphur Euro 5 diesel and AdBlue exhaust treatment. Euro 5 diesel, available in B7 and B10 grades, has been available in the Malaysian market since 2014, with BHPetrol having been the first company to offer it.

Newly developed consumption-reducing driveline and software components also ensure a new level of efficiency to deliver improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions. The improved aerodynamics of the new vehicle design also play their part in this reduction.

According to Mr. O’Brooks, the New MAN Truck Generation was a transformational product that marked the evolution of MAN Truck & Bus from a vehicle manufacturer to provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions. “It is the most ambitious project by MAN Truck & Bus in 20 years. It is the answer that our customers expect us to provide in face of increasingly diverse and complex challenges confronting the transportation industry all over the world, including here in Malaysia,” he said.


Sir Patrick Stewart to race at Silverstone Classic

Sir Patrick Stewart, a legendary hollywood actor, will be taking part in the upcoming Silverstone Classic. The 76-year old who has starred as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films has just passed his official ARDS racing drivers’ test.

This means that he is now eligible to compete in a special Celebrity Challenge Trophy Race at Silverstone in July of this year. Drivers will be piloting competition-prepared Austin A30 and A35 sedans harking back to the late 1950s. The race will be split into two parts, the owners of the Austins will qualify on Friday and race on Sunday. The celebrities on the other hand, will go wheel-to-wheel in their classic rides on Saturday.

The reason why these classic cars were adopted for this racing series a few years ago by the Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) as a cost-effective route to historic racing. More than 50 cars have been built so far, which should make for an exciting race come July.

Speaking of passing his driver test, Sir Patrick Stewart, said, “It was a lot of fun. For someone who has followed motor racing since being a teenager, to drive around Silverstone and negotiate such legendary corners as Becketts and Stowe is just such a thrill.”

Other celebrities who will be taking part in the Silverstone race include Olympic gold medalists Mark Hunter MBE, Jason Kenny CBE, Greg Searle MBE, Jonny Searle MBE and Amy Williams MBE, bike racing world champions Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer, former England test cricket captain Mike Gatting OBE, Dragon’s Den TV star Theo Paphitis, former Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell, Wheeler Dealer’s Ant Anstead and adventurer Charley Boorman.

Silverstone in July will be amazing for those living in the UK, and hopefully, for Sir Patrick Stewart as well. Stay tuned and we will let you know more as soon as we find out.


Fuel Price Updates For May 27 – June 2, 2021


Mitsubishi Motors To Produce Minicab-MiEV In Indonesia

While Nissan is credited with having introduced the world’s first mass produced battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in 2010, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) also launched a BEV model around the same time which was intended for mass production. Known as the i-MiEV, it was smaller than the Nissan LEAF but still highway-capable.

In developing the i-MiEV, MMC had decided to go beyond hybrid technology which had, by then, been dominated by companies like Toyota and Honda. According to the late Osamu Masuko, who was MMC’s President then, the company chose to aim further ahead and focus on developing full EV technology.

Since then, the i-MiEV concept has evolved and advanced and has been used in the Minicab-MiEV. This model, launched in 2011, is the only BEV model in the commercial Kei-car class in Japan. It is popular with delivery companies because of its efficient powertrain and compact size.

The i-MiEV was one of the first BEVs to be sold in Malaysia and it was offered by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia briefly around 12 years ago.

Although the company once decided to end its production, sales resumed in November 2022 in response to growing demand for such commercial EVs, particularly from logistics companies and local governments that are engaged in sustainable business activities. However, it remained only available in the Japanese market.

Now, for the first time, the Minicab-MiEV will be produced outside Japan as production will begin in Indonesia in 2024. The model will be assembled at PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia in  Bekasi Regency, 37 kms east of Jakarta. The factory, which began operations in 2017, currently produces the XPANDER and Pajero Sport.

“Automakers are now being required to respond to the rapid, global movement toward a decarbonized society,” said Takao Kato, President & CEO of MMC. “We believe that Kei-car class commercial EVs are the optimal solution to the ‘last-mile problem’ in logistics. In order to meet the growing demand for EVs in the ASEAN region, we have made the decision to produce this vehicle locally outside Japan for the first time. As well as continuing to support the development of Indonesia’s automotive industry, we hope to contribute to the country’s environmental initiatives.”

The electric powertrain in the Minicab MiEV is a more developed version of the one used in the i-MiEV which was in production from 2010 to 2014 (with some of the cars also supplied to Peugeot and Citroen). It uses a compact, lightweight, highly-efficient motor with the battery pack located under the centre of the vehicle.

The lithium-ion battery pack has a capacity to provide up to 133 kms of range, while the 30 kW/41 ps and 196 Nm electric motor give brisk performance, especially with the vehicle’s low weight. Only AC charging is available.

Besides not sacrificing capacity, thus ensuring a large cargo space. The battery location gives the vehicle a lower centre of gravity. This improves stability, which is important as the Minicab-MiEV is a tall vehicle.


Celebrating 60th anniversary, Bentley’s V8 is the world’s longest-serving engine of its type in production

Bentley is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its venerable V8, the longest serving engine of its type in production. Originally fitted to the S2 model of 1959, the lasting appeal of the Bentley engine is proven by its continued application today in the luxurious Mulsanne limousine. Whilst every part of the original S2 engine has been re-engineered over the decades, the basic principles and dimensions that have defined the engine for the last 60 years remain the same.

“The original V8 was designed to deliver a step-change in performance, along with smoothness, reliability and refinement. The engine was tested over hundreds of thousands of miles in the toughest conditions, as well as at full throttle for 500 hours. The success of Bentley’s acclaimed 6¾-litre V8 today in the Mulsanne owes much to that ethos,” said Dr Werner Tietz, Member of the Board, Engineering at Bentley Motors.

The 6¾-litre V8 defined, and still delivers, the traditional Bentley ‘wave of torque’, unstressed performance and exceptional refinement and efficiency. It remains the beating heart of every flagship built over the last 60 years.

60 years separate the engines in the two cars but the basic principles and dimensions that have defined the Bentley V8 remain the same.

Origins of the engine

The development of the first Bentley V8 engine began when a replacement was needed for the inline 6-cylinder engine used in the Bentley Mark VI, R-Type and S1. The brief was to build an engine that was at least 50% more powerful than the 6-cylinder it would eventually replace, while occupying the same space under a bonnet with no increase in weight. A ‘V’ configuration was the natural choice.

The resulting 6.2-litre engine – the first V8 – was almost 14 kgs lighter than the 6-cylinder unit. It made its debut in the Bentley S2 of 1959. The car featured air conditioning, power steering, electrically-operated ride control and press button window lifts – the most luxurious equipment for a car of that era.

In Pursuit Of Excellence

The original V8 engine had to be redesigned to fit into the new Bentley T-Series cars introduced for 1965. The engine design team focussed on improving performance, while reducing the overall engine dimensions to fit the space available under a lowered bonnet. Engine capacity was increased to 6¾-litres in 1971 through an increase in stroke which delivered even more torque.

The arrival of the first Bentley Mulsanne in 1980 required major changes to the V8, not least the need for stricter emission controls and improved passenger safety in the event of a front-end impact. The latter included a collapsible water pump, which effectively shortened the engine by 10.1 cm.

The heart of every Bentley is the engine and each one is handbuilt in England.

The biggest single change to the engine was for the launch of the Mulsanne Turbo. With the fitment of a large single turbocharger, the 6¾-litre engine become the first forced-induction Bentley engine since those that powered Tim Birkin’s Blower Bentleys of the 1920s. Power and torque made a step change, and the single turbo set-up was eventually replaced by a twin-turbo design.

