Geely Auto introduces fully ‘contactless’ online sales channel

These are very tough times for the auto industry in China with the current COVID-19 crisis and cities in lock-down and people leaving them homes less. Understandably with uncertainties about the future, visiting a car showroom is less likely let alone buying a new car.

Finding out about the latest models without going to the showroom is easy enough as all companies have websites with lots of information. But to actually purchase a car or have a test-drive usually means having to go to the showroom to sign documents and of course get a unit to try. Some companies have introduced online ordering services but many still require physical presence at the showroom.

A Geely dealership in China

Proprietary full ‘contactless’ vehicle purchasing service

Now Geely Auto, China’s largest privately-owned automotive brand, has introduced its own proprietary online ordering and it is one of the first brands in China to offer a full ‘contactless’ vehicle purchasing service.

Starting this month, Geely Auto began to operate its full online ordering and home delivery system that allows users to customize and pay for their Geely Auto vehicles with the option of home delivery of vehicles direct to the customers door. At the same time, Geely Auto will also offer test drives where potential consumers will be able to request a test drive starting from their home and the closest dealership will bring a vehicle over.

Geely Auto previously partnered with third-party online sales platforms that have moved to raise the brands profile online. However, the addition of Geely Auto’s own proprietary online system located on the brand’s official website has led to unprecedented growth since its introduction.

In the first week of online operation, Geely Auto’s online sales orders increased more than five-fold compared to the same period last year, indicating a positive response. At the same time, sales leads from Geely website increased more than 75 times.

In future, showrooms may be unnecessary and even interaction with sales staff would not be required.

Geely Auto will also provide additional services such as licensing and insurance in the purchasing process, creating a one-stop online purchase experience. In addition, users will be able to choose from a multitude of different financing and insurance providers through Geely’s online platforms.

In the near future, the carmaker aims to expand this service to include home servicing where representatives will collect vehicles for servicing and return them to owners’ home.

Servicing needs can also be handled online and the owner would no longer have to personally bring the car to the service centre.

“The addition of our online sales platform has proven to be a value addition to our sales network in terms of adding new sales and new sales leads to our nationwide dealership network. We have always aimed to bring greater levels of convenience to our consumers and our initial results prove that,” said Victor Yang, Vice President of Public Relations at Geely Auto Group.

Given the current situation in China, selling and buying cars may well change in future as new conditions occur. Geely Auto’s latest move is therefore timely as it could well be the way people shop for cars and buy them in future and the showroom is no longer necessary.

Proton is one of the companies in Malaysia that has been offering online ordering though on a limited basis.

Online sales in Malaysia

Using online platforms for ordering cars in Malaysia only started in recent years and the process has only been for ordering (with a deposit to be paid). Due to various requirements, the customer still needs to sign documents although these can probably be delivered to his or her home or office. A totally ‘contactless’ process is therefore not a reality yet but could be before long.

However, with regards to test-drives and servicing needs, these are already available from some companies. Customers can send and email or call them and representatives will bring over a car to test, pick up a car and send it back after servicing. This depends on the company and how much it wants to add value to the brand it represents to be different from others.

Proton to explore e-commerce platforms to expand reach


3 persons in the car now allowed within CMCO areas

Motorists who have been unhappy about the ruling allowing only 2 persons per car – from the same household –  will be pleased to know that the allowance is now increased to 3 persons within CMCO (Conditional Movement Control Order)  areas. This was announced today by Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during the daily briefing.

The minister said that the increase was in response to requests from the public, taking into consideration various issues. These include the matter of where passengers sit, and the minister clarified that they need not sit at the back only. Also, it was confirmed earlier that use of a facemask inside the car while driving is not a must. The ruling is with immediate effect.

More possible – up to police to decide

With this revised ruling, motorists should face less issues at roadblocks and the minister added that the police still have the discretion to allow more people to travel together. It will depend on the circumstances, one example being the need for an extra person, besides the driver, accompanying to assist an aged parent who has to go to a hospital or clinic. Another example would be a wife with a small baby having to go to a clinic and she cannot drive, so the husband has to be the driver.

Same occupancy conditions as for taxis and e-hailing vehicles.

With 3 persons – including the driver – allowed in the vehicle, it would be the same as the ruling for taxis and e-hailing vehicles. Many had questioned why three persons could be allowed in these vehicles but not in private vehicles, especially when those in private vehicles had to be from the same household where they are together.

Of course, there will still be people who argue on that point – that if a big family lives together in the same house, and in close proximity, why should they not be allowed to go out together in the same vehicle (if it is rated for more than 4 or 5 persons, eg a MPV or large SUV)?

Why is there a restriction?

The thing about the CMCO is to limit movement in public as a measure to prevent spread of COVID-19. Actually, people should not be thinking of ‘going out to eat’ and to instead collect food and bring home, or order using a food delivery service. The provision to travel is primarily to get food or other essential items, not for social outings. At least we can do that – in some other countries, the restrictions have been so severe that people were not allowed out at all.

Remember when only one was allowed

Be glad that the authorities are not as strict as when the MCO was in force in March and just one person from a household could go out. Many husbands had to learn how to shop at the supermarket and for some people like single mothers with small children, it was a difficult time. Then as the threat diminished, two persons were allowed and then more, up to the maximum permissible for the vehicle type.

Each of us has to do our part to help to bring the number back down. Today, they are in 4 figures and if we remain indifferent to the situation, things are not going to get better and 2021 will continue to be a struggle for many individuals and businesses.


Lower-priced Volkswagen ID.LIFE to help increase adoption of EVs

Electric vehicles (EVs) have had the added cost of new technology making them a bit more expensive today. In times, prices will certainly fall as volumes rise and better economies of scale enable manufacturers to offer them at lower prices. European carmakers, in particular, are accelerating towards electrification so being able to offer more attractively priced EVs will help them in achieving their goals of wider electric mobility.

Volkswagen’s ACCELERATE strategy is speeding up that transformation making sustainable mobility accessible to even more people by 2025, a whole two years earlier than originally planned. By 2030, Volkswagen aims to increase the share of all-electric models in total vehicle sales in Europe to at least 70 % and in North America and China, to at least 50%.

New entry-level model

As part of that strategy, the company is developing a new model in the small car segment. The model, called the ID.LIFE, will be part of the ID fully electric family. This vision of a fully electric small car for the urban environment is centred around people and communal experiences. The model is being shown in concept form at the IAA Mobility 2021 event this month.

“The ID. LIFE is our vision of next-generation fully electric urban mobility. The concept car provides a preview of an ID. model in the small car segment that we will be launching in 2025, priced at around 20,000 euros (under RM100,000). This means we are making electric mobility accessible to even more people,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “In creating the ID. LIFE, we have consistently focused on the needs of younger customers. We believe that, even more so than today, the car of the future will be about lifestyle and personal expression. The customer of tomorrow won’t simply want to get from A to B; they will be much more interested in the experiences that a car can offer. The ID. LIFE is our answer to this.”

Simplified design

The design of the ID. LIFE is strikingly clear, simplified and of high quality even though it will be at the entry level. Decorative elements and add-on parts are dispensed with, as is any complex mix of materials. The horizontal division between the body, glass surfaces and roof also contributes to the car’s purist appearance. An individualised and removable roof made of air chamber textile lends an open-air feeling in the ID. LIFE, while also reducing the vehicle weight.

The ID. LIFE is based on a smaller variant of Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) that has been developed specifically for the small car segment. This is the first time a vehicle based on the MEB has front-wheel drive. A single electric motor provides power to the front wheels.

With its 172 kW (equivalent to 234 ps) electric motor, the ID. LIFE is claimed to be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, while its 57 kWh high-voltage battery will give a range of some 400 kms.

“The ID. LIFE proves once again how uniquely flexible the MEB is. The platform is suitable for vehicles of all types, from small cars to vans,” said Thomas Ulbrich, member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for Development. “It’s the most scalable electrical architecture in the industry. We’re just beginning to tap into the potential of MEB. Performance, charging capacity and range will continue to improve with each new model and software update.”

Natural and recycled materials

The sustainable character of the ID. LIFE is reflected particularly in the choice of materials and paint finishes. In the clear coat for the bodywork, wood chips are used as a natural colouring agent along with a bio-based hardener. The air chamber textile for the roof and front cover is made from 100% recycled PET bottles.

Within the cabin, wood in the dashboard and rear seat surrounds is combined with ArtVelours Eco for the seat surfaces and door trims. Bio-oil, natural rubber and rice husks are just some of the materials that serve as a basis for the tyres on the ID. LIFE.

Multifunctional interior

The ID. LIFE is proposed as a ‘reliable companion’ for digital experiences of various kinds. For example, it can easily be converted into a cinema or gaming lounge. The car has a videogame console and projector, as well as a projection screen that extends from the dash panel when required. Other devices can be connected as needed to the 230V/16A power supply.

The seating design is also extremely flexible, in keeping with the idea of the car as a ‘companion’ for all situations and lifestyles. For instance, the front seat bench can be completely folded down, as can the rear seat bench. This enables a range of different possibilities, from cinema seating to a bed measuring around 2 metres in length, to a cargo version that maximises luggage volume.

Cameras and a display replace both the exterior and interior mirrors. Essential driving functions are controlled via a touch panel on the hexagonal, open-topped steering wheel, and a smartphone can be integrated in the operating system. Personal devices – whether smartphones or tablets – can be used to operate the navigation system. Music, films and games stored on the device can be used seamlessly, with visuals displayed on the projection screen.

Visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
 to know more about Volkwagen models in Malaysia

Volkswagen’s Trinity project to produce more capable electric cars by 2026


Alpha Motor Wolf+ Truck EV Makes Global Debut At Seoul Mobility Show

Two years ago, a small American start-up called Alpha Motor Corporation drew attention with its retro-styled coupe powered only by electricity. It showed a few designs and, by the end of 2022, was granted US Patent No. 11505265 for a Multipurpose Vehicle System with Interchangeable Operational Components and Power Supplies.

Alpha Motor’s vehicle system is structured with a chassis that is dimensionally adjustable and has the capacity to produce different iterations of vehicles. Components within the chassis are interchangeable with new counterparts while used components are recyclable.

While it originally seemed to be planning to make passenger EVs, there was also one interesting concept which many hoped would eventually be produced. This was the Wolf, a small pick-up EV. The company showed many prototype pictures of a classic truck, but did not indicate when it would be available for sale.

This question has been answered with the unveiling of the Alpha Wolf+ at the Seoul Mobility Show in Korea this week. An evolution of the earlier Wolf which was a 2-seater, the Wolf+ has space for four and a body length of 5287 mm, almost the same size as trucks like the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton. The cargo bed behind the cab occupies 1828 mm of the length, with a generous width of 1900 mm.

Initially equipped with a 150 kW electric motor, the Wolf+ electric truck will generate up to 350 Nm of torque and is expected to operate at a peak efficiency of 94%. The 3-in-1 (Motor/Inverter/Gearbox) Electric Drive Unit (EDU) will be paired with the latest lithium-ion NMC battery modules with liquid cooling.

These flexible battery modules are expected to represent a 48V standard for traction batteries and can be connected in series up to an integrated system voltage of 600V to 800V. The certified module is projected to meet the most demanding safety requirements that apply in the automotive industry including off-highway applications such as industrial trucks.

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Validation tests of the Wolf truck over rugged terrain will commence by mid-year. The company says it has received a total of over 52,500 vehicle pre-order indications to date and is progressing towards mass commercializing its EVs. It has distributions partners in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific regions.

EdisonFuture’s electric pick-up truck aims to grab a slice of future market


With greater attention to overseas business, Proton aims to double export volumes in 2021

Exports are vital for the business of any carmaker if it is to keep growing. Unless it is the gigantic market in China, every carmaker cannot rely on its domestic market alone for long unless it receives protection and preferential treatment by the government.

For Proton, which did receive such protection for a long time, its focus on the domestic market enabled it to grow without the heavy cost of competing in other markets where it was just another brand. However, with the increasing liberalisation, Proton’s share of the Malaysian market began to erode and although it did export its vehicles, its overseas business was not significant.

While sales leadership in the domestic market will always be a main priority, the company  recognises that in order to grow for the future, it needs to expand its customer base and search for sales in other  countries. The export market is therefore of great importance to Proton’s long-term goal to be the third best-selling automotive brand in  ASEAN by 2027.

Doubling export sales in 2021

The carmaker is therefore giving much more attention to its export business and has set itself the challenging target of doubling export sales in 2021 compared to what was achieved in 2020. It is setting this target on the assumption that export activities are not overly hampered by restrictions due to the global pandemic.

“Over the last two years, Proton’s international sales division has been aggressively pursuing export sales in numerous markets. We have deployed multiple strategies to achieve our goals, from shipping CBU vehicles built in Malaysia to inking agreements with local conglomerates to assemble CKD cars to benefit from local tax  incentives,” said Steven Xu, the company’s Director of International Sales.

“We targeted to see significant gains in 2020 but those plans were affected by COVID-19. Still, we managed to  grow our export volume, enter new markets such as Kenya and even launch the Proton X50 in Brunei barely 2 months after its Malaysian debut, so there are many positives to take into the new calendar year,” he said.

Spearheading the export activities will be Proton’s most popular model, the Saga. The X70  and X50 SUVS will also be gradually introduced to more overseas markets. At the same time, setting up local assembly operations in some foreign markets will also boost exports.

Tailoring products to local needs

One of the keys to growing exports is having products that not only appeal to a number of different markets but more importantly, meet the needs of the market. Global players take this seriously and many years ago, Honda developed a 1599 cc engine for its Accord model just for the Singapore market when virtually all other markets used a 1602 cc engine.

Likewise, Proton has fitted a 1299 cc engine to the Saga it exports to Pakistan, instead of the 1332 cc unit commonly used, because customers there prefer cars with smaller engines. The same model is also sold in Nepal and comes with a heater, a vital component for markets with cold winter months but not installed in models sold in the ASEAN region.

“The Proton Saga remains a popular model in many countries due to its hardiness, practicality and value-for-money proposition but in order to lift our brand image, it is important for our newer models such as the Proton X70 and Proton X50 to also be exported. This will show car buyers what the company is capable of and help  pave the way for us to sell other models in the future to fill up the range,” added Mr. Xu.

While Proton’s distributors and importers in its export markets are owned by local entities, it works closely with them to ensure there is a cohesive market introduction, promotion and product launch plan to suit local  market conditions. By building a consistent brand image, the company is taking steps towards being a global  entity and paving the way towards penetration in other regions in the future.

Working closely with foreign partners

“By working closely with our foreign partners, we aim to present a consistent message in all our export markets and ultimately, this will make it easier for the Proton brand name to establish itself in even more countries. This  is in line with our aim to promote Malaysia and its vendors on a regional and global level and ultimately, this will  raise their competitiveness and benefit the economy as a whole,” said the CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, who is not only responsible for Proton’s sales volume but also for the marketing and promotion of the brand.

“Our products have not been available in many parts of the world for a variety of reasons. Our new range of updated and jointly developed products with Geely presents an opportunity to change the narrative by opening up ownership to more countries and we are optimistic they will find a ready market in many countries,” he added.

History of Proton exports

In the early years of Proton’s existence, its focus was on the domestic market which took virtually every car it made. Export markets, though established, were not given great attention and even Mitsubishi Motors, its partner, suggested that it concentrate on developing its skills in making cars and about the business before embarking on overseas sales.

Nevertheless, Proton began exporting just one year after the first Saga went on sale in Malaysia. Its early targets were those which were ex-British colonies, like Malaysia, and where traffic went on the left side of the road like us. This would make it unnecessary to develop a lefthand drive variant so soon.

A Proton advertisement in the UK in the 1990s.

The UK market was considered a market with great potential then, and it was hoped that the Malaysian origins of the Saga would appeal to the British who had lived in Malaysia in the pre-Merdeka period. The first model was introduced at the Birmingham Motorshow in 1988 and initially, Proton received some preferential taxation as it was a small volume brand entering the market. This allowed it to sell at attractive prices and it was well received. The growth in sales in the UK led to a subsidiary being established to handle import and marketing activities, and that market was at one stage, Proton’s biggest export market.

As the only Muslim country in the world to develop its own car and have an automotive brand, Protons from Malaysia were expected to be popular in other Muslim countries. In fact, the first export market was Bangladesh where the Saga first went on sale in 1986. Egypt has also been a strong market for Proton since it entered in 2004.

By 2001, Proton had a presence in over 50 countries, some in significant numbers and some just a handful. It had tried to enter the US market in the late 1980s, appointing a business partner called Global Motors which created a unit known as  ‘Proton America’ to get the necessary approvals. Two units of the Saga modified to lefthand drive and with 1.8-litre engines were sent to a motorshow in Las Vegas in 1988. The plan was to export as many as 30,000 cars to the USA for sale within a year. However, things didn’t work out as expected and no further attempts were made to enter the biggest car market in the world at that time.

Bangladesh is Proton’s oldest export market, the brand having entered in 1986.

Like many manufacturers, Proton also considered local assembly in some markets and it did so for a while in the Philippines and had a project going for Iran. It also had a joint venture company with Mitsubishi Motors in Vietnam and the deal was that for models above 1600 cc, Mitsubishi’s models would be used, and Proton would provide models below 1600 cc. But things didn’t proceed as planned and Proton never got to assemble any model.

From 2001 onwards, Proton had a new range of models and hoped to grow its exports, especially as the domestic market would become more challenging as it was supposed to be ‘opening up’ with the realisation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). It even built a new factory in Tanjung Malim, Perak, with a capacity of up to 500,000 units in anticipation of an export offensive regionally.

However, for various reasons, export activities diminished and in Europe, as the emission and safety regulations got tougher, Proton’s aging platforms and engines became unacceptable. By 2010, even the ‘father of Proton’, Tun Mahathir Mohamed, acknowledged that perhaps Proton had not given sufficient thought to the need to make its cars suitable for global markets and only focussed on the domestic market because it was big enough. Dealerships in many of the 50 markets slowly stopped selling Proton which was not so helpful at a time when the company was also facing a decline in domestic sales.

Proton at the Bangkok International Motor Show in 2011. The carmaker is aiming to become No.3 in the ASEAN region by 2027.

“We are exploring all opportunities to grow export volumes for Proton,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton. “We are also leveraging on Geely’s extensive overseas network operations to increase the cost-effectiveness of Proton’s operations. Geely can support us in these initiatives and there is a lot of experience within the Group so we hope to leverage on it to enable us to sell more cars outside of Malaysia.”

Brunei first export market for Proton X70


F1/Round 2: Preview & Starting Grid for 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

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

Formula 1 returns to Europe this weekend after the opening round in Bahrain last month, a departure from the usual season-opening venue in Australia. Tightened entry procedures forced the organisers to switch to the Middle East and the Australian round will be run towards the end of the year when, hopefully, the pandemic will have eased.

