KiaSafe prevents thieves from hacking into your keyless entry system

In the days when you needed a key to unlock the car door and start the engine, the fear was that someone would copy the key and steal your car. Then came keyless entry systems which did away with the key so it could not be copied. But again, the thieves could still steal the car – by using special devices which could pick up the unlock codes and allow them to access the car as well as deactivate the immobiliser system.

Now, for Kia owners in the UK, there is an option that can give them security against such a vulnerability. Owners of models with a keyless entry system can purchase the KiaSafe case which has been developed to stop thieves using relay attack devices to obtain the frequency from the car key.

Faraday cage concept

The case acts in a similar way to a Faraday cage, eliminating this possibility with a layer of meshed metal within that blocks the device the thieves use from picking up signals. This idea is also used for wallets and backpacks to protect thieves from stealing information from personal documents such as passports and credit cards by blocking the ‘skimmer’ devices from accessing the RFID chips.

The KiaSafe accessory is the result of efforts by Kia’s R&D engineers to ensure find ways to ensure that keyless entry systems are rendered as close as possible to be impervious to such attacks. It is currently sold in the UK for £9.99 (about RM52).

“The security of our customers’ vehicles comes second only to safety and we are as concerned about the hacking of keyless entry systems as customers, the police and the insurance industry,” said David Hart, Customer Experience Manager at Kia Motors UK.

“Whilst our current keyless entry systems do not have ‘sleep’ buttons, our engineers are developing additional levels of protection for future vehicles and these will be applied as soon as is feasible given production schedules and new model introductions. We encourage owners to adopt protection behaviours as advised by the police – such as not leaving keyless entry fobs in the front door area of their home or close to windows – and to use the KiaSafe to ensure their key fobs are rendered safe from hacking,” he advised.


Roadster to join Aston Martin Vantage line in second half of 2020

A new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster joins the Vantage Coupe, which was launched in 2018, bringing a compelling blend of potent performance, outstanding dynamics and everyday usability to those who want limitless headroom and the wind in their hair. Like the Vantage Coupe, the Vantage Roadster has Aston Martin’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo 510 ps/685 Nm V8 engine mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

While the Vantage Roadster mirrors the Coupe in dynamic performance, the design of the body is very much its own, especially where the roof is concerned. The tautly tailored fabric hood employs a compact powered Z-fold mechanism for rapid operation (lowered in 6.7 or raised in 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h). In fact, the roof of Vantage Roadster is claimed to have the fastest full operating cycle of any automatic automotive convertible system.

An impressively low stack height pays the double dividend of allowing the design team the latitude to create a seamless rear profile with minimal impact on the Roadster’s luggage space. Indeed, with a boot capacity of 200 litres, it is possible to stow a full-sized golf bag and accessories.

Only 60 kgs more than the Coupe

Without a roof as a stiffener, the structure of the car needs to be intelligently engineered and the weight increase is 60 kgs, compared with the Coupe. Careful development of structural shear panels and chassis components ensures the Vantage Roadster retains the strong dynamic ability and sporting character achieved in the Coupe with no compromise to feel or refinement.

Sharing the same Adaptive Damping, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Electronic Rear Differential, the Roadster benefits from specific dynamic refinements. These include a bespoke tune for the rear dampers, Adaptive Damping System software and ESP calibration.

As you’d expect from a dedicated sportscar, a choice of Sport, Sport+ and Track chassis modes – also tuned specifically for the Roadster – give the driver control of its dynamic character and behaviour. Working in harmony with Sport, Sport+ and Track powertrain modes retained from the Coupe offers the ability to progressively increase the car’s overall responsiveness and excitement, meaning the Roadster will feels equally at home on road or racetrack.

Vantage nameplate celebrates 70th anniversary

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Vantage nameplate, Aston Martin is introducing the company’s iconic ‘vane’ grille as an option. It is available on both Coupe and Roadster as an alternative to the track-inspired ‘hunter’ grille featured on the Coupe from its launch in 2018. There is also a new range of optional alloy wheel designs in a choice of finishes.

Enthusiasts will also welcome the manual 7-speed transmission being offered as an option on the Coupe, having initially only been available in the limited-edition Vantage AMR.

“Open-top Aston Martins are always firm favourites with our customers, so it’s very exciting to introduce the Vantage Roadster. For many, driving with the roof down is the true definition of the sportscar experience as it truly brings your senses to life,” said Aston Martin President & CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer. “Vantage has always delivered the purest of thrills, but in Roadster form that adrenaline rush is set to go to the next level.”

The Vantage range starts at £114,850 (equivalent to RM617,200), with the Roadster starting from £126,950 (RM682,400) in the UK. First deliveries of the Vantage Roadster are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2020.

DBX – the first-ever Aston Martin SUV is unveiled today, priced from RM798,000 (w/VIDEO)


Your future Ford will have parts made from coffee bean skins!

Ford Motor Company has long been making car parts from discarded materials that can be recycled. In one example, old jeans were used as sound insulation material for the first generation of the Focus. Besides plastic bottles, recycled resins are used for various other parts, supporting the company’s sustainability agenda.

Now, working with McDonald’s in the USA, coffee beans will also be used in vehicle parts such as headlamp housings. Every year, gigantic quantities of coffee chaff – the dried skin of the bean – naturally comes off during the roasting process. Together, Ford and McDonald’s can use a significant portion of that material rather than just throw it away.

The companies found that chaff can be converted into a durable material to reinforce certain vehicle parts. By heating the chaff to high temperatures under low oxygen, mixing it with plastic and other additives and turning it into pellets, the material can be formed into various shapes. . This is the first time Ford has used coffee bean skins to convert into selected vehicle parts.

The chaff composite meets the quality specifications for parts like headlamp housings and other interior and under-bonnet components. The resulting components can be about 20% lighter and require up to 25% less energy during the molding process. Heat properties of the chaff component are significantly better than the currently used material, according to Ford.

McDonald’s is expected to send a significant portion of its coffee chaff in North America to Ford to be incorporated into vehicle parts. This will help Ford as it progresses toward a goal of using recycled and renewable plastics in vehicles globally, with an increasing range of sustainable materials.

“McDonald’s commitment to innovation was impressive to us and matched our own forward-thinking vision and action for sustainability,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford senior technical leader, sustainability and emerging materials research team. “This has been a priority for Ford for over 20 years, and this is an example of jump starting the closed-loop economy, where different industries work together and exchange materials that otherwise would be side or waste products.”

Planning to buy a Ford vehicle in Malaysia? Visit
www.sdacford,com.my
 for the location of the nearest showroom.

First generation of Ford Focus had sound insulation materials made from old jeans.

Ford uses 1.2 billion plastic bottles for auto parts each year


Ferrari’s Turbocharged V8 Voted “Best Engine Of The Last 20 Years”

The 3.9-litre V8 takes the
International Engine of the Year Award

for the third year running. A record number of six awards! The latest iteration of Ferrari’s turbo-charged V8 that equips, in various forms, all Ferrari’s V8-engined cars, has been nominated the best engine in the world for the third year running in the 2018 International Engine of the Year Awards.

In this, the award’s
20
th
 anniversary edition
, Ferrari took no fewer than
six
 awards, the highest number for any manufacturer in any one year, bringing the total of Ferrari’s trophies up to 27, a record number of wins for any sports car company.

Along with the overall Engine of the Year honour, the
720-cv 3.9-litre V8
 that powers the new
488 Pista
 (below) also took the 3-litre to 4-litre class, the Performance Engine category and the special nomination for the ‘Best of the Best’, with the
68 international judges
 asked to vote for the top engine from among all the winners over the last 20 years.

“In the 488 GTB, the 3.9-litre eight-cylinder was a near-perfect example of a high-performance turbocharged engine, setting the bar so high that it swept aside rival powertrains,”
 said
Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the IEOTY Awards
.
“But redeveloped and tweaked for the 488 Pista, the best engine in the world just got better. Without doubt, we’re looking at an engineering masterclass from Ferrari. No turbo lag, beautiful delivery, raw emotion, a furious growl and so much power – this Ferrari V8 is a work of art.”

Crowning Ferrari’s record-breaking year, the naturally-aspirated
800-cv 6.5-litre V12
 powering the
812 Superfast
 also won two awards: the Above 4-litre class and, due to it being comprehensively re-engineered from the 6.3-litre unit that equipped the
F12berlinetta
 (below) with 75% new components, the Best New Engine category.


The Limited Edition Shell Motorsports Collection You Can Admire – As Well As Race!

Malaysia is a bright spot on Shell’s global radar and we often get new products or services before many other markets. Even with promotional campaigns, Malaysia might be chosen to be a pilot market before it is rolled out more widely. The latest campaign is the Limited Edition Shell Motorsports Collection which the energy company is offering only in a few countries.

The seven competition cars in the collection have not been randomly selected but are models where their manufacturers or racing teams have a partnership with Shell. They represent not only Shell’s diverse involvement in motorsports today but also reflect on a long historical relationship the company has had with racing machines, including Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship.

This relationship has not been just for brand advertising but also collaborating in R&D for fuels and lubricants. The technologies developed for extreme racing conditions are then transferred to products like V-Power Racing fuel for roadgoing cars

“Shell was there alongside the earliest motorsport pioneers and has an embedded history in motorsport. The latest collection celebrates some of the best racing cars that redefined the racing world,” said Seow Lee Ming, General Manager – Mobility, Shell Malaysia.

The seven models are the Ferrari SF90, BMW M4 Motorsport, Nissan Formuia E electric racer, Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang GT, Team Penske Ford Mustang GT and Team Penske IndyCar.

On their own, the 1:41 die-cast scale models would be a collection to admire at home or in the office. But Shell has gone further and installed electric motors in each of the cars so they can zip around. And by using a free Shell Racing app on a smartphone or tablet, it’s possible to connect to the cars via Bluetooth and control them like R/C models.

