2022 Volkswagen Fest | Audi Experience On This Weekend At Sentul Depot, KL

The Volkswagen Fest, which used to be held in Setia Alam, Selangor, is at the Sentul Dept in Kuala Lumpur this weekend for the 2022 edition Not run for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now back with the latest Volkswagen models for the Malaysian market, as well as other lifestyle-related activities and of course, many things Volkswagen.

This year, the venue also has the Audi Experience as the Audi brand is now handled in Malaysia by PHS Automotive Malaysia which is a sister company to Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), with both companies under Porsche Holdings Salzburg.

The Sentul Depot, located off Jalan Ipoh, is an ideal location for such an event. The entire event space is within the warehouse so no worries about hot sunshine or heavy rain – visitors will be cool and dry throughout their visit. The event starts at 10 am on both days, and there is no charge for entry (parking is also free).

First look at the ID.4 electric SUV
One of the highlights of the event is the preview of the
ID.4
, Volkswagen’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to debut in Malaysia. ID is the name of a new family of BEVs from the German carmaker that have been on sale since late 2020. It has impressive performance and packaging, with a senior Volkswagen executive saying it “drives like a GTI… has the packaging of a Tiguan and the purpose of the Beetle.” It has impressed media so much that it was picked as the
2021 World Car of the Year
.

While VPCM is displaying the ID.4 now, it is not an indication that the model will be launched locally anytime soon. According to Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, the company is still conducting market studies and testing the ID.4 in local conditions (with Mr. Winter himself also involved in the testing).

Click here to read more about the Volkswagen ID.4

While he expects that e-mobility will eventually become common in Malaysia, he also acknowledges the fact that it may be a while due to various factors. He said that Volkswagen is focussed on EVs and making big investments but will not completely stop work and production of models with combustion engines as there will still be markets where they are more suitable for some time to come.

The 4.58-metre long SUV sits on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform designed specially for BEVs. It has rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the latter known as the
ID.4 GTX
. Motor outputs range from 148 ps/220 Nm to 299 ps/310 Nm depending on the variant, with 55 and 82 kWh lithium-ion battery packs available. The ID.4 can be recharged within 30 minutes with at a DC (direct current) quick-charging station to provide a claimed range of 346 kms to 522 kms.

Elsewhere at the Volkswagen Fest, there are displays of many models much loved by fans of the brand. Besides the classic Beetle and Kombi Van – and even a Karmann Ghia (pictured above) – there are also various generations of the Golf and Golf GTI. And while those classic models aren’t for sale, you will find scale models for purchase so you can have them at home.

Those with driving licenses can also experience the latest models (but not the ID.4, unfortunately) as test-drives are also available. The same goes for the Audi models as well. Those who are convinced enough to make a purchase can discuss financing offers as there are representatives from banks present.

For those who are not yet ready to buy a new Volkswagen, there’s also a selection of pre-owned units from
Das WeltAuto
. These have been thoroughly inspected by Volkswagen technicians and are in a condition that’s almost as good as new – at a price that is of course lower than new.

Volkswagen owners can enjoy a complimentary 20-point vehicle health check on their vehicles today and tomorrow, offered via registration on the Volkswagen Cares App, or on a walk-in basis (subject to availability).

For the little ones, there’s the Volkswagen Driving Academy where they can learn the most important things about being safe on the road. Then they can also do their own ‘test-drives’ around a small course, just like their parents will be doing outside. And for the more adventurous ones, there’s also a wall-climbing area for them to take on the vertical challenge.

For those who own SUVs like the
Tiguan
, there are outdoor accessories on sale and for Volkswagen fans, other types of accessories as well. And after all the walking around, hunger and thirst can be addressed at the numerous stalls around the site.

During the two days, a ‘Battle of the Bands’ will take place on the main stage, with the finals culminating on Sunday evening. On top of that, there will be special performances by popular local acts such as An Honest Mistake, Saint Kylo and Victor Trixter. There will also be special appearances by football freestylers Zeem Ahmad and Qhouirunnisa at the Football Arena.

Some of the Audi models on display.

About Sentul Depot
The 200,000 sq.ft. building where the Volkswagen Fest is being held in is what used to be the Sentul Works and has a history of almost 120 years. It had engineering workshops and KTM trains were serviced there. Coaches were also built in the 1950s and 1960s for KTM and parts made there were also shipped to India.  At its peak, up to 5,000 people worked there and it was in use by KTM until 2009.

YTL Land, part of YTL Corporation Berhad, acquired the building and has redeveloped it to preserve it. It is part of an urban regeneration project that the company has for the rejuvenation of Sentul West which has been ongoing since 2002. They recognized the historical significance of the area and have worked to preserve it rather than put blocks of condominiums on it.
Click here
 to know more about Sentul Depot.

Click here
 for other news and articles on Volkswagen. To know more about Volkswagen products and services, or to locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.


Risk An Affair – Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Unleashes The 2019 “DreamCars” Collection

The
Dream Cars collection of Mercedes-Benz
 are the embodiment of the brand’s design philosophy of sensual purity, passion and alluring desire. These cars were crafted to fulfil the dreams of our most passionate fans – offering pure performance, breathtaking style, state-of-the-art engineering and absolute luxury.

“From the seductive design of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, which was the original four-door coupe, to the AMG GT C which adds yet another thrilling facet to the AMG GT family and the E-Class Cabriolet, a masterpiece of intelligence now with the liberation of topless motoring, the Dream Cars offer the utmost indulgence for every kind of driver. In other words, we invite you to Risk an Affair,”
 said
Mark Raine, Vice President Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
(below).

The AMG GT C…

Originally crafted as a roadster, the Mercedes-AMG GT C finds new focus conceived in the form of a coupe. Powerful and poised to perform, AMG motorsport and racing technology features prominently in the GT C, with influence from the AMG GT R in the form of sculpted aerodynamic bodywork and AMG sport seats. With the AMG GT C, Mercedes-AMG is introducing a further output rating of the
4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine
, thereby underlining the exclusive character of the new model. At
410 kW (557 hp)
, the peak output is 35 kW (47 hp) above that of the AMG GT S and 20 kW (28 hp) below the Mercedes‑AMG GT R. The maximum torque of
680 Nm
 is available from 1900 to 5750 rpm. The sprint from
0 to 100 km/h
 is absolved in
3.7 seconds
, and this incredible acceleration continues until the top speed of
316 km/h
 is reached.

“The brutal Mercedes AMG GT C is an exciting addition to the AMG GT collection and, of course, to the World’s Fastest Family. Incredibly powerful and dynamically superior, the AMG GT C is also the complete aesthetic package with the intimidating Panamericana grille, wide stance and low, purposeful silhouette. With the new GT C, the AMG GT family has options for all passionate AMG aficionados, but all carrying the same superior motorsport DNA and coming from the same high performance bloodline for the ultimate in AMG performance,”
 added Mark.

The Mercedes-AMG GT C at a glance

Mercedes-AMG GT C

Displacement

3982 cc

Output

410 kW
 (557 hp)

at 5,750 – 6,750 rpm

Peak torque

680 Nm

at 2,100 – 5,500 rpm

Fuel consumption

NEDC combined

12.5 l/100 km

CO
2
 emissions

284 g/km

Acceleration

0-100 km/h

3.7 s

Top speed

316 km/h

Price (OTR without Insurance)

*Price is with 0% GST, subject to change upon implementation of SST.

RM1,461,605.60

FULL details on the AMG GT C, click to download this:
Press Information – The new Mercedes-AMG GT C

The E-Class Cabriolet…

Comfort and luxury meet open-air pleasure in the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet. With expressive proportions and a puristic, surface-accentuated design, the E-Class Cabriolet offers a distinctive character along with a classic fabric soft top. The E-Class cabriolet is for the driver who wishes to savour every journey. The fabric soft top is available in the colours dark brown, dark blue, red or black. A fully automatic acoustic soft top comes as standard. Its multi-layered structure with sophisticated insulation reduces wind and driving noise, which makes it easy for the occupants to hear each other talk, even when driving at high speed. The soft-top structure has an equally positive effect when it comes to climate comfort and makes the Cabriolet suitable for use all year round.

Derived from the S-Class Cabriolet, the soft top also meets high quality standards in terms of durability and operation. It can be completely opened and closed in
 20 seconds
, and at speeds up to 50 km/h. After opening, it folds down quietly and precisely and is stored in the soft-top compartment in the boot. A retractable cover separates the soft top from the remaining boot space. Thanks to the fully electrical control included in the optional Cabriolet Comfort package, the driver does not have to stop to operate the boot separator manually. The boot capacity of 385 litres (310 litres when the roof is open) offers all the right ingredients for a high level of everyday practicality. The all-new 50:50 folding rear seat backrests create a through-loading feature in the interior – another plus point when it comes to everyday practicality.

The Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet AMG Line at a glance:

Displacement
1991 cc

Output
180 kW (245 hp)
 at 5,500 rpm

Peak Torque
370 Nm
 at 1,300 – 4,000 rpm

Fuel consumption NEDC combined
 7.9 l/100 km

Acceleration
0-100 km/h 6.5 s

Top speed
250 km/h

Price (OTR without Insurance)
RM588,888

*Price is with 0% GST, subject to change upon

implementation of SST.