For the second round of the 2021 Formula 1 championship, the race is at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, more popularly referred to as the Imola Circuit as it is near the city of Imola in Italy. It was used for Round 13 last year, the first time in 14 years. The event is again called the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Last year, when the race was run at Imola, the teams had no recent data since the last race was run in 2006 when the cars and tyres were different and so were the conditions at the 68-year old track. The Imola circuit is a highly technical one, with a wide range of corners and it’s narrow and bumpy, as the older tracks tend to be. But at least there is now data from the race last year, which will help in setting up the cars.

“We all enjoyed returning to Imola in 2020, after a 14-year gap, and it was made more special by the fact we secured our seventh Constructors’ championship on that weekend. It’s quite a narrow track, which makes overtaking more difficult, but this puts more focus on strategy and makes qualifying even more crucial,” said Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Team.

As for the tyres, Pirelli is bringing the same C2-C3-C4 compounds from the middle of their range as last year. However, the warmer temperatures [compared to last year] and changes in tyre construction and downforce levels also create new conditions this weekend.

The performance gaps between all three compounds are different to initial estimates. The gap between hard and medium is smaller than expected because the hard, although requiring a longer warm-up time, is then able to work well and provide a good level of grip. Between the soft and the medium, the gap is instead bigger.

The drivers therefore face a different challenge from Bahrain, and securing good positions as far in front on the grid as possible have been vital. While the results of the first round have Mercedes-AMG at the top, it’s still early in the championship and how the season will run will be clearer after this weekend’s race.


Volvo P1800 Cyan offers genuine ’60s driving pleasure

We recently wrote about the Volvo P1800, an iconic sports model from the 1960s which also came to be known as
‘The Saint’s Car’
. Now Cyan Racing, the reigning triple World Touring Car Champions, has revealed an interpretation of that car – the Volvo P1800 Cyan.

The original P1800 was unveiled in 1960, a year before the Jaguar E-Type, two years before the Ferrari 250 GTO and three years before the Porsche 911. “The Jaguar, the Ferrari and the Porsche are all cars with a continuation,” said Christian Dahl, CEO and founder of Cyan Racing. “That left us with inspiration to create what could have been if we, as a race team, had been there during the Sixties, racing the P1800, and got to design a road version of our race car.”

What could have been

In the age of autonomous driving, electrification and connectivity, Cyan Racing decided it was time to capture what has been and to make it timeless. “Obviously we could have built an electric Volvo P1800 filled with all the latest technology, comfort and luxury. But that was not what we wanted,” Dahl said. “Amid this paradigm shift, we decided to slow down time and freeze a part of it in our own time capsule. To take the best from the Golden Sixties and combine it with our capabilities of today, keeping a pure yet refined driving experience.”

Tailored to deliver genuine driving pleasure

While creating the P1800 Cyan, the team behind it decided to treat the design and engineering of the sixties with care, moving it forward in a delicate way. They applied their expertise in engine, aero and chassis design to make a car that delivers on the Cyan engineering philosophy in terms of predictability and intuitive driver control.

But it would also be lightweight and offer the analogue driving experience of the Sixties. “There are no driver aids to distort the driving experience, meaning no stability control, ABS or brake booster,” said Mattias Evensson, Project Manager and Head of Engineering at Cyan Racing.

“The Volvo P1800 Cyan is about clearing away anything disturbing the direct connection between driver, tyres and the road. Our objective has been to keep that undisturbed sensation whilst refining it with the best technology of today,” explained Evensson.

Carbonfibre and steel body

The bodywork has been altered to accommodate a wider track, larger wheels and repositioned greenhouse, among a long list of redesigns. “To put together an interpretation of an iconic design is a challenge. I think we succeeded in merging new technology without losing the character of the original Volvo P1800,” said Ola Granlund, Head of Design at Cyan Racing.

The P1800 Cyan which started life as one of the units produced in 1964 has been refined and reinforced utilizing high-strength steel and carbonfibre. “The basis for a precise and intuitive driving experience is a solid body structure. Cars from the Sixties are far from ideal when it comes to this due to weak points and steel quality that allow for flex,” said Evensson.

“We have redesigned the structure of the original shape and strengthened weak points in the chassis through triangulation, using high-strength steel and integrated the carbonfibre body with the chassis structure. The carbonfibre is not just a fine shell of separate panels, but rather structural components joined with high-strength adhesive to the steel. All parts of the carbonfibre are adding to the structural rigidity,” he said, adding that the car weighs just 990 kgs (lighter than a Perodua Myvi 1.5).

Powertrain from racing car

The 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is based on the same engine as used in the world title-winning Volvo S60 TC1 race car, producing 420 bhp/455 Nm, with a redline at 7700 rpm. Although the engine is turbocharged, it is developed to deliver a linear power and torque curve with the characteristics of a normally aspirated engine. The engine character is designed to deliver a driving experience as in the Sixties but with increased performance and precision.

“While evaluating engines for the Volvo P1800 Cyan, we considered a wide range of Volvo engines, including the original B18, the ‘Red Block’ B230, the 5-cylinder ‘White Block’, the short inline 6-cylinder and the 4-cylinder VEA engine that power Volvos of today,” said Evensson.

“The efficient and lightweight VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) gave us the best base, also allowing us to transfer our experience from the different versions of the VEA that we have designed for our race and performance cars of the past decade,” he said.

“We have adapted it to suit the Volvo P1800 Cyan with the power output increasing through the entire powerband. The power peaks late. It is designed for high revs a lot, with the torque intuitively linear to the pedal. We have learnt from racing where the drivers want perfect control of the torque, increasing precision and driving pleasure at the same time,” Evensson added.

A 5-speed bespoke Holinger gearbox has been selected to carry the mechanical feeling of the original Volvo P1800, but with greater gear change precision and capability of handling the increased torque. The live rear axle of the original car is replaced with a Cyan-designed independent rear suspension.

A key part to the engaging rear-wheel drive experience is the torque-biasing limited slip differential. The differential is mounted in a Holinger housing with unique gears in order to combine capable performance on a circuit with civilized behaviour for road use.

Pure driver focussed chassis

The fully adjustable front and rear suspension features bespoke lightweight components, including aluminium uprights, double wishbones and two-way adjustable dampers with Cyan hydraulics.

“The settings of the car are not aimed at fast lap times but rather to deliver an enjoyable and exciting driving experience. I feel my smile widening each time that I control the drift angle of the car through a long turn. The car goes where you point it. You can be brutal going into a corner and still find your apex and exit within millimetres,” said Thed Bjork, development driver and 2017 touring car world champion for Cyan Racing.

The carbonfibre-reinforced chassis is connected to the road with 18-inch forged rims with Pirelli P Zero 235/40 tyres at the front and 265/35 at the rear. Each wheel has 4-piston calipers with 362×32 mm steel discs with a ‘genuine feeling’ as no brake booster or ABS is there to interfere.

“The Volvo P1800 Cyan is the result of an advanced engineering process, involving many of the same talents who designed, built and developed our world title winning Volvo S60 TC1 Cyan,” said Dahl, adding that pricing and individual specification is available for those who want one.

LOOKING BACK: The Volvo P1800 aka ‘The Saint’s Car’


RUF’s Porsche-looking Rodeo Concept for off-roading

RUF is well known to enthusiasts and Porsche fans for its custom creations that are not just original Porsches but can be considered independent designs which utilise only the Porsche chassis. In Fact, RUF Automobile is recognised as a vehicle manufacturer by the German government and its production models have their own identification numbers (VIN).

The company’s history goes back to 1939 although it is only from the late 1970s that it began to be noticed for its sportscars. As at other carmakers, RUF’s designers have many ideas but not all can be commercialised and sometimes, they start a project to build a concept car.

The latest is the Rodeo Concept, inspired by the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance and its founder – and friend of RUF – Bruce Meyer, as well as by Ralph Lauren and his 2011 Western Collection as well as RUF enthusiast and collector Phillip Sarofim who has roots in Texas.

The car features the same carbonfibre monocoque chassis as the CTR Anniversary and the SCR, but with a 4-wheel drive system, larger all-terrain tyres, longer-travel suspension and other features for off-road use. The Rodeo Concept can accommodate either a normally-aspirated or turbocharged RUF flat-six engine.

“When we began building our own automobiles, it was all for the thrill of the drive,” said Estonia Ruf, Marketing Director of RUF Automobile GmbH. “The Rodeo Concept combines that passion for cars with the love of western culture – an appreciation I found while studying in Oklahoma, USA. This car is inspired by some of our favourite people and our love for the countryside.”

First production SCR

At the unveiling of the Rodeo Concept recently, the company also presented its first production RUF SCR. The 1,250-kg SCR uses a 4.0-litre normally-aspirated flat-six engine producing 510 bhp/470 Nm and is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The rear spoiler generates high downforce to keeps the SCR stable at its claimed top speed of 320 km/h.

The SCR has had a place in the brand’s history for 42 years, having had its premiere in 1978. The original SCR was powered by a 6-cylinder engine with 3.2-litre displacement and its power output could be uprated to 217 bhp.

90 options for the Porsche Taycan owner who wants a more personalised car


Perodua Sales Better Than 2022, And It’s About To Get Better

Perodua has been on a sales rampage of sorts. In comparison to the 131,641 cars produced in the same period of 2022, Perodua produced 153,813 cars in the first half of 2023, which is a 17% increase.

In the first half of 2023 (1H23), registrations increased by 13.6% to 144,690 vehicles from 127,343 units sold during the same time in the previous year as a result of this manufacturing achievement.