“Our customers have always been at the heart of our business. Everytime they stop at Shell, we want them to have an opportunity to create unforgettable memories with their family and friends. With our latest collection, we are happy to offer our customers a quick escape from reality, while enjoying an adrenaline-fuelled R/C race with their loved ones, anywhere!” said Ms. Seow.

You can start collecting the models from October 8 when Shell Malaysia will release the first of the seven cars. Thereafter, one new model will be released each week, with the campaign running until December 8, 2022 (while stocks last).

During the promotional period, each car model or a smart battery with integrated Bluetooth chip will be available at RM30 with a minimum fuel purchase of RM50 at any Shell station nationwide. Alternatively, customers can also get the Ferrari SF90 and one battery for free when they buy selected Shell Helix lubricants (4-litre packs) at the stations. There’s also a custom-designed box for the whole collection available for RM80 but you have to also buy a minimum of RM80 of V-Power Racing fuel (on a single receipt).

To introduce the collection to the public, Shell Malaysia will have roadshows at KL Sentral (October 17 – 23) and MidValley MegaMall (October 26 – 30) in Kuala Lumpur. The public can have a go at racing the cars on a specially-designed track before making their purchase. There will also be a full-size replica of the Hyundai i20 WRC rallycar (shown below) on display.

Sunshine powers Shell stations in Malaysia


Bentley Kuala Lumpur Introduces New Continental GT

What colour is that?
 Exclaimed one of the guests in front of me during the official unveiling of the new Continental GT at Bentley Kuala Lumpur recently, and indeed, it’s quite an amazing shade of silver. So, once again redefining the benchmark of luxury grand touring in the industry, the new
 Conti GT
 has arrived.

“Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the new, third-generation Bentley Continental GT combines spirited, focused performance with handcrafted luxury and cutting-edge technology, to create the finest Grand Tourer ever produced.” – Bentley.

“Tonight, we celebrate not only the debut of the new Continental GT, but also a showcase of Bentley’s revolutionary design and engineering achievements. The all-new Continental GT marks another milestone for Bentley, setting the benchmark for luxury grand touring yet again with its unique combination of luxury and performance”
, explained
Jerry Lee, Managing Director of Wearnes Quest
(above, right)

The launch featured the evolution of the Bentley Continental GT, drawing inspiration from the R-Type Continental 66 years ago that created a template and inspiration for the future of Bentley. Since then, the first generation of the Continental GT in 2003 has created a benchmark of revolutionary, luxury design, technology and performance, reflecting the best in class of each respective generation. You can read more about the new GT after the photo gallery below…

“It encapsulates Bentley’s desire to innovate while staying true to its design DNA, continuously evolving to shape the future of luxury and the future of performance. It is specially crafted for discerning Bentley owners and the new generation, who understand and thrive with real power, luxury and innovation – the future of Bentley Kuala Lumpur.”
 said Jerry.

NB
: Due to overwhelming response prior to the launch, the new Continental GT will only be available for viewing by appointment, call
+60 3 2162 2033
.
Customer deliveries and handovers of the new GT in Malaysia will commence towards the end of Q2 2018. Estimated price from
RM1.9million
 before GST.

New Bentley Continental GT Full Specifications:
02 Bentley Vehicle Technical Specifications – New Continental GT

New Bentley Continental GT Launch Photo Gallery…

 More on
The New Bentley Continental GT

At the heart of the new Continental GT sits an all-new, enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine, mated, for the first time, to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission, for faster, more efficient gear change.

A new, technically advanced, adaptive chassis uses Bentley’s intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System to ensure a responsive ride and exceptional handling and refinement in all road conditions. The new system controls ride comfort and lateral roll, cushioning passengers from excessive movement, as well as making the car feel effortlessly precise.

The muscular exterior design, created using revolutionary technology, results in a lightweight, yet stiff body. The engine is positioned further back to improve weight distribution, resulting in driver focused, dynamic performance.

Offering four seats and improved luggage capacity for genuine real-world usability, the new Bentley Continental GT’s luxurious cabin is packed with exquisite details including a new ‘diamond in diamond’ leather design. In addition, significant work has gone into harmonising the extensive portfolio of 15 colours across hides and carpets.

The new Continental GT also showcases major evolutions in Bentley’s unique application of technology. An advanced, fully digital, driver-focused instrument panel and Bentley Rotating Display for the driver are among the suite of innovations. The latter features an impressive 12.3” touchscreen housed in a three-sided unit, which revolves the veneer to reveal the touchscreen, as well as three elegant analogue dials.

The interior design of the Continental GT is tailored specifically to the modern luxury customer, with unrivalled attention to detail that creates an effortless ownership experience. The cabin seamlessly integrates cutting-edge onboard technology with the finest handcrafted natural materials. The result is an exquisite, harmonised, connected and luxurious space.


High-performance Lexus V8 modified to run on hydrogen in Toyota-Yamaha project

In November last year, 5 Japanese companies – Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mazda Motor Corporation, Subaru Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation and Yamaha Motor – jointly announced that they would begin discussions for conducting collaborative research into possible avenues for expanding the range of fuel options for internal combustion engines in the quest for carbon neutrality.

Giving customers more choices

Specifically, the companies intend to unite and pursue 3 initiatives: 1) participating in races using carbon-neutral fuels, 2) exploring the use of hydrogen engines in 2-wheeled and other vehicles, and 3) continuing to race using hydrogen engines. This is in an effort to provide customers with greater choice so that, in Toyota’s words’,
‘no customer is left behind
’.

Toyota has been working with Yamaha Motor, Denso Corporation and other related parties to develop a hydrogen engine since 2016. It has entered a
Corolla equipped with a prototype hydrogen-fueled engine
 in 3 races in Japan, with Toyota President & CEO Akio Toyoda also participating in the races.

Toyota has been racing a Corolla with a prototype hydrogen-fueled engine in Japan. It is also known to be developing a GR Yaris to run on hydrogen.

Besides the engine in the Corolla, it has been revealed that there is another engine which Yamaha has been commissioned to develop by Toyota. This is a 5-litre V8 engine that can be used for automobiles which is fueled entirely by hydrogen. Shown to the public recently, the unit is based on the engine of the same size and configuration in the Lexus RC F sport coupe.

The V8 engine in the Lexus RC F. For the prototype engine to run on hydrogen, it has been modified in many areas.

Modifications have been made to the injectors, cylinder heads, intake manifold, and more, and it is claimed to produce up to 455 bhp at 6,800 rpm, with maximum torque of 540 Nm at 3,600 rpm. The 32-valve engine running on petrol has been able to produce up to 472 bhp and 535 Nm, although emission regulations have lowered it to 457 bhp in recent years.

Lexus RC F

5-year experience with hydrogen engine

Actually, Yamaha began developing a hydrogen engine for cars about 5 years ago. Takeshi Yamada from the Technical Research & Development Centre’s Automotive Development Section who is a member of the hydrogen engine development team, recalls having a of sense ‘the depth of potential in the powerplant’ as the project progressed.

“I started to see that engines using only hydrogen for fuel actually had very fun, easy-to-use performance characteristics,” he explained. “Hydrogen engines have an innately friendly feel that makes them easy to use even without resorting to electronic driving aids. Everyone who came to test-drive the prototype car would start off somewhat skeptical, but emerged from the car with a big smile on their face at the end. As I watched this, I started to believe that there is actually enormous potential in the characteristics unique to hydrogen engines instead of simply treating it as a substitute for petrol.”

Another thing that Yamada and the team value in the development process is
kanno seino
, meaning ‘sensual’ or ‘exhilarating’ performance. One example is the harmonic high-frequency exhaust note produced by the engine’s 8-into-1 exhaust manifold. “This is a challenge we can sink our teeth into as engineers and I personally want to pursue not just performance but also a new allure for the internal combustion engine that the world has yet to see,” declared Yamada.

“Hydrogen engines house the potential to be carbon-neutral while keeping our passion for the internal combustion engine alive at the same time,” proclaimed Yamaha President Hidaka. “Teaming up with companies with different corporate cultures and areas of expertise as well as growing the number of partners we have is how we want to lead the way into the future.”

Yamaha was involved in the development, particularly the 6-cylinder engine, of the Toyota 2000GT, Japan’s first supercar in the 1960s.

Long history of collaboration

Toyota has had a 5% stake in Yamaha since 2019 but the two companies have a long history of working together, going back to the 1960s. Although well known for its motorcycles, Yamaha has great expertise in engines and was involved in the development as well as manufacture of high-performance engines for Toyota models, including the 2000GT, Japan’s first supercar.

Toyota: “No customer is left behind” in quest for carbon neutrality


Production begins in Belgium for XC40

Production of the first ever Volvo compact SUV, the XC40, has just started in Belgium. The newest addition to the Swedish automaker’s line-up is being assembled at its Ghent plant. It’s one of two manufacturing sites that the automaker has in Europe and it has been operational since 1965.

Extensive retooling and modifications were conducted to accomdate the production of the XC40. In fact, a total of 363 robots have been installed including one that is nicknamed ‘The Beast’. This machine, is used to lift lower car bodies to a conveyor belt close to the ceiling of the plant.

“This is a proud day for Ghent, the company and all our employees here,” said Mr Samuelsson. “Our people have put in long days and many hours to prepare the plant for the start of XC40 production and they have done a great job. The XC40 represents a bright future for Ghent and for Volvo Cars.”

The modifications have also turned the facility into a global export hub for CMA-based cars, including an 8,000 square metre addition to the body shop. It will complement the other manufacturing site located in Volvo’s home country. The company also operates two vehicle manufacturing plants in China, while a US plant is still under construction.

The XC40 will join the rest of the family including the XC60 and XC90 on the production line at Gent, where they will probably need to ramp up production to fulfill the more than 13,000 bookings. Unlike its bigger siblings, the Xc40 is built on the CMA platform or Compact Modular Architecture. CMA will be used to underpin all future 40 series vehicles, moving forward.

