MC20 – the all-new supercar that begins a new era for Maserati

The last time Maserati had a true supercar was 15 years ago and that was the MC12 (which was largely a Ferrari Enzo derivative). Since then, its range has been aging and declining sales have diminished revenues to fund new product development. But the downhill slide has been arrested and the Italian brand with a history of over 100 years is preparing for a renaissance with an all-new model – the MC20.

All-new engine by Maserati

Unlike the MC12, the new MC20 (which stands for ‘
M
aserati
C
orse’ and ‘20
20
’) has been developed almost entirely by Maserati and this includes its engine, which it also makes in-house. The 3-litre 90-degree V6 engine, called Nettuno, is a brand new power unit which generates 630 bhp – coincidentally almost the same as what the MC12 produced. However, this output, along with 730 Nm of torque has been achieved with
half
 the number of cylinders and cubic centimetres.

The achievement is due in a large part to using twin turbochargers as well as Maserati Twin Combustion (MTC), an approach which increases combustion efficiency by using a pre-combustion chamber with twin spark plugs. The concept has so far been used only in F1 engines so this is another example of F1 technology being transferred to a road car.

Power delivery to the rear wheels passes through an 8-speed, dual-clutch transmission and a mechanically locking rear differential (an electronic differential is available as an option). From the moment the power is transferred to the road, it takes a claimed 2.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h, another 5.9 seconds to go past 200 km/h and top out at 325 km/h.

If the driver cares about fuel consumption at all, the claimed figure for lowest consumption is 10.4 kms/litre but most drivers would probably be burning fuel from the 60-litre tank at around 5 kms/litre.

Electrification-ready platform

The 1,500 kg MC20 has a carbonfibre monocoque tub enclosed by a lightweight carbonfibre and aluminium coupe bodystyle which will, in due course, be accompanied by a convertible. The platform is also ready for electrification in future (probably in 2022) without requiring much structural alteration.

Aerodynamic efficiency was given a lot of attention and over 2,000 man-hours were spent in the wind tunnel with specialists from Dallara (the racing car team) refining and optimising the shape. More than a thousand Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations were also done and the resulting car has a sleek 0.38 Cd profile, with no mobile appendages. Only a discreet rear spoiler projects from the otherwise clean surfacing, providing the necessary downforce at high speeds.

Cabin designed for sporty experience

The 2-seat cabin, accessed through ‘butterfly’ doors, is configured for sporty driving with the driver as the central element. A conscious effort has been made to keep everything simple and clean to minimise distractions. However, the driver is kept fully informed of what the car is doing at all times with two 10-inch screens that also enable management of functions.

Simplicity is also evident in the carbonfibre-clad central console, which minimal features – a wireless smartphone charger pad, selector for 5 driving modes, 2 speed selection buttons, power window controls, Multimedia System controls, and a storage compartment. All other controls are on the steering wheel, with the ignition button on the left and the launch control on the right.

To stay connected to the outside world, the MC20 comes with the Maserati Connect program. This offers a full range of services that include connected navigation, Alexa and wifi hotspot. Maserati provides an app for interfacing with a smartphone or smartwatch.

At launch, Maserati offers 6 colours to characterise the MC20: Bianco Audace, Giallo Genio, Rosso Vincente, Blu Infinito, Nero Enigma and Grigio Mistero. Each of them has been conceived exclusively for the new model with themes that relate to Maserati and Italy.

Return to motorsport

Both visually and conceptually, there are strong references to the MC12. In the same way as its predecessor, the MC20 is an indication of the brand’s return to motorsport. It will be built at Maserati’s plant where its cars have been built for more than 80 years.

A new production line, created in the spaces where the GranTurismo and GranCabrio models were assembled until November 2019, will now be for the MC20. The site also has a new paintshop incorporating innovative, environment-friendly technologies. The Nettuno will also be built in Modena, at the newly established Maserati Engine Lab.

More accessible than the MC12

Only 50 units of the MC12 were ever made and they were very expensive. The MC20, however, will be available in larger numbers and at a more accessible price. Production starts at the end of this year with orders are now being accepted.

The launch of the MC20 marks the beginning of the new era for the company that has been involved in automobiles since the beginning of the last century. Part of a long-term plan to return to greatness, especially in the performance segment, it should gain prominence with a secure future in the FCA Group.

Maserati allows the world to look inside its top secret Innovation Lab


Lexus GXOR Concept is for off-roaders who want Lexus comfort and luxury

Concept vehicles are built by carmakers for various purposes; some are intended to test certain styling ideas while others are a preview of a production model that is just around the corner. Sometimes, especially if targeting owners who are enthusiasts, a concept vehicle may show what more can be done or added to make a model more visually exciting or more capable.

Capable SUV made more capable

With the Lexus GXOR concept, Lexus worked with a company called XOverland to create a one-of-a-kind LX460 SUV that has accessories which enhance its looks and performance off-road. As it is, the LX460 is a very capable SUV since it rides on the same platform as the current Toyota land Cruiser Prado.

The customized vehicle starts off with a matte metallic gray and exclusive GXOR graphics. Incidentally, ‘GXOR’ refers to ‘GX Off Road’, which is the name of a group of owners. Lexus surprised them with this special vehicle during one of their recent events.

Accessories fitted

Some of the accessories installed include Lexus F Sport Wheels fitted with General 275/70×18 X3 tyres, Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5 CDC with remote reservoirs and billet control arms featuring Delta Joints, CBI Custom Stealth Winch Bumper, Frame Sliders and skidplates, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, and Maxtrax MKII Recovery Boards. All these items are available in the market for owners to install themselves.

On its part, Lexus will also have its own off-road package although, being a factory offering, it is more focused on comfort and reliability aspects rather than providing more off-road performance.

Visit
www.lexus.com.my
 to know more about the range of SUVs available in Malaysia.


Audi Sport Introduces Unique Colours For Limited Edition R8 LMS GT2!

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Color Edition

Not content with just winning, Audi Sport customer racing has launched a small series of its race cars.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Tactical green

This took place shortly after the company’s first two major victories with the Audi R8 LMS GT2 at Monza.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Kyalami green

This six characterful colours transform the most powerful model of the R8 LMS into unique individual collectors items.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Vegas yellow

The colours also have unique names: Kyalami Green, Misano Red, Nogaro Blue, Sebring Black, Tactical Green, Vegas Yellow.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Misano red

These unique colours for the R8 LMS GT2 marks the first time in the 13 year history of Audi Sport customer racing where such a colour concept is made available to Audi customers.

These cars in such a unique colour are a one-off and guarantees pure individuality and will never be available again.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Nogaro blue

The cars retain the ‘made-in-Hungary’ 640hp V10 that also powers the production R8 while the chassis is the same aluminium-CFRP composite that lays the foundation for the racing R8.

Audi R8 LMS GT2 Sebring black

The ready to race Audi R8 LMS GT2 is available at 349,000 Euros (plus VAT).


New Maserati GranTurismo With Nettuno V6 Engine In Final Stages Of Testing

The last time Maserati had a GranTurismo in the showrooms was in 2019, and then production of the model stopped after some 40,000 cars had been sold worldwide. At that time, the carmaker didn’t say it was the end of the line but rather that it was focussing on factory renovation. It also said that it would develop a new ‘Made in Italy’ high-performance sportscar which would undoubtedly continue the iconic model line that began 75 years ago.

The all-new GranTurismo must be nearing launch as it has now been revealed in public without camouflage. With ‘a selected number of employees from the Maserati Family in the driving seat’ and travelling many kilometres, prototypes must be undergoing final real-world testing. This is the time when pictures start to appear in social media so the company has probably decided that it’s more practical to simply allow the car to be seen uncamouflaged.

Maserati has not released much information about the latest descendant of the model line that began with the Pinin Farina-designed
A6 1500 of 1947
. What is known is that the prototypes (in Modena and Trofeo versions) are powered by the V6 Nettuno engine.

The Nettuno engine developed by Maserati and also made in-house.

This engine is already being used in the
MC20
, so its technical details are known. It was developed in-house and is made at Maserati’s own factory. With technology derived from Formula 1, the 6-cylinder powerplant has a 90° vee configuration with a 3-litre displacement and a dry sump. For the MC20, it has two turbochargers and an output of 630 ps/730 Nm.

Although Maserati has highlighted the Nettuno engine for the new GranTurismo, the company has  also said that the new model will be the first of the brand’s six cars to adopt ‘a 100% electric solution’. These will be in the
Folgore (Italian for ‘lightning) line of EVs
 to be launched over the next 3 years. In June last year, it issued some pictures of a camouflaged car ‘photographed in the streets of Modena’, adding that prototypes were running around on the circuit as well.

Maserati has been testing the electric version of the GranTurismo (above) and in April this year, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares drove a prototype in Rome (below).

In April this year, Carlos Tavares, CEO of the Stellantis Group (which Maserati is a part of), gave a sneak preview of a GranTurismo Folgore when he drove a prototype as part of the promotional activity for the 2022 Formula E Rome E-Prix. At that time, Maserati gave some details about the electric powertrain which will have three electric motors (two at the rear, one in front) and generate up to 1,200 ps.

Fully electric Folgore models to dominate Maserati’s range by the end of the decade


Etiqa insurance gives rebates to motorists who travel less

The pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide in various ways, and Malaysians have not escaped either. Jobs have been lost, businesses have had to shut down and for many, incomes have fallen drastically. So almost everyone would like to find ways to save whatever money they earn or have.

Etiqa, the insurance people, offer help in this effort by introducing their usage-based ‘
Drive Less,  Save More
’ motor insurance and takaful add-on that offers drivers rebates of up to 30% on their premiums or contribution based on vehicle mileage clocked.