With a total of 40,555 units sold between January and June, the Perodua Bezza has been the brand’s best-selling model thus far this year. The Perodua Myvi and Perodua Axia have each sold 32,319 and 28,199 units, respectively.

Perodua also stated that it will continue to increase its operational efficiencies, and as a result, is on track to fulfil its 330,000 production and 314,000 registration targets.

When comparing quarter to quarter, Perodua produced 69,013 automobiles in 2Q23, up 1% from 68,316 at the same time last year.

According to Perodua, one of the significant advancements it has made is a reduction in the tact time (the amount of time it takes to build a vehicle) at the Perodua Global Manufacturing plant (PGMSB) from 1.35 minutes to 1.25 minutes.

The recently launched Axia E was well received and the ready stock of 2,500 vehicles were completely distributed within 48 hours.

In addition to that, Bank Negara Malaysia kept its overnight policy rate steady at 3% which helped ease the financial cost of Perodua’s lower income earning customers.


Get a new Honda City by December 12 and you can save RM2,000

The date ’12.12’ only occurs once a year and to celebrate this last pairing of numbers for 2020,  Honda Malaysia will be having a special sales campaign – the ‘
12.12 Special Sales
’  – with a rebate worth RM2,000 for the latest 5
th
 Generation Honda City (S and E variants).

12-day promotion

The ‘
All-New City 12.12 Special Sales
’ will be on
from today until December 12, 2020.
 Registration of the cars can take place anytime during this month of December. Customers will be entitled to the rebate once they fulfil the booking and registration requirements at any Honda authorised dealership nationwide.

“On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to convey my appreciation to all Malaysians for the unwavering support to the Honda brand. The All-New City have recorded significant sales performance since its launch with more than 9,000 bookings. We are pleased to offer customers the opportunity of owning their dream car and experiencing the ‘Joy of Buying’ with the ‘
All-New City 12.12 Special Sales’
 in conjunction with the year-end festive season by giving special rebate,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

Extra savings with sales tax exemption

He also reminded customers that they can benefit from extra savings with the sales tax exemption which will be available until December 31, 2020.

All variants of the new City (except
the RS
 which will be available in January 2021) come with a new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, coupled with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The powertrain produces up to 121 ps, which is the highest in its class, with maximum torque of up to 145 Nm.

Features on the City E variant included Paddle Shifters as well as a first-in-segment Remote Engine Start feature that allows running of the air-conditioner before entering the car to cool down the cabin. This variant also comes with an 8-inch display panel for the infotainment system which has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Comfort levels are higher as rear passenger legroom has been expanded and the rear occupants now have a cooler journey with Rear Air Conditioning Ventilation.

Extensive safety features

Though an entry-level model, the City has many safety systems to help the driver avoid an accident. These include ABS, Vehicle Stability Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist. Additionally, there is also an Emergency Stop Signal system and Hill Start Assist. ISOFIX childseat points are provided and a Rear Seatbelt Reminder helps to ensure that rear occupants have their seatbelt on so as to comply with traffic laws.

To locate any of the 102 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide to view, test-drive and purchase the new City, visit
www.honda.com.my
.

Click here
 to read more about the Game Changer.


LAUNCHED! All-New Subaru Forester Makes Its Debut! [+Videos]

It’s here!
 Motor Image
, the exclusive distributor of
Subaru
 vehicles across
eight
 countries in Asia, has launched the All-New
2019 Forester
 in Taiwan. The All-New Forester brings with it improved refinement and practicality – for maximum comfort and enjoyment. The All-New Forester has been
 reengineered, reimagined
and
 redesigned
 to include a host of enhanced features, resulting in a balance of easy handling and spacious interior. Here’s the regional media making their way into the launch arena…

Safety continues to be a priority with the inclusion of a strong suite of active safety and driver-assistance features, as part of the Subaru Core Technologies:

– Subaru Global Platform

– Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive

– Boxer Engine

– EyeSight Driver Assist Technology (EyeSight)

“The All-New Forester is now bigger and better with an all-round enhancement to its technology, interior and exterior to create an SUV that boasts performance, comfort and maximum safety”
 said Mr
Glenn Tan, Managing Director, Tan Chong International Ltd
 (above, 4th from right). “We are thrilled to launch the new fifth generation Forester and are confident that the model will excite drivers and create amazing experiences with their loved ones.”

The All-New Forester will be available in four variants*:

– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S EyeSight

– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S

– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-L EyeSight

– Subaru Forester 2.0 i-L

The brand’s iconic Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive feature delivers power to each wheel to provide maximum stability and control, allowing drivers to safely travel across challenging terrain and road conditions. The All-New Subaru Forester (all variants) is powered by a
2.0-litre direct injection boxer engine
, it features a direct injection to improve horsepower while also boosting fuel efficiency. It churns out
156Ps
 and
196Nm
 of torque.

Driving enjoyment has also been enhanced through a new seven speed manual mode of continuously variable transmission (CVT) which will improve acceleration and fuel efficiency. Here’s the new Subaru Forester making its maiden appearance!

Incorporating into the redevelopment of the All-New Forester is also the Subaru Global Platform – a redesigned chassis. The Subaru Global platform offers a safer, smoother driving experience by delivering less shake and body roll while also significantly reducing road noise to make conversations at high speeds more comfortable.

The All-New Forester also comes equipped with X-MODE function, which enhances driving performance on challenging terrain through optimised integrated control of the engine, all-wheel drive, brakes and other functions.

Drivers can now conveniently activate
X-MODE
 via a new dial-switch in select modes, allowing for easy switching between modes depending on road conditions. The hill descent control function gives drivers greater peace of mind by maintaining low speeds on downhill slopes. The handling of the All-New Forester is further enhanced with
active torque vectoring
, which enables drivers to control their vehicle exactly as intended, for outstanding cornering stability and hazard avoidance performance.

Precise handling is enabled by applying brakes to the inner wheels which in turn distributes more torque to the outer wheels when making necessary sharp turns. The All-New Forester is equipped with award-winning safety features, providing drivers with an added peace of mind on every drive. A new feature on the Forester is
EyeSight
, an advanced driver assist technology that includes automatic pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, lane departure and lane sway warning. The feature is available on select variants of the All-New Forester.

In addition, features such as auto vehicle hold and Subaru rear vehicle detection (SRVD) are also available on the new model.

Auto vehicle hold works to reduce driver fatigue by keeping the vehicle still when the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal while the vehicle is stopped. SRVD uses radar sensors installed on the rear of the vehicle to detect objects and vehicles behind and alerts the driver with its three main functions: blind spot detection, lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. Visual indicators light up if a vehicle in the blind spot is detected.

Here’s the walkaround video just after the official launch: (Stay tuned for more videos because tomorrow we drive the new Forester!)

When signalling a lane change, the system alerts the driver if the vehicle in the neighbouring lane is approaching. Viewability is also enhanced with reverse linked tilt down door mirror, which makes it more convenient for checking blind spots around rear tyres for worry-free reversing and parking. Safety is further enhanced by the excellent high eye-level view and careful optimisation of the shape of the pillars to help reduce blind spots and provide outstanding visibility.

The All-New Forester offers excellent road clearance with minimum ground clearance of 220mm for the ultimate driving experience. Raised roof rails with integrated tie-down points are also available for more loading options, providing drivers with the flexibility to handle all kinds of adventures. The redesigned interior of the All-New Forester comes with impressive interior dimensions, providing the driver and all passengers with greater comfort in everyday and recreational usage.

The spaciousness of the interior is enhanced by the replacement of the traditional parking brake lever with a new electronic parking brake switch that opens up more space on the centre console. The All-New Forester also introduces redefined interior features such as divided seatback pockets, USB charging ports and air-conditioning vents behind centre console, bringing a refreshed riding experience for the passengers.

The instrument panel also comes with a high grade multi-function display, providing drivers with key vehicle statistics in a clear and easy-to-see layout. The enhanced connectivity between the meter display and multi-function display shows driving information that improves convenience, safety and enjoyment.

The new model will also comes with added rear leg room, as well as an increased cargo room with wider rear gate opening. The availability of power rear gate allows opening, closing and locking of the entire vehicle with just the touch of a button, making it more convenient than ever before to haul more gear.

Built to last, the All-New Forester uses extensive high-strength steel that promises durability and rigidity. The ruggedness of the SUV is further underscored with the raised body, claddings and underguard, coupled with powerful fenders with emphasised protrusions. The updated design pays homage to the model’s earlier predecessor, with subtle updates on the grille, headlights and tail lights for added robustness and sophistication.

The All-New Forester brings together the combination of superior technology, smart design and advanced engineering, it provides the ultimate driving enjoyment while ensuring that safety is not compromised. The All-New Forester will be available in Malaysia by
Q2 2019
.

Subaru Forester Launch & Product Photo Gallery…


Ford Continues Driving Skills for Life Programme in Malaysia, Provides Education on Safe Driving

Ford
 and its local distribution partner,
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC)
, recently offered safe driver training and road safety awareness to corporate partners and members of the public through Ford’s global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme.

More than 50 licensed drivers from corporate partners comprising telecommunications, highway maintenance and utilities companies participated in a free two half-day workshops at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).

According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), more than 43 percent of Malaysian drivers use their mobile phones while driving. This means that close to half of all Malaysian drivers are putting themselves and others in danger while behind the wheel.

As such, Ford and SDAC believe the Ford
Driving Skills for Life
 programme will help drivers be more vigilant while on the road which would in turn, reduce the number of road accidents.