FULL details on the E-Class Cabriolet AMG, click to download this:
Press Information – The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

The CLS…

The original is reborn in the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS. As the creator of the four-door coupe, the CLS brings new generation powertrain technology in the form of electrified 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder and
3.0-litre in-line six cylinder twin-turbo
 along with latest generation assistance systems such as and the cutting-edge Widescreen Cockpit with COMAND online infotainment. With superior luxury and breathtaking style, the CLS offers a premium experience similar to that of an S-Class but for the owner who prefers to be behind the wheel.

“The Mercedes-Benz CLS has been an icon since its introduction, a supremely crafted four-door coupe. With an unmistakably unique aesthetic, which has now set the tone for the contemporary Mercedes-Benz design language, it is a legendary automobile and has completely earned its place among our Dream Cars. In addition, the CLS features a new generation electrified powertrain for the perfect combination of luxury, comfort, progressivity and performance in a bold statement. Without a doubt, the CLS is Designed to Seduce,”
 concluded Mark.

FULL details on the CLS click to download this:

Press Information – The new Mercedes-Benz CLS

Mercedes-Benz DreamCars Photo Gallery…


Take Yasmin Yusuff on a drive with you

How would you like Dato’ Yasmin Yusuff to be your co-driver – everytime you drive your car? That’s now possible if you have Waze, the popular GPS route guidance app on smartphones. In fact, Yasmin has been ‘available’ for some time now if Waze users went to the app’s voice options section. There is an option ‘Bahasa Malaysia – Yasmin’ which sets the voice to be that of the multi-talented entertainment personality.

Malaysian flavour to guidance

Yasmin’s voice is one of the only two options available for voice navigation in Bahasa Malaysia, the other being ‘Shahdan’, a male voice. Once ‘Yasmin’ is chosen as the ‘voice’ of the app, you will get turn-by-turn navigation directions as well as safety tips (like a reminder to strap on your seatbelt or slow down at the sign of the red lights). And what’s even nicer is that some of the advisories are very Malaysian in flavour. Like
‘alamak, miss!
’ when you’ve missed an exit you should have taken, or ‘
lubang lagi
’, a relatable grouse for when a pothole is ahead.

“As I happen to be a professional voice-over artist, and also the original voice of the LRT, I thought it would be fun to do Waze too! All it took was for me to offer my voice in the Waze Malaysia Facebook group, and before I knew it, I was contacted, did an audition tape, and voila – I’m the Bahasa voice of Waze!” Yasmin said.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Yasmin-Yusuff-recording_1.mp4

Like many Malaysians, Yasmin is also irritated by the pronunciation of our street names by Waze and perhaps she will also do them for the app later on. “I only did turn-by-turn instructions this time, but maybe one day I can do the street names too,” she added.

The former Miss Universe Malaysia is no stranger to voice-overs throughout her illustrious career in entertainment, which also includes being a radio presenter for Radio 4, crooning several songs in the late 70s to early 80s, acting in TV dramas and movies, talent managing, and producing several musicals to name a few. Her richly sweet yet authoritative voice could be heard over dozens of radio and TV ads over the years, and now motorists get to hear her voice again on their journeys.

Record your own Waze voice!

Prefer the sound of your own voice? Waze can do that too! Just go to the Menu and Settings and select Voice & Sound. Tap Waze voice and then tap Record new voice. You can select the type of direction you’d like to record and when finished, you can give the voice a name.

Safety first

Waze reminds motorists to use the app as it is intended when driving. It should be placed in a dock or on the dashboard and the hands-free functionality should be used. If you hold the smartphone in your hand while driving, you will be committing an offence.

The Waze app has become better – update yours today!


Toyota Overall No.1 Brand In Non-National Category In 2022 Sales In Malaysia

For all the difficulties in getting parts, especially microprocessors, that the auto industry faced in 2022, it was certainly a great year with the Total Industry Volume (TIV) expected to be over 700,000 units when the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announces the full year sales results soon.

While the two Malaysian carmakers continued to dominate the market, the bestselling non-Malaysian brand was Toyota, with 100,042 vehicles delivered during the year. While some may be confused as we reported on Honda being the No.1 brand, the difference is that
Honda was No.1 in passenger vehicle sales
 alone – excluding pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles which it does not sell.

27% of volume from pick-up trucks
The Toyota brand in Malaysia includes commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks, the latter accounting for 27,198 units or 27.1% of the total Toyota volume. UMW Toyota Motor also imports and distributes Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, which added another 993 units to the company’s total volume.

Compared to the total volume of 72,394 units (Toyota + Lexus) in 2021, the increase was 40%. However, it should be remembered that 2021 also had long periods of forced shutdown during which time there was no production and sales were also limited. And while the market steadily recovered during 2022, there were still production disruptions as plants could not complete vehicle assembly due to shortage of some parts.

“We are delighted to have been able to put smiles and deliver happiness to so many of our customers across the nation, and thank each and every one of them for their support,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

“I also wish to express our appreciation to all our staff, dealers and business partners who overcame a challenging year. Together, we will continue to keep our customers happy and ensure that quality and service will always remain at the highest levels,” he added.

Segment leadership
2022 saw UMW Toyota Motor post strong sales in the C-Segment SUV category with 17,208 units of the Corolla Cross sold for the year. This included the Corolla Cross Hybrid which is the first model with Toyota’s Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) technology to be assembled in Malaysia.

Hilux continued to dominate the pick-up truck segment and contributed to 27% of the total sales volume of Toyota.

As in previous years, the Hilux dominated the pick-up segment by far with 27,198 units sold, while sales of the Hiace (390 units) and Fortuner (3,432 units) were also of significance in their respective segments.

Aftersales is also an important part of the auto business as profits from just the vehicles alone is limited. For this reason, there is great focus on aftersales services and UMW Toyota Motor has its ‘
Extra Mile
‘ initiatives to ensure the best sales and aftersales services to customers. The company reported that, during 2022, its authorised service outlets handled 1.25 million vehicles nationwide.

The multipath approach
While supporting electrification as a means towards carbon neutrality, vital to address climate change, Toyota also takes a multipath approach where it offers other mobility solutions to customers. This takes into account different conditions in different countries and regions and for Malaysia, HEV technology is considered the practical approach towards electrification for the time being.

Toyota believes that Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology is more practical for the Malaysian market for now and is assembling HEV models locally.

“We will continue to evaluate different options and introduce them as appropriate. For now, we believe HEVs are the most suitable for Malaysians and will add a second HEV model in 2023,” said Ravindran K. He added that with HEVs, the reductions in carbon dioxide emissions can start right away.

Toyota already has battery electric vehicles like the bZ4X for sale in selected markets and when conditions are right, they will also be offered in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, UMW Toyota Motor also takes a longer-term view and has also been evaluating battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Toyota and Lexus BEV models are already available and are being considered for introduction in Malaysia soon as the journey to zero emissions continues.

“Rest assured that with our multipath approach, no customer will be left behind as we will always ensure that there is a suitable and accessible mobility solution for everyone,” Mr. Ravindran promised.

Motorsports to continue
While moving into the era of electrification, UMW Toyota Motor will continue to maintain driving fun, with motorsport being by GAZOO Racing Malaysia. The long-running Vios Challenge one-make series and additional events have given owners a chance to enjoy racing. At the same time, motorsports also enable Toyota to make ever-better cars and deliver fun-to-drive experiences.

Vios Challenge one-make series has run for 5 seasons.

The GAZOO Racing (GR) brand launched in 2019 offers sporty and high-performance products. The range started with the GR Supra and has since extended to other models, with the Vios GR-S being an exclusive model for the Malaysian market. GR models, along with parts and merchandise, are sold through exclusive GR Garages at selected dealerships.

Vios GR-S

New Agency Retail Model
UMW Toyota Motor will implement a new agency retail model in 2023 and this has a customer-centric goal to deliver maximum satisfaction. To start with, Toyota and Lexus customers will enjoy a hassle and worry-free vehicle purchasing experience with a new sales process through premier agents that will conduct business with fair and transparent pricing.

“We understand the many frustrations and pain-points of purchasing a new vehicle and have re-designed a sales process that is driven to be more customer centric. Our customers will no longer have to haggle or shop around for the ‘best price’. The vehicle purchase process will become easy and more welcoming,” said Mr. Ravindran, adding that there will also be a shorter vehicle waiting period.

To facilitate optimal customer interactions online, the Toyota Malaysia website has been upgraded with new user-friendly features and a modern interface, enhanced by data-driven personalisation. From the time a customer makes an enquiry online or at the showroom of an authorized dealership, every process in the interaction is focused on meeting the customer’s needs precisely.

With its new tagline, ‘
Move Your World
’, UMW Toyota Motor will continue to drive a customer-centric car ownership experience and aims to deliver maximum satisfaction in 2023. “Our customers drive how we develop new ways of doing business. We recognise that our customers are continuously evolving and because of this, our business will evolve as well to deliver happiness and mobility for all,” said Mr. Ravindran.

Click here for other news and articles about Toyota.


