Porsche Achieves Growth In Revenue & Operating Result For 2018

Thanks to a strong third quarter, Porsche AG once again increased its operating result, revenue, deliveries and number of employees in the first nine months of 2018. The operating result compared with the same period in the previous year grew by around
11 per cent
to
 3.3 billion euros
, with revenue increasing by 12 per cent to 19.1 billion euros. The return on sales was 17.4 percent. Deliveries grew by six percent, with the company handing over 196,562 vehicles to customers by the end of September. The workforce grew around eight per cent to reach 31,753 employees.

“The Panamera and our icon, the 911, enjoyed a particularly noticeable increase in demand,”
 says
Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche AG
(above).
 “Behind all of this is our strong workforce, which is expanding towards a record level of 32,000 total employees. Around a quarter of the 1,200 jobs for our first purely electric sports car, the Taycan, have already been filled. Now that the Supervisory Board has given the green light for the Taycan Cross Turismo – the series-production version of our second electric sports car – we plan to take on an additional 300 people,”
 adds Blume.

According to
Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board, Finance and IT
at
 Porsche
 (above), the result for the third quarter is attributable in particular to positive mix effects and increased volume. A negative impact was caused by unfavourable currency fluctuations and high investments in electrification, as well as the development of new business fields.

“This result gives us momentum for the year-end sprint, which will be very challenging for us,”
 says Meschke.
“In addition to economic and political uncertainties, we also have to deal with the changeover to the new WLTP test cycle and gasoline particulate filters, as well as the farewell to diesel.”
 The new emissions legislation has been in force in Europe since 1 September. As part of the changeover, the new models will be introduced in stages, resulting in a temporary restriction of the product range.

Porsche recorded particularly strong growth in deliveries in Europe in the first nine months of 2018, with an increase of nine percent to 66,551 units. Overall, the sports car manufacturer increased deliveries by six percent to 196,562 vehicles. In Germany alone, deliveries increased by 13 percent to 24,709 vehicles. Growth in China, the largest single market of Porsche, was also up four percent with 56,254 vehicles delivered.

In terms of the model ranges, the Panamera showed the largest percentage increase: up to the end of September, deliveries of the four-door sports car increased by 60 percent. In Europe, more than 60 percent of these vehicles were equipped with a plug-in hybrid drive. The 911 also saw double-digit growth with an increase of 19 percent. The highest-volume model ranges remain the Macan with 68,050 delivered vehicles and the Cayenne with 49,715 units.

Porsche expects deliveries for 2018 as a whole to reach the record level of the previous year again; in 2017, the sports car manufacturer delivered 246,375 vehicles to customers. Despite the major challenges in the fourth quarter, the company expects an increase in revenue for the 2018 fiscal year compared with the previous year due to improved mix effects. The aim is to achieve a stable operating result compared with the previous year. The strategic goal of an operating return on sales of 15 percent remains unchanged.


General Motors and Honda to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles

General Motors and Honda have agreed to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s highly flexible global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries. The EVs will be manufactured at GM plants in North America with sales expected to begin in the 2024 model year in North America.

Production of these Honda electric vehicles will combine the development expertise of both companies. The exteriors and interiors of the new EVs will be exclusively designed by Honda, and the platform will be engineered to support Honda’s driving character.

Joint pursuit of electrification

GM and Honda already have an ongoing relationship around electrification, which both companies are pursuing in this decade. This includes work on fuel cells and the Cruise Origin, an electric, self-driving and shared vehicle, which was revealed in San Francisco earlier this year. Honda also joined GM’s battery module development efforts in 2018.

Honda e is a new EV which the company developed primarily for the European market.

“This collaboration will put together the strength of both companies, while combined scale and manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers,” said Rick Schostek, Executive Vice-President of American Honda Motor Co. “This expanded partnership will unlock economies of scale to accelerate our electrification roadmap and advance our industry-leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Related:
GM Looking Forward To All-Electric Future With Ultium Batteries

According to Doug Parks, GM Executive Vice-President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, the agreement builds on a proven relationship with Honda, and further validates the technical advancements and capabilities of our Ultium batteries and our all-new EV platform.

“Importantly, it is another step on our journey to an all-electric future and delivering a profitable EV business through increased scale and capacity utilization. We have a terrific history of working closely with Honda, and this new collaboration builds on our relationship and like-minded objectives,” he said.

As part of the agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles, Honda will incorporate GM’s OnStar safety and security services into the two EVs, seamlessly integrating them with HondaLink. Additionally, Honda plans to make GM’s hands-free advanced driver-assist technology available.


Police in Spain testing speedtrap camera systems that can detect vehicles braking to reduce speed!

Europe has many fine roads and long straight highways that are a joy for drivers and motorcyclists. However, because there are many who don’t motor responsibly, speed limits have to be set and law enforcement authorities constantly upgrade their speed detection and recording devices with new technologies to not only be more effective but also to defeat methods to fool the devices.

Motorists in many countries (even in Malaysia) have long used the tactic of decelerating quickly when approaching a spot known to have a speed trap so that the vehicle will pass by within the speed limit. They may have been going well above the limit but at that point, they become ‘obedient’… and then accelerate off after they pass. This naturally frustrates the cops and to detect this trick, police in Spain and Ireland have come up with devices that can determine the average speed of a vehicle along a specific stretch of highway and also detect sudden braking before the camera.

According to
Simon Hancocks at VisorDown
, who often attends media rides in Spain, there are different types of fixed and mobile speed cameras, and drones have even been spotted monitoring the mountain roads. Locals and regular riders are aware of many of the locations and will decelerate quickly or brake as they come within range of the cameras.

However,
VisorDown
 has now learnt of a new type of speed camera being tested in some parts of Spain that is able to detect a vehicle suddenly slowing down before it reaches the camera. The system has 2 cameras set a short distance apart and are also used for average speed recording (between 2 designated points). The technology can detect sudden deceleration like braking, and it is believed that it can also catch those who speed up again!

The use of these new devices is part of the effort by the Spanish traffic authorities to cut the accident and death rate on their highways. But Hancock predicts that in time, people will learn to decelerate earlier – out of sight of the cameras – and not get caught. That’s what many do when approaching the
AES cameras
 on our highways which also point in both directions.

Average speed cameras have been in use for many years now in Europe as well as Australia. They were developed when the authorities realized that motorists could be speeding well above the limits along stretches where there were no cameras, slowing down only when they came to a detection spot. Thus, by being able to determine the vehicle’s average speed, it would be possible to know if the driver had gone too fast.

Like the old VASCAR system which required a policeman to visually clock a vehicle passing between two pre-determined points and then getting a calculation by a computer in the car (this was in the 1970s), the average speed camera system works by measuring the amount of time it takes a vehicle to travel between two points and then calculates the average speed. If the average speed is above the speed limit, an offence is deemed to be committed. In NSW, Australia, the basis of the offence being detected is that the average speed being higher than the limit ‘demonstrate a continued intention to speed’.

The two cameras required by the system capture images of vehicles and have Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) capability. They also have infrared illumination to work even at night. Some systems are able to not only determine average speed but also approach speed and departure speed; if all three are above limits, there could be three different fines!

In a perfect world, there would be no need for such devices and no need for speed limits. Motorists would be responsible and sensible enough to drive within their own limits as well as at speeds that are safe for the conditions. However, because there are too many who are not responsible – which is why accident statistics are high – speed limits and other measures have to be taken to prevent loss of lives. So do your part and drive responsibly to help bring the numbers down.

Should 30 km/h zones be introduced in Malaysia?


Driven: Toyota GR Yaris Abused On A Gymkhana Track & At Sepang Circuit!

I would be lying if I said I was not excited about driving the GR Yaris.

“You go la bro, do a written and video review of the drive experience,” said Chips in our Piston/
BikesRepublic
/
MotoMalaya
 Whatsapp group chat.

I saved the formalities, thanked Chips and dove right in. There was no, “are you sure, bro?”

I love my colleagues, but I love the cars more. There was no way was I going to say no to driving what is arguably the 10 most interesting drivers cars of the past decade. Or maybe 20.

The invite said to be there by 8, the sheer excitement woke me up by 530. I got there by 820. Traffic was bad.

After all the formalities, hellos and a quick breakfast, there it was, the car that had dominated the news for a while, and was deemed as the most exciting hot hatch in a while, and I was unimpressed. I found myself thinking, “damn, it is rather small and unassuming.”

It really is small. Tiny almost. Almost the size of a Mini Cooper 3-door. But wider. Which is not a bad thing. Some of the greatest cars are all short, wide and low. That’s the basics of a great hot hatch. Think Renault Clio V6.

But sit inside and it feels comfortable, with an almost family sort of friendliness to it; the type that feels like you could drive it all day and then some.

And despite all that, there was an aura in the air inside the GR Yaris that set the purpose straight. Telling whoever it is that sits in it that it was something special. This was not a regular Toyota and you could feel it.

Perhaps it was the data logger lookalike head unit that dominated the central dashboard. Or perhaps it was the very obvious focus of the 6-speed manual with an aluminium shifter. Or perhaps it was the plastic laminated sticker that read out the car’s purpose in life – ‘Developed For FIA World Rally Championship’. But the biggest giveaway to the purpose of this Yaris was in its name – Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris.

“I sat in one of those things,” says my cousin Miki the day after my drive at Sepang.

I drove the Yaris from London to Cardiff, and it was horrid,” he said.

“Yes, but I bet it wasn’t the GR Yaris,” was my answer.

“Of course not, I heard those things are quite special,” was his answer.

He could not be more right. The GR Yaris truly is special. It is also a Frankenstein of sorts as it is the combination of a Toyota Yaris front and a Toyota Corolla back. Hence why it looks so wide at the back, because it is all-wheel-drive, and the wider track helps it go rallying. A perfect canvas for Tommi Makinen’s Toyota GR Rally team to develop a world dominator.

But there is little point in going further here, even if I were to wax lyrical about how much fun the car is to drive, which it really is, on track at least because I haven’t driven it on road – the fact of the matter is that you cannot buy a Toyota GR Yaris anymore. Not a brand new unit in Malaysia at least.

UMW Toyota Malaysia offered only 125 units of the GR Yaris to the Malaysian public, and all of them have been spoken for.

I did question the need to write this article before starting, since you won’t be able to buy it brand new here anyway. But the car is undoubtedly amazing, and deserves an article of its own.

And I totally understand the demand for it, I want one too. I can’t remember the last time I drove something that made me want to do some very illegal things with it. Every couple of years, a manufacturer will release something truly special that will blow away even the most dedicated of passionists – the GR Yaris is one of them.

Visually though there is nothing special about the car – inside or outside.

The uninitiated could easily be fooled into thinking it were a custom Myvi with a wide body kit which had spent time at the chop shop to get rid of the two back doors.

It really isn’t visually impressive. It won’t make your children squeal in delight when they see one, it will make your wife question her marriage to you should you spend over a quarter of a million ringgit in a car the size of a Myvi. It won’t get you the girls.

It will however get you lots of questions from fanboys. Myvi’s will want to race you, the Type R boys will “cucuk” you every chance they get. And the AMG and Golf R boys will have a laugh smoking you.

But that’s okay though, because as soon as you hit the corners, you will have the last laugh, because in the corners is where this Yaris becomes at one with its element.

In fact I dare say that in tight corners and in the right hands, this Yaris will “re-smoke” the AMG and Golf R. Such is its talent and capabilities, but a short wheel-base all-wheel-drive car will always need some experienced, talented hands that know what to do in case things get hairy. And things will get hairy very quickly.

The all-wheel drive system is intelligent, in normal mode, it sends 60% of power to the front wheels, while in track mode it sends 50% of the power to the rear for perfect power distribution, and in sport mode it sends 70% of power to the back wheels, making it a tiny tail happy car.

We did get a chance to feel this layout for ourselves, the sport mode around the gymkhana track which was set up to initiate a slide – a 360 degree donut drift, a slalom course then into a high speed gets the tail out if you pull the handbrake hard enough. Onto another slalom then hard on the brakes.

It was in the track mode that really made me realise that there are certain limitations to the car. Brake hard into a slow corner like turns one, four, nine and 15 of the Sepang Circuit and the rear will threaten to break loose. In fast corners especially turns five and six you have to modulate the pedal and even then there is this niggling sensation that the back just wants to break free.

Power is from a three-cylinder, 1.6 turbocharged engine. It puts out 261PS and 360km/h. Get the shifts right and this Yaris will reach 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds. Top speed is rated at 230km/h.

But it is not how much power it puts out, it’s how it feels doing it.

Floor the pedal and there is no roar or scream that follows the acceleration. It is more of a “whoosh” of the turbocharger. Did you really expect a three-cylinder engine to scream?

I am not mocking the engine here. What Toyota has achieved with a three pot engine makes it the most power three-cylinder engine in the world. Ever! Read that sentence again, perhaps then we can truly appreciate the magnificence of this small car.

Then there is the fact this Yaris is in fact a homologation special – meaning that it was bred for racing. Rallying, to be more accurate.

Toyota built 25,000 units of the GR Yaris, because the rules of homologation says a manufacturer needs to build 25,000 units of a model, and it goes on to say that 2,500 of those can be high performance variants as well. Which suggests that rumours around Toyota building a more hardcore version of the GR Yaris may actually be true. Hello GRMN!

There is no doubt that the Toyota GR Yaris is a special car to drive, though it may not look like it to the untrained eye. This is a car that needs to be driven to be appreciated, and those that know, they know.

My biggest gripe with this car? That UMW Toyota Motor is not able to offer more units than the 125 already sold. That more people are not able to enjoy such a fantastic machine. This is a car that could potentially define a generation, a legend like the Golf GTI and the Renault Megane. And unfortunately enthusiasts will have to turn to the grey import market to buy it, robbing them of official Toyota after sales support.

There is also word from friends who have booked the GR Yaris that their bookings are a money making tool now. Some are getting random phone calls offering to buy their booking for double the booking fee paid. Demand is so hot that at the point of writing, the GR Yaris offers better return on investment than any form of investment type, be it properties, gold, petroleum or energy stock.

A great car it is, one of the modern legends, but it remains to be seen how that three-cylinder engine deals with all that abuse.

And if your wife threatens to leave you because you spent a quarter of a million ringgit on a car that looks like a Myvi, tell her that it is a better investment than the jewellery she forced you to buy her. For now at least.


BMW Group Malaysia Delivers 12,680 Vehicles in 2017

BMW Group Malaysia
 has achieved its best performance in the country with a total of
12,680
 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles delivered in 2017. This is the premium automaker’s seventh consecutive all-time high performance, achieving a segment leading growth of
16%
 as compared to the same period in 2016 (10,906).

(L-R) Kidd Yam & Han

Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia
 (above, right) said,
 “We are humbled by this achievement. Our successful growth here in Malaysia is a result of our absolute commitment to the country as well as all our customers, dealers and their premium ownership experiences. We are committed more than ever to serve the country and the South East Asian region from Malaysia this year and set another benchmark with utmost excellence for the premium automotive industry here. Going into 2018, with the continued support of the Malaysian government, our customers and our strong dealership network, we will realise our investments and plans for the region here and we hope in sustaining this momentum and achieving yet another milestone for the Group and the country.”

(Forefront L-R) Han, Raymond & Sashi

The BMW brand grew by 18% in 2017, delivering a total of
10,618
 BMW vehicles from 9,000 vehicles in 2016. The growth was predominantly driven by the BMW 3 Series with 3,564 units delivered – 2,408 of which are units of the BMW 330e and BMW 330e M Sport. The BMW X5 xDrive40e is also a key contributor of the brand’s performance, with over 3,000 units sold last year. The BMW 740Le xDrive which was introduced in the first half of 2017 took the concept of Driving Luxury to the Mobility of the Future and had over 400 units delivered.

The successful delivery of BMW’s electrified vehicles to customers in Malaysia continues to underline the company’s leadership role when it comes to electro-mobility and is an indication that Malaysians are ready for the newest technology in the automotive industry. Driving its product portfolio of BMW Hybrid vehicles with eDrive Technology forward, BMW Group Malaysia will continue to prioritize on infrastructure and mobility services in its strategy to make electric driving a more comfortable and convenient experience and a daily pleasure.

The launch of the all-new BMW 5 Series, the most progressive sport-business sedan, in the first half of 2017 also accelerated the brand’s sales with over 1,600 units delivered.

MINI also grew from strength to strength, achieving the brand’s best record performance in 2017 with 1,010 MINI vehicles delivered. This marks a 12% increase from the previous year (902). This feat continues to position MINI as the second fastest growing brand in the Malaysian premium segment and is now the third largest brand in the segment. Last year, MINI added the new MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman to its portfolio.

BMW Motorrad meanwhile, delivered a total of
1,052
 units of its motorcycles, charting a 5% increase as compared to the previous year (1,004). 2017 saw the unveiling of five new motorcycles – the BMW S1000RR, BMW R1200GS, BMW K1600 GT and Bagger and BMW R nineT Urban GS.

Adding to the company’s commitment to deliver greater ownership experience for its customers, BMW Group Malaysia also introduced the Full Circle Programme by BMW Credit Malaysia, and the Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline Program for BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles, on top of its existing premium offerings such as the BMW 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Free Service Program, the BMW Tyre Warranty Program, and the MINI 4 Year Unlimited Mileage and Free Service Warranty program.

The leading premium automaker also opened its doors to its newest Regional Parts Distribution Centre facilities at the Free Trade Zone of the Senai International Airport of Iskandar Malaysia. The new regional facility, which is built on an investment of over RM 130million, is one of the largest of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and supports over 22 countries in the region. This is a testament to Malaysia being a key market for the BMW Group; a market that supports the Group’s strategic business direction in expanding its footprint in the region.

In 2018, BMW Group Malaysia will begin delivery of the first BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series to Vietnam and the Philippines. To support the move, the BMW Assembly Plant in Kulim increased its local assembly capabilities to over 10,000 vehicles in 2017 with an investment of over RM 10million.

“This year is our 15
th
 year of operations in Malaysia and we are very proud to have established ourselves as the leading provider of premium individual and sustainable mobility. We look forward to another year of growth in every aspect – from our sales to the maturity of our product portfolio to our leadership in electromobility and future mobility here in Malaysia,”
 said Han.

The success of BMW Group Malaysia mirrors that of the BMW Group worldwide. Globally, the premium automaker achieved a new all-time sales high with a total delivery of
2,463,526 vehicles
. A seventh consecutive year of record sales. In 2017, the BMW brand saw a 4.2% boost in numbers with a total delivery of 2,088,283 vehicles while the MINI brand also charted a new sales record in 2017, growing 3.2% over the previous year with 371,881 deliveries. Sales across the BMW Motorrad range also increased by 13.2% with a total of 164,153 units delivered worldwide.


New sales and production records set in October by Perodua

20 years ago, Perodua’s average monthly sales were around 7,800 units; 10 years ago, the monthly average rose to 15,000 units and the brand was No.1 in the market with a 30% share in 2011.

In October 2021, Perodua delivered 27,858 vehicles throughout Malaysia, setting a new record after the last record of 26,848 vehicles was set exactly 12 months earlier. For this achievement, the brand has been given a listing in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The new record comes with improved production and swift deliveries of vehicles to customers as the Malaysian carmaker is trying to deliver as many vehicles as possible in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The 27,858 units consisted of 8,761 (31.4%) Myvis; 5,973 Axias; 5,257 Bezzas; 3,973 Ativas, 2,553 Alzas, and 1,341 Aruz. For the first 10 months of this year, Perodua delivered 146,951 units, 14.5% less than the 171,861 units reported in the same period of 2020.

“This achievement is our commitment towards our customers and represents a 90.67% increase from 14,160 units sold in September 2021. We are now working to further improve production, especially for the rest of the year,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

Together with the sales record, the month of October also saw the highest ever number of vehicles made at the two factories – 29,803 units. According to Dato’ Zainal, this output was beyond Perodua’s current production capacity, yet the staff was able to boost their productivity with the same level of quality without new people, equipment or machinery.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Perodua staff who have gone beyond their best to ensure that our customers receive their Perodua vehicle as quickly as possible,” Dato’ Zainal said.

He added that the company is constantly mindful of both the safety and health aspects by ensuring that all employees follow the COVID-19 prevention guidelines while, at the same time, ensuring that they go beyond all quality requirements.

The Myvi remains the brand’s bestselling model and accounts for almost a third of total sales.

On the extension of the sales tax exemption until the end of June 2022, Dato’ Zainal said it is most welcomed as it will allow the automotive ecosystem more room to recover from the recent lockdown as well as catch up with demand.

“The extension of the Tax Sales Exemption will also benefit everyone, from consumers to vehicle manufacturers to suppliers, who are also affected by the global semiconductor supply shortage,” he added.

“The remaining two months will be a challenge as both Perodua and its ecosystem are still facing supply challenges due to the ongoing pandemic and we sincerely thank our customers for their patience and understanding in terms of vehicle delivery,” he said.

Perodua sales picking up but sales target for 2021 is lowered by 10.8%


Proton Sells 77,321 Units In First Six  Months Of 2023

Proton achieved a productive first half of 2023 by attaining its highest overall sales figures since 2012. With 14,351 units sold in June (domestic + export), total sales have reached 77,321 units, an increase of 28.6% over the same month last year and more than three times faster than the industry’s overall sales growth.

Total industry volume (TIV) is predicted to be 61,900 units in June, translating to a market share for Proton of 23.2%. Year-to-date market share has climbed once more to 21.3%, an increase of 3.2% over the same period in 2022.

With five models dominating sales in their respective market sectors, Proton models had a record month of June performance. With 6,111 units sold at the end of the month and a third consecutive month of sales above 6,000 units, the Proton Saga reclaimed the top spot among A-segment sedans. The model has performed better than ever since 2012, with 33,325 units sold overall so far.

In percentage terms, the newest model in the Proton line did even better. Proton X90 deliveries have now started in earnest and climbed by more than four times in June. Proton’s first new energy vehicle (NEV) was delivered in 1,082 units, catapulting the car to the top of the D-segment SUV market.

Since its market debut in October 2020, the Proton X50 has maintained not only the overall lead among B-segment SUVs but also the title of most popular SUV in Malaysia. 2,449 units were sold in June, and this year has seen a total of 17,562 deliveries, a rise of 9.9% over 2022.

The Proton Exora, Proton’s fifth overall sector leader, continues to dominate the C-segment MPV market. With 368 units sold in June, sales increased overall by 21.5%. While the Proton Iriz sold 842 units in June, which was third best in its class, overall sales have increased by 58.6% this year, mirroring the Persona’s performance. Finally, with 1,245 units sold last month, the Proton X70 recorded its second-best performance of the year.


Jaguar XK European by Thornley Kelham – an automotive icon reimagined

During the 1950s, as the world recovered from the dark period of World War II, the auto industry went through a revival charged with enthusiasm that had been suppressed for many years. In Europe, the spark of innovation was ignited again and a new generation of sportscars emerged. Among them was the Jaguar XK 120 which made its debut at the 1948 London Motor Show.

The unit displayed was actually more a showcar, a prototype for a new engine, but response from the public to the design was so encouraging and positive that Jaguar founder and Chairman William Lyons decided that it should be used for a production model.

World’s fastest production car in 1948

The aluminium-bodied car was designated ‘120’ which referred to its 120 mph (193 km/h) top speed and which made it the world’s fastest production car at the time it was launched. Just over 12,000 XK 120s were produced between 1948 and 1954, and those that remain today are highly prized possession of collectors and fetch high prices whenever they are put on the market for sale.

Thornley Kelham, a specialist in concours restoration, maintenance, servicing, rally preparation and support of iconic vintage and classic cars, is now reimagining the XK as the first entirely new project in its ‘European’ range of reimagined automotive legends.

Reimagined by McLaren P1 designer

The Jaguar XK European, which builds on the success of their Lancia Aurelia Outlaw, starts with a derelict donor XK as its base. The bespoke programme then transforms the car into ‘European’ specification, featuring an all-alloy lightweight body penned by McLaren P1 designer, Paul Howse, and a full range of performance and comfort upgrades and enhancements.

Most of the work is carried out in-house, together with a small number of trusted and talented partners. The original beautifully aerodynamic lines remain true to the car’s original intentions, echoing the kind of work applied to the E-Type Lightweight.

The first major task was to lower the roofline so that the proportions become more elegant and purposeful. The next was to add some curvature to the sides; all the body sections now have an ‘acceleration’ to them which adds sculpture and muscle but also lightness. The arches are wider both at the front and more significantly at the rear with wider alloy wire wheels filling them out nicely, giving that ‘road racer ‘stance.

The brightwork was also removed and instead a subtle crease was introduced down the bonnet which follows the split screen into the roof and washes out over the roof, which is more smoothly integrated into the overall form, as are the rear arches. At the rear, the tail now sweeps up to create a more teardrop form. The rear lamps are nestled into the bodywork and the headlights have had the chrome bezels removed, cleaning up the appearance.

Original but modernised interior

Inside, a completely redesigned dashboard and interior echo the original but with a dedication to modernizing and improving wherever possible. The dials are kept in a similar layout but are surrounded by a body colour aluminium dashboard rather than a flat slab of walnut. This is enveloped in the finest leather hugging the dials, now positioned slightly higher.

The seating position is a vast improvement over the original, dropping the H-point significantly so that you sit in the car rather than on it and ensuring that the lowered roof doesn’t affect the headroom. The seats themselves, whilst classic in design, offer more support than the original items (bearing in mind that today’s drivers are generally taller). The door design is also more sophisticated and sporting in design, with a slim storage pocket and a completely new door release to not only improve the ergonomics but also the knee clearance for taller drivers.

Purists may be unhappy with the presence of anything electronic, but many customers are likely to want the convenience of power windows and the clarity of electronic gauges. Other modern features are air-conditioning, power steering, Bluetooth connectivity and a number of in-car entertainment options, plus a discreet rollcage.

Improved mechanicals

The Jaguar XK 3.8-litre straight-six engine – which produced between 160 and 220 bhp originally – is thoroughly reengineered, instilling the ‘European’ specification with performance akin to a modern sportscar. The all-alloy engine, with a 5-speed manual transmission, is equipped with direct injection, a bespoke camshaft and rebored cylinders can develop either 300 bhp or 340 bhp, depending on the customer’s requirement.

In its day, the XK 120 was successful on the racetrack and in rallies so it has performance in its DNA. For the 21
st
 century version, the handling has been enhanced with reconfigured suspension all-round, employing double wishbones at the front, coilovers, tuned Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs. It’s a far more modern package than the original car, which featured basic leaf springs on the rear axle. In fact, the rear axle set-up has been completely redesigned, and now incorporates a limited slip differential. Four-piston vented disc brakes provide stopping power for each wheel.

The process of turning an XK into European-specification will take over 5,000 hours, with paintwork alone requiring 800 hours. Development of the first Jaguar XK built to ‘European’ specification is already underway, with the first commission secured. Numbers will be strictly limited, with prices from £550,000 (about RM3.04 million) plus a donor car.

“The Jaguar XK European is, to our eyes, the most beautiful car yet in the restomod sector, backed up with expertise and experience in developing cars that aren’t just perfect in their finish, but thrilling to own and drive,” said Simon Thornley, co-founder of Thornley Kelham. “With our concours-winning restoration heritage and our years of experience in perfecting our bespoke Lancia Aurelia ‘Outlaw’ project, we have developed a team perfectly placed to design and engineer a car that reimagines automotive icons authentically, in intricate detail and with a fastidious attention to quality.”


‘MOTIV’ autonomous vehicle platform by Gordon Murray Design ready for real-world trials

Gordon Murray Design and its consortium partners Delta Motorsport and itMoves unveil the ‘MOTIV’, a unique and extremely versatile autonomous vehicle platform, at the MOVE 2020 show in London this week. Part-funded through the UK-government’s ‘IDP14’ programme, the new platform breaks the mould for future mobility development by creating a cost-effective, ultra-lightweight quadricycle vehicle platform that is designed to meet full passenger-car crash safety requirements.

As a development test bed for autonomous systems, MOTIV’s autonomous-ready design is far easier for companies to convert than a conventional vehicle. It has been purpose-built as a platform for autonomy so testing of its driverless capabilities can begin from launch.

Alongside its industry-leading safety credentials, the new fully-electric unit is targeting significant cost-savings and improved refinement over its rivals, while delivering the range capabilities, platform flexibility and plug-and-play versatility required by autonomous customers with personal mobility or commercial delivery requirements.

Designed with autonomy in mind, MOTIV is a single-seater ‘pod’ which provides the versatility of either personal transportation or last-mile deliveries. Engineered using Gordon Murray Design’s iStream Superlight technology which keeps overall weight below 450 kgs (excluding battery pack), the microcar’s single-seater layout provides a private mobility experience for people moving through busy cities.

MOTIV has the potential to significantly reduce congestion and emissions in city centres due to its fully-electric powertrain and compact footprint. Its 1628 mm high pod measures just 2537 mm in length, with a width of 1310 mm.

Due to its compact footprint and layout, MOTIV offers greater flexibility than any of its rivals, it is claimed. To further increase its practicality, the microcar can be adapted in the future to seat multiple occupants (eg for wheelchair use or even for commercial deliveries). In its goods transportation form, the platform can be altered to enable maximum load capacity, creating a volume of more than 1,100 litres.

Power comes from a 20-kW electric motor drawing power from a 17.3-kWh liquid-cooled battery pack which is expected to provide a potential range of up to 100 kms. It will be able to operate at speeds of up to 65 km/h while recharging from 20% capacity to 80% can be within 40 minutes.

“MOTIV has the potential to transform future mobility. The best way to make any vehicle commercially viable and cost-effective, while delivering first-class efficiency, is to make it as light as it can be while retaining the highest levels of safety. With MOTIV, we have used our iStream technologies to create an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range,” said Professor Gordon Murray, Chairman of the Gordon Murray Group.


Max Verstappen and Alex Albon test-drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar

Aston Martin has unleashed the power of three of its Valkyrie models, with Max Verstappen and Alex Albon – the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing drivers – getting their first taste of the revolutionary hypercar.

While each Formula 1 driver drove the first verification prototype (VP) that made its public debut at last year’s British Grand Prix (Aston Martin Valkyrie VP1), both VP2 and VP3 were taken round by the company’s high-performance test driver Chris Goodwin and Aston Martin Racing WEC drivers Darren Turner and Alex Lynn.

Each verification prototype, of which there will be 8 built in total, is subjected to a variety of intense testing programmes designed to develop and validate specific attributes that contribute to achieving the performance of the world’s fastest ever road-going hypercar. These programmes are focussed on supporting first customer deliveries starting in the second half of this year.

“This event has been an incredibly important step in Aston Martin Valkyrie’s story. To have three cars now running will see the rate of physical development for this exceptional hypercar increase exponentially. Both Max and Alex were really positive of the direction that we’re currently taking and could see that the ingredients for an exceptionally high-performing car are already there ready to be untapped. To have that second opinion and validation doesn’t mean the hard work is done already, but this is a great step on our journey,” said Goodwin.

8-time Grand Prix winner Verstappen came away elated by his first laps in the Valkyrie. He said: “I was here at Silverstone to watch the first runs of the Aston Martin Valkyrie at the British Grand Prix last year but of course it’s always better to be behind the wheel yourself! To be one of the first guys to drive an insane car like this was really exciting… it was amazing to get a first taste of it.”

“Of course, it’s still in the development phase but you can already feel the pace, which compared to a normal car is… pretty different! The Aston Martin Valkyrie and its levels of downforce are incredible, and it looks super aggressive. It was a lot of fun out there,” he added.

Albon was equally pleased with his drive. “It was incredibly exciting to have this opportunity to drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the first thing that struck me was the visual aspect – it looks awesome! It also really feels like a racing car,” said the Thai driver.

“Obviously there’s still some development to do, but already it feels very good, especially the balance between the corners. It’s light; it feels sharp. Sure, compared to an F1 car, you’re missing the outright downforce, but you still feel the g-forces in the corners and it definitely reacts closer to an F1 car than a normal roadcar. It’s pretty special. I just need to get my hands on one!” he said.

Aston Martin Valkyrie will compete in Le Mans 2021


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

Isuzu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
 has introduced their limited edition, Isuzu
D-Max X-Series
 which should be very appealing to those who are looking for an
urban
 sports concept pick-up truck. The vehicle was unveiled by the
Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia for Light Commercial Vehicle, Masayuki Suzuki
 at the Carlist
Drive Autofair 2018
 event at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam.

The key exterior upgrades include an athletic front skirting with a dual tone of red highlight that gives a much bolder appearance. The sporty rear skirting is designed together with the aero sport bars to further enhance its metropolitan energetic look.

Other exterior accessories package for this limited edition version includes the exclusive red Isuzu logo badge at the car rear tailgate with X-Series emblem. At the front, the changes include a grey coloured front grille with red Isuzu logo which enhances its sporty charm.

The signature identity for this limited edition, Isuzu D-Max X-Series, is its body decal which cannot be found on their standard variant. A sporty stripe design has been added to its bonnet surface as well as at the tailgate.

Owners of this Isuzu D-Max X-Series will get to enjoy the welcome light which comes as a standard feature for this limited edition variant. The welcome light will come on upon unlocking the car. A white spotlight will be activated and projected onto the ground for 30 seconds.

The Isuzu D-Max X-Series also offers extended standard accessories including features like 360° Around View Monitor (AVM) system (above), built in in-car electronic tag and honeycomb shape stitched leather car seat. The AVM is a new feature that makes use of four exterior cameras in order to have a bird’s eye view for increased safety. This bird’s eye view cameras helps the driver see objects surrounding the vehicle, especially the presence of short objects that might not be visible from the driver’s seat otherwise.

As for the built-in tag (above), this feature is useful for drivers in paying and passing the toll. The Touch N Go card needs to be slotted into the reader which is located inside the arm rest. It works just like an in-car electronic tag whereby the screen will show the card balance and it will release a beeping sound once the card balance is below RM10.

The other prominent changes for this limited edition are the red colour LED interior accent light and LED illuminator rocker plate. These functions heighten the premium feel for both the driver and the passengers. The red light will toggle automatically as the door is unlocked and opened. It also helps in improving visibility inside the cabin in dark conditions.

At the launch,
Isuzu Malaysia Chief Operating Officer for Light Commercial Vehicle, Masayuki Suzuki
 said that he is pleased to introduce the signature X-Series marque into the Malaysian market at such an opportune time.
 “Since the tax holiday with zero-rated GST started, demand for Isuzu D-Max especially has increased tremendously due to the fact that the pick-up is priced 6% lower, a significant reduction. The consumers should take advantage of the situation to book one today, seeing the X-Series is only produced in a limited number,”
 he added.

The new limited edition vehicles are expected to appear at Isuzu’s Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia showrooms on first week of August onwards. However the public will be able to test drive one at the launch event at Setia Alam Convention Centre until
29 July 2018.

The price of this limited edition Isuzu D-Max X-Series is
RM118,000.00
 for
2.5L
 and
RM124,000.00
 for
3.0L
 off the road without insurance (Peninsular Malaysia). It is available in two colours; Silky Pearl White and Stallion Black Metallic. Every purchase of the X-Series comes with a premiums pack consisting of exclusive X-Series sling bag, tumbler, key chain and Touch N Go card.

For more details on Isuzu’s range of vehicles, call 1-300-88-1133 or visit
www.isuzu.net.my
/pickup/.


ClearPlex offers your windshield the protection it deserves

A vehicle’s windshield is an extremely valuable components of any vehicle. It’s quality and strength offers 20% of a vehicle’s structural rigidity and determines the level of protection it gives to occupants during thunderstorms or head-on collisions.

And back in the old days, prior to the introduction of modern electronic sensors, windshields attached to most vehicles were simple sheets of glass that weren’t very expensive manufacture. Fitting them in place on a vehicle required minimal effort and the use of a strong bonding adhesive.

The advent of modern surface mounted electronics have made windshields far more sophisticated than they have ever been. On more advanced vehicles, their windshields are fitted with heating elements, rain sensors, electo-film tinting, 360 degree cameras, ambient lighting sensors and a number of others.

Should you have the misfortune of damaging such a windshield, the cost of replacement could hover over the RM4,000 mark. Costs of replacing one from a luxury car can be anywhere between RM3000 to RM7,000 depending on model and workshop labour charges.

Well, this type of repair bill maybe a thing of the past thanks to a new protection film called ClearPlex. It is provided by Reep Group, one of the UK’s leading care care and detailing specialists. Once installed, it will be able to protect windshields from damage that include weather effects, impact from stones and debris thrown up from road surfaces.

ClearPlex, a partner company with The Reep Group, offer a technologically advanced, optically clear, windscreen protection film developed in America in association with NASA. It features UV stabilisers that help reduce heat within a vehicle as well asprotect against 99.9% of UVA and UVB harmful rays.

This means that ClearPlex is the all-round solution for those wanting something that offers them full protection from heat and damage to their windshield. No word yet on when it will be made available over here, but one it does, we will be standing in line to purchase a few.


Modified Hyundai Elantra Concept heading to SEMA 2017

Hyundai will be showcasing another concept vehicle at the upcoming SEMA show. The concept is a modified version of its ever popular C-segment sedan called the BTR Edition Elantra Sport concept. The BTR in the nomenclature stands for Blood Type Racing, the company that has been responsible for turning the humble Elantra into a racer.

The car’s grille has been blacked out, and features more aggressive bumpers and spoilers that wouldn’t look out of place on a WTCC racing car. Building upon the basic recipe of the Elantra Sport, this SEMA concept features methanol injection, new intake and exhausts, as well as new intercooler technologies, tuned suspension and full aero kit.

Speaking of the car, Sam Lee, product manager, Blood Type Racing, said, “The BTR Edition Elantra Sport takes the Elantra beyond its capable OEM-development roots without sacrificing daily drivability. We’ve given enthusiasts a new vision of where this affordable sport compact wants to go.”

The following is the full list of modifications that were carried out on the Elantra:

Torcon CAI intake and Pierce Motorsports exhaust system

Engine management custom ECU Tuning by BTR

Devil’s Own water/methanol injection system

Re-stitched OEM-style sport interior

Diamond-stitched floor mats

SoCalGarageWorks carbon-fiber steering wheel

SSR GTX01 19 x 9.5 +35 wheels

Toyo T1 Sport tires

HSD coilover suspension

Pierce Motorsports sway bars, strut tower brace and chassis brace

Fella Big Brake kit

Diode Dynamics custom headlights and LED interior lighting

Aerotek custom front, side and rear track-ready lip kit

APR GTC-200 GT wing

AutoArt body and paint work

BASF Glasurit Arancio Borealis paint

BTR custom Trunk Track Tool Set and custom full-size spare tire

Unlike most concepts, this Hyundai is meant to be a performance vehicle that can function as a daily driver. Since no major work has been carried out on the engine, Elantra owners in the USA could probably be able to install the kit without voiding their factory warranty.


New Ford EcoSport gets manlier without compromising on creature comforts

Ford has unveiled the new EcoSport, which now comes with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system and a more sporty variant called ST-Line. Building on its predecessor’s design, the Blue Oval has decided make the vehicle a little more rugged this time around.

The rather docile grille has been repaced with a matte-black two-piece louvered one that certainly is in-line with Ford’s current design language. It’s projector headlights slope forward and towards the front fascia, which reminiscent of the ones on the current gen Mustang.

from the side, the two-tone paint scheme does provide the EcoSport with a sporty look as does the 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels. Ground clerance of certain variants might vary depending on the suspension setup that is  utilized.

Ford has left the rear relatively untouched safe for minor changes to the taillights and rear bumper, both decent decisions considering that there wasn’t much wrong with them in the first place. The decision to keep the spare tyre internally has had a positive effect on the rear, giving rise to a cleaner and sporty overall feel.

Speaking if the new vehicle, Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, said, “Ford has sold 150,000 EcoSport compact SUVs in Europe since we first introduced the model to the region in 2014.The new Ford EcoSport offers customers even more style, comfort, capability and choice.”

There will be a diesel (EcoBlue) and a petrol (EcoBoost) engine available with the new EcoSport but the most notable feature of the lot is the Intelligent AWD system. It will be capable of distributing power between the front and rear in a 50/50 configuration.

In fact, it will be able to do this in a mere 20 miliseocnds, which Ford says is 20 times quicker than a human eye takes to blink. It will work seamlessly by transitioning torque between all four wheels, to allow for better traction and stability.

The 125bhp 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine is all-new and comes with a number of innovative technologies. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is offered in several states of tune, which include 140bhp, 125bhp and 100bhp. And if the 4WD life isn’t your thing, you can still opt for the 2WD option that is significantly lighter and easier on fuel consumption as well.

Compared to the outgoing vehicle, the new EcoSport gets optimized springs, dampers, spring aids, steering gear, rear axle twist beam, Electronic Stability Programme settings and steering assistance profiles.

The interior takes on a more refined look with easier to use controls and soft-touch materials, and a new centre console ergonomically designed for easy operation and featuring fewer buttons. The seats have been redesigned to offer good comfort and premium feel.

Occupants can also match the ambiance to their mood with adjustable interior lighting that can be set to one of seven colours. But the cabin’s main party trick is the ability to store small items in compartments hidden through out the cabin including under the seats.

As mentioned earlier, the EcoSport will also be offered as an ST-Line variant that has sportier styling and sports-tuned driving dynamics. As a result, it gets Ford Performance-inspired bumpers and side skirts, black-finish roof rails and headlight bezels, 17-inch Dark Tarnish alloy wheels, ST-Line badging and extended painted roof and door mirrors as standard.

As for the interior, you get a unique ST-Line leather-trimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel; unique partial leather seats featuring Miko®-Dinamica inserts – an ecological suede made from recycled polyester and red stitching, leather handbrake lever and gear knob, ST-Line branded scuff plates, and stainless steel sports pedals.

Other tech that are available across all variants is the SNYC 3 (Voice Assistant) and  8-inch colour touchscreen, which can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures. The B&O sound system offers impressive sound quality for the audiophile in all of us.

The EcoSport for the first time comes with Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter that helps drivers keep within speed limits, and a Rear View Camera that makes parking more efficient and safer. There’s also Blind Spot Detection and Roll Stability Control, which should help novice drivers handle the vehicle with more confidence.

There’s no word yet on when Ford will bring this vehicle over here, but it should hit European markets very soon.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Releases Q3 2018 Results – 10,143 Vehicles Delivered To Date!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM)
 delivered a record-breaking third quarter performance in 2018 (3Q2018), resulting in
10,143
 cars delivered to customers since the start of the year. Consistently placing customers at the centre of its activities, Malaysia’s leading luxury lifestyle brand dotted the past quarter with vibrant progress in its extensive network, product portfolio and talent development.

“In the third quarter of 2018, we enjoyed bringing a host of updates to excite our fans and customers in the premium market segment. These continue to make up a tailored luxury lifestyle brand experience that is unique to Mercedes-Benz. Keeping our fans and customers in mind at all times, we are happy to continue raising the benchmark of our customer journey through MBM’s extensive network, electrifying product portfolio and unrivalled customer service,”
 said
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner
(below).

In 3Q 2018, MBM continued to move closer to customers. Together with dealer partner,
Asbenz Stern Sdn Bhd
 (Asbenz Stern), MBM launched the Asbenz Stern Kuantan Autohaus and Service Centre. This underlined MBM’s commitment to the east coast, further retaining its leading position with the largest premium network coverage in Malaysia comprising
34 Autohauses
 nationwide.

“The customer experience has never been more exciting in the past quarter. We are pleased to bring a diverse lifestyle experience to our customers with the launch of the Dream Cars Collection for 2018, introduction of the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousines. We are also thrilled that 10,143 customers have chosen a product with a star, a 16 per cent jump over the same period last year, ontrack for yet another record year in 2018.”
 said
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mark Raine
(below).

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia delivered
10,143
 vehicles in 3Q 2018, a
16 per cent increase
 compared to the same period last year; while a market share of 2.5 per cent in total for 3Q 2018 records an improvement of 0.2 per cent from 3Q 2017. Thus far this year, MBM’s locally-produced limousines namely the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, and S-Class, collectively recorded a total of 6,344 units sold. MBM’s range of premium compact cars comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, GLA-Class and CLA-Class recorded 1,268 units sold. These two segments recorded increases of 21.1 per cent and four per cent respectively compared to the the third quarter of last year.

“Being in the automotive business for so long, we have grown into masters of our craft. With the legacy of our experience, we also recognise the importance of lifelong learning. Upholding our promise of service excellence, Mercedes-Benz continues to invest in talent development and enhanced experiences for our customers throughout their journey with the brand,”
 said
Vice President, Customer Services, Heinrich Schromm
(above).

More on Mercedes-Benz’s Q3 Performance in detail…

The premium SUV range by Mercedes-Benz remained a growth driver recording 1,960 units sold, which translated into a 3.4 per cent increase compared to Q3 2017. The eminent brand-shapers in the form of the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars collection also recorded a notable achievement with 570 units sold, marking a 40 per cent increase compared to 3Q 2017.

Adding to its thrilling product portfolio, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also launched the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine, along with the S-Class cabriolet, S-Class Coupe, and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class in 3Q 2018. The unveiling showcased an exclusively diverse and holistic collection of Mercedes-Benz S-Class automobiles for fans in Malaysia.

Catering to Malaysia’s passionate performance drivers with the aspirational dream car collection, MBM celebrated its brand-shapers with the launch of the luxurious Dream Cars Collection for 2018. They comprised the all-new

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Corporate Communications Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Coupe, the Mercedes-AMG GT C and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet.

Offering exclusive experiences to complement the best products and services, MBM hosted a number of lifestyle activities for customers. The AMG Owners Club Malaysia (AOCM) is the latest initiative by MBM which brought together a group of owners passionate about the brand and motoring. The AOCM is poised to elevate the AMG experience with exclusive access to all things AMG for owners.

Upholding the Best Customer Experience pillar and showcasing unparalleled expertise in caring for every Mercedes-Benz vehicle, MBM held the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SEA II Skills Competition in 3Q 2018. This year marked the competition’s 10th anniversary and first year opening its doors to the South East Asia II (SEAII) region. A total of 613 Customer Services Professionals and Advanced Modern Apprenticeship finalists competed for the title of best technician, service advisor and process specialist within the Mercedes-Benz network.

Moving into its service performance for 3Q 2018, MBM’s dealer network registered a service volume of 109,927 from 31 service centers, an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year. Noting the higher volume of vehicles serviced, MBM continued to once again uphold the highest standards of Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) which are a benchmark in Southeast Asia.

Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM), the financing arm of MBM, continued its growth trajectory in Q3 of 2018 maintaining a serviced portfolio of over RM2.5 billion, and continues to finance four out of 10 Mercedes-Benz cars sold in Malaysia. Enhancing the current service standard of finance and insurance products, customer car loan decisions at MBSM can now be undertaken in seconds through the implementation of a newly automated underwriting process for loan applications upon receipt of a complete set of required documents. Within one month of introduction of this service, MBSM was processing 15 per cent of applications via this efficient and convenient method.

To diversify its funding sources in anticipation of further growth prospects in the local market, MBSM recently issued a RM 3 billion corporate bond programme in Malaysia. MBSM received a credit rating of AAA by the independent credit rating agency RAM and its first issuance of RM 250 million of the bond program has been comprehensively taken up by local investors.

“Mercedes-Benz Malaysia was established more than 15 years ago. With more than RM1 billion invested as a Mercedes-Benz brand to-date, our key focus has been and remains taking a holistic approach to automotive excellence and customer experiences with a customer centric strategy,”
 concluded Dr Weidner.


New Corporate Mobility Solutions programme for BMW Group Malaysia’s corporate customers

BMW Group Malaysia’s Corporate Programme has been enhanced with a new Corporate Mobility Solutions (CMS) programme. The new enhancement to the programme is designed to elevate the premium ownership experience for both BMW and MINI corporate customers.

“BMW Group Malaysia has long been recognised for our excellence in providing premium ownership experience to all our customers, be it for individuals or corporate customers. We are the leaders that drive innovation in the industry, as the BMW Group Corporate Programme has been furnishing our corporate customers for many years now with premium financing solutions. With the addition of the CMS programme, we have once again changed the game, elevating our offering to our premium corporate partners,” said the MD of BMW Group Malaysia, Harald Hoelzl.

“We are no strangers to innovation when it comes to elevating customer experiences in every aspect, whether through vehicle ownership, aftersales services or mobility in financing. With the CMS programme, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia is raising the bar ever higher to provide only the best for our customers in the corporate segment,” added Tobias Eismann, CEO and Managing Director of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia (BMW Credit (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and BMW Lease (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.). “Our leading fleet management services is further enhanced with exclusive incentives and benefits, proving that we will always go above and beyond to deliver Sheer Driving Pleasure.”

360° premium ownership experience

The BMW Group Corporate Programme is designed to provide a 360° premium ownership experience to individuals and their companies by introducing exclusive incentives for eligible corporations, mobility solutions to meet all business and private needs, as well as a comprehensive aftersales coverage for peace of mind ownership.

The programme also features BMW ConnectedDrive services that include BMW Concierge Services, Connected Navigation, Remote Software Upgrade and Apple CarPlay, along with exclusive BMW Moments privileges.

The Corporate Mobility Solutions (CMS) – an enhancement of the BMW Group Corporate Programme – is a joint initiative between BMW Group Malaysia and BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia to further elevate the benefits offered by the BMW Group Corporate Programme. CMS features fleet management for businesses along with risk and cost reduction, as well as tailor-made mobility solutions to accommodate to all business and private needs.

The new Corporate Mobility Solutions programme includes THE MINI brand as well.

The initiative also integrates products from BMW Group Financial Services to grow and strengthen their position as a leader of mobility solutions in its class. Sais to be a game-changer in mobility innovation, the CMS is developed to equip BMW Group Dealers with a wide range of support to provide top quality financing and fleet management services for corporate customers.

BMW Malaysia introduces BMW Elite M Card


Ford Mustang is bestselling sportscar in the world – for the fifth consecutive year

When sportscars are mentioned, those of Italian or German brands often come to mind. But when it comes to the most widely sold sportscar in the world, it’s from America – the Ford Mustang. Now in its 56
th
 year of production, the Mustang has again captured the best-selling sportscar title for the fifth consecutive year and it’s also been America’s best-selling sportscar for the last 50 years.

According to the most recent new vehicle registration data from IHS Markit, 102,290 units of the Mustang were sold worldwide last year. During this period, the model’s sales in Germany increased 33% while in Poland, sales rose by nearly 50% and, in France, they nearly doubled.

With this generation having righthand drive variants, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has been able to offer the Mustang in Malaysia.

Greatest-ever Mustang performance line-up

In addition to continually adding personalization and technology options, Ford keeps up the Mustang momentum with this generation having greatest-ever performance line-up. Since making its debut in 2015, the Mustang range has expanded to 12 versions globally and more significantly, righthand drive variants are also available.

The Mustang variants include EcoBoost and GT models each with two Performance Pack options, Mustang BULLITT, Mustang Shelby GT350 and Handling Pack, Shelby GT350R, plus Shelby GT500 with Handling Pack and Carbonfibre Track Pack options.

Fastback and convertible bodystyles are available and depending on the market, the powertrains customers can choose from are a 2.3-litre EcoBoost 4-cylinder (291 ps) and 5-litre V8 (449 ps).

The special edition Mustang BULLITT featuring an enhanced 460 ps 5.0-litre V8 engine is offered in fastback body style with a choice of Shadow Black or classic Dark Highland Green exterior colours, and unique exterior and interior details.

“We’re proud of our growing Mustang stable and performance variants,” said Jim Farley, Chief Operating Officer, Ford Motor Company. “From Sweden to Shanghai, more and more driving enthusiast are enjoying the feeling of freedom and the American open road in these new Mustangs. We are honoured to serve our owners, enthusiasts and fans for 56 years and counting,” he said.

Visit
www.sdacford.com.my
 to know more about the Mustang and availability in Malaysia.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang yet


Ora Grand Cat Rumoured To Enter Malaysian Market Soon?

The
Ora Good Cat
 debuted in Thailand before making its way to Malaysia last year. Similarly, the new “Porsche-Bentley-looking” car was unveiled at the 39th Thailand International Motor Expo 2022 but this time it might make its way to the UK before entering the Malaysian Market.

The Ora Grand Cat or as they call it in China, the Lightning Cat is a bigger and more powerful car than the Good Cat. Although, it is yet to receive an official name for the UK market. GWM is referring to it as the “Next GWM Ora” for the time being.

The Grand Cat has Ora Autopilot 3.0, which is supported by 12 ultrasonic radars and 28 sensors placed all around the vehicle. A 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen, 11 Infinity speakers with their own amplifier, and electrically-operated front seats with cooling and massaging features are all included in the interior.

It is an Accord-sized vehicle at over 4.8m long, 1.8m wide and 1.5m tall. Compared to the Good Cat, which had an odd rear-view and was designed by former Porsche designer Emanuel Derta, the Grand Cat’s shape and overall exterior appearance look much better. However, it is unknown whether Derta had any input into the Grand Cat’s design. This makes it Ora’s first premium electric coupe.

Other features include a glass roof, an active inlet grille, an electronic rear spoiler, and “exhaust synthetic noise” so you can get a feel of what it’s like to drive an actual car.

Besides that, it is actually a powerful EV as it can be specced in all-wheel drive with dual motors, with a power output of up to 400 PS and 680 Nm. It does the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds.

There is also a range-focused option which lets you travel up to 600 km on the WLTP cycle that comes with an 83.5 kWh battery paired with just one 204 PS, 340 Nm motor at the front.

With incentives, the price in China ranges from 189,800 to 269,800 yuan (RM120,418 to RM171,155). The UK pricing is yet to be unveiled, however, keep in mind that China prices typically fall short of export prices.


New longer Land Rover Defender 130 joins the range

Land Rover has unveiled the third bodystyle for the Defender, which gets the designation of ‘130’ to signify it as the longest version. While riding on the same wheelbase as the Defender 110 (3022 mm), the overall length of the Defender 130 is extended by 340 mm to 5358 mm.

The additional length, which can be seen to be achieved by increasing the overhang, allows seating for up to 8 persons on 3 full-sized rows within the cabin. At this length, the Defender 130 is certainly  longer than rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

To maintain the distinctive rear design of the Defender, Land Rover engineers have crafted a subtle boat tail-style uplift that also maximises the all-terrain capability customers expect from a Defender, providing a departure angle of 28.5 degrees. The surrounds for the rear LED lighting units have been re-engineered to maintain the 3 distinct lines that define Defender’s side profile as they rise subtly towards the rear.

The interior design features new colour and material options, with the latest connected technologies including a new, larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen. This gives enhanced control over the vehicle’s core functions via a crisp and intuitive display. The curved glass interface provides fast, state-of-the-art functionality and is responsive as soon as the vehicle is started, with a simple menu structure. Software Over-The-Air capability allows the owner to get updates anywhere in the world (at least anywhere where there’s a connection to the internet).

Interior air quality is an important consideration these days and Land Rover provides Cabin Air Purification Plus, which makes its Defender debut in the new 130 model. It combines nanoe X technology for allergen reduction and pathogen removal to help significantly reduce odours and viruses. In addition, CO
2
 management and PM2.5 filtration improve the cabin environment to give best available air quality. Additionally, a Purge function allows the driver to cleanse the cabin air prior to departure remotely using a smartphone.

The same large windows are present as well as the panoramic glass sunroof and with the increased length of the Defender 130, a second sunroof is also added over the rear occupants.

A new material finish – Natural Light Oak engineered wood veneer – is inspired by driftwood and lends a natural, modern look and feel, available to elegantly complement the Light Oyster Perforated Windsor Leather seating.

Access to the cargo area is unchanged, while a body-colour hardshell cover for the spare wheel is available. From the tailgate, the Defender’s Electronic Air Suspension can be operated with buttons inside the load area to make loading items easier.

The spacious and practical load area can contain up to 3,893 litres of cargo even with the rearmost seats in place. When the seats are not in use, they stow to create a large loading area, extending the floor length. Various configurations are possible to allow for more passengers or cargo.

The Defender 130 is available with a range of electrified powertrains, including the P300 and P400 mild-hybrid Ingenium 6-cylinder petrols, and the D250 and D300 Ingenium 6-cylinder diesels. The Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology uses a 48V Belt-integrated Starter Generator that harvests energy normally lost under braking and deceleration. This energy is stored and utilised later in the journey, while also making the stop-start system more rapid and efficient.

As with the other models, the Defender 130 has Land Rover’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (iAWD) system and 8-speed ZF automatic transmission as standard. The iAWD technology efficiently and effectively manages the powertrain and power distribution between the front and rear axles, optimising on-road efficiency and all-terrain capability as necessary.

Also standard are Electronic Air Suspension with Adaptive Dynamics and Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response system for all-terrain capability. The latter provides the driver with intelligent management of the various active systems for optimum progress over all types of surfaces.

The air suspension can provide an extra 71.5 mm of lift at the front and 73.5 mm at the rear to clear obstacles on very uneven or rough ground. As for crossing water, the Defender 130 can safely cross a river that is up to 900 mm deep.

While availability depends on what importers order, the Defender 130 has its own colour palette, with a new, exclusive Sedona Red option. The exterior is complemented by the Extended Bright Pack – available in addition to the existing Bright Pack – which provides a distinct exterior design with Ceres Silver Satin finish around all lower body cladding and front and rear skidplates in Noble Chrome.

The Land Rover Defender – Past and Present

For more information and to find the location of the closest Land Rover showroom to you, visit
www.landrover.com.my
.


FEATURE: All-New 2019 Toyota Rush SUV Launched! [+Videos]

Set to debut in January 2019 and priced
below RM100,000
,
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn. Bhd. (UMWT)
 today introduced the All-new
7-seater
 Toyota Rush, the second generation of the SUV model developed especially for ASEAN markets. The All-new Toyota Rush has been on sale for some 10 years, with over 18,000 units sold throughout Malaysia. Engineered for robustness and designed for practicality, the All-new Toyota Rush has received regular updates to meet the changing needs of customers. Here’s the video of its maiden debut a few hours ago…

With the new second generation, the All-new Toyota Rush retains the image of an
Urban SUV
 for Rugged-Active Lifestyles, despite only having
2-wheel drive (rear wheel drive),
 combining the comfort of a passenger car with spaciousness, high seating position, and greater ground clearance of an SUV. The All-new Toyota Rush also introduces
360-T
, a new Toyota approach to provide the best package for customers that will be used in all its upcoming models.  360-T is all about Trust and Technology by Toyota, giving customers a complete suite of innovations, designed to protect and provide total advantage on the road. With that said, here’s the first-impression video of our brief test-drive of the new Toyota Rush immediately following the launch…

Three elements make up the 360-T:
Safe-T Plus
 with the latest safety features and systems as a standard feature;
Connectivi-T
 which provides latest technology for connectivity, entertainment and safety; and
Guaran-T
 for total peace of mind throughout the ownership of the vehicle. The design of the All-new Toyota Rush is an indication of the dynamism that can be expected from upcoming Toyota models. Departing from the conventional form of the first generation, the styling has sharp character lines which give an advanced unique design that is known as ‘R-BLADE’. The ‘R’ stands for ‘Rush’ and the ‘blade’ refers to Metal, Sharp and Edge, while a dual tone theme on the bodywork adds visual impact.

The new image of the All-new Toyota Rush has also been elevated to be more advanced with a premium look and feel that comes with high value-added features, making it even better value for money
.
The All-new Toyota Rush is powered by the latest
Toyota 16-valve DOHC 1.5-litre engine
 which has a maximum output of
105 ps
 at 6,000 rpm with
136 Nm
 of torque at 4,200 rpm. With a proven and reliable 4-speed automatic transmission that comes with Automatic Stop-Start system, fuel consumption is better and can be as good as 15.6 kms per litre. This qualifies it as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) under the current Malaysian National Automotive Policy.

The All-new Toyota Rush continue with rear-wheel drive for a greater variety of terrain conditions, offering better traction for uphill climbs when carrying heavier loads. Other features include Electric Power Steering (EPS) which contributes to the good fuel efficiency, and tyres with the largest diameter in its class. Despite the large tyre size, the All-new Toyota Rush still has an agile turning radius of 5.2 metres.

The seating layout is 2-3-2 over three rows, with easy access to the third row. The cargo capacity is 217 litres but when required, the volume can be expanded to 514 litres by folding the rear seats. Additionally, for those who may have long or large objects (not exceeding 50 kgs); the edges of the roof have integrated low profile rails which the cargo can be placed on.

The new DVD-AVX audio system has a large 6.8-inch capacitive touchscreen and the unit can be linked to a compatible smartphone to ‘mirror’ the smartphone’s screen onto the audio display. This allows GPS navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze to be used and viewed from the display screen. Other standard features include 13 cupholders, a Multi-Info Display, Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) for a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the vehicle, and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). A Toyota AutoTag is also installed for electronic payment of toll while the Smart Entry system locks/unlocks the doors with just a touch of the button located on the outside door handles.

Toyota places top priority on safety and has developed many new Active Safety systems which can help the driver avoid accidents. The combination of advanced safety systems plus computer-aided engineering and design has enabled the All-new Toyota Rush to score the highest overall rating of 5-stars from ASEAN NCAP (for both Adult & Child Occupant Protection categories).

A new standard active safety feature is the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). BSM helps the driver to be more aware of other road-users in the vehicle’s blind spot, reducing the risk of a collision, while the RCTA is able to warn the driver of approaching vehicles as the vehicle is reversing out of a parking bay.

Also new is the Pre-Collision System (PCS) which helps to reduce low to medium speed accidents due to inattentive driving (only available on the Rush 1.5S). The system, which uses a stereo camera, has four features: Pre-collision Warning, Pre-collision Braking, Front Departure Alert, and Pedal Misoperation Control. The system is designed as a driver assistance feature but gives priority to driver inputs which will override its functions.

The All-new Toyota Rush comes with a
5-year full warranty with unlimited mileage
. UMWT expects to sell around 3,600 units in 2019 and in anticipation of high demand, the new model will be assembled under contract at Perodua’s manufacturing plant. The
estimated
 price of the All-new Toyota Rush is
RM98,000
 for the S variant and
RM93,000
 for the G variant. The model comes with 5 exterior colours choices – White, Silver Metallic, Dark Gray Metallic, Blue Metallic and Dark Green Metallic.  Bookings for the two variants are accepted at all authorised Toyota showrooms nationwide from today.


BMW i8 headed to retirement as a future Classic

Six years after it appeared, the BMW i8 Coupe will be retired as its production cycle comes to an end. A success story as a unique symbiosis of futuristic design and pioneering technology, it was the BMW  Group’s first plug-in hybrid model that spurred interest and excitement for electrified drive technology and laid the foundation for the BMW Group’s now broad range of plug-in hybrid models.

At the same time, the i8 developed into the world’s most successful sportscar with an electrified drive system. With more than 20 000 units sold since 2014, it achieved higher sales than all competitors in its segment combined. Its global market share has been more than 50% in the segment of sportscars with electrified drive for years and the i8 will be able to maintain this leading position until the middle of April 2020.

The i8 began as the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, a concept car shown at Frankfurt Motorshow in 2009. The response was very enthusiastic, and BMW said that the central features of its design and technology would be transferred to a production model of the new BMW i brand.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept evolved into the i8 concept in 2011. It was used in one of the Mission: Impossible movies.

Launchpad for electrification strategy

The i8 had its world premiere at the same motorshow 4 years later, together with the i3. The double debut was the starting signal for implementing a comprehensive electrification strategy, with which the BMW Group set the early and consistent course for a model programme geared towards sustainable driving pleasure.

Today. Pure electric and plug-in hybrid models are available in all relevant segments, from the compact and midsize class, through the BMW X models, to sportscars and luxury sedans. The BMW Group plans to expand its range to include 25 electrified models by 2023, more than half of which will run on electric power alone.

Pioneer and flagship

As a pioneer and flagship for driving pleasure with plug-in hybrid technology, the i8 was an ideal car for the job right from the start.  New paths were forged with the BMW i specific vehicle architecture and the plug-in hybrid system. The combination of a passenger cell made of carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) with an aluminium chassis was just as revolutionary as the intelligently controlled interaction of the combustion engine and electric motor.

The control of its plug-in hybrid system was designed both for dynamic power delivery and for the most efficient interaction of the two engines. The combustion engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology transfers its power to the rear wheels. The electric motor drives the front wheels. The result is a hybrid-specific all-wheel drive with a noticeably positive influence on traction, agility and driving stability.

This, and the spontaneous power delivery of the electric motor with a maximum torque of 250 Nm available immediately from standstill, means that the sporting character of the i8 also comes into its own in purely electric and therefore locally emission-free driving. Up to 120 km/h can be reached in pure electric driving mode and the combined drive torque of both powerplants unleashes performance characteristics similar to a high-performance sportscar.

Beyond eDrive technology

Right from the start, the pioneering function of the i8 extended far beyond establishing BMW eDrive technology in an iconic sportscar. The extensive use of CFRP in the body structure and the clearly visible measures to reduce air resistance set new standards in the areas of intelligent lightweight construction and aerodynamics. Together with the i3, the sportscar also paved the way for innovative manufacturing technologies, with which the BMW Group became a pioneer in the use of CFRP in the industrial production of volume-produced automobiles.

Already a milestone in the history of the BMW Group

The Leipzig plant is currently producing the 200 units of the limited Ultimate Sophisto Edition of the i8. One of the edition models was already manufactured in December 2019 as the 20,000th unit of the model. Among the milestones in the history of sportscars, its sales figures are well ahead of classics such as the M1, of which only 399 units were produced for road use, and also ahead of the Z8 roadster, which was built in some 5,000 copies.

Click here for other news and articles about BMW
.


2019 Honda Civic facelift now open for booking

Honda Malaysia has announced that the latest 2019 Honda Civic facelift is now open for booking ahead of its launch somewhere in the coming months. Interested parties can do so at any of the 98 Honda dealerships across Malaysia.

NEW Honda Civic!

Your dream ride is back and better than before.Catch a glimpse of the NEW Honda Civic – now open for bookings.

Posted by
Honda Malaysia
 on Isnin, 9 September 2019

The updated Honda Civic package will include Honda’s next generation advanced safety technology called the Honda SENSING. These safety features which are already available in some Honda models include:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Auto High-Beam (AHB)

Driver’s Cruising Aid

Frontal & Side Collision Deterrence.

Honda LaneWatch camera

Other exterior updates included are:

Honda Signature LED Headlights

LED Front Fog Lights

New Front Bumper

New Rear Bumper Garnish

New Tailgate Spoiler

New Black Painted Front Grille

New 18-inch Alloy Wheels

According to Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama, “We are confident that the New Civic will not only continue to live up to its name, but also offer D-segment features with a sportier appearance and dynamic performance. The New Civic is the third Completely Knock-Down (CKD) model from Honda Malaysia to be introduced with Honda SENSING – the Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology – which offers a complete package that we believe will be attractive to customers in Malaysia.”

For more information, head over to
www.honda.com.my
.

Special Edition of Honda City now available, priced from RM75,955


More MyTukar branches opened around the country under expansion plan

Two years into its business, myTukar Sdn Bhd is accelerating its growth with the opening of three new branches in Peninsular Malaysia. The ambitious growth plan is supported by CARRO, a Singapore-based Southeast Asian technology-enabled automotive marketplace.

To date,
myTukar’s
 2,000-strong dealership network has transacted over 23,000 vehicles with an estimated value of RM750 million. Digitalisation of the purchasing process has enabled it to serve the used car industry efficiently.

Fong Hon Sum, CEO of
myTukar
 said: “The opening of multiple new branches is the most significant milestone for myTukar since we began operations in 2018. We are driven by our mission to digitalise and transform the traditional way of selling used cars. And I am proud to say that
myTukar
 was built by the people in the used car industry, to empower and support other used car dealers using technology.”

Mr. Fong, who has over 20 years of experience in the used car industry, is keen to bring positive changes, technological improvements and transparency to the industry. His deep knowledge of the inner workings within the industry brought together over 2,000 dealerships in which
myTukar
 works in partnership to support their needs.

Four more branches before year-end

After the three new ones in Malacca, Penang and Ipoh, another four more branches will soon open, bringing the total branches nationwide to sixteen. The additional four branches include a second Johor Bahru branch which will also be
myTukar’s
 Southern Logistics hub and a major hub for car inspection. Mr. Fong said that more branches will open in 2021 to cover more cities around the country.

Each new branch can accommodate up to 3 cars at any given time and are equipped with basic amenities in a waiting lounge. There are qualified and professional inspectors to provide a comprehensive 158-point inspection and evaluation within 30 minutes or less. When in full operation, the 16 branches will be able to handle up to 300 vehicles per day.

“This nationwide expansion strategy is aligned to and complements CARRO Group’s strategy to continuously expand and digitalise car trading for the South East Asia Region. CARRO Group is SouthEast Asia’s largest car marketplace and currently has a presence in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.

Collaboration with Sime Darby Auto Selection

The latest collaboration for
myTukar
 is a platform integration with
Sime Darby Auto Selection
 to enable the company’s efficient inventory management of trade-in cars as well as the transfer of knowledge by
myTukar
 to integrate Sime Darby Auto Selection’s inspectors into the process of strengthening used car trade-in services.

Financial services programme to support 1,900 used car dealers


Toyota GAZOO Racing wins Safari Rally Kenya again – and it’s 1-2-3-4 this time

A year ago, the Toyota GAZOO RACING team won the Safari Rally Kenya, the Japanese carmaker’s  first on the gruelling African event since Yoshio Fujimoto/Arne Hertz won the 43rd Safari in 1995 in a Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD.

This year, doing even better than the 1-2 finish in the 2021 event, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing made a remarkable clean sweep of the top 4 positions with the GR YARIS Rally1 car. Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta joined winner Kalle Rovanpera on the podium, with Sebastien Ogier (last year‘s winner) in fourth. The next best-placed car finished 8½ minutes behind the Toyota quartet.

It was also a landmark 10th victory for Toyota on the famous African event, and the first time it has achieved a 1-2-3-4 finish in the WRC since the very same rally in 1993. Only once has any other manufacturer achieved the same feat in the championship in nearly three decades since.

In its second running since returning to the WRC calendar last year, the Safari delivered even tougher conditions, including deep ‘fesh-fesh’ sand on Friday and wet and muddy surfaces on Saturday in addition to the ever-present rocks and stones. It was by far the hardest challenge yet for the new generation of hybrid-powered Rally1 cars.

Rovanpera had an early scare when he ran wide on the very first corner on Thursday’s opening super special in Nairobi and knocked a tyre off its rim. But he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen ran faultlessly thereafter on the way to their fourth victory in 6 rounds, increasing their championship lead to 65 points.

Rovanpera actually never expected to win this rally. He arrived in Kenya with a commanding points lead and played down his glory hopes, instead starting with the mindset that any points from the championship’s roughest encounter would be a bonus. And despite feeling unwell, he strengthened his position on Saturday and thrived in waterlogged conditions as downpours derailed many of his rivals’ hopes. The sizeable 40.3-second margin he carried into Sunday’s finale was extended further by another 2 fastest times and the youngster ended the tough 4-day event in the lead of the Yaris quartet.

Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin also performed superbly and ran their team-mates close for the victory, remaining within 20 seconds of the lead until the rain hit on Saturday afternoon. They finished up 52.8 seconds away as they scored their second podium of the season.

Ogier, the 2021 event winner, led for most of Friday in the defence of his crown until he had to stop and change a tyre on the day’s final stage, losing over 2 minutes. He and co-driver Benjamin Veillas fought back to fourth overall and, with their team-mates focused on reaching their finish, set the third-fastest time in the rally-ending Power Stage to add to the team’s points haul from the weekend. Its Manufacturers’ championship lead has increased to 62 points.

The hotly-anticipated battle with compatriot Sebastien Loeb never materialised either, as the 9-time world champion retired his M-Sport Ford Puma with engine problems on Friday. Nevertheless, Ogier was able to bring home more solid points for Toyota during his part-time campaign.

Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville was over 10 minutes behind in fifth overall, despite incurring a 10-minute penalty when he crashed into a tree and failed to finish Saturday’s Sleeping Warrior finale. It was a weekend to forget for the Korean manufacturer, with Estonian Ott Tanak’s i20 N also sidelined by a broken propshaft on the penultimate leg and retiring for a second time with power steering failure on Sunday.

Craig Breen restarted after his early bath on Friday and ended as M-Sport Ford’s leading driver in sixth overall despite nursing suspension problems. Breen gained a position when Oliver Solberg stopped in the middle of the road with an air filter full of dust, causing the cancellation of Sunday’s opener. The young Swede eventually got going again but was plagued by a mechanical issue in the closing speed tests and dropped to 10th.

Competing in Africa for the first time, and having led from start to finish in a Skoda Fabia Rally2, Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the WRC2 class by the massive margin and topped off a perfect weekend by scoring maximum bonus points in the rally-closing Wolf Power Stage. He leapt from fifth in the standings to lead by 5 points after six of 13 rounds.

RESULTS (TOP TEN)

1. Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) 3:40:24.9 secs

2. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +52.8 secs

3. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +1 min 42.7 secs

4. Sebastien Ogier/Benjamin Veillas (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +2 mins 10.3 secs

5. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +10 mins 40.9 secs

6. Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (Ford Puma Rally1) +23 mins 27.9 secs

7. Jourdan Serderidis/Frederic Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1) +30 mins 16.5 secs

8. Sebastien Loeb/Isabelle Galmiche (Ford Puma Rally1) +32 mins 12.6 secs

9. Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maciej Szczepaniak (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +35 mins 37.6 secs

10. Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +37 mins 36.6 secs

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created


Volvo EVs To Have Access To Tesla Superchargers

Volvo Cars announced on Tuesday that it has reached a deal with Tesla to allow its electric vehicles (EVs) access to the EV manufacturer’s Supercharger network in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With this agreement, Volvo becomes the first European automaker to use Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), joining a growing list of EV manufacturers and charging equipment suppliers that have already adopted the technology.

By the middle of 2024, a Tesla NACS to CCS converter will be available for use for owners of current Volvo EVs, including the XC40, C40 Recharge, and the future EX30 and EX90. The charging outlets will be listed in the Volvo Cars app, according to the automaker.

Volvo is the latest major automaker to embrace Tesla’s connector, which is gaining popularity behind the currently widely used Combined Charging System (CCS) standard and is being followed by Ford, GM, and Rivian. Manufacturers and operators of electric vehicle charging stations like ChargePoint and EVgo recently confirmed their support.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Tesla’s Superchargers make up around 60% of all fast chargers in the United States.

With models like the Volvo
XC40
 Pure Electric and
C40
 available here in Malaysia, would we get this advantage when Tesla is officially launched here?


F1 (Round 16) – Highlights Of The 2019 Russian Grand Prix And Results

♦ Lewis Hamilton finally gets a win after 4 races and increasing assurance of another world championship title, possibly being confirmed in Mexico.

♦ Controversies again in the Ferrari camp led to Sebastian Vettel retiring with engine problems and Charles Leclerc losing his lead due to the virtual safety car being deployed.

♦ Red Bull’s two drivers – Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon – started the race in poor form, the former having been given a penalty and the latter having had an accident in qualifying. But they managed to finish 4th and 5th (Albon moving up from 20th at the beginning) to collect points for the team.

♦ Poorly planned pit stop saw Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo immobile longer than necessary and dropping way down the field to end 13th. He must miss the lightning-quick and precisely planned pit stops at Ferrari.

(Provisional results)

Next race in Japan (Suzuka) on October 13