New smart #3 Debuts At Auto Shanghai

Malaysia will be among the first Asian markets (outside China) to get the
smart #1
 later in the year when
PRO-NET
 starts selling it. The #1 is just the first of a range of models from smart – a
joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely
. Next in line will be the #3 which has been presented for the first time at Auto Shanghai 2023 today.

Where the #1 is a SUV, the #3 is a SUV coupe, a sleeker derivative for those who prefer a sportier image. Mercedes-Benz Design has the responsibility for the exterior and interior of the smart models, while Geely provides the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) modular platform engineered specifically for EVs.

With the fully electric #3, smart remains true to its original pioneering vision of exploring the best solutions for future urban mobility. The design is defined by seamless, smooth lines and athletic curves, aimed at enhancing its aerodynamic performance.

At the front, slimmed down CyberSparks LED headlights are paired with a distinctive ‘shark nose’ and A-shape wide grille. On the sides, the prominent two-tone roof meets the smooth, continuous e-line that connects the A-pillar and C-pillar, creating an elegant sporty silhouette.

The spoiler, C-pillar and the rear fender combine with the bumper to create a modern curvature, while taillights with pixelated elements enhance the vehicle’s premium feel.

Inside, the cabin has a sporty ambience with circular shapes evocative of turbine intakes, embedding voluminous elements throughout the calm and stylish architecture. The sculpted dashboard flows seamlessly into a high console with a 12.8-inch elevated central screen. The infotainment system, a key element in connectivity, is equipped with a 13-speaker Beats  Soundsystem.

The combination of natural light from the halo roof and artificial illumination from multi-coloured ambient lighting further enhances the airy interior atmosphere.  Thanks to a longer wheelbase, the #3 offers an even more spacious interior.

The #3 will also be presented at Germany’s IAA event in September before being launched in various  European markets early next year. Malaysia would, of course, also be getting it in due course as a complement to the #1.

“We are proud to finally present our first-ever sports utility coupe to the world. As an all-electric pioneer, smart is committed to uncompromising quality of experience and interactions. Our goal has always been to address the multifaceted and changing needs for mobility. Therefore, smart will keep on expanding its product family to offer a variety of cars that optimally suit different customer groups and lifestyles,” said Dirk Adelmann, CEO of smart Europe.

From Swatch To smart


ShopeePay mobile wallet now accepted at all BHPetrol stations nationwide

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information.

Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (the company marketing BHPetrol products and services) believes that with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in Malaysia, economic and travel activities will be restored and thus resume petrol consumption nationwide.

The company notes that while the Movement Control Order (MCO) impacted traffic to all petrol stations, it is confident that consumer sentiment will be more positive and the economy and especially tourism will pick up now as the National COVID-19 Immunization Programme progresses.

For those who will be travelling more, the good news is that BHPetrol stations nationwide now accept the
ShopeePay
 mobile wallet as a mode of payment. The partnership with ShopeePay is another step for the company towards the digitalisation of payments.

Improving products and services all the time

“At BHPetrol, we are always looking at ways to improve our offers in providing the best quality fuels, exciting offers and convenience for our customers; and so partnering with e-wallets like
ShopeePay
 is a great example of an exciting promotion that also provides convenience to the customers,” said BHPetrol Marketing General Manager, Lawrence Chuah.

“This is not only a natural progression due to the COVID-19 situation, but also in line with the government’s
MyDigital
 initiative which aggressively pushes for the adoption of contactless payment. More importantly, it also satisfies the change of consumer behavior towards more options of digital payment,” added Mr. Chuah.

He said that BHPetrol has always been heeding customer needs and being ahead of the game is important. “It is our nature to be progressive and hence, it was not difficult for us to maneuver and ride the changing tides. Accepting
ShopeePay
 as an added payment mode offers our consumers more choice. We will always go further to help serving and rewarding our customers better,” he said.

ShopeePay can be used to make payments at BHPetrol stations and BHPetromarts nationwide.

Cashback for BHPetrol customers

Alain Yee, Head of
ShopeePay
, added that the timing of the partnership is such that it would best benefit Malaysians. “As economic sectors slowly begin to reopen and Malaysians head out for business as usual, the demand for petrol is set to rise again
. ShopeePay
 users be rewarded with attractive cashback, putting more money back into the pockets of BHPetrol customers,” he added.

To commemorate the collaboration, users of
ShopeePay
 who patronize any BHPetrol outlet with eWallet acceptance will receive RM4 cashback with a minimum spend of RM40. Each customer can receive a total of three cashbacks during the campaign period from today until April 30, 2021 (
terms and conditions apply
).

The free ShopeePay app for iOS and Android smartphones can be obtained at the Apple AppStore and Google Play Store. For more information on BHPetrol products and services or the location of stations, visit
www,bhpetrol.com.my
.


Perodua Aruz waiting time cut down to only a month

The Perodua Aruz has taken the top spot on Malaysia’s most popular SUV list and with such high demand, the waiting period is understandably longer than normal. Previously, excited customers had to wait around two months to get their new cars but now, Perodua has succeeded in cutting it down to just one month.

This is because with such high bookings for the Aruz, Perodua has bumped up their production numbers and estimated that they have reached a sales figure of 140,900 units from January to July of this year. The Perodua Aruz alone sold 17,989 units.

According to Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, “In terms of comparison, the months of June, July and August last year saw a “tax holiday” resulting from the elimination of the Goods and Services Tax or GST by the government. Notwithstanding the circumstance, we are fortunate that our performance so far is comparable to the “tax holiday” impact.”

“We continue to focus on quality and delivery as our customers comes first. We thank you for your continued and strong support which has led to the Aruz being the most popular SUV in Malaysia – this is truly an important milestone for us,” added Dato’ Zainal.

Perodua targets that they will hit their sales target of 235,000 by year-end, which is an increase of 3.4% compared to last year where they successfully delivered 227,334 units. Judging by how popular the Aruz is plus still very strong demands for the rest of their line-up, we’re pretty sure that they’ll hit their mark even before the end of 2019.

Perodua holds first-ever Body & Paint Skill Contest


Perodua ends 2021 with 190,291 vehicles sold, with Myvi continuing as bestselling model in the country

In 2020, although the COVID-19 pandemic started, Perodua was able to sell 220,154 vehicles. However, in 2021, apart from the disruption of a long suspension of business, the supply issues for semiconductors and more recently, severe floods in many states, saw the carmaker’s sales volume for the year falling by 13.6%to 190,291 units.

The drop might have been slightly more but a last big push in December managed to increase the sales volume in the final month of 2021 to 22,940 units, 13% higher than the November volume. Part of the reason for the higher volume was also due to countermeasures on intermittent supply disruption due to COVID-19 issues, enabling more vehicles to leave the two factories.

“The 190,291 registrations were below our target of 200,000 units for 2021 as the challenges in 2021 was greater than anticipated,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. “God-willing, deliveries will further improve in the coming months.”

The Myvi,
updated in mid-November
, continued to be the bestselling model in the Malaysian market with 47,525 units delivered nationwide. It has taken the market-leading position for 12 of the past 15 years, with the other 3 years being taken by the smaller Axia which, together with the Bezza, dominating the country’s A-segment.

Looking at overall industry performance in 2021, Dato’ Zainal said that the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the year would also see a similar sales impact with an estimated decrease of 23.6% to 504,536 units from the 528,172 units sold in 2020.

“Despite the lower than expected performance for 2021, our countermeasures for the impact of COVID-19 have proven successful so far as we and our suppliers are dynamically cooperating and coordinating our efforts to ensure interruptions are minimised,” he said.

“These efforts include having a ready team of personnel to take active countermeasures at an alternate site if a supplier is under lockdown and also by allocating Perodua staff to shore up any suppliers that need temporary manpower replacements,” he revealed.

“The local automotive supply chain has also taken a massive setback in recent years. However, there is a silver lining as the order bank for Perodua vehicles remains healthy as consumers are still responding positively to the sales tax exemption introduced by the government,” Dato’ Zainal said.

On the year ahead, Dato’ Zainal said that the company had offered a forecast of 240,000 units for 2022. However, this number will likely be reviewed later this month, taking into consideration the latest developments and events.

Regarding the recent
Perodua Flood Assistance programme
, Dato’ Zainal said about 1,675 owners have responded to the programme and their vehicles are being inspected at Perodua service centres across the country.

“The Perodua Flood Assistance programme, which was announced by the Prime Minister, December 26 2021, has drawn a lot of interest from the public. Our priority now is to work with the insurance companies as well as other our other partners to hasten any approval process needed to repair and restore the flood damaged vehicles,” Dato Zainal said.

“We understand that most of our customers rely on their Perodua for their daily activities and we will do our best to assist,” he added. Perodua is offering up to 50% discount on selected parts needed to repair flood-damaged vehicles, and there will be no charge for labour for repair work (excluding car cleaning and detailing).

Perodua owners whose vehicles have been damaged by flood can contact the company’s support line
1-800-88-5555
 to get assistance, especially for towing services (terms and conditions apply). To locate a Perodua service centre in Malaysia, visit
www.perodua.com.my
.

Perodua offers assistance to flood-affected customers with 50% discount on selected parts


TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team Wins Third World Rally Championship In Spain

With the completion of the Rally de Espana recently, and a win by Sebastien Ogier, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team won its third World Rally Championship (WRC) Manufacturers title. The Manufacturers title follows the Drivers and Co-drivers titles that were won by
Kalle Rovanpera
 and Jonne Halttunen on the previous rally in New Zealand.

This is the second year in a row that the team has managed a clean sweep of the three top titles. In total, this is the sixth occasion that Toyota has topped the WRC’s Manufacturers’ classification, the third time since it returned to the series in 2017.

The achievement is notable as it spans a period of change in the technical regulations which required the top teams to develop
new cars with hybrid powertrains
. In the case of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, the earlier Yaris WRC was replaced with the all-new GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID.

The win in Spain was the team’s seventh of the season and a first for the outgoing 8-time champion Ogier in his part-time campaign. In his first asphalt rally since January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, Ogier was among the pacesetters from the start, winning 3 stages on Friday to lead despite having to deal with dirtier roads than his rivals in mixed weather conditions. He took 3 more stage wins in a commanding performance as he pulled away from the pack and clinched victory by 16.4 seconds.

The young Rovanpera was also in the battle for the lead on Friday when he was fastest in 4 stages, and eventually finished in third overall. His hopes of second place faded after he was one of several to sustain tyre damage over a drain cover in Sunday’s second stage.

Elfyn Evans was part of a close-fought top five at the beginning of the rally but was unable to find the perfect feeling to match the rapid pace at the front. A flat tyre on Friday afternoon and another at the same place as Rovanperä on SS17 contributed to him finishing sixth overall – still an important result to help the team towards its main goal.

Although Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville was ahead of Rovanpera initially, the expected battle with the late on Saturday afternoon and was poised for a tight scrap with the young Finn. However, the duel never took place as the Toyota driver had the puncture. The remaining places of the top-five went to Hyundai, with Ott Tanak finishing 44 seconds back from the lead in fourth overall. Incidentally, he will leave the Hyundai team after this season.

In the WRC2 category, Teemu Suninen was third time lucky after almost in Portugal and  He drove a fine rally, in control almost from start to finish to take his first victory of the season in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

WRC3 was won by Finnish youngster Lauri, who also took the 2022 WRC3 championship. It was a side-by-side duel in Spain against rival Jan Cerny and Joona, in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 was the triumphant one.

After 12 rounds, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has collected 503 points, with Hyundai Motorsport in second with 410 points and M Sport Ford in third with 238 points. In the Drivers Championship, Rovanpera leads with 255 points, 68 points ahead of Tanak while Neuville is 21 points behind his team mate.

The 2022 season will conclude in Japan next month on demanding asphalt roads in the mountains of the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, with the service park in Toyota City near Nagoya.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Rovanpera Wins Rally New Zealand To Become Youngest WRC Champ


Airspeeder electric flying car races on course to be run in 2021

Malaysia was to have a ‘flying car’ last year but it seems to be delayed for reasons unknown and even the minister who was most supportive is no longer in the same position. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, other companies have been carrying out trials – without all the secrecy that surrounded the Malaysian project – of flying cars and there is even a flying electric racing car.

Alauda is the company that has developed the world’s first flying electric racing car which will be used in remotely piloted
Airspeeder competitions in 2021
. Remote pilots will fly electronically governed courses at speeds of up to 120 km/h in the event that will stand as a technical test-bed and feeder series to a manned racing series in 2022.

Competition drives progress faster

“The unveiling of the world’s first full-sized electric flying racing car is a landmark moment in the dawn of a new mobility revolution. It is competition that drives progress and our racing series is hastening the arrival of technology that will transform clean-air passenger transport, logistics and even advanced air mobility for medical applications. The world’s first electric flying car races will take place this year and will be the most exciting and progressive motorsport on the planet,” said Matthew Pearson, Founder of Airspeeder and Alauda Aeronautics.

The fully functioning electric flying racing car, in its third development version, is a full-sized remotely-operated electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL). It represents the realisation of more than 3 years development work to create a sport that will accelerate a new clean-air aerial mobility revolution.

To know more about promotions at BHPetromart, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
.

Production underway for teams

A full grid of Mk3 electric flying race-craft is currently being manufactured at Airspeeder and Alauda’s technical HQ in Australia. More than 10 identical racing vehicles will be produced and supplied to teams in 2021. The craft is being developed and manufactured by a team drawn from leading names in aerospace, automotive and motorsport technology such as McLaren, Babcock Aviation, Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Brabham.

The initial Mk3 races will provide vital information on vehicle dynamics, performance, safety and powertrain technology that will inform the final development of the manned Mk4 Airspeeder vehicle. Racing will play a vital role in hastening the arrival of eVTOL technologies which promise to revolutionise urban passenger mobility, logistics and even remote medical transport.

Safe environment with key innovations

Both the remotely piloted Mk3 programme and manned Airspeeder Mk4 flying cars will provide a safe environment from where key innovations around safety, noise and batteries can be refined and fed into the wider development of the growing industry.

The craft, which will be operated by an expert remote operator from the ground, features a suite of technologies and engineering elements never before seen on an eVTOL craft. These innovations will be validated in this key unmanned proving phase and include LiDAR and Radar collision avoidance systems that create a ‘virtual forcefield’ around the craft to ensure close but ultimately safe racing.

The Mk3 features a carbonfibre frame and fuselage chosen for its strength, stiffness and lightweight properties, which ensures manoeuvrability, performance and efficiency.  The carbonfibre frame and fuselage adds a vital mechanical layer of safety, which will be further enhanced by a full carbonfibre monocoque body to be introduced on the Mk4 vehicle.

The powertrain has a 96 kW electric motor with a thrust to weight ratio above 2.0, on a craft that weighs just 100 kgs unmanned. This means that the Mk3 speeders will be able fly at speeds in excess of 120 km/h.

The design and dynamics

The Mk3 speeders are laid-out in an ‘octocopter X formation’. This provides significant advantages to pilots in terms of manoeuvrability and stability. When racing, the pilot will be able to make the same sharp hairpin style turns as a Formula 1 car but with the added third dimension of being able to move vertically. The octocopter configuration also adds an important measure of vehicle redundancy and will ensure the craft can safely land and remain in control should a rotor or battery system fail.

Airspeeder races will include rapid pit stops and to facilitate this, Alauda’s engineers have developed an innovative ‘slide and lock’ system for the rapid removal and replacement of batteries when on the ground. There will be different battery packs to suit racing conditions. For example, a lighter battery pack can be selected to deliver more manoeuvrability at the cost of raw power or endurance.

Airspeeder aims to be a truly global sport. While its technical HQ is in Australia, commercial operations are run from England. 2021 will see growth in its existing presence in the UK through the creation of a full-time engineering base, a strategic decision made on the basis of Britain’s standing as a technical and engineering powerhouse in motor-racing and advanced aerospace development.

“Airspeeder is built on the philosophy that nothing accelerates technical progress like sporting competition. The next generation sport plays the same role the pioneers of Formula 1 did nearly a century ago in driving technical development and building public acceptance for a new mobility revolution. The eVTOL sector is primed to transform urban aerial transport, global logistics and even remote medical transport  with a clean-air, zero emissions aerial transport solution,” said Alauda’s founder.

Airspeeder – a radical new airborne motorsport for the 21st century [w/VIDEO]


One woman, one Porsche and a mission across the Antarctic for a humanitarian effort

Renee Brinkerhoff has taken part in rallies on 6 continents, driving her faithful 1956 Porsche 356 A on every type of terrain. It’s gruelling for anyone but even more so when driving a classic 65-year old sportscar. And soon, for an important cause, she will be driving her car through the harsh icy conditions of Antarctica.

After a delay of nearly 2 years, Brinkerhoff, who comes from the USA, is preparing for the final stage of her Project 356 World Rally Tour. This project is both an expedition and a humanitarian effort, and the challenge this December completes the ultimate endeavour by one woman, one car and one global mission to help end child trafficking.

Raising money for a humanitarian cause

Through
Valkyries Gives
, the philanthropic arm of her racing team, Brinkerhoff has raised close to half a million US dollars, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting victims of trafficking around the world. By its conclusion, Brinkerhoff will have driven close to 32,000 kms over all 7 continents, partaking in endurance rallies such as Peking-to-Paris, the East African Safari Classic Rally and La Carrera Panamericana. For the crossing of the final land mass at the ‘bottom’ of the planet, she will be driving almost 600 kms.

Renee Brinkerhoff and he daughter in the 2019 Historic East African Safari Rally with the Porsche 356.

“While we are extremely proud of completing each endurance rally we’ve entered, our true mission has been for our racing efforts to become a worldwide visual that supports our vocal pursuit to end child trafficking,” said Brinkerhoff. “We’ve had a goal to break barriers and set new records and we’re hopeful our Antarctic expedition will do just that.”

Drive expected to start on December 5

The 356 is already on the way to Chile by ship from its workshop in the UK and, upon arrival, will be air-shipped to the Union Glacier in Antarctica. Brinkerhoff and her team will rendezvous in Chile at the end of November and if the weather cooperates, the driving will begin on December 5, with a target of completion before the end of the year.

The journey was pushed from late 2020, and the more than 18 months of planning has also allowed the naturally-aspirated flat six 356 to undergo a complete re-engineering for the treacherous terrain. While the addition of skis and tracks has increased the overall mass of the 356 – an issue because a low weight is key to driving over the ice rather than sinking in – the mass per square inch, or footprint, has been reduced to less than 4% of the standard wheel displacement.

“The ski we’ve created must do 40 – 50% of the work, by compacting and prepping the snow for the track unit to follow over, with the underside blade guiding the direction. This ensures the tracks will not submarine under the light snow,” explained Kieron Bradley, Senior Chassis Design Engineer for the project and a practiced extreme explorer in his own right.

“Success for Renee and her car will come from the thoughtful balance of appropriate technology we’ve added, and the mass reduction implemented,” he added. For stabilisation, the 356 will use a single-arm suspension with coil-over shocks for both the tracks in the rear.

An extra thought that Bradley had to consider was that the skis and tracks must be easily removable so that spiked ice tyres can be refitted with no wheel alignment changes necessary. A pneumatic inflatable jack will be used to make the change.

Accompanied by veteran adventurer

Joining Brinkerhoff for the polar drive will be British explorer Jason de Carteret, who will act as navigator. De Carteret has led more than 50 expeditions, including to both the North and South Pole. Together with Bradley, he has claimed 2 world records for the fastest overland journey to the South Pole travelling in the Thomson Reuters Polar Vehicle (which they designed).

“As often has been the case when taking on new terrain in my 356, I have had no opportunity to test the car,” said Brinkerhoff. “The test will come when we are at Union Glacier and we are very hopeful the new design will prove itself well. As I have been told by Jason and Kieron, there is no terrain on earth like Antarctica and therefore no place where a true test can be taken.”


Mercedes-Benz picks up two awards

Mercedes-Benz has won two awards at the inaugural Auto Trader New Car Awards. The first award was for the “Best car for Long Distances”, which was picked up by the C-Class and the second, was for the E-Class by winning the ‘Best Car for Families’ award.

Unlike most motoring related awards, the Auto Trader one is a bit different. Winners aren’t chosen by a panel of judges, instead, decisions are based on the opinion of 10,000 consumers who have bought, driven and lived with these vehicles – they provide unbiased and valued insight of the ownership experience.

Krishan Bodhani, Head of smart and Product Management, Mercedes-Benz Cars UK, said: “It’s a huge honour for us to win two awards at the first ever Auto Trader awards, especially as the votes are cast by customers.”

Currently, the E-Class line-up is as diverse as it has ever been thanks to the recent addition of the E-Class Cabriolet and E-Class All-Terrain as well as several petrol and diesel engines to the line up. How well Mercedes-Benz does this year remains to be seen. But if they keep churning out cars like the current E-Class, 2017 should be a good year for them.


GM working on hydrogen-powered modular transport vehicle

General Motors is currently working on a new heavy transport vehicle that is able to cope with the toughest obstacles caused by natural disasters, complex logistics environments and global conflicts. Called the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure or SURUS, this vehicle is designed to carry its payload silently to the intended destination.

Adapted for military use, SURUS is built upon a flexible fuel cell electric platform and is endowed with autonomous technology. It uses GM’s newest Hydrotec fuel cell system and truck chassis components. As a result, the truck has a high-performance and zero-emission propulsion system unlike those used by current gen electric trucks.

The objective of building such a vehicle is to minimize the logistical burden in tough situations and reduce human exposure to surrounding dangers. GM believes that such a vehicle offers a wide variety of benefits that include quiet and odor-free operation, off-road mobility, field configuration, instantaneous high torque and quick refueling times.

Since this is a fuel cell vehicle, it generates water as a byproduct, which in some cases,is safely for consumption or used for other purposes. Since it outputs electrical energy, that same power can be used to power nearby electrical equipment, which may come in handy when carrying out rescue operations or top secret military missions.

“SURUS redefines fuel cell electric technology for both highway and off-road environments,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Business. “General Motors is committed to bringing new high-performance, zero-emission systems to solve complex challenges for a variety of customers.”

Unlike a number of other mainstream automakers, General Motors believes that Fuel cell technology represents a key piece of it’s zero emission strategy. This technology can be scaled to benefit large vehicles with equally heavy payload requirements and operate over longer distances than battery powered EVs.

SURUS’s platform features:

Two advanced electric drive units

Four-wheel steering

Lithium-ion battery system

Gen 2 fuel cell system

Hydrogen storage system capable of more than 400 miles of range

Advanced propulsion power electronics

GM truck chassis components

An advanced, industry-leading suspension

SURUS will be able to navigate with decent agility through challenging terrain and be able to coordinate with other such vehicles while in a convoy configuration. This could reduce the manpower that is required to safely execute some military missions. Adding to that, SURUS has a low heat signature and quiet operation that helps reduce detection and other risks when in enemy territory.

General Motors plans to adapt SURUS’s tech for use with utility trucks, mobile and emergency backup power generation, cargo delivery systems, commercial freight transportation, as well as light and medium duty trucks to replace the current Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 that is in service with the US military.


Hyundai Nexo arriving soon in Southeast Asia market

The folks from Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) are currently ironing out all the final details in bringing the Hyundai Nexo, the brand’s flagship hydrogen fuel cell powered crossover SUV, into the Southeast Asia market. This was announced following the sale of two units of the vehicle to Sarawak Energy Berhad aka “Sarawak Energy”.

Currently, Sarawak Energy is running a pilot hydrogen production plant and refuelling station located in Kuching and the purchased Hyundai Nexo will be the guinea pigs of the whole operation. Focusing on the future of transportation in the region using a more viable source, the hydrogen-based refuelling station will be the first of its kind dedicated for transportation in Southeast Asia.

This is the perfect task for the Hyundai Nexo to handle as its fuel cell electric powertrain offers the latest in electric vehicle technology, even more so compared to its ix35 Fuel Cell predecessor. Producing around 160hp, the Nexo’s electric motor gets its juice from a fuel cell stack that combines oxygen (from the air) and hydrogen (from the supply tank) to produce its power.

The result is electricity to power the motor and charge the battery, and water vapour, which harmlessly exits through the exhaust. With full tanks of hydrogen on board, the Hyundai Nexo can travel up to 414 miles (around 660km) before needing to refuel, which will only take a few minutes.

The demand for eco-friendly vehicles such as the electric and plug-in vehicles has grown over the last few years fuelled by government policies of various countries to reduce pollution. According to HMC, the NEXO, which was recently named ‘the game changer’ at the Auto Car Awards in the UK, has a great potential in the Southeast Asia eco car marketplace.


Abarth Starts Electrification Journey With New 500e

Abarth, part of the Stellantis Group, was originally the performance brand of Fiat, which had acquired the company in 1971. From then on, the company (which was established in 1949) adapted Fiat models to be higher performance variants which were sold under its own brand name. An exception was the
124 Spider
 produced between 2015 and 2019.which was adapted from the
4
th
 generation Mazda MX-5
.

Like AMG and M GmbH, the performance brands of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Abarth has also to start its electrification journey as the auto industry as a whole has committed towards carbon neutrality over the next few decades. Even companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini have been forced to start switching to zero emissions powertrains whether they like to or not.

With the new 500e, Abarth offers its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) which is adapted from the
Fiat 500e
 which went on sale in early 2020. However, being a performance brand, Abarth has not just taken the Fiat model and out on its badge, which is characterized by a scorpion. Just as Porsche and BMW M made sure that their electric models have high performance worthy of their badges, Abarth has also given its version an extra measure of performance.

Where the Fiat’s electric motor can generate only up to 118 ps, the Abarth’s has been raised to 153 ps with a similar peak torque of 235 Nm. This gives it a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 7 seconds, which is quicker than the
Abarth 695
, its hot hatchback.

The improved acceleration, especially at the lower speed range, is due to the characteristic of the electric motor which delivers maximum torque from almost standstill. So responsiveness is quicker than what combustion engines can achieve.

Additionally, there are 3 driving modes which enhance performance in different ways. The Turismo mode allows for smoother acceleration and lower power (max power 100 kW instead of 113 kW, torque 220 Nm instead of 235 Nm) for more efficiency. The Scorpion Street mode offers stronger performance while maximizing regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack. And for maximized performance, there is the Scorpion Track mode.

The 42-kWh lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged quickly with the 85-kW fast-charging system. A time of less than 5 minutes is claimed to be sufficient for around 40 kms, a range that would be okay for daily urban commuting. For longer range, 80% can be charged in 35 minutes. Charging can also be done using a Wallbox at home, and with a Bluetooth connection, an app allows the owner to monitor the charging status.

For Abarth, sound has always been important. Beyond a simple technical feature, it has been synonymous with hardcore fun and excitement when driving an Abarth. Going electric means that sound – provided by a combustion engine – is not available but the 500e driver will still hear the famous and unmistakable Abarth roar. This comes from a Sound Generator that is synchronized with the engine performance, faithfully reproducing the sound of an Abarth petrol engine. D

Furthermore, each time the car is turned on or off, the Key On-Off system reproduces a guitar inside the cabin. Even the AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alert System) gets a specific ‘jingle’, transforming a cold homologation and normative constraint into a sound recognizable by Scorpion fans. Each time the car exceeds 20 km/h for the first time after start, a ‘strumming guitar’ will be heard.

To differentiate the Abarth version from the Fiat version, there are design elements that give a unique and bold style, taking inspiration from the past. These elements include a sporty bumper, lateral skirts, front airdam, rear diffuser inserts, dedicated alloy wheels and Titanium Grey mirror caps.

The full LED front lights flank the new Abarth signature, with an electrified Scorpion signature logo, and a black capote with an integrated sporty spoiler for the cabrio. The hatchback version is also equipped with rear privacy glass.

Abarth 695 Tributo 131 Rally pays tribute to a legendary Fiat rallycar of the 1970s

Click here
 to see more videos at The Piston Show.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Launches Locally-Assembled C43 AMG & GLC 43 AMG! [+Video]

CKD AMG?
OMG
.

No, your eyes don’t deceive you, and you read that right; Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has indeed chalked-up yet another milestone for local-assembly (CKD) with the
Mercedes-AMG C 43
and
 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43
which were both launched at the Sepang International Circuit last night.

Priced at
RM408,888
and
RM468,888
 for the C43 AMG and GLC43 AMG respectively, these “Pure Driving Performance” machines will offer
‘undeniable luxury appeal combined with AMG racing pedigree that the Mercedes-AMG 43 series is renowned for’.
 Here’s the launch gambit last night, right there at the front straight of SIC (skip to the 2min mark for the cars’ appearance)

“We are ecstatic to announce the launch of the first locally-assembled luxury performance cars in Malaysia – the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43. With the introduction of these models, we expand the range of vehicles assembled at our Pekan production plant adding to our existing elegant limousines and premium SUV, the GLCs. With superior power, dynamic handling, aggressive design and luxurious appointment, this incredible AMG 43 pair of automobiles now come with irresistible value to the passionate Mercedes-AMG driver,”
 said an obviously elated
Mark Raine, Vice President Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
(below).

More on the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC – The racetrack limousine:

The 43-series models from Mercedes-AMG provide the brand’s hallmark emotive appeal and exciting Driving Performance for everyday use. Even at first glance, the characteristic AMG body styling leaves no doubt that this model is part of the Mercedes-AMG model family. The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC makes it possible for an even broader target audience to experience sports car technology and motorsports flair. The design is based on the
 AMG Line
 exterior, augmented by design elements specific to the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC in high-gloss black and silver chrome plus the “BITURBO 4MATIC” badge on the front wings.

AMG-specific: the 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine

The
3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine
 features technical advances including a modified boost pressure allowing AMG engineers to increase the engine’s power output and torque as well as its dynamism and flexibility to typical AMG levels. With
270 kW (367 hp)
and
 520 Nm
, the V6 engine sets new standards in its segment. The NANOSLIDE® coating of the cylinder liners is also used in the Formula One engines of MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS. Especially tough and, therefore, wear-resistant, this coating also reduces friction, thereby contributing to higher efficiency. The AMG powerplant can be identified by the red aluminium insert in the engine cover.

The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC at a glance:

Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC

Displacement

2996 cc

Output

270 kW
 (367 hp) at 5,500 – 6,000 rpm

Peak torque

520 Nm at 2000-4200 rpm

Fuel consumption

NEDC combined

8.0-7.8 l/100 km

CO
2
 emissions

183 – 178 g/km

Acceleration

0-100 km/h

4.7 s

Top speed

250 km/h***

Price (OTR without Insurance)

*
price is inclusive of GST

RM 408,888

More on the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC – A Sports SUV:

The
3.0-litre V6 biturbo
 engine is used in numerous AMG performance models. It delivers
270 kW (367 hp)
maximum output plus a maximum torque of
 520Nm
. The GLC 43 4MATIC sprints from rest to
 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds
 and its speed is electronically governed at
250 km/h
. The newly developed front axle, the taut elastokinematics and the highly precise AMG speed-sensitive sports steering make a substantial contribution to the agile driving experience.

High on power, low on consumption: the AMG 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine:
The AMG 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine is capable of producing a powerful output with low consumption and emissions. Installed close to the engine, the two turbochargers are especially spontaneous in their response.

The
NANOSLIDE®
 coating on the cylinder liners was also enhanced in the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 V6 hybrid turbo engines. Especially tough and, therefore, wear-resistant, this coating also reduces friction, thereby contributing to higher efficiency. The same applies to the spray-guided multiple injection with up to 200 bar fuel pressure. The AMG powerplant can be identified by the red aluminium insert on the engine cover.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC at a glance:

Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC

Number of cylinders/arrangement

V6 biturbo

Displacement

2996 cc

Output

270 kW
 (367 hp) at 5500-6000 rpm

Peak torque

520 Nm at 2500-4500 rpm

NEDC fuel consumption urban/extra-urban/combined

8.7 – 8.3 l/100 km

CO
2
 emissions

199 – 189 g/km

Acceleration

0-100 km/h

4.9 s

Top speed

250 km/h***

Price (OTR without Insurance)

*
price is inclusive of GST

RM468,888

For more details the full press release of the Mercedes-AMG C43 & GLC 43, click here:
Press Information_The New 43s CKD_FINAL

Nabil Jeffri becomes the ‘face’ of Mercedes-AMG Malaysia…

Nabil Jeffri (above, right) has become Malaysia’s first “face” of the AMG brand in conjunction with the launch of the locally-produced
Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43
. With his racing capabilities, Nabil Jeffri is the optimal partner for AMG as he embodies the performance brands’ values and characteristics. With his local and international recognition, the vehicle of choice is the sporty and agile Mercedes-AMG C 43. He is well-known in the motorsport world, having driven in the GP2 series, won second place in the German Formula Three Championship and this year driving in the legendary race of Le Mans. He also has the honour of being the youngest F1 test-driver.

Mercedes-AMG C43 & GLC43 Launch Photo Gallery…


All Volvo PHEVs registered since 2015 now also entitled to extended battery warranty

Besides range anxiety – the concern about how far you can go on a fully charged battery pack – has been on the minds of people who consider hybrids or electric vehicles, the other issue has also been the cost of the battery pack itself. In the early years, when the technology was still young, battery packs were very expensive and discouraged many people. But there has been constant advancement of the technologies, along with prices coming down, although they still are much more expensive than the small batteries that you see in the engine bay.

The battery packs have generally been reliable and how long they last has depended on many factors, both environmental as well as driving. It’s like batteries in laptops or mobilephones – some people enjoy a long service life while others may have to replace them within a couple of years when they cannot hold their charge properly.

A Volvo lithium-ion battery pack.

XC90 – first Volvo PHEV in Malaysia

PHEVs sold since December 2015 are covered

To give customers peace of mind, many companies have offered longer warranties on the battery packs. Volvo Car Malaysia announced its extended warranty in March 2020 but the coverage was only for models in its Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) range registered from January 1, 2020.

Now the company has extended the coverage to
all Volvo PHEVs
 purchased since December 3, 2015 when the XC90 T8 PHEV was launched in Malaysia. The company says that this has been prompted by ‘the enthusiastic response from customers and realising the positive impact that long-term electrification can bring to the environment’.

The S60 T8 is one of the models in Volvo’s PHEV range.

“As we continue our journey into sustainability, we are happy to announce this new, extended warranty coverage for our customers who have purchased any Volvo PHEVs since the launch of our first XC90 PHEV in Malaysia. This is our way of showing gratitude to the early adopters and also for those who are striving to make a more sustainable decision,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia.

The Volvo range of PHEVs for the Malaysian market consists of the S60 T8, XC60 T8, XC90 T8, and S90 T8. Prices range from RM295,888 to RM409,888 (excluding insurance).

Volvo’s new technology offers premium air quality inside the car


New Mitsubishi Motors 3S Centre opened in Klang, Selangor

As we gradually return to normalcy – but with a New Normal – activities in the auto industry are picking up again. Showrooms are resuming business and customers can visit them and even take test-drives (subject to the SOPs, of course). MN Wheels Sdn Bhd must be happy with the restrictions being lifted as it has been waiting to open its new 3S (sales, service and spare parts) outlet in Bukit Raja, Klang, Selangor.

Announcing the opening today, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) says it is the second Mitsubishi Motors showroom for the authorised dealership which has one more in Kuala Selangor. Both showrooms incorporate Mitsubishi Motors’ new corporate brand with the global tagline ‘
Drive Your Ambition
’. The corporate tagline underlines Mitsubishi Motors’ commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers.

Latest models like the Outlander 7-seater SUV are available at the new Mitsubishi Motors dealership.

With a built-up area of close to 5,000 square feet, the new 3S Centre incorporates a comfortable customer lounge with wifi and displays of vehicles for visitors to view from any angle. As the ‘3S’ suggests, aftersales services are also available in the same location and there is a fully-equipped workshop with 3 service bays and trained technicians.

“Congratulations to MN Wheels for opening another Mitsubishi Motors showroom in Selangor. We have been in a very challenging business environment and despite that, MN Wheels have managed to complete the build-up of this impressive showroom with our new visual identity. This goes to show MN Wheels’ commitment to further strengthen Mitsubishi’s brand presence in Malaysia,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

“With Mitsubishi Motors’ sales growing quickly and expected to increase over the coming years, we aim to open a new showroom in every quarter for Financial Year 2021 (ending March 2022),” he added. “This is part of our strategy that as we continue to grow, we put our customers at the forefront and as our utmost priority especially since we progressively work towards delivering the new XPANDER and Triton Athlete. We aim to serve our customers better in terms of sales and aftersales especially in the Klang Valley.”

SOPs for the protection of customers and staff will be followed in all areas of the dealership.

For more information about Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia and the locations of authorised dealers, visit
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my
.


Waze Can Now Be Installed in Latest Volvos As Part Of Infotainment System

Many motorists today use GPS route guidance systems like Waze and Google Maps to not only find their way around but also have an idea of the traffic conditions (as well as where they might be
stopped for ‘interviews’
). The two apps are readily available on smartphones and it also possible to mirror them on the infotainment system in many new cars.

But the apps still remain as part of the smartphone and either you refer to it while you drive or you see it on the dashboard display. Generally, it’s good enough but Volvo has gone one step further by making it possible to install Waze as part of the car’s infotainment system. The app has been added to their in-car library and can be downloaded from today.

Waze is available at no charge for installation in all Volvo cars with Google built-in, which means the more recent models. It is available in all markets, except China, South Korea and Vietnam.

Those who are familiar with Waze will find all the same features such as real-time routing, navigation and alerts. It would certainly be a lot easier to use than from a smartphone screen as the display is on the large centre screen and closer to eye level, with touchscreen operation to make selections.

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 “We’re continuing to expand our in-car app offer to bring more options and benefits to our customers, allowing them to personalise their car,” said Erik Severinson, Volvo Cars’ Global Head of New Car Programmes and Operations Strategy. “We’re committed to continuously improving the experience in Volvo cars through our in-house software development and ongoing collaborations with tech companies such as Google and Waze.”

With the Android emulator offered on the Volvo Cars Developer Portal, Waze could develop and test the in-car app virtually, alongside the in-car infotainment system. This dual testing allowed the team to deliver a high-quality user experience before making it available to Volvo owners today.

Volvo XC60 gets ‘smarter’ with integrated Google apps and services


Lexus Wins Most Reliable Brand For A Fourth Time In Five Years

Perhaps the most significant factor for any car purchase is reliability. Nobody likes to waste their valuable time and money on costly repairs or to be stranded at the side of the road waiting for help. The UK’s automobile owners claim that a Lexus offers the least chance of all things happening. Because of this, the Japanese premium automaker has been awarded as the winner of Most Reliable Car Brand at the 2023 Auto Trader New Car Awards.

It has won the title four times in the past five years, which is based on the opinions and experiences of more than 220,000 UK car owners who participated in Auto Trader’s yearly poll.

Erin Baker, Auto Trader Editorial Director, said “Quality, reliability and comfort were three characteristics that came out of our survey. As one owner said – ‘I wish that I had bought a Lexus years ago, it’s the best car that I have driven and I would never go back to another model’.”

“In a fast-changing and highly competitive market, reliability remains a top priority for customers. It’s a quality that has always been at the heart of Lexus and it remains so as we deliver our new generation of electrified models. Receiving this award for a fourth time reflects the enduring strength of our reputation with customers who put their trust in our cars and services,” said Chris Hayes, Director of Lexus in the UK.

For
Malaysia
, all Lexus vehicles come with a warranty against manufacturer defects for 5 years with unlimited mileage. In the event that a part proves to be defective, Lexus Malaysia will cover the cost of the necessary repairs and replacements. In addition to that, on Lexus models that are currently covered by a 3-year/100,000 km warranty plan, you have the choice to extend your coverage for an additional 24 months from the date of registration, or when you hit that 100,000 km mark.


Stellantis Reveals New HYBRID Powertrain To Be Used in Peugeot Models

‘Electrification’ is a term that the auto industry has been using a lot of in recent years. Basically, it is a transition that will see internal combustion engines being replaced by electric motors. That transition began a few years ago with commitments by some to sell only ‘electrified’ vehicles by the end of this decade.

However, the transition will not see the switch to only electric motors occurring so fast. In the coming years, there will also be another partial electrification with hybrid powertrains which still use a combustion engine but with an electric motor also helping. The technology for this has been in mass production models since the late 1990s when Toyota introduced the Prius and is less costly than fully electric powertrains at this time.

Models with hybrid powertrains can therefore be offered at lower prices, making them more widely adopted and achieving at least partial reductions in CO
2
 emissions. To wait for everyone to use a fully electric car will take time as economic circumstances in many regions may not make it possible for people to buy electric cars.

New-generation PureTech engine
This has led the Stellantis group to develop a new 48V HYBRID system which will be used in Peugeot models (3008 and 5008) initially. Revealed today, the 48V HYBRID system consists of a new-generation 136 bhp PureTech petrol engine, coupled with a new 6-speed dual-clutch electrified gearbox that includes an electric motor.

With the electric motor providing some of the propulsion, fuel consumption is said to be reduced by up to 15%, especially as the 3008 equipped with the HYBRID system can operate in urban conditions  more than 50% of the time in 100% zero-emission electric mode. Compared with a non-electric petrol engine with comparable features, the HYBRID powertrain offers average fuel savings of around 1 litre per 100 kms on a C-segment SUV.

Self-charging battery pack
In everyday driving, the two propulsion units work together or separately to optimise energy consumption. During strong acceleration, the electric engine provides additional torque to the petrol engine at low revs. When decelerating, the engine can cut off and the electric engine becomes a generator to recharge the 48V battery.

This means that the driver does not have to worry about looking for a charging station to recharge the battery pack. The range is therefore limited by the amount of fuel in the tank, just as in a car with just an engine.

All the parts that make up this new powertrain are located under the bonnet, except for the 48V battery pack, which is installed under the front left seat. The PureTech engine is of a new generation with a displacement of 1.2 litres from 3 cylinders. It has a variable geometry turbocharger which boosts output to 136 ps/230 Nm and operates on the Miller cycle for better combustion thermal efficiency.

Installed in the 3008 and 5008, the powertrain is coupled to a new electrified 6-speed dual clutch gearbox specially designed for hybrid systems. The gearbox housing also houses the electric motor,  inverter and ECU, optimising size and weight.

3008 will be one of the first models to get the new HYBRID powertrain.

As with batteries in most current hybrid models, lithium-ion is as the storage medium and has high energy density. Its gross capacity is 898 Wh, with available capacity of 432 Wh. It is designed to maintain the same level of performance throughout the life of the vehicle and comes with an original 8-year/160,000 kms.

Two electric networks
For the 3008 and 5008, there are two embedded electric networks. A low voltage 12V network supplies the vehicle’s equipment while a high voltage 48V network supplies the hybrid system. Electricity is produced solely by the 48V e-motor, and a DC voltage converter is used to transfer part of the electricity produced to the car’s 12V network.

As part of its electrification process, this new HYBRID powertrain replaces the PureTech 130 EAT8. It will progressively be available in virtually every passenger model, with the 3008 and 5008 HYBRID models entering the European market in the second quarter of 2023.

The Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar currently competing in the World Endurance Championship has an advanced and powerful hybrid powertrain with up to 500 kW output.

Picture yourself on a tropical adventure in the Great Barrier Reef, or an exquisite culinary experience in Italy, or a historical tour in Egypt. Come explore the world!
Join the Monthly Travel Bonanza 2023!
Spend a minimum of RM30 at participating BHPetrol stations and stand a chance to win great prizes every month!
Exclusive for BHPetrol eCard app members only.


Fuel Prices For November 30 – December 6, 2019

RON95 petrol price to be increased gradually by 1 sen a week in 2020


MR. D.I.Y. Group’s fleet of Isuzu commercial vehicles now totals 100 units

Malaysian retail giant MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad has 700 stores across the country and logistics to support the stores requires reliable transport which is also fuel efficient. Having already used a number of Isuzu vehicles since 2017 and found them to meet the demands of the business, the company has steadily increased its fleet size with vehicles from the same brand which was the No. 1 truck brand in Malaysia in 2020 and earlier years.

Recently, MR D.I.Y. tool delivery of another batch of 8 Isuzu medium-duty trucks to add to its fleet. The trucks are from the F-Series (Forward Series) range, comprising 6 units of the FSR90 model and 2 units of the FVR300 model.

A handover ceremony with a mock key presentation marked the official delivery of the new Isuzu trucks was held recently at MR D.I.Y.’s headquarters in Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Making the delivery personally were the senior management teams of Isuzu, MR D.I.Y. and Ultra Gallant, the authorised Isuzu dealer serving MR D.I.Y.

“We are very pleased to have completed the delivery of 8 units of Isuzu medium-duty FSR90 and FVR300 trucks to our esteemed customer, MR D.I.Y., and to be able to continuously provide the support they require to operate their flourishing logistical assignments. We would like to thank MR D.I.Y. for the support and trust given to the Isuzu brand,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

Providing maximum efficiency and productivity

“As one of the largest Japanese truck manufacturers globally, it is our obligation to provide our customers with commercial vehicles that can lead the way forward for their business to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity,” he added.

Mr. Nakamura said that both of the models are part of Isuzu’s F-Series medium-duty commercial vehicles that the company has been producing for decades with continuous development of new trucking innovations, and where its customers around the world embrace and count on for the advance features, innovative design, and dependable performance.

“The Isuzu FSR90 and FVR300 medium-duty trucks are the ideal, adaptable, and value-added choice for meeting the requirements of any transport assignment. With the gross vehicle weight of 11,900 kgs for FSR90 and 19,000 kgs for FVR300, we are confident the trucks will be able to provide high utilization with absolute productivity, reliability, and safety for the sustainability of MR D.I.Y.’s soaring business,” said Mr. Nakamura.

Isuzu engines can run efficiently on Malaysian biodiesel.

5 powertrain choices

“Isuzu’s F-Series range of commercial vehicles feature a choice of 5 powertrains for a range of performance and torque, optimized wheelbases for greater load capacity and body-mounting capability, offering the versatility today’s businesses need to be successful,” he added.

MR D.I.Y. purchased its first Isuzu truck in 2017 and has been steadily adding more units to its fleet over the last 4 years. With this latest addition, the company now has a total of 100 units of Isuzu trucks in its fleet.

Commenting on the handover of the vehicles, a MR D.I.Y. spokesperson said: “We are on a strong growth trajectory, with 700 stores now, and have plans to open 175 new stores across our 3 brands in 2021. The backbone of our growth is the efficient distribution of goods via our centrally-managed distribution system. Isuzu has been a valued long-standing partner who well understands our needs, and has been supportive in meeting them.”

To know more about the commercial vehicles available from Isuzu Malaysia or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit
www.isuzu.net.my
.

The Secret of Isuzu’s Success in Malaysia


BYD And Tesla Frenemies Partnership Make Faster Battery Charging Time

Charging speeds have significantly increased as a result of Tesla switching to
BYD
 blade batteries for the Model Y electric crossovers built at the Berlin gigafactory.

Drivers on a German forum shared pictures of the charging curve on a new Model Y produced in Berlin with BYD lithium iron phosphate batteries and compared it to cars with the CATL-sourced batteries they replace.

Both the BYD blade battery and the Kirin battery from CATL are made of lithium iron phosphate (LFP), however, the BYD battery can charge at a faster rate over the full charging process.

Owners of the new BYD battery packs for the Model Y were able to continue charging at peak 172 kW rates up to 50% of the battery’s capacity before tapering off.

On the other hand, the Model Y with the 62 kWh CATL battery was unable to maintain 172 kW charging speeds and quickly decreased, eventually dipping to 50 kW at the 90% point.

The initial announcement of BYD’s blade battery was in 2020, and is used in the Tang SUV, Han, and Atto 3 vehicles. According to BYD, faster charging rates have no effect on the battery’s durability.

BYD reports that the Blade Battery has a range of 1.2 million km after 3,000 charging and discharging cycles. The BYD Tang, which is powered by the Blade Battery, has a single-charge range of 505 kilometres (NEDC) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4.6 seconds.

Although BYD is a supplier of batteries to Tesla, the two companies are still competitors. To avoid going up against Elon Musk’s electric upstart, Berkshire Hathaway, which is managed by Warren Buffett, recently sold a sizeable portion of its stock in BYD.

The new MP3 battery from CATL, which will go into production this year, may raise the bar despite the fact that the BYD battery is demonstrating some significant advancements. According to CATL, compared to its lithium-ion phosphate batteries, the M3P battery, which is based on innovative materials technology, will have a higher energy density and perform better. The M3P battery has more manganese than the upgraded LFP cell, but otherwise is comparable.

Given how quickly battery technology is evolving, the global car industry will undoubtedly be greatly impacted in the future years as we witness significant advancements in energy density, charging speeds, and lifespan.


Fuel Price Updates For January 30 – February 5, 2021


Hyundai Motor Group and NVIDIA develop advanced connected car platform for all models

Hyundai Motor Group and NVIDIA have developed the NVIDIA DRIVE ‘connected car’ platform which will be incorporated across all new models from the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands from 2022 onwards.

The technical cooperation with NVIDIA, a well known name in the computer industry, will enable Hyundai Motor Group to develop high-performance ‘connected car’ computing systems for its next-generation models.

In-vehicle infotainment systems

From entry-level to premium vehicles, all future models will have in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems powered by NVIDIA DRIVE as standard. This includes a hardware and software stack, enabling the Korean carmaker’s IVI systems to combine audio, video, navigation, connectivity and artificial intelligence (AI)-based ‘connected car’ services.

Using the high-performance, energy-efficient NVIDIA DRIVE platform for its future models will allow the three brands to offer customers continuously enhanced in-vehicle AI user experiences. This will see a feature-rich, software-defined AI user experience that is perpetually updateable – and without the owner having to go to a service centre too.

Already in Genesis models

Hyundai Motor Group has been working with NVIDIA for the past 5 years. In fact, the NVIDIA DRIVE platform already underpins the advanced IVI systems found in the Genesis GV80 and G80.

“At Hyundai Motor Group, we are committed to delivering greater value, safety, functionality and enjoyment over the lifetime of the car,” said Paul Choo, Senior Vice-President of Electronics Tech Unit at Hyundai Motor Group. “The NVIDIA DRIVE platform is proven – it is scalable, energy-efficient and has the performance to support our next generation of software-defined vehicles.”

The companies have also been collaborating on an advanced digital cockpit, due to be launched in late 2021. The relationship will go further with the development of foundations for IVI systems that can support a wide range of future apps and features for all models.

“NVIDIA brought consumer electronic functionality and a graphics-rich user interface to infotainment systems more than a decade ago,” said Ali Kani, Vice-President of Autonomous Vehicles at NVIDIA. “Now, we are once again transforming these systems through the power of AI, helping Hyundai Motor Group increase safety and value, along with enhancing customer satisfaction, throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.”

Creation of new ccOS

The partnership with NVIDIA will enable Hyundai Motor Group to roll out its new ‘connected car operating system’ (ccOS) in future models. Developed in-house by Hyundai Motor Group, the new ccOS will bring together the large amount of data generated by the vehicle and its network of sensors, as well as external connected car data centres, enhancing motoring experiences.

The ccOS will use NVIDIA’s software frameworks to implement core IT competencies. It will provide ‘high-performance computing’, using NVIDIA GPUs to process large amounts of data inside and outside the vehicles and optimize system performance to support advanced IT technologies, such as deep learning.

‘Seamless computing’ will also be possible, providing uninterrupted service regardless of the vehicle’s online or offline state. The vehicle connects with the surrounding infrastructure and smart devices to bring the user experience from external devices into the vehicle environment.

Furthermore, recent breakthroughs in AI and accelerated computing have opened the door for next-generation vehicles to benefit from new functionality, capabilities and enhanced safety features that can be added after the car is purchased. With a centralized, software-defined computer architecture, future vehicles can be updated throughout their lives to feature the latest in advanced digital cockpit technology, as well as other features.

VR technology enhances vehicle development processes for Hyundai and Kia


New vehicle sales in 2020 declined by 12% but exceeded 470,000-unit forecast

To know more about promotions at BHPetrol stations, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
.

The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic forced governments to put their countries into lockdown, which meant that industries and businesses had to close. Malaysia didn’t escape the economic downturn that resulted, though good management at the start helped to bring the numbers down and the situation under control. This allowed the country’s economic sector to restart and slowly recover, aided by a recovery program which covered many sectors.

For the Malaysia auto industry in modern times, 2020 was the worst year in its history which goes back to the 1960s when the first local assembly of vehicles began. There had been a few recessions but even though they were challenging with a contraction of the market, there wasn’t a total shutdown as was experienced last year. Activities could still continue and each company had its own strategy to weather the downturn, which veterans knew would pass. And while there was loss of jobs, there wasn’t the fear of death or sickness too.

PENJANA was a big help

The PENJANA program by the government to help the economy recover began in the middle of the year and for the auto industry, the support given was in the form of exemption of the 10% sales tax, reducing the price at point of purchase. It was a straightforward incentive – 100% of the tax for models assembled locally (CKD), 50% for those imported CBU (completed built up).

The incentive worked well as sales quickly rose and stayed above 50,000 units a month during the second half of the year. In fact, the final quarter was exceptionally strong, averaging 61,373 units a month compared to 53,765 units a month for the quarter before.

All data and charts provided by Malaysian Automotive Association.

Consistently high numbers in second half

Nevertheless, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for 2020 was expected to be lower than the 604,281 units recorded in 2019 and in the first half of the year, many would have expected it to be significantly lower. However, with the consistently high numbers in the second half of the year, the TIV closed at 529,434 units, 12% lower than 2019 but well past the forecast of 470,000 made by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

However, when the year had started, the MAA had actually forecast 607,000 units for the year, but revised it substantially downwards by 23% as the seriousness of the pandemic and its impact on the industry became clear.

The monthly TIV reached its peak in December 2020 when a total of 68,836 units were registered. The exceptional high TIV in December 2020 was due to consumers buying forward in anticipation that the tax exemption incentive (only for passenger vehicles) expiring on December 31, 2020, as original announced. However, it has been extended to June 30,2021.

“MAA would like to express our heartfelt and sincere appreciations to the government in general and the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of International Trade & Industry in particular for listening to the industry’s plights and providing us with all the supports (especially the PENJANA package incentive) to ensure the continuance of business activities and the survival of the industry,” said Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of the MAA.

By segment, passenger vehicles (excluding pick-ups) declined by 12.6%, which was higher than for commercial vehicles (including pick-ups) which declined by 10.4%  Production of new vehicles in 2020 seemed to be impacted by the forced shutdown of every factory in the country for about 2 months but when allowed to resume operations, the carmakers worked harder to meet not only outstanding orders  (for high-volume brands like Perodua and Proton) but also increasing demand in the second half of the year. By year-end, the production volume was 15% lower than the output in 2019.

Total Production Volumes in 2020 and 2019.

Looking ahead

As always, the MAA takes feedback from its members and also factors in economic and environmental situations when looking ahead. It is optimistic that 2021 will see the local economy recovering in tandem with the global economy, which can boost sales. Certainly, the continuation of the sales tax exemption will help, along with more consumer confidence to spend on items like new vehicles.

Lower hire purchase (H-P) interest rates will also help, complemented by the introduction of new models which the companies will be offering at prices that will be ‘in tune’ with the times. While the industry may have come to a standstill in one sense, activities continued behind the scenes and whatever projects were underway would have only been slightly delayed.

So, for 2021, the MAA is forecasting an increase of 100,000 units from its 2020 forecast, which is 8% higher than the actual TIV achieved. Strong growth (18%) is expected in the commercial vehicle segment which will continue to require vehicles for the various projects underway around the country.

Looking further ahead, it appears that the MAA expects the strong demand to continue into 2022 with an increase of 6% to take the TIV past 600,000 units again. Thereafter, from 2023 – 2025, growth will be at a slower rate of 3% to 3.2% annually. Hopefully, the pandemic will have diminished significantly and normalcy has returned.


Land Rover Celebrates 70th Anniversary With “Above & Beyond Tour” In Malaysia

To celebrate
70 years
 of adventure,
Land Rover
 is bringing the
Above and Beyond Tour
 to Malaysia. This year’s tour was recently held in
Penang,
and now it comes to
 Kuala Lumpur
 this weekend, 17th & 18th November 2018, providing participants with the unique opportunity to experience first-hand the signature capability and composure that is at the heart of the Land Rover’s DNA.

This year’s Above and Beyond Tour will see participants take on a series of custom-made obstacles that have been designed to simulate the challenging terrain of the great outdoors. Under the expert guidance of Land Rover Experience instructors, participants will be able to drive either the Range Rover Velar or the Discovery Sport through a wading pool, side slope and a bumpy course section. Spanning 15-metre-long and 600mm deep, the wading pool replicates the difficulty of navigating a flooded road or forging across a shallow river.

Nonetheless, the Range Rover Velar and Discovery Sport’s class-leading wading depth will enable participants to overcome this challenge with ease before taking on the bumpy course. Designed to simulate a deeply rutted or rock strewn ground, the bumpy course will allow participants to appreciate first-hand Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system and remarkably rigid chassis, which enables the vehicle to conquer the most difficult of terrain. The off-road driving experience climaxes on a sideway tilt on the side slope course. At almost a 45
°
 angle, participants will be treated to an unforgettably thrilling experience while witnessing the unsurpassed off-road capability of Land Rover vehicles.

In addition to the simulated off-road experience, participants will also have the opportunity to take on three fun challenges that could win them a once-in-a-lifetime driving adventure on the Above and Beyond Tour Grand Finale in New Zealand. The first of these is the Ring Fenced challenge, where participants have three minutes to drive into an enclosed circular space, make a complete 180° turn and exit the course. The second is the Auto Test challenge, which consists of a narrow ‘L’-shaped bend; participants will have three minutes to navigate the course, before having to reverse and return to their initial starting position. The last, entitled
“What’s Wrong with My Car”
, challenges participants to identify missing parts or non-functioning features on a Land Rover display vehicle. The participant with the best score from both the Penang and Kuala Lumpur events will be the overall winner from Malaysia.

The Above and Beyond Tour is by invitation or registration only. Members of public interested in participating in the Above and Beyond Tour are invited to visit the official event page at
www.landrover.com.my/abt

for information on how to register. Successful registrants will be contacted via email. Slots on the Above and Beyond Tour are limited. Interested individuals are encouraged to register as early as possible.

Guidelines for the A&B Tour:

Participants must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driver’s license.

Above and Beyond Tour Kuala Lumpur takes place at
The International Gallery at ALYA Kuala Lumpur

Date:
17 and 18 November 2018

Time: 9am to 5pm

Address: No. 2A, Jalan Bukit Kiara 1, Bukit Kiara, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Proton in 2018 – Part 13: How far can you travel in a Proton with just one tank of fuel?

While it gears-up for the impending launch of its first-ever SUV, Proton decided to take a breather from the feverish planning and invite the media to find out for themselves just how fuel-efficient Proton cars are. Sep Irran the Editor of MotoMalaya.net files this report…

 The GIST…

The question of how far you can travel in a Proton with just one tank of fuel is a very interesting inquisition.

For this, Proton organised the
2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure
 where Proton users will try to find out.

We were invited for
 Round 3
 in Sabah where we drove the Proton Saga around
420km
 from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang and back.

There are a lot of factors when it comes to buying the perfect car. From performance, design, specifications, and many more, the majority of the public will look into one very important aspect; fuel economy. For Proton, they’re currently organising a very special event just to show how fuel-efficient their cars really are when driving in the real world.

Dubbed the 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure, a series of fuel economy drives are held within a span of two days. Five rounds are currently on-going and we were fortunate enough to be invited for the recently-concluded third leg in East Malaysia. Starting from Kota Kinabalu all the way up to Kundasang and back, the challenge covers around 420km with a variety of road conditions.

From single lane mountain roads and twisties up to 2,000metres above sea level, our two-day trip on the 24 to 25 July 2018 was presented with a variety of challenging driving scenarios from unpaved roads, steep hill climbs, potential landslides, and unpredictable traffic congestions. Our goal was to cover all of this with only one tank of fuel.

There were 16 teams who took part in the third round of the 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure and I was teamed up with Adrian Chia from Autobuzz and we set out for one of the most memorable journeys of our lives. As part of the motoring media family here in Malaysia, we have no issues driving fast and furious but our biggest challenge is driving economically. We have no doubt that it can be done but we tried our very best to see how good the Proton Saga really is when it comes to fuel economy.

Three different Proton models took parts in the 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure which are the Saga, Iriz, and Persona. We took off from the Proton showroom in Inanam and made our way to five different checkpoints which were spread out within 260km.

We filled up our fuel tanks to the brim at the nearby Petronas before having the fuel cap sealed off by the event organisers before setting off to some iconic places like the Tuaran Clock Tower, Serinsim Sub-Station Kinabalu Park, Sabah Tea plantation, and finally, the Nabalu Kundasang Lodge which sits at around 1,800metres above sea level.

Both Adrian and I took turns in driving as economically as we can and with the Proton Saga 1.3 CVT, it was quite easy to do so thanks to its Eco Drive Assist indicator sitting neatly in the meter panel. We knew that the average fuel consumption for the Saga sits between 5.6 litres to 6.17 litres for every 100km but since it’s a challenge, we try to achieve the best number possible.

Upon stopping at our hotel in Kundasang, we noticed that our Proton Saga only used around half of the fuel based on the fuel indicator. With a fuel tank capacity of 40 litres, we calculated that we managed to reach around 7.69 litres/100km which was reasonable considering all twisting roads and hill climbs getting up to Kundasang.

The night continued with dinner and a very interesting talk on Proton’s latest safety specifications built into their latest models which are a combination of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control (TC), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). We had a chance to test what these are all about in Day 2 of our drive back to Kota Kinabalu.

The next morning, we took off with half a tank of fuel left and were told to take the route filled with multiple check points (cows, lorries, heavy traffic, landslides, and unpaved roads included!) at the very beautiful Kuala Abai Beach and Likas Stadium. This is where we took part in the Dynamic Driving Activity where we tested the handling of both the Proton Persona and Iriz on a series of tests involving slaloms, emergency braking, braking avoidance, and lane changes.

Embedded with the DNA of Lotus, we experienced first-hand on how beautiful these Protons handled in tricky driving conditions. This is where we could understand more on the cars’ safety features and dynamic handling available in reasonably-priced vehicles, which were surprisingly excellent.

For our final stop, we headed back to the Petronas petrol station located in Inanam where we first filled up in Day 1 to determined how much fuel each of us have used in the past couple of days. All 16 cars made it back after 420km of driving up, down, and all around Kota Kinabalu with some space fuel left in the tank.

Back at the Proton showroom, the winners were announced and RM24,000 worth of prizes were given out the most economical drivers of Round 3 of the 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure. The winners clocked in some very impressive numbers which can be seen, below:

Best fuel consumption results:

Proton Saga 1.3 CVT – 5.46 litres/100km (22.947 litres/420km)

Proton Iriz 1.3 CVT – 5.76 litres/100km (24.197 litres/420km)

Proton Persona 1.6 CVT – 5.83 litres/100km (24.48 litres/420km)

With these outstanding figures, the Saga theoretically can travel up to 736km, 694km for the Iriz, and 686km for the Persona! With that being said, we did cover a series of challenging routes up and down Kundasang and around Mount Kinabalu.

Fortunately for us, we will be joining the final round of the 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure in August where finalists of each leg will make their one-tank journey from Johor Bahru, Johor all the way up to Seberang Perai, Penang! Will we be able to make it? Stay tuned to
Piston.my
 for more exciting updates!


Caterham Seven SuperSprint sells out in 7 hours

Caterham’s latest retro sports car, the Seven SuperSprint, which was on sale during the Goodwood Revival, managed to set a new record for the automaker. In just 7 hours, all 60 SuperSprint vehicles that were up for sale, were all spoken for.

The UK based automaker says that the relative speed at which each car was snapped up was nothing less than extraordinary. The vehicle, which was introduced to mark the original Seven’s 60th anniversary has become the fastest selling car in the company’s history.

David Ridley, Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “After last year’s incredible sales result with the Sprint, we were hoping for similar success with the SuperSprint. Having said that, to sell out within seven hours is something we’ve never seen before.”

“Considering that last year we took orders for over 600 Sevens, the SuperSprint’s success is likely to account for around 10% of our annual sales in 2017 and we are on track to beat last year’s sales record,” he later added.

Only 60 units in total will be produced, 30 of them are destined for the UK while the remaining 30 will make their way to other parts of Europe. Based on the its popularity, its safe to say that retro style racers like the Seven are still in high demand.

A modern reincarnation of the legendary racer that first started out life as a Lotus, the modern Caterham Seven still looks similar to the original albeit with minor and more modern upgrades, which include newer brakes and more reliable mechanicals.

Under the hood is a 95bhp Caterham Works Racing-tuned, three cylinder engine that is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the wheel via a limited slip differential. As for stopping power the car gets front discs and rear drum brakes.

Adding to the appeal are Bilstein shock absorbers and 14″ wheels, unique Brooklands windscreen, quilted and stitched seats trimmed in Innes tan Scottish Muirhead leather, a wooden-rimmed sports steering wheel, and 1960s-style racing livery.

The SuperSprint is available as a single-seater or twin seater versions but both will be identical safe for the aero screens.

The following are some of the highlights of the car:

95bhp Caterham Works Racing tuned three cylinder engine

Caterham Works Racing developed live rear axle with A-frame

Race inspired suspension package with adjustable platforms

Limited slip differential

Extended front cycle wings

Quilted, stitched seat, trimmed in Innes tan Scottish Muirhead leather

Single 4 point race harness

Le Mans style mesh grille and side intake

Caterham executed a similar strategy last year by launching the Sprint and that too, sold extremely well but not as well as the SuperSprint. Take a look at the tribute video below to see what the Caterham brand has brought about since the Seven’s birth 60 years ago.


Rebirth of the Abarth 1000 SP

Abarth is an old name in the European car industry, with a history going back to 1949. It was an independent company back in the days when even small companies could do okay even with small volumes. But by the 1970s, as competition increased, it was a challenge if you didn’t have sufficient size and so Abarth was taken in by the Fiat group where it has remained to this day (continuing its existence in the
 Stellantis Group
).

Historically, Abarth has been a performance brand (and this was long before such a term came into use). After all, founder Carlo Abarth was sporting director of the Cisitalia factory racing team which ceased operations and led to him founding the company. Later, when acquired by Fiat, Abarth was responsible for motorsport activities to make use of its long experience.

Strong presence in motorsports

The 1960s were probably the period the brand was well known in motorsports, having a presence in sportscar racing and hillclimbs and challenginf Porsche and Ferrari. One of the sportscars from this period of its history was the Abarth 1000 SP. This was an ambitious and revolutionary project where the ‘SP’ indicated Sports Prototype, a covered-wheel car made exclusively to compete in racing competitions, with few models actually built.

Built in 1966, the car was a light and powerful spider featuring simple, low and streamlined shapes. The technical and stylistic excellence of this car soon led to an outstanding series of victories – both for teams and private customers – which further contributed to reinforcing the Abarth brand’s sporting prestige.

Although few cars were built, the story of the Abarth 1000 SP did not end in the 1960s. In 2009,  Abarth and Alfa Romeo (also in the Fiat empire) renewed their bond and looked at how to expand the range of the Abarth brand. Various alternatives were considered, including that of a reinterpretation of the 1000 SP involving the creation of a medium-sized sportscar with an attractive silhouette and essential lines

2013 Alfa Romeo 4c

The Alfa Romeo 4C

This concept – a light car with an excellent weight/power ratio – became the basis of two distinct projects, which were developed in parallel. The first was that of the new Abarth 1000 SP, while the second focussed on another car which would soon continue the tradition of Alfa Romeo sportscars: the 4C. The Alfa Romeo 4C went into production but the 1000 SP project remained at the draft stage.

In 2021, the modern 1000 SP has finally been built, albeit as just one unit. The new Abarth 1000 SP project was shaped fully in line with its forerunner – the points and lines of the original car’s design have been respected, to ensure continuity between the sportscar of the 1960s and the concept car of the new millennium. In between lay the creative process and the rediscovery of an ambitious idea.

A ‘remastering’ operation

The spark for the revival of the old project came from the same mathematics as the prototype imagined in 2009, subjected to a ‘remastering’ operation to advance and perfect the car’s ultimate design. Furthermore, it would also be an evolution of the Alfa Romeo 4C, benefitting from another decade of technological advancements,

The 2021 1000 SP is an organically balanced car, in which three key design principles that were embedded in the original model of the 1960s have been respected – its lightness; the aerodynamics; and ergonomics. And being a sportscar, this concept is embodied in the optimisation of vehicle control, and how one ‘feels at ease’ on board, in terms of spacial and dimensional perception, and of driveability.

Echoes of ancestor

All three elements have played a fundamental role in the design of this one-off car. The lines and aesthetic elements that shaped its ancestor echo strongly in the new 1000 SP which also echoes the layout of the central-engined spider. The cockpit windscreen, which protects even the tallest drivers from strong airflow, boasts the famous sculpted side deflectors, with a low profile sweeping up towards the roll-bar. The roll-bar is deliberately exposed, further underlining that fact that that this is a genuine spider.

The rear geometries emphasise the perfect harmony between the back headlights and exhausts, and also the open slots for engine cooling which were present on its ancestor. The paintwork is categorically red and the characteristic air intakes appear all over the car body. The lights too respect the minimalist scheme of the historic 1000 SP, with point-like headlamps on the nose and a single pair of round headlights at the back, to emphasise the car’s width.

Under the “skin”, the tubular frame of the historic Sport Prototype is replaced by a hybrid frame with the central cell in carbonfibre and the front in aluminium. This helps keep the car’s dry weight to just 1,074 kgs.

Like the Alfa Romeo 4C. the 1000 SP also has a powerful 1.8-litre supercharged 4-cylinder aluminium central engine. This is tuned to deliver up to 240 bhp, giving a top speed capability of over 250 km/h.

Abarth 695 70th Anniversario special edition comes with a variable spoiler


More Rolls-Royce cars and SUVs sold in 2019 than any other year in brand’s history

While most other carmakers are still collecting and finalising their 2019 sales data, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has already finished its homework and can announce that its total sales for the year have no equal in the company’s 116-year history.

A total of 5,152 cars and SUVs were delivered to customers in over 50 countries around the world, an increase of 25% on the previous high set in 2018. With these historic results, Rolls-Royce continues to make a meaningful contribution to the overall performance of its shareholder, the BMW Group.

Commenting on the results, Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “This performance is of an altogether different magnitude to any previous year’s sales success. While we celebrate these remarkable results, we are conscious of our key promise to our customers, to keep our brand rare and exclusive. We are pleased and proud to have delivered growth of 25% in 2019. Worldwide demand last year for our Cullinan SUV has driven this success and is expected to stabilise in 2020. It is a ringing testament to the quality and integrity of our products, the faith and passion of our customers and, above all, the skill, dedication and determination of our exceptional team at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and around the world and our dedicated global dealer network.”

Sales growth worldwide

Sales grew across all regions during the year, driven by strong customer demand for all the models. The company reported significant sales growth in every one of its key global markets, with North America retaining top status (around a third of global sales), followed by China and Europe (including UK).

Individual countries that achieved record sales results included Russia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Qatar and Korea. The deliveries were made through a global network of 135 dealerships.

A Rolls-Royce showroom in the Philippines.

The Phantom retained its rightful place as the company’s pinnacle product, with the Dawn and Wraith continuing to dominate their respective sectors. The new Cullinan SUV gave Rolls-Royce its largest advance order book and fastest post launch sales growth of any model in the company’s history. The super-luxury SUV has become the fastest-selling new Rolls-Royce model to date.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Farewell to the Ghost

2019 marked the end of Ghost production 11 years after its launch at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The most popular Rolls-Royce model of the Goodwood era, it attracted a new audience of younger, often self-made, entrepreneurial customers to the brand. Over its 11-year lifecycle, it became the biggest-selling Rolls-Royce not just of the Goodwood era, but in the entire history of the marque.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

The success of the Ghost placed Rolls-Royce in a position to scale up its production and make the massive investments that have led to it becoming the truly global brand it is today. After 5 years of development, a successor is due for launch in mid-2020 with market availability from the fourth quarter.

Bespoke keeps growing

Global demand for Rolls-Royce Bespoke reached a new peak in 2019. The Bespoke Collective comprises several hundred creative designers, engineers and craftspeople. These highly talented men and women take enormous pride in fulfilling unprecedented levels of customer requests for Bespoke personalisation and delivering on beautiful individual commissions. In 2019, they worked on some of the most spectacular Collection Cars ever created in the history of the brand.

Rolls-Royce creates Ghost Zenith Collection to celebrate end of 10-year production tenure


New generation of Mercedes-Maybach S-Class arrives in Malaysia, priced from RM1.9 million

Back in the late 1990s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were up for sale and BMW eventually acquired the former while the Volkswagen Group got the latter. As Daimler-Benz did not have anything beyond the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that could be on par with the limousine of those two ultra luxury British brands, it decided to revive a brand it had acquired in 1960 – Maybach. This was a historically significant brand which produced elegant and desirable cars between 1921 and 1940.

In 2002, the carmaker launched Maybach as a standalone brand with two very expensive models, designed with the same sort of superlative luxury that would rival the best in the world. There were great plans to have a strong presence at the summit of the car market but only 3,000 were ever sold in 9 years – when the target was 1,000 units each year. The old brand name made no impact either, and the pricetag was considered just too high. By 2013, the Maybach brand was once again retired.

The first modern Maybach 57 (above) sold between 2002 and 2013 and the previous generation of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (below).

However, Mercedes-Benz did not stop trying to have an offering to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley and it instead decided to develop an ultra luxurious version of the S-Class, and giving it exclusivity by being branded as Mercedes-Maybach. Since 2015, there have been two S-Class based models, with the GLS SUV joining last year. The approach worked better, with around 60,000 units delivered worldwide during the first 5 years.

The latest W223 S-Class launched in Malaysia at the end of last year.

With the S-Class having gone into the new W223 generation since then, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class models were updated likewise, differentiated by the model code of Z223. Although having about 70% of components shared with the W223, the Z223 is a longer car with a body that is almost 5 metres in length or 180 mm longer than the longest version of the W223 S-Class. This allows the wheelbase to be stretched to 3396 mm to provide even more room for the rear occupants.

While the size and unique grille would also differentiate from the W223, the word mark MAYBACH is elegantly integrated into the chrome surround of the grille. The brand logo is also affixed to the C-pillars, and for those who want still more exclusivity, the car can be ordered with the optional 2-tone paint finish with a dividing line which is applied by hand.

The M176 V8 engine under the long bonnet produces 503 ps/700 Nm, with an additional 15 kW and 200 Nm from an electric motor. The hybrid system uses an integrated second-generation starter-alternator and 48V electrical system. 4MATIC, of course, signifies that all four wheels are powered, receiving their power through a 9-speed automatic transmission (9G-TRONIC).

While the W223 S-Class has a balance of performance and comfort, the Z223 version from Mercedes-Maybach is more focussed on ride comfort. AIRMATIC air suspension with level control and continuously adjustable damping ADS+ is standard equipment. The fully active E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension has ROAD SURFACE SCAN to monitor the road ahead with a stereo camera. When uneven surfaces are detected, the suspension will be adapted to compensate and keep the ride smooth.

Thanks to this predictive control, the vehicle body ‘floats’ across undulations with practically no vertical movement. With the curve inclination function CURVE, the car body leans into bends rather than tilting outwards. This imposes lower lateral forces on the occupants, further improving perceived comfort.

Even the driving mode is focussed on comfort as DYNAMIC SELECT has the additional MAYBACH MODE (which the W223 S-Class does not have) to provide even more comfortable and smoother movement. There is also a CHAUFFEUR mode with gentler acceleration characteristics and moving off in second gear.

Both axles are capable of steering, thus reducing the turning circle. Rear-axle steering reduces the turning circle by up to 2 metres and customers can choose 4.5 degree and 10 degree steering to have a turning circle of 12.4 or 11.4 metres, instead of 13.4 metres.

The interior of the car may have many similarities to the latest W223 S-Class but there are more luxury features and the quality of materials is clearly much higher. while the W223 S-Class which may be driven by the owner, the same can’t be said with the Z223 S-Class so much more attention is given to the rear section where there are not only two fully reclining seats but also an extensive range of infotainment functions.

They can watch movies or surf the internet with two 11.6-inch touchscreen displays on the backrests of the front seats. There is also a MBUX Rear Tablet as standard equipment which can be taken out and used like a normal tablet with Android apps. MBUX Interior Assist will monitor the movements (using cameras in the ceiling) of the rear occupants behind and after they close the doors with a gesture, they can use other gestures for a range of operations.

For example,  to switch on the reading light, they just need to move their hands up and down below the lights. To make seat belt fastening easier on the outer rear seats, the belt extender emerges as soon as a corresponding hand movement is recognised as an intention to reach for the belt. Of course, the occupants will have to first learn the gestures although there are also many functions which the MBUX assistant can carry out with the ‘Hey Mercedes’ command.

Even more advanced safety features

The W223 S-Class has already introduced advanced safety features that include a rear airbag. This too is present in the Z223 S-Class as well as seat cushion airbags, beltbags, sidebags and windowbags. This means that in a severe accident, the rear passengers are surrounded by airbags that will help prevent or reduce injuries. Additionally, the PRE-SAFE positioning function also moves the rear seats to a more favourable position during the crash. The system can increase the pressure in the air chambers in the side bolsters of the multi-contour seats which holds the occupants in a better seating position and reduces whiplash.

Of course, the front occupants also have protective systems as advanced as those at the rear , with a preventive, semi-reversible side restraint system PRE-SAFE Impulse Side installed as standard. In addition, when a side impact with another vehicle threatens, the car’s body can be raised by the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL suspension within a few tenths of a second. This directs the impact forces towards particularly resistant structures in the lower area of the bodywork. For day-to-day driving, there are new and extended assistance systems that can reduce the workload on the driver so he can make sure that the car is driven in a manner that is comfortable.

Priced from
RM1,928,815.76
 (without insurance and with 50% of sales tax exempted until June 30, 2022), the Z223 S-Class is obviously intended for very wealthy customers. While you could buy a brand new W223 S-Class for less and then have it personalised extensively – perhaps at less cost – it could be that there are customers who like the idea of such an ultra luxurious model being made by the manufacturer rather than ‘enhanced’ by some independent customisation company. And for Mercedes-Benz, there’s also a nice fat profit margin on such cars which makes it worth their while even though the volume may be around a thousand units a month worldwide.

Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS for the new generation of customers