Extreme E/Round 3: Can Nico Rosberg’s team make it three in a row?

Next week will see Extreme E’s third X Prix of Season 1 which is the Arctic X Prix in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on August 28. It will be the first ever international motorsport event to be staged in the country. The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub informing the world about the impacts of the climate crisis on our oceans (it even has a scientific laboratory onboard) as it goes from location to location.

The Ocean X Prix in Senegal, in May saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) claim back-to-back victories to extend their championship lead, as they head the overall standings with 71 points. Although X44 topped the timesheets in qualifying once more, first-lap contact during the Final between Cristina Gutierrez and RXR’s Molly Taylor meant X44’s all-electric ODYSSEY 21 was forced to retire, seeing them finish in fourth place. Button’s JBXE team leapt up the standings to third following a strong showing in Senegal, after claiming third place despite Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky picking up rear-wheel damage before the first corner of the concluding race of the weekend.

Expecting an unpredictable race

After the opening two races in Saudi Arabia and Senegal, mastering the conditions on what was once the mighty Russell Glacier, but which has now sadly receded and is rock salt, sediment-based terrain will provide a very different challenge for the drivers.  “This feels like the most unpredictable race yet,” said Taylor. “The terrain is going to be really difficult for all the teams and it will be interesting to see how the first shakedown goes for everyone. This is undoubtedly the best thing about this series – every race location offers up a new set of challenges and I think Greenland is the most exciting yet.”

Nico Rosberg, founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing with his two drivers after winning the second round in Senegal.

Asked whether RXR can make it a hat-trick of wins in Greenland, Founder Nico Rosberg said: “We could not have asked for a better start to the series with two wins from the first two races under our belt. But it would be foolish to come into this race predicting the same outcome for the team. We are working immensely hard to achieve another strong result in Greenland and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds across the weekend”.

X44 driver pairing Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb showed their pace once again in Senegal, topping the qualifying standings before bad luck struck in the Final. Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team will be keen to convert their qualifying pace into a good result on raceday in Greenland as they are just 14 points behind RXR at the top of the table.

Each team has a crew consisting of one male and one female, and both have to take turns driving. This is the Hispano Suiza XITE ENERGY team with Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca.

“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel again for X44” says Loeb. “One of the most exciting things about Extreme E for me is that each race is a new kind of challenge, and it’s going to be interesting finding out what it’s like to compete on this terrain. I was really proud of our performances in Senegal and in Saudi, but we had some bad luck in the Finals. I’m confident this time we can learn from what happened and make sure we get another podium finish.”

Injured Gutierrez will be ready for race

Teammate Cristina Gutierrez recently claimed victory at the Rally Kazakhstan but suffered injury fracturing two vertebrae, which has meant spending time recovering but she will be fit for Greenland. “I’m really excited to get back racing again in Greenland and to learn more about the work Extreme E is doing on the ground to address the climate crisis” she said. “Our team has learned a lot from the past two races and, despite the Final in Senegal not being what we hoped for, we will take the positives to ensure we come back fighting again for a win. For me, every race is another opportunity to learn and improve and I’m confident we can do even better this time.”

The team has been working hard behind the scenes to analyse the data from the Ocean X Prix, particularly on their starts to ensure they are not beaten off the line going into the all-important first corner.

The Swedish duo of JBXE

Third in the standings are JBXE which, after a strong showing in Senegal, leapt up the order following sixth place at the opening Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. World Rallycross Championship racer Kevin Hansen deputised for Button to partner Ahlin-Kottulinsky for the Ocean X Prix and the pair did not disappoint, finishing qualifying fourth fastest before winning Semi-Final 2 in commanding fashion to reach the Final. Contact at the start meant an early retirement, but JBXE were still able to claim a podium spot with third.

The two Swedes have been busy preparing for the Arctic X Prix. “Kevin and I worked hard to prepare ourselves the best we could ahead of Senegal, and same thing goes for Greenland” said Ahlin-Kottulinsky.  “We’re trying to understand and find out as much info about the surfaces as we can ahead of the event, and also going through each part of the event to try to optimise every single thing. There is so little practice time ahead, so preparations are key to success.”

“We of course want to pick up where we left off,” added Hansen. “We had a really great first outing with JBXE and Mikaela in Senegal and particularly with me joining the team quite late, but I think we did a great job and we managed to get the car in the right direction.

“I think for Greenland it’s a completely new surface; it’s a completely new environmental issue that we will raise awareness of, and for sure the course will show that too. It’s a new challenge for everybody, but it’s nice to have one race under our belts and I’m super excited to go to Greenland and race in front of the of the glacier with a team that I now know. We are hungry to fight for the win so super excited to see how far we go,” he said.

The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub.

Drones provide a more exciting perspective of motorsports events like Extreme E


More peace of mind buying pre-owned Honda vehicles from Honda Certified Used Car dealers

Buying a used vehicle is sometimes risky as the mechanical condition may not be fully known since someone else used it before. If unlucky, the vehicle may have problems and the new owner may have to spend extra money to fix the problems. In the worst case, the vehicle could be a nightmare to own as it may keep having problems.

Now, for those who want to buy pre-owned Honda vehicles, Honda Malaysia can give more peace of mind as it is introducing Honda Certified Used Car (HCUC). This is an additional and trustworthy business channel that will offer verified, pre-owned Honda vehicles.

6 HCUC outlets

HCUC is starting off at 6 dealerships located in different regions. The dealerships are MJN Motors Sdn. Bhd. (Selangor), Tiong Nam Motor (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Selangor), Kah Motor Co. Sdn. Bhd. (Penang), Kah Motor Co. Sdn. Bhd. (Johor), Yong Ming Motor Sdn. Bhd. (Johor) and Chuan Thye Motor Sdn. Bhd. (Pahang). As demand grows, Honda Malaysia will gradually expand the number of HCUC outlets around the country.

“Honda Malaysia is committed to offering products and services of the highest quality and ensuring that all our cars, be it new or pre-owned, provide a feeling of joy to the car owners. As such, we have rolled out HCUC as an additional option for customers to own their preferred Honda cars and enjoy being a Honda owner,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.

Not more than 5 years old

Through HCUC, customers can choose different models of Honda pre-owned cars. All the Honda pre-owned cars will be no more than 5 years old, with no more than 100,000 kms of usage. Honda Malaysia ensures that the cars sold by HCUC have undergone a thorough and stringent 288-point inspection conducted by Honda Certified Inspectors.

This inspection covers the condition of the engine and transmission, functionality and undercarriage as well as the exterior and interior conditions. This will enable customers to drive the vehicles with peace of mind knowing that they are certified to be in good condition, equipped with genuine parts and free from major accidents and flood damage.

For the convenience of customers, the registration and transfer process will be done by the HCUC dealers.

Owners of vehicles purchased from HCUC can also enjoy the full range of aftersales services from authorised Honda dealers throughout the country.

Extended warranty provided

Additionally, vehicles purchased from HCUC will have an additional one-year extended warranty on top of the existing warranty that is still valid (terms and conditions apply). Needless to say, once they are owners of the vehicles, they can enjoy the same high standards of aftersales support from all authorised Honda dealerships.

In addition, customers will have access to the Honda network of authorised dealerships nationwide such as sending their certified pre-owned cars to any Honda dealerships for after-sales services.

For more information on the location of HCUC dealerships, visit
www.honda.com.my
 or call  Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at
1-800-88-2020
.

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


Sales of Toyota Land Cruiser cross 10 million mark

While the Jeep and Land Rover usually come to mind when thinking of 4×4 vehicles, Toyota’s Land Cruiser also has a place in the history of such vehicles. And according to the latest data released by Toyota, cumulative sales of the Land Cruiser – the company’s longest-selling model – passed the 10 million mark at the end of August 2019.

The Land Cruiser went on sale in August 1951 and initially, it was called the Toyota ‘Jeep BJ’, the ‘Land Cruiser’ name coming into use in 1954. It would remain in production in the following decades, providing durable and reliable transport on all kinds of terrain around the world.

The first Land Cruiser

Land Cruiser introduced Toyota brand

In many markets, the Land Cruiser was the first Toyota model to be sold and the company was not shy starting with small numbers. In fact, in the early years, fewer than 100 units were exported annually. However, by 1965, 10 years after full-scale exports commenced, that figure rose to 10,000 units each year as more and more customers discovered the toughness of the Land Cruiser.

At present, the Land Cruiser is sold in approximately 170 countries and regions worldwide, with annual global sales standing at approximately 400,000 units. The majority of vehicles are produced in Japan, with local assembly also done in Kenya and Portugal.

The Land Cruiser contributed significantly to increased trust in the Toyota brand around the world and created a foothold for the company to expand its exports. Although Toyota wanted to sell passenger cars in the USA in the late 1950s, it found that the Land Cruiser was a more appealing product to American customers and focussed on marketing the 4×4 vehicle.

Lexus has also adapted the Land Cruiser to be a luxury model in its range for customers who want a more capable off-road vehicle than the RX.

First Toyota model sold in Malaysia

The Land Cruiser was also the first Toyota model to be sold in Malaysia (although East Malaysians will argue that there was no ‘Malaysia’ then). In 1956, North Borneo (Sabah) Trading had obtained distribution rights for Toyota vehicles and imported a batch of Land Cruisers to sell. The first customer was in Tanjung Aru, Sabah, who is believed to have paid RM8,600 for a unit with a 3.9-litre engine.

In 1956, the first Toyota model sold in Malaysia was a Land Cruiser 20 Series like the one shown above.

Local assembly of Land Cruisers ceased in the early 2000s as demand for large SUVs declined. However, Toyota’s IMV project replaced the model in the segment with a new one called the Fortuner.