As many motorists are travelling less nowadays because they work from home or prefer not to go out too much to avoid crowds, their vehicles have less mileage. This can benefit them not only in saving fuel but also in their insurance costs with companies like Etiqa.

This optional add-on is
free
, with rebates paid whenever a claim is made at a customer’s convenience, subject to a minimum of 10 days between each upload. The add-on is available to all customers who take Private Car Comprehensive insurance coverage.

This new offering is especially good for those working from home, the ‘new normal’ brought on by the pandemic’s restriction on movements. And while they drive less, they can still have the same peace of mind as the coverage is the same, including compensation for loss of the vehicle in the event it is stolen.

Cash rebates will be calculated on a daily basis, as a percentage of a customer’s basic premium or contribution (minus No Claim Discount) as per the table below:

The ‘
Drive Less Save More
’ add-on is available when purchasing new or renewing motor insurance or takaful.  To qualify for the rebates, customers just need to submit a picture of their vehicle numberplate as well as of the car odometer (the one which shows the mileage) via the Etiqa Smile mobile app.

Subsequently, during the policy or certificate period, customers will need to upload an image of their odometer reading as often as they like, with a minimum gap of 10 days between uploads in order to obtain their rebates. The images will be used to confirm the mileage driven and to calculate the corresponding rebate amount.

To qualify for the rebates, policyholders must periodically send an image of the odometer to verify the mileage travelled.

In a joint statement, Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, CEO of Etiqa General Takaful Berhad and Fukhairudin Mohd Yusof, CEO of Etiqa General Insurance Berhad said: “We recognize the fact that there has been a reduction in driving activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant number of people working from home. Driven by Etiqa’s vision to make the world a better place, we would like to give back to those who have been using their vehicles less by rewarding them with rebates on their motor insurance premium or takaful contributions. After all, by driving less we can also do our part to save the environment,” they added.

Honda Insurance Plus plan upgraded with more benefits


Audi AI:TRAIL Quattro brings autonomous driving to off-road travels

Audi has completed its quartet of visionary vehicles with an electric off-roader for the future of road transport with the AI:TRAIL quattro. The 4-seater concept car, which combines automated driving capability with competent off-road capabilities, joins the Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE concepts shown earlier.

With the AI:TRAIL, Audi is now opening up the potential applications for its visionary vehicles to include off-road terrain. The car is equipped with 4 electric motors, systems for assisted and automated driving and, of course, quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

There’s more than just the concept of sustainable drive systems and a body line that will run far into the future. The car also embodies an entirely new mobility concept for Audi. Unlike the cars of the present, such vehicles will no longer have to compromise between a wide range of uses and scenarios. Instead, it will be possible to design tomorrow’s cars for much more specific use cases. In the future, customers will be able to order any of these specialist Audi models from an Audi on demand vehicle pool to suit their personal preferences and requirements and to lease them for a limited period.

Technology that’s plain to see

With an exterior length of 4.15 metres and a width of 2.15 metres, the AI:TRAIL’s potential away from paved roads is immediately apparent. The roof height of 1.67 metres and the enormous 22-inch wheels with 850 mm tyres already hint at its superior off-road capabilities. With a ground clearance of an impressive 340 mm, it can drive across water more than half a metre deep.

The cabin itself is an extensively glazed space surrounded by polygonal shapes, with room for up to 4 people. With the electric drive system arranged around the axles and the battery in the floor, there is no need for overhanging sections or separate attachments for the motor or batteries.

Light weight and maximum body stiffness are, of course, important technical objectives for off-roaders in particular. That is why the body of the AI:TRAIL is made of a mixture of high-tech steel, aluminium and carbonfibre. As a result, it weighs just 1,750 kgs despite carrying a high-capacity battery.

Helicopter-style all-round visibility

The windshield wraps around the front of the vehicle like the cockpit of a helicopter. Passengers have an unobstructed view of the road or trail both in front and to the sides. Nor is it just the front and sides that are transparent and covered in glass. Almost the entire roof, from the top of the windshield to the rear spoiler, allows a clear view of the sky and the landscape. Even the vertical Singleframe is glazed, with only the four rings of the badge sitting in their customary position in what is otherwise a glass octagon.

Mobility and multifunctionality are features of the AI:TRAIL’s light sources as well. Instead of conventional headlights, self-contained light sources sit below the A-pillars and can shine both outward and inward. These LED elements are dimmable and adjustable and can be used as interior lighting as well as for lighting the vehicle’s path.

Audi Light Pathfinders

Instead of conventional low beams and high beams, the Audi AI:TRAIL is equipped with a total of five rotorless, triangular, electrically operated drones with integrated matrix LED elements. They are capable of landing on a roof rack or directly on the roof of the vehicle and docking onto the inductive charging elements.

The flying objects are Audi Light Pathfinders, which generate their lift in the same way as bladeless fans produce their air flow. Thanks to their markedly lightweight design, they can fly ahead of the AI:TRAIL, consuming comparably little energy in the process, and illuminate the path ahead, thereby replacing headlights entirely. If desired, the on-board cameras generate a video image that can be transmitted to the display in front of the driver via wifi, turning the Pathfinders into eyes in the sky.

“With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing an off-road concept with an emissions-free electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand,” said Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design.


Mazda to complete electrification of products by 2030, with major focus on European markets

Mazda Motor Corporation will be expanding its SUV line-up from 2022 onwards. While  the popular CX-5 will remain one of the core models globally, alongside with models such as the CX-30, the company has finalised development of additional models in the Large Product Group.

These models, including two new ones – the CX-60 and CX-80 – will be aimed at European and American markets, together with the new wide-bodied CX-70 and CX-90. The new models will be introduced throughout Europe during the next two years.

Featuring 2-row and 3-row seating, respectively, the CX-60 and CX-80 will also spearhead the European introduction of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models that use 4-cylinder petrol engines combined with an electric motor. There will also be the new generation straight-six SKYACTIV-X petrol engine and SKYACTIV-D turbodiesel engine incorporating a 48V mild hybrid system. These engines will have high output while also achieving excellent environmental performance.

Fully electric MX-30.

The new CX-60 and CX-80 are expected to create positive business growth over the medium to long term. They will make full use of Mazda’s Building Block development and production strategy. This strategy enables the carmaker to  efficiently develop and deploy superior technologies by building up a set of fundamental technologies as ‘blocks’. Some of the technologies are already familiar – like SKYACTIV technology – with bundled planning and flexible production.

In addition, during the first half of 2022, a new version of Mazda’s first mass-production EV, the MX-30, will be introduced. This model incorporates multiple electrification technologies that use Mazda’s famed rotary engine as a generator.

From around 2025, the company will introduce a number of new products on a new EV-dedicated platform. With the introduction of these models, Mazda is on track to complete the electrification of its complete range by 2030.

CX-30 and CX-5, two of the Mazda SUVs available in Malaysia.

To know more about Mazda models available in Malaysia, visit
www.mazda.com.my
.

Quality pre-owned Mazda vehicles available at the new Mazda Anshin website


1-2 finish for Toyota in Monte Carlo Rally, record 8th win for Sebastian Ogier

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team got off to a great start for the 2021 motorsport season with victory in the Rallye Monte-Carlo. Besides a 1-2 finish, Sebastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia also won the legendary event for a record eighth time. The victory was also the 50th for Ogier and Ingrassia in the FIA World Rally Championship, becoming only the second competitors recording such an achievement.

This is the first time that the team has won the WRC’s most prestigious event with its Toyota Yaris WRC, having made the podium every year since its debut in 2017. It is only the fourth Rallye Monte-Carlo win in Toyota’s history, the first time being in 1991.

The event lived up to its reputation as the most demanding event on the WRC calendar with special challenges for this year’s edition. To start with, the route was different and a modified schedule to follow coronavirus restrictions in France meant that some stages took place in the darkness before dawn.

Then WRC teams also had to get to grips with tyres from the new sole supplier, Pirelli. This year, conditions were very wet with snow and ice, making tyre choice even more critical to the outcome.

The Toyota team led the rally from the third stage early on Friday morning, with each of its three entries all taking turns in the lead over the course of the rally’s longest day. On his home event, Ogier claimed the lead back with a storming stage win on Saturday’s first test. He took a 13-second advantage over Evans into the final day, when he won three of the four stages – including the rally-ending Power Stage – to begin the defence of his title in the perfect way.

With second place Evans also makes a strong start to his championship campaign, while Rovanpera begins his second season having fought for the podium on such a demanding event. Tyre damage on Sunday’s first stage contributed to Rovanpera missing out on the top three, but he did finish with the second fastest time in the Power Stage.

With Evans third quickest, the team locked out the top three positions on the Power Stage, which from this season also gives bonus points towards the manufacturers’ championship. This, combined with the 1-2 finish in the rally, means the team takes maximum points from the opening round.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program driver Takamoto Katsuta also made it four Yaris WRC drivers in the top six as he completed Rallye Monte-Carlo for the second year in a row and scored his best WRC result so far in sixth place.

Arctic Rally Finland (February 26-28) is a new addition to the WRC calendar for 2021, taking the place of the cancelled Rally Sweden as the year’s only pure winter event. The rally will be based in Rovaniemi – capital of Finland’s northernmost region (and also the ‘home’ of Santa Claus) – with stages to take place inside the Arctic Circle on roads with a good covering of snow and ice.

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


Ferrari Formula 1 V10 engine for sale! Only RM376,470

Ever wondered what will happen if you stuff a Formula 1 race-winning engine into your project car that’s been sitting around forever? If you have the money, then wonder no more because there are two Ferrari Formula 1 V10 engines up for sale from the manufacturer’s championship-winning 2002 season!