‘New’ Volkswagen ID.3 Unveiled As Second Generation Model

Going by normal industry time-frames, a model generation lasts around 5 years or sometimes a bit longer, after which a new generation is launched. Before that time, there are the usual updates to freshen the product against newer rivals. These are usually termed ‘facelifts’ which actually relates to cosmetic changes but there are occasions when there are also technical changes.

But then again, this is a new era of electric vehicles (EVs) and who’s to say that carmakers can’t revise the product cycle time. This is especially so since EV technology is moving at such a fast pace with advancements occurring even within 12 months. The battery packs of today, for instance, are better than two years ago and will likely be even more so in another two years.

Volkswagen today unveiled the latest ID.3, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) which it
launched just two and half years ago
. Normally, we would be reading about a ‘facelift’ but the carmaker avoids the term and says it is the ‘new ID.3’ – even going as far as to call it the second generation. It’s not unusual though to see ‘new’ since in one respect, it is new compared to the 2022 model.

The original ID.3 styling (inset) is retained but there’s a new bumper and bonnet as well as redesigned air inlets below the bumper for the new ID.3.

Anyway, whatever they choose to term it, most people who are familiar with the appearance of the ID.3 will be trying hard to see how different its ‘fresh new design’ is. There is a sharpened look and the bumper profile is new. The bonnet now appears longer because the black strip under the windscreen has been removed and recessed sections at the sides additionally extend the front.

Besides the new optimised air-cooling inlets, aerodynamics around the front wheels have been improved with the airflow forming as air curtain. At the rear, the two-section tail lights also shine in the rear lid for the first time.

The interior has the same layout but with many of the numerous suggestions from customers being implemented, the equipment level has seen comprehensive upgrading. The new ID.3 comes with the latest software generation that provides improved system performance and is able to receive over-the-air (OTA) updates.

The display with a screen diagonal of 13.4 cm is operated on the multifunction steering wheel. The middle of the console accommodates the now standard 30.5-cm touchscreen display for the navigation system, telephone functions, media, assist systems and vehicle settings. The operating concept is now more intuitive so the driver doesn’t have to pause much to figure out the steps for an operation.

An optional augmented reality head-up display (AR head-up display) projects information such as the road speed and dynamic navigation instructions onto the windscreen. For the driver, this information appears to be 10 metres in front of the vehicle – displayed with the correct perspective and clearly recognisable.

Sustainability is seriously pursued these days and Volkswagen uses the microfibre material that contains 71% recyclate. This is a secondary raw material that is obtained by recycling plastic that has previously been disposed of as waste at least once. The interior equipment is also completely ‘animal-free’ which means no more genuine leather. In addition, soft, foam-backed surfaces in the cockpit create a new haptic experience.

The powertrain appears unchanged with a choice of 58 kWh or 77 kWh battery packs which are said to provide ranges of up to 425 kms and 545 kms, respectively. The maximum charging level has now been raised to 170 kW from 125 kW which means shorter times at the charging station.

The charging process is also easier and more convenient with standard functions such as Plug & Charge. With this, the vehicle authenticates itself and starts the charging process when the charging cable is plugged in at a charging station.

The driver can also use the intelligent Electric Vehicle Route Planner which calculates charging stops so that the destination can be reached as quickly as possible. This is dependent on the region and requires real-time traffic information and forecasts (in addition to the battery charge level). The charging stops are evaluated dynamically on the basis of the capacity of the individual charging stations.

Production of the new ID.3 will start at the end of the third quarter of 2023. The model will be part of the six ID. models now available, all BEVs. Since the launch of the ID. family, more than 600,000 units have been sold and all use the modular electric drive (MEB) platform.

Volkswagen Group To Introduce MEB+ EV Platform With Improved Range And Charging Speeds

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Steve Jobs’ BMW Z8 is up for sale

A BMW Z8 formerly belonging to Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs is up for sale. Jobs purchased the car in 2000 and then sold it on to the current owner in 2003. It was then resold to a third party but bought back three years later.

The vehicle is said to have extremely low mileage and complete service history was well as a full set of accessories and items that came with the car. These items also include a BMW branded Motorola flip phone, which Jobs despised.

There were only 6000 BMW Z8 cars that were ever produced, which makes it a bit of a rarity. It was offered with either a 4.8 or 4.9-litre V8 that was mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Weighing about 1,585kg, the car had an all-aluminium chassis and body, which helped increase agility and stability.

It’s 400bhp engine, which was shared with the E39 M5 allowed the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and eventually reach a limited top speed of 250km/h. As a means to lure more enthusiasts to the Z8, BMW promised that it would retain the car’s spare parts for 50-years.

Meant to be a modern interpretation of a retro sports car, the Z8 never managed to garner the success it was meant to achieve. Despite factory-backed support and other unique customization options, the car didn’t quite live up to the hype.

That said, due to the relative significance of this particular one, speculators suggest that the car might fetch somewhere between $300,000 (RM 1,270,050) to $400,000 (RM 1,693,400) when it is eventually sold at the RM Sotherby’s New York auction.

Source:
Car Throttle


2021 new vehicles sales passed 500,000 mark but still 4% down from year before

Although 2021 was the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the auto industry had been hoping to recover from the impact of the lockdown in 2020, the total number of new vehicles sold was actually lower. Where the Total Industry Volume (TIV) in 2020 was 529,514 units, the TIV for 2021 was 4% lower at 508,911 units.

Nevertheless, the usual final-month push by car companies saw the December having the highest sales volume of the year with 65,184 vehicles delivered nationwide. This contributed to the year’s TIV going past the 500,000-unit level that had been forecast by the Malaysian Automotive Association. While 2021, like 2020, had long periods when business activities – including motor vehicle sales and production – were suspended, the rate of recovery in 2021 was not as quick as the year before.

New vehicle sales in Malaysia from 2017 to 2021.

Commenting on the sales figures, MAA President Datuk Aishah Ahmad said that the measures taken by the government were important factors. “The much smaller TIV’s contraction recorded in 2021 [compared to 2020] can be attributed to the measures and wisdom of our government in balancing between saving lives and jobs so as not to jeopardize the domestic economy,” she said.

Owing to the relaxation of the movement control orders, many economic sectors were allowed to re-open for businesses. This helped to improve business confidence which contributed to more sales of new vehicles, including commercial vehicles which are much needed for the running of businesses. Having deferred purchases during 2020, many companies would have made their fleet purchases during 2021 to support their business activities.

The sales exemption has helped to encourage many to buy new vehicles, contributing to the recovery of the industry.

“The extension of the sales tax exemption incentive under PEMERKASA+ package till December 31, 2021, also helped to sustain the demand for new passenger vehicles,” added Datuk Aishah. “Under the PEMERKASA+ package, the government agreed to exempt sales tax up to 100% for completely knocked down (CKD) passenger vehicles assembled in Malaysia, and 50% on passenger vehicles that were imported in completely built-up (CBU) form.

In the passenger vehicle segment, it was evident that even more buyers preferred SUVs, mirroring the global trend which has had manufacturers hurriedly launching new SUV models. In the case of Malaysia, passenger car sales declined by about 19.7% while SUVs grew by 43%. The other segments – MPVs (which used to be second to passenger cars) and window vans – also saw lower sales although not significantly different from their 2020 volumes.

Overall, passenger vehicle sales fell by 5.9% to 452,663 units but this was not entirely due to reduced demand. Some companies also experienced stock shortages due to the semiconductor microchip supply issues which affected their local production or production at overseas factories from which they import their vehicles. It only takes one part being unavailable to prevent a vehicle from being completed and leaving the factory.

The commercial vehicle segment (which includes pick-up trucks)) fared better, recording an increase of 15.9% to a volume of 56,248 units, which represented 11% of the TIV. In this segment, pick-up trucks registered the biggest increase of 20.9% to 40,736 units, account for 72% of the commercial vehicle segment.

All-new 4th generation Isuzu D-MAX launched in April would have contributed to growth in pick-up sales.

The growth would have been helped by the introduction of new models like the Isuzu D-MAX during the year. The all-new generation of the popular pick-up truck was launched in April and Isuzu Malaysia reported that average monthly orders were 100% higher than the previous generation.

The bigger commercial vehicles saw lower sales; bus sales, for example, fell by almost 50% between 2020 and 2021 although this would be understandable in view of the situation. With restrictions on interstate travel for much of last year and borders with Thailand and Singapore pretty much closed, tour companies would not have wanted to get new vehicles. However, truck sales did go up by 5.3%, probably in view of increasing demand for delivery services.

Although the factories were forced to shut down for an extended period, the drop in local production was actually minimal – 3,535 units or 0.7%, compared to 15% in 2020 when the drop from 2019 was almost 87,000 units. While passenger vehicle production declined by 11,324 units (2.5%), commercial vehicle production actually rose by 7,789 units (28.4%). Outputs rose for trucks and panel vans which, as mentioned earlier, had greater demand.

Looking ahead in 2022

Notwithstanding pandemic-related issues that can cause disruptions and supply chain issues such the global shortage of semiconductor chips, rising cost of freight, there are still some positive aspects that can boost new vehicle sales in 2022.