Some 20 years later, the Land Cruiser would be assembled at Sarawak Motor Industries in Kuching and shipped to Peninsular Malaysia as well. The Land Cruiser, together with the Hilux, strengthened Toyota’s image in East Malaysia as they proved to be very reliable vehicles. In the mid-1980s, after UMW Toyota Motor took over Toyota distribution, assembly of the Land Cruiser was moved to its own plant in Shah Alam, Selangor. Local assembly of the model would continue into the early 2000s and then cease as demand for large 4×4 vehicles began to decline.

Like other Toyota models, the Land Cruiser has also gone through generational changes since 1951. Each generation has been referred to as a ‘series’ and the current one is the 200 Series which is the eighth series. Interestingly, while most markets would sell the latest series, there are regions where the 40 Series vehicles continue to be used – some 50 years after they were manufactured.

Land Cruisers last a long time and this 40 Series unit is still in use 50 years after it was manufactured.

Current generation of the Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser continues to be a popular vehicle for off-road transportation. While the older models have a following among enthusiasts, the modern ones are favourites of armed forces and various organisations involved in humanitarian assistance.

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

Visit
www.toyota.com.my
 to know more about 4×4 SUV models available in Malaysia


Honda N600 with VFR V4 motorcycle engine wins first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series!

Today’s younger generation of Honda fans love the N-series of
kei
 cars in Japan which drew inspiration from the original N360/600. It was one of Honda’s early 4-wheelers and although tiny enough (about 3 metres long) to fit between the front and rear axle lines of American cars of the 1970s, Honda decided to sell the model in the US market. It was the start of the brand’s automobile sales in that market which would become very successful to the extent that a Honda sedan would be the bestselling car in the market.

The N600 had an all-aluminium air-cooled engine with a 9,000 rpm redline that could take it 130 km/h. It was a  simple car, nimble and helped Honda gain the reputation of offering fuel-efficient cars that would be advantageous in later years.

12,000 rpm Honda VFR engine

Recently, a 1972 N600 owned by Stephen Mines won the first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series, which joined the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in 2019 as the exclusive tuner component of the program. Customized over a 5-year period, this particular N600 is powered by a 12,000 rpm Honda VFR 800 cc V4 motorcycle engine in a rear-wheel drive configuration.

Stephen’s customised N600 that won the inaugural Honda Super Tuner Legends Series also boasts a modified Mazda MX-5 Miata suspension system, seats from a Polaris RZR, and modified front and rear bumpers from a 1967-68 Chevy Camaro!

Other finalists for the 2019 Honda Super Tuner Legends Series included a 1978 Honda Civic, 2003 Honda S2000, and 2015 Honda Civic Si. The first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series kicked off in May 2019, as an extension of the second annual Hot Wheels Legends Tour, a national search (in the USA) for a life-size custom car worthy of being immortalized as a Hot Wheels toy car.

Two of the finalists in the first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series

Local Honda enthusiasts entered their custom-tuned Hondas in the hopes of being selected as one of four finalists competing for the ‘Honda Super Tuner’ title and the opportunity to have their vehicle displayed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas next month.

Click here for other news and articles about Honda on PISTON.MY


Class-action lawsuit filed against Ford’s ‘track ready’ Shelby GT350

Ford’s new Mustang, the Shelby GT350 isn’t thoroughly enjoying its time in the land of the free. Based on news articles published by
Business Wire
 and
Car Throttle
, several owners of the Shelby GT350 have qualms regarding the Blue Oval marketing the car as ‘track ready’. Apparently, several owners have found out that their GT350s started overheating after spending just 15 minutes on track. These overheating claims are from customers who have bought the base car and those fitted with the Technology Pack.

Several of them have filed a class-action lawsuit against, what they believe is, Ford’s misleading claims of the Shelby GT350 being track ready. They feel that if Ford approved them for track use, then these vehicles should be able to hold up to all kinds of abuse at racing speeds. The complaints of overheating surrounds that of the transmission and rear differentials. Lawyers of the unhappy owners also say that they require compensation from Ford on behalf of the owners of these vehicles.

The Shelby GT350 is a rear-wheel-drive muscle car from Ford that features a 5.2-litre V8 engine that puts out about 526bhp and 429Nm of torque. Considered as a well balanced muscle car when compared to previous generations, the latest Shelby GT350 has been a hit in the US and abroad. If the GT350 nameplate seems familiar, it should because it was used back in the days of the original car, which was also pushed to its limits on tracks all around the US.

How Ford responds to this lawsuit remains to be seen but as of now, Ford has not offered to rectify these issues albeit internal investigations are probably underway to figure out the root cause of the problems.

Source:
Business Wire
,
Car Throttle


MIROS launches child restraint system guidelines

Yesterday marked the official launch of Vehicle Safety Week 2019 which is currently taking place at the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) PC3 crash testing centre in Melaka. To mark this momentous occasion, our very own deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was also there to unveil the official child restraint system guidelines called ‘Buku Garis Panduan Kerusi Keselamatan Kanak-kanak di Malaysia’.

Developed specifically by MIROS, this new book represents the new wave of rules and regulations that will be introduced by the Ministry of Transport and enforced by authorities regarding the use of child restraint systems (or child car seat) here in Malaysia. As most of you may have heard, they will be mandatory starting 1 January 2020.

So, what’s in the book? Well, there are a lot of things that will prove beneficial for those who have no clue on how to go about buying the many different child car seats available in the Malaysian market. This book will mainly assist in informing road users which child restraint system are most suitable according to the child’s age and size.

The new guidelines are also there to make sure that all the authorities are on the same page by the time this new law is implemented in the next few months. There’s also the introduction of QR code labels where all participating retailers of child restraint systems will need to place them on their products.

This new QR code will greatly assist consumers in providing all the information they need regarding the children car seats from their certification authenticity (either UN R44 or UN R129), recommendations on suitability based on the child’s dimensions, and how to properly install them. For more information, visit
www.miros.gov.my
 where you can download the guidelines for free.

MIROS also took the opportunity to showcase their state-of-the-art crash testing facility with a brand-new BMW 3 Series as an example. Equipped with the latest techs, this facility is able to determine the safety of any vehicle in a crash simulation in accordance with ASEAN NCAP.

REMINDER: Child seats mandatory starting year 2020


HOT News! VPCM Extends “Tax Break” 0% GST Holiday For All Volkswagen Vehicles!

HOT NEWS!

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
 has  announced an
extension
 of the
tax holiday
 for its range of models with the Price Protection Scheme. The Scheme covers all Volkswagen models registered from now till
15
th
 November 2018
, while stocks last. With the upcoming implementation of the
Sales and Service Tax (SST)
 on the 1
st
 of September 2018, any difference in the vehicle price based on the current 0% GST prices will be absorbed by VPCM.

The Scheme is applicable to all Volkswagen models sold in Malaysia, both locally assembled and imported. However, there is also limited availability of stocks and customers should take this opportunity to place their booking for a new Volkswagen and enjoy the Price Protection Scheme to avoid disappointment.

Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM
 (above) said
“The response in the past three month since the announcement of 0% GST has been overwhelming and we have been trying to keep up with the demand for stock. The introduction of this Price Protection Scheme is a way for VPCM to assure our customers that we have their best interest at heart, so we urge customers to place their bookings now and enjoy the extended tax holidays”.

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


Omologato watches teams up with racing legend John Surtees to produce elegant chronograph timepiece

If you are a fan or collector of special timepieces, this news will be of interest to you. Omologato watches, the same company that brought us the #Tifosi watch, have teamed up with John Surtees CBE to create a Chronograph with Motorsport heritage.

John Surtees, a former Formula 1 Champion with Ferrari, collaborated with Omologato to design a new timepiece late last year. After his unfortunate passing this March, Surtees’ family picked up where he left off and completed the project.

This watch, called The Surtees, is now available exclusively to the public in order to raise money for the Henry Surtees Foundation. Henry Surtees was John’s Surtees’ son, who at just 18 years old, was killed whilst competing in a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch in 2009.

The Foundation supports schemes and projects to provide funding multiple air ambulance services around the UK to enable them to carry blood and plasma on board its aircraft. This helps enhance pre-hospital critical care that their crew can offer at the scene of accidents.

Built for a worthy cause, The Surtees is an elegant timepiece with great thought put into its design. Hand-crafted and built with quality in mind, it pays tribute to the only racer to be crowned champion of both the four and two wheel racing world.

It’s watch face is painted blue to pay homage to Surtees’ racing livery on his F1 Ferrari racer. In fact he is the only driver in the company’s history to win the title in a non red car. In 1964, Enzo Ferrari dropped the traditional red in favour of a blue and white colour scheme.

Surtees’ used this new livery in the final two grand prixs of that season. He clinched the title at the final race and entered the record books as the only racer to date, that has been crowned champion of the motorcycle and car world.

The outer and inner markings are a homage to the meter clusters of vintage racing cars and the light blue outline contrasts the navy blue watch face, to provide an illusion of a speedometer.

If you look closely at the bottom section of the watch, you would notice that each timepiece has this identical signature in the same location. This signature belongs to Surtees himself, and as such, each watch has a part of the racing legend.

Omologato founder Shami Kalra said: “Il Grande John was the most versatile racer, an icon for lovers of two and four wheels and a Motorsport legend. I learnt that John rarely lent his name to a brand or product, so it was a true privilege that he wanted to be involved and share his story with Omologato.”

IF you would like to know more about the watch, head on over to omologato watches’ website for the latest information. And to know more about the Henry Surtees foundation, check out the following link
www.henrysurteesfoundation.com
.