That’s right. One of these bad boys is currently being bid on an online auction by RM Sotheby’s. The Tipo 051/B/C 3.0-liter V-10 which propelled the F2002 F1 machine driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello to 15 wins out of 17 races can be yours IF you have super deep pockets (and luck in the auction).

The other engine is currently up for sale of
Ferrari’s own online store
 for a reasonable $90,000 (around RM376,470). For those who are interested in buying this beauty, you should also know that it produces a whopping 835hp at a screaming 17,800rpm. It was so successful back in 2002 that most people have referred to the season as one of the most dominant seasons of all time.

Ok, so it’s not like you can just buy it and pop it straight into your project car but having one of these beauties displayed in your mansion deserves top bragging rights amongst your other ultra-rich companions every time they come to visit. So, anybody interested?

Ferrari reveals fifth (and final) new model of 2019 – the Roma


Now available in Malaysia, Michelin X MULTI Z 2 offers key benefits for commercial vehicle operators

Michelin, though mainly associated with passenger car tyres, makes many other types of tyres for different applications and vehicles. The same high level of R&D that goes into their high-performance passenger car tyres is also applied to their truck tyres, for instance, to provide longevity and improved performance.

The X MULTI Z 2 is the latest addition to Michelin’s best-selling range in the East Asia and Australia region. Incorporating revolutionary technologies, this all-position tyre is suitable for regional and highway operations and is now available in Malaysia in the 11R22.5 size.

Three breakthrough technologies

The X MULTI Z 2 has breakthrough technologies in three areas of its design and construction:

REGENION –
Differently shaped grooves ensure minimal tread deformation, lowering rolling resistance and reducing fuel consumption. With the 3D metal printing techniques, the longitudinal grooves regenerate as the tyre wears, delivering a high level of grip and traction throughout the tyre’s service life in all weather conditions. The wear rate is claimed to be lower too – by more than 20% compared to its predecessor, the X MULTI Z.

INFINICOIL –
This technology increases the robustness of the tyres. Reinforced tread plies with a continuously wound steel wire of up to 400 metres long (depending on tyre size) are used inside the casing. The high tensile steel wire increases tyre strength and thus optimizes the ground contact patch and delivers high mileage potential. This technology also helps reduce risk of sudden pressure loss for better vehicle control, extends mobility even when punctured, and improves uneven wear as it flattens the contact patch, with less unexpected breakdown incidences.

HT NYLON –
The strengthened bead endurance not only helps reduce tyre damage linked to long-distance/high-speed usage and continuous usage cycle by 10%, but also increase retreadability.

“Thanks to the three core revolutionary technologies, the MICHELIN X MULTI Z 2 brings to our targeted customers uncompromised safety performance and helps meet their delivery timing and efficiency – thus, leading to increased productivity and improved cost-effectiveness for their businesses,” said Michelin Malaysia’s Commercial Director for B2B, Muhammad Arya Subrata.

‘Upcycle’ is theme for Michelin’s global design competition in 2020


FEATURE: What On Earth Happened To The Skoda Brand In Malaysia? We Reminisce In Light Of The New Skoda Skala!

When even the official local website for a bona-fide carmaker – not some fly-by-night kit-car – returns an
Error 404
 message, you just know something has gone terribly wrong, somewhere. And that’s a shame because I really like
Skoda
 cars.

A
Google
 search fares no better, the last search yielded an
Autoworld

(<–link) post from back in 2003, when a new
Auto Praha
 showroom (below) opened in Bangsar, and its last
Facebook
update was in 2011. Auto Praha is (was?) the official importer, a company under the
Berjaya Group
, and the last vestiges of the Skoda brand can still be seen at the
 Bermaz Mazda HQ
 in Glenmarie, in addition to the odd smattering of actual Skoda cars.

Image courtesy of www.autoworld.com.my

It’s a shame really that the brand has been allowed to die a slow and painful death, the likes of which can be said about
Alfa Romeo, Jeep
,
Chevrolet
 and to a point, even
Opel
here in Malaysia. The last two aforementioned brands are connected of course, and GM definitely made a mistake killing Opel in favour of Chevy, that much is widely whispered, even among GM management.

The last Skoda I personally reviewed was the
Superb
 (above & below), and by all accounts it really did live-up to its nameplate. The Superb had a ‘dual’ boot, its rear-end could be used as a conventional boot, or transformed into a
lift-back.
It still remains one of the coolest cargo-carrying features I’ve ever come across.

It just wasn’t meant to be I guess, and thanks to
AutoExpressUK
, this might have been in the cards for us, had the brand survived, the
Skoda Skala
. This would have been a fun contender for the likes of the VW Golf, if only. –
Chris Wee.

From AutoExpress:

The all-new Skoda Scala hatchback has arrived, sitting between the Fabia and Octavia in the Czech brand’s range

This is the all-new Skoda Scala, the Czech firm’s direct rival for the likes of the
Volkswagen Golf

and
Ford Focus
.

It’s due on sale in 2019 priced from around £16,500.

The Scala is based on the smallest version of the
VW
 Group’s MQB platform, called A0. That means it shares some mechanicals with models such as the
SEAT Ibiza
 and
Volkswagen Polo
 – but it’s considerably
bigger
 than those machines. Indeed, at 4,362mm, the Scala is still over 10cm
 longer than a Golf
 – but a full 30cm shorter than the
Octavia
.

Buyers will have four engines to choose from at launch. The core of the line-up will be a
1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol
 motor, offered with either
94bhp or 114bhp
. There is also a more powerful
148bhp 1.5-litre
 four-cylinder petrol unit, complete with cylinder deactivation to boost efficiency, as well as a
 1.6-litre diesel
delivering
 114bhp
.

The base petrol unit gets a five-speed manual gearbox; all of the other engines are offered with a six-speed transmission, along with the option of a seven-ratio dual-clutch automatic. For the FULL article, click
here
.

(Skoda Skala images & info from
www.autoexpress.co.uk
, Skoda Superb & Octavia images from
Skoda M’sia Facebook
 page, Auto Praha Image from
www.autoworld.com.my
)


The Story of N – Hyundai N (w/VIDEO)

Like Mercedes-Benz with AMG and BMW’s M, Hyundai Motor also has a high-performance sub-brand which it calls ‘Hyundai N’. The first association of ‘N’ with Hyundai was when the carmaker presented its N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car for PlayStation’s Gran Turismo videogame series in 2015.

Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept

In that same year, Hyundai brought in Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW’s M division, to spearhead the development of the N sub-brand and create a line of high-performance production cars.

Born in the WRC

To introduce the N brand as well as to give Hyundai engineers a development environment that was high pressured and extreme, Hyundai Motorsport, based in Germany, was tasked with participating in the World Rally Championship (WRC). In WRC events, rallycars compete on rough terrain and roads of gravel, tarmac, snow and ice, pushed to the limits by their drivers. Thus WRC is considered the ‘cradle of the N line-up’ where Hyundai’s high-performance concepts were first tested.

Besides the ‘WRC testing ground’ which is global, Hyundai engineers also used the Nordschliefe at the Nurburgring circuit for durability testing and tuning. In fact, since September 2014, the carmaker has had a permanent presence at the circuit, having established its European Test Centre there.

What does Hyundai N mean?

The ‘N’ in Hyundai N stands for
N
amyang, home to Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea since 1995, and also for
N
urburgring, where N models are tested and developed further. The close connection between Namyang and the Nurburgring created the foundation for N, aiming to build on the company’s motorsport experience to bring winding road fun to customers who love cars. The ‘N’ logo itself embodies this idea, as it symbolises a chicane.

Measured in BPM, not RPM

The first mass production Hyundai N high-performance car, the i30 N, was launched earlier this year, Instead of focusing on pure numbers, Hyundai has chosen to emphasise driving pleasure and the emotional impact on the driver’s heartbeats per minute (BPM), rather than simply measuring revs per minute (RPM). When the driver hits the throttle and shifts through the gears, the Rev-matching function increases torque and acceleration.

Based on three cornerstones under the theme ‘Fun to Drive’, the i30 N is referred to as a ‘Corner Rascal’, and has proven its racetrack capability. It can be used for racing on weekends and driven to work on Monday.

The i30 N TCR

The i30 N TCR represents Hyundai Motorsport’s first steps into circuit racing (while continuing with the WRC), and entrance into one of the fastest growing categories in motorsport. The design phase of the i30 N TCR project began in September 2016, with the first completed test car running in April 2017. In 2019, Hyundai Motorsport increased its TCR offering with the launch of the Veloster N TCR.

Hyundai Veloster N TCR

The TCR project continues the expansion of Hyundai Motorsport, with both cars built and developed by the Customer Racing department at the team’s headquarters in Germany. Since its debut, the i30 N TCR (priced from €128,000, equivalent to RM588,000) has secured wins and championships around the world, including the inaugural WTCR titles in 2018.

2020 Hyundai i30 N for sale on Lazada! 20 units only – RM298,888


Honda’s 70th Anniversary Sees “Double Joy” Celebration Promotion Announced

September is a special month for both Malaysia and
Honda
. As the nation celebrates Malaysia’s unity and Honda global commemorates its
70th Anniversary
, Honda Malaysia is honouring this double celebration with a
Double Joy
 campaign that rewards customers with rebates. As alluded by the campaign name, customers can now enjoy double bonuses in the form of Honda Bonus together with Honda 70th Birthday Bonus, starting from the
Civic
 with RM2,500 to the Civic Type R with
RM20,000
 for selected models registered from
 1 September to 30 September 2018
*.