It was joinly developed with Volvo’s parent company, Geely for necessary synergies and economies of scale for the small premium car segment. This type of technology, which is employed by other automakers as well, reduces the amount of time needed for a vehicle to go from, inception to production.


Porsche Drive of the Year 2019: A week of hardcore driving

The first Porsche I ever laid eyes on was a black 964 around the hills of Bangsar. I was probably about four years old; I don’t remember much else except that it completely took my breath away and that it was love at first sight.

Since then, the 911 has been the ultimate everyday supercar for me. A Porsche fan boy, you can imagine what was running through my head when I got a phone call asking if I would like to join the Porsche Club Malaysia for a week long drive around Malaysia. It was going to be a 2200km and I could drive the Cayenne and the Panamera Sport Turismo and mingle with people who buy the GT2RS, GT3RS and the Turbo. And sometimes, that one person would have all three models in his garage.

Naturally I would have preferred a 911 for the road trip, but I was not about to say no, and so I had a few days to prepare for a week of driving.

It has been about 10 years since I last joined the Porsche Club Malaysia for a drive. The last one was a road trip to Rompin for a spot of charity and drag racing on a landing strip. This time however, it was an entirely different trip.

Called the Drive of the Year 2019, PCM Malaysia and PCM Singapore put in a joint effort to organise its first major drive of the year with fuel provided by Shell V-Power Racing. Beginning at the Porsche Centre in Sungai Besi and ending at Puteri Harbour on the first day, the convoy of about 40 Porsches of all models then headed to Tanjung Jara in Terengganu, followed by Belum in Perak, onto Penang Island via Kuala Perlis and back to KL from there.

Some of our rest stops were quite unique, and even included a stop over at the hugely popular RWB Museum in Johor. RWB – Rauh-Welt Begriff – the Japanese customiser who specialises in turning beautiful 964s into wider, lower, and depending on who you ask and dare I say it, rather handsome interpretation of the donor Porsche.

And when we weren’t eating at popular restaurant’s sometimes frequented by royalty, we were turbo-ing down the coastal roads of our country at speeds best kept secret.

We were in the new Cayenne and the Sport Turismo though, so we really were in the most comfortable cars in the convoy. But far from being the most underpowered or slowest with both cars offering 330hp and eye watering acceleration, I really wouldn’t say that keeping up was all that tough. Though the lead group would often reach the destination a good 45 minutes to an hour ahead of us. But driving both cars on highways and by-ways was an experience I won’t soon forget.

Why?

Imagine cars weighing about two tons barrelling down the “kampung” roads with badly patched roads throwing the balance of the car all over the place. The onboard sensors looking out for any obstacle or any dangerous situation that may arise, immediately alerting you to a potentially dangerous situation. And if you do not react fast enough, the Cayenne and Sport Turismo would even apply the brakes for you. But it never got to that, of course ; )

Such bad roads put the suspension to the ultimate test – will the car glide, or will it hop and skip all over the place? The suspension in both the Panamera and the Sport Turismo is of course adjustable. In Sport and Sport Plus mode, selected via a knob on the steering wheel the same size as a old 20 cent coin, the suspension stiffens up, giving you more control of the car, but also shakes things up to a noticeable level in the cockpit as it transfers all the irregularities on the road directly to you instead of soaking it up, which is what it does in normal mode.

Back to the drive.

Tagging along with a group of hardcore Porsche enthusiasts for an entire week is one of those experiences that will stick with you for a while, up there with skydiving even. The cars are almost always the topic of conversation, besides the logistics and itinerary of the drive that is, and in club drives like this it is awesome to mingle with car enthusiasts who are as humble and down to earth as your best friend. Just don’t ask to take the GT2RS out for a drive though.


Volkswagen Fest 2019 is happening this weekend!

Attention all Volkswagen fans and enthusiasts! The annual
Volkswagen Fest 2019
 is back for its third year running and Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is proud to announce that it’ll be taking place this weekend (30 August – 1 September 2019) at the Setia City Convention Centre, Setia Alam.

Loads of fun-filled activities for the whole family will be organised all weekend long and for those who are looking for the best Volkswagen deals in town, YOU.DO.NOT.WANT.TO.MISS.THIS. This is because they’ll be launching Volkswagen’s very own Certified Pre-Owned “Das Welt Auto”.

Have you read our article on the latest and super sexy
Volkswagen Arteon
? Want to see it live? Well, you’re in luck because the all-new Arteon will be making its first public appearance here in Malaysia at the Volkswagen Fest this weekend. Interested? Can book also!

Attendees will also get the opportunity to test out a variety of Volkswagen models available at the event grounds and those who are interested to proceed with the purchase can also enjoy great rebates and deals for both brand-new and pre-owned Volkswagen models.

This includes “Starbuys” like the Passat Comfortline 1.8TSI priced at RM114,888 and a RM1,000 Merdeka Voucher in conjunction with our country’s 62
nd
 Independence Day celebrations. Other promotions for the Passat and Tiguan range are still ongoing which include an extension of the three-year free maintenance up to five-year free maintenance AND a low interest rate of 1.88% per annum for new car buyers before 31st December 2019.

Want to upgrade your current VW model for a new one? Bring the car over to Volkswagen Fest and you’ll get a free car evaluation and quick loan checks ready on standby to assist you in any hire purchase applications. Don’t want to sell? Take advantage of the free Volkswagen inspection checks at the Aftersales area! All you have to do is sign up online by clicking
HERE
.

Other activities include:

Volks Lawn (classic and modern VW models on display)

Hot air balloon ride

Instagram-worthy art installations

Game stations

Food trucks

Kombi Bazaar relax & chill out spot

The Volkswagen Fest 2019 is happening from 30 August to 1 September 2019 at the Setia Alam Convention Centre from 10am – 10pm (8pm on Sunday) and for more information, just head over to
www.volkswagen.com.my
.
 See you there!

Volkswagen ID.R – new colour, new record attempt


First Honda Civic e:HEV Owner In Malaysia Has A Special Delivery From Honda Malaysia

When Chin Kok Fung placed his order for a new Honda Civic e:HEV RS with authorized Honda dealer MH Prestige Auto Sdn. Bhd. In Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, he probably did not think he would have the honour of a very special hand-over. However, being the first person in Malaysia to receive the new model, Mr. Chin was given a token of appreciation from Honda Malaysia when he collected his car.

He received received Honda Accessories and Official Honda Merchandise worth RM4,000 from Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Hironobu Yoshimura, at a simple ceremony held at the dealership’s premises.

“We would like to express our gratitude to our customers who have placed their support and trust in the Honda brand. Honda Malaysia is doing our best to deliver new models on a timely manner while ensuring the highest quality of our products and services. A huge ‘thank you’ to our customers for their unwavering support, patience and understanding during this period,” said Mr. Yoshimura.

Chin Kok Fung (centre), the 1st owner of the Civic e:HEV RS in Malaysia, with Sarly Adle Sarkum, President & COO of HMSB (left), and Hironobu Yoshimura, MD & CEO of HMSB (right).

“This is the first time the Civic has been introduced with a 2.0-litre e:HEV powertrain and for Honda Malaysia, this is definitely a leap forward in our efforts to offer the most advanced hybrid technology to Malaysians. More than 180 units of the Civic e:HEV RS will be delivered to Malaysians and today, we are celebrating the memorable occasion with the first owner, Mr. Chin Kok Fung,” he added.

Commenting on his choice of the Civic e:HEV, Mr. Chin said: “I have always been a fan of performance driven cars. When Honda introduced a 2.0-litre e:HEV powertrain, I was immediately impressed with the technology and performance it offers. I am looking forward to experience the thrill of owning this exciting e:HEV technology and to test the car’s potential.”

The e:HEV powertrain
While the 2-litre
e
:HEV powertrain
 is available in the Civic e:HEV Hatchback in Europe, Japan and Australia, the sedan version is only available in Malaysian, Thailand and China. This powertrain combines 2 electric motors coupled with an Electric Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT) and an Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) with a 2-litre petrol. Together with a power-dense (72 cells) lithium-ion battery pack that has a capacity of 1.05 kWh, the system output from the e:HEV system is 135 Kw (equivalent to 184 ps) and 315 Nm.

The engine, which has industry-leading thermal efficiency of 41%, direct contributes 105 kW (143 ps)/189 Nm which is used for stronger acceleration or sustained higher speeds as well as for powering the second electric motor to recharge the battery pack.

The e:HEV system prioritizes use of the electric motor, especially when starting off, except when the battery level may be low. Intelligent and sophisticated programming allows the system to switch between pure electric and engine drive modes, as well as a combination of both.

2022 Honda Civic e:HEV

The driver can refer to the Power Flow Display on the 9-inch Advanced Display Panel on the dashboard. This display shows, in real-time, the flow of energy from the motors to the wheels, when recharging is taking place while on the move, or when the petrol engine is in operation when additional performance is needed.

Differences from other Civic models
The Civic e:HEV is differentiated from the other Civic models with the addition of Chrome Ring Insert Headlight and Front Grille, Black Half Chrome Door Handle, 18-inch Dual Tone Alloy Wheels, Single Tailpipe Finisher, as well as the unique Blue H Mark and e:HEV emblem.

Interior features include a 10.2-inch Full TFT Meter, with additional flagship features such as dual-zone air-conditioning and a Key Card which acts as a validator for locking/unlocking the doors and starting the engine. As with some other Honda models, there is also remote start available which allows starting the engine from far away to run the air-conditioner and cool down the interior.

The Civic e:HEV has Honda Connect which provides safety and security. Honda Connect, which uses an app, includes Vehicle Diagnostics, Remote Applications, Security Applications, Vehicle Tracking and Support Services. It even has an Automatic Collision Detection System that will notify Honda’s 24-Hour Roadside Assist Call Centre in case of an accident or airbag deployment in the car. This will enable rescue services to be dispatched faster to the car’s location which will also be known.