Fuel injection, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation have all been engineered-in to the engine since. Power slowly climbed to levels above 500 bhp, while torque figures rose to exceed 1,000 Nm – for a time, the L-series V8 made more torque than any other automotive engine in the world.

Bentley Bentayga

Bentley also uses a smaller, 4.0-litre V8 engine in the Continental GT and Bentayga models. The twin-turbo is distinguished by a characterful, burbling exhaust note and develops 550 ps/770 Nm.

Bentley Bentayga V8 Debuts In Malaysia!


MILDEF International Technologies 4×4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle

It’s not often that we get to know about military vehicles for obvious reasons. They are used by security forces who prefer their equipment and methods of operating to not be known to the public. However, occasionally, a manufacturer may publicise its vehicles which are available for military use but not necessarily in use by the armed forces. MILDEF International Technologies Sdn Bhd (MILDEF), originally known as Kembara Suci Sdn. Bhd. when it was founded in 2005, is one such company which is looking to supply the Malaysian armed forces with an armoured vehicle known as the 4×4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV).

After its public unveiling in February, the MILDEF has been undergoing evaluation at various training grounds throughout Malaysia. The exercise lasted 9 days, during which time the MILDEF HMAV 4×4 was subjected to 700 km of road testing and 300 kms off-road, as well as being put through the paces on a tough obstacle course. The HMAV was also subjected to tests such as highway endurance, fuel efficiency, loading, winching, slope-climbing, mounting and dismounting, climbing and braking, and of course crossing water that was 1 metre deep.

The evaluation was conducted by teams from the Malaysian Army and Defence Science and Technology Research Institute (STRIDE) with personnel from MILDEF present. According to Datuk Sri Mohd Nizam bin Kasa, Chief Executive Officer of MILDEF. the performance of the HMAV during this very important first round of testing was satisfactory. “We are now planning to conduct testing at several other locations,” he said.

Designed to withstand being hit by armour-piercing rounds and mines, the HMAV is built to STANAG 4569 Level 2 military standard established by NATO (the alliance of military organisations of European and North American countries). It weighs 13.2 tonnes and is powered by a 7200 cc Caterpillar Diesel engine which produces 330 bhp. This gives the HMAV a power to weight ratio of 24 bhp per tonne and it has been able to get up to a test speed of 110 km/h. Of course, military vehicles are not required to be super-fast (unless they are jet fighters) and other capabilities are more important.

MILDEF specialises in providing automotive services for the defence industry in Malaysia and has a proven track record in all aspects of the heavy equipment maintenance, repair and overhaul. In the company’s next phase of development, it has ventured into developing combat vehicle that is able to perform in both man-made and natural terrain. Besides being a pioneer in research and development of armoured vehicles in the country to support a sustainable defence automotive industry for Malaysia, MILDEF is also looking at having a presence in the regional market.

Kia developing more advanced vehicles for military use


Project MAYBACH – a tribute to the late Virgil Abloh

With Project MAYBACH, Mercedes-Benz pays tribute to the late Virgil Abloh who passed away recently. Designed as a showcar to inspire the next generation, it is being revealed at the wishes of Abloh’s family.

The artist, architect, creative director, fashion designer and philanthropist, who was also artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, had collaborated with Gordon Wagener, design chief of Mercedes-Benz, for this design study. It interprets Mercedes-Maybach’s luxury identity with a new design language and pushed the boundaries of function, style, and collaborative creativity.

Inspired by the great outdoors and recontextualizing a traditionally urban brand within a distinctly off-road environment, the 2-seater, fully-electric off-road coupe combines huge Gran Turismo proportions (almost 6 metres long), large off-road wheels and distinctive attachments. Under the transparent surface of the showcar’s bonnet are solar cells that increase the imagined range of the Project MAYBACH.

Like
Project Gelandewagen
 in 2020, Project MAYBACH is a design unlike anything that has been developed by Mercedes-Benz, with every element built from scratch. Key for both Abloh and Wagener was a responsible vision of future design.  Complete creative freedom – unlimited by production requirements – enabled the design teams to conceptualize what the future of electric travel could look like.

The X-Factor nature of Project MAYBACH results not only from its imposing – almost 6 metres long – and characteristics, but also from its unique contrasts. ; most notably through how naturally authentic Mercedes-Maybach design elements are harmoniously combined with a new Outdoor Adventure design motif.

Project MAYBACH channels Abloh’s passion to challenge the status quo and re-write the rulebook of aspirational design. The power of his work is not only from the product design, but also the exploratory conversations that his work ignited. Whilst the showcar was inspired by how one could explore nature within a uniquely luxury context with Maybach, the Mercedes-Benz teams thank Virgil Abloh for the inspiration to explore every day the power of cross-industry dialogue to imagine a better, more inclusive future.

Project Gelandewagen, another car from Virgil Abloh, which was inspired by the G-Wagen.

Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS for the new generation of customers

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


Johor MB Chides Immigration Department For Being Inconsistent

Image source: Onn Hafiz Ghazi Twitter

Just before the Hari Raya holidays, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi voiced displeasure over the efficiency displayed at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, which was then not operating at a maximum level.

The Causeway, the busiest land border crossing in the world (as stated by
The Star
), will be considerably busier during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations as more people and vehicles would be going between Malaysia and Singapore.

With this in mind, after an inspection at BSI on Wednesday 19 April, Onn Hafiz said, “I just carried out my working visit at BSI and I can say that the efficiency level is not at 100% yet. It is now at 80%.”

“I have asked that all counters at BSI either for cars, motorcycles, bus passengers, and even pedestrians be open and in working order. I want all the technical and manpower issues to be resolved by then,’ he added.

Surprisingly, the Malaysian immigration did really well and was more efficient than the Singaporean immigration which has been criticised on Twitter for holding up traffic for more than an hour.

Image source: Onn Hafiz Ghazi Twitter

Sadly, this only lasted for a week. As is typical of any government office, only two out of ten counters will be available. Onn Hafiz posted a tweet on 26 April 2023 saying, “Today I got a report that many counters are closed even though there are many vehicles. We need to continue to be consistent in providing the best service to the people. I request that the immigration department continue to provide the best service like last week.”

Netizens have tweeted their frustrations on this matter questioning the efficiency of the officers. Some even criticised the maintenance of the building.

Hopefully, something is done about this so that the staff there do not need micromanaging and is more efficient when it comes to this.


BMW reveals details of all-electric i4 sedan to go on sale in 2021

Although the model will only appear in showrooms in 2 years’ time, BMW is telling the world about the fourth model in its I sub-brand range – the i4. This will be the first purely electrically-powered model for the premium mid-range with the functionality of a 4-door Gran Coupe and emissions-free mobility.

More importantly, BMW promises to transfer the brand’s characteristic core features to the age of electric mobility, particularly the qualities of the 3-Series. Design-wise, it will be based on the i Vision Dynamics concept car (pictured below) shown in 2017 and sit on the CLAR platform.

The i Vision Dynamics concept

The development of the i4 is part of a comprehensive product offensive by the BMW Group in the field of models with electrified drive. The company currently has the biggest range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models within the competitive field. By 2023, the BMW Group will have 25 models with electrified drive in its program.

Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology

The drive technology of the i4 will set new standards in terms of power density, efficiency and range in locally emissions-free driving. The electric motor, power electronics, charging unit and high-voltage battery are entirely new. Together, they form the BMW eDrive technology of the fifth generation, with which the BMW Group has made further significant advancements in the field of electrified drive.