The DSFL workshops aim to address various driver risks, such as dealing with unexpected scenarios, speed and space management as well as raise awareness on distracted driving caused by mobile phone use or tiredness.

“Ford Driving Skills for Life provides Malaysian drivers with the tools and resources needed for safe driving. Road safety is a very serious issue and we take pride in our ability to help reinforce this message among Malaysian motorists,”
 said
Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion
(below).

The programme is conducted through a mix of classroom and practical training sessions where drivers are offered hands-on driving experience.

An emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or medication was also incorporated as part of the programme. This included having participants wear specially designed goggles that help simulate the experience of driving while movement, coordination and alertness are impaired.

DSFL is Ford’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme funded by the Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of the Ford Motor Company. Globally, Ford DSFL is now in its 15
th
 successful year of training licensed drivers of all ages. To date, the program has trained more than 1 million individuals in safe driving practices.


The most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built – the Vision EQXX

At one time, when mention was made of ‘EV’ or electric vehicle, a small bubble shaped car might come to mind. And though electric motors do have a lot of zip, EVs were thought to be poor performers which provided basic transportation but no driving pleasure. But as we are now seeing, the EVs set to replace cars with combustion engines in coming years will continue to offer the driving pleasure that motorists enjoy, and even exhilarating performance – with zero emissions to damage the atmosphere.

And with new freedom for design due to the entirely different architecture, the stylists can come up with new forms that are sleeker than today’s cars. The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept shows us the sort of car we could be driving on roadtrips in future. It’s a concept car for now, though it is not just for show as many technological elements will likely be used in production models when they are validated and can be produced at a reasonable cost.

Range and efficiency are the key points about the VISION EQXX, achieved by having an ultra-efficient fully electric drivetrain and lightweight engineering. “The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX is how we imagine the future of electric cars. Just one-and-a-half years ago, we started this project leading to the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built. The VISION EQXX is an advanced car in so many dimensions – and it even looks stunning and futuristic. With that, it underlines where our entire company is headed: We will build the world’s most desirable electric cars,” declared Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.

The result is an efficiency masterpiece that, based on internal digital simulations in real-life traffic conditions, will be capable of exceeding 1,000 kilometres with a fully charged battery pack. That’s a distance equivalent to going from Berlin to Paris, or from Beijing to Nanjing. Based on average distances driven per year, a driver in the USA or China would have to fully recharge the VISION EQXX only twice per month or, in Europe, just once per month.

The secret here is efficiency as the VISION EQXX uses less than 10 kWh of electrical energy to travel 100 kms. That equates to traveling 9.7 kms on 1 kWh of electrical energy. Translated into fossil-fuel consumption, this is around the golden figure of 1 litre per 100 kms/100 kms per litre or for those who remember the old measure, 282 mpg.

And it’s not about having a bigger battery either; in fact, the prototype battery pack in the concept car could easily fit into a smaller sized vehicle than the VISION EQXX. Battery technology is continuously advancing and what is used has the latest advanced developed by the German carmaker. Rather than simply increasing the size of the battery, Mercedes-Benz and the HPP team developed a completely new battery pack, achieving a remarkable energy density of close to 400 Wh/l. Overall, the battery weighs around 495 kgs.

“In effect, we fitted the energy of the EQS into the vehicle dimensions of a compact car,” said Adam Allsopp, Advanced Technology Director from HPP. “The battery has almost the same amount of energy but is half the size and 30% lighter. The battery management system and power electronics have been designed with an absolute focus on reducing losses. In achieving this efficiency milestone, we learnt a lot that will flow into future development programmes.”

Tasked with pushing the envelope of technical feasibility on all levels, the battery development team also decided to experiment with an unusually high voltage. Increasing the voltage to more than 900 volts proved an extremely useful research tool for the development of the power electronics. The team was able to gather a great deal of valuable data and is currently assessing the potential benefits and implications for future production models.

Additional energy is also draw from the sun, the original source of all energy on Earth. The electric system that powers many of the ancillaries gets additional energy from 117 solar cells on the roof. The net result of reducing the energy drain on the high-voltage system is an increase in range. On a single day and under ideal conditions, this can add up to 25 kms of range on long-distance journeys. The solar energy is stored in a lightweight lithium-iron-phosphate battery, which supplies a climate blower, the lights, the infotainment system and other ancillaries.

At its heart, efficiency means achieving more from less. The most familiar expression of automotive efficiency is that of fuel consumption or fuel economy. This is expressed in different ways depending on where we are in the world (eg litres per 100 kms, miles per gallon or kilometres per litre). Regardless of convention, they all relate units of fuel (energy) with units of distance. Electric mobility is no different in that respect, but the imperatives of electric mobility and sustainability have shifted the framework for efficiency.

For Mercedes-Benz, quantifying technological development across the board now goes beyond fuel efficiency alone. As well as meaning more range from less energy, it also means more tangible luxury and convenience with less impact on nature, and more electric mobility with less waste.

“Electric range sounds easy but is a complex technical challenge. The easiest way is to put a bigger battery in the car. However, this leads to diminishing returns due to size and weight. This is definitely not the smartest route and it’s also not the best use of scarce resources. With the VISION EQXX, we’re presenting the results of an extraordinary challenge: we pushed efficiency to a totally new level. And we explored new ways to increase the range of an electric car,” said Joerg Bartels, Vice-President for Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions.

The electric drive unit is a dedicated unit consisting of the electric motor, transmission and power electronics featuring a new generation of silicon carbides. The power electronics unit is based on the one in the upcoming Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar.

With output of around 150 kW, the super-efficient electric drivetrain (encompassing everything from battery to electric drive unit to wheels) provides the power and stamina. It is an electric drivetrain with 95% efficiency – that means up to 95% of the energy from the battery ends up at the wheels –compared to just 30% from even the most efficient combustion engine drivetrain or around 50% from an average (human) long-distance runner.

“One of the best ways to improve efficiency is to reduce losses,” explained Eva Greiner, chief engineer of the electric drive system at Mercedes-Benz. “We worked on every part of the system to reduce energy consumption and losses through system design, material selection, lubrication and heat management. And our fantastic simulation tools helped us find out quickly what works and what doesn’t.”

Aerodynamics have long been known to have a great influence on efficiency. Reducing the wind resistance of the car’s shape to as low as possible means the powertrain has to work less hard to achieve a given speed, reducing consumption or fuel or electricity. In the case of an EV, on a regular long-distance drive, almost two-thirds of its battery capacity may be used to ‘cut’ through the air ahead.

Through simulations and wind tunnel studies, the VISION EQXX has an ultra-sleek and slippery drag coefficient of 0.17 Cd. A huge amount of work went into integrating the painstaking passive and active aerodynamic features into the external form which retains the sensual purity of the Mercedes-Benz design language and the practicalities of a road car.

When it comes to lightweight engineering, the best on Earth is Mother Nature. No-one else comes close. Over millions of years, she has honed the finest examples of high-efficiency long-distance travellers – from the Monarch butterfly to the Arctic Tern.

With a considerably shorter timescale for the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz engineers drew inspiration from her creations and pulled in some lateral-thinking external expertise to assist. The result is a weight-efficient design derived from engineering excellence paired with a sustainable combination of trash and Hollywood.

This intelligent use of sustainable advanced materials and methods inspired by nature is dubbed ‘bionic engineering’ and was facilitated by a digital process called bionic mesh design. Mercedes-Benz has a long history of applying bionic engineering techniques dating back to its “bionic car” concept study from 2005.

The VISION EQXX demonstrates that this is all within reach in a real-world vehicle that pushes the envelope on all fronts. It gives a clear insight into what premium efficiency for the electric and digital era looks like and feels like.

The all-electric future of Mercedes-Benz


No replacement for displacement? Isuzu destroys that perception!

“
There’s no replacement for displacement
’ used to be the belief in the auto world, especially among enthusiasts as well as those who sold or used commercial vehicles. Back in the days before turbocharging was widely used, getting more power from an engine meant making it bigger. A larger displacement allowed more air and more fuel in the combustion chamber, generating more power upon combustion.

That approach remained for decades, especially in America where fuel was cheap and drivers liked lots of power and torque. For the commercial vehicle sector, big engines were a must (and still are), for the high output needed to haul heavy loads. The higher compression ratios possible, resulting in higher pressures, produce more torque. And the more torque available, the better when it comes to carrying and moving heavy loads.

However, since the beginning of this century, environmental concerns have required manufacturers to address issues of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. For petrol engines, downsizing has been a popular approach, coupled with technologies like direct injection and turbocharging which have even boosted output while making engines smaller (in displacement as well as size) and lighter.

For diesel engines, the initial solution was the introduction of commonrail fuel delivery system along with more advanced turbocharging. However, displacement remained big as there was still the matter of ‘no replacement for displacement’. While commonrail systems have raised outputs and made diesel engines more refined, large displacements have still be maintained which needed to be addressed.

Drawing on its very long experience specializing in diesel engines and developing them, Isuzu Motors naturally took on the challenge of developing a new generation of engines that would be in tune with the demands of the 21st century. Having developed a very wide range of engines with displacements of even more than 15 litres, Isuzu’s engineers had the knowledge and skills for the mission.

While the need to downsize the engines in the bigger commercial vehicles was not so urgent, there was a need to do so for the smaller range of engines used in pick-up trucks like the popular D-MAX. With pick-ups becoming increasingly used as an alternative to passenger cars for daily transportation, customers wanted more economical and efficient engines but still with the useful characteristics of the conventional turbodiesel engines.