Continuation of the sales tax exemption for imported and locally assembled passenger vehicles till June 30, 2022 will be helpful in encouraging people to buy new vehicles. Bank Negara Malaysia’s decision at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in November 2021 to maintain the benchmark Overnight Policy Rate at 1.75% will provide additional policy stimulus to accelerate the pace of economic recovery. This may help to stimulate domestic spending including for high-cost items like motor vehicles, and with the economic recovery will come more consumer spending.

Therefore, the MAA is optimistic that the industry will accelerate its recovery in 2022 and is forecasting growth of 17.9% over the 2021 TIV. This would take the volume to the elusive 600,000 units that has been difficult to reach (the last time was in 2019 when the TIV was 604,281 units).   The MAA expects the passenger car segment to grow by 19.3% and account for 540,000 units, with the commercial vehicle segment (which includes pick-up trucks) growing by 6.7% to 60,000 units.

Looking further ahead, the MAA expects 2023 to be a boom year as recovery continues with rising demand after 2022. It forecasts a 7.5% increase to 645,000 units then but then the market will slow down again with average growth of around 2% annually up to 2026. Of course, much depends on how the pandemic runs its course although the government has made it clear that there will not be lockdowns again (apart from targeted ones, if really necessary).


I Drove To Another Country Just To See An Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder! [+Videos]

Selamat Hari Raya folks! Hey, have you heard of an
Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
? You don’t really need to be a car fanatic in this instance, because even if you have an appreciation for the finer things in life, art for example, this would appeal to you…

Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera

is a coach-builder that dates back all the way to 1928. An incredibly skilled team of master craftsmen who can take something that’s already quite beautiful and turn it into something extraordinary. Take for example this
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
 below…

At the hands of Touring Superleggera, they took that 8C, and produced the incredible Disco Volante
by hand
. What you see below is very likely the most beautiful car that’s been created in the last half century at least, one of only 7 in the world, it’s the
Touring Superleggera Disco Volante Spyder
… and I drove 700km in total just to meet it in person.

When I heard that there was actually one unit in Singapore, at
EuroAutomobile
, it didn’t take me very long to decide that I simply had to go see it, despite the 4-hour journey
one-way
. The only other person I could think of to make the trip with me was Bobby Ang of EVO Aurizn, because I remember distinctly having a conversation with him about the Disco Volante some time ago, and the words that stuck were that the DV just happened to be his dream car…. so at 5am one recent morning, we set-off for Singapore in a Volvo XC90…

The journey, which we dubbed
“In Search of… the Disco Volante”,
 was arduous to say the least, especially the causeway crossing, but all that changed when we reached
EuroAutomobile
 @
No. 24 Leng Kee Road
 in Singapore, at the heart of
‘Motown’.
 And there she was… Here’s the video of my first viewing, something I never thought would happen, ever.

Created by
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera
, the Disco Volante, which translates from Italian to
 ‘Flying Disc
or
 Flying Saucer,
 is the most incredible looking car you’ll ever clap eyes on. 007 Bond fans will of course remember that
‘Disco Volante’
 was the name of the hydrofoil yacht that belonged to the villain Largo from SPECTRE in the Bond movie of 1965,
Thunderball
, as well as its remake in 1983,
‘Never Say Never Again’.

Hand-crafted by one of the oldest and most gifted coach-builders in the world, here’s what good ‘ol JC had to say about it in this episode of UK Top Gear back in 2014…

That was of course the coupe, and what we drove a total of 8-hours to and fro to see was the latest
Spyder
, one of only
7 in the world
. Priced at
SGD$ 1.68 million
 before taxes, we’re hoping it’s snapped up by someone from Malaysia, seeing as how it’s a left-hand drive and (ironically) LHD cars are illegal in Singapore.

Pictures really don’t do this car justice. You really do have to see it in the flesh to completely understand just how incredibly special this car is. It isn’t a car anymore per se, it’s a driveable piece of hand-crafted automotive art that borders on erotica. Would I buy one? It’s a no brainer,
of course
 I would, if I had the means, and yes, I’d park it in my living room between drives, and just ogle it for hours…

It’s also an investment for sure, since there are only 7 in the world, prices will definitely skyrocket in the near future. I can honestly say, hand on heart, you could park a Disco Volante next to
any
 other modern-day supercar, and no one, absolutely no one, will pay any attention to the others. And then we spotted this…

After the most memorable 2hrs I’ve had in recent memory, Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile let us in on a little secret. They also have a
Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso
! Based on a
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
, I’ll let the short video below do the talking. It’s simply, incredibly, unbelievably beautiful too…

And now a quick shout-out to all
Alfa Romeo Owners
 in Malaysia, if you happen to own one of the newer AR’s like the Giulia & Giuletta, EuroAutomobile would like to invite you to bring your cars over to their premises for a full-check up, service and repair. EuroAutomobile can also arrange the sale and export of any new Alfa Romeos that tickle your fancy, including the Disco Volante that we came to see. And last but not least, a
BIG
 thank you to Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile for hosting us and putting up with our juvenile fan-boy antics! –
Chris Wee.

EuroAutomobile @ 24 leng Kee Road, Singapore Photo Gallery…


Porsche Mission R concept sportscar cockpit can also be a standalone simulator

Even before e-sports or digital motorsports, as the FIA has termed the activity, started to increase to the popular levels of today, carmakers were already using simulators for drivers to train in as well as being a tool for engineers. Time spent in the simulator helps a driver prepare virtually for the next race and become familiar with the environment.

Simulators are usually standalone machines with sophisticated computer hardware and software. But in future, it may be possible to have the simulator as a module which can be used for training and then installed in the car for an actual race.

Physical racing and e-sports merge

This is the idea which Porsche is showcasing its Mission R concept study for a future all-electric GT racing car. In the Mission R, physical racing and e-sports merge as the driver cell monocoque is designed as a self-contained module. It can even be set up outside the car for use in esports events

The seat, steering wheel, controls, adjustable pedals and screens form a compact and lie on the same axis as the driver. This allows the driver to concentrate on essentials during the race. At the same time, this driver module design enables a second driver’s cell to be used outside the Mission R as a racing simulator.

With the aid of movable, electrically controlled supports, the dynamic forces that impact on the driver can be simulated – when braking, for example, or as a result of rolling motions during fast cornering. Due to the familiar surroundings with identical display and control elements and the same full bucket seat, this kind of training can be extremely realistic and highly effective.

3D-printing for racing seat

The full bucket seat offers high protection potential for the driver. At the same time, it has an innovative design and is produced in part using additive manufacturing processes known as 3D-printing. The seat shell is made of the same natural fibre-reinforced material as the add-on parts in the exterior. The centre section of the seat, ie the cushion and backrest, is partly produced by a 3D printer.

Available from Porsche Tequipment

Porsche initially showed this alternative to the conventional upholstery used for bucket seats as a concept study in 2020 and conducted trials with selected customers during a test phase. As part of the new Performance Parts range, the 3D-printed bodyform full bucket seat is now available from Porsche Tequipment for all 911 and 718 models for which the current full bucket is offered.

In the Mission R, the driver’s seat is actively ventilated and upholstered in a breathable fabric that is made using a resource-saving 3D knitting process. The 3D-printed lattice structure also contributes to a good seat climate. These black, coarse-meshed elements are located in the area between the cushion and the backrest.

Maximum driver focus

The key displays and controls are located along the same axis. This reduces distraction and helps the driver to improve performance by speeding up their reaction time. The information is hierarchically clustered into three levels. Top priority is given to the 6-inch multifunction OLED racing display. It sits directly between the steering wheel controls and, as such, is placed in the driver’s immediate field of vision. This is where key data such as speed, lap time, tyre pressures or State of Charge (SoC) are displayed, along with information on ABS and traction control.

A second screen is mounted on the steering column behind it. Its curved shape is reminiscent of the Taycan’s large central display. This is where the images from the two exterior cameras are combined into a single image. Through this digital rear-view mirror, the driver can see what is happening on both sides and behind the racing car. A third, centrally positioned, rear-facing camera is mounted below the rear window.

If radar sensors and cameras detect an imminent collision during the race, the Collision Avoidance System alerts the driver to the danger by means of coloured markings on the edges of the race display.

To the right of the driver and inclined towards them is a control panel with buttons and an integrated screen. It represents the third information level. This is where the driver’s biometric data is displayed. This includes body temperature, which is detected by sensors in the seat.

Also fitted are motorsports equipment such as a 6-point safety harness, longitudinally adjustable pedals, safety nets and an extinguisher system. A special feature is the combination of helmet holder and dryer, allowing it to be disinfected and then dried when not being used in a race. No more sweaty helmets after the race!

For taxi rides, a second seat can be mounted on the passenger side. The control units, including a cooler, which are combined into one electronic module, are located in the footwell. The driver’s water bottle is also integrated into the seating arrangement. The expansion tanks for battery coolant, brake fluid and dampers are all neatly arranged beneath the rear window.

Livestreaming from the cockpit

The interactive possibilities offered by the Mission R are also aimed at the young and enthusiastic motorsports community. It is set up to provide a livestream broadcast from inside the car, and the driver can connect with their fans at the touch of a button. Fans can in turn communicate directly with the driver, for example, by sending them likes in real time.

Two small cameras mounted on the roof frame and on a rail above the passenger seat can show what is happening inside the car during a race in real-time. The live images can be transmitted directly to the community using a livestream button in the control panel.