During the Double Joy campaign period, customers are also entitled to participate in the Joy of Buying contest, in which they will stand a chance of winning one of the seven City being given out as grand prizes over seven weeks. As the No.1 car marque in the Non-National segment from January to July 2018, Honda Malaysia is continuously working hard to retain and strengthen its position in the market. During the three-month tax holiday period of 1 June to 31 August 2018, Honda Malaysia recorded a remarkable sales performance by selling over 35,000 units, accounting for 47% of the total sales from January to August 2018.

Throughout these three months, the City, Civic and Jazz were the hot favourites among customers. The City was the most popular model, accounting for 35% of the sales during this period, followed by Civic at 17% and Jazz at 15%. Region-wise, the Central region contributed the most sales for Honda Malaysia during this period, accounting for 48% of the overall sales. Honda Malaysia will continue to excite the market with more attractive campaigns and products. The soon-to-be launched New HR-V has been gaining widespread attention and is creating much anticipation in the market.

Alongside this impending new model launch and following the new pricing for its petrol models, Honda Malaysia will also be announcing the new price for Honda Hybrid CKD models once it has been finalised. The market feedback on Honda Hybrid models is encouraging and the company is set to continue selling Hybrid models in the future.

For further information on the Double Joy and Joy of Buying campaigns, Honda models and its after-sales service, please call the Honda Toll-Free number of 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my.

*Terms and conditions apply.


Fuel Price Updates For February 10 – February 16, 2022


Kalle Rovanpera is youngest driver to ever win a round of the World Rally Championship

Kalle Rovanpera has become the youngest driver to ever win a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) after he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen secured victory on Rally Estonia. At 20 years and 290 days, Rovanpera claims the record that was previosuly held by the man who is now his Team Principal, Jari-Matti Latvala (who was just over two years older when he won Rally Sweden in 2008).

The win in Estonia, the seventh round of the 2021 WRC, is the fifth victory in a row for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team. Driving a Toyota Yaris WRC (which was built at Toyota’s factory in Estonia), Rovanpera led after all but two of the event’s 24 stages, held over some of the fastest roads in rallying. He took 6 out of 8 stage wins on Friday in a close battle with his nearest rival, Craig Breen (with Paul Nagle) in a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC.

The next day, he pushed harder and extended his lead with some very quick stage times. By the final day, he had a lead of 50.7 seconds, which he ultimately extended to almost one minute with an expertly-controlled drive through the last 6 stages.

Kalle Rovanpera

Fifth consecutive win for team

The team’s fifth consecutive win (and sixth from seven rounds so far this year) is the longest-ever WRC winning streak achieved by Toyota in its rallying history. All three of the team’s cars finished among the top five, with Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia coming fourth and Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin taking fifth.

Ogier and Evans remain first and second in the Drivers’ standings, separated by 37 points, with Rovanpera up to fourth. With a cumulative 315 points, the Toyota team retains its 59-point advantage at the top of the Manufacturers’ championship, ahead of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team.

Another 5 rounds remain between now and November, when the Rally Japan will be the final event of the championship. The next round will be the Ypres Rally, the first time that the 55-year old Belgian event has been included as a WRC round. Part of the European Rally Championship, it has a demanding route along farmland roads lined with ditches. The final day will be run around the famous Spa-Francorchamps racing circuit.

Hyundai’s new Rally2 car

The Ypres Rally will see the competitive debut of
Hyundai’s new i20 N Rally2 car
, successor to the i20 R5. It will be at the forefront of a new initiative from Hyundai Motorsport and the FIA to nurture rally talent from regional championships around the world for the next 3 years. In the FIA Rally Champions World Tour, title winners from 5 series – in Africa, Asia-Pacific, CODASUR, Middle East and NACAM – will get a prize drive in an i20 N Rally2 at a WRC round.

Hyundai’s i20 N rally2 car

The scheme will initially benefit winners in this season’s championship and the winners in 2022 and 2023 will be rewarded at WRC events in 2023 and 2024 respectively. According to FIA Rally Director, Yves Matton, the scheme will create a pathway for competitors from non-European nationalities to reach the top of the rally pyramid. “It will provide greater diversity in the FIA World Rally Championship,” he added.


Vinfast to offer one of the most powerful SUVs in the world

Vinfast, Vietnam’s only domestic brand, has been in the market for a couple of years now and is working hard at establishing its credentials as a premium carmaker. Besides the two models it has already started producing, it has also come up with a limited edition SUV model exclusively for the Vietnamese market.

Designed by Pininfarina (which was also involved in its first two models), the SUV is known as the President and claimed to be one of the most powerful SUVs in the world at the moment. Vinfast will build 500 units for sale; the first 1000 will be sold for 3.8 billion VND (equivalent to about RM682,000) and for the remaining 400, the price will be 4.6 billion VND (about RM823,000).

To join the ‘most powerful SUV’ club, the President’s V8 engine has a maximum output of 420 ps/624 Nm and, with an 8-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4-wheel drive, the claimed 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time is 6.8 seconds and a top speed capability of nearly 300 km/h.

As would be expected of such an exclusive model. Pininfarina has given it a majestic and elegant design. The grille is designed in a diamond shape to accentuate the high position, while a large air cavity enhances the strong appearance. The highlight at the rear is a pair of large dual exhaust tailpipes.

Besides a choice of 18 exterior colours, the premium finishing includes sophisticated details covered in gold colour, copper bronze, gun metal, or metallic silver on the logo, roof rack, door braces, car steps, wheels, and bumpers.

The inside gives priority to the comfort of the rear occupants (although the driver’s comfort is not ignored). Massage functions are available in the seats, along with heating and ventilation features for the first and second rows. In particular, the second row of seats is very spacious with legroom of up to 20 cm more compared to the Lux SA2.0 model.

The seats are covered with premium Nappa leather from exclusive leather suppliers, along with premium veneer wood made in Italy exclusively for the President. The wood cladding on each car will have a completely different pattern, thus creating a unique  ‘ID’ and adding to the exclusiveness. The entertainment system consists of a 7-inch multi-function display cluster with a centre screen of 12.3 inches and 13 high-end speakers positioned around the cabin.

Commenting on the President, Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Standing Deputy General Director of VinFast, said: “President is a product line that represents the high class and quality of VinFast, it is also our affirmation to the world of Vietnamese automobile production capacity. We want to dedicate this wonderful product and VinFast’s top-notch customer care services to Vietnamese people who have a pioneering and strong spirit. That is also the reason why VinFast only produces a limited number of 500 cars to ensure this masterpiece is worthy of its owner”.

First flagship models of Vietnam’s Vinfast score 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP tests


All-new Perodua Alza coming soon with prices from RM62,000 – bookings now accepted

With the sales tax exemption not going to be extended after June 30, 2022, car companies are expecting that there will be a slowdown in orders in the coming few months as prices are go up. However, Perodua is unlikely to experience this as it has a brand new model on the way – the all-new Alza MPV. The model line, which has a history going back to 2009, can now be booked and going by past practice, it is likely to be launched within a month.

The new Alza (known as D27A internally) has estimated pricing of between RM62,000 and RM75,000 (West Malaysia price without insurance and without sales tax), and will be available in 3 variants – X, H and AV – with 5 colour choices.

The first Alza generation which was added to the Perodua range in 2009.

With its predecessor having been in the market for quite some time, it would be expected that the new one will come with significant improvements in terms of driving comfort and versatility. In the time that has passed, many new technologies have been developed and the cost of some have also come down, making it possible to offer them in models like the Alza at the lower end of the market.

“We took our time in designing this full model change as we truly wanted to understand what improvements our customers wanted, and the New Perodua Alza aims to fulfil these requests,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

He revealed that feedback from owners indicated that they wanted a better driving experience, which the engineers have addressed by lowering the ground clearance to 160 mm. “In our assessment, is the best height for a pleasant Malaysian drive, for an MPV,” he said.

Dato’ Zainal said that the new Alza has bigger space compared with its predecessor, especially in the third row as well as a rear air-conditioning unit. “Above and beyond that, the New Perodua Alza’s fuel efficiency has also been improved with up to potentially 22 kms per litre, which is among the best in its MPV class,” he added.

The engine will continue to have a displacement of 1.5 litres with Dual VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing on intake and exhaust ports) for enhanced breathing efficiency, and the proven D-CVT for delivering power to the front wheels. Three selectable modes will give drivers a choice between stronger acceleration or extra kms for each litre of fuel, or a balance of performance. An ECO Idle system will also help to reduce waste of fuel during periods of long idling.

Though MPVs are largely bought as people-carriers, the Alza can also take a lot of cargo, especially when the seats are folded down. For the new model, the capacity is 137 litres when all seats are in use but this volume can expand 3.6 times to 498 litres if the third row backrests are folded.

Perodua has constantly been increasing safety levels in its models and apart from having up to 6 airbags (in the Alza AV), there is also the Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) suite. This is made up of Advance Safety Assist (ASA), Driver Assist, Parking Assist and Headlamp Assist. PSDA will help drivers be aware of dangerous situations and in some cases, act to prevent accidents.

All variants will also include Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention systems, both of which will help when the driver may be drowsy. As extra bonuses, there is also Leaving Home Headlamp Assist and Hill-start Assist functions.

The latest features for a Perodua model include a 360⁰ Panoramic View monitor, Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Brake Hold, and rear disc brake. Standard safety features include ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control (VSC) with Brake Assist and rear sensors to assist with parking.

“This full model change represents our best effort so far in terms of product offering as the features included are the best within its price category,” Dato’ Zainal said.