The optimum size for today

Besides Isuzu’s original analytical technology of diesel combustion, extensive research and simulations identified 1.9 litres as the optimum size for the 4-cylinder configuration common in pick-up trucks. This was the starting point for the all-new engine which would come to be designated ‘RZ4E’. Three clear objectives were pursued: a) Best-in-Class fuel consumption; b) High reliability for long life; and c) Low noise levels. Straightforward objectives but challenging to meet and the engineers drew on new technologies to achieve them.

Downsizing the displacement would immediately result in lower weight, which is always a goal of engineers. Reducing internal friction – by as much as 37% – was also an important objective as less friction can improve power output. Computer-aided design of the pistons and combustion chambers also improved efficiency.

Along with optimised structural engineering and the use of better materials, the overall result was an engine that was not only more efficient but also surpassed the performance levels of bigger engines.

Less displacement but more output!

Compared to the 2.5-litre engine of the 4J series popularly used in the D-MAX before, the new RZ4E engine produces 110 kW of power at 3,600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque between 1,800 rpm and 2,600 rpm. These represent increases of 10% in power and 9.4% in torque – with a displacement that is 14% less. Notably, the improvement has not taken away the desirable characteristic of a diesel engine which is its flat torque curve.

Reliability is an important thing for Isuzu and is one of the reasons why its pick-up trucks are popular. Those who are in the commercial vehicle sector appreciate reliability and durability as they cannot afford to have a vehicle in the workshop frequently for repairs. The same also generally applies to any vehicle owner as everyone wants to enjoy using their vehicle as much as possible, and to keep cost of ownership low.

More reliable and durable

To improve the reliability aspects, the engineers installed Hydraulic Lash Adjusters (HLA) which automatically ensure that the valve lifters are always correctly adjusted. Likewise, the use of a serpentine belt also keeps the fanbelt correctly tensioned at all times. Incidentally, the timing chain is of steel for a long service life, another strong point of Isuzu engines.

Having a more advanced engine with higher output and higher efficiency would be wasted if that extra output could not be utilized fully. To ensure this, the engineers also developed a better transmission system with a new 6-speed manual transmission as well. The aim was to provide smoother and stronger takeoffs, especially on slopes, and this led to the development of the Vehicle Launch Assist Control. Basically, this feature manages engine output, raising torque levels at the time when the vehicle is starting off. The final gear ratio has also been revised to improve driveability and acceleration.

Tuned for Malaysian conditions

Isuzu sells its vehicles all over the world and different countries and regions have different regulations as well as fuel. To ensure that customers would be able to enjoy the maximum benefits of the new RZ4E engine, extensive testing is conducted before launch.

In the case of the Malaysian market, much of the testing focused on performance in high altitude areas and tuning the engine to run optimally on the lower quality fuel which today is Euro 2 B20 biodiesel. The studies led to the installation of a pre-fuel filter to ensure fuel cleanliness.

The attention to ensuring that the engine could meet all the conditions of the Malaysian market ensured that it could be introduced with confidence. Isuzu Malaysia would lead the market in bringing an innovative engine to Malaysian customers as no other manufacturer has offered a downsized turbodiesel engine with no compromise in performance and capabilities.

Certainly, it destroys the perception that there is ‘no replacement for displacement’! And where fuel efficiency is concerned, the D-MAX with the RZ4E engine is the first pick-up truck in Malaysia to qualify as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV).

Proven in the Isuzu Dura Challenge

The 2020 Isuzu Dura Challenge proved the engineering supremacy of the new RZ4E ‘Blue Power’ engine. Isuzu Malaysia loaded a 1.9-litre D-MAX to its maximum permissible capacity of a ton and took it over some of the highest accessible hills along the Titiwangsa Mountain Range in Peninsular Malaysia.

In total, the vehicle clocked over 1,000 kms, with two bars of fuel still remaining in the tank. More significantly, the D-MAX with the Blue Power turbodiesel engine never had any difficulty in the high altitudes, even with such a heavy load on board.

Since its launch, the superiority of the Isuzu engine has been recognized by awards such as the Carlist ‘
Diesel Engine of the Year (2019 & 2020)’
 and it would certainly have been influential in the D-MAX being selected as ‘
Pick-up Truck of the Year 2020′
 (DSF).

The best way to experience this is to take a test-drive of the latest Isuzu D-MAX, available at any authorized Isuzu dealership nationwide. To locate a dealership, visit
www.isuzu.net.my
.


This Malaysian helped with the development of the world’s fastest supercars

We’ve recently posted about the one of the world’s latest and most powerful road-going hypercars which were introduced by several top sports car manufacturers. With all the hype that has been going around, did you know that there’s a Malaysian ‘touch’ in the development of these supercars? Enter Ahmad Syahid Ahmad Fawzal, a Malaysian PhD holder in mechanical engineering.

So, what does this brilliant Malaysian have to do with the world of supercars and ultra-fast machines? Well, mechanical engineers from all over the world went through great lengths in figuring out how to optimize their supercar’s cooling system and they managed to optimize that by using what’s now known as the Fawzal Number, the very concept created by Ahmad Syahid.

Ahmad Syahid and several high-powered electrical machine manufacturers were amongst those who assisted by analysing and optimizing the said cooling system together using the Fawzal Number formula for a certain supercar producer. It’s not
Aston Martin Vulcan
 seen on the photo above but they’re pretty awesome to say the least.

The Fawzal Number which was initially called ‘Rotor Cooling Performance Index’ explains the ratio between convective heat transfer and the cooling capacity divided by the design’s power consumption. In simpler terms, the higher the Cooling Performance Index number, the better the cooling capacity or rate will be.

Here’s how the formula looks, below.

For all you tech geeks out there who want to read the abstract of Fawzal Number, click
HERE
.

Our biggest congratulation goes out to Ahmad Syahid and his big achievement. It’s not everyday you get to hear a fellow Malaysian reach such accomplishment, especially related to major sports car manufacturers and their most powerful machines. Simply amazing (also very complicated for mere mortals like us here at Piston.my).

Credit:
The Vocket

This is the world’s only road-legal Aston Martin Vulcan


Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship finale to be broadcast live this weekend

The excitement of the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship returns this weekend with the top 20 simulator racers in Malaysia vying for the honours of winning a share of the total prize pool of RM70,000. Additionally, the top three winners will go on to represent the country in the GR GT Cup Asia qualifiers organized by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific.

Most lucrative local online racing series

Billed as one of the most lucrative local online racing series in the country, the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship offers a cash prize of RM20,000, RM10,000, RM7,000, RM5,500, RM4,500 to the top 5 overall winners. The 6
th
 to 10
th
 finishers will receive RM4,000, RM3,500, RM3,000, RM2,500 and RM2,000, respectively.

There’s also a prize of RM500 each for those who finish in 11th to 20th positions. Additional cash prizes of RM450 and RM200 will be awarded to the first and second place winners in each of the two individual races.

Prior to this weekend’s semi-finals and finals, more than 800 participants from around Malaysia participated in the championship which began with qualifying rounds last month. Then came the quarter-finals which were held on September 4 and 5 to select the top 20 racers who will compete in the semi-finals on September 18. The 10 best racers will then move to the final challenge on Sunday.

The semi-finals and finals have been held in public spaces in previous years. This year, due to the pandemic and need for social distancing to be maintained, the racers will connect from their homes using Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo Sport platform.

Unlike previous years when the events were held in public spaces, this year’s finale will be run completely online from each competitor’s home, with the race utilizing Sony PlayStation’s Gran Turismo Sport platform. Spectators can follow the race action which will be broadcast on
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Facebook
 and
YouTube
 pages and also over
Astro eGG
, the first eSports channel in Southeast Asia.

The Toyota 2000GT is one of the cars the sim racers will use. Only 351 units of Japan’s first supercar were produced between 1967 and 1970. Being of an earlier era, its driving dynamics will be different from the modern racing cars like the Le Mans-winning TS050 HYBRID (below) which will also be used.

Racing at famous circuits

In the semi-finals, all the racers will first pilot the Toyota 2000GT (the first Japanese supercar) in a 15-minute race around the 73-year old Goodwood Motor Circuit in England, and afterwards another reversed-grid order race of the 3.8-km circuit. The third race behind the wheel of the GR Supra Racing Concept for a 30-minute race at Australia’s 6.2-km Mount Panorama-Bathurst circuit, well known for its annual 12-hour race.

One of the tracks will be Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

The final is also a 3-race format. The first two races will see a 15-minute sprint race with racers competing in the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo GR.3 at the 7-km Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. The championship decider will be a 40-minute finale at Fuji Speedway, behind the wheel of the Le Mans-winning TS050 Hybrid, during which they must make at least one pit-stop.

The two-day semi-finals and finals will see 4 previous GR Velocity Esports Championship winners returning. They include defending champion Taj Aiman, and last year’s runner-up and third place winner Iqbal Suji and Mior Hafiz, as well as 2018 winner Muhammad Uzair. Last year,
Taj finished second overall in first-ever GR Supra GT Cup Asia
.

The finals will also see several racers currently competing in the Vios Challenge Promotional, Sporting, Super Sporting and Rookie classes, in an exhibition race. Having challenged each other in the first round at Sepang earlier this year, they will now have a chance to continue the duels while waiting for the series to be resumed.

Some of the racers from the Vios Challenge, in Season 4 this year, will also participate in an exhibition race online.

During the broadcasts on the two days, there will also be interviews with the racers as well as GR Ambassador, Tengku Djan Ley and the event’s Race Director, former F1 driver Alex Yoong. The broadcast times will be 10:30 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 3 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.