The Mission R concept study is proposed with two electric motors able to generate up to 800 kW (1,088 ps) and provides a preview of what future all-electric GT racing cars could be like.

Porsche Taycan does 165 km/h inside a building – a new Guinness World Record (w/VIDEO)

Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected for a long period after that. So do your best to avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others – and get fully vaccinated.


2018 Lexus LS Now Open For Booking [+Video]

Lexus Malaysia, a division of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, has announced that all authorised Lexus Centres across Malaysia are now accepting orders for its newest flagship luxury sedan, the
2018 LS
.

The fifth generation LS reinvents the brand’s take on luxury after a decade, and is said to be a significant step up from its predecessor in terms of platform and powertrain as well as styling and craftsmanship.

Debuting last year at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the 2018 LS features Lexus’ first-ever twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine that delivers
415hp
 coupled with a
10-speed
 (yes,
ten
 speeds) automatic transmission and an intuitive, predictive steering system – promising pure power, precise handling and excellent efficiency.

The new LS also boasts a finesse design language that pays tribute to the brand’s intricate Japanese craftsmanship. From the outside, Lexus’ new sedan sports a “new silhouette”, which has the appearance and appeal of a four-door coupe but maintains the roominess of a traditional 3 Box design. Its interior is meticulously crafted to feature Kiriko cut glass and a hand pleated door trim – both of which transform according to lighting conditions, creating a one of a kind space that epitomises luxury and elegance.

As far as safety is concerned, the luxury sedan is equipped with the Lexus Safety System – featuring the Pre-Collision System that helps to warn the driver on the possibility of a collision so they may perform an invasive manoeuvre; and the advanced Lane Departure Alert that is capable of detecting boundaries through improved recognition capability to offer continued performance on roads. Here’s a short video on the 2018 Lexus LS:

Proudly designed and manufactured at the brand’s Tahara plant, the 2018 Lexus LS is already a big hit in Japan with pre-orders for the new flagship sedan reaching 9,500 units, or nearly 1,600% higher than the sales goal of 600 units a month.

Closer to home, there has been much talk and anticipation on the luxury sedan with growing interests from Lexus fans, especially among chauffeur-driven top executives – a key market of the 2018 Lexus LS. While the 2018 Lexus LS is scheduled to arrive on Malaysian shores in the first quarter of 2018, customers who wish to be among the first to own Lexus’ newest flagship luxury sedan can now place their bookings at all Lexus Centres nationwide.

The 2018 Lexus LS comes with a comprehensive warranty of five (5) years covering unlimited mileage. Complete aftersales support is available at seven (7) locations around Malaysia where professional technicians with extensive training by Lexus are ready to serve.

The 2018 Lexus LS will be
fully imported
 (CBU) from Japan and will be offered in three variants:

The 2018 Lexus LS

Peninsular Malaysia

Sabah

Sarawak

LS Luxury

RM799,000

RM800,166.70

RM800,166.70

LS Executive

RM999,000

RM1,000,166.70

RM1,000,166.70

LS Executive (Hybrid)

RM1,459,000

RM1,460,132.00

RM1,460,132.00

*The prices listed above are On the Road price including GST without insurance.


2019 Moto Guzzi MGX-21 is finally here! RM172,000

Moto Guzzi Malaysia which is brought to you here in Malaysia by Didi Resources Sdn Bhd has officially introduced the brand’s latest and most advanced model yet, the 2019 Moto Guzzi MGX-21. Dubbed the “Flying Fortress”, this is the next step in Moto Guzzi’s technological advancements when it comes to their world of two-wheels.

Just from its stance alone, the MGX-21 is covered with carbon fibre goodness from top to bottom which wraps around a monstrous 1,380cc 90° V-Twin Big Block engine. This behemoth of a cruiser is able to produce 96.6hp @ 6,500rpm and 121Nm of torque from 3,000rpm. That’s more than enough to have a good time on the wide-open road.

This goes exceptionally well with the bike’s overall futuristic touring bike look, especially its ‘Batwing’ like front fairing which was designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics technology. This resulted in a very efficient aerodynamics package that offers a great overall riding experience for future owners.

According to Mr Rewi Hamid Bugo, Chairman of Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, “We are proud to extend our range of Moto Guzzi bikes in Malaysia. I had the great pleasure in riding the MGX-21 in Tuscany, Italy last year and this bike is suitable for someone that wants something different and special, Moto Guzzi bikes somehow wins your heart.”

For more information, head over to our sister site,
www.bikesrepublic.com
.


Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo Now Available For Racing Teams

An updated Toyota GR Supra GT4 racing car for the 2023 season is now available, offering enhanced braking, handling and engine performance. The new car has been developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing drawing extensively on customer and driver feedback since its first full racing season in 2020.

To date, the GR Supra GT4 has won championships in three regions (Japan, USA and Europe) and has earned over 100 podium finishes. More than 50 GR Supra GT4s have been running in national and international GT4 championships and in August this year, the sportscar celebrated its 50th class win in a major championship.

With competition within the popular GT4 category intensifying, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has carried out further development of the GR Supra GT4 to offer an EVO update for the coming season. Close  cooperation with its GT4 teams and drivers helped set specific targets for the upgrade. From the feedback and inputs, the engineers focused their efforts on three key areas: brakes, handling and engine.

With an improved brake system design, new ABS settings, latest KW damper technology and updated anti-roll bar specification, the new racing car is said to deliver improved handling and higher cornering speeds. Drivers will be able to clock faster lap times due to increased power and an optimised torque curve of the 660 Nm 3-litre, 6-cylinder turbocharged engine, which has better cooling.

An upgrade kit will also be available to racing teams with the existing model. Customers who purchase the new GR Supra GT4 EVO get full support, including spare parts and engineering support.


Proton launches “Experience the Drive” contest

Proton Holdings Berhad has launched a new contest aimed at attracting potential buyers with attractive petrol and cash prizes. Called the “Experience the Drive Contest”, participating in it is easy, all you have to do is test drive any Proton model, then write a short creative caption or description of the test drive in no more than 20 words to be eligible to win weekly and monthly prizes.

The contest form will be provided to participants at any Proton Showroom or Proton roadshow. The winners will be announced on a weekly basis, following the end of each contest week. Weekly winners will receive a petrol card worth RM500 and monthly ones will receive a cash prize worth RM3,000. Two weekly prizes will be given away each week and one monthly prize each month. That’s a total of RM7,000 to be won each month from the starting date of the contest which was 1 March 2017 till the end, which is 31 December 2017.

Proton, for convenience sake, has asked that participants book their test drive through the MyProton mobile app for a more pleasant test drive experience. Through this contest, Proton wants participants to feel the time and effort the automaker has put in to improve on the safety and driving dynamics of the current crop of vehicles compared with their predecessors.

The contest seems to have been well received because during the first week, the company said that it has received over 200 entries and 2 weekly winners have already been confirmed. The winners were Mohamad Darulhisham bin Mohd Rashid and Saliza binti Ahmad from Kedah and Melacca respectively.

So, if you are interested in participating, visit your nearest Proton dealership or use the MyProton app to book your test drive.


Across the USA in a Porsche Taycan with less than 2.5 hours of recharging needed

When the subject of electric vehicles comes up, a common topic is range. This is important to buyers since, unlike cars which run on petrol or diesel, you cannot just drive into a station and refuel. With a fully electric vehicle or battery electric vehicle (BEV), you need a charging station to ‘refuel’ with electricity. So how far the car can go on a fully charged battery pack matters and this range is increasing as battery technology advances.

Depending on the country and region, the network of charging stations varies in coverage. In Europe, Japan and North America, it is quite extensive so BEV owners can drive long distances and be assured that they will get ‘fuel’ along the way.

In Malaysia, it is still small and it is only now that
Shell, collaborating with Porsche Asia-Pacific
, is setting up charging points at stations along the North-South Expressway. This will enable BEV owners to travel from Singapore all the way to the north and eventually, in Thailand as well.

For Americans, driving long distances on electric power is getting common and the nationwide Electrify America CCS DC fast charging network is extensive enough. This encouraged Wayne Gerdes, a multi-Guinness World Records title-holder for efficiency and range in other vehicles, to set a new record for the shortest charging time to cross the continental USA in a BEV, specifically a
Porsche Taycan
. The record that existed was 7 hours, 10 minutes, and 1 second.

Gerdes completed the crossing from Los Angeles in California to New York City covering 4,563.5 kms in the red Taycan with a cumulative charge time of just 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 48 seconds. “Comparing charging performance from of variety of EVs I have driven to date, the Taycan sets the bar,” said Gerdes. “The first time I charged on a 350KW charger, 6% to 82% was done in just 22 minutes.”

To qualify for the Guinness World Records title, Gerdes was required to meet a daunting set of requirements, including meticulously noting every stop – with independent witnesses for each charge. Every kilometre covered was filmed, GPS tracked and accounted for before being certified by a panel of adjudicators ahead of the record being accepted. The car selected was a standard 2021 Taycan equipped with the Performance Battery Plus as well as nice-to-have luxury items for the coast-to-coast drive, such as the Premium Package, Adaptive Cruise Control and Porsche Electric Sport Sound.