From 2020 onwards, the fifth- generation BMW eDrive technology will be introduced first in the iX3 and then in the iNEXT and i4. The electric motor developed for the i4 delivers a maximum output of around 390 kW/530 bhp, reaching the level of a V8 engine in current BMW models fitted with a combustion engine. 0 to 100 km/h acceleration is expected to be around 4 seconds, with a top speed of more than 200 km/h.

The fifth generation of BMW eDrive also includes a newly designed high-voltage battery featuring the latest battery cell technology. The design of the high-voltage battery developed for the i4 is characterised by its extremely flat design and optimised energy density. With a weight of some 550 kgs, it has an energy content of around 80 kWh. This gives a claimed range of approximately 600 kms.

Prototype of the i4 undergoing cold-weather testing.

Modular, flexible drive and battery storage technology

A flexible vehicle architecture, the flat, low-positioned high-voltage battery and the compact drive technology create a high degree of freedom in realising a model- specific design. The electric drive component, its charging unit and high-voltage battery are all developed and produced in-house by the BMW Group.

This drive system is compatible with all vehicle concepts and will be available for different models in a range of output levels. The highly integrated design of the system allows a significant increase in power density as well as a reduction in weight and manufacturing effort. Production of future-generation electric motors will no longer require materials categorised as rare earths.

The next generation charging unit is characterised by a uniform package suitable for all future vehicle architectures. It can be used in plug-in hybrid models as well as in purely electrically powered vehicles and is designed for a charging capacity of up to 150 kW. This allows the high-voltage battery pack to be charged to around 80% of its full energy content in around 35 minutes. This results in a charging time of around 6 minutes for a range of 100 kms.

Production of High-Voltage Batteries for BMW Hybrid Vehicles underway in Thailand


THROWBACK THURSDAY: KLIMS 2018 – Why The KL International Motorshow Is Still Very Far-Off The Mark [+Videos]

The venue was a LOT better this time around.
 Okay so I thought I’d start this article off on a positive note, and one of the things I’m happy to say is that KLIMS 2018 chose a much better venue than the PWTC of past shows. MITEC, while still not
ideal
, was a much more conducive location to host a motorshow, i.e. outside the city centre, easy to get to and easier to park. More importantly from a media standpoint, the actual halls themselves were a great deal better for photography and videography, as can be seen in the video below.

Held from
23rd November to 2nd December 2018
 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) at Jalan Dutamas KL, the overall organisation of the event was a whole lot better too this time around, the company handling the public-relations and communications and information dissemination,
Sanns Communication
, did a remarkable job in keeping us all up-to-date with the latest happenings on a
daily
 basis.

Speaking of which, media facilities at the event site were also improved this time around, with proper work areas, lockers and sustenance. The last being crucial for many media who attended the show more than once for durations that spanned 10- to 12-hours at a time. That being said, the media area was too small, and the wi-fi was below par to handle the multitude of users all on-line, uploading articles ‘heavy’ with photos and videos, thus it kept hanging.

And on that note we get to why this article is headlined the way it is. Anyone who knows me in the industry will attest to the fact that I call it as I see it. For better or worse, I’m not the type to blow sunshine up anyone’s horoscope; never have, never will.

The thing is, if KLIMS was just called the
KL Motorshow
, or the
Malaysia Car Show
, then it would be alright, but it isn’t; the word
International
 is in its title, big and bold, and that’s where the bottom falls-out, spectacularly. You can’t call it an ‘international’ motorshow if more than half of the brands available in the country are not represented, and I’m not even referring to brands that aren’t available here, which would be understandable, if not accepted.

I’m referring to all the known and locally-available European brands, both for the masses and for the more affluent. Brands like
Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Renault, VW, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, (yes, part of BMW, but I’m on a roll), and Rolls-Royce
, all have showrooms and dealerships locally, and yet were missing from an ‘international’ motorshow held on home turf. From the east-side, even
Mazda
, who have been having one of their best years, were not at KLIMS 2018, nor were
Infiniti
and
 Subaru.

The reason for this lack of participation might very well be that KLIMS is not a
sales
 show. Unlike other regional shows like the
Bangkok International Motorshow (BIMS)

and the
Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS)
, (<–links) that allow visitors to actually buy the cars on display – I recall one BIMS where a specially made Rolls-Royce
‘BIMS Edition’
 was snapped-up even before the first public day – KLIMS is a publicity show for branding and awareness only. It is understandable then why some carmakers might find the return-on-investment less than tempting, especially if their ‘branding and awareness’ are both already very healthy.

I feel this is a travesty though. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the car industry is a business, and like any business, the bottom-line matters, profits are a must, and every cent has to be accounted for. The aforementioned no-shows aren’t charity organisations after all, and the all-important ROI is always,
always
 seen to first and foremost. Let’s face it, a lot can be done with the circa million-ringgit plus price tag that accompanies participating in KLIMS, and if they aren’t allowed to sell their cars to the visitors, then why bother? Rhetorical question.

In regards to that last paragraph, I personally think KLIMS should rethink its stance on not allowing sales to be carried out at the show. I honestly see no harm in it at all, and might in fact even spur more visitor turnout, because anyone shopping for a new car could easily cover all the vehicles they’ve shortlisted under one roof,
 one shot
 as they say. As an example, at
BIMS
 (<–link)  in March this year, a staggering
42,499
 vehicles were sold.
No, that’s not a typo
. KLIMS could actually assist the annual automotive market TIV.

As for the manufacturers themselves, ROI aside (if that’s at all possible), I hope you rethink your stance on participation at KLIMS in future. This is after all
our
 motorshow, the one that we as a
country
 are hosting, and you being part of this country – insofar as Malaysians are buying
your
 cars – I strongly feel that your brand should be represented. As it stands the manufacturer participation at KLIMS 2018 was far,
far
 from ‘international’.

That being said, I’m really proud and happy to say that those who
did
 participate did a fantastic job, truly. It was obvious that they took a lot of trouble to ensure their pavilions were as spectacular as possible, and they succeeded
brilliantly
. The pavilions were noteworthy enough to be classified as ‘international’, that I can say without hesitation, so good job,
pats on the back all around
.

It’s been
5-years since the last KLIMS
,
 (<–link) you can read why we didn’t like it in the past, and while this article may sound like I still feel the same way,
I don’t
. There has been a lot of improvement from half a decade ago, noticeable ones, like the ones I mentioned at the start of this article, but it’s not
there
 yet. There’s still a lot to do, and long way to go, if we want to be mentioned in the same breath as BIMS & GIIAS. I’m not even going to bring the Tokyo Motor Show (TMS) into the picture for obvious reasons.

If there’s one thing besides local importer participation that I can suggest, it’s more peripheral activities are needed for KLIMS. The reason why the TMS, BIMS & GIIAS are so successful is because there’s something for everyone at their shows, not just those interested in new cars. Tuners, ICE, Accessories, Modders, Classics, Restomods, Bikes, Used Cars, Go karts, Car Clubs, Die-Cast Centres, Toys, Games, any & all kinds of car related shi… stuff, etc. are all part of some of the aforementioned motorshows, and the crowds love it. It then becomes a fun family outing, more than just a motorshow that appeals to those interested in cars.

All said and done, it must be said that KLIMS 2018 was an improvement over 5-years ago, there’s still a long way to go, but I for one feel a lot better about the way things are looking for the future. Good job KLIMS, here’s hoping for even greater things for the next installment! –
Chris Wee.

KLIMS 2018 Second & Last Day Photo Gallery (Photos Courtesy of Sanns Communication by Steven Leong)


Polestar 1 is automaker’s first hybrid concept car for the masses

Polestar has finally revealed its first ever production car to the world. Called the Polestar 1, the vehicle is a Volvo S90 based Coupe that is built upon the Swedish automaker’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA).