To know more about the new Civic e:HEV RS Sedan, priced from RM166,500, or to locate a showroom for a test-drive, visit
www.honda.com.my
.

e:HEV – How Honda’s Hybrid Technology Has Evolved In Over 20 Years

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Skoda Kushaq – midsize SUV developed specially for Indian market

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

Like Renault, Skoda also sees much potential in the Indian market. The Czech carmaker has had a presence there since the 1930s and established its own subsidiary there in 2001. Currently, it has two factories and also R&D facilities.

The Skoda model line, consisting of the Rapid, Octavia, Superb, Kodiaq and Karoq, covers many segments and will soon be joined by a new model, the Kushaq. Unveiled recently, the new midsize SUV is the Czech brand’s first production model that is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. This is a variant of the MQB variant specially adapted by Skoda for India that will also be used for other Volkswagen Group models sold in the Indian market.

The MQB-A0-IN platform

The locally-developed MQB-A0-IN platform has been designed to meet the new, stricter safety and emission requirements for India. Plans call for a localization level of 95% for the new vehicles, with technical development taking place at the Pune technology centre, which opened in January 2019. A team of 250 local engineers played a major role in the development of the MQB-A0-IN platform.

According to Thomas Schafer, CEO of Skoda Auto, the Kushaq is the first of 4 new mid-size Skoda and Volkswagen models. With the launch of the Kushaq in March 2021, Skoda will enter the subcontinent’s rapidly growing midsize SUV segment for the first time. The SUV has been specially developed for India’s metropolises.

Said to have a striking design, its long wheelbase of 2651 mm offers a generous amount of space within for 5 occupants and their cargo. The elevated seating position typical of an SUV allows for excellent all-round visibility. The state-of-the-art infotainment systems come with a central touchscreen, and for pleasant interior temperature, an automatic Climatronic air-conditioning system can be specified.

Two engine choices

Customers will have a choice of two power units – 1-litre or 1.5‑litre TSI petrol engines – which power the front wheels only (all-wheel drive is not available). There will be a choice of either a 6-speed manual gearbox, 6-speed automatic transmission, or a 7-speed DSG, depending on the variant.

The Kushaq will have many active and passive safety as well as numerous driver assistance systems.  Occupants will be protected by up to 6 airbags while ESC will prevent the SUV from spinning out of control. Skoda will also provide Hill-Hold Control for use on slopes and rain and light sensors which will automatically activate the wipers and headlights. A tyre pressure monitor will also be available in some variants.

“The introduction of the all-new Skoda Kushaq is the first of several launches as part of the INDIA 2.0 project. Developed in India with the sophisticated, demanding consumer requirements in mind, the forthcoming launches of models based on the India-specific MQB A0-IN platform is something we’re very proud of. The Skoda Kushaq has been built using extensive on-ground intelligence and has been localised to offer tremendous value without any compromise in our legendary quality,” said Gurpratap Boparai, MD of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited.

Latest sketches of Skoda VISION IN concept reveal the design of new compact SUV for India


Aston Martin DB12 Officially Launched In Malaysia

Aston Martin Malaysia has officially launched, the DB12. Touted as the world’s first “super tourer”, the DB12 made its global debut back in May of this year in commemoration of the legendary DB model line’s 75th anniversary.

It is presented with the panache for which Aston Martin is renowned, fusing 75 years of DB legacy with segment-defining proportions fit for the first super tourer in history.

The brand-new front end includes a bigger, redesigned radiator aperture, a reshaped splitter, and a track that is 6 mm wider up front and 22 mm wider at the back. Stylish new Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) trademark headlights with ornate surface details made of Light Emitting Diode (LED).

If you look closely at the nose of the beast, you will notice the most recent version of the iconic Aston Martin wings badge sitting on it. As the first sports car to have new wings, the DB12 represents the start of a fascinating new era. The new design is complemented by smaller, frameless wing mirrors that further improve the car’s aerodynamic profile. Presenting door knobs welcome guests into the new cabin and makes access easier.

21-inch forged alloy wheels measuring 9.5J up front and 10.5J down back are standard on the DB12. Regular, classic, and modern designs are the three options available. Five-spoke wheels are optional. There are several hues and finishes available for multi-spokes and Y-spokes: Satin Bronze, Satin Black, and Satin Black Diamond Turned Y-Spoke; Satin Platinum, Satin Black, and Satin Black Diamond Turned Multi-Spoke; and Gloss Silver Five-Spoke.

Aston Martin’s design language continues on the inside, where you will find a Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, a powerful array of linked technologies, and Aston Martin’s next-generation bespoke infotainment system.

The driver is at the focus of the design, which combines modern conveniences with high-end materials and workmanship. With a high central console that allows full touch with the cockpit’s blend of contemporary display panels and interactive analogue controls, occupants sit below the shoulder line. While cabin ornamentation and unique trim details soften the bold, horizontal lines, driver-centric controls are ergonomically positioned along the interior midline to ensure maximum driver involvement.

This cosy hideaway, covered with fragrant, hand-stitched Bridge of Weir hides, exemplifies classic Super Tourer principles: relaxing comfort for success on all-day, long-distance trips, while yet offering the support and connection needed to provide the most enjoyable driving experience. New quilts with individual detailing and personality are shown in the DB12. High-end full leather or Alcantara interior settings feature the new quilting design.

A key DB12 accomplishment is the introduction of Aston Martin’s new infotainment system. It is the first internal system developed and built wholly by Aston Martin.

The new system is a fully integrated multi-screen system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is shown on 10.25-inch Pure Black, high-resolution displays with a resolution of 1970 x 720. According to Aston Martin, it features an incredibly quick capacitive touch control with a reaction time of just 30 milliseconds.

The DB12 maintains buttons for key mechanical operations including gear selection, drive selection, heating, and ventilation, offering a blend of digital and analogue controls. The most commonly used features are always simple to reach thanks to extra override switches for the exhaust, ESP, and chassis, as well as Lane Assist and Park Distance Control.

The DB12, the Aston Martin App, and secure data servers from Aston Martin serve as the cornerstone of this brand-new connected car ecosystem. The e-SIM that Aston Martin donated and financed to be implanted in the DB12 connects these three elements to global 4G LTE/GSM cellular networks.

The new Aston Martin is powered by a 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 engine in classic DB fashion. It produces 671bhp at 6000 rpm and 800Nm of torque between 2750 and 6000 rpm, a 34% improvement over the previous DB11 model. With a peak speed of 325km/h, it accelerates from 0 to 97 km/h in 3.5 seconds.

The handling and characteristics make this the sharpest DB ever, according to Aston Martin. An 8-speed automatic gearbox and an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff), which is a first for an Aston Martin DB car, transfer power to the wheels in the back. The vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is connected to this differential. It may go from completely open to fully locked in milliseconds, unlike a conventional limited slip differential, giving the driver the fastest possible reaction for more accurate and reliable driving.

As you scroll through the dynamic settings, careful damper calibration enables the progressive introduction of more responsiveness and tighter body control, while suspension bushing adjustment provides remarkable refinement and isolation. This produces an elevated ride quality for smooth yet agile cruising in GT mode when combined with the E-Diff and ESC system, while Sport and Sport+ modes boost responsiveness and tighten body control, shrinking the car around the driver and bringing it to life on difficult roads like never before.

The DB12 has cast-iron 360mm rear discs with grooved and drilled faces and 400mm front discs for increased thermal capacity. A strong pedal that gives the driver an immediate impression of stopping power while yet producing a progressive reaction has been adjusted into the brake booster to enhance the pedal feel. This gives the driver more confidence.

Aston Martin is using the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5s tyres for the first time, measuring 275/35 R21 103Y up front and 315/30 R21 108Y in the back.

The Aston Martin DB12 is now available for viewing and booking in Malaysia, with a starting price of RM1,088,000 excluding duties, taxes, options and customisation. As with all Aston Martin models officially on sale in Malaysia through Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur, the DB12 can be ordered with an extended warranty offering up to 20 years of coverage. This complements the Aston Martin ownership experience with vehicle lifetime protection for total peace of mind, subject to terms and conditions.

The Aston Martin DB12 is available for viewing at Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur.


New Isuzu D-Max 1.9 with Blue Power takes on Borneo Safari for the first time

Only recently launched in Malaysia, the new Isuzu D-Max 1.9 with the BluePower turbodiesel engine is going to face a very tough test – the Borneo Safari, one of Asia’s most extreme off-road events. This is not the first time for the D-MAX as models with the 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre engines have been conquering the Borneo Safari for a decade. But this is the first time that the new BluePower engine with a 1.9-litre displacement is being used.

“This year, we bring the challenge to the new 1.9-litre engine to prove just how capable it is over the unforgiving terrain despite its small engine displacement,” said the Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Masayuki Suzuki.

Isuzu’s revolutionary new 1.9-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine (RZ4E-TC) is the smallest engine in its class. With new technology, the amazing thing is that ‘less equals more’ where output is concerned. A comparison between the BluePower engine and the 2.5-litre engine will show that the smaller engine produces 150 ps/350 Nm, whereas the bigger one generates with 136 ps/320 Nm.

With its innovative design and engineering, the new model is expected to perform better in the difficult off-road conditions as it has in on-road situations where it has impressed thus far. Apart from the extreme mud terrain tyres, uprated suspension to accommodate the larger wheels, heavy- duty body protection, a winch and an air snorkel, the ‘Blue Monster’ – as the D-MAX taking part is nicknamed – remains virtually stock standard and resembles models available to customers from Isuzu showrooms.

The Blue Monster was handed over to the organizing team of the Borneo Safari in Kota Kinabalu as part of Isuzu Malaysia’s commitment as the event’s Diamond Sponsor to provide media vehicles for the event.

Isuzu Malaysia has been a major supporter of the Borneo Safari for 13 years.