All-electric Porsche Taycan sets a drift world record (w/VIDEO)


Strong rumours of Bermaz Auto taking over Kia and Peugeot brands before year ends

The rumours that Bermaz Auto Berhad will take over the distributorship of the Kia and Peugeot brands is quite strong now, according to a report in the
New Straits Times
. The company started off with the Mazda business 12 years ago and has made it a successful brand with steady growth in volumes.

The Kia and Peugeot brands are presently handled by subsidiaries in the Naza Group, which also represents many other brands. It had previously established a relationship with Kia Motors in the 1990s, enabling it to begin volume sales rather than being just in the niche market it had started from in the mid-1970s. Although an agreement with Kia allowed Naza to brand some models under its own name, the strategy did not seem to be beneficial and the Naza brand slowly faded away.

The Kia brand has been handled by Naza since the 1990s, while the Peugeot brand has been with the group since 2008.

The Peugeot brand came into Naza’s portfolio in 2008, after Cycle & Carriage Bintang decided not to continue handling it. While Bermaz Motor took over Mazda from C&C Bintang, Naza took Peugeot which was placed under Nasim Sdn Bhd. There were big plans for growth and development, especially since Naza had its own assembly plant in Kedah (which was acquired by the PSA Group a few years ago).

Naza has invested a lot in growing both brands and created quite an extensive retail network nationwide. However, the past few years have seen a dip in sales volumes and it also wasted 8 years with the Chevrolet brand that it stopped representing in 2018. The pandemic this year has only worsened things with the auto industry suffering a severe impact in the first half of the year.

Bermaz Auto took over the Mazda brand in 2008 from C & C Bintang and has grown its volumes significantly over the years.

The team at Bermaz Auto has a good track record, not just with the Mazda brand but also with the Hyundai brand which they successfully built up in the 2000s under Hyumal, before the Korean brand was taken over by Sime Darby Motors. Dato’ Sri Ben Yeoh, Executive Chairman of Bermaz Auto, is a veteran in the automotive industry with experience going back to the 1970s. He has worked with brands like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Daihatsu, Proton and Hyundai.

The track record of Bermaz Auto in building up Mazda after taking over would certainly impress Kia and Peugeot, giving an advantage over others who are also known to be interested in the brands. Positioning each brand in Bermaz Auto’s portfolio could be tricky though.

And there will be the question of whether Naza will remain involved in the brands as a dealer chain. Incidentally, it also handles the Citroen and DS brands which are from the PSA Group but sell in very small volumes. Bermaz Auto is unlikely to want to bother with these brands which would probably be tedious to manage anyway.

Naza’s factory in Gurun, Kedah, was taken over by the PSA Group which uses it to assemble Peugeot vehicles for the region.

The Inokom manufacturing complex in Kulim, Kedah, where Mazda Malaysia has an assembly facility.

Bermaz Auto has no assembly plant of its own, relying on the Mazda Malaysia facility within the Inokom manufacturing complex in Kedah for the assembly of its Mazda models, some of which are exported. In order to grow any brand in Malaysia, local assembly is vital under current policies.

Peugeot would be okay since PSA continues to assemble the 3008 and 5008 for the Malaysian and exports markets but Kia assembly has pretty much stopped, with only 4 vehicles assembled this year (2,293 were assembled last year). If Bermaz Auto takes over Kia, it would want to assemble some models and would likely do so at the Inokom plant where Hyundai models are also being assembled.

Now that news of Bermaz Auto acquiring new business is getting so strong, we can expect that being a public-listed company, a statement will soon be forthcoming to provide clarification for shareholders.


JLRM introduces refreshed Range Rover Evoque

JLRM announces the availability of the face-lifted Range Rover Evoque crossover in Malaysia priced from RM430,000.

Jaguar

Land Rover
 (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (JLRM) kicked off its 2016 campaign with the introduction of the face-lifted Range Rover Evoque crossover model in Malaysia. The face-lifted version of the groundbreaking luxury crossover is now available for orders via authorised JLRM dealers and outlets nationwide.

In comparison to the outgoing version, the refreshed Evoque now sports mild exterior changes. Part of the subtle facelift include the redesigned front bumper and front grille with a pair of integrated slim LED foglights, restyled LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and taillight graphics, plus a new tailgate spoiler sporting a discreetly integrated third brake lamp. The Malaysian-spec Evoque will also feature 19-inch alloy wheels as standard.

The most substantial change can be seen on board. The cabin now boasts a new infotainment suite that is accessible via an eight-inch touchscreen unit. It also features a new InControl Touch user interface allowing users to swipe between screen displays, much like a smartphone. The system also boasts Bluetooth connectivity whilst being paired with an eight-speaker sound system.

There are also notable aesthetic changes done to the cabin. New here are the front seats and door panels whilst drivers will now benefit with a new instrument panel that features a five-inch digital display. Other notable highlights for the Malaysian-flavoured Evoque include 12-way electric seat adjustment (front seats only) with a choice of three leather upholstery colour schemes, followed by a foot-activated electric tailgate operation, as well as an optional fixed panoramic sunroof.

Only thing retained from the outgoing pre-facelift model is the powertrain package. The Ford-sourced 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder mill that develops 237hp and 340Nm of torque will still power the Malaysian-spec Evoque. Also unchanged here is the ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic transmission system.

JLRM is retailing the refreshed 2016 Range Rover Evoque in Malaysia at the starting price of RM430,000.00 sans insurance, registration and road tax costs. The official importer will also include a five-year or 150,000km warranty plan plus a five-year or 80,000km free scheduled maintenance program and a three-year roadside assistance scheme.

2016 Range Rover Evoque

(JLRM disclaimer: Images provided are for illustration purposes only. Actual specifications for the Malaysian market may vary.)

Image credit: JLRM PR


All-electric Porsche Macan begins real-world testing, launch in 2023

After the Taycan, the next all-electric sportscar from Porsche will be the Macan. Developed with the usual secrecy, prototypes have been running around the proving grounds of the Porsche Development Centre and the next step is to take them into the outside world for road-testing.

Real-world testing on public roads and in a real-life environment are important stages in the development of a new model. In the case of the electric Macan, due to be launched in 2023, the testing will cover at least 3 million kms worldwide in varying conditions. This will add on to the experience gained from countless previous test kilometres – driven in a virtual space.

Digital development preserves resources

Digital development and testing not only saves time and costs but also preserves resources, so it enhances sustainability. Instead of real vehicles, the engineers use digital prototypes – computational models that replicate the properties, systems and power units of a vehicle to a high degree of accuracy.

There are 20 digital prototypes for the purpose of simulation in a number of development categories, such as aerodynamics, energy management, operation and acoustics. “We regularly collate the data from the various departments and use it to build up a complete, virtual vehicle that is as detailed as possible,” explained Andreas Huber, manager for digital prototypes at Porsche. This allows previously undiscovered design conflicts to be swiftly identified and resolved.

The aerodynamics specialists are among the first engineers to work with a digital prototype. “We started with a flow-around model when the project first started about 4 years ago,” explained Thomas Wiegand, Director of aerodynamics development.

Low aerodynamic drag is fundamental to the all-electric Macan with a view to ensuring a long range. Even minor flow enhancements can make a huge difference. The engineers are currently using simulations to fine-tune details such as the cooling air ducts. The calculations not only take into account different arrangements of the components, but they also reflect real-life temperature differences.

Advanced and powerful simulation software allows almost all aspects of a new model to be viewed and tested before physical prototypes are built, saving time and money.

Virtual testing

New methods now allow very precise simulation of both aerodynamics and thermodynamics. “The digital world is indispensable to the development of the all-electric Macan,” said Wiegand. ”The electric drive system – from the battery through to the motor – requires a completely separate cooling and temperature control concept, one that is very different from that of a conventionally powered vehicle.”

While a temperature window of 90 to 120 degrees is the target for combustion engines, the electric motor, powertrain electronics and high-voltage battery require a range of between 20 and 70 degrees, depending on the component. The critical scenarios don’t occur on the road but can occur during fast high-power charging at high outside temperatures. However, the Porsche developers are able to precisely calculate and digitally optimise position, flow and temperature.

Virtual prototypes can be combined with real-world scenarios at an early stage. The best example here is the development of a completely new display and operating concept for the next generation of Macan. Using what is known as a seat box to recreate the driver’s environment, the display and operating concept can be brought to life in an early development phase in conjunction with the digital prototype.

“Simulation allows us to assess displays, operating procedures and the changing influences during a journey from the driver’s point of view,” explained Fabian Klausmann of the Driver Experience development department. “Here, the ‘test drivers’ are not just the specialists themselves but also non-experts. This allows all interaction between driver and vehicle to be studied down to the last detail, enabling selective optimisation even before the first physical cockpit has been built.”

To be the sportiest model in the segment

The first physical prototypes of the electric Macan were built using data obtained from the simulations – in some cases elaborately by hand or using special tools. These are then regularly adapted based on the virtual refinement process. By the same token, the findings from road testing are fed directly into digital development.

“Endurance testing on closed-off testing facilities and public roads in real-life conditions is still indispensable to ensure that the vehicle structure, operational stability and reliability of hardware, software and all functions meet our high quality standards,” said Member of the Executive Board Michael Steiner.