Bookings can be made at all authorised Perodua 118 showrooms nationwide or
online
 via the Perodua website at
www.perodua.com.my
. With just 7 days left for the sales tax exemption, Perodua is likely to get a flood of orders by many who want to save money while they can. The Finance Minister has said that those who book their new vehicles before the deadline cam remain entitled to the exemption even if their vehicle comes after June 30. But they must have it registered not later than March 31, 2023.

Lower-priced childseat now offered by Perodua


Nissan wants you to connect with nature @ BodyMindSoul Festival

The BodyMindSoul Festival which is currently taking place all weekend long (29 November 2019 – 1 December 2019) at the Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC) in Setia Alam and Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (Nissan Malaysia) is conducting the Nissan Nurtures Nature (NNN) campaign as part of their efforts to ‘reconnect’ back with nature.

Introduced back in 2018, the Nissan Nurtures Nature (NNN) was launched with the goal to gathers all associates of ETCM to create positive changes for the environment and communities via the 3R philosophy, Reduce, Recycle and Reconnect.

This year, the NNN will be conducting a series of fun and eco-friendly activities in conjunction with the BodyMindSoul Festival from Mini Herbs planting sessions, Tire Ottoman exhibits, to displaying their all-electric
Nissan Leaf
 zero-emission model.

There will be loads of other fun-filled activities planned all weekend long at the BodyMindSoul Festival for the entire family to promote self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-love. The event is open for everyone and if you happen to be there this weekend, don’t forget to check out Nissan’s installations and activities.

If you’re interested in the all-new
Nissan Leaf
, ETCM will also be conducting test drives on their all-electric model so make sure you get a feel of the future of mobility at the Setia City Convention Centre. For more information on the Nissan Leaf, check out our written review in the link, below!

Edaran Tan Chong Motor helps preserve mangrove habitat in Kuala Selangor


Four generations of hybrid power and still moving forward with technology

Throughout the 1980s, Toyota’s engineers worked hard to develop a hybrid system which could be commercialised and used in mass production. They succeeded by the end of the decade and the carmaker introduced its first model with a hybrid electric powertrain – the Prius. Since then, Toyota has continued to make ever better hybrid powertrains as new technology has been developed and more importantly, battery technology has also made much progress.

The hybrid concept is an ingenious marriage of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Their performance – in unison or individually – is governed automatically and seamlessly by an intelligent system that draws power from the appropriate source to maximise efficiency, or performance.

Electric power is generated by the engine while the car is being driven and is also converted from the kinetic energy produced when braking or slowing down. Power is stored in a high-voltage battery pack that needs no ‘plug-in’ recharging.

It started with the RX 400h

Lexus, Toyota’s premium luxury brand, has also been collaborating in the development of hybrid powertrains, apart from drawing on the development work done by Toyota. Years of R&D culminated in the RX 400h, the first self-charging hybrid Lexus and world’s first luxury hybrid vehicle, launched in 2005. On the outside, it looked little different from the familiar RX 300 SUV but, under the skin, things were very different. Yes, there was a 3.3-litre petrol V6 engine under the bonnet, but this was just one element in the all-new self-charging hybrid electric system.

The development of the Lexus Hybrid Drive brought ‘full’ hybrid technology to motorists. It meant the vehicle could run on electric power alone, with zero emissions and fuel consumption. Initially, this was limited to low-speeds and relatively short distances due to limitations in technology, especially battery capacity. But as the technology was developed, the capability increased significantly. Today, Lexus hybrids can travel up to 50% of the time in congested urban environments without the petrol engine running.

The second generation

The second generation of the Lexus Hybrid Drive showed significant progress. Not surprisingly, it was first offered in the brand’s new flagship sedan, the LS 600h, in 2007. As the first hybrid system to feature a V8 engine – a 5.0-litre unit, the most technically advanced Lexus had yet built – it delivered the kind of power and performance typically associated with a V12. The system delivered 445 bhp and 520 Nm of torque, giving acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds.

When it came to emissions and fuel economy, the LS 600h also broke new ground in its class. It could achieve official combined cycle fuel economy of 10.8 kms/litre and its comparatively low emissions earned it SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) status in the USA.

A sportier dimension

A sportier aspect of hybrid power was also seen in the GS 450h sports sedan. A 2-stage motor speed reduction planetary gear was used in both the GS and LS models but for the LS 600h, the hybrid transmission was upgraded. The nickel-metal hydride battery produced 280V, but a boost converter could ramp this up to 650V.

The GS 450h and the RX 450h, which superceded the original RX 400h in 2009, were equipped with a new 3.5-litre V6 engine. Thanks to the use of an electronically-controlled power split device, the transmission operated like a continuously variable transmission (CVT) but with the benefit – for the first time in a hybrid – of a manual shift mode and AI-Shift that used artificial intelligence to adapt performance to the driver’s style and the driving conditions.

More efficient, more responsive

The third generation of Lexus Hybrid Drive made advances both in efficiency and responsiveness. The revised system was first seen in the IS 300h, the first IS to feature hybrid power, which entered the market in 2013.

Central to the improved performance was a new 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine, equipped with D-4S direct fuel injection, Dual VVT-i intelligent variable valve-timing and a high-efficiency exhaust gas recirculation system. Combined with the hybrid transaxle, this gave class-leading, sub-100 g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy from 23.3 kms/litre.

With further refinements, this system was also adopted for the Lexus NX, the company’s first midsize crossover, and the RC 300h coupe, both of which joined the range in 2014.

The Multi-Stage Hybrid System

While the styling of the LC Coupe has earned it high praise and awards, the LC also marked a new era in hybrid electric technology. The breakthrough was the Multi-Stage Hybrid System, a new transmission device that retains the hybrid’s efficiency, but which takes the driving experience to a higher level.

The LC 500h is equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that revs all the way to 6600 rpm, and benefits from detailed engineering features to promote both performance and efficiency. The Multi-Stage Hybrid System allows its potential to be exploited to the maximum by amplifying the output of both the engine and the electric motor. In this way, performance can be optimised at all engine speeds.

For the driver the rewards are more responsive and direct acceleration, greater dynamic performance and all-round driving pleasure – the ‘even sharper’ character that Lexus sought to achieve. With total system output of 359 bhp and 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in a claimed 5 seconds, the new powertrain fully justifies its place in a performance model, yet can go up to 12.3 kms/litre. Since its introduction in the LC, the Multi-Stage System has also been used in the LS 500h.

Aiming higher with fourth generation

Today, Lexus is leveraging its technology leadership with a fourth generation of Lexus Hybrid Drive that achieves even better fuel efficiency, responsive emissions and low emissions. Featured in the new ES 300h sedan and UX 250h compact crossover launched in early 2019, it combines the benefits of an all-new, ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle engine with a new electric motor that’s lighter, more compact and more power dense.

No effort was spared in this powertrain’s development, with 60 prototypes built and more than 10 million kilometres of road testing carried out. The result is the most thermally efficient engine yet to be installed in a production vehicle – rated at 41%. This means more of the power potential of every drop of fuel is captured to drive the wheels. This has been achieved with fast-burn combustion technology that ensures more power is gained without increasing emissions or fuel consumption.

Proven, robust and reliable technology

Lexus hybrids proved themselves to be intrinsically quiet, smooth and refined and, as the years passed, they also demonstrated exceptional reliability. This is not a fragile technology, but a robust and highly durable solution.

Within 15 years, Lexus has made the hybrid concept central to its brand, extending its reach from a single model in 2005 to a range of up to 10 vehicles in some regions today, covering many different bodystyles and performance levels. Worldwide, cumulative hybrid sales have passed 1.6 million units, while in Western Europe hybrids now account for 99% of all the new Lexus vehicles sold in the region.

To know more about Lexus models available in Malaysia, visit
www.lexus.com.my
,

Lexus goes fully electric with the UX300e


TOYOTA GAZOO Racing wins first-ever hypercar championship of World Endurance Championship

The era of the Hypercar category of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) began in May this year with the Spa 6 Hours in Belgium. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing was the first team to enter a car – the GR010 HYBRID – built to the new rules that are aimed at lowering speeds and reduce costs (compared to the previous LMP1 regulations).

At the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend, the team finished 1-2 in very hot and challenging conditions to confirm TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s fourth World Championship in WEC, and its third in succession. The victory also maintained the GR010 HYBRID Hypercar’s 100% winning record in 2021, with one race remaining.

Fighting for Drivers title

The focus will now switch to the Drivers’ title fight in next weekend’s sixth and final race, also at the same circuit. The Le Mans-winning #7 crew moved a significant step closer to retaining the World Championship they won in Bahrain 12 months ago. Their third win of the season extends their advantage over the #8 drivers to 15 points.

The contest between the two GR010 HYBRID crews was intense throughout the event and, when the race got under way, Sebastien Buemi in the #8 held the advantage from pole position. But Mike  Conway pursued him throughout the first stint and the pair were separated by less than a second for the opening 45 minutes.

The Alpine Elf Matmut Endurance Team is one of the three teams to compete in the hypercar category which was introduced this year.

Pushing tyres to the limit

The cars were closely matched and the lead changed hands several times in the early stages as the momentum swung. Eventually the #7 established itself at the front, suffering slightly less from tyre degradation on a day when all hypercars faced the same issue. “In my stint, it was a case of managing the tyres from the start. There were a lot of unknowns because we have never taken tyres so far into a race before, but it all worked out well,” said Conway.

At half distance, Jose Maria Lopez led by just 10 seconds from Buemi but the battle took a decisive turn after 4 hours when the #8 was delayed during a tyre change and dropped to third. Although Brendon Hartley swiftly overtook an Alpine (also in the hypercar category) to reclaim second, he trailed Kamui Kobayashi by around 40 seconds.