Lotus E-R9 – endurance racer of the future

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 to know more about promotions at BHPetromart.

Sportscar makers – as well as every other carmaker – know that the future is electric and they cannot waste any more time just doing R&D but actually get products out on the roads for sale. Nevertheless, the process of R&D still has to continue to advance technologies as well as develop new ones.

Motorsports offer a good testbed for R&D as extreme conditions are encountered, for which solutions to problems have to be found quickly with the competitive environment. The learnings gained by the engineers can be brought back and use for production cars.

Lotus appears to be doing just that with the E-R9, a dramatic new design study for a next-generation pure electric endurance racer that could be on the starting grid of circuits around the world for the 2030 racing season.

‘E-R’ stands for Endurance Racer, while ‘9’ is the car’s competition number carefully chosen in tribute to Lotus’ racing past. It was in a Lotus Mark IX that the race team made its debut appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours, with company founder Colin Chapman among the drivers competing. The year was 1955, meaning the E-R9 race car concept – if raced in 2030 – would be in celebration of the Mark IX’s 75th anniversary.

Technology showcase

The E-R9 has been developed by Lotus Engineering and is intended to serve as a technology showcase of Lotus philosophy, capability and innovative spirit in the fields of advanced electrified powertrains and aerodynamics. It was developed by the engineering team that included Louis Kerr, principal platform engineer on the Lotus Evija pure electric hypercar as well as technical director, GT, Geely Group Motorsports International.

Visually, it was brought to life by the Lotus Design team, led by Russell Carr, Design Director for Lotus. Finished in striking black and gold – a clear nod to Lotus’ pioneering motorsport heritage that led to 13 Formula 1 championship titles – the EV features a sleek fighter jet-style canopy centrally mounted in a delta-wing upper body.

‘Morphing’ body panels

Chief among the car’s aero innovations are its ‘morphing’ body panels. Located across the delta-wing profile, this adaptability – where active surfaces can change their shape and attitude to the air flow either at the press of a button by the driver or automatically according to performance sensor inputs – would deliver minimum drag on the straights and maximum downforce in the corners.

Vertical control surfaces at the rear would generate aerodynamic forces to help the car change direction, without the limitations of grip at the tyre contact patch. The result is a racer that’s partly driven like a car and partly flown like a fighter jet.

Lotus Evija electric hypercar

Technology from Evija

The E-R9 has an advanced electric drivetrain powering each wheel independently, a system enhanced with torque-vectoring. It builds on technology already integrated on the Evija though, for the E-R9, the system would be fully adjustable by the driver on the move.

“Battery energy density and power density are developing significantly year on year. Before 2030, we’ll have mixed cell chemistry batteries that give the best of both worlds, as well as the ability to ‘hot-swap’ batteries during pitstops,” predicts Kerr.

The Electric Drive Unit (EDU) test cell is an all-new facility at Lotus Engineering. It allows engineers to test EV powertrains including the motor, gearbox and supporting electronics. Lotus software can communicate with the motor control system and load the powertrain as if it were in a vehicle, to test, develop and validate its performance.

The phenomenal aerodynamics of the Lotus Evija hypercar explained


Lamborghini set all-time sales record with 8,405 vehicles delivered worldwide in 2021

In 2011, Lamborghini sold 1,602 supercars (there was no Urus then), not a record result but the numbers were still impressive considering the financial situation in many parts of the world that year. Ten years later, in 2021, the company delivered 8,405 vehicles worldwide, the highest number ever in the history of the company. In spite of the pandemic still ongoing, sales increased by 13% on 2020.

The contributor was double-digit growth in all 3 of the macro-regions where Lamborghini is established: America (+14%), Asia Pacific (+14%) and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa, +12%). The company maintains a fairly balanced split between them in global volumes which stand at 35%, 27% and 39%, respectively.

Urus was bestselling Lamborghini model in 2021, accounting for 59% of total sales.

In terms of individual markets, the USA was still Lamborghini’s best market (2,472 units, +11%), while China moved into second place (935, +55%). They were followed by Germany (706, +16%) and the United Kingdom (564, +9%). There was also an increase in the figures for Lamborghini’s home market of Italy, where 359 cars were delivered in total (+3%).

Reflecting market trends, the most popular model was the Urus Super SUV, with 5,021 units delivered – almost 60% of the total volume in 2021. It was followed by the V10-powered Huracan, which saw a strong increase in sales up to 2,586, thanks to the strong impetus provided by the
Huracan STO
. In addition, 798 Aventadors (V12 model) were delivered all over the world.

Huracan STO experience in China, which became the carmaker’s second biggest market in 2021.

During the year, the company launched 3 new products – the Huracan STO – Super Trofeo Omologata, a road-legal model that was inspired by the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and GT3 EVO racing cars; the
Aventador Ultimae
, final series of the Aventador model; and the
Countach LPI 800-4
, an unorthodox icon featuring ground-breaking design and technology that celebrated the 50th anniversary of one of the original supercars.

2021 also saw Lamborghini announcing its future electrification strategy. ‘Direzione Cor Tauri’ (Toward Cor Tauri) is the name of the path that will lead the company through the decarbonization of its future models and the manufacturing site. Throughout the product electrification process, there will be a constant focus on identifying technologies and solutions that can guarantee top performance and driving dynamics.

More than €1.5 billion will be spent over the course of 4 years, during which time Lamborghini will launch its first hybrid production model and electrify its entire range by the end of 2024. Subsequently, a fourth fully electric model is due to be added to the range in the second half of the decade.

“This record has provided confirmation of four factors for us: the solidity of our strategic plan, our brand’s outstanding international reputation, the competence and passion of our people and the exceptional professionalism and dynamism shown by our 173 dealers in 52 markets, who have continued to invest alongside us at a challenging, uncertain time,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman & CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

The sales outlook continues positively into the new year, thanks to a substantial order portfolio that already covers almost the entire production planned in 2022. Additionally, Lamborghini plans to introduce four new products during the coming 12 months.

“We are stronger than ever as we prepare to embark on a period of profound transformation and move towards an even more sustainable future. In 2022, we’ll be doing our utmost to consolidate the current performance and get ready for the arrival of our future hybrid range from 2023 onwards,” added Winkelmann.

Lamborghini’s other records that you may not know about


For Its 70th Birthday, Chevrolet Presents Its First Ever Electrified AWD Corvette

The Motorama was General Motors’ own motorshow, an annual event held between 1949 and 1961 which showcased its technologies in special models and futuristic concept cars. One of the concept cars at the 1953 show was the Corvette, a sportscar that excited enthusiasts and persuaded GM to make it for sale.

Exactly 70 years after that Corvette concept debuted at the Motorama in New York City, Chevrolet  introduces the first-ever electrified Corvette with all-wheel-drive and a powerful 6.2-litre LT2 Small Block V-8 – the Corvette E-Ray. Unlike that concept car in 1953, this one was developed with the intention of being sold.

The E-Ray is also the only sportscar pairing two separate propulsion systems. The main propulsion comes from the 495 bhp/637 Nm V8 engine and goes to the rear wheels, with another 160 bhp/170 Nm from an electric motor going to the front wheels. The motor is powered by a 1.9 kWh battery pack that is charged via regenerative energy from coasting and braking, as well as during normal driving. It does not require stationary plug-in charging at a power outlet.

The Corvette E-Ray’s electrified propulsion system provides the strong acceleration that electric motors give. Chevrolet claims that it is the quickest production Corvette in history, clocking a 2.5-second 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) time before breezing through the quarter-mile (402 metres) in 10.5 seconds. It’s also possible to run only on electric power when moving off.

The amount of electric assist is tailored within each of the Corvette E-Ray’s 6 driver-selectable modes: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather, My Mode and Z-Mode. Drivers can also select the Charge+ feature which maximizes the battery’s state of charge. The Performance App on the infotainment screen provides the driver with technical insights into how the propulsion system is operating.

The E-Ray’s appearance maintains the athletic styling and performance-driven design that has distinguished the Corvette for decades. At a glance, it shares its purposeful, wide-body proportions with the Z06, accommodating wide wheels that help manage the car’s greater torque delivery.

The lightweight alloy wheels have a twisted 5-spoke star design that is exclusive to E-Ray. Optional carbonfibre wheels in carbon flash, visible carbonfibre finish or with a red stripe can also be specified by customers.

The E-Ray also introduces the all-new Artemis Dipped interior which features complementary deep green tones on nearly every interior surface (only available on new Corvettes). There are multiple options for customers to select when it comes to personalizing their E-Ray’s interior including two carbonfibre trim packages, three seat choices, seven interior colours, among various options.

“In 1953, the enthusiastic reaction to the Chevrolet Corvette concept kicked off seven decades of passion, performance and American ingenuity,” said Mark Reuss, President of General Motors. “E-Ray, as the first electrified, all-wheel-drive Corvette, takes it a step further and expands the promise of what Corvette can deliver.”


Using standard tyres, KAMAZ wins the Truck Class of the Dakar Rally again

Reports of the Dakar Rally usually highlight the achievements of the competing teams in cars and motorcycles but there is also a category for big trucks which weigh more than 3,500 kgs. In this category, the trucks can be entered to compete or as support vehicles for the teams. Like the competing cars, the huge trucks are also prepared for extreme conditions and terrain which this year, was in Saudi Arabia.

An optimum set-up of the truck is vital and over the past years, the Dakar has been seen teams finishing less than one hour apart after 12 full days of close racing. KAMAZ, a Russian manufacturer, holds the greatest number of wins in the Dakar – 17. Over the years, the team has built up a lot of technical know-how which was not totally advantageous this year as the environment was entirely new. Nevertheless, they quickly got familiar with the conditions and could hit full throttle up to 140 km/h on the straights.