The company stated that parts sharing with its Volvo cousin has enabled it to build the Polestar 1 in record time, taking just a fraction of what usually amounts to years worth of research & development as well as testing. That said, 50% of the components used are new while the remaining half are inherited from Volvo.

Sporting similar a silhouette as the S90 sedan, Polestar has done away with Volvo’s signature chrome grille and placed an understated yet menacing louvered grille. The projector headlights with DRL’s resembling Thor’s hammer are still present but subtle tweaks have been made to the front and rear sections of teh car for better aero efficiency.

The body is made from carbon-fibre, which has enabled the improvement of torsional stiffness by 45% and lowered the car’s centre of gravity. This will result in a massive weight reduction compared to the standard Volvo meaning, that agility and nimbleness should be better too.

The car features a hybrid powertrain that brings total output to a colossal 600bhp and 1000Nm of torque. Called the Electric Performance Hybrid, the Polestar 1 is able to travel about 150km on pure electric power, making it the only hybrid vehicle currently on sale that can achieve such a feat on a single charge.

Another first, the Polestar 1 is the first car in the world that will be fitted with the  Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) advanced chassis technology. That coupled with a double electric rear axle for torque vectoring, will enable the car to remain planted while cornering at high speeds.

Marketed as a 2+2 seater grand tourer, the Polestar 1 is a concept vehicle that previews what the production version may look like when it is unveiled in mid-2019. The vehicle will be built in Polestar’s state-of-the-art production centre in Chengdu, China. Due for completion in mid-2018, the facility will be responsible for manufacturing future models from the automaker.

During the reveal, Polestar made it known that it will be launching two further models called the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3. The former will be an electric vehicle that will take on the Tesla Model 3, while the latter is poised to be an SUV styled EV.

Apart from this, the automaker is also planning on revolutionising the way we buy our cars. It will allow its vehicles to be purchased/rented online and will also introduce a substription service that will enable ownership with zero-downpayment at a steady monthly fee. In addition to that, owners can also rent alterntavie vehicles within the Volvo family.

The exact details are still a bit hazy at the moment as Polestar has yet to lay down concrete framework that will enable the public to its subscriptions service for a 2-3 year lease of its vehicles rather than opt in to an out-right purchase.

Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar said, “Polestar 1 is the first car to carry the Polestar on the bonnet. A beautiful GT with amazing technology packed into it. All future cars from Polestar will feature a fully electric drivetrain, delivering on our brand vision of being the new standalone electric performance brand.”

Despite this, Polestar will still have its brick and mortar showrooms around the globe to facilitate customers how prefer the old fashion way of buying vehicles. The order books of the Polestar 1 begins today, and Polestar says its ready to facilitate all interested parties.


e:HEV – How Honda’s Hybrid Technology Has Evolved In Over 20 Years

Although Toyota began selling the first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that have an electric motor working with a petrol engine, Honda also brought HEVs into the market around the same time. In fact, in Malaysia, Honda was the first to actually market HEVs when it offered the Civic Hybrid in 2004, priced at RM118,888. Back then, hybrids were still a novelty rather than something which drew people due to being new technology.

Over the years, Honda Malaysia continued to promote HEVs, offering the technology in some models and then being the first brand to assemble a HEV locally – the Jazz Hybrid – in 2012. Incentives provided by the government during that period were intended to promote HEVs so that more people would buy the environment-friendly cars. In fact, the incentives created the unusual situation whereby a HEV variant cost less than the variants with just petrol engines – in every other market, HEVs would cost more than their conventional engine equivalents due to the additional cost of the technology.

Although sales of HEVs have not been rocketing upwards, they have been steadily increasing and the technology has also matured and is more efficient, while costs have lowered. Since the days of the first Insight, it has been Honda’s aim to find ways to lower the costs of its hybrid technology – which it markets as e:HEV now – so that more people can afford to buy HEVs.

Honda Malaysia has continued to assemble e:HEV models locally, with the City e:HEV soon to be joined by the new Civic e:HEV. The addition of the e:HEV version to the latest 11
th
 generation Civic range is not really a surprise. Back in January, when the new generation was launched, it was already mentioned that the electrified variant was under consideration. It was, after all, already being offered in Europe in the latest Civic Hatchback, so it would not be difficult to have a sedan variant as well.

The Malaysian market gets the sedan version for the new Civic e:HEV but in Europe, only the hatchback version is sold (below).

The e:HEV technology is evolved from the early hybrid technology that Honda developed in the 1990s and called Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Back then, Honda still prioritized the combustion engine (Honda-san loved the internal combustion engine a lot) and treated the electric motor more as a power-booster when additional acceleration was needed.

Honda’s first hybrid model was the Insight. It was not officially sold in Malaysia but in 2001, one unit was driven from Bangkok to Singapore to demonstrate the efficiency of the hybrid system. Motoring journalists from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore took turns driving the car within their countries.

Honda’s first hybrid system, used in its early models, was known as Integrated Motor Assist (IMA).

Over the years, though, the thinking changed – just as Honda once stuck stubbornly to air-cooled engines and then switched over to water-cooling like everyone else. In the case of e:HEV technology, use of the electric motor is prioritized and drives the front wheels much of the time. The petrol engine is mainly used to generate electricity to power the motors (there are two, one of which power the wheels). There is still a lithium-ion 72-cell battery pack to store electricity and IT gets recharged as and when necessary (without having to plug into an external power supply).

Much of the time, electric power will be used to move the car (left) but for sustained high speeds or stronger acceleration, the engine will provide extra power (right).

In most driving conditions, the electric motors will be propelling the car but at higher sustained cruising speeds or at ‘full throttle’, the engine may take over the work. This is Engine Drive, and is directly and efficiently powered by the petrol engine with minimum losses and still assisted by the motor when necessary. But it is likely to be intermittent if there are variations in speed as each time the load decreases, hybrid drive will instantly be activated. In any case, fuel can still be saved and that’s the good part about having a HEV. In fact, fuel efficiency is improved enough that the engineers decided to put in a slightly smaller fuel tank.

When the battery level is low and needs to be ‘refilled’, the running engine will generate the electricity. This allows the air-conditioner to also keep running to maintain cabin coolness.

In all drive modes, brake and deceleration energy can be ‘recovered’ to improve the overall efficiency, further enhancing fuel consumption (particularly in stop and go traffic). Thanks to the high rigidity of the crankshaft and the secondary balancer shaft, the engine has lower vibrations over the entire engine speed range than in previous generations of the hybrid system.

The e:HEV system in the
Civic RS e:HEV
 is similar to that in the latest City e:HEV but the engine size is different. The Civic, being a bigger car, has a 2-litre VTEC petrol engine whereas the displacement for the City’s engine is 1.5 litres. With this bigger engine, the e:HEV system for the Civic is the most powerful to date. The engine output is 143 ps/189 Nm, with the total electric motor output being 184 ps/315 Nm.

The Honda engineers didn’t just take a normal 2-litre VTEC engine used for some other models. It has multistage direct injection technology which reduces emissions over a wide operating range. Additionally, the engine is also optimized for faster and more efficient combustion and greater torque that a e:HEV system can generate. The engine structure has also been engineered to cope with the higher compression ratio of 13.9:1 and with improved cooling performance as well as using the Atkinson combustion cycle, it achieves an industry-leading thermal efficiency of 41%.

The engine has been designed to also meet future emissions limits, using a low temperature activating catalyst, optimized intake port shapes for high tumble airflow and sodium-filled valves, all of which contribute to improve both emissions and fuel economy. Incidentally, we noticed a label on the fuel filler lid which said the minimum fuel grade is RON91, so RON95 should be fine then. In Europe, the Civic e:HEV’s engine meets Euro6 emission standards but we’re not sure if that would be the case for Malaysia which has only Euro4M petrol.