The GR010 HYBRIDs maintained their pace at the front and Kobayashi was at the wheel of the victorious #7 car when it crossed the line after 185 laps. Kazuki Nakajima followed 51.401secs later to complete the one-two. “It was tough race with the heat, but the temperature was a bit better for me at the end of the race. We ran an aggressive set-up to try to maybe get an edge, but it didn’t work out that way,” said Nakajima of this second placing.

Porsche 911 RSR, GR Racing #86, Michael Wainwright (GB), Tom Gamble (GB), Benjamin Barker (GB)

Porsche just 1 point ahead of Ferrari

In the WEC GT Manufacturers’ Championship, Porsche’s grid-to-finish line win by Kevin Estre and Neel Jani puts the German carmaker just 1 point ahead of Ferrari, so the final race is sure to be very tightly contested.

The end of the 6-hour race marks the halfway point in the two rounds to be held in Bahrain. The teams are now beginning preparations for an 8-hour race on Saturday November 6 which ends the 2021 season and will decide the outcome of the Drivers’ World Championship.

Peugeot 9X8 hybrid hypercar to join 2022 World Endurance Championship


Sebastien Ogier wins Rally Mexico for sixth time – in yet another car!

Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia secured their first victory for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team with a record-equalling sixth Rally Mexico triumph. It was also the first win on the gruelling gravel event for the Toyota Yaris WRC.

The finish of the event was brought forward to Saturday evening, a decision taken in the face of fast-changing travel restrictions connected with the global COVID-19 virus outbreak to ensure safe and timely travel home for officials, competitors and team personnel. Some countries in Europe are going into lockdown in view of the pandemic numbers increasing.

In his third start with Toyota – and first on gravel – Ogier dominated proceedings after taking the lead on Friday’s second stage. He led by 13.2 seconds coming into Saturday, and immediately extended that advantage with a stunning stage win on SS13 Guanajuatito. His final winning margin was 27.8 seconds.

With his sixth Mexico win in 8 years – behind the wheel of four different cars – Ogier moves into the lead of the championship ahead of team-mate Elfyn Evans, who finished a strong fourth with co-driver Scott Martin after running first on the loose gravel roads on Friday.

Kalle Rovanpera continued the impressive start to his top-flight WRC career in fifth place: the 19-year-old’s third top-five finish in as many rallies, together with Jonne Halttunen. Rovanpera was within a few seconds of a podium place coming into Saturday, but was disadvantaged by running early in the road order.

With its all-new driver line-up having taken two wins in its first 3 events, Toyota’s rally team has further increased its lead in the manufacturers’ championship to 21 points.

“The first two years in Mexico, we could not fight during the rally due to overheating. But our engineers have put a lot of effort into improve the cooling system and finally we reached the top of the podium! I also thank their fighting spirits for the
kaizen
,” said Akio Toyoda, the Team Chairman and President of Toyota Motor Corporation.

The fourth round, to have been held in Argentina from April 23 – 26 as the event organiser announced it is postponed. The postponement follows many other motorsport events around the world, including major championships. In most cases, the governments of the host countries have started to ban events with large crowds for a period of time. Malaysia, for example, has banned public gathering of more than 250 people until April 30, 2020.

Related:
COVID-19 pandemic disrupts motorsports around the world
.


Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4MOTION Now Introduced With IQ.DRIVE

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has unveiled the updated flagship
Arteon R-Line 4MOTION,
 which now includes the IQ.DRIVE technology.

Exterior

The Arteon’s classy looks conceal a remarkable performance. The Arteon makes a striking statement with its recognisable design and distinct lines. A strong character line wraps around the entire vehicle, visually compressing the body volume downward and giving it a dynamic aspect.

The front headlights have Dynamic Cornering Lights, and the LED 3D rear taillights have sequential turn signals. The Arteon includes an All Weather Light for increased visibility in inclement weather and low-light conditions.

Three metallic colours are available: Manganese Grey, Lapiz Blue and Pyrite Silver; as well as two pearl-effect colours: Deep Black and Oryx White.

Interior

The Arteon’s large interior is sleek yet sporty, with R-Line silver trim and a redesigned steering wheel. Driver features are creative, intuitive, and customizable, with information conveniently available through the Digital Cockpit and Discover Pro infotainment system.

The high-resolution 11.7-inch Digital Cockpit displays critical information where it is required behind the steering wheel. The 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system offers wireless App-Connect to Apple Car Play and Android Auto, as well as voice and gesture control. The touchscreen also has split-screen views that may be customised.

A Harman Kardon 700-watt audio system with 12 carefully placed speakers delivers rich and vivid acoustics, complementing the sumptuous interior.

Drivers can personalise their journey with up to 15 customizable increments and five different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual.

Powertrain

The 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine delivers 280PS and 350Nm of torque under the hood. The fastback accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds when equipped with a 7-speed wet clutch DSG direct shift transmission. It also has a claimed 7.4L/100km fuel efficiency.

According to VW, its handling is exceptional because of the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, which sends power to the rear wheels as needed for improved traction and control on the road.

Safety

Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Side Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Assist are all standard features on the Arteon. The Rear Cross Traffic Alert informs drivers in reverse of impending objects at an angle of 180 degrees and up to 50 metres at speeds of up to 12 kilometres per hour.

The 360° Area View technology projects a 360° view from four strategically placed cameras, effectively allowing the driver to monitor his surroundings for total parking convenience.

Other safety features include Post Collision Braking System, which reduces the likelihood of a second collision following the first; Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), which takes preventive measures during an accident by cutting fuel supply, unlocking doors, and turning on hazard lights; and Electronic Different Lock (XDS), which improves traction and reduces understeer.

The Arteon comes standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Brake Assist (BA), as well as an Active Bonnet for pedestrian safety. The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System monitors individual tyre pressures, and Manoeuvre Braking applies brakes automatically when it detects an object at speeds of up to 10km/h.

Other features

When it comes to spaciousness, the Arteon is unrivalled. Its large rear hatch opens to reveal a class-leading 563-litre cargo space. Furthermore, the Easy Open and Easy Close function allows for hands-free opening and delayed closing of the boot, allowing the driver to remove items with both hands with ease.

Price

The updated Arteon R-Line 4MOTION has a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM299,990. It comes with three years of free maintenance, a five-year unlimited mileage guarantee, and five years of roadside assistance.

Bookings and test drives can be made at any approved Volkswagen dealership around the country.


This is the ultimate Mazda3 TCR race machine

Mazda Motorsports has announced their latest addition to its motorsports program in the form of the all-new Mazda3 TCR race machine and it looks dope as hell. This supremely beautiful Mazda3 will be taking part in the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, starting with a four-hour endurance challenge.

We’ve all seen and tested the all-new
2019 Mazda3
 when it was launched not too long ago here in Malaysia and we simply can’t imagine how much better the TCR race version is as the standard road-going model was already super impressive. Mazda retained most of the exterior Signature Kodo design language for the race model but with a huge dose of aero goodness.

According to Masahiro Moro, Chairman and CEO, Mazda North American Operations, “TCR represents a great opportunity for us to showcase the new Mazda3 and provide our customers another avenue to race Mazda vehicles. Some of our most important successes in IMSA and SRO TC Americas have been thanks to dedicated customers who chose to race with Mazda, and we hope the next generation of Mazda racers see the same potential in the Mazda3 TCR.”

Powered by a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, the Mazda3 TCR race car produces a super cool 350hp and will be utilizing a paddle-shifted six-speed transmission. Developed and supported by Long Road Racing, the manufacturer of the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup car, the Mazda3 TCR is homologated to compete in any of the 36 TCR-sanctioned championships around the globe.

John Doonan, Director of Mazda Motorsports, stated, “The Mazda3 features the outstanding design and engineering that Mazda is known for, and because of that, it is a fantastic foundation for our new Mazda3 TCR. We have looked forward to returning to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for several seasons, and everyone at Mazda is very excited that we will do just that in 2020. We are eagerly anticipating success for the Mazda3 TCR in IMSA, SRO Americas and in TCR championships around the world.”

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Mazda3 “Japan’s Art of Motion”


Euro NCAP starts to assess Highway Assist systems

With more and more vehicles – including those from entry-level brands like Perodua and also pick-up trucks – having advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), Euro NCAP has started to assess some of the systems which assist driving. The independent organisation tests not only the car’s ability to assist and promote safer driving, but also evaluates how such Assisted Driving systems engage the driver and, if the unexpected happens, what safety back-up is offered by the vehicle.

The present focus is on Highway Assist systems, which help the driver to maintain a steady speed, to keep a safe distance from the car in front and to keep the vehicle in the centre of the lane by combining (intelligent) Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Lane Centering (LC). Highway Assist systems are designed to assist the driver, not to take control, and the driver is expected to keep his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road at all times.

Adaptive Cruise Control, using camera or radar (or both), maintains a safe gap with vehicles ahead, regardless of the cruising speed set.

The technology, first offered on more expensive premium vehicles over the past 10 years, has gone mainstream in recent years and is now available on cars in all categories, butt with varying degrees of sophistication and at different price points.

Lane Centering systems, using a camera to monitor road markings, help prevent the vehicle from departing from its lane and endanger vehicles in other lanes or go off the road.

In its previous rounds of Assisted Driving tests in 2018 and 2020, Euro NCAP found some vehicles promised more than they could deliver, implying, through their naming and interaction with the driver that they provide more automation than they were capable of doing. All the cars tested in this round, however, offer a balance between Assistance Competence – the degree to which the system can help the driver – and Driver Engagement – the extent to which the driver feels they must remain in control and not disengage from the driving task.