While the trucks can be modified in many ways, the rules require the use of only
standard
 tyres developed for normal daily operations and available commercially. The Goodyear OFFROAD ORD tyres selected by the winning KAMAZ-master team are normally used by trucks in tough off-road operations such as mining at quarries. Their tread pattern with massive blocks, along with the optimized compound, provides high resistance to tearing and cutting, keeping uptime at an optimum.

From the start in Jeddah and at each stage of the rally-raid, the trucks encountered a large variety of challenges from tricky desert tracks with hidden stones to rocky canyons and riverbeds with sharp objects. In these conditions, it was crucial to monitor the heat in the tyres. The cabin crews made smart choices to keep up the speed and managed to keep the tyres intact in order to finish. The tyre pressure needed to give a good balance between grip/traction, speed and durability.

“On the outside, the scenery was magnificent, however inside the truck we had to stay focused every second and work hard,” recalled Andrey Karginov, driver of the winning truck. “This year’s race included hazardous sandy dune stages and misleading labyrinths covered with sharp stones. We encountered many risky situations, but the Goodyear tyres kept us going and were extremely robust.”

Goodyear tyres are also used by competitors in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. This is enabling the company to take its development process to the next level. Extreme testing conditions stress the carcass to cope with deformation and extreme forces on the tyre caused by jumps like in the Dakar as well as cornering at high speeds. The result is the advanced Goodyear carcass technology offering enhanced durability and robustness, ultimately having a positive effect on fuel efficiency across the full portfolio including on-road long-haul and regional haul, mixed-services, off-road as well as bus and coach tyres.

Third Dakar Rally victory for Carlos Sainz, with a different team again


Production-based Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV completes desert race

The EXTREME X series is the ‘Dakar Rally for electric vehicles’ but the small number of SUV EVs taking part are very special models, developed for the purpose of the unique competition. They are not what would be available from showrooms, just as F1 cars are not sold to the public.

Volkswagen, however, has shown that even production EVs can take the very rough conditions of off-road racing with a specially prepared Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV having completed the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) Mexican 1000 race recently.

Standard electric powertrain

The ID.4 was driven by professional racer and Volkswagen brand ambassador, Tanner Foust, and Rhys Millen Racing partially modified a rear-wheel-drive version of the E-SUV model. However, it used a standard powertrain with an 82-kWh battery pack. The radiator was raised several centimetres to improve approach angles and cooling capacity, and additional skid plates of thick steel were added to the undercarriage.

To cope with the demanding conditions and terrain, the suspension was also modified with more travel and ground clearance. Rally-style coil-over struts were fitted to all four wheels along with tubular lower control arms in the front and boxed lower rear links.

Inside the cabin was a roll cage for safety, racing seats and supplemental screens for key data like battery temperature, crucial information to know with the high desert temperatures and constant high speeds.

Biofuel-powered generator for recharging

The ID.4 was one of the 64 vehicles that finished the entirety of the NORRA 1000, out of 90 cars and trucks entered. Stages measured between 53 kms and up to 270 kms over the 1.600-km route. The ID.4 was able to recharge mostly using a portable biofuel-powered generator connected to a 50 kW flat charger. In a couple of instances where the ID.4 was scheduled to be transited to the next stage but the charger was not available, the team towed it behind a chase vehicle for a short distance, using the regenerative braking to add range.

Despite the brutal nature of the Baja wilderness, the only damage suffered by the e-SUV was some cosmetic injury to the rear bumper. All of the vehicle’s key power, battery and control systems performed as expected. The ID.4 was raced mostly in ‘B’ level battery regeneration mode with the standard traction control turned on.

“This was an exciting test of ID.4 technology because no other production-based EV had ever entered this event, let alone completed it,” said Scott Keogh, President & CEO of Volkswagen of America.

The ID.4 is the second model in Volkswagen’s all-electric ID range. First deliveries in Europe started at the end of 2020 and it is also being sold in North America and China. Last month, it was announced as the 2021 World Car of the Year.

Volkswagen ID.4 is the third EV to win World Car of the Year title


Electrogenic gives the iconic Citroen DS a new 21st century ‘heart’

The Citroen DS is one of the legendary design icons of 20
th
 century automobiles. Its sharp futuristic design was unlike other cars that were on sale in 1955, the year it was launched at the Paris Motor Show. Besides the design – which had children referring to its as the ‘spaceship car’ – it was also technologically innovative with its novel hydro-pneumatic suspension system. The system not only had self-levellng capability but the driver could also vary the ground clearance. It was also the first production car with modern disc brakes.

Between 1955 and 1975, some 1.5 million units were produced by Citroen and many naturally remain as collectors’ items today. Now, for those owners of this classic model who wish to transform it into a zero emissions car, Electrogenic is offering to convert the powertrain to a fully electric type.

First conversion of a DS

The UK-based company is believed to be the first one to professionally convert a DS in this manner. Electrogenic removed the car’s original 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and replaced it with a ‘Hyper9’ brushless electric motor. This produces 120 bhp and 235 Nm of instant torque, certainly more than the original combustion engine. Power is delivered to the front wheels through the car’s existing manual gearbox.

Housed within the still beautiful sedan body is a 48.5 kWh battery, offering a real-world range of approximately 225 kms when fully charged. Using a 29 kW charger, recharging time is said to take around two hours. Both the battery size and charger type can be tailored to suit the type of driving an owner will use it for. An optional ‘range extender’ battery provides customers the choice to extend the range of the car to over 320 kms.

Hydro-pneumatic suspension retained

One of the defining features of the DS was its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which provided the car’s famously plush ride quality. Rather than using the original noisy mechanical pump, Electrogenic has created a silent electric pump which delivers a more sophisticated ride than the original.

The bodywork (a 1971 model) has not been touched, a principle followed by Electrogenic to maintain the beauty of the original car when converting classics to electric power. Only the absence of exhaust pipes and a subtle new ‘DS EV electronique’ decal on the boot provide visual clues to the car’s 21
st
 century powertrain.

“Repowering classic cars with all-electric drive brings a number of benefits, from ease of use to reliability and performance gains. But with our conversions, the aim is always to enhance the original characteristics of the car. In this respect, the Citroen DS was ideally suited to an electric conversion – the silent powertrain adds to the serene driving experience and fits perfectly with the character of the car,”  said Steve Drummond, Director and co-founder of Electrogenic, which has been in business for four years.

More experience in conversion gained

“As with all first-time conversions, the DS presented us with unique challenges. In this case adapting the hydro-pneumatic suspension to run without the combustion engine. The old pump was so noisy that it detracted from the silent drive of the car, but our new electric pump solved the issue completely. As with every conversion, the DS has added further to our knowledge of converting beautiful classics,” added Ian Newstead, another Director and co-founder of the company.

You don’t have to wait 20 years for a fully-electric Rolls-Royce


Ninth Monte Carlo Win For Sebastien Ogier, With 1-2 Finish For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier collected yet another victory – his ninth – at Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2023 World Rally Championship which ended today. Driving for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in selected events with co-driver Vincent Landais, Ogier powered the GR Yaris Hybrid on the twisty roads in the French Alps from start to finish.

His ninth victory makes him the driver with the most Monte Carlo wins. It joins 55 other WRC wins over 3 decades, during which time he has been with the Citroen Junior Team, Citroen, Volkswagen Motorsport, M-Sport Ford and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing teams. With 8 WRC titles, he has won twice as many championships as third-ranked Juha Kankkunen, and is just one short of Sebastien Loeb.

Following Ogier was team mate Kalle Rovanpera, giving TOYOTA GAZOO Racing a 1-2 finish in the season’s opening round. From the start, Ogier had steadily opened a lead although Rovanpera worked hard to reduce the gap to 16 seconds in the closing stages today. However, Ogier drove consistently in the remaining 4 stages to finish 18.8 seconds ahead.

Besides a commendable placing, Rovanpera also collected 5 bonus points with his win on the Wolf Power Stage. This is the final stage of an event in the WRC and competitors try their best since it pays extra points that could become valuable in the course of the season. So for the young Finn, who was the
youngest ever World Champion (2022)
 at 22 years old, it’s a good start to defend his title.

Third place was taken by Hyundai Motorsports’ Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai i20 N Hybrid. While he managed to prevent the Toyota team from claiming all the fastest time, heavy tyre wear had prevented him from getting ahead of Rovanpera and he finished 14 seconds behind.

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team was hopeful for a 1-2-3 finish but a puncture (which lost Ogier his chance of victory last year) cost over 40 seconds on Friday. This left him further behind Neuville, with the gap being 27.8 seconds after the final stage.

Dani Sordo and Esapekka Lappi continued to seek improved form from their i20 N Rally1 Hybrid cars on the final four stages. Sordo found a step change in performance despite battling an ongoing hybrid issue which limited power up the Col de Turini. The Spaniards ultimately finished seventh overall, one spot ahead of their team-mates Lappi and co-driver Janne Ferm. The Finns, in their first WRC event with the team, made valuable gains during the weekend as they acclimatised to their new car.

The unusual weather conditions and, consequently, those of the asphalt roads immediately raised the challenge for all the drivers from the start. They had to manage their tyres allocated to the maximum possible extent. All 18 special stages were characterised by good weather and dry road surfaces, the likes of which is rarely seen at Monte Carlo, and temperatures higher even those initially forecast.

Added to these conditions, typical of a pure asphalt race, were the risks arising from deep cuts, dirt on the road after each passage and the presence of stones on the racing line, so that on Saturday afternoon in particular the risk of tyre damage was high.