Power flows through an eCVT and actually the ‘CVT’ part is a bit misleading. There is no mechanical ‘transmission’ as we know or recognize it, nor is there the pulley system used by CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmission). It doesn’t have a torque converter either, and it is essentially a 1-speed link to convey power from the motor to the front wheels.

An important part of the e:HEV system is the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) which has been improved in many ways. Positioned beneath the rear seats to optimize the overall vehicle packaging, it also has compact dimensions which allow a thicker seat base for increased passenger comfort. A new Power Control Unit (PCU), located under the bonnet to save space, controls the high voltage electric power of the hybrid system.

The increase in power density of the PCU and energy density of the IPU allows the electric motor to take more of the load in a greater range of driving scenarios. In turn, this enables the engine to run at a lower operating speed, again reducing fuel consumption and allowing greater levels of torque at higher speeds.

Honda Malaysia was the first company to sell hybrid cars in Malaysia, starting with the Civic Sedan in 2004 (above). In 2012, it also began assembling the Jazz Hybrid (below) at its Melaka plant, the first company to locally assemble an electrified model.

Honda Malaysia also imported the CR-Z and Insight models, both of which were hybrids.

The fact that Honda has continued to develop hybrid systems shows that, even with stronger focus on fully electric vehicles (EVs) and the plan to stop producing and selling new combustion engine vehicles worldwide by 2040 shows its understanding of the issues of ‘forcing’ EVs on customers. Like what a number of major carmakers are saying, hurried adoption of EVs is not a practical approach. Due to regional differences such as the level of customer acceptance, affordability, readiness of infrastructure and economic conditions, a singular approach to switching to EVs globally is not going to work.

Honda will therefore be working on rapid transitioning to EVs in markets and regions such as the USA, Europe, China and Japan while continuing with a more realistic solution for other areas. Even for North America, one of the regions that is part of the main electrification plan, Honda has
still allocated R&D resources to develop new hybrid models
 for the near-term. This is to increase HEV volume of core models such as the CR-V, Accord and Civic which are produced there. In the near-term, the company expects e:HEV variants to eventually make up 50% of the sales mix of each model.

“We need to take into account multiple factors, such as the living environment and the penetration rate of renewable energy, rather than simply switching to electric vehicles,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s CEO. “We are ending conventional [combustion] engines but we will still focus on hybrids, and it will be our strength in 2030 or even in 2035.”

Honda’s electrification plans will still include hybrid models, at least until 2035


VPCM Announces CNY Open Houses Nationwide

Got plans this weekend?
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
 has announced a nationwide
Chinese New Year Open House
 at all its authorized dealerships. The Chinese New Year nationwide open house will take place on
Saturday 16
th
 February,
from
11am till 5pm
 at all authorized Volkswagen dealerships in the country. Visitors will enjoy ongoing CNY savings up to
RM20,000
 and Volkswagen owners can take advantage of ongoing aftersales offers.

At the open house event, there will be food, “Yee Sang” and mini activities for the whole family. Find out more about your favourite Volkswagen models, get up close and test drive these models.
Volkswagen owners will receive a free battery check
 and if a battery change is recommended, enjoy 20% discount on new batteries starting from
RM365
 depending on model. Promotion ends
28
th
 February
. Additionally, there is also a tyre promotion where Continental tyres are available from as low as RM184 and comes with free installation, balancing and alignment.

All Volkswagen models come with
3 years’ free maintenance, 5 years’ manufacturer’s warranty and 5 years’ roadside assistance
. For more information, visit
https://www.volkswagen.com.my/volkswagen-events
 .


Karamjit Singh Takes His 17th Rally Championship Title – At 60

For Karamjit Singh, age is just a number and at 60, he still has ‘The Right Stuff’ to not only compete in rallies but also become a champion. The younger generation may have physical agility and perhaps even more bravery but this uncle has experience in the sport that goes back over 35 years – before some of them were even born!

Driving a Proton Gen2, Karamjit and co-driver Jagdev Singh were today crowned champions of the 2022 VANTAGE Malaysian National Rally Championship (MNRC). ‘The Flying Sikh’ shows that his age is no barrier (nor is the age of his rallycar which is 15 years old) and has been recognized as Asia’s most successful rally driver.

Champions of the 2022 VANTAGE Malaysian National Rally Championship with event organiser Jamaluddin bin Hj. Tukimin, President of the Purnama Rally Motorsports Club (third from right). On the left are Muhammad Ikhsan Husni (2WD Champion Driver), Karamjit Singh (Overall Champion Driver) with CISCO Racing owner Rabin Nijhar. On the right are Teh Yie Sing (2WD Champion Co-Driver) and Jagdev Singh (Overall Champion Co-Driver).

Karamjit’s ascent to being No.1 rally driver in the Asia-Pacific region shows his determination to succeed in spite of periods of challenges. He began in 1984 using his father’s Peugeot 404 in the Castrol Daylight Rally and from then on, slowly gained prominence as he collected class wins. His big break came in 1988 when the newly formed PETRONAS EON Rally Team (PERT) recruited him and he was able to get the full support of a professionally-run and well-funded team.

Karamjit’s first rallycar was his father’s Peugeot 404, which he used to enter the 1984 Castrol Daylight Rally.

From 1988 until 2005 when PERT was disbanded, Karamjit and his co-driver, Allen Oh, became the most successful rally duo in Malaysian history. They even got a listing in the Malaysia Book of Records. During those years, Karamjit and Allen flew the Malaysian flag in many countries as well as showed off the Proton Saga as PERT entered international events.

When the Proton R3 Team was established for motorsport as one way to promote the brand, Karamjit was the obvious choice as driver, and he continued to collect many trophies (over 500 to date). Unfortunately, Proton’s rally program ceased and Karamjit was out of a drive.

Already committed to a career as a rally driver, he spent a lot of his own money to prepare a rallycar and continue taking part in events as much as he could. It was sad that a driver of his calibre – certainly with potential to go further – was not offered support from companies. In spite of the media highlighting his plight, no sponsors came forward and it was a difficult period in his life.

“Rallying is an expensive sport and a single race in the Asia-Pacific region can cost upwards of RM400,000. Without sufficient sponsorship, the cost of participating is very difficult to meet,” he said.

But eventually, a lucky star shone on him and in 2021, a businessman by the name of Rabin Nijhar felt that he deserved support, especially considering what he had achieved. Nijhar’s company, CISCO (M) Sdn Bhd, doesn’t actually have anything to do with motorsports, unlike a tyre or oil company. CISCO provides security services, so why would it want to fund a rally team?

Perhaps other companies don’t see tangible returns for their sponsorship but Nijhar saw opportunity by teaming up with ‘The Flying Sikh’. “Opportunity is not just about getting Karamjit back on the podium but to deliver a win to the Malaysian people in these trying times. To show the rakyat that Malaysia will come back stronger than ever and with unbroken resolve,” was how Nijhar explained his decision to start CISCO Racing.

With a proper team and financial support, Karamjit and Jagdev were able to prepare their old Gen2 and enter the MNRC – and collect Karamjit’s 17
th
 championship title. Now they can start preparing for the 2023 MNRC which is scheduled to have its first round (four are planned) in June.

However, Karamjit said that the Gen2 is already old and it’s time to get a new car, though he plans to pass the rallycar to a rookie whom he hopes to develop.

