Ferrari Roma Spider – A Soft-Top Convertible From Ferrari After 18 Years

With the new Spider variant of the Roma, Ferrari adds another convertible to its range which also replaces the Portofino M that was launched in 2020. The Roma Spider has much of its platform similar to the coupe (which was introduced in Malaysia in September 2021) but with a folding fabric soft-top in place of the solid metal roof.

Recalling the Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s, the Roma Spider marks a return of a soft-top to the sportscar maker’s range on a front-engined model 54 years after the 1969 365 GTS4. It’s also the first soft-top convertible from Ferrari since the F430 18 years ago.

Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, its styling retains the proportions of the coupe on without alteration of the flowing silhouette. The bodyshell retains the fundamental elements of the Roma’s design, with modifications made mainly on the rear. Despite not having a roof structure, there is said to be exceptional torsional rigidity and beam stiffness for the bodyshell and chassis which have an increased weight of 84 kgs.

The adoption of a fabric soft top and its indirect impact on the car’s bodywork geometries provided the starting point for the aero development. To retain the Ferrari Roma’s low drag, combined with the possibility of generating efficient downforce, the line of the roof and its curvature over the frontal section were subjected to in-depth numerical analysis.

The modifications to the bodywork required new mobile spoiler geometry. Similar to the Roma, this element is designed to extend and retract in a calibrated way specific to the spider as a function of the car’s speed, and the longitudinal and transverse acceleration acting on the body.

The solutions selected were driven by the need to simplify the transition from top-up to top-down driving, by introducing automatic movements for the surfaces tasked with creating an aerodynamic ‘bubble’ effect over the cockpit for comfort.

Redesigning the coupe’s tapering, fastback roofline meant modifying the rear screen to incorporate it into the soft top so that it can fold below the tonneau cover when open. The original styling theme of the Roma has thus become a body-colour band running across the base of the roof that divides the carbonfibre active spoiler from the roof and rear screen.

This creates a seamlessly integrated tonneau cover. When the soft top is lowered, the active spoiler visually connects with the rear bench and headrests. The fact that it is so compact allows for a 255-litre boot volume, about 7.7% less than the coupe.

A new, patented wind deflector integrated into the backrest of the rear bench can be deployed by a button on the central tunnel, ensuring occupant comfort without taking up any space in the car. On a functional level, the soft top deploys in just 13.5 seconds and can be operated up to 60 km/h.

Unlike the more basic fabrics seen on most convertibles, a new material has been used for the Roma Spider’s soft-top, giving it a sophisticated air. Special fabric weaves were selected and developed in colour combinations that highlight the car’s elegant and sporty souls. An optional technical fabric with an innovative weave creates an extremely striking iridescent red finish that further enhances the roof’s 3D surface.

Most of the technical specifications are shared with the coupe, including the twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 engine that produces 620 ps/760Nm of torque. The engine is coupled with Ferrari’s 8-speed DCT well known for its quick shift times and mechanical efficiency.

Power flows to the rear wheels from the rear-mounted transaxle through an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. With the positioning of the engine behind the front axle line, weight distribution is biased towards the rear half in a 48:52 ratio.

The price of the Roma Spider has not been announced but when the Portofino M was launched in Malaysia, it has a price of RM998,000 (without duties). The Roma Spider would certainly go some way past the RM1 million mark but we’ll have to wait and see if the new distributor for Malaysia offers it.

Naza Italia To End 15-Year Business Relationship With Ferrari

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Honda celebrates 25th anniversary of the Type-R

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Type R nameplate. Introduced in 1992 to signal a vehicle’s performance oriented heritage, it went to become a set of letters that is revered all over the world.

The first Honda vehicle that received the R in its model name was the NSX-R, which was fitted with Motorsport-inspired upgrades that improved the base car’s characteristics. The R version had a powerful and high revving engine and finely tuned suspension.

Within Honda, the NSX-R was known as the R-Type, which eventually reversed to form Type-R. It’s a name that went on to adorn a number of high performance Hondas that include the Integra DC2, Civic and Accord.

Honda’s Type-R vehicles were in high demand up until 2011 when the global financial recession hit markets around the world. But things eventually picked again as economies around the world began to recover.

Fans of the brand are commemorating this milestone with a celebration event in Rockingham this week. Apart from that, Honda UK also gave a select group of people the opportunity to experience the best that Type-R vehicles have to offer including the Civic, Accord and Integra models.


Honda reveals new Accord for US market

The new Honda Accord which will be launched in the US, according to Honda, will be all-new, redesigned and re-engineered to ensure that the nameplate remains as the best-selling mide size sedan state side.

Compared to the outgoing car, the new one will have dramatically lower and wider appearance, will provide the car with a more athletic and aggressive stance.

The car will be offered with a number of powertrain options. The 1.5-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine that will be mated to a CVT or 6-speed manual transmission, the 2.0-litre direct-injected DOHC Turbo i-VTEC one, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission (an industry first for a front-wheel-drive vehicle) or a 6-speed manual one. The hybrid version of the Accord will be powered by a next-generation innovative two-motor hybrid system, which is able to operate without the use of a convetional automatic transmission.

“With these three advanced new powertrains, the tenth-generation Accord will be the most fun-to-drive, refined and fuel-efficient Accord yet,”said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of America Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Just as the new Honda Civic injected new energy into the compact car segment, we expect this all-new 2018 Accord will make people rethink the midsize sedan.”

Since its launch in 1976, more than 13 million Americans have purchased the Honda Accord and it was the first Japanese vehicle to be made in the US. It has been assembled in Honda’s Maryville plant in Ohio since 1982. Honda says that it will divulge more details about the latest iteration of its mid-size family sedan in the coming weeks. So, stay tuned and we will bring you more about the car as soon as we find out.


Donkervoort D8 GTO-JD70 R – hypercar performance at supercar pricing

Donkervoort Automobielen, the 42-year old Dutch company that specialises in handbuilt sportscars, has developed the new D8 GTO-JD70 R as a track-only Donkervoort with ‘hypercar performance and technology for only supercar pricing’ of 198,000 euros (about RM966,000), ex-factory.