“This balance between assistance and engagement is crucial. Cars are not yet capable of fully automated driving and drivers should not be misled into thinking that they are. Reports from America have highlighted the very serious problems that can happen when people have an unrealistically high expectation of what such systems can offer, and when the car in which they are driving does not actively try to get them back in the loop. We are pleased that the manufacturers represented in this round of tests make clear the level of support that they can provide,” said Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary-General of Euro NCAP.

BMW iX3 – rated ‘Very Good’ in Assisted Driving assessment.

Euro NCAP’s first Assisted Driving gradings of 7 models equipped with Highway Assist show the overall best performer as the BMW iX3, which was graded as ‘Very Good’. Two others – the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the CUPRA Formentor – achieved ‘Good’ gradings. The assist systems of the Polestar 2 and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 were graded as ‘Moderate’, while the Toyota Yaris and Opel Mokka-e were considered to offer ‘Entry’ level systems.

The BMW iX3, although a variant of the X3 range, has a new sensor set, not yet available on its combustion-engined stablemates and the grading of its automated driving system applies only to the all-electric version. The Polestar 2 achieved a Moderate grading, limited by its performance in Vehicle Assistance. Polestar will perform an over-the-air (OTA) update of the car’s software very soon and Euro NCAP will again assess the car.

Even entry-level models like the Toyota Yaris (European model shown) have systems that can provide the driver with a useful level of support, enhancing safety.

The range of cars tested demonstrated the growing prevalence of Assisted Driving across the spectrum of vehicle categories. Entry-level systems, while offering less functionality than more sophisticated ones, nevertheless provide the driver with a useful level of support, and that fact that they are offered on volume-selling cars shows the direction of travel for automated driving.

Euro NCAP’s tests are set against a rapidly changing legislative background. Technology is developing very quickly and the degree of automation that is allowed and what action the car must take when, for example, it tries to hand control back to an unresponsive driver, is being reviewed. The organisation says its future tests will take these regulatory changes into account.

The explosion that saves lives instead of kills…


F1 / Round 15: 2022 Dutch Grand Prix Preview & Starting Positions

Last year saw the return of the Dutch Grand Prix after a 36-year gap – the longest in the Formula 1 championship. The reason it had dropped off the F1 calendar was due to financial difficulties that prevented the Zandvoort circuit from being modernized and upgraded as the sport evolved. It was only in 1995 that proper investment was made with a new owner and the circuit, which had its first race in 1948, was redesigned and redeveloped.

The last F1 race in 1985 was won by Niki Lauda when he was with McLaren, which also won the championship that year. Besides Lauda, the drivers of that era were men like Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Rene Arnoux, all retired (or passed away).

Formel 1 – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Großer Preis der Niederlande 2022. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, 2022 Dutch GP. Lewis Hamilton

While the 4.3-km layout of today’s circuit for Round 15 of the 2022 championship differs greatly from the one that existed in the first 50 years, some of the drivers who raced in last year’s championship round were familiar with it from their Formula 3 years.

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

Zandvoort is a challenging track with 14 corners, many of them fast and sweeping with the ‘Tarzan Corner’ hairpin at the end of the start/finish straight. Undulating, rising and falling between the sand dunes, with a rollercoaster-like vibe similar to Portimao, it has an old-school feel, which many of the drivers like. “It’s definitely a unique challenge for the drivers and puts many aspects of an F1 car to the test,” said Mercedes-AMG’s Toto Wolff.

The elevation change is almost 8 metres and being located across the road from the North Sea, strong wind can be expected, sometimes blowing sand onto the track and affecting grip (an issue normally associated with places like Bahrain).

Zandvoort doesn’t feature many long straights and a lot of the lap is spent cornering. Due to this, it’s a track with low power sensitivity and engine duty, so the Power Unit has an easier time than at other tracks, where it is worked harder.

Because of the many high-speed changes of direction, where the mass of the car can work against you, Zandvoort has the highest mass sensitivity of the year – which means, carrying more fuel will be more penalising. But it’s below average for tyre duty and wear, because most of the corner speeds and loads sit in the middle of the. Many sequences are also very flowing rather than stop/start, which puts traction demand into the tyre.

“The most challenging parts for the tyres are the banked Turns 3 and 14, which are taken at high speed and place sustained combined forces on the car: downforce as well as lateral demands. Along with the other overall demands of the circuit layout, this is why we have nominated the hardest three compounds in the range for only the fourth time in 2022, after Bahrain, Spain and Great Britain,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director.

Overtaking is challenging at Zandvoort due to the almost constant sequence of cornering, apart from the main straight (which leads into not a particularly big braking zone) and the back straight (which isn’t very long). This means qualifying performance and pace is vital and makes it one of the most important F1 qualifying sessions of the year.

“The new F1 car-tyre package this season should make overtaking easier on a track where it was hard to pass last year. The majority of drivers stopped just once to maintain track position but this time, there could be more of a focus on the softer compounds – which might lead to more two-stoppers and drivers pushing even harder,” predicts Isola.

There are two very different tarmacs at Zandvoort, which means the tyres behave quite differently on one relative to the other. There’s some new, smoother tarmac laid in 2020, and the rest of the track features an older, more aggressive surface. This makes it tricky to rebalance the car for all corners, because the surfaces can be different from one corner to the next.

Cornering speeds and gears used by Mercedes-AMG drivers.

Drivers experience 5.2
g
 through the long, sweeping Turn 7 at Zandvoort, one of the highest lateral g-forces of the entire season. Of the 10 braking sections, two are classified as highly demanding on the Brembo brakes, six are of medium difficulty and the remaining two are light.

The most difficult one for the braking system is on the first turn because the cars come off a 1.1-km straight with no braking on the last turn. The single-seater F1 cars hit the brakes at 317 km/h and drop to 133 km/h in just 111 metres. To achieve this, the drivers brake for 1.99 seconds and sustain 4.8
g
 of deceleration.

Because of the very long gap from the 1985 Dutch F1 GP, the most successful driver remains one from that era and it is Jim Clark who won 4 times in the 1960s. Max Verstappen won last year at his home race, and if he repeats his winning form for the next few years, he could replace Clark.

Scuderia Ferrari has been the most successful team in the Dutch F1 GP with 10 victories between 1952 and 1983. During that period, the team had drivers like Alberto Ascari. Juan Manuel Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Niki Lauda and Jody Scheckter.


MINI Malaysia’s MINIMISE campaign for Hari Raya offers rebates up to RM22,000

The Raya festivities are going to start and although this year will see subdued celebrations in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order, MINI Malaysia will still offer special deals on its products through the MINIMISE campaign.

At the same time, the MINI eShop has also been introduced as the brand’s very first digital booking platform for its entire model range. It aims to simplify the customer’s journey during the booking process. Through the online MINI eShop, customers can find out about the wide selection of MINI models available for purchase and make bookings, from the comfort of their own homes.

The MINIMISE campaign offers an instalment support of RM3,000 to RM5,000 (depending on the model), as well as further cash rebates from RM8,000 to RM22,000. It will run
until June 30, 2020
, while stocks last.

Special deal for Countryman Plug-in Hybrid

Specially for the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, the campaign offers an attractive interest rate starting from 0% exclusively, as well as a cash rebate of RM16,000 and instalment support of RM5,000. This MINI variant has an advanced MINI eALL4 All Wheel Drive System with Dynamic Stability Control that distributes the propulsive force of the engines to both axles – providing supreme traction on every road surface, maximum stability, and even more fun cornering.

Complete with the MINI Connected app, owners of the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid will have easy access to information such as the current battery status, electric range and charge timer and directly through their smartphone. The app also allows for pre-conditioning of the MINI before a journey begins, giving owners the flexibility to set their desired temperature within the vehicle remotely via 4G – a feature that’s useful in our hot and sunny climate.

Each new Countryman Plug-In Hybrid comes with a complimentary Public Charging Cable, along and ChargeNow card. The card offers complimentary recharging at any of the 309 ChargeNow facilities nationwide for a full year.  Owners can also recharge their car at home if they wish.

MINI ideas that were just for laughs on each year’s first day of April


Dongfeng Motor unveils first product of Voyah sub-brand – the i-LAND

Like a number of automakers, China’s Dongfeng Motor has a constantly growing range of models and to provide more differentiation, sub-brands are created to cater for specific niches. In July this year, the company launched VOYAH, its new premium brand which is dedicated to EV products.

It aims to introduce a new model each year over the next 3 – 5 years, creating a line-up of at least 9 models in the various bodystyle segments.  The first of these is the i-LAND, a sportscar that will go on sale in July 2021.

In collaboration with ItalDesign

The i-LAND prototype was unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show recently and the project is being undertaken with Italdesign. The Italian studio has been given the responsibility to develop the interior and exterior styling as well as the on-board human-machine interface. Additionally, it is also providing engineering development services and the concept construction.

The approach taken by the designers and engineers at Italdesign for the i-LAND is to combine ergonomics and cutting-edge technology with innovative aesthetic solutions, blending form and function.

GT styling

The i-LAND exterior styling follows the Italian tradition of Gran Turismo (GT) cars. For the prototype, there are typical exotic features such as large gull-wing doors with eye-catching front and rear light clusters and a LED-illuminated front grille. Viewed from above,  the sculpted form of the bonnet can be seen to be coordinated with the design of the grille.

The front lights, referred to as ‘winged headlights’, provide a characteristic signature for the i-LAND, which makes it recognizable even in the dark. It generates directly from the centre of the grille where the Voyah logo, created by ItalDesign, is embedded.

The rear of the car also has a form inspired by GT models with a classic truncated tail that combines both aesthetic elements with aerodynamic functionality.

3-seater cabin

Sitting on an ESSA (Electric, Smart & Secure Architecture) electric platform developed by the company, the i-LAND has a 3-seat layout. One position at the rear right end is for relaxing or smart working, with the seat next to the driver replaced by an element that can become a table or footrest if necessary.