He has been loyal to Proton, which gave him his big break long ago, and even chose a Proton model to buy with his own money to continue rallying. But since Proton has not shown interest in becoming involved, he feels that it is time to consider another brand.

Nijhar suggested Perodua and Karamjit also thinks the Myvi would be a good choice. “Internationally, the current trend is to use smaller cars for rallies. The Myvi is lighter and easier to run, so why not, let’s give it a try. Who knows, Perodua might sponsor us in the future,” he said, adding that there are plans to talk to the carmaker about sponsorship.

Interestingly, when Karamjit was using the Saga, it was Malaysia’s No.1 car and now, he will be using the No.1 car of today, the Myvi. Perodua is no stranger to rallying and had its own team before. They ran a Kancil and then switched to a Kelisa and also used a Viva at one stage. Their last outings were with a Myvi before they stopped rally activities in 2009.

Perodua had a rally team competing in local events until 2009, and models like the Kelisa, Myvi, Kancil and Viva were used.

“At the moment, the idea is to use the Myvi to race in MNRC this year but if Perodua sponsors us, we could also use it in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) but that requires a bigger budget. The rallycar will be modified and get a 2-litre turbocharged engine and 4WD,” Karamjit said.

Bringing back rally glory

Purnama Rally Motorsports Club (PRMC), which organises and manages the MNRC, aims to bring back the glory of rallies in the Malaysian scene, It’s commendable, especially as the outfit is very much a family-based club. It shows the passion of Jamaluddin bin Hj. Tukimin who has participated in rallies in the 1990s and 2000s, and wants to see the younger generation developing rallying skills. But they need events to take part in, and if the MNRC can get not just funding but also government support, then it has a good chance to grow.

Jamaluddin hopes that as the MNRC becomes better known, it will attract more foreign participants and our young drivers can benchmark themselves against better competitors. There’s no point being champs in Malaysia and imagining we are already great (the ‘
jaguh kampung
’ mentality) so having better drivers will motivate improvement by our drivers. Karamjit, for instance, had a lot of international exposure and would have gained a lot from those experiences.

Back in the 1980s, world-class rally drivers like Shekhar Mehta came to compete in Malaysian events with cars like the Nissan 240RS.

Hopefully, with a new Minister of Youth & Sports, motorsports will be given attention as well and not left alone with the idea that it is a ‘rich man’s sport’. We boast of being a nation with our own cars but where motorsports is concerned, there has been little effort and support to develop racing drivers from grassroots level. It’s only left to the private sector to do this.

Back in the 1980s, rallying was far more prominent and for a couple of years, the government gave support which eased things in many areas. It was even possible to run a stage in Taman Tasik Perdana (Lake Gardens) in Kuala Lumpur and the media gave lots of daily coverage. In fact, the Tour of Malaysia – the main event of the year – was even proposed as a round for the World Rally Championship but when government support ended, it was difficult to interest the FIA.

Hybrid power for new era of World Rally Championship starts this year


No further exemption of sales tax after June 30, but registration can be in 2023

New vehicle prices in Malaysia are high due to the high tax rates imposed and because taxes from vehicle sales contribute such a huge amount of revenue, the government has never been able to bring itself to lower tax rates. However, as part of the national recovery plan to boost the nation’s economy after the depression caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns, sales tax was exempted to lower purchase costs.

As always, being able to sell cars at lower prices helps, and the the exemption was initially given from mid-June 2020 to the end of that year. The lowered prices attracted many to buy new vehicles, in spite of uncertainties about the future due to the pandemic. The brisk sales certainly helped the car companies in their recovery and it was hoped that the exemption could be extended a bit longer.

The Finance Ministry agreed and gave another 6-month extension to the end of June, 2021. The exemption applied to vehicles assembled locally as well as those imported in CBU (Completed Built-Up) form. The former would get full exemption of sales tax which is 10%, while the CBU models would qualify for half the exemption, ie 5%. However, the exemption was not applicable to commercial vehicles and pick-ups.

Appeals by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for a further extension saw the Finance Ministry allowing another period of exemption till the end of 2021. While demand remained high, the industry was hit by the global microprocessor shortage which affected production of vehicles, and the industry asked for another extension as it was still recovering. The Finance Ministry was again agreeable, allowing the extension to the end of June 2022.

RM4.7 billion tax not collected

To date, a total of 868,422 units of vehicles have been sold (during the period of sales tax exemption) and the government has sacrificed RM4.7 billion of taxes, according to the Finance Ministry.

In the past month, the industry has been hopeful that the government will again extend the exemption till the end of 2022. But this time, it looks like the expiry date will not change. The government believes that with the opening of the economic sector, the automotive sector has returned to normal operations.

It does recognise that there are supply issues due to the microchip shortage that prevents vehicles from being completed, and therefore there is a backlog of orders to be met. Many who have made bookings months ago are concerned that they will not enjoy the lower prices with tax exempted if their vehicle is not delivered and registered by the last day of this month. The Finance Ministry is aware that at least 264,000 vehicles already ordered during the exemption period have not been delivered to buyers due to not being available.

The global shortage of microprocessors used in vehicle electronic systems has affected production and there is a shortage of vehicles for delivery.

Register vehicle by March 2023

As a compromise, while the government will not extend the exemption period, it will allow those who have booked new vehicles up till June 30, 2022 to have the exemption even if their vehicle is not delivered yet. They must however register the new vehicle with JPJ
by March 31, 2023,
 which should be enough time for delivery.

“The extension of the vehicle registration period is a mid-point solution to balance the interests of consumers and national tax revenue that needs to be increased post-pandemic to ensure the welfare of the people and the country’s economic well-being continue to be preserved,” said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

So if you thought that because there’s a long backlog of orders for the vehicle you want to buy and there is no point booking now, if you do so before the end of the month, you will still enjoy the lower price with sales tax exemption.


Volkswagen Golf R ’20 Years’ celebrates 20th anniversary of the R high-performance badge

The story of the Golf R began in 2002 when Volkswagen put a 3.2-litre 6-cylinder engine into the Golf, and the R32 badge. With 241 ps going to all four wheels, it became the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built for sale up to that point. And just like the first Golf, the planners under-estimated demand and sales were triple what had been expected.

To celebrate its 20
th
 year, the fifth edition of the sporty variant of the Golf range gets a special anniversary version called the Golf R ’20 Years’. Volkswagen plans to produce it for about 12 months, so the actual number has not been determined. But the Golf R ‘20 Years’ will undoubtedly become a collector’s item with its special-edition status.

Golf R ’20 Years’ and 2002 Golf R32 (right)

Most powerful production Golf

As with other R-badged models, the Golf R draws on racetrack experience in its development, using many technologies developed for the high-pressured and demanding competition environment. With the Golf R ‘20 Years’, the company says that the model ‘surpasses everything that has been launched with the ‘Golf’ label up to now with its drive technology.

Unlike the first Golf R32, the latest one has a 4-cylinder engine and 2 litres of displacement. But with direct injection and turbocharging, its output has reached 333 ps – the highest ever for a production Golf. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is claimed to be just 4.6 seconds but the top speed is somewhere beyond 270 km/h, the electronically limited maximum speed.

Enhancing the driving experience

The enthusiasts at the company’s performance division have installed an ‘Emotion Start‘ to activate an initial engine speed overshoot extending up to 2,500 rpm, thereby enhancing the ‘R driving experience’.

The DSG is also said to provide noticeable feedback from the gearbox and drivetrain each time the right paddle is operated (when shifting up manually in S and S+ modes). In addition, the optimised engine tuning means that the load change response is extremely spontaneous. The turbocharger is preloaded to keep it at a constant speed during part-load driving. This then allows faster power development for subsequent acceleration and quickens response.