Fourth year of championship

First held in 2018, the number of participants in the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has grown from 400 to more than 800 this year. Last year’s event drew more than 1 million online spectators who watched the 2-day event via the Facebook and YouTube channels. Until today, UMW Toyota Motor remains the first and the only Malaysian car company to be associated with e-sports, a fast-growing activity which has even been recognised by the FIA, the world motorsport governing body.

“The momentum and the level of interest for the GR Velocity Esports Championship have grown tremendously in just 4 years. This is a huge boost for both e-sports and motorsports and we are glad that we persevered to keep the championship going despite the restrictions faced due to the pandemic,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

The Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has been run since 2018.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama, said the company remains committed to its aspirations of establishing a bigger footprint in Malaysian motorsports.

“In the 4 years that the GAZOO Racing brand has actively been in Malaysian motorsports, we have seen the eco-system dynamically transform. At one point, we experienced young racers joining the Vios Challenge street racing series, and then it evolved to having simulator racers not only joining the event but proving they are also capable of winning a real race. Today, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see a growing population of professional racers not just globally but also domestically, migrating to compete online in the absence of physical events. This is a fantastic evolution for both esports and motorsports and I believe moving forward one will be dependent on the other in order to produce racers of exceptional quality,” said Mr. Takeyama.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created


Production run for Bugatti Chiron coming to an end

When the Bugatti Chiron made its debut at the Geneva International Motorshow in 2016, it was announced that the production run would be limited to 500 units. Just over 4 years after the first deliveries to customers began in March 2017, over 460 units have been built and less than 40 build slots left to be allocated.

The final units being built or scheduled to be built are in Chiron Pur Sport and Chiron Super Sport form only. Joining the Chiron family in 2020, the Chiron Pur Sport built upon the exceptional Chiron foundation to offer customers a truly uncompromising hyper sports car that is optimized for dynamic agility and downforce.

With an entirely new aerodynamic, transmission and weight configuration, the Chiron Pur Sport effortlessly delivers thoroughbred performance. The model has a 50-kg weight reduction and firmer suspension, combined with a 1.90 metre rear wing and close-ratio transmission.

Ultimate Grand Tourisme

The Chiron Super Sport only appeared this year. As the quintessence of luxury and speed, the Chiron Super Sport has been designed to embrace supreme longitudinal speed without compromising luxury and comfort. It is regarded as the ultimate Grand Tourisme and defined by its longtail design, the Super Sport achieves extreme levels of aerodynamic efficiency, enabling the hyper sportscar to reach speeds of up to 440 km/h.

With an upgraded version of the
Bugatti 8-litre W16 engine
, the Super Sport has 1,600 ps, which is 100 ps more than the standard car. But even with 1,500 ps (and 1,600 Nm), the Chiron redefined the pinnacle of automotive engineering in the 2010s. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.4 seconds, it reached 200 km/ in 6.1 seconds, with the 300 km/h mark achieved in 13.1 seconds.

A world record-setter

As would be expected, Bugatti regularly set new records with the Chiron, solidifying its position in automotive history as one of the all-time greats. Its first production car record was achieved in 2017 when a Chiron went from 0 to 400 km/h to 0 within 41.96 seconds – the fastest time ever reached and officially measured at the time.

Continuing a run of unrelenting success, just 2 years later, the hypercar reached speeds once through to be unreachable by a road car. A near production prototype derivative crossed the 300 mph limit with a speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h).

Related story:
The German engine that was born on a Japanese bullet-train

No shortage of customers

Even with the astronomical prices starting from US$3 million (about RM12.5 million), there has never been a shortage of customers from the first day orders were accepted. 18 months from its initial announcement, 300 of the 500 cars had been sold. This sales momentum has continued and despite global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Bugatti has steadily been receiving orders for the Chiron. The USA has taken the most Chirons, contributing significantly to a record-breaking quarter in Q3.

“Our discerning customer base across the world consists of true Bugatti connoisseurs. They are hard-working, self-made individuals who regard owning one or multiple Bugatti masterpieces as the realization of a dream. They understand the devotion behind the pioneering design and engineering of each Chiron model. Their appreciation for the provenance and performance of our hyper sports cars comes from a genuine passion for the brand,” said Hendrik Malinowski, Director of Sales and Operations.

Bugatti Chiron Sport versus Dassault Rafale Marine (w/VIDEO)


Super unique black finish for launch unit of new BMW X6

Black is back, right? How black can the colour be? But there is one black finish which is uniquely black and BMW has chosen to use it on the third-generation X6 which will have its world premiere very soon. The finish is known as Vantablack VBx2 and is a nanostructure paint finish never before applied on a car.

Exclusively for the launch of the X6, the one-off display model is the result of a collaboration between BMW and Surrey NanoSystems, the inventors of the Vantablack technology. The new X6 is the first and only vehicle in the world to feature a Vantablack VBx2 paint finish.

“We turned down numerous requests from various automobile manufacturers in the past,” explained Ben Jensen, Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Surrey NanoSystems. “It took the BMW X6 and its unique, expressive design for us to entertain the idea.” With design highlights like the optional Iconic Glow kidney grille, distinctive twin headlights and striking taillights, the new BMW X6 provides fascinating contrasts to offset the Vantablack VBx2 paint finish, which changes the viewer’s visual perception of an object’s three-dimensional shape.

Vantablack looks two-dimensional

A surface coated in Vantablack loses its defining features to the human eye, with objects appearing two-dimensional. This can be interpreted by the brain as staring into a hole or even a void, making Vantablack a rather unsuitable vehicle paint finish as it blots out virtually all the design details and highlights.

For this reason, theX6 was coated in the VBx2 variant initially developed for use in architectural and scientific applications. This coating can be sprayed on and has a 1% total hemispherical reflectance (THR), meaning it is still considered ‘super black’ while enabling a small amount of reflection from every angle. Thus, materials painted with it seem to lose their three-dimensional appearance.

Developed for aerospace applications

The name Vantablack has already become synonymous with an entire range of extremely black coatings and paints such as VBx2. It contains an acronym of the technology enabling this superior black in its first two syllables, which stand for ‘Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Array’, a matrix made out of carbon. Each of these carbon nanotubes has a length of 14 to 50 micrometres, with a diameter of 20 nanometres, making it around 5,000 times thinner than a human hair. As a result, around a billion of these vertically aligned carbon nanotubes fit into one square centimetre. Any light striking this surface is almost completely absorbed rather than reflected, and effectively converted into heat.

This technology was initially developed for coating space-borne components. As Vantablack can be applied at temperatures from as low as 430 degrees C., it is suitable for delicate materials such as aluminium, and optical components coated in Vantablack enable observation of faint stars and distant galaxies that stray light from the sun makes difficult to detect. The first generation of Vantablack introduced by Surrey NanoSystems in 2014 absorbed up to 99.965% of light, almost completely eliminating reflectance and stray light.

Future option for customers?

When asked if Vantablack VBx2 could become a regular paint finish option for customers buying a car in the future, Jensen said that it works really well on the new BMW X6, because of the size of the car, its distinctive shape, and how imposing it is. “But putting a paint like that on a conventional car lacking a distinctive design would probably detract from it in some way. In addition, developing a Vantablack VBx2 car paint durable enough for daily use is a huge technological challenge,” he explained.

However, Hussein Al Attar, Creative Director Automotive Design at Designworks and the designer responsible for the new X6, is keen to see it as an option. “BMW X6 drivers are among our most extrovert and free-spirited customers. If anyone were to opt for a Vantablack paint option, it would definitely be a BMW X6 driver!” he said.

Click here for other news and articles on BMW at PISTON.MY


The Significance Of ‘Handling By Lotus’ In Vehicle Development

Over the many years it has been in business, Lotus Engineering, the consultancy division of Lotus, has done work for many carmakers and in most cases, the scope of their work has been confidential. Of course, enthusiasts would know that vehicle dynamics is a speciality of the company so it’s not difficult to guess the areas that they would have been involved in.

There have been some models where the Lotus name has been associated with the product – like the Lotus Cortina, Lotus Sunbeam and Lotus Carlton/Omega. These were high-performance cars that were developed, engineered and manufactured in partnership with Ford, Talbot and GM, respectively.

All three models were successful for both the companies concerned and for Lotus, enhancing brand images as well as building a reputation in the world of motorsport. The Cortina, for example, won multiple touring car championships while the Sunbeam took the Manufacturers’ title in the 1981 World Rally Championship.

In the late 1990s, the Vauxhall Astra proudly advertised the association, with ‘Handling by Lotus’. The 2015 Hyundai Genesis was another car that acknowledged involvement of the British company, with the lead vehicle dynamics engineer from Lotus even joining in the media launch activities in the USA. A few cars have even carried a ‘Handling by Lotus’ badge, among them the Isuzu Piazza and the Proton Satria GTI.

Lotus Cortina

Two models with ‘Handling By Lotus’ – the WRC-winning Lotus Sunbeam (left) and the Proton Satria GTI (right).

In 1992, another Lotus Engineering dynamics project which was publicised was Structure, Isolation and Dynamics Research – better known as SID. It was an amalgamation of two engineering groups, bringing together their expertise to reinvent ride and handling development.

A composite monocoque with Esprit bodywork (the Structure) sat on a unique backbone chassis supporting a 300 bhp turbocharged V6 MG Metro 6R4 powertrain (through various tuneable elements, the Isolation). It was a technical tour de force – a rolling testbed for Lotus-developed active suspension, active ride, 4-wheel steering and 4-wheel drive (the Dynamics).