Least compromised Donkervoort

The new JD70 R takes the JD70 concept into areas of performance it can only reach on race circuits. Where the JD70 was launched this year to honour the 70th birthday of Donkervoort’s founder, Joop Donkervoort, the JD70 R has been developed to embarrass other sportscar and their owners and to make its own drivers feel like track superstars.

The 3.84-metre long car is presented as the fastest, most attacking, least compromised Donkervoort ever engineered, capable of smashing track records, winning races and doing it all on a fraction of the fuel, tyre and brake budgets of traditional sportscars.

Safety levels raised

“The changes we made were all considered during the JD70 development program,” Donkervoort MD, Denis Donkervoort, explained. “We made the JD70 R much faster on every racing circuit than the JD70, so naturally we also concentrated on crash safety as a priority. It has race ABS, a fire  extinguisher, greater fire protection for the fuel tank, a standard 6-point harness and full race seats. For every jump in speed with the JD70 R, we added exponentially to its crash protection.”

The JD70 R has been designed, engineered and developed to be driven flat out for hours, then refueled and sent back out on the track for more. It has also been designed to give real-time data back to the garage, where Donkervoort’s support team can tune the car for each circuit and help the drivers reach their full potential.

Donkervoort engineers concentrated on the suspension, crash safety, braking and steering of the JD70 R, creating a car that ramps up the driver engagement as well as the lap speed.

So it is safer than its roadgoing sibling although faster, and it is also visually similar. It offers an unprecedented level of adjustability for its chassis and suspension.

There are major changes to the gearbox, the brakes, the steering, the safety package and the tyres to create a car 5 full seconds faster than the JD70 around the Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix circuit. It’s even claimed to be a full 3 seconds faster than the 1100 horsepower, 2000-Nm Koenigsegg Regera.

About Donkervoort

Donkervoort Automobielen BV started business in 1978 as an independent maker of handbuilt sportscars. In its earlier years, it used Ford engines for its cars but in the 1990s, the company switched to Audi  which not only provided the necessary know-how for engine development but also supported many other aspects.

During the partnership with Audi, the company saw good sales results. This meant that higher production numbers became necessary to grow. In 2000, a decision was taken to build a brand new factory with a production capacity of around 100 Donkervoorts per year.

Over the years, Donkervoort has amassed a great deal of knowledge and experience in the development and processing of carbonfibre as an ultra-lightweight material for its own sportscars. It also has an After Sales & Service department which maintains close contact with customers to ensure that their cars stay in top condition.


Nissan e.dams team ready for first round of Formula E Season 8 in Saudi Arabia

Nissan, the first Japanese carmaker to participate in the Formula E single-seater electric championship, will enter its fourth consecutive season which starts in Saudi Arabia this week. Collaborating with e.dams (Driot Associes Motor Sport), the Nissan e.dams team again has the services of Sebastien Buemi and rising star Maximilian Gunther.

Buemi and Guenther completed more than 350 laps between them and gathered significant amounts of data to further develop the fully electric racing cars. Running different simulations and exploring all new opportunities across the 5 test sessions in Spain, the team is preparing for the opening round at the Diriyah World UNESCO Heritage Site. During the two days, the cars will be racing on a tight and twisting street circuit with the added challenge of running after sunset.

Season 8, which will run until mid-August, will be the last of the current Formula E regulations, with the Gen2 cars unleashing more performance than ever before. The power allowance has been increased by 20 kW to 220 kW in Race Mode, and by 15 kW to 250 kW in Attack Mode. There will also be a new qualifying format featuring head-to-head runs and shorter free practice sessions will make life harder for drivers and teams – but will add even more excitement for the fans.

This season, the team will continue to link its presence in the championship to Nissan’s road EVs. In Diriyah, the drivers will race for the first time with a striking new livery specially designed for the new season. The design is an evolution of the team’s recognisable kimono-theme, with prominent bright red highlights that further assert Nissan’s mission to demonstrate the excitement and performance of its EV technology.

“After the pre-season test in Valencia, we are ready and excited to go racing again in Diriyah,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Global Motorsports Director. “The cars get a power boost this season, adding yet more speed and spectacle to the competition. This is great for the fans but, of course, it also means that we will need to adapt the car setup to a higher power output while keeping a close eye on battery temperatures. In fact, one of the main challenges that we will encounter in Diriyah will be to accommodate to the track conditions, which can vary from very hot during the day to quite cool in the evening, adding another layer of complexity to the race.”

While some carmaker’s teams have left Formula E,
Nissan has made a long-term commitment
 to the championship. It will be participating till the end of Season 12 which will take place in 2025/2026. The Gen3 era of the championship begins in Season 9 next year and will feature even more powerful and faster cars.

Formula E’s Gen2 EVO racing cars will run for the last time in Season 8 in 2022, with Gen3 being used in 2023


Volkswagen’s 1966 Classic transformed into a 21st century zero emissions vehicle

In due course, it will be possible for owners of the original Volkswagen T1 to make a conversion of the powertrain to a zero emissions electric drive system. Volkswagen Commercia Vehicles (VWCV), collaborating with eClassics, has developed a conversion package which is demonstrated in the e-BULLI all-electric concept vehicle.

VWCV engineers and designers formed a team along with drive system experts from Volkswagen Group Components and eClassics (a company which specialises in electric car conversions) to develop the e-BULLI. For the concept model, they chose a T1 Samba Bus produced in 1966 which, prior to its conversion, spent half a century on the roads of California.

New electric drive system components

The original 44 ps 4-cylinder boxer engine is replaced by a silent Volkswagen electric motor generating 61 kW (83 ps) and 212 Nm, the torque being more than double that from the engine before. The comparison of the engines’ power output alone makes it very evident that the concept vehicle will have completely new drive characteristics with performance unattainable using the original combustion engine.

Power transmission is by means of a
1-speed gearbox
. The automatic transmission has 5 positions (P, R, N, D, B) and in position B, the driver can vary the degree of recuperation, ie of energy recovery when braking. The e-BULLI is claimed to have top speed of 130 km/h (electronically limited), 25 km/h more than the original T1.