This year’s Borneo Safari is the 29th edition in its history and the 13th year that it has received support from Isuzu Malaysia. The event is scheduled to begin in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on October 27 and will take a more southerly loop, skirting Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau and Tambunan before heading back to the city on November 3.

Visit
www.isuzu.net.my
 to know more about the latest Isuzu D-MAX.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Isuzu D-MAX 1.9 – “Blue Power”


New Haval Dealership Opens In Bangi, Selangor

Go Auto Sales Sdn Bhd
, the exclusive distributor for
Haval
 SUVs in Malaysia together with authorised dealer,
Wan Auto Car Wheels Sdn Bhd
 officially opened its brand-new premise in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. The authorised dealership located at Seksyen 7, Bandar Baru Bangi is a 3 S (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) dealer and aims to provide more convenience to HAVAL’s customers staying around Bangi or Kajang area. The premise, which is situated in an upcoming industrial and commercial area shall act as a point to serve our customers HAVAL’s offerings.

The launch which was attended by Executive Director of
Go Auto Group, Dato’ SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal
, said,
“We are glad to expand the growing HAVAL family and this new dealership adds to a total of 27 showrooms nationwide. In addition, we aim to have a total of 35 dealership nationwide by 2019.
Our current H1 model comes with a seven-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty whereas, the H2 comes with 5-years warranty or 150,000km whichever comes first. From tomorrow till Sunday, our Reimagine Campaign will be having a roadshow at The Curve, and I encourage customers to come and enjoy our Freedom from GST offerings available until end of this month,”
 Dato Azli added.

HAVAL Malaysia is now offering new customers and current Haval owners who are interested to purchase new SUVs with its
Merdeka ‘Freedom from GST’
 promotion with savings up to
RM6,600
 for
Haval H1
 and
RM7,300
 for
Haval H2
. For more information of reimagine campaign visit HAVAL’s microsite http://reimagine.haval.my/.

Those interested can contact Haval’s Customer Care at
03-5569 7332
 or email customercare@goauto.com.my. Customers can also visit www.haval.my or its official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/havalmy or instagram page at www.instagram.com/havalmy.


Stellantis takes over Naza Automotive Manufacturing from Groupe PSA

NAZA Automotive Manufacturing, the assembly plant previously set up by the NAZA Group and then taken over by the Groupe PSA has now been acquired by
Stellantis
, the new company created out of the merger between the French Groupe PSA and the FCA Group in January this year. Stellantis obtained full ownership of the 17-year old plant, located in Gurun, Kedah, at the end of October.

The completed acquisition marks a significant milestone for Stellantis in southeast Asia as it has plans to invest and expand its footprint as part of a localisation strategy. “We have an ambitious growth strategy that will enable us to build on the existing production outputs in Gurun, as well as extend the breadth of brands and models within the Stellantis portfolio built in ASEAN for ASEAN. This is a very exciting proposition,” said Christophe Musy, Stellantis’ Senior Vice-President, ASEAN & General Distributors.

File photo of NAM in 2015.

“Stellantis is deeply committed to growing our presence in ASEAN, and taking full ownership and responsibility of the plant in Gurun, Kedah is a very important step towards strengthening our operations, production outputs and workforce in the region,” he added.

Updated versions of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 are now rolling out after operations resumed recently. The SUVs are for the Malaysian market as well as for export to neighbouring countries.

Operations at the plant were suspended for over 2 months as part of the government’s effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and have resumed recently. Assembly of the updated Peugeot 3008 and 5008 have been rolling out at pre-pandemic production rates, with volumes now ramping up for the remainder of 2021.

Both models are supplied to Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and other ASEAN markets. In the near future, the locally-assembled range will be joined by the 2008, Mr. Musy revealed. He added that, in Malaysia, they are now working with their new sold distributor,
Berjaya Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd (BAASB)
, which was appointed last December.

The next Peugeot model to be assembled in Malaysia will be the new 2008.

“We are focused on our mission to achieve world-class manufacturing in Gurun, to build high-quality, Malaysian-produced vehicles for southeast Asia. We are working closely with our partners to increase plant capacity by almost 40% to meet demand and this, combined with our strong product plan and determination to achieve the highest standards in quality and safety, has set us up for great success in Malaysia,” he said.

Groupe PSA starts Peugeot vehicle exports from Naza Automotive Manufacturing, its production hub for ASEAN


MG ZS scores mediocre 3-star safety rating

MG’s compact SUV, the MG ZS has been awarded a 3-star safety rating by Euro NCAP, an independent body that classifies vehicle safety based on various frontal and side impact tests. A maximum of 5-stars can be awarded to a vehicle if it copes well with frontal and side impacts as well as offers exceptional level of protection to occupants.

A 3-star rating achieved by the MG ZS, may not be exemplary, but means that the vehicle will provide a satisfactory level of protection during a collision. That said, in both the side barrier test and the more severe side pole impact, the MG ZS scored maximum points. The passenger compartment remained intact, and provided decent protection for driver and passengers.

Harvey France, spokesperson at MG, said, “An achievement of a three-star rating from Euro NCAP is a great result. The body of the car showed great strength in all aspects and the MG ZS scored maximum points in the side barrier and the more severe side pole impact tests, a true testament to the work carried out by the engineering team.”

Built at MG’s facility in Longbridge, Birmingham, the MG ZS is a popular vehicle in the UK as it comes with a relatively affordable price tag, decent looks and a slew of options. This include six way adjustable seating and a touchscreen infotainment system that provides Bluetooth connectivity and support for Apple Carplay.


iCar Asia Launches “CarListBid.my” A New Bidding Platform For Car Buyers, Sellers & Dealers

Our friends over at iCar Asia have been busy! They’ve recently announced the launch of
CarlistBid.my
, an exciting new platform connecting car sellers to dealers in a safe and trusted environment. Taglined
Malaysia’s Most Trusted Car Bidding Platform
, CarlistBid.my utilises iCar Asia’s existing database of sellers and buyers, the largest network in the country, with over three million ready sellers and more than three thousand dealers. Following the launch in Malaysia, the platform will be rolled out to iCar Asia’s operations in Thailand and Indonesia.

(L-R) KY Gan, Group Sales Director, iCar Asia, Ng Soo Jin, Managing Director, Regal Valet, Georg Chmiel, Executive Chairman, iCar Asia, Hamish Stone, Chief Executive Officer, iCar Asia, and Yee Chin Beng, Chief Financial Officer, iCar Asia

Along with the launch of the platform, iCar Asia also launched the flagship inspection hub next to
Regal Valet Auto Detailing Outlet
 in Kampung Sungai Penchala.
Hamish Stone, Chief Executive Officer of iCar Asia
(below), said
“The auction business adds a compelling fast and convenient option for private car sellers and fleet owners to sell their cars to an existing base of car dealers. Over a four-month testing period, CarlistBid.my has closed over RM2.1 million in sales within an average of five days per sale completion. We achieved this with a test group of just 100 out of the over 3,000 dealers that already work with Carlist.my, highlighting our ability to scale up this service in the coming months. With a network of approximately 12 million monthly visitors per month that are potential car sellers – plus over 10,000 existing seller accounts and potential auction bidders across the region – iCar Asia is well placed to scale this business up over the coming months,”
 he added.

CarlistBid.my works in four simple steps;
Request, Inspect, Bid, Sold
. Sellers need only to submit a request online, anytime and schedule a complimentary car inspection and car valuation service. Once the bidding terms are agreed, the auction will be opened to bidding among certified Carlist.my Trusted Dealers nationwide. Upon acceptance of the best offer, CarlistBid.my staff will assist with the ownership transfer procedures as well as final payment.

“In order to increase efficiency, we have opened our flagship inspection hub here, in Kampung Sungai Penchala, so that sellers can directly bring in their car for inspection. We will be looking to open more inspections hubs around Malaysia in the near future. We strive to provide the most convenient, flexible and above all safest service to our customers. Which is why all our dealers go through a stringent process of verification to ensure that these are serious, reputable dealers. In cases of dispute, we will also step in to mediate the situation to ensure that both our buyers and sellers come out with a mutually beneficial deal. ”
 said Stone.

Stone concluded:
“We expect to follow the launch of this service in Malaysia with launches in Thailand and Indonesia in the coming months. This is another step for iCar Asia in building out its core proposition to consumers and dealers and extending our market leading position as the largest and most trusted automotive portal network in the ASEAN Region.”

For more information on CarlistBid.my, visit www.carlistbid.my

• CarlistBid.my is a car bidding platform for car dealers to buy used cars, utilising iCar Asia’s existing

database of sellers and buyers, the largest network in Malaysia and the ASEAN Region

• Following the launch in Malaysia, the platform will be rolled out in iCar Asia’s operations in Thailand

and Indonesia

• The platform has achieved RM2.1 million worth of sales within a four months test period across the

Group

• This new proposition complements iCar Asia’s core business and provides a new transaction based

revenue stream, which is expected to contribute to the Company’s growth in the second half of 2018


No Maintenance Costs For An Extra 2 Years With Certain Volkswagen Models

When buying a new car, many people will try to get the lowest price possible and press for a good discount. This is only natural as they can then take a smaller loan and the instalments will be less each month.

But there are often other offers which carry a certain value or save money as well. For instance, free maintenance is a popular extra which is offered by most companies these days. This usually covers the labour and parts costs for scheduled maintenance over years. It is a cost which you will incur in coming years of ownership of the car, so if you do not have to pay it, then you will be saving money in the longer term.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has been offering free scheduled maintenance for its models for the first 3 years and now, it is adding on 2 more years for selected models. Those who buy the Arteon R-Line, Tiguan Allspace R-Line or Elegance will now save on maintenance costs for up to 5 years (or maximum of 75,000 kms) after they buy their car.

Worth RM9,600
VPCM says that this is worth RM9,600, based on scheduled maintenance intervals and the parts that need to be replaced. This complements the warranty of 5 years as well as complimentary roadside assistance.