Prototype of all-electric Macan being tested at Porsche’s test track. Some cars, with camouflage over their bodies, are now being tested on public roads in different parts of the world.

The demanding test programme for the electric Macan, carried out under the extremes of climatic and topographical conditions, includes disciplines such as the charging and conditioning of the high-voltage battery, which has to meet very rigorous standards.

“Like the Taycan, the all-electric Macan, with its 800-volt architecture, will offer typical Porsche E-Performance,” promised Steiner, citing development goals such as long-distance range, high-performance fast charging and reproducible best-in-class performance figures.

Combustion engine will still be offered

While Europe is accelerating into the era of pure electromobility with all-electric vehicles, Porsche understands that the pace of change will vary considerably across the world. In some regions, there will still be demand for vehicles with conventional combustion engines. Therefore, the next Macan will continue to have a variant with a combustion engine for markets which want it.

Entry-level Porsche Taycan available from March, priced from RM605,000


VW Beetle production has ended at the global production hub in Mexico

After its multi-generational run as a brand mainstay and global automotive phenomenon, the Volkswagen Beetle line has come to an end. The final unit, finished in Stonewashed Blue, was produced at Volkswagen’s factory in Puebla, Mexico which has been the global hub for the modern model since 1998.

Actually, the ‘end of Beetle production’ at Puebla this week was the second time such an event occurred. 16 years ago, in 2003, the factory said farewell to the original Beetles when production ceased after 39 years. It was the last of some 21.5 million units of the same generation produced since 1938.

One of the top 5 bestsellers of all time

The final Beetle will live on display at Volkswagen’s local museum in Puebla as a lasting tribute to the automobile’s rich and storied heritage. While the original Type 1 model will go down in automobile history as one of the top 5 bestselling cars of all time, the New Beetle, as it was known when it was reborn in 1998, was an early automotive adopter of retro design language. Like the modern MINI, it re-introduced the familiar silhouette to a new generation of drivers. Over 1.2 million units were produced, only at the Puebla factory which supplied to 91 global markets.

The third and final generation was launched in 2011 and over 500,000 units have been built up till the final one this week. In total, the second and third generations have been offered (from the factory) in 23 different exterior colours, 32 interior trims, 13 varying engine configurations and 19 special editions. Individual markets have also had special editions, such as the
Collectors Edition by Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
 to say farewell to the model.

75 units of the Collectors Edition of the Beetle are available for the Malaysian market, each one priced at RM164,390 (without insurance), with four colour options to choose from.

Compact SUV model to replace Beetle at factory

The end of Beetle production will allow the Puebla factory to take on the Tarek, a compact SUV model that will be manufactured from next year. The second largest Volkswagen factory also produces the Jetta, Tiguan and Golf. It has an annual capacity of 420,000 engines and in 2018 produced a total of 435,373 vehicles.

The Volkswagen factory in Puebla, Mexico, began operations in 1964.

Tarek compact SUV will replace the Beetle on the production line from next year.

Click here for other articles on Volkswagen.

Visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
 to find out more about the models available in Malaysia.


Locally-assembled BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport launched at RM211,367

There was a time when coupes came only with two doors but these days, the same sleek profile can be maintained even with four doors, and the new 218i Gran Coupe M Sport is a fine example of this. The compact model in the 2-Series family was launched today with a pricetag of
RM211,367.00
 (excluding insurance) and because it is assembled locally, there is full exemption of the 10% sales tax till the end of the year.

The 218i Gran Coupe M Sport has a newly-designed 3-dimensional mesh single-unit kidney grille that is complemented by slim, slanted LED headlights and LED foglights. Its sits low to the road with flared wheelarches and 18-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke style 819 M Bicolour within them.

At the rear end are slim wraparound LED taillights connected by a high-gloss black band. The new Gran Coupe also comes equipped with the M Aerodynamics package as a standard, along with the BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line.

In conjunction with the new model’s launch, BMW Group Malaysia also displayed the 218i Gran Coupe M Sport alongside a
fleet of cars camouflaged in unique designs
 by local businesses, volunteer groups and Non-Governmental Organisations Komuniti Tukang Jahit, Changgih Designs, INKAA and Kanoe.

1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine

Under the bonnet is a transversely-mounted 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine produces 140 bhp/220 Nm. Its small displacement offers the best of both worlds – a claimed 8.7-second acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 213 km/h, with fuel consumption said to be up to almost 17 kms per litre. A 7-speed Steptronic double-clutch transmission is standard, delivering power to the front wheels.

Drawing on its decades of expertise in driving dynamics, the BMW engineers have ensured that the Gran Coupe offers the sort of performance expected of BMWs. A key contributor is the ARB technology (near-actuator wheel slip limitation) which allows significantly faster and more sensitive control interventions, while minimising understeer usually experienced with FWD vehicles.

The ARB technology features a slip control system positioned directly in the engine control unit which results in shorter signal paths, with reduced engine output as soon as there is a threat of wheel slip on the front wheels.

Modern sporty cockpit

In keeping with the exterior appearance, the cockpit is sportily themed and appointed. There’s a multifunction M leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport seats with Leather Dakota upholstery, and two-zone automatic air conditioning system. Illuminated trim finishers in Illuminated Boston and LED light sources via the Lights Package enhance cabin ambience.

BMW Live Cockpit Plus is composed of an analogue speedometer and tachometer which provides the driver with clear and immediate awareness of road speed and engine speed. The other operating information is displayed on a 5.1-inch, 4:3 portrait-format screen which displays information such as the status of the driver assistance systems and navigation instructions. This is complemented by an 8.8-inch touchscreen control display which can also be managed by the iDrive controller.

The compact dimensions of the Gran Coupe limit boot volume and a maximum of 430 litres is available (but 40 litres more than the 2-Series Coupe). Long items can be stowed if the rear backrests are folded down.

BMW Driving Assistants

The Gran Coupe has three assistance systems – Driving Assistant, Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant. The Driving Assistant includes Lane Change Warning, Crossing Traffic Warning at the rear, Rear Collision Warning, and Speed Limit Assist. It also includes Lane Departure Warning with active steering intervention, as well as the Forward Collision Warning with brake intervention function. The Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant are standard, along with the Active Park Distance Control and a lateral parking aid.

There are five colour choices – Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Snapper Rock Blue, Storm Bay, and Melbourne Red – but the interior is only available in black Leather Dakota upholstery with blue and black highlights.

As with other new BMWs sold through authorised dealers, the 218i Gran Coupe M Sport comes with BMW Group Malaysia’s Premium Ownership benefits such as a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme, Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card and BMW Service Online.

Uniquely camouflaged BMWs to cruise streets of Kuala Lumpur


Making fuel sustainable and low carbon for future vehicles with combustion engines

Almost every day, there’s news about the electrification in the auto industry, if not the introduction of a new electric vehicle (EV). The industry, especially in Europe, has fast-tracked plans to move existing model fleets from using internal combustion engines to either hybrid or fully electric powertrains. Some companies even plan to stop selling vehicles with combustion engines before the end of this decade.

But there are also some companies that will look for a balance in the rush to electrification, focussing more on overall carbon neutrality (which can address climate change) for their entire operations, rather than just the products alone. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, is one of those who feels that the rush to switch to zero emission vehicles is too excessive, demands massive investments and will damage the industry in some ways.

Whole world won’t ‘electrify’ at the same time

While governments are forcing the corporate hands of the carmakers to make the changes and cut emissions from vehicles, there will still be models with combustion engines on sale for a while. We don’t know yet how fast the infrastructure to support EVs can be developed and grow because, in some places, it doesn’t even exist yet. In Malaysia, for example, the number of recharging stations already set up is really just ‘a handful’ and an absence of a coherent policy to encourage sales and use of EVs has yet to be formulated.

While motorists in regions like Europe are steadily switching to electric vehicles, there are many millions elsewhere in the world who will continue to use vehicles running on fluid fuels for many more years.

So while some carmakers may feel that they can get by (in future) selling just EVs, there will be some who will still be developing models with combustion engines for the rest of this decade at least. Engineers can still push emissions down further to meet stricter regulations and a new generation of fuels will also help in this respect.

Renewable low-carbon fuels

These are renewable low-carbon fuels and following on from R33 Blue Diesel which has been around since 2018, Bosch, Shell, and Volkswagen have now come up with low-carbon petrol. Their new fuel, called Blue Gasoline, similarly contains up to 33% renewables, ensuring a well-to-wheel reduction in carbon emissions of at least 20% per kilometre driven. This means a fleet of 1,000 VW Golf Mk.8 1.5 TSIs alone could save more than 230 metric tons of CO₂ per year, assuming an annual mileage of 10,000 kms each.

Shell will offset the remaining carbon emissions from the use of Blue Gasoline through certified offset arrangements. The initial plan is to make the fuel available at regular filling stations over the course of the year, starting in Germany.

“On the road to climate-friendly mobility, we must ensure we don’t leave any technical opportunities untapped, starting with electromobility and ending with renewable fuels. Every bit of CO₂ we save can help us achieve our climate targets,” said Dr. Uwe Gackstatter, President of the Bosch Powertrain Solutions division.