The original T1 Samba Bus

Just like the powertrain of the 1966 T1, the combination of gearbox and electric motor integrated in the back of the 2020 e-BULLI drives the rear axle. A 45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides energy for the electric motor while a DC/DC converter provides 12V power for on-board electronics.

As in the new ID.3 and future ID.BUZZ, the battery pack is housed centrally in the vehicle floor. This layout lowers the e-BULLI’s centre of gravity and thus improves its driving characteristics.

80% recharge in 40 minutes

The battery pack is charged via a combined charging system (CCS) socket. It enables charging with AC or DC electrical supply. Thanks to the CCS charging socket, the battery pack can also be charged at DC fast-charging points with up to 50 kW of charging power. In this case, recharging up to 80% energy levels can be done within 40 minutes. The range with a fully charged battery packs is claimed to be more than 200 kms.

Redesigned chassis

Compared to the T1, riding in the e-BULLI will feel completely different. This is due to the redesigned chassis which consists of multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil-over struts. There is also a new rack-and-pinion steering system and 4 internally-ventilated disc brakes.

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

New looks

In parallel with the new electric drive system, an interior concept has been created for the e-BULLI that is both stylish and avant-garde. The new look and corresponding technical solutions were developed by the VCVW design centre together with a team from VWCV Vintage Vehicles and the Communications department.

The designers modernised the exterior of the iconic vehicle with great sensitivity and finesse, including giving it a two-tone paintwork finish in Energetic Orange Metallic and Golden Sand Metallic MATTE.

Details such as the new round LED headlamps with daytime running lights modernise the looks. On the outside at the rear, there are also LED charge indicators. They signal to a driver walking up to the e-BULLI how much charge the lithium-ion battery still has.

Original interior concept modernised

The 8-seat interior has a few things not expected to be in a T1. While the designers have re-imagined a lot of the interior, they did not forget the original concept and the seating is one of the new features. In keeping with the external paintwork, it is also in two colours. Solid wood looking like that of a ship’s deck is used for the floor throughout and, with the nice bright leather tones, the electrified Samba Bus takes on a maritime feel. This impression is strengthened by the large panoramic folding roof.

The new speedometer is based on the original while a two-digit display within it creates a link to the modern era. There is a small detail in the centre of the speedometer: a stylised Bulli symbol. A multitude of further information is shown via a tablet integrated into the roof console.

Music on board comes from an authentic-looking retro-style radio which is equipped with cutting edge technology such as DAB+, Bluetooth and USB. The radio is linked to a sound system with high quality components, including an active subwoofer.

The e-BULLI will be available at prices starting from 64,900 euros (about RM307,000) for the T1 conversion (complete with redesigned front and rear axles), with T2 and T3 conversions also being offered by eClassics in Europe.

Volkswagen’s electric vehicles will use a 1-speed gearbox!


BMW Malaysia’s Child Safety Seat Subsidy program moves to Phase 2

With the compulsory use of Child Restraint Systems (CRS), typically childseats, having been imposed at the beginning of this year, parents have to buy such seats if they want to bring their small children out in the car. However, for those in the lower income group, it may be tough to purchase this item. To help this group, BMW Malaysia, Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation have announced the second phase of the child safety seat subsidy programme.

Helping the B40 group

The programme, aimed at the B40 group, will be supported by Shopee as its exclusive E-Commerce Partner alongside baby and children goods brands –
KU.KU Duckbill
 and
Otomo
, educational toys and games distributor – Mideer, food storage sealing solutions provider – Ankou, and car performance parts and accessories provider – Kakimotor.

As part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative, the subsidy programme was first introduced in December 2019 with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation where 150 units of infant carrier car seats were made available at a subsidised price of RM100 each. The initiative drew over 25,000 registrations from parents in the B40 income group.

“Our aim with this initiative has always been to make the use of child safety car seats instinctively mandatory; a basic practice as parents to ensure that children are always safe in cars. We are very pleased that these brands have come in to help us to not only advocate the importance of child safety seats but also to make more child safety seats accessible to those in the B40 income group. We hope more partners will continue to join us in taking ownership of this shared responsibility as we move towards collectively affecting change,” said Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Malaysia.

Second phase

The second phase of the subsidy programme will focus on equipping the remaining registrants from the first phase with a range of child safety seats for newborns to children of up to 36 kgs. This includes the snskidz Ace infant carrier car seat (for newborn to 13 kgs), the snskidz Sport car seat (for newborn to 18 kgs) and the snskidz Proto (for 2 year-olds to 36 kgs).  All snskidz child safety seats carry the ECE R44-04 certification.

Each of the snskidz child safety seats will be made available with the RM50 in subsidy amount, on top of a discounted price from Safe ‘n Sound that is exclusive for recipients of the subsidy programme. The snskidz Ace will be available at a subsidised price of RM99 (normally RM199) while the snskidz Sport and snskidz Proto will be priced at RM169 (RM269) and RM249 (RM349), respectively.

Recipients of the subsidy programme will receive a unique Shopee voucher worth RM113 which can be applied upon check-out at a dedicated microsite.

Raising additional funds

In hopes of accelerating the delivery of child safety seats amongst the first 25,000 registrants, BMW Malaysia, Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation are also initiating a public fund-raiser on the microsite. There is no minimum amount of contributions required from individuals. All funds raised will be channelled to Childline Foundation to subsidise as many child safety seats as possible for the remaining registrants.

“The new partners coming in to help us with this programme could not arrive at a better time, especially in light of the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. We want to continue to urge individuals, partners and companies who have the means to help subsidise these child safety seats to come together and take part in this movement to make child safety seats the first thing parents think about when they have their children in vehicles – whether by raising greater awareness on the topic through education, making child safety seats more accessible, or reaching out to us to be a part of the subsidy programme. We do hope to further accelerate delivery with the help and support from all Malaysians nationwide,” said Mr. Ambi.

BMW Group Malaysia invites other companies to join in childseat subsidy initiative


Scuderia AlphaTauri’s AT03 challenger for 2022 unveiled

The reveals of the 2022 Formula 1 racing cars continue this week, starting with Scuderia AlphaTauri’s new AT03. Like all the other contenders in this year’s championship, the AT03 has been engineered to meet the significantly changed technical regulations aimed at not just furthering sustainability in the sport but also promote closer racing.

“I am excited to finally reveal what our 2022 Formula 1 car will look like. It is a completely new era for F1 and we hope that this package will be very strong, following last year’s success,” said Franz Tost, Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal. Though finishing 6
th
 in the Constructors Championship, the 2021 season was the team’s most successful ever since they first raced in 2006 (as Scuderia Toro Rosso).

Same driver line-up

The drivers will be the same as for 2021 – Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda. Frenchman Gasly, who entered F1 in 2017, finished 9
th
 overall in the Drivers Championship last year and scored one podium (third place in the Azerbaijan GP). Tsunoda began his first season in F1 last year in place of Daniil Kvyat and finished 14
th
 in the championship.

The livery of the AT03 retains the white and navy blue colours that have become familiar with the team but with changes in the paint scheme. Gasly’s car will carry the number 10, while Tsunoda’s will have 22 which, incidentally, will be his age this year.

Honda power units, Red Bull name

The AT03 will run with Red Bull power units which are actually Honda power units supplied by Red Bull Powertrains, a F1 power unit maker owned by Red Bull. Red Bull Powertrains was established last year to take over the operation of F1 power units developed by Honda after the Japanese carmaker ceased its involvement in F1 at the end of the 2021 season. Naturally, the Red Bull Racing Team will also be using the same V6 engines during 2022.

The area where the biggest and most obvious changes can be seen – and the most important new element – is hidden underneath the car! A ground effect floor features two tunnels so that a much greater percentage of a car’s downforce is generated from the underside of the car.

Among other 2022 rules, the front and rear wings are much simpler in design, with no rear wing endplates or bargeboards. Each team can interpret the rules as they wish, but within very strict templates for what is permissible.

New requirements for chassis design

The chassis is the core element around which the entire AT03 is built, able to absorb more energy than before in front, rear and lateral impact tests. The 2022 design also requires the power unit to separate from the chassis in a crash without damaging the fuel cell. To further protect the driver in a frontal impact, the nose section is longer. All these changes have seen the car’s minimum weight increase by approximately 5% to 795 kgs.

Another very visible change is the switch from the 13-inch wheels that have been the norm in F1 since the 1960s, to 18-inch wheels, with just one supplier – BBS Motorsport – for all 10 teams. Aesthetically more pleasing and modern, the real function of the bigger low-profile tyres supplied by Pirelli is to make them less prone to overheating, so that the drivers can push harder for longer. However, they still have a performance drop-off to allow for interesting strategy choices. The compounds are also new this year, with Pirelli producing 5 different dry weather compounds of which three are chosen for each round, along with two wet weather options.

Yuki Tsunoda in the AT02 during the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship.

Both drivers are pleased with the looks of their new cars but do not know how they will perform with all the changes resulting from the new regulations. “We won’t know the true performance of the AT03 until we get it out on track at pre-season testing in Barcelona but so far, I think it looks great and I am very excited to get this new season started,” said Gasly. Last month, to get them warmed up for the new season, the drivers ran their 2020 car, the AT01, at Imola.


F1 (Round 14) – 2019 Italian Grand Prix Starting Grid

Race starts in Italy at 3:10 pm/9:10 pm in Malaysia


Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is now in Malaysia, priced from RM645,209 (w/VIDEO)

It was just a year ago that Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) introduced Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar, the Taycan, and now comes a variant, the Taycan Cross Turismo. As the ‘cross’ in the name suggests, this is a SUV although Porsche calls it a Cross Utility Vehicle (CUV).

SDAP is importing three variants with the following prices (without insurance):

Taycan 4 Cross Turismo – from RM645,209

Taycan 4S Cross Turismo – from RM728,727

Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo – from RM968,928

Design elements for the off-road image

With ‘utility’ in its function, the Taycan Cross Turismo has design elements that emphasise an off-road image. These include wheelarch trim, unique front and rear lower aprons, and side sills. Customers can also add the optional Off-road Design package which comes with special flaps at the corners of the front and rear bumpers and at the ends of the sills. These not only enhance the appearance but also help to give added protection from stone impacts.

Like the Taycan, the Taycan Cross Turismo rides on a high-tech chassis and all variants have all-wheel drive (AWD) as well as adaptive air suspension. Its off-road capability is enabled by higher ground clearance compared to the Taycan. With the Off-road Design package, ground clearance is increased by up to 30 mm.

Extra mode for off-road use

When driving over loose ground – with no emissions to spoil the environment – the driver can activate the new ‘Gravel’ mode exclusive to the Cross Turismo. This new feature manages torque distribution through traction-optimised shifting and other chassis settings, increasing grip and stability on surfaces with poor quality.

Inside, there’s 47 mm more headroom for rear passengers and more than 1,200 litres of load capacity (with rear seatbacks folded down). The large, automatically-opening tailgate makes loading and unloading easy.

Different output levels for each variant

All variants have the Performance Battery Plus, which has a total capacity of 93.4 kWh, but the output varies depending on the variant. The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo’s powertrain generates 280 kW (380 ps), with overboost power for Launch Control pushing it to 350 kW (476 ps). The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo has 360 kW (490 ps), with overboost power with Launch Control of 420 kW (571 ps), while the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo produces 460 kW (625 ps), and overboost power with Launch Control of 500 kW (680 ps).

The first shipment is already in Malaysia and those who are interested can contact SDAP to arrange an appointment to view the car by clicking
here
.

Porsche Taycan Driven by Karamjit Singh – Behind The Scenes Story


MercedesTrophy – Renowned Corporate Golf Challenge Returns For 29th year in Malaysia!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
 has announced the return of the highly-anticipated MercedesTrophy, the renowned international golf tournament that is open to all Mercedes-Benz customers to experience the Mercedes-Benz lifestyle through their passion for golf. About 1,000 Mercedes-Benz Malaysia customers are expected to participate in the tournament.

The MercedesTrophy is an exclusive international invitation tournament series for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia who are golf enthusiasts. More than
60,000 golfers in more than 60 countries
 tee off at this exclusive golf tournament every year. MercedesTrophy was introduced in 1991 and has now established itself an event taking place on every continent. To date, over a
million
 Mercedes-Benz customers and fans have teed off at the MercedesTrophy.

“Golf if a great sport that is played across all age groups and in my opinion, it is one of the most fascinating and multi-faceted sport there is. It is well-balanced with a combination of leisure, competition and camaraderie among players over the course of a rendezvous on the green. MercedesTrophy is a sporting event that reflects the brilliant connect of sports and lifestyle and underlines the premier status for Mercedes-Benz,”
 says
Dr Claus Weidner,
 (above)
President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

In testament to the overwhelming response received from our nationwide qualifying rounds held last year, this year’s competition will be played again in nine qualifying rounds whereby the top three winners of each rounds will then meet for the Malaysian Final at TPC Kuala Lumpur. See the tournament schedule below.

Tournament Schedule:

Qualifying Rounds

Venue

Tournament Date

Closing Date for Registration

1

Sutera Harbour Golf Club, Sabah

13 March

8 March

2

Palm Garden Golf Club, Putrajaya

18 March

8 March

3

Palm Garden Golf Club, Putrajaya

19 March

8 March

4

Penang Golf Club, Penang

28 March

20 March

5

The Mines Resort & Golf Club

3 April

25 March

6

The Mines Resort & Golf Club

4 April

25 March

7

Forest City Golf Resort, Johor

18 April

8 April

8

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Selangor

24 April

15 April

9

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, Selangor

25 April

15 April

The four categories are as follows:

Customers’ Category – Men              :           Category A     −          Handicap 0 – 12

Category B     −          Handicap 13 – 20

Category C     −          Handicap 21 – 24

Customers’ Category – Women        :           Category D     −          Handicap 0 – 36 (At Qualifying Round 8)

The top two winners in each of the three handicap categories for Gentlemen and one winner of the Ladies’ Category at the National Final will qualify for the
MercedesTrophy Regional Final Asia
, with an all-expenses paid trip to
Brisbane, Australia
 from
6 – 9 August 2019
. Three Asian teams will be selected to represent Asia in the
MercedesTrophy World Finals
 in
Stuttgart, Germany
 from
30 September – 5 October 2019.

Once again this year, the first player to achieve a
Hole-In-One
 on any of the two designated par-3 holes at each venue will win the all-new
Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 worth RM293,888
. Other prizes include Mercedes-Benz exclusive merchandises and other novelty prizes from the marketing partners for MercedesTrophy which include Crestlink, EPOS, The Edge, Taylormade, The Saujana Hotel & Resort, Carlsberg, Kinslager and Mercedes-Benz’s very own financial services arm, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia.

Mercedes-Benz Financial will sponsor nearest-to-pin:

9 qualifying rounds x RM2000 (holiday vouchers)

1 final x RM5000 (holiday vouchers)

Total of RM 23,000

Agility Campaign

Discover Agility financing by Mercedes-Benz Financial – the all-in-one financing plan that offers financing, insurance and service packages. Enjoy lower monthly instalments, guaranteed future value of your car, flexible end of agreement options, and a wide range of insurance products plus meticulous service packages. Now for a limited time, all Agility contracts comes with two complimentary free service. Perfect for individuals who seeks value with unrivalled benefits and peace of mind. Campaigns run from 11 February to 30 April.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia invites all Mercedes-Benz owners to give their best and be part of the MercedesTrophy worldwide. To take part in the competition, kindly log on to
www.mercedes-benz.com.my
.

For further enquiries, contact the
Mercedes-Benz’s Customer Care
 toll-free line:
1 800 88 9880.


29 Mitsubishi Motors service centres operating again

Selected authorised service centres in the Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) network are now operating after receiving approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to re-open after being closed during the Movement Control Order period.

Other than Sabah, one or more service centres in every state is open, and more should resume operations in due course. The list of locations below shows those now operating:

Listing as at May 3, 2020. For updates on service centre openings,
click here
.

Safety measures for customers and staff

To comply with the strict Standard Operating Procedures set by MITI, the service centres will have the following safety measures for the safety of customers and staff:

» Appointment basis only, no walk-in customers are allowed

» Contactless car acceptance

» Pick-up and drop-off only; customers are not allowed to wait at the premises

» Temperature checks and the use of facemasks for all customers and staffs

» Hand sanitizers available at the entrance of the service centres

» Vehicles sanitized before return to owners

MMM also assures owners that all warranty matters will continue to be honoured even if scheduled servicing and inspection has been missed due to the period of the Movement Control Order.

For emergency assistance and enquiries, customers and owners may call
1-800-88-2166 / 03-21610246.


Sales tax exemption will continue until June 30, 2021

This has been a year of a lot of bad news, some even tragic. But in between the bad news, there have been times when good news has come through like rays of sun piercing through dark clouds. For the auto industry, things looked grim in the first half of the year when shutdowns collapsed the market for a month. Then when the government started to plan for recovery, help came in the form of exemption of sales tax until the end the year.

This incentive must have made a difference as sales have been high over the past 5 months while people wanted to use the opportunity to save money on their purchase. As always, being able to sell cars at lower prices helps, and the companies hoped that they would get the exemption period extended into 2021. The Finance Ministry at first said no, and despite it being a time when many go on leave, some had to prepare new pricelists with the sales tax included again.

Finance Ministry changes its mind

Then, for reasons unknown, the Finance Ministry changed its mind and like the ray of sunshine in June, there was another ray again as it was announced that the exemption would continue until June 30, 2021. Whether it continues to be part of the Penjana stimulus package or is a separate provision is not known.

So for those who were disappointed that they missed the chance to save money because they could not get their loan applications approved in time or stocks were not available, this would be good news. There is no change to the exemption which also includes reconditioned vehicles.

Full exemption for locally-assembled models

Vehicles that are assembled locally will be entitled to the full exemption which is 10%, and those which are imported in CBU (Completed Built-Up) form will have only half the exemption, ie 5%. However, the exemption is not applicable to commercial vehicles and pick-ups.

Some models, like the new Honda City RS e:HEV which is due for delivery only from January 2021, will now be a bit cheaper than what buyers expected.

Generally, this means that the sales tax-exempt prices that have been applied since June will continue unless the company has reason to adjust prices. There may also be some new models that were due for delivery starting in January (eg the
new Honda City RS e:HEV
 and the
BMW 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition
) which will be cheaper without sales tax being included.

It is also learnt that the dreaded revision of Open Market Value (OMV) calculations that was to have been adopted from the start of 2021 would no longer take place. This would have raised prices of new vehicles but now, it seems that Customs has decided not to pursue the matter.

New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For November 2020


Rolls-Royce stolen under owner’s nose

vehicles are more than just a mode of transportation, to many, its an extension of thier personalities, allowing them a place to feel comfortable and secure, a social tool that can be enjoyed with friends and family as well as an office on wheels.

As such, sometimes many value their vehicles far more than they would like to believe. And should one be unfortunate enough to have his/hers stolen, at that moment, it may seem like the end of the world.

That is exactly what it seemed like for a businessman in the UK who had his Rolls-Royce Phantom stolen while he was in the garden. The thieves managed to break into his home, steal his car keys, and make a getaway undetected.

Fortunately for the owner, his £110,000 (RM611,281) car was fitted with the TRACKER system. It is an award-winning stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) technology that enables law enforcement and security personal to track down stolen vehicles.

Working together with law enforcement, the system was able to locate the Rolls-Royce in question, and in less than two hours, which is a feat in itself. Unlike a number of other such systems systems, this SVR one can locate stolen vehicles anywhere, even when they are hidden in a garage or a shipping container.

“I thought my car was gone for good. I can’t believe the thieves were bold enough to break in, in broad daylight. Thankfully, it was discovered at a supermarket car park in Leicester in less than two hours, which is a great result and demonstrates the importance of TRACKER’s unique relationship with police forces across the UK,” said the unnamed owner.

According to statistics released by the company,  in 2016, the most expensive car that it recovered in the UK was a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG worth £120,000 (RM666,851). But the reality is, luxury/expensive cars account for less than 1% of stolen vehicles that it had recovered.

In fact, the majority of the vehicles reported stolen by the company, are regular run-of-the-mill hatchbacks, sedans and MPVs. This means that car thieves are not brand biased or look to hijack extremely valuable sports cars, rather they prefer to target the ones that are most convenient for them.

As such, it is important that we exercise caution when choosing where we park our vehicles and how we secure them. Regardless of how sophisticated your car alarm is, it won’t be able to do you any favours if a thief is able to exploit its vulnerabilities, disarm it and driveway with your prized possession.


Isuzu maintains lead in truck segment in Malaysia

Isuzu Malaysia continued to be the dominant player in the commercial vehicle market in 2020. From the official data issued by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the total volumes for Isuzu place it as No. 1 truck for the 7th consecutive year and light-duty truck for the 11th consecutive year.

In 2020, Isuzu Malaysia delivered a total of 4,747 vehicles in all segments, and its record success as the most preferred light-duty truck brand in Malaysia for the 11th consecutive year was achieved by the flagship ELF truck with total sales of 4,551 units.

Highest market share

“Isuzu Malaysia is extremely delighted to have wrapped up the year 2020 with great achievements and to welcome this new year with double celebrations after having secured the top position for both truck and light-duty truck brand categories once again,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

“The total number of trucks we have sold last year is the highest market share that we have recorded since Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd was established. Last year was also our company’s 40th year anniversary in Malaysia, so this success is definitely a notable milestone for us,” he said. “It is also a reflection of our teams’ unrelenting commitment in making strong progress on our business execution. Our focus is to constantly strengthen the quality of our products and efficiency of our services to serve our customers better.”

“The pandemic situation in the past year had posed many extraordinary challenges for many people and companies across all industries. Despite the uphill market environment, I am pleased that we have managed to stay on course and effectively maximized our resources to help our customers move forward with their business operations,” Mr. Nakamura added.

Continued strategic initiatives

Despite the challenging market situation during the past year, Isuzu Malaysia took continued dealership network expansion, product innovation and ensured timely delivery of new trucks to customers. These strategic initiatives sustained sales growth, complemented by enhancements to service quality for increased customer satisfaction.

Latest engines in ELF models have B20 biodiesel compatibility.

Enhanced ELF launched

During 2020. the
enhanced Isuzu ELF
 was launched which offers the Isuzu Safety Plus platform. Besides the combination of safety system upgrades, the enhanced ELF also has B20 biodiesel compatibility and greater warranty benefits. The enhancements are available in 19 variants of the model which offers the widest range in light-duty truck market.

“Isuzu Malaysia’s strategy has always been built around having satisfied and productive customers and I am glad that our achievements had demonstrated a well-performed year for us. I would also like to commend and thank all our employees and skilled dealership teams for always making extra efforts for our customers. Their dedication has contributed hugely to Isuzu Malaysia’s uninterrupted leading position,” said Mr. Nakamura.

An Isuzu 3S dealership in Taiping, Perak

“Looking ahead in this new year, I believe that Malaysia’s economy will slowly but steadily improve, and many industries will further recover too. Although Isuzu is now well-known for offering a wide range of trucks that have become the preferred choice for quality, durability and cost-efficiency, we will continue to remain focused on providing more excellence and value to all our customers. Importantly, Isuzu Malaysia’s aim this year is to continue rendering assistance in essential services, ensuring smooth delivery of products and making contribution for people’s daily life and business,” he promised.

To know more about Isuzu’s range of vehicles and locations of dealerships in Malaysia, visit
www.isuzu.net.my
.

Isuzu Elf range enhanced with extra safety features, B20 compatibility and longer warranty


Citroën dominates Rally Turkey with one-two finish

It was a very good weekend for Citroën as their C3 WRC teams consisting of Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia and Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm achieved a magnificent one-two finish at the Rally Turkey. The results obtained over the weekend also means that the French manufacturer and team are back in the running for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ world titles.

More points were obtained over the weekend as both Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia achieved the third fastest time during the Power Stage. The last time the Citroën Total World Rally Team achieved a one-two victory was back in 2015 during the Rally Argentina event. As for this season, it’s the team’s ninth and tenth podiums and it looks like their pace are back for championship contention.

According to Sébastien Ogier, Citroën Total WRT driver, “We really needed this win if we were to have a chance of getting back into contention in the championship so I’m very happy to bring it home for the team this weekend. We knew that anything could happen at a rally like this where it is really rough, but we managed to keep out of trouble by adopting a smart approach. It’s a good morale boost for everyone as we move into the end of the season. We all know that we have to keep working really hard, but we’ll savour this win and then get down to work again tomorrow.”

As for Esapekka Lappi, Citroën Total WRT driver, he commented, “It was a very demanding event, one which I didn’t really enjoy last year, so I’m obviously pleased with my performance this weekend. We managed to have two very good first legs, displaying the same kind of pace as Seb and Julien, which is no easy feat. By Sunday, the challenge for us was to get the car over the line and help them as much as possible. Our C3 WRC was perfect this weekend. We had no issues whatsoever and that was one of the keys to us securing this great result.”

All-new Citroën C3 Aircross SUV unveiled – RM115,888


325 km/h street-legal Zenvo TSR-S unveiled, priced from almost RM7 million

Zenvo, the Danish hypercar manufacturer, has today revealed its latest TSR-S alongside further developments. This street-legal variant of the TSR track car has received numerous customised touches and is the first car to receive full fragmented carbonfibre wheels designed.

Following Danish design ideals of innovation and creativity, the geometric pattern carbonfibre visible within the blue tinted central stripe is a further evolution of Zenvo’s carbonfibre technology and personalisation options, such as the bespoke ‘watermark’ carbonfibre graphics featured on previous TSR-S models. This technique has also been used on the exposed carbonfibre side pods, with the Zenvo logo emblazoned within the material in an opposing herringbone pattern.

As for the new fragmented carbonfibre wheels, each minute fragment is hand-cut and expertly layered to create the special finish and weigh some 15 kgs less than the aluminium variants. These components are created in-house using a combination of cutting-edge technology and human craftsmanship with countless personalisation options. Each wheel takes two technicians roughly one week to create. All visible carbonfibre on the car can be colour-tinted, including the wheels, and clients can specify individual sections in differing finishes.

Also unveiled today is the latest drivetrain development from Zenvo, a hybrid variant of the 7-speed sequential gearbox with helical-cut dog gears that has become a trademark of the brand. This gearbox offers the driver two changeable modes, Road and Race, controlled by tactile aluminium switchgear on the steering wheel. In its Road setting, the changes are electronically assisted to remove the usual harshness of a traditional ‘dog-box’ while Race mode allows for exceptionally fast and direct mechanical changes usually only offered in fully fledged race cars.

The latest development of this innovative gearbox is the addition of a hybrid module which yields a power boost, further traction control and even the addition of an eighth forward gear with the electric motor providing reverse drive.

The 4.8-metre long TSR-S is Zenvo’s flagship model, combining the road-going capability of the TS1 GT with the track-derived performance of the TSR and is powered by a 1,177 bhp twin-supercharged flat-plane V8. 0 – 100 km/h is achieved in 2.8 seconds, with a claimed top speed of 325 km/h (electronically limited) aided by a super lightweight carbonfibre construction and exceptional aerodynamics including Zenvo’s patented Centripedal rear wing which reacts to steering inputs to create high levels of downforce while cornering.

The TSR-S is priced from at 1.45 million euros (almost 7 million ringgit) and only 5 cars are planned for each year.


Peugeot 205 GTI – The Other Hot Hatch Icon

In the mid-1970s, the arrival of the Volkswagen Golf GTI gave birth to what would come to be called ‘the hot hatch’. Though having the same appearance of the simple successor to the Beetle, the Golf GTI offered spirited, higher performance at an affordable price. Volkswagen thought they might sell  5,000 units but because it had entered the mainstream as well, the demand grew to 461,690 units by the time the first generation ended production.

The Golf GTI showed that the hatchback was not just for urban use but could also be a sporty car with driving dynamics enthusiasts would appreciate. The demand encouraged other carmakers to also start creating hotter variants of their bread and butter models and one of them was Peugeot, which came out with the 205 GTI.

Launched almost 10 years after Volkswagen’s GTI, the 205 GTI helped to give the French brand prominence at a time when it was having difficulties. It was derived from a new model range launched in 1983 as a city car. Jean Boillot, a member of the board of directors at the end of the 1970s, had asked the product team for a new small car that would be much more than a city car.

His brief was challenging: it has to be versatile and multi-purpose, as comfortable in the city as on country roads, capable of transporting a small family, and also affordable. The car they came up with marked the entry of Peugeot into the modern era of compact cars.

While most of the previous Peugeot models had been designed by Pininfarina, the 205 was the creation of the company’s own stylists. They came up with a new design language which would continue across to other models, with elements such as the grille with horizontal bars and the band between the rear lights. Pininfarina was not left out, though, and got to do the 205 Cabriolet.

With the hot hatch segment firmly entrenched in the market, the 205 was an ideal model to be Peugeot’s representative. It was the first model to be powered by the new family of XU engines which had outputs from 45 bhp to 200 bhp (used in the 205 Turbo 16).

In its initial version with a 1.6-litre engine producing 113 bhp, the 205 GTI, which weighed less than 900 kgs, could go from 0 to 100 km/h in under 9 seconds and reach a top speed of 187 km/h. Later on, a 1.9-litre engine provided even more muscle with 128 bhp/161 Nm to bring the 100 km/h sprint to 7.8 seconds and top speed past 200 km/h.

The launch of the 205 GTI did not only introduce a new model line but also a new World Rally Championship (WRC) contender from Peugeot. Corrado Provera, who was Peugeot Sport director in the 1980s, had also seen the 205 as being a good basis for its WRC car and had a Group B car developed almost simultaneously. He was able to have the car shown to the world alongside the production model at the launch.

The Group B 205 Turbo 16 was one of the legendary rallycars developed by Peugeot Sport in the 1980s.

The Group B 205 Turbo 16, as it was known, was one of those incredible rallycars of that era which eventually got banned because they were just too powerful. In its first version, the turbocharged engine produced about 350 bhp and by the final version, the output was up to 550 bhp.

During this first season, Ari Vatanen won 3 rallies and in 1985 and 1986, the 205 Turbo 16 helped Peugeot win the Manufacturers title with Timo Salonen and Juha Kankkunen to take the drivers’ titles in 1985 and 1986, respectively.

The 205 Turbo 16 also raced in the 1987 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in America.

When the Group B cars could no longer take part in the WRC after 1986, Peugeot Sport looked at other events to enter the car in. One of them was the Paris-Dakar Rally, which was won Vatanen, and then Kankkunen. The 205 T16 also joined the Group B Audi Quattro to race in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in 1987, providing another demonstration of its incredible performance.

The success of the WRC car did have a positive effect on sales of the 205, noted Provera. In Europe, where people follow motorsports closely, winning cars often see improved sales in the showrooms. With the appearance of the 205 T16 readily associated with the standard 205, many chose the 205 GTI which offered high performance.

Production of the 205 GTI lasted for almost 10 years, ending in 1993. 5,278,050 units of the 205 would be produced, with the GTI version accounting for more than 330,000 units. Although mention of ‘GTI’ often brings to mind the Golf GTI, there is no doubt that the 205 GTI is just as much a hot hatch icon and sets the pulse racing – just as it did 40 years ago.

Unfortunately, it was in existence at a time when the Peugeot brand was not well represented in Malaysia after Asia Motors stopped being the distributor, so few units were imported. By the time MBf-Peugeot took over in the early 1990s, other new Peugeot models like the 405 had come out and received more attention.

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Peugeot 4×4 Boxer Concept departs from traditional camper vans

The Peugeot Boxer is a light commercial vehicle that was jointly developed by the PSA Group and Fiat, a typical approach among European companies in order to achieve good economies of scale by having bigger production volumes. The van has been in production since 1981 and the model sold today is the fourth generation. Besides the Peugeot Boxer, it has been sold as a Fiat Ducato, Citroen Jumper/Relay, Alfa Romeo AR6, Talbot Express and Ram Promaster.

Apart from being popular with businesses, the Boxer has also been popular with travellers as a camper van. As a result, Peugeot designers have periodically presented ideas for customers to personalise their vehicle. The Rifter 4×4 concept displayed earlier this year is one example.

Departure from traditional camper vans

Now comes the Boxer 4×4 Concept which has been conceived for a recreational vehicle shown in France. Following on from the Rifter concept, the challenge was to depart from the traditional world of camper vans and showcase Peugeot’s vision for this type of vehicle.

For starters, ‘immersion in nature’ is achieved by using a body colour called Wanderlust Green which enhances the bodywork. The grille is sculpted in the brand’s purest current style with bright cast iron tassels. A more robust lower body frame echoes the protective tread at the front and the notched fender flares.

The proportions of the front end change in depth with the windscreen visor. Practical as ever, with the access areas to the windscreen or front bumper engine have also been restyled. Getting back to camp in the middle of the night will be as easy as in the daytime, thanks to 8 LED modules integrated directly into the bodywork above the windscreen.

Optimised cabin for 3 people

Built on a standard 6-metre long Boxer platform, the cabin has been optimised to offer adventurers a 10 square metre living space, ideally for 3 people. There are 4 distinct zones, with a kitchen and dining area, a sleeping area, a bathroom and the driver’s area.

The interior has been conceived as a refreshing ‘cocoon’ with soothing light tones that contrast with the exterior. The woodwork warms the atmosphere up with the upholstery and trimmings specially fabricated for this concept model.

A sporty technical mesh is used and this is combined with an Alcantara material from the new upholstery of Peugeot models like the e208 GT, 508 HYBRID GT, 508 SW HYBRID GT and 3008 HYBRID 4. The textile transfer uses a technique adopted by major textile brands to achieve a Mint shade.

Eco efficiency in materials

Eco efficiency and durability are at the heart of the Boxer 4 x 4 Concept so special attention has been given to choosing the materials for the table, the worktop and the sink. Aragonite, a white natural mineral which combines the hardness of natural stone with the beauty of ceramic is used. The entire floor is made of 100 recycled and 100 recyclable materials! The plastics used are from 85 car fuel tanks, 10 milk bottles and 5 soap bottles.

Like the Rifter concept, the Boxer concept also has a 4×4 DANGEL transmission with a viscous drive and transfer case at the front. It is activated via 3 switches located within reach on the left side of the dashboard and 3 modes are available for different driving conditions.

To extend the range of adventurers, the Peugeot eM 02 FS Powertube ATV is included. An electrically-assisted mountain bike, this is the latest generation of eBikes from the French company. The compact battery is integrated directly into the frame, so the style is fluid and sleek. It is stored at the rear of the vehicle on a dedicated hitch.

Click here for other news and articles about Peugeot in PISTON.MY

Visit
www.peugeot.com.my
 to know about the models available in Malaysia


Finance Ministry gives firm assurance that new reporting methodology will not increase vehicle prices during 2020

In the past couple of weeks, there has been speculation that a new tax structure will result in new vehicle prices increasing after the Chinese New Year period. The matter (which related to excise duties) was even documented in the Government Gazette at the end of last year, catching the car companies by surprise.

Needless to say, the public was not happy, especially when it concerned increases in car prices. It’s a sensitive issue because the view is that our car prices are too high and that’s of course due to the taxes imposed. Rather than look at higher sales generating more taxes, the government prefers to just impose heavy taxes to get its revenue which is around RM7 billion a year from the auto industry.

Anyway, you can breathe easy now as the Finance Ministry has confirmed that there will be no increase in new vehicle prices, for the whole of 2020 at least. The good news was conveyed by Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), during