The SID (Structure, Isolation and Dynamics) Research demonstrator
.

Clever algorithms meant it could showcase each of its technologies one at a time or all together, and SID included a digital controller which meant every suspension parameter could be modified at the touch of the laptop keyboard, even while on the move. That in itself was an achievement, for the first time enabling the data to be captured and downloaded for further analysis.

Importantly, it allowed the SID team to plot dynamic inputs against driver experience – what was it that created ‘that special feeling’ in the person behind the wheel? – which was crucial to improving dynamic understanding for clients of the Lotus Engineering consultancy, but also the carmaker itself.

Today, this is part of the many decades of learning which have influenced what the company knows about active and passive systems. The 5-link suspension at the rear of the Eletre Hyper-SUV launched earlier this year is a great example of that progression.

Eletre Hyper-SUV

Featuring multi-chamber air suspension with continuous damping control, a 48V anti-roll system, torque vectoring and an active rear axle (depending on model) with a selection of drive modes, it integrates dynamic excellence into a completely new class of Lotus vehicle.

“At Lotus, we’ll never use electronics as a ‘sticking plaster’ for a poor architecture or chassis, but we can make a vehicle like the Eletre feel as nimble as the Elise because we understand technologies such as rear-wheel steering, active roll control and active damping,” said Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes.

Lotus sportscar architecture.

Lotus Engineering today provides comprehensive consultancy services to many of the world’s carmakers as well as Tier 1 suppliers. It is internationally recognised for its long-standing contribution to ground-breaking engineering and innovative vehicle development. The 4 core pillars of its expertise and its commercial offering are Platforms, Control Systems, Dynamics and Technical Services. The latter includes intelligent design, product concept development, attribute development, advanced engineering and even whole-vehicle manufacturing.

The phenomenal aerodynamics of the Lotus Evija hypercar explained


16-year old driver sets new Guinness World Record for Fastest Vehicle Slalom (w/VIDEO)

A slalom is a driving exercise where you pilot a car in between cones as fast as you can. It seems easy enough swinging the car left and right but to do it at speed requires judgement so you don’t hit the cones and also managing the speed so you don’t slide out.

Recently, a 16-year old driver, Chloe Chambers, set a new world record for driving through a slalom with a time of 47.45 seconds. The time, officially recognised by the Guinness World Records organisation as the Fastest Vehicle Slalom, beat a previous record of 48.114 seconds set in China with a Chevrolet Camaro in 2018.

Chloe, who has been driving since she was 11 and races go-karts, set the record in a standard Porsche 718 Spyder with a manual gearbox and standard tyres. It’s not surprising that she was able to do so well as karters do require sharp skills and quick reflexes.

50 cones 15.2 metres apart

The slalom consisted of 50 cones laid in a straight line 50 feet (15.2 metres) apart over a distance of 2, 500 feet (762 metres) at a small airport in New Jersey, USA. Her record time of 47.45 seconds would mean her average speed from start to finish was around 58 km/h.

“It looks easy, but it’s really not – to weave between 50 cones as fast as possible, trying to beat a record time and knowing I couldn’t touch a single one for the run to count – I definitely felt the pressure,” she said. “Everything came together on my final run; the car worked beautifully, and I found the grip I needed. Thank you to my family and to Porsche for supporting and believing in me.”

PASM and PSM help

The driving dynamics and driver assist technologies would also have helped, especially the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. This is an electronic damping control system, which continuously adjusts the damping force on each wheel, based on current road conditions and driving style. In enhancing performance, it increases driving stability which would certainly help as the car swerves left and right at high speed.

The other helpful system is Porsche Stability Management. Also an electronic control system, it uses sensors to continuously monitor the direction, speed, yaw velocity and lateral acceleration of the car. It also maximizes grip when accelerating on inconsistent road surfaces.

The 718 Spyder that Chloe drove had a 4-litre naturally aspirated boxer 6-cylinder engine producing 414 bhp at 8,000 rpm. It has helper springs on the rear axle and a ride height that is 30 mm lower than a standard 718 Boxster or Cayman, making it ideal for slaloms.

Visit
www.porsche.com.my
 to know more about Porsche models available in Malaysia.

Launched in Malaysia – the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder


New Jaguar F-Type Coupe Arrives In Malaysia Priced at RM575,800!

It here! The new 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE has arrived. Boasting a new design for its headlights, rear lights and bumper, the F-Type’s existing contemporary design matches the pure performance of this 2.0L turbocharged Coupé even more now. Since it was launched in 2012, the F-Type, Jaguar’s all-aluminium two-seater, has firmly established itself as the most desirable sports car in its segment and has won more than 170 awards worldwide. The unrivalled balance of a seductive design, stunning performance and outstanding dynamics has always made the F-TYPE unique, in a range that has evolved to include Coupé body styles, manual transmissions, intelligent all-wheel drive and now a powerful four-cylinder.

The F-TYPE Coupé, embodies the uncompromised design vision of the stunning Jaguar C-X16 concept sports Coupé, which debuted at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Jaguar’s expertise in aluminium technology has enabled the design vision for the F-TYPE Coupé to be delivered in a lightweight yet extremely strong bodyshell. The Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé is the ideal performance sports car due to its breadth of capabilities to suit the demands of the road and the driver. It is also the latest in its category to deliver both performance and innovative car technology.

Its new 300PS 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine carries with it Jaguar’s sports car DNA with enhanced agility as well as improved efficiency and affordability. This model retains the performance expected from an F-TYPE, and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in only 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250km/h. The engine’s high maximum torque of 400Nm is generated from just 1,500rpm.

The latest version introduces new futuristic LED headlights and rear lights as part of the improved exterior aesthetics of the F-TYPE. The new headlights from the optional LEDs has a colour temperature of 5,500-6,000K, which is close to daylight resulting in better visibility for night driving and adds on to the styling of the car. With three different beam pattern modes to choose from (i.e: city, highway and bad weather), the driver can choose a mode that suits the driving environment. A redesigned bumper, a new single exhaust tailpipe finisher and new 18” wheels also gives the F-TYPE a redefined look, adding more masculinity to the car’s personality.  The introduction of the new Silicon Silver exterior colour also emphasises the character lines further and exudes the boldness of the F-TYPE.

Entering the Coupé, one will notice significant enhancements, aimed at making the car feel even more luxurious than before. Lightweight slim-lined seats and new chrome and aluminium trim finishers heighten the driver-focused feel of the interior and perfectly complement the enhanced interior colour schemes which includes the Siena Tan leather option now available across the range. The seat frames are pressure die cast magnesium alloy – a material that has a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent formability, allowing for the ergonomic form of Jaguar’s innovative seat design. Weight savings for the Coupé as compared to its predecessors are more than 8kg.

Every F-TYPE now features the Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen. Its super-fast responses, intuitive tablet-style operation, intelligent navigation functions such as Share ETA and online services such as real-time traffic and live weather reports make every journey more rewarding and put a world of information at the driver’s fingertips. Touch Pro, the most advanced infotainment system to be offered by Jaguar comes standard for the entire F-TYPE range. Designed and developed around state-of-the-art technologies including a powerful quad-core processor, high-speed 60GB Solid-State Drive (SSD) and an ultra-fast Ethernet network, Touch Pro delivers a world-class performance and functionality as well as an outstanding user experience. The 2018 F-TYPE 2.0L Ingenium retails at
RM575,800
 (excluding road tax, registration and insurance) and is now available at all Jaguar showrooms nationwide.

All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standard. All Jaguar vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with ‘Jaguar Care’ programme which is based on whichever comes first i.e a 5-year Warranty or 150,000km, 5-year Servicing or 65,000km and 3-year Roadside Assistance. Please visit
www.jaguar.com.my
 for more information.


Volvo Trucks appoints new Managing Director for Malaysia

Volvo Trucks
 has appointed
Mitch Peden
 (above) as its new
Managing Director
 for Malaysia, with an aim to further strengthen Volvo Trucks’ position in the commercial vehicle market, and to bring the company to greater heights than ever before. Hailing from Australia, Mitch started his career at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Mitch took his first step into the automotive sector in 1994 when he joined
General Motors
.

Since then, Mitch has worked in a number of automotive companies before joining Volvo Trucks in 2005. Mitch has been a member of the Volvo Trucks management team, helming a few positions in sales and marketing area throughout his career, prior to being appointed as Volvo Trucks Malaysia’s new MD.

Mitch will be taking over from his predecessor,
Mats Nilsson
, who after working in Volvo Trucks Malaysia for 5 years, will be moving to the Renault Organisation in France within the Volvo Group.  As the new managing director, Mitch will be responsible for growing the trucks sales and aftermarket business in Malaysia and Brunei.

“It is an exciting time for Volvo Trucks today with so many new developments in Malaysia. Volvo Trucks will continue introducing new technology and innovation as we head into the future and to provide better quality services and products to our customers here. I am excited to continue on the footsteps of my predecessor and fellow colleague, Mats Nilsson, who has done a brilliant job in raising Volvo Trucks Malaysia to where it is today. I am very confident that, with the strong commitment of the team here in Malaysia, we will be able to continuously offer the best to our customers.”
 said Mitch.

With over two decades of industry experience, 13 years of which were with Volvo Trucks, Mitch is truly an industry veteran who is tasked to take Volvo Trucks Malaysia to greater heights. Mitch graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and also holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Bond University.

Volvo Trucks Malaysia Photo Gallery (Truck images from
Volvo Trucks M’sia
 Webpage)