The Golf R ‘20 Years’ will be offered with the R Performance package already available with the current Golf R. This package includes R-Performance Torque Vectoring in conjunction with the Vehicle Dynamics Manager and 2 additional driving modes, Special and Drift.

Exclusive design and styling elements

The exclusive design highlights use blue accents and for the first time in a production Volkswagen model, the dashboard panel and door trim feature decorative trim elements in Genuine Carbon. There are blue R logos also found on the steering wheel and on the vehicle key cap.

First deliveries start from next month to many European markets and North America, with each unit priced in Germany at 59,995 euros (around RM283,000).

To know more about the latest Golf 8 and other Volkswagen models in Malaysia, visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.

All-new Volkswagen Golf R revealed


Jaguar introduces first all-electric RACE eTAXI experience at Nurburgring Nordschleife

For many driving enthusiasts, a lap of the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany is something they must do at least once in their life. Opened in 1927, the engineers designed a 28.3-km Nurburgring circuit with various route variants, including the then 22.8-km Nordschleife. It is estimated to have cost 27 million euros converted to today’s monetary value.

Nicknamed ‘The Green Hell’ by 3-times F1 champion Jackie Stewart, the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit is used for certain world championship events, especially endurance races. On days when there are no races, the circuit is open to the public who, after paying a fee, of can drive their own cars around during the ‘tourist sessions’. There are all sorts of cars – as well as vans and even buses!

For those who want an extreme experience but don’t have the necessary skills for high-speed driving, there are also ‘taxi rides’ available. Professional drivers will be at the wheel and there’s a range of supercars to choose from.

First zero-emissions performance SUV for taxi rides

But until now, there has never been a fully-electric taxi at Nurburgring and Jaguar’s RACE eTAXI service with the I-PACE performance SUV is the first. The public can now experience the sportscar performance of the all-wheel drive I-PACE around the 20.8-km, 73-corner track. The zero-emissions SUV has a claimed acceleration time from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with its 400 ps/696 Nm powertrain that is fed energy from a 90-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

One lap as a co-driver in the I-PACE will cost €149 (about RM690) and you are provided with a helmet and drinks. The introduction of the first all-electric RACE eTAXI is another step in Jaguar’s electrification strategy as it enables more people to experience Jaguar’s I-PACE first-hand.

Jaguar I-PACE IS The “European Car Of The Year” 2019!


UMW Toyota Motor has a major announcement to make tonight

In the past week, you would have noticed an unusual post in your social media feeds which advised you to set aside whatever you planned to do on the evening of December 17. The message was from UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) which said that they have a surprise to announce.

Well, it is December 17 and if you are curious to know what the exciting news is all about, be at UMW Toyota Motor’s
Facebook
,

YouTube
 or
Instagram
 pages at 7:30 pm tonight.

“Whatever you’re doing on 17 December 2020 – IT CAN WAIT! We have surprise to share, and let’s just say that there’s a bit of something for everyone to appreciate especially after what has been an incredibly challenging year for Malaysians on all fronts ,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

“In many ways, what will be announced during the online event tonight will be an industry first for Toyota, and will be the foundation to ushering in an exciting 2021,” he hinted.

The company statement has not revealed what will be revealed or announced. Given how the company has been increasingly active in motorsports, it could be something related to motorsports (a new series?). In fact, recent teasers have mentioned ‘a newborn’ so it could even be a new sporty model as a helmet is shown.

Not only has UMWT been having racing events like the one-make Vios Challenge series but it is also providing serious training for a new generation of racers, as the video below shows.

UMWT’s Deputy Chairman, Akio Takeyama, said the brand seeks to ramp up its involvement, activities and programs in an even bigger and meaningful way in 2021. “The full details will be disclosed tonight but suffice to say we are going big!” said Mr. Takeyama, who is also the company’s Chief Motorsports Officer and participates is the Vios Challenge.

“At Toyota, we do not just build cars, we build people. Developing exceptional people is Toyota’s Number 1 priority. Reflecting on the challenges of 2020, I have seen this same spirit being manifested to bring out the best in Malaysians who have demonstrated strength, perseverance and determination in overcoming what has undoubtedly been a very difficult 2020. Now, it is time to move forward!” he said.

Click here for other news and articles about Toyota.


Special Edition For End Of Kia Stinger Production

With the Kia Stinger model line coming to an end – after just 5 years – the Korean carmaker has prepared a special edition as a farewell. Known as the Stinger Tribute Edition, only 1,000 units will be available for sale worldwide.

While declining sales have been the main reason for its short life in the market, Kia recognises that the sporty sedan made ‘a significant contribution to the brand’, and denotes an important chapter in the story of Kia’s high-performance ethos.

Ultimate specification
The Tribute Edition will have an ‘ultimate specification’ expanded from the Stinger 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 GT. In addition to the existing Ascot Green paint finish, customers are offered the choice of a new Moonscape matte grey paint hue.

Further sophistication is provided by the black finish that adorns the sleek housing of the exterior mirrors, the arresting black Brembo brake calipers and the evocative 19-inch gloss black design wheels.

“The Stinger Tribute Edition. Featuring an exclusive colour and interior trim never before seen on the sedan, it also serves as a fitting celebration of the Stinger’s contribution to the Kia brand,” said Chang-Sung Ryu, Senior Vice-President and Head of Purchase CX Design Sub-division.

Technology-infused cabin
Inside, a carefully curated collection of design and material upgrades further enhance the sporting ambience of the Stinger’s spacious, technology-infused cabin.

Bespoke Terracotta brown leather enriches the sports seat, and the material’s timeless appeal extends to features such as the steering wheel, door side trim and door handles. The application of a numbered door sill plate on the driver’s side provides authentication of exclusivity.

Kia’s designers have applied a carbon-effect finish to the console upper cover and the door panels to complement the new Terracotta leather trim. A newly introduced wasp-shaped emblem is elegantly embedded into the headrest of the seats. This subtle embellishment simultaneously denotes the car’s name and signifies the sharp response of the potent 3.3-litre engine.

“As we enter a new age of mobility, Kia will satisfy the needs of customers who seek to enjoy elevated levels of dynamic driving pleasure through high-performance electrified models such as the EV6 GT. And the brand’s strategy to continue accelerating the development of innovative electrification technologies will ensure that sustainability and strong performance combine effortlessly under the Kia badge,” Mr. Ryu said.

2023 EV6 GT

Kia Malaysia reveals 5-year plan with 61% of local production to be exported

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Volkswagen to be fully electrified in motorsports, no more internal combustion engine racing cars

After decades of factory-backed commitments in motorsports using cars with internal combustion engines, Volkswagen is taking a major step forward into the electric age of automobiles. Focusing its motorsport strategy on electric mobility, there will be a clear emphasis on fully electric racing cars.

“The role as a technological pioneer will continue to be taken over by the ID.R electric racing car, which has set important milestones for electric mobility with records at Pikes Peak in the USA, Nurburgring in Germany, Goodwood in England and Tianmen in China. In addition, Volkswagen Motorsport will develop new motorsport concepts for the ID. family on the basis of the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), on which numerous electric production vehicles will be based,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for Technical Development.

The Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) is the foundation of Volkswagen’s ID range of all-electric models and will also be used in the development of future electric racing cars.

The Volkswagen ID.R at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife chasing a new e-record.

“Volkswagen Motorsport broke new ground with the ID.R, and with its records around the world it demonstrated the enormous potential of electric drive. Now is the time for the next step towards the future: in motorsport, Volkswagen is resolutely committing to e-mobility and will say goodbye to factory-backed commitments using internal combustion engines. In addition to the ID.R as a technological pioneer, the MEB will in future be the second, production-related pillar in Volkswagen’s motorsport programme,” he revealed.