Arteon R-Line

Tiguan R-Line

Both the Arteon and Tiguan are assembled locally in Pekan, Pahang, at a dedicated facility within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers complex. The Arteon R-Line 4MOTION is priced from RM276,990 while the Tiguan R-Line 4MOTION is priced from RM235,990, with the Tiguan Allspace Elegance priced from RM188,990.

The Arteon R-Line 4MOTION has a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 280 ps/350 Nm. Power flows to the wheels through a 7-speed wet clutch DSG direct shift to give a 0 to 100 km/h time claimed to be 5.6 seconds. Fuel consumption is said to be around 13.5 kms/litre.

The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s bestselling global model and the Allspace is a 3-row 7-seater version of the SUV. The additional seating is in line with current trends by many carmakers to offer 3-row SUVs. For those who feel they don’t need the extra row, it can be folded flat and enlarge the boot volume to a massive 1,775 litres.

Cargo volume is huge if third row is not in use.

The Tiguan Allspace R-Line is a performance SUV with its 220 ps/350 Nm turbocharged 2-litrre engine. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is not only for off-road use but also ensures that all the power is effectively transferred to the road, while also enhancing grip and stability in slippery conditions.

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! Exclusively for BHPetrol eCard app members only.

#
VWSafeTravels
As this is the Hari Raya month and many people will be making their balik kampung journeys, VPCM has a #VWSafeTravels promotion on as well. This is to reward those who replace safety items like tyres, brake pads, brake discs, or windscreen wipers at authorised Volkswagen service centres. If they spend up to RM800, they will receive a voucher for Volkswagen merchandise. The promotion runs until June 30, 2023 while stocks last.

To locate authorised Volkswagen showrooms and service centres in Malaysia, visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Unveiled With Advanced Driver Aids


CKD and why carmakers choose to use it

‘CKD’ is something which car-buyers may read about and some may wonder what it means. The initials stand for ‘
C
omplete
K
nocked
D
own’ and refer to the way a vehicle is shipped to Malaysia. If it comes in a completed form, ready to be driven, then it is referred to as ‘
C
ompletely
B
uilt
U
p’ or ‘CBU’. If it comes in a disassembled form with many parts in boxes, and the parts are then assembled to form the vehicle, then it is a CKD model.

The concept of CKD began many decades ago when manufacturers wanted to be able to produce more vehicles for a market. Sometimes shipping vehicles in CBU form was not practical or feasible, or restrictive regulations made it difficult to sell CBU models. So vehicles were sent in parts in a box – like a Tamiya model – which could then be assembled in another country. The investment was lower than to build a factory and governments also liked it because there would be employment and transfer of technology.

Workers packing parts for the Beetle in 1955. More vehicles can be sent in CKD form than CBU form.

Assembly in Malaysia started in 1960s

In fact, in the mid-1960s, the Malaysian government decided to encourage the assembly of vehicles locally as a means to industrialize and also create more jobs, as well as benefit from transfer of technology. While it would have wished that factories could be built, the market size was too small, so the first step was an assembly plant and as an incentive, the tax rates for models assembled in Malaysia would be lower than for CBU models.

A number of manufacturers responded positively, especially as Malaysia then was a very good place for a carmaker to carry out such activities. It was developing rapidly, had a stable economy and society and the workforce was also well educated. Additionally, more vehicles can be sent in CKD than CBU form.

CKD packs are put into containers and then shipped by land, air, sea or rail to countries around the world.

The first assembly plants were opened in the second half of the 1960s, mostly situated in Shah Alam. Selangor. Carmakers in Europe, Japan and Australia began sending over CKD packs for their models to be assembled locally. To encourage the development of a local auto industry, the government also specified a list of parts which should be sourced locally. These were things like paint, windscreen glass, tyres, batteries and wire harnesses.

Volkswagen was one of the early carmakers to assemble its cars in Malaysia, starting with the Beetle. In fact, the German company had been exporting the Beetle in CKD form since 1950. In Malaysia, the packs which arrived in Port Klang were sent to the Assembly Services plant in Shah Alam. This plant was huge in its early days and assembled a variety of models from different brands as well as large commercial vehicles. With a CKD operation in place, Malaysia was added to Volkswagen global production network.

The CKD packs are usually wooden boxes and contain a number of parts, big and small, which are then transferred to the assembly line within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers complex.

How the process works

The CKD process is slightly different from the CBU one which is pretty much just ordering whole vehicles with the required specifications. With CKD, thousands of parts must be collected and in the case of Volkswagen, the coordination is done at Wolfsburg, its home city in Germany. Orders received from all over the world are processed centrally in Wolfsburg and a supply management team ensures that the parts required are available from the different European plants and suppliers.

The source for the type of item will be different; body panels and engines, for example, may come from Volkswagen’s own factories but parts like instrument panels and seats might be from suppliers.  The parts used to be packed in the boxes manually, but high-tech systems are now used. The parts are bundled and packaged at one of the 8 distribution centres, loaded into containers and shipped by sea, rail or air to the different countries.

These 8 centres handle a total of about 1.7 million cubic metres of goods every year, corresponding to about 25,000 overseas containers. From the receipt of an order, it takes about 8 weeks before the CKD packs for a vehicle is delivered in the destination country. All in all, about 90 different vehicle projects of overseas plants are supplied via CKD from Europe.

Today, Volkswagen has 27 assembly locations in 10 countries. The largest CKD assembly plant is located in South Africa and it not only serves that market but some of its output is also exported to other countries. So it is also a production hub for certain models.

A Volkswagen Polo being assembled at the plant in Pekan, Pahang.

Quality assured even with local assembly

There are also plants located in the USA, China, Brazil, Argentina, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. In some cases, the assembly may be carried out by a local business partner. In Malaysia, Volkswagen works with HICOM Automotive Manufacturers which has a manufacturing complex in Pekan, Pahang. Of course, quality is assured as Volkswagen personnel are also present to assist and conduct inspections on every vehicle.

“We used to need only one or two faxes per week for coordination with the overseas plants. Nowadays, we work with our production plants on a real-time basis and manage about 9,000 part numbers for worldwide shipment. The tasks of our employees have changed fundamentally – they are no longer simply box-packers but are now logistics data experts,” noted Burkhard Husken, Head of CKD of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

Click here to know more about Volkswagen models available in Malaysia.


Energy management helps Mercedes-EQ team win craziest race in Formula E history

Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries took the chequered flag first in one of the craziest E-Prix in Formula E history, leading home Nico Mueller (DRAGON/PENSKE AUTOSPORT) and his Mercedes teammate, Stoffel Vandoorne. Energy management is central to the racing in Formula E, and with the incident-packed, rain-hit race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo seeing 5 appearances for the
MINI Electric Pacesetter Safety Car
, the teams’ carefully calculated energy management strategies were thrown off with the round running a lap longer than had been expected.

De Vries had been happy to sit behind long-time leader Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) and conserve energy for a late attack. As it happened, that attack turned into a 2-lap sprint following the final spell under the Safety Car. However, only those who’d gone long as contingency, and conserved their usable energy, had enough power left in their cells to complete the extended race distance.

Longer race time than anticipated

Dutchman de Vries drove by da Costa as the Portuguese and many around him slowed with the race running beyond its anticipated finish. Mueller and Vandoorne followed – the man stripped of Julius Baer Pole Position on a technicality and sent to the back of the grid incredibly getting his hands on silverware, making the final step on the podium.

Nick Cassidy (Envision Virgin Racing), Rene Rast (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing), da Costa, Alexander Lynn (Mahindra Racing), Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing) and Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) rounded out the top 10. Jake Dennis (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) and Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) were the only other drivers who were classified.

With the rain falling and the MINI Electric Pacesetter leading the pack away, da Costa pulled a gap on Maximilian Guenther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) and Lynn with the pack cleanly away as the race went green, for a lap or two at least. Andre Lotterer and Sebastien Buemi collided at the hairpin – the Porsche man collecting the Nissan e.dams driver – leaving the Swiss stuck in the gravel.

ATTACK MODE activations

This brought out the Safety Car for a lengthy spell while recovery of Buemi’s Nissan was underway, with leader da Costa leading the pack away when racing resumed. He was able to get the jump on the rest once again to the tune of 2 seconds once the green flags waved.

Through the first ATTACK MODE activations, it was the young German who pounced first – smart as Guenther had been slipping back down the order. He managed to hold on to fourth with Rowland just behind, and the rest of the top six followed with their initial jump through the ATTACK MODE loop a lap later.

With 25 minutes plus one lap to run, things looked calm and collected for da Costa with the Portuguese firmly in his groove. De Vries held second, 3three seconds back but still 2 seconds clear of Lynn in third. Rowland, Guenther, Sims, Nato, Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche), Cassidy and Edo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) rounded out the top 10.

Wet and slippery conditions

Guenther’s race came to a sticky end on Lap 10 as the Bavarian’s iFE.21 left the track in tricky, slippery conditions. The BMW snapped under braking as he clipped a white line and despite an armful of opposite lock, Guenther couldn’t prevent the inevitable and ended up trapped in the gravel.

The MINI Electric Pacesetter made another appearance while the BMW was cleared and da Costa shot off early when the race went green once again – with Mercedes’ de Vries all over his diffuser. The Mercedes driver was content to have the Dutchman remain in the DS’ slipstream, though, with energy management looking likely to come to a head towards the final minutes of the race. This would force da Costa into punching a hole in the air and use more energy in doing so, as de Vries let the Portuguese do all the hard work.

5 laps later, Sergio Sette Camara (DRAGON/PENSKE AUTOSPORT) and Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) clashed with the Brazilian sent off into the gravel and out of the race and the Kiwi forced to retire in the pits. Yet another spell (the fourth) under the Safety Car followed, while Mercedes informed de Vries he had energy in-hand to push leader da Costa with 13 minutes plus one lap to run.

The pack was once again let loose with less than 10 minutes to run, and da Costa controlled things at the restart, though de Vries had a couple of per cent of usable energy in-hand over those around him – the leader still needing to use his second dose of ATTACK MODE. Da Costa intelligently combatted this with FANBOOST used to create the gap needed to jump through the activation zone and stay ahead of de Vries.

Energy management was crucial

By the time the MINI Electric Pacesetter peeled off the circuit after its latest outing, the race had become a straight 2-lap sprint. However, with the Safety Car so busy, and the race running to an extra lap not planned for, only a handful of drivers looked like they’d enough energy to make the finish.

De Vries had worked it best, to take the race win from Mueller and Vandoorne, sending the Dutchman to the top of the standings from teammate Vandoorne and Mercedes-EQ to the summit of the Teams’ pile. Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing) secured the point for TAG Heuer Fastest Lap.

Full Season 7 calendar finalised

Formula E and the FIA have also revealed the full calendar for the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It has a new race venue and updates to previously scheduled events. The Season 7 calendar is set to host more races than ever before in a single season, comprising 15 races in 8 cities, covering 3 continents.

The final set of races to be announced starts with a new location for the all-electric racing series, with the Puebla E-Prix in Mexico on June 19/20. This replaces the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City which has previously hosted 5 Formula E races. It cannot be used now because the circuit is still a temporary field hospital.

The Marrakesh E-Prix and Santiago E-Prix, scheduled for in May and June, respectively, have been removed from the calendar this season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Events in Santiago, Sanya and Seoul will be rescheduled for Season 8, with fans in attendance. However, the running of races will still depend on travel restrictions, as well as local government protocols, and the organisers will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and communicate changes if any are required.

MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW is the new Formula E Safety Car


What’s the prize for being the fastest qualifier in MotoGP?

Last weekend concluded the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez where we witness Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez took home the win and the lead in this year’s championship. But did you also know that even the fastest qualifiers are rewarded for their efforts?

Ever wondered why MotoGP riders are super excited when they get the pole position ahead of race day? Apart from getting the usual things, BMW M GmbH also has been actively involved in this area, apart from being the official cars for the Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Fabio Quartararo, Petronas Yamaha SRT MotoGP rider

For this year, they will be awarding the fastest qualifier in MotoGP with a
BMW X4 M Competition
 during the BMW M Award which will take place at the end of the season. Dressed in the very seductive Toronto Red Metallic, the best MotoGP qualifier of the 2019 season will be taking this home. Not a bad deal, if we say so ourselves.

According to Pau Serracanta, Managing Director of Dorna’s Commercial Department, “Each year we are excited to see which BMW M Award winner’s car BMW M GmbH will surprise us with at the start of the MotoGP European season here at Jerez de la Frontera. And I have to say that they have presented another real highlight once again this season with the BMW X4 M Competition.”

“We are very proud that in BMW M GmbH we have had a strong and reliable partner at our side for 20 years now. And it’s fantastic that BMW M GmbH honours the top performances of our riders with such a terrific award as the #BMW M Award. I’m sure that this fantastic BMW X4 M Competition will give our riders that extra bit of motivation to give it their all in qualifying. After all, everyone wants to be presented with this high-performance car as the winner’s car at the end of the season.”

Vladimir Bistrivoda, Head of MotoGP Collaboration at BMW M GmbH, added “We’re delighted that the BMW M Award has been such a coveted award in the MotoGP family for many years. The BMW M Award is a significant part of our long-standing, successful partnership with MotoGP for us as well. For this reason, it is important to us that we present something special as a prize each year.”

“For the 2019 season, we chose our new BMW X4 M Competition. It combines athleticism, performance, passion and adrenalin – attributes that it shares with the MotoGP and the performances with which its riders wow crowds at the racetrack. We wish all MotoGP riders the best of luck and are excited to see who will receive the BMW M Award at the final round in Valencia.”

The #BMW M Award is one of the many BMW M activities as the ‘Official Car of MotoGP’. Since 2003, the MotoGP rider with the best results in qualifying has been rewarded with an exclusive, individually designed BMW M car at the end of the season. As with the scoring system for the race, the riders receive points for their positions in qualifying at each Grand Prix weekend. The rider who has picked up the most points at the end of the season wins the coveted BMW M Award.

For more information about #BMW M GmbH and the involvement as the Official Car of MotoGP, head over to
www.bmw-m.com
.


Largest BYD 3S Centre Opens In Glenmarie

SISMA Auto, a multi-brand luxury automotive business, has opened the largest
BYD
 3S Centre in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

The Glenmarie centre, which cost RM5 million to build, is a Class-A BYD facility with a nine-car display showroom and 16 service bays to serve the expanding number of BYD clients.

The huge showroom is intended to showcase all of the new models that will be introduced in the Malaysian market in the near future. The 16-work bay service centre can service over 1,000 customers every month. The modern service centre is also outfitted with advanced diagnostic technology, specialised tools and jigs, and climate-controlled storage spaces for sensitive power battery components. There is also a New Energy Vehicle facility where all high-voltage components can be repaired.

The BYD SISMA Auto 3S Centre has already received the seal of approval from BYD Founder and Chairman Wang Chuanfu during his visit to Malaysia recently.

Syed Khalil bin Syed Ibrahim, Managing Director of SISMA Auto Group, stated that the company, with its 30 years of expertise partnering with premium vehicle brands, was ideally positioned to offer a premium 3S experience to BYD owners in Malaysia.

BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director Eagle Zhao expressed confidence in the market potential for BYD in Malaysia and said, “The demand for new energy vehicles in Malaysia has been growing tremendously. We aim to introduce the latest technology and offer more choices to Malaysian consumers.”

In conjunction with the launch, the BYD SISMA Auto 3S Centre will feature a family-friendly funfair from June 2 to June 11, 2023. The BYD SISMA Auto Electric Dreams Carnival will run daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers and visitors who sign up for test drives are eligible for door prizes, snacks, and a fortunate draw.

With the opening of the BYD SISMA Auto 3S Centre, the SISMA Auto Hub pre-owned luxury automobile centre will relocate next door to the facilities formerly occupied by the company’s Volvo Service and Selekt Centre. The Volvo division of SISMA Auto will be relocated to its new flagship Volvo 3S plant in Sungai Besi, which is slated to open soon.

The BYD SISMA Auto 3S Centre’s Showroom opens from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Sundays and public holidays. The Service Centre operates from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Monday to Friday and 8.30 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday.


Proton sales doubled in November

Proton is having quite a year after showcasing a strong year-end performance. Sales in November alone actually doubled with an amazing 9,643 units sold. The tally now stands at 89,476 units sold so far this year, which is a significant 50.1% increase (16.2% increase in overall market share for 2019).

A part of this major achievement was thanks to the updated
2019 Proton Saga
 which posted a sales record of over 4,000 units three months running.  4,091 units of the Saga was delivered to new customers in November which puts it at the top of the A-segment sedan once again (32% volume growth).

According to Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton, “The Saga has been a big success for Proton since its launch in August. In just four months, we have already achieved more than 35,000 bookings and currently, every unit our factory can deliver has been spoken for. Our challenge, therefore, is to increase our production capacity for the Saga, and we have had intensive discussions with our vendors to work towards a volume increase next year.”

The Proton X70 has its fair share of success with more than 2,000 units sold in November alone. Being Proton’s first SUV launched in 2018, it has been quite a journey for Proton and their journey into becoming a premium mass-market brand.

“The Proton X70 has been our biggest success story for 2019. It enabled Proton to enter a new segment with zero market experience and a year later, we have emerged as the undisputed sales leader. The uptrend shows customers are still keenly interested in the most intelligent SUV on sale and we target to grow that interest in the coming year,” added Dr Li Chunrong.

Proton R3 wins Sepang 1000km again – that’s 3 years in a row!


Four awards for Hyundai Motor Group in 2022 World Car of the Year event

Continuing its collection of awards, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 has been voted as the 2022 World Car of the Year, besides also winning the 2022 World Electric Vehicle of the Year and the 2022 World Car Design of the Year awards in the same event. The battery electric vehicle (BEV), which entered the market last year, was chosen from an initial list of 28 candidates, and then from 3 finalists. This is the second consecutive year an EV has won the title and the fourth EV in the event’s history.

To be eligible for the overall title, vehicles must be produced in a volume of least 10,000 units per year, priced below the luxury level in their primary markets, and on sale in at least 2 major markets on at least 2 continents at some time between January 1, 2021 and March 30, 2022.

The jury of consisted of 102 automotive journalists from 33 countries who began assessing candidates from August 19, 2021. The preliminary assessments ended with 3 finalists being selected which reflected the industry trend towards electric vehicles: besides the Hyundai, were the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV 6 were the other two finalists from 28 candidates.

For the World Car Design of the Year award, a design panel consisting of 6 highly respected design experts was asked to first review each candidate, and they then established a shortlist of recommendations for the jurors’ final vote in February.

The IONIQ 5 received a total of 815 points covering Occupant Environment, Performance, Value, Safety, Environment, Market Significance, Emotional Appeal and Innovation. The EV6, which is the Kia version of the same car, scored 808 points, while the Mustang received 773 points. A closer look at the scores shows that the winner could have been either one as the Kia also scored higher points in some areas such as market significance and performance. But whichever won, it was still a victory for the Hyundai Motor Group which both brands are in. In addition, the 2022 World Car Person of the Year was Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice-President, Chief Creative Officer, Hyundai Motor Group.

An additional award for the Hyundai Motor Group’s – Luc Donckerwolke was also chosen as the 2022 World Car Person of the Year.

“We are truly honoured to receive these prestigious awards, which recognize the talent and hard work of all our people and business partners at Hyundai Motor Company. Our vision is to enable Progress for Humanity, and this endorsement of our approach will serve to embolden our commitment to make this vision a reality,” said Jaehoon Chang, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.

“IONIQ 5 represents a pivotal achievement for us as we pioneer a new generation of smart mobility solutions with its innovative E-GMP platform technologies, exceptional performance, and disruptive approach to design and space. Our game-changing EV has made a strong impact on increasingly eco-conscious and demanding consumers around the world, and its success supports the acceleration of electrification of the automotive industry. The pace of change at Hyundai will continue unabated through the rest of 2022 as we will soon be adding to our award-winning IONIQ range,” he added.

The winners of the other categories were as follow:

World Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz EQS

World Performance Car: Audi e-tron GT

World Urban Car: Toyota Yaris Cross

World Car Design of the Year: Hyundai IONIQ 5

World Electric Vehicle of the Year: Hyundai IONIQ 5

PREVIOUS OVERALL AWARD WINNERS

2021 – Volkswagen ID.4

2020 – Kia Telluride

2019 – Jaguar I-PACE

2018 – Volvo XC60

2017 – Jaguar F-PACE

2016 – Mazda MX-5

2015 – Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2014 – Audi A3

2013 – Volkswagen Golf

2012 – Volkswagen UP!

2011 – Nissan LEAF

2010 – Volkswagen Polo

2009 – Volkswagen Golf 7

2008 – Mazda2

2007 – Lexus LS460

2006 – BMW 3-Series

2005 – Audi A6

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors launches second EV – the Hyundai IONIQ 5, priced from RM199,888


More online racing events coming from UMW Toyota Motor

During the period of the Movement Control Order when all public activities in Malaysia came to a standstill, motorsports enthusiasts were saddened that not only could they not attend their favourite events but there was also nothing to watch. However, a number of carmakers decided to go racing online and even sent their professional racing drivers to compete in events that were watched globally.

In Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) held the
Toyota GAZOO Racing Online Challenge
 between April 23 April and May 21, bringing racing excitement to everyone who had to stay at home around the country. The company was the first and is still the only auto brand in Malaysia to become involved in esports, as it is known. In total, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Online Challenge offered prize monies amounting to RM7,500 over the 5 rounds.

Following that successful event, which attracted gamers as young as 6 years old, a second phase will be held on July 12 which will see the top challengers in the first phase compete in a final showdown of the fastest sim-racers in the country.

The Online Challenge Finals will be a mini-championship of 4 rounds, each featuring iconic racing cars – including the Playstation Gran Turismo-exclusive Toyota GT86 Group B Rally Car. The sim-racers will challenge each other around some of the world’s iconic circuits, including the Red Bull Ring and Autodromo De Interlagos.

“The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the physical aspect of motor racing but there is no reason why the spirit of competition cannot continue virtually. GAZOO Racing is a philosophy that extends beyond the racing track and that was precisely why we pursued an online presence,” said Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.

Mr. Takeyama, who is also Deputy Chairman of UMWT, said that the Toyota GAZOO Racing Online Challenge is also a natural extension to the company’s existing Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship. “It underlines the company’s commitment to not only bring motorsports to the masses but to make it more accessible and affordable,” he explained.

The third edition of the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship will be held between August and September this year (dates and race formats to be announced soon).

In addition, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) will also be organizing the first-ever GR Supra GT Cup Asia 2020 regional esports competition in October 2020. This event will see qualifying rounds being held in Malaysia (through the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship), Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and India from July to September to select the top three virtual racers who will represent their respective nations at the regional finale.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities, the result of which has seen esports and virtual racing propelled to the forefront at an unprecedented scale. The timely introduction of a regional event will certainly fuel Toyota’s momentum of pursuing an aggressive esports agenda in Malaysia,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

“Simulator racing has had a profound impact on Malaysian esports, appealing to both gamers and racing drivers proving that it is an excellent conduit between the virtual and physical realms in motor racing,” he added. “As an automotive brand, Toyota in Malaysia is today in a position of strength being in the forefront of both spectra – with a strong virtual racing presence.”

Mr. Ravindran said that these initiatives solidified Toyota’s commitment to bring motorsports to the masses, promoting the GAZOO Racing philosophy that embodies performance and excellence, besides introducing to the market its new range of specialty models that wear the GR badge.

Toyota’s esports activities complement the real-life one-make Vios Challenge which has been successfully run for three seasons.

Click here for other news and articles about Toyota
.


F1 W11 EQ Performance – the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team’s racing car for the 2020 championship

Just 75 days after the last race of the 2019 season, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has put its all-new racing car through its first laps. The Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance, as the 2020 car is officially known, was driven at Silverstone by both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers were eager to get back into the car after their winter break, which included intensive training to prepare for the upcoming season.

The ’EQ Performance’ in the name links the F1 car to the brand’s future Mercedes-AMG performance hybrid models. It showcases how F1 technology is pioneering the future of motor racing and automotive technology in general. ‘W11’ represents the fact that this is the eleventh Mercedes-made Formula 1 car since the 3-pointed star returned to F1 as a works team in 2010.

Stable regulations for the new season

Though ‘all-new’ is mentioned, the W11 EQ Performance is essentially an evolution of last year’s car that won Mercedes-Benz its historic sixth consecutive double championship. The team has looked at a myriad of areas to improve the car and has changed the vast majority of the over 10,000 parts of the car to extract more performance. It is expected to become the fastest Mercedes-Benz racing car ever built.

In addition to many detail changes and smaller improvements, the team has introduced three larger changes – one at the front, one at the middle and one at the back of the car. At the front, there is more structural complexity around the uprights and wheel rims in order to provide a higher performance assembly overall. In the middle of the car, the upper side impact tube has been repositioned to the lower position and banking the aerodynamic gain that comes with this layout. At the rear is an ‘adventurous’ suspension layout in order to free up aerodynamic development opportunity.

An all-new Power Unit

Similar to the development on the chassis side, the all-new Power Unit (PU) is an evolution as the regulations stayed largely the same. However, while the chassis regulations go into their second year of relative stability, the technical regulations around the Power Unit have not had any major changes since the introduction of the current generation of 1.6-litre V6 hybrid engines in 2014, making performance boosts increasingly difficult.

In the 6 years since its introduction, the Mercedes-AMG PU has made significant progress not just in terms of power output and reliability, but also in terms of its efficiency. From 2014 to today, the thermal efficiency has improved from about 44% to over 50%. Thermal efficiency describes an engine’s ability to convert fuel energy into useful work. Achieving more than 50% means that that more than half of the energy in the fuel can be used to propel the car. A typical road car engine would usually reach about 30% of thermal efficiency.

Last year’s car struggled in hot ambient temperatures and the engineers have worked to improve the cooling package for the W11. In addition to larger radiators in the car, the team has focused on making the cooling more efficient. All the cooling fluids on the PU operate at a higher temperature, which increases the temperature difference between that coolant fluid and the ambient temperature that the car is racing in. This increases the effectiveness of the cooling system but there is a downside: large parts of the engine are made from aluminium and the operating temperatures mean the material properties decay quite rapidly. Managing that over an 8-race distance PU cycle is thus a tough engineering challenge.

10th anniversary for the works team

2020 is a special year for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team as the outfit celebrates its 10th anniversary as a modern-day Mercedes works team in Formula 1. Since March 2010, when the new Mercedes F1 team competed in its first race, it has started in 198 Formula 1 Grands Prix, taken 93 victories, 194 podium places and 48 one-two wins.

March 2010 – the new Mercedes F1 team competed in its first race in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“It’s fantastic that the team is able to celebrate its ten-year anniversary,” said Toto Wolff. “We made our first come-back to F1 over 25 years ago as an engine supplier and then we went all in 10 years ago. It shows our long-term commitment – with our own works team and as a Power Unit supplier to valuable customers. We have been a part of Formula One with changing technical regulations, with changes in the Daimler top management, but our commitment to the sport hasn’t changed. It’s great that we get to celebrate our tenth anniversary with the Mercedes works team as one further milestone of this commitment.”

Massive change in regulations in 2021

Looking ahead, he said that the team must prepare for the massive changes that will be introduced in F1 in the following year. 2021 will see the biggest change to the technical regulations in the history of Formula 1 which will require virtually every part of the car to be designed and developed from scratch. In addition to the technical complexity of the regulation change, the new financial regulations mean that teams will have to re-organise the way they tackle these changes.

“2020 is an evolution of the current regulations and the gains will be smaller, so you need more time and effort to keep improving your car,” said Wolff. “On the other hand, the 2021 regulations are so very different that you need a lot of time to prepare for them. Every month you start later than your competitors will make it more difficult to catch up. You also have the effect of the cost cap which means that you will have fewer resources available to throw at things in 2021.”

2020 F1 Chinese Grand Prix cancelled due to COVID-19 situation


300 Cruise Self-Driving Cars Recalled

A recall has been initiated by
Cruise
, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle division, to upgrade its driverless vehicles. In San Francisco on March 23, 2023, an articulated San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (MUNI) bus and a Cruise autonomous car collided, leading to the recall. Documents pertaining to the crash state that “certain uncommon circumstances” lead to the system problem.

Cruise claimed that the ADS software could forecast the motion of articulated vehicles (buses, tractors, or trailers) incorrectly in three circumstances, as documented in the NHTSA Campaign Number 23E029000. The first occurs when an articulated vehicle’s front and rear sections are initially recognised by the ADS, while the second occurs when the vehicle manoeuvres so that its rear section completely obstructs its front section.

The third and final situation is when “The front section of the articulated vehicle then decelerated within a few seconds of approaching the AV. In such a case, even if the vehicle was decelerating, the ADS might incorrectly conclude that the front section of the occluded vehicle was still moving forward and that the back section would follow the front section.”

Even though there haven’t been any further incidents as a result of this software problem, Cruise has decided to file the voluntary recall report out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of transparency. This recall affects 300 Cruise autonomous vehicle units altogether.

The first driverless taxi to operate in a major city, Cruise’s driverless cab began service in San Francisco last year. Since then, documented collisions have led the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to begin numerous investigations.