A series of floating screens provide infotainment services as well as driver assistance. Some aesthetic elements enhance the general feeling of luxury experienced within the i-LAND. Examples are the vanes positioned in the central tunnel, along with the start/stop button, gear selection and the air conditioning switches.

The platform is set on EIC technology and integrates the WindLink 4.0 intelligent network connection, L3 and higher-level intelligent driving and other core configurations. In terms of power and battery runtime, MVP (Multi-choice important power) solutions are said to be provided, according to Voyah.


2019 Mazda CX-30 now available for booking – From RM143,119

The folks from Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the official custodian of the Mazda brand here in Malaysia, has announced that their all-new 2019 Mazda CX-30 is now open for booking for those looking for the next-generation compact crossover SUV. Three variants are up on offer from RM143,119.20 (OTR price without insurance).

Embodying Mazda’s Kodo design language, the new Mazda CX-30 carries the same iconic bold proportions of the signature Mazda SUV family with a huge dose of comfort thrown into the mix. Sitting right in the between the entry-level Mazda CX-3 and the dynamic Mazda CX-5, the new CX-30 carries the best of both worlds all in one package.

Built to provide an enhanced driving experience for daily travels, the CX-30 offers a much more relaxed and user-friendly package thanks to its well-equipped cabin that was designed to provide high levels of comfort. Comfortable seats, great head space, storage areas, and excellent visibility not only makes it a good driver’s car but also a car that any occupant can enjoy riding along.

As stated earlier, three variants are open for booking for the new Mazda CX-30, which are the SkyActiv-G 2.0, SkyActiv-G 2.0 High, and the range-topping SkyActiv-D 1.8 High. The base and mid-range models come with a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder with VVT engine that produces 163hp and 213Nm of maximum torque whereas the range-topper is fitted with a diesel-powered 1.8-litre power plant that produces 114hp and 270Nm of torque.

The all-new 2019 Mazda CX-30 are all CBU models from Japan and priced at RM143,119.20, RM164,119.20, and RM173,027.70 respectively. Eight colour options are up for grabs; Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Titanium Flash, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver, Snowflake White Pearl and Polymetal Gray Metallic.

All new Mazda vehicles (except for BT-50) will also come with a five-year manufacturer warranty + five years free maintenance (or 100,000km for both) according to the manufacturer’s standards inclusive of labour, parts and lubricants. To know more, head over to
www.mazda.com.my
.

All-new Mazda3 is 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year


Bermaz Motor sells Mazda vehicles and also provides humanitarian aid and medical relief

To the Malaysian public, Bermaz Motor is associated with Mazda vehicles, distributing them nationwide and providing aftersales services to the increasing number of owners. However, there is also another side to the company which provides humanitarian aid and medical relief to the under- privileged and also actively supports communities and organisations requiring assistance.

Participants of the 7th Mazda Charity Golf Tournament

To achieve these aims, it recently hosted its 7th Mazda Charity Golf Tournament for the Mazda Medicare Fund (MMF). This year, the charity tournament was held at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam, Selangor and received tremendous support from 150 participants. The event raised a total of RM447,550 for the MMF, which came from generous golfers, donors and sponsors.

The MMF was established in 2015 and is jointly managed with Prima Merdu Sdn Bhd and in collaboration with B. Braun Avitum Renal Services to provide life-saving haemodialysis treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with financial constraints. As of today, there are 12 B. Braun’s dialysis centres operating nationwide and eligible patients can receive subsidies for haemodialysis treatments. Over the past 5 years, the MMF has contributed a total of RM2.4 million which has supported more than 176 patients throughout Malaysia.

Additionally, the MMF has also supported various communities such as old folk’s homes, orphanages, people with disabilities and Down Syndrome children by providing financial aid. The communities are carefully selected and vetted by the MMF Team to ensure that all donations will be put to good use.

The MMF gets donations from individuals and corporate sponsors, and the funds are distributed to communities that need aid (below).

The MMF Team consists of volunteers from within the Bermaz organization so there are no additional costs involved in its operations. This will allow the full amount of donations received to go where it really matters – to the people in need.

Another approach taken to raise funds is through the Mazda Privilege Card (MPC). In a tie-in programme with MMF, all sign-up fees will serve as funds donated by Mazda Owners. The introduction of the MPC has been well received with heart-warming support for its noble cause.

Mazda Privilege Card

Aside from contributing to the society, owners of the MPC can also enjoy a 15% discount on Mazda genuine spare parts and official merchandise, along with a 5% discount on labour charges (applicable at Mazda showrooms and aftersales service centres operated by Bermaz Motor and Prima Merdu).

Bermaz Motor believes that one of the good ways to contribute to the society is by partnering with the community and the Mazda Medicare Fund (MMF) is one of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects to bring about a society and enrich the lives of those who are in need. The company is grateful for the unwavering support from customers, business partners, donors and sponsors to the MMF initiative.

For information relating to the Mazda Medicare Fund, you can send email to
mmf@mazda.com.my
. To know more about Mazda and Bermaz Motor, visit
www.mazda.com.my
.


BMW Malaysia previews the all-new BMW Z4 Roadster!

During the launch of the all-new 2019 BMW 3 Series, BMW Malaysia threw one hell of a curve ball when they officially previewed the beautiful BMW Z4 Roadster. The extraordinary appearance happened earlier today at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

When it comes down to agility, performance, and outright top handling, the 2-seater BMW Z4 Roadster priorities them above all else. That, however, does not deter from the fact that the car in real life looks gorgeous AF! Embedded with the genuine sports car performance pedigree, BMW has made momentous leaps and bounds with their new releases.

The combination of very notable lines and a clean-cut surface design create a very distinctive take on sporting roadster. A sculpted front end with large air intakes, a low, broad BMW kidney grill and headlights positioned at the outer edges showcase BMW’s new design direction.

The new mesh-design BMW kidney grill combines a track-inspired honeycomb pattern with a three-dimensional structure, whose elements have a vertical arrangement reminiscent of traditional BMW kidney grill bars. The design of the headlight units are a first for the brand, with the two light sources positioned one above the other.

Its low-profile, sporty and athletic façade hides some amazing firepower in the form of a 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine. This platform is able to propel the BMW Z4 M40i Roadster to greater heights thanks to its 382hp and 500Nm of maximum torque! This translates to 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds.

Paired with a new chassis, the new Z4 Roadster also offers greater agility, handling dynamics, and overall comfort for its occupants. This is made possible with the introduction of newly designed double-joint spring strut suspension at the front and a new five-link suspension in the rear, a first for a BMW Roadster.

Other contributing specifications to the Z4’s agility that can be found in its Dynamic Stability Control are:

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)

Cornering Brake Control (CBC)

Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

As of now, there are a lot of questions going around regarding this beauty in black. So far, there’s no news on availability and pricing just yet. One thing is for sure, BMW Malaysia is for sure taking 2019 seriously and the presence of this model alone this early shows that they’re ready to take on anything head on. We are definitely very excited to see this.


Toyota Mirai sets a Guinness World Record for longest range with a fuel cell electric vehicle

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and from it, electricity can be created using a technology from the space program – the fuel cell. Through a chemical reaction with oxygen, electrical energy can be produced with only water as a by-product. The fuel cell is therefore a strong candidate to power electric vehicles – except that the technology is still very expensive and hydrogen stations are very limited.

Nevertheless, companies like Toyota have developed fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and its
Mirai model
 is already in its second generation and sold in selected markets. Recently, a Mirai set a Guinness World Record for a FCEV by travelling 845 miles (1,360 kms) on a full tank of hydrogen. The journey, which was done in southern California, beats an
earlier world record
 set in France in May this year that achieved 1,003 kms.

The official record attempt was closely monitored by Guinness World Records officials and followed the strict rules and documentation procedures. The record distance achieved was more than double the EPA-estimated mileage that Toyota uses in marketing communications for the model.

The car was driven by a professional hypermiler and a partner over a period of 2 days over a route from the Toyota Technical Centre in California where Toyota’s fuel cell development group is based. The route used normal roads which included the Pacific Coast Highway and included rush hour traffic on the San Diego freeway. The Mirai was driven until the 3 hydrogen tanks were empty.

By the end of the trip, the Mirai had consumed a total of 5.65 kgs of hydrogen and passed 12 hydrogen stations along the drive routes without having to stop for refuelling. It emitted no carbon dioxide whereas a standard internal combustion engine vehicle, over the same distance, would have emitted about 300 kgs of the gas that is said to cause global warming.

Toyota adds that the record was achieved by drivers skilled in hypermiling techniques that optimized the Mirai’s vehicle performance under specific weather and driving conditions. . Additionally, as on the car’s Predictive Efficient Drive can learn repeatedly travelled routes to optimize charging and discharging of the battery to help maximize fuel economy and driving range. They also leveraged some basic fuel-efficient driving tips that any driver can learn but the car itself was a standard 2021 model on sale to the public.

The Mirai is priced from US$49,500 (about RM207,000) which is about 20% less than the first generation that went on sale in 2014. Buyers can receive state government incentives to lower the purchase price. Hydrogen is sold by weight and in California, the price per kg is around US$16 (about RM67). To fill all 3 tanks on board, the amount needed would be 5.65 kgs which would cost about US$90 (about RM376) and can provide up to 640 kms of driving if you are not trying to set a record. The electric powertrain generates 128 kW of power which is equivalent to 174 ps with 300 Nm of torque to give a claimed  0 to 100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds.

Toyota Mirai FCEV fleet in Germany clocks total of over 5 million kms