“Electric mobility offers enormous development potential, and in this regard motorsport can be a trailblazer. On the one hand, it serves as a dynamic laboratory for the development of future production cars and, on the other, as a convincing marketing platform to inspire people even more towards electric mobility,” explained Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets. “That is why we are going to focus more than ever on factory-backed electric drive commitments and continue to expand our activities with the development of the MEB. Innovative technology relevant to the car of the future is our focus.”

“Volkswagen Motorsport has enjoyed success with

conventional racing cars for decades.

Electric drive is a new challenge for the engineers.”

Sven Smeets, Director Volkswagen Motorsport

With the new direction towards all-electric racing cars, production of the Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack will not continue after this year. A successor based on the new generation will also not be developed for customer teams.

Electrifying customer sport programmes

Correspondingly, Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport programme will also be electrified. The first stage will involve different disciplines, platforms and vehicle types being examined and evaluated. Parallel to this, the production of the Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack will expire at the end of 2019. A successor based on the new generation will not be offered but customer service and spare parts supply will be guaranteed in the long term.

The Polo GTI R5 remains an integral part of Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport offering and will continue to be produced for customer teams. The Hanover base will be responsible for continued customer support, spare parts supply and the competitiveness of the Polo. However, factory-backed competition entries with the model will no longer go ahead.

Volkswagen ID. R sets new record on Tianmen Mountain

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

Visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
 to know more about the models available in Malaysia and where to test-drive them.


Redesigned Porsche 911 RSR ready to defend world championship title [w/VIDEO]

The brand-new Porsche 911 RSR – the most spectacular 911 of all time – is ready to defend its World Endurance Championship (WEC) title. In developing the new Porsche 911 RSR, substantial insights were garnered and adopted from the extremely successful race outings of its predecessor.

“Since 2017, the 911 RSR has yielded us more than 20 class wins in the world championship as well as at long-distance series in North America and Europe. Our job in the development was to make a very good car even better. The engineers at Weissach have perfectly implemented this in every aspect,” says Fritz Enzinger, Vice-President Porsche Motorsport.

“We never rest on our laurels,” added Pascal Zurlinden, Director GT Factory Motorsport, explaining that the development team extensively analysed all factory and customer campaigns with the 911 RSR. “Our engineers noticed room for improvement in a number of areas. We have made significant progress in the development of our car for the next three-year homologation period, especially in the complex areas of driveability, efficiency, durability and serviceability. 95% percent of the car is new. The only components that we’ve kept unchanged from the predecessor are the headlights, brake system, clutch, driver’s seat and parts of the suspension. Tests so far have run excellently. We’re already looking forward to the first races of the 2019/2020 FIA WEC season.”

Biggest boxer engine in a 911 ex-works

In terms of the drivetrain, Porsche remains faithful to its chosen path. The latest 911 is also powered by a 6-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. The highly efficient boxer unit positioned in front of the rear axle has a displacement of 4194 cc and – depending on the size of the restrictor – produces around 515 bhp.

The new power unit is the largest ever boxer engine to be mounted in a 911 ex-works, and offers even better driveability over a wider rev-band compared to the predecessor’s proven 4-litre aggregate. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a weight-optimised, more rigid sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox.

The new powertrain ensures faster gearshift times and increased efficiency. The two exhaust pipes now exit on each side in front of the rear wheels. The new exhaust gas ducting saves weight and is aerodynamically advantageous.

With the repositioning of the tailpipes, space has been made for an optimised diffuser. The distinctive component at the rear now generates even more downforce. Thanks to the optimisation of airflow at the front and the sides, aerodynamic efficiency and stability have increased significantly, thereby further improving the use and durability of the tyres during racing.

Improvements for usability in long-distance racing

Driveability and serviceability are critical factors in long-distance racing. For this reason, Porsche placed particular emphasis on these aspects when developing the new 911 RSR. The cockpit has been reworked with the focus on better usability.

In this regard, extensive feedback from the Porsche drivers proved invaluable. Like with the predecessor, the body made of carbonfibre reinforced plastic can be swapped out quickly and thus ensures efficient pit processes in long-distance racing.

To give drivers added protection, the active and passive safety elements in the 911 RSR have been improved. The proven collision warning system allows drivers an even better overview to detect other approaching cars early enough. The optimised roll cage, the FIA side impact panel in the door and cage as well as additional impact protection for the legs improve the passive safety in the event of an accident. Other features include the removable roof hatch and the rigidly-mounted racing seat featuring a 6-point safety harness for the driver.


Nardone Automotive brings back the Porsche 928 as a ‘restomod’

While the 911 is today a successful model in Porsche’s range, there was a time in the 1970s when it seemed that it should be retired. Sales began to show decline when the decade started and there was a need for the company to launch an all-new model more oriented towards a grand tourer concept.

A project team came up with a proposal that was truly a clean sheet design, unlike the 911 which could trace its roots all the way back to the Volkswagen Beetle. The new design, which would become the 928, would be Porsche’s first production model with a V8 engine (also its first 8-cylinder engine) and it would also be its only coupe having a V8 engine installed ahead of the driver.

Original 928

The model went on sale in 1977 and would remain in product for the next 18 years. It evolved during the period to become more powerful, with engine displacements that reached 5.4 litres. Just over 61,000 units were sold worldwide between 1977 and 1995 and then Porsche decided to discontinue the model. Economic reasons were given for this move which could well have been partly due to the fact that the 928 did not share parts with other models. Instead, the 911 got a new lease of life and more attention, propelling it to greater prominence in Porsche’s identity.

It is still a sought-after model today and well-kept examples can fetch good prices. Now there is also a way to own a brand new 928 as French company Nardone Automotive is building its own interpretation of the sportscar.

The company’s founder, Thierry Nardone, has long had a passion for the Porsches with a transaxle – which was a feature of the 928. He admired the car for its elegance and timeless style and decided that he would bring it back.

Over the past 3 years, Nardone and his team along with various specialists, has been developing the 928 as a ‘restomod’. The platform is that of a 928 S4 and onto it is placed new bodywork composed entirely of composite materials. The original 928 was one of the early cars to use aluminium on a number of body panels for weight reduction.

The headlights of the Nardone 928 have been modernised but still pop up when needed, just like the original ones (shown in the inset).

While it is recognisable as a 928, there are also certain elements that Nardone has altered. One of these is the headlights which, on the original car, were teardrop-shaped units that flipped up about 45 degrees when in use. The Nardone car also has pop-up headlights but they are LED units with better illuminating power. The rear lights have also been restyled with a full-width light bar.

There were various wheel options for the 928 though the common one was 16 inches with a ‘manhole’ sort of design. Nardone fits newly designed forged 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres that are surely a lot better than whatever the original car came with.

The engine is the same V8 with a modern ECU and tuned to deliver up to 400 bhp. That’s about 50 bhp more than the most powerful production 928 sold. The engine is mated to an original 5-speed manual gearbox which has been modified to a 6-speeder. A limited-slip differential is also added.

The chassis setup has a redesigned front and rear axle and spindle, active controlled electronic suspension, increased brakes and adaptive electric power steering.

The interior has been completely revised and raises the level of luxury with Foglizzo leather and Alcantara. The infotainment area incorporates the
Porsche Classic Management system (PCCM)
 combined with a high-end audio system and Apple CarPlay.

While Nardone has not indicated how much the car will cost, it is known that the production number will be small. It will be taking orders during the next year and a half and then start building cars for delivery in 2024.

Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer, now available with turbocharging too