It was a good debut for the new supersoft tyres, often used by the drivers to save the soft compound tyres, as well as to deal with the specific hazards of the stages. “The drivers would have preferred a harder tyre because it was more stable but, at the same time, they appreciated the soft’s low degradation. In the end, they were able to read the situation with a good balance and make the most of what they had at their disposal, which is the main quality of a professional driver in this discipline, with so many unknown circumstances,” explained Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s rally activity manager.

Ott Tanak, 2019 WRC champion, who rejoined M Sport Ford this year, went easy on his soft compound tyres in preparation for an all-out attack on the Wolf Power Stage. He had an impressive start with his Ford Puma but missed out on the benchmark time by just half a second. Nevertheless, Tanak felt his finish in fifth place was a positive start with the team where he had started his WRC career in 2011,

The championship moves northwards to Scandinavia for Rally Sweden next month. It will be the only round this season with pure winter conditions so there will be lots of snow and ice to deal with.

Nasser Al-Attiyah Wins Dakar Rally For Fifth Time


Lamborghini wants to develop carbon fibre in space?

We all know when it comes to exotic supercars like Lamborghini, the usage of rare composite materials comes to mind (especially our favourite model, the Sesto Elemento). To further amp up their research and technology for the usage of carbon fibre, they’re willing to go do that where no man has done before; SPACE.

What started out as a joint research initiative on advanced carbon fibre between Automobili Lamborghini and the Houston Methodist Research Institute has now reached an important milestone. Sometime around next month, a rocket carrying samples of composite materials produced by Lamborghini will be blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) for some very extreme tests.

Their goal of doing so is basically to test out how the five different composite materials produced by Lamborghini will handle extreme stresses induced by the space environment. The use? Possibly develop next level prosthetic implants, subcutaneous devices, and, without a shadow of a doubt, the next-generation Lamborghini hypercars.

According to Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, “Lamborghini is breaking ground as the first automaker in the world to conduct carbon fibre materials science research on the ISS. In addition to representing an important example of corporate social responsibility, this mission is also fully in line with our philosophy and values. Lamborghini is a brand that has always been committed to going beyond limits in every area of its activity and to being a pioneer in the realm of technology.”

The composite materials will undergo a series of test cycles for six months from temperatures between -40 to +200°C, massive doses of ultraviolet radiation, gamma rays, and the flow of atomic oxygen caused by ionization plus many more. Once they’re back on Earth, Lamborghini will look further into their state and hopefully lead the path in producing even more exotic hypercars here on Earth. Perhaps, the Settimo Elemento? *fan girl scream*

Lamborghini Squadra Corse releases hypercar teaser and previews Urus ST-X


VPCM Announces Festive CNY “Leaders Of The Pack” Promotion

For Chinese New Year 2018, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is inviting Malaysians to join the Volkswagen family with its “Leaders of the Pack” Chinese New Year campaign.

The Campaign not only offers attractive rebates on the Volkswagen line-up, but those who book and register their Volkswagen cars by the
28
th
 of February
 are in for a golden treat and will receive a free ‘Liquid Gold’ Petrol Card worth
RM1,188
 – which equates to more than a whopping 10,000km of ‘free’ travelling*.

The first 250 customers who book and register their Volkswagen cars will also be presented with a limited edition LEGO Volkswagen T1 Camper Van. Maximum cash rebates on selected models are listed below, while stocks last.

Model

Cash Rebate

Additional

Beetle Design

RM 5,000

Jetta Comfortline

RM 10,000

Jetta Highline

RM 8,000

Passat Trendline

RM 18,000

Low interest rate from 0.88% per annum.

Passat Comfortline

RM 18,000

Passat Highline

RM 6,000

Polo

RM 7,000

Tiguan Comfortline

RM 5,000

Tiguan Highline

RM 3,000

Vento Trendline

RM 10,000

Vento Comfortline

RM 10,000

Vento Highline

RM 9,000

As of
1
st
 January 2018
, all Volkswagen cars come with a free
3-year maintenance
 programme, which means customers will not have to worry about service cost for the firsts three years or
45,000km
 of ownership (whichever comes first). The programme covers all maintenance costs, as per the standard maintenance schedule, with the exception of wear-and-tear parts such as brake discs, pads, windscreen wipers and bulbs.

To qualify for the promotion and giveaways, all vehicle bookings must be made within the promotion period and is subject to terms and conditions while stocks lasts. For more information, please visit your nearest authorized Volkswagen dealership or visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
 .

*Based on the fuel consumption of the Jetta 1.4 TSI of 5L/100km and of current fuel price of RM2.29/l (RON95).


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia’s Online Showroom open for business

In the more advanced markets, businesses have become established online for many years and  their e-commerce processes have advanced greatly. Malaysia has also been going along the same path towards digitisation but the pace accelerated in the past year with the pandemic making physical interactions less advisable. This has meant that the traditional processes whereby customers visit showrooms when they are shopping for new cars has had to change, and the industry has quickly made the transition to online showrooms.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is among the companies that has ‘opened shop’ online and its first online showroom is designed to provide a digitally enhanced experience for customers to do research on various models available, and then to make a purchase if they wish to do so.

The physical authorised dealerships still exist but customers now have the convenient option of conducting most of the car-buying processes online at the Mitsubishi Online Showroom.

In developing the Mitsubishi Online Showroom, MMM looked for ways to improve the customer’s purchasing journey by examining the various stages from the time there is interest in the product to the completion of the purchasing process. The Mitsubishi online showroom has narrowed-down the fundamental processes from the traditional one to a digital car-purchasing journey, leveraging on technology enhancement.

“In the past year, we’ve seen an unpredictable level of change, because of the new normal and the need to maintain social distancing. The launch of Mitsubishi Online Showroom is a strong example of MMM’s commitment to deliver a more human-centric experience by encompassing a holistic approach across three key organizational pillars: people, process and technology,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.

“We have always believed in creating a walk-through experience and this Online Showroom is an extension from getting to know the product, test-drive at customer’s convenience, and communication with the dealer to finalize the purchase journey. We want to offer our customers a safe purchase of their Mitsubishi model without the need of leaving their home,” he said.

360’ Virtual Showroom

One of the features of the Mitsubishi Online Showroom is the 360-degree views available of each model’s  exterior and interior. Thanks to today’s advanced software, it is possible to zoom in and out for a closer look at details and learn about the many features in Mitsubishi vehicles.

Each of the Mitsubishi models on display has a clickable interactive button to instantly show more information and its key features. Besides the 360-degree views, there are also static images in a gallery with different angles and environments.

Test Drive 2U

The TEST DRIVE 2U online service was actually launched in May 2020 and it allows customers to experience a Mitsubishi model without having to visit the showroom. Customers who require a test-drive can now submit their request via the Online Showroom as well. It takes just a few simple steps and an authorized Mitsubishi dealer will be notified who will bring the selected model car to the customer’s preferred location.

Booking Assist

With so much information available online, many customers get a lot of insights into the model they are keen to buy and want to make a booking. However, concerns about the coronavirus understandably may make them hesitant to go to the showroom. If so, they can still book a vehicle online by submitting a booking request form on the Online Showroom’s website. Thereafter, the authorised dealer will contact the customer to assist further with the booking process and other matters such as loan and insurance application. With email and electronic banking, most documents and payments can be done without having to physically meet.

Trade-in Assist

MMM collaborates with
MyTukar
, an online used car marketplace in Malaysia, to offer a special trade-in promotion for Mitsubishi customers who wish to trade-in their vehicle via the Mitsubishi Online Showroom.

Customer can submit a trade-in assist form online and then select the option to request for the vehicle inspection, handover, transfer of ownership and collection of the sold vehicle to be done at any of the customer’s preferred locations.

MITSUBISHI CONNECT

MMM has also introduced the MITSUBISHI CONNECT mobile application as an extension of aftersales service through a digital platform. The mobile app has a range of vehicle-related digital services, giving Mitsubishi owners the convenience of scheduling a service appointment with their preferred MMM service centres, keep track of vehicle maintenance history, and get reminders for their next car service.

For more information on Mitsubishi Motors vehicles and services in Malaysia, visit
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my
.

New warehouse in Shah Alam, Selangor, will improve parts operations for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia


Renault EVs recognised by GreenFleet

Renault has been awarded the title of Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year at the UK’s 2017 GreenFleet awards. It also picked up another, for City Car Manufacturer of the Year thanks to its line-up of compact EVs that include the ZOE.

Annually, GreenFleet Awards recognizes manufacturers or organisations that successfully introduce fuel saving strategies and innovations that include low emission vehicles. Renault currently has several different vehicles that utilizes EV technology, which include the upgraded Kangoo Z.E.33.

Speaking of the accolade, Angela Pisanu, editor of GreenFleet magazine, said, “The winner this year has had their experts come up with new battery technology that has enabled them to increase the range on their small car and van EV offering.”

The latest ZOE has received a decent upgrade that includes an improved battery pack that allows for a 50% increase in range on a single charge. The automaker has admitted that, in real world driving conditions, the car should be able to cover a distance of 299km in warm weather conditions and 200km in areas that are subjected to winter conditions.

Through the use of its patented Chameleon Charger, the ZOE is able to charge its battery from 0-80% in an hour. In addition to that, this charger is able to adapt to a wide range of power supplies to ensure that the charging duration is kept to a minimum.

Similarly, the new Kangoo also has an upgraded battery pack that allows for a 60% improvement in range over its predecessor. This electric van is able to travel for about 274km on a single charge, which isn’t extraordinary but increases practicality.

Apart from these two vehicles, Renault also has a number of other EVs that are just as efficient, which include the Twizy quadricycle and the upcoming Master Z.E. large panel van. This line-up is responsible for spearheading the French automaker’s charge to dominate the increasingly popular EV market.

And the GreenFleet award is a testament to this very fact. However, there are several other publications that have given these vehicles the same recognition for innovation, practicality and ease of use. The following are the latest accolades picked up by Renault:

What Car? Best Electric Car 2017 – Renault ZOE

What Car? Best Used Green Car 2018 – Renault ZOE

Autocar Game Changer 2017 – Renault ZOE

Parkers Eco Car of the Year 2018 – Renault ZOE

Pure Electric and Hybrid Cars Green Apple Champion 2017 – Renault ZOE

Expect more from this French automaker in the near future because competition in the EV market is bound to increase by several orders of magnitude. Tesla has recently announced a fully electric lorry that may revolutionize the way we see freight transportation in general. All we can say is, this is a pretty interesting time for the automotive industry.


Proton delivers Prime Minister’s X70 gift to the government of Pakistan

Following the visit of Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to Pakistan earlier this year where he gifted the Prime Minister of Pakistan a Proton X70, the SUV has now been delivered to the government of Pakistan.

To date, over 26,000 units of the X70 have been delivered in the domestic market and exports are starting as well. In the case of Pakistan, plans were finalised in March this year to build an assembly plant that will be owned and operated by ALHAJ Automotive, Proton’s business partner there. Vehicle manufacturing is not a new activity for the ALHAJ Group as it has a subsidiary which has been producing FAW vehicles for a number of years.

Production is targeted to begin in 2021 with the X70 as the first of several models that will be sold in Pakistan. The long-term goal is to sell 400,000 vehicles by 2027. Just as in Malaysia, assembling its vehicles locally will allow Proton to have more attractive pricing as duties are lower for vehicles assembled in the country.

Parts for the X70 will be sent from Proton’s Tg. Malim factory in completely knocked-down (CKD) packs for assembly at the ALHAJ Automotive plant in Pakistan.

The brand new assembly plant will be located in Karachi, Pakistan’s industrial and financial centre. The initial investment will be US$30 million (around RM124.3 million) and 2,000 direct employment opportunities are expected to be created in its first 3 years of operations. It is estimated that a further 20,000 indirect jobs will also be created as a result of the new plant being commissioned.

“Proton sees a lot of potential in Pakistan and as Malaysia is the only Muslim country to have its own automotive brand, both our countries are natural partners who have so much to share with each other. The Proton X70 has won several awards at home and we hope that eventually, it can accomplish the same feats when it arrives here,” said Mohd Khalid Yusof, Proton’s Director of Investment and Promotion.

First Made-in-Malaysia Proton X70 officially rolls out at Tg. Malim factory


New Perodua Prices without Sales Tax

Note: Prices shown are for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia and exclude insurance premiums.

All Perodua models have full exemption of the 10% Sales Tax.

To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit
www.perodua.com.my
.


Hyundai and Genesis offer incentives that cover job loss due to COVID-19 (in USA)

Car manufacturers, like any other company, are going through a very difficult time now as the COVID-19 pandemic has created great uncertainties for consumers that have impacted sales. Understandably, there are other priorities to commit money to so a new car purchase, if planned, will have to be deferred.

Some of the car companies do not forget their customers too and look for ways which can ease their burdens, even if it does incur costs. In 2009, Hyundai Motor offered Hyundai Assurance in America to help protect owners who lost their jobs. The 2008 financial crisis had caused the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Home values dropped and many people could not service their loans.

Hyundai Motor America understood that without knowing what would happen to their jobs, people would be reluctant to buy new cars. So it offered a simple deal: If a purchaser of a new Hyundai lost his or her job within a year, the company would take it back. “If you find that you cannot make your payment because of a covered life changing event, we’ll allow you to return your vehicle and walk away from your loan obligation – and in most cases we will cover most, if not all of the difference,” the company advertised at that time.

In 2009, when new car sales in the US market fell so severely, Hyundai Motor offered a more meaningful incentive instead of just rebates.

This meant that a customer would be less worried being stuck with a car that could not be sold off and at the same time, have to keep paying the instalments. Hyundai would accept that car, cancel the loan and pay the difference between the car’s trade-in value at the time and any remaining balance on the loan up to a maximum of US$7,500.

In 2020, to give buyers peace of mind, the Hyundai Assurance program is brought back in response to uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it differs from the 2009 incentive as Hyundai dealers will not take back cars.

Now Hyundai is helping its American customers again but is not offering to take back vehicles. Instead, it will cover up to 6 months of payments for Hyundai owners who purchased or leased a Hyundai vehicle between March 14 and April 30, 2020 if they lose their job due to COVID-19 this year. The first payment is also deferred for 90 days for those shoppers.

In 2020, Hyundai also has a luxury brand, Genesis, which was not in existence 11 years ago. Genesis is also offering a similar program called the Genesis Cares Job Loss Protection. As with the Hyundai incentive, anyone who purchases a new Genesis vehicle between up till April 30, 2020 and then has an involuntary job loss any time this year due to COVID-19 can get their payments deferred for 90 days. However, the vehicle must have been financed of leased by Genesis Finance.

More importantly, Genesis Cares Job Loss Protection provides up to 6 months of payment relief for customers who lose their job this year after purchasing a new Genesis vehicle between March 14 and April 30, 2020.

The 2009 campaign scored points for the brand, building customer loyalty which helped to strengthen sales after the recession. “We understand the extreme uncertainty created by the coronavirus and the anxiety experienced by our customers, and wanted to tap into Hyundai’s legacy of having people’s back,” said Jose Munoz, COO, Hyundai Motor Company & President and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. “Bringing back the job loss protection program in this unprecedented time will allow our customers to have one less thing to worry about if something unexpected happens to their employment status.”

First SUV in Genesis range targeted at North American market


F1 (Round 16) – 2019 Russian Grand Prix Starting Grid

Race starts at 2:10 pm in Russia/7:10 pm in Malaysia


BMW makes sourcing for parts a leisurely affair

A trip to the workshop has become a little less cumbersome for BMW owners in the UK. The reason for this is rather revolutionary, because BMW Group UK has launched a new digital shop, allowing customers to purchase BMW and MINI Parts, accessories and lifestyle products online.

Those wanting a certain part for their vehicle, need only select their vehicle model or enter their VIN number online, to browse the automaker’s online parts’ inventory. This can be done with any web browser on a computer or mobile device.

BMW and MINI customers with a myBMW account can access this service easily by using the same login credentials as other BMW services such as ConnectedDrive. Once the desired product/part/accessory has been selected, customers can choose their preferred collection point as well (BMW retailer).

Adding to this impressive service, customers will also be able to track their items while in transit to the desired location. Payments for items that are purchased online can be made using PayPal, 3D Secure credit and debit cards.

The BMW Group and its subsidiary brands have a slew of products on offer ranging from lifestyle apparel to Motorsport memorabilia. MINI has one of the most extensive product portfolios of the lot with a collection that spans articles of clothing to bags, cases and other items.

Unlike many automakers, BMW believes that the relationship between it and a customer doesn’t end once the keys are handed over. Instead, they believe that its a lifelong bond that is cultivated by allowing customers to own more than just a set of wheels.

As useful as this service is, it seems to only be available for customers in the UK. But we are sure that many Malaysians would appreciate having such a service in our country as well. It would require a lot less effort to source for parts if BMW Malaysia is able lend us a helping hand.


CaltexGO mobile app makes refueling more convenient and safer

Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex products, now offers customers a mobile payment app for more convenience. Known as ‘CaltexGO’, it is currently available for use only at Caltex stations in the Klang Valley. The company says that coverage will extend to other parts of the country by the first half of 2022.

Development of CaltexGO for Malaysia was done with feedback from CaltexGO users in Singapore, Thailand, Caltex family and friends trial users, and learning from industry best practices. The integrated mobile app provides a faster and easier way for motorists to pay for fuel, earn and redeem loyalty card points.

The app, which is available for both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, can also be used to locate a service station and to view electronic receipts. The cashless transaction will also be welcome in these times when there a need to practice social distancing as the process (other than inserting the pump nozzle) can be done from within the safety of the vehicle.

“At the very heart of the CaltexGO implementation is our customers. More than just delivering quality products and services, our priority is to improve our customers’ experience and subsequently, continue their journeys on the road. And with CaltexGO, motorists who are keen to get in and out of the service station can now fuel up, skip the queue, and pay,” said Jay Gomez, Country Chairman of Chevron Malaysia Limited.

Always take care when pumping fuel, and be sure your handphone is not in use (it is an offence to use a mobilephone at a petrol station).

Although mobile payment is gaining popularity, safety requirements at the service station have not changed. Motorists should only use their phones after their vehicle’s engine is switched off, when inside an enclosed stationary vehicle or when inside the convenience store. Caltex advises customers to be mindful of their surroundings and focus on the refueling task at hand.

First-time users of CaltexGO who pump a minimum of RM30 worth of fuel at a Caltex station will receive a RM5 cashback. They will also receive another RM5 cashback when they pump a minimum of RM30 on subsequent visits (capped at 2 times per user at RM10 cashback throughout the promotion period ending December 31, 2021).

Fuel Price Updates For September 16 – September 22, 2021


600-unit Toyota GR Supra A91-CF Edition exclusively for the US market

The American market was always a strong market for the Toyota Supra, to the extent that some generations were born at Calty, its advanced design centre in California. When it made its return after an absence of 17 years, it was the North American International Auto Show that was chosen for its global debut.

So the American market is special to Toyota, especially where the Supra is concerned, and to recognise that, Toyota USA has developed a limited edition of the GR Supra just for the market. It’s the most exclusive 5
th
 generation Supra to date and only 600 units will be available.

Carbonfibre treatment

The highlight of the GR Supra A91-CF Edition, as it is known, is a carbonfibre front splitter and larger canards, with carbonfibre side rockers define the lower edge along the sides. The carbonfibre treatment (hence ‘CF Edition’) continues at the rear end, with a duckbill spoiler catching the air up top and lower canards doing so down below.

Wind tunnel-tested

The aerodynamic features are not just for looks. Extensive testing has been done in a wind tunnel to shape them to improve downforce and stability, especially when on the racetrack. The performance should be almost similar to the other GR Supra as it uses the same 3-litre 6-cylinder engine.

Additionally, unique 19-inch wheels sport a matte-black texture that complements A91-CF Edition’s available matte-gray Phantom paint colour. The other technical specs are the same too, with an 8-speed Z-F8 transmission, Adaptive Variable Sport suspension and active rear sport differential. The front brakes are from Brembo, with red calipers.

Exclusive interior trim

The interior, with a red-and-black theme, also has some exclusive features that include carbonfibre interior trim. The Alcantara-and-leather-trimmed cabin includes red stitching details with a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel and sport pedals.

In Malaysia, the model is officially available through selected authorised dealers with the GR Garage. It is priced from RM589,987 (with sales tax exemption, without insurance). Visit
toyota.com.my
 for more information or to locate a GR Garage showroom in Malaysia.

Toyota GR Supra Jarama Racetrack Edition


XPeng P7 fleet set record for longest real highway autonomous driving in China

XPeng Inc., a Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles, has set a record for China’s longest real highway autonomous driving by a mass-produced vehicle. Its fleet of P7 sedans travelled over 3,600 kms from Guangzhou to Beijing, of which 2,930 kms of highway driving were done under the control of the NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) that enabled autonomous motoring.

0.71 human driver interventions

During the time when NGP was active, the human driver interventions per 100 kms was an average of 0.71. The average success rate for lane changing and overtaking was 94.41% during the 8-day expedition. The average highway ramp entering and exiting success rate was 92.76% and average tunnel pass-through success rate was 94.95% during the same period.

The drive was done in the public eye with 228 auto journalists, EV enthusiasts and industry experts participating along the way. The fleet numbered 12 to 15 cars and passed through 10 cities in 6 provinces along China’s eastern costal corridor. The route was chosen to cover some of the most complex yet representative road conditions and driving scenarios in China so as to fully test the NGP’s responses and effectiveness.

XPeng reported that the NGP delivered stable performance in rainstorm conditions, passing through tunnels, and on highways in mountain areas, demonstrating its high robustness and reliability even in difficult driving scenarios.

The NGP highway solution provides navigation assisted autonomous driving from point A to B, based on the navigation route set by the driver, and is available on highways covered by high-precision maps in China. Its full-scenario high-definition positioning capability solves HD-map positioning challenges for China’s highly complex road conditions, including areas with no GPS signals.

Most powerful autonomous system

The system is enabled by the P7’s strong underlying autonomous driving architecture, claimed to be the most powerful system in production vehicles in China. It has 14 cameras, 5 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, centimetre-level high-definition positioning, decimetre-level high-definition mapping, NVIDIA Xavier system-on-the-chip computing platform, and a Bosch iBooster brake system. The P7 is also China’s only mass production car with a 360-degree dual camera and radar fusion perception system for added safety.

“The expedition has fully challenged the robustness and reliability of the NGP function. The results demonstrate that it is not only the strongest, but also the easiest to use autonomous driving function for production vehicles available in the market,” said He Xiaopeng, Chairman & CEO of XPeng Inc. “We strive to become the world’s top autonomous driving hardware and software provider, and our strategy and R&D capabilities place us well in achieving this goal.”

About XPeng Inc.

XPeng Inc. was founded in 2015 with the aim of designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing smart EVs in China. While it is currently selling its two models only in China, it has established a presence in America and has future plans to enter that market. It has a permit to conduct autonomous vehicle testing in California and has displayed a model at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The company’s stock is also publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.


Chrysler Airflow Concept begins carmaker’s transformation of range to fully electric by 2028

Although Chrysler, one of the three original American carmakers to survive to this day, has had electrified models for some years. By 2025, it will start selling its first battery electric vehicle (BEV), with plans to change its entire product range to BEVs by 2028. As part of the
Stellantis Group
, formed only one year ago, the carmaker will serve at the forefront of Stellantis’ transformative, sustainable mobility technology.

The Airflow Concept displayed at CES 2022 in Las Vegas this week provides a preview of what will come. With leading-edge drive-system technology, intuitive AI and connected vehicle technology, the concept car is said to be able to travel 560 – 650 kms on a fully charged battery pack which can be fast-charged.

Reinventing the customer experience

However, the new connected car isn’t simply about moving from point A to point B. It is said to reinvent the customer experience by integrating the STLA Brain platform and STLA SmartCockpit to deliver seamless connectivity for the driver and passengers. The concept creates a connected hub that brings a consumer’s digital lifestyle into the cabin, using advanced technology to create a customized space for each occupant.

“The Chrysler Airflow Concept represents the start of the brand’s journey toward a fully electrified future. It is the result of a thoughtful synthesis of the full arsenal of Stellantis’ connected vehicle technology – inside and out,” said Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer – Stellantis. “The design features a decisively elegant aerodynamic exterior and a modern, sophisticated interior that takes the customer on a new level of digital delight.”

Dynamic design

The sculptural, expressive design of the Airflow Concept envisions the next generation of premium transportation. It delivers a first-class travel experience that balances technological needs within a serene environment. The silent electric ride supports the sleek design aesthetic, with the concept’s dramatic expression completed by an Arctic White body colour that conveys a sense of calm and serenity.

The dynamic design proportion has a low ride height and streamlined, two-tone roof line that achieves an elegant yet athletic profile while also increasing travelling range. A long wheelbase and wide track, along with large 22-inch wheels and tyres, are enhanced visually with Celestial Blue accent colour cladding. The design elements work together to enable a dramatic stance and deliver excellent handling and performance dynamics.

Up front, the Airflow announces its electric aesthetic with the Chrysler wing logo tied into a cross-car grille/light blade illuminated with crystal LED lighting. A crystal LED taillight runs the full width of the vehicle, accentuating the wide stance. The Airflow Concept also features welcome, departure and animated lighting, including a unique aqua that signifies the vehicle is charging. The diffuser shape of the lower rear fascia highlights the aerodynamic, smooth underbody, a key to achieving optimum driving range.

Personalised spaces within

The Airflow Concept is designed as a space to bring people together, both physically and virtually. The interior showcases ideas for giving every passenger a personalized experience that seamlessly connects them with their digital lives, as well as the other passengers. Multi-layered, high-contrast graphics and thoughtful details provide a clean, sophisticated appearance that is safe, easy to use and easy to understand.

Using a menu-based format, screens throughout the interior can be personalized, simplified and grouped based on individuals and interests. Information on the screens can be shared with all passengers by swiping. Customization and personalization are key, whether driving or acting as a co-pilot.  Each screen is thus a personalized space to access the digital world via connected entertainment, apps and downloads. Each seat also features a built-in camera, enabling occupants to participate in a group video conference call from the comfort of the Airflow cabin.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates keep Airflow Concept services current and let passengers quickly and easily add new and innovative features. The backbone of the user experience is the new electrical/electronic (E/E) and software architecture, STLA Brain. This architecture is highly flexible, breaking today’s bond between hardware and software generations. It enables software developers to create and update features and services quickly, taking advantage of capabilities built into the cockpit without waiting for a new hardware launch.

The STLA SmartCockpit, demonstrated in the Airflow Concept and built on top of STLA Brain architecture, seamlessly integrates with the digital lives of vehicle occupants to deliver AI-based applications, such as navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce marketplace and payment services.

Level 3 autonomy

Of the powertrain, Chrysler says it will be called STLA AutoDrive, which delivers Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities and will be upgradable via OTA updates. The concept features all-wheel-drive capability and is powered by two 150 kW electric drive motors (EDMs), one in the front and one in the rear. The concept is designed to accommodate larger capacity EDMs, offering the potential for future high-performance applications.

GM’s Factory ZERO starts production of only electric vehicles


Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai commissions the Carbon Veil for The Gallery in the Phantom

Unique to the latest Rolls-Royce Phantom is an area of the dashboard called The Gallery. It is a glass enclosure running almost the entire width of fascia and it has been incorporated to house bespoke artistic creations inside the limousine. The owners of the Phantom can insert whatever they wish as part of the personalization of their limousine and Rolls-Royce dealerships also come up with some creative ideas for their customers.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai is one of them and it has commissioned the Carbon Veil for the Phantom Gallery. The work of art was designed by the Rolls‑Royce Bespoke Collective in England and realized by artist and sculptor Alastair Gibson, who combined knowledge and expertise gained in Formula 1 to create his carbonfibre masterpieces.

The Carbon Veil took 2 years to create and unlike most automotive applications where just 3 or 4 layers of carbonfibre are used, no fewer than 150 sheets were permeated with resin and compressed to form a single, solid billet for the Carbon Veil. The construction technique is genuinely ground-breaking, with the result being ultra-stylish, contemporary and beautiful.

“It required a huge amount of experimentation to produce the Carbon Veil Gallery. The main challenge in creating the shape was ensuring that the weave of the carbonfibre remained horizontal and parallel throughout. It had to be perfect – because this is a Rolls‑Royce,” said Gibson.

As an original work of art, the Carbon Veil introduces a highly contemporary note to the Phantom’s interior. Its sharp, angular surfaces and the distinctive woven surface are synonymous with innovation, technology and performance. Depending on the customer’s preference, the carbonfibre is finished in either clear or matte lacquer which brings out the weave pattern and protects it from harmful ultraviolet rays. The whole piece is sealed under a single pane of glass.

The Gallery is a space protected behind glass. This space affords the opportunity to introduce sharp and aggressive forms, which are unprecedented for the interior of a motor vehicle. The design of the faceted milled carbonfibre sculpture was originally inspired by the angular, aggressive, stealthy shapes of the
118 WallyPower
 (a luxury yacht said to cost £14 million).

Each Phantom Gallery is individually assembled in the Clean Room at the factory. Completed in 2020, this medical-grade facility provides a 100% sterile environment where Bespoke items and other delicate components can be produced entirely free of dust and particles.

Two other examples of The Gallery
.

The gunmetal exterior of the car is bolstered with an iced finish with gunmetal contrast bonnet, while the coachline and waftline are accented in a vivid mandarin orange. At the helm of the bonnet proudly stands the retracting Spirit of Ecstasy crafted from carbonfibre.

Within the interior, the anthracite brightwork provides moments of contrast, along with the colour-keyed rotary controls and leather detailing. The dark tones and light leather flourishes beautifully accent the Veil Gallery upon the Phantom’s fascia. The flawless Black Pack elements on the exterior include an alluring black trim on the windows, the grille and the exhausts.

The very attitude and nature of The Gallery has been extended to the other Bespoke details on both the exterior and interior of the Phantom it resides within. With a highly contemporaneous edge, the limousine exemplifies the spectrum of Bespoke potential, with the Phantom itself as a canvas quite like no other.


Volvo – Most dependable premium car brand?

A recent study conducted in the UK has concluded that Volvo is the most dependable premium brand in the current market. The J.D. Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study recorded opinions taken from more than 11,000 motorists in the region.

Being at the forefront of safety and reliability, it is not a surprise that Volvo owners gave their brand of choice the highest ratings compared to other premium vehicle manufacturer.

According to Mark Lendrich, Head of Research at J.D. Power Europe, “Long-term reliability has a direct impact on today’s sales and tomorrow’s brand loyalty. The 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study premium brand award underlines that Volvo was able to satisfy the demanding group of premium customers when it comes to vehicle dependability.”

Jon Wakefield, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “We can have no finer judges of our achievements than the people who choose to drive our cars. Their advocacy is the perfect affirmation that our strategy for renewing our brand is giving them the products, service and support they require. Certainly, we are capturing the imagination and enthusiasm of Britain’s motorists, witnessed in the record-breaking sales momentum we have achieved so far this year.”

Volvo Car Malaysia recently launched the
#SafeDrive road safety campaign
 with one clear message in mind; where your safety belts every time you enter a vehicle. FUN FACT: Volvo engineer, Nils Bohlin, invented the three-point safety belt back in 1959.

Concerned about the overall safety of road users, Volvo gave the patent away for other car manufacturers to use, in which it turned out to be the single most important safety innovation ever to be introduced for vehicles.

For more information, head over to
www.volvocars.com/my
.

Volvo Car Malaysia Launches New Setia Alam Dealership


Isuzu D-Max owners, here’s your chance to win RM15,000!

Here’s a very important and interesting note to all Isuzu D-Max owners here in Malaysia. Isuzu Malaysia wants to give away cash to those who have ‘proven beyond doubt’ how good their pick-up trucks truly are in terms of durability, reliability, fuel efficiency, and many more.

Through the Super Mileage Challenge, Isuzu Malaysia wants to reach out to D-Max owners who have clocked substantial mileage in their trucks and those who come up top will be rewarded (handsomely, if we say so ourselves). The grand prize? RM15,000!

“Most Isuzu users are generally high mileage drivers, reaping the benefits of their vehicle’s low running cost and dependable performance. It is not unusual for many of them to clock hundreds of kilometres per week. We are keen to meet such owners to learn just how their Isuzu trucks have supported them in their commutes,” said Masayuki Suzuki, COO of Isuzu Malaysia.

So, all you (D-Max owners) have to do is submit your details (
CLICK HERE
) online by 31 July 2019 in order to participate. The contest is open to both individual and corporate owners who have clocked a minimum of 200,000km in their vehicles.

Through a QR code or from the Isuzu Malaysia home page, owners can follow the simple instructions to upload proof of their mileage and the condition of their vehicles. At the end of the challenge period, the owners who have clocked the highest verified mileage will be taking home prizes worth more than RM38,888.

The home page also carries the current front-runners in the contest and outlines the competition’s terms and conditions. Isuzu D-Max owners should visit
www.isuzumalaysia.net
 or their Facebook page for participation details.

Isuzu D-Max X-Series Launched At Carlist Drive: Auto Fair 2018


4,524 bottles of fake engine oil seized in Johor

The fake engine oil epidemic has been an ongoing war within the country and according to a recent report published by
Kosmo! Online
 stated that authorities raided a supplier in Senai, Johor and seized a total of 4,524 bottles of the counterfeit stuff, which is said to be valued at RM45,692.20 in the market.

The supplier’s warehouse located at the Southern industrial area was raided by personnel from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs during an operation held earlier this week. The head of Johor’s division, Mr. Zubir Hamsa, stated that the operation was carried out after a week’s worth of investigation following a report made by the owners of the trademarked items.

“Based on the intelligence and information gathered, the raid was carried out where six staff were apprehended including the manager of the company. We successfully confiscated 377 boxes containing 4,524 bottles of 1-liter engine oil worth RM45,692.20 suspected to be counterfeited.”

It is also believed that these fake products are sold at around RM10 cheaper than the original product. To normal folks, the bottles look almost identical to the original, but the authorities were able to identify the difference to ensure that the fake products don’t end up on sale anywhere in the country.

To all consumers out there, if there’s a deal that seems too good to be true, do your research and make the right decision. Our best advice is to buy the products from the official stores, workshops, and dealers because at the end of the day, you might save a few Ringgit, but the internal damage caused by using these fake engine oils will definitely come back and haunt you (and your car, and your wallet).


Payments by e-wallets accepted at all Proton 3S/4S outlets nationwide

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information on this promotion.

‘Contactless’, though not a new word, has been much-used during the past year with the onset of COVID-19 and the need for distancing to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. As far as possible, people have been encouraged not to be in direct contact with each other and even when conducting transactions, it is advisable to minimize contact through devices or other things.

Increased usage of e-wallets

For payments, electronic payments have been encouraged and this has led to increased usage of the e-wallet. A smartphone can be used for this transaction which reduces physical touch, with no need to exchange currency notes or coins.

The growing popularity of e-wallets, which are available from a number of providers, has led many businesses to accept them for payments. This includes Proton, which started to accept payment from e-wallets in June 2020 with 15 pilot outlets. The successful pilot program saw all 3S/4S outlets accepting e-wallet payments by the end of the year.

Payments for various transactions

Proton says that the payments can be for many different purposes. The e-wallet can even be used to book for a new vehicle and make the downpayment. The company also encourage its 1S and 2S outlets to opt for e-wallet transactions as this is a reliable, safe and convenient payment method.

Customers can use their e-wallets for transactions related to downpayments for new vehicles or for charges and purchases at service centres.

Additionally, e-wallet payments can also be used at service centres to pay for maintenance services, vehicle insurance renewal spare parts, accessories and even Proton merchandise.

Moving forward, Proton is also looking at strategizing the collaboration plan and system integration with e-wallet providers to deliver offerings that are beneficial to its customers.

Proton continues to provide help in fight against COVID-19


London Taxi Company gets name change and new car

The famous London Taxi Company, the very same one that used the iconic Austin black cabs to shuttle passengers in and around the city, has been renamed to LEVC. The move is said to be part of the company’s transformation under parent company, Geely.

The name change was done to help position the company as more of an international entity, that is poised to serve the needs and wants of customers all over the world. The Chinese automotive giant has pumped in RM1.8 billion worth of investments with a goal of turning LEVC into the urban commercial vehicle provider of choice around the world. And to bolster this claim, the company also unveiled a new fully-electric London taxi, called the TX.

The car features styling that is a mix-and-match of the old and contemporary styling that has resulted in a rather bizarre looking black cab. It seems as though certain design elements and trim pieces were taken from that of contemporary generation Volvos, is is especially evident when it comes to the interior.

The TX is powered by eCity technology that comprises of advanced battery electric powertrain that is aided by a small petrol powered generator. Working in tandem, the system provides the TX with a range of 644km including more than 113km on pure electric power.

Speaking of the latest addition and changes to the company, Chris Gubbey, CEO, LEVC said, “The launch of LEVC marks Britain’s leadership as a first mover in creating the world’s only dedicated electric vehicle company for the urban commercial market. Drawing on the best of British design and engineering as well as technical expertise from our sister company Volvo, our products will help transform city living.”

The company says that the TX will be launched in London later this year because LEVC is still finalizing the quality and testing methods to evaluate the car’s readiness to function around the world. So far, the car has been taken to the Arizona desert to endure torturous heat under the desert sun as well as freezing temperatures in the Arctic Circle, the other extreme to the scorching Arizona weather.

All of this is being done to prove that no matter where the TX is driven, irrespective of weather conditions, it will function as it should. LEVC’s first international order of 225 vehicles has come from RMC in the Netherlands, which is one of the country’s largest taxi operators.

London is one of the pioneers in setting out tough emission standards to reduce taxi and van emissions. This has spurred the adoption of electric vehicles by commercial transportation operators in the city.

Eventually, this will be common practice around the world as governments take steps to reduce the impact they have on the environment.