“Blue Gasoline is another building block in the effective reduction of CO₂ emissions from the vehicle fleet. Blue Gasoline’s high storage stability makes the fuel particularly suitable for use in plug-in hybrid vehicles. In the future, the expansion of the charging infrastructure and larger batteries will mean that these vehicles predominantly run on electrical power, and thus that fuel may remain in the fuel tank for longer periods of time,” explained Sebastian Willmann, Head of Internal Combustion Engine Development at Volkswagen

Highest standards set for fuel quality and sustainability

Blue Gasoline fuel complies with the EN 228/E10 standard and even exceeds it in key parameters such as storage stability and boiling behaviour. High-quality additives also keep the engine extremely clean and protect it against corrosion. This means not only that the fuel can be distributed via the existing filling station network, but also that it can be used in all new and existing vehicles for which Super 95 E10 petrol has been approved.

The proportion of up to 33% renewables is made up of biomass-based naphtha or ethanol certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system. One source of such naphtha is what is known as tall oil, a by-product in the production of pulp for paper. But naphtha can also be obtained from other residual and waste materials.

Low-carbon fuels at Bosch company stations

In the Blue Gasoline project, the three partners jointly defined the fuel specification to be achieved, taking into account engine requirements and sustainability. They put the product they developed through intensive testing on engine test benches and in trial vehicles – with consistently positive results. Bosch has begun supplying Blue Gasoline at its company filling stations for the past month, with other stations scheduled during for rest of 2021.

The supply of conventional Super 95 E10 petrol will then be gradually phased out. Since the end of 2018, R33 Blue Diesel has been the only diesel fuel that Bosch company filling stations offer for company cars and internal delivery vehicles. R33 Blue Diesel is also becoming available at more and more regular filling stations in Germany. At present, it is offered at 8 filling stations belonging to different brands nationwide, with more set to follow.

Not a substitute for electromobility

For Bosch, renewable low-carbon and carbon-neutral fuels will not replace electromobility but complement it. In principle, the use of these fuels makes sense in all modes of transport, but especially in those for which there is as yet no clear and economical path to electrification. In addition to ships and aircraft, this applies primarily to heavy goods vehicles and existing vehicles, but also to the millions of vehicles with internal combustion engines or hybrid powertrains that are on the world’s roads today or will be built in the coming decades.

To promote rapid market uptake for these fuels, the focus is on renewable biomass and synthetic fuel components that can be blended into regular fuel in high proportions in line with existing fuel standards.


Puspakom Monopoly To End Next Year

A car undergoing inspection at PUSPAKOM

Puspakom will no longer monopolize the periodic inspection service of motor vehicles after its concession expires on August 31.

Puspakom was appointed by the government in 1994 as the first and only national vehicle inspection company.

According to transport minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the decision that the periodic inspection service of motor vehicles for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) should be open to qualified parties who meet the conditions was taken after a meeting with the council ministers on March 17.

“This ruling means that Puspakom will no longer be the sole provider of motor vehicle periodic inspection services for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) from 1 September 2024,” he said

“The ministry together with JPJ will develop eligibility requirements, operating rules, the scope of service, determination of inspection locations and guidelines for interested parties,” he added.

This includes hiring qualified staff, using computerised inspection equipment regulated and approved by JPJ and charging a fixed inspection fee rate.

Anthony also said that large vehicles like lorries and buses will have to wait a long time for their vehicles to be inspected, especially if there is only one Puspakom centre in their area.

There are only 56 Puspakom centres across the country.

There was also mention of improvement efforts in customer service and the booking process. The installation of CCTV systems is also advised for the purpose of real-time monitoring as well as human resources development training for its staff.

Loke said the transport ministry is finalizing operation conditions for such services and expects applications to start by the first quarter of 2024.


After Formula E, Extreme E will take electric cars into off-road competition

Following the success of the Formula E all-electric single-seater championship that began in 2014, plans are underway for another all-electric racing series and this one will be off-road. To be called ‘Extreme E’, testing began earlier this month at the Chateau de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France.

How well the car and tyres are working together was one of the questions looked into during the test runs but the testers were also looking for any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, and not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental tyres and Spark Racing Technology.

“The off-road conditions here are perfect and the entire team can’t wait to get out there and finally put the cars through their paces,” said Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, who had a very specific role in the initial test phase in this remote corner of southern France. The Swede comes from a family of successful racing drivers and is the only woman to have won a race in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.

At the proving ground, her role was to test Continental’s new high-performance tyres. “The tests will show how close we are to achieving our vision of an off-road electric racing series in some of the remotest locations in the world,” she said. “Overall, I’m pretty confident that the results will be positive.”

Locations around the planet

Continental became an Official Partner of the Extreme E off-road electric racing series in January 2019. The races will take place all over the world in locations – rainforest, desert, the freezing Arctic, high altitude and ocean islands – that have been chosen to raise awareness of the environmental issues facing humanity. Promoters Formula E Holdings Ltd. expects 10 teams to take part in the first season, which is scheduled to begin in December 2020. The first two locations have been confirmed as Greenland and Brazil.

Continental is already a Founding Partner of the series and will become a Premium Partner in 2021. The technology company will also be equipping all the vehicles involved in the races with tyres for the diverse and extremely demanding conditions that they will encounter.

Raising awareness of climate change

One of the main goals shared by Extreme E’s founders, partners and participants is to raise awareness among spectators of the challenges facing society as a whole, such as climate change, humankind’s interaction with the environment and the protection of threatened animal and plant species.

According to Continental’s Extreme E project leader, Sandra Roslan, “This new racing format is an opportunity for us to show that our high-performance tyres keep delivering even under extreme conditions. But Extreme E is also a radical new initiative for raising awareness of the challenges facing the modern world. It is this unconventional mix of adrenaline, entertainment and sustainability that makes this series so exciting. That is why we became Founding Partners and sponsors of the series in January and why we are really looking forward to the test phase.”

Sébastien Ogier announced as Official Ambassador of Extreme E


Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo in final stages of development, market launch by mid-2021

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With the
Taycan
 – Porsche’s first production all-electric sportscar – successfully launched and progressively entering various markets, including Malaysia, the carmaker is now busy following up with final development work of the Taycan Cross Turismo. Prototypes have already covered more than 998,361 testing kilometres, a distance that equals almost 25 times around the planet (measured at the equator).

“When developing the Cross Turismo, we were of course able to build on our experience with the Taycan sports saloon. The biggest challenge was combining the requirements of sportiness with off-road capabilities,” explained Vice-President Model Line, Stefan Weckbach. “The Cross Turismo has to be capable of high performance on the racetrack and must also be able to handle mud and gravel.”

25 times around the planet

The latter conditions were simulated on the Endurance Testing Ground at the Development Centre in Germany. The conditions at this facility include a ‘Safari’ track that mimics terrain in Africa. Having completed a total of 998,361 testing kilometres, the Cross Turismo prototypes have circumnavigated the globe almost 25 times (measured at the equator).

The extensive Porsche testing programme has also taken place on racetracks such as the Nurburgring Nordschleife and the Grand Prix track in Hockenheim (both in Germany) as well as on testing grounds worldwide. The Cross Turismo has also been tested off the beaten track in the south of France and in the Pyrenees region.

‘Swiss army knife on wheels’

“The result is impressive. However, the Cross Turismo is not a hardcore off-road vehicle, but specialises in unpaved and dirt roads. It’s like a type of ‘Swiss army knife on up to 21-inch wheels’,” added Weckbach.

The new derivative, which features all the strengths of the Taycan sportscar, will have a chassis with all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension. There is also significantly more headroom for the passengers in the rear and a large load capacity under the tailgate. The package and space conditions have been optimised down to the very last detail.

The mock-up – a faithful, physical representation of the interior – and the package function model alone took 650 design, electronic and coordination hours and 1,500 workshop hours to complete.

Same test programme as other sportscars

At Porsche, electric cars have to undergo the same rigorous testing programme as all its other sportscars with combustion engines. In addition to displaying superior performance, this always includes proving unrestricted everyday usability in all climatic conditions. Particularly demanding tasks such as charging the battery, or controlling the temperatures of the powertrain and interior under extreme temperatures, are additional aspects that are tested in the battery-powered electric models.

Other development goals typical for Porsche include racetrack performance, the ability to perform repeated acceleration runs at full throttle, and a range suitable for everyday use. Extensive testing is also carried out in the laboratory and on test rigs, and includes development and validation of the aerodynamic design. The Cross Turismo braved the storm in the wind tunnel for around 325 hours, part of the 1,500 hours spent there during its development process.

The new rear bicycle carrier designed by Porsche for this model also underwent its own rigorous testing programme with rough road tracks and driving dynamics tests. It sets new benchmarks when to comes to handling, ergonomics, driving safety and stability. Several e-bikes can be transported on its generously spaced wide rails.

The Taycan Cross Turismo combines Porsche E-Performance with enhanced suitability for everyday use. It will go on sale in Europe in mid-2021. To date, more than 20,000 Taycans have been delivered worldwide.

The Taycan was launched in Malaysia last September by Sime Darby Auto Performance.

Click to know more about the Taycan and other Porsche models in Malaysia

Porsche Taycan does 165 km/h inside a building – a new Guinness World Record (w/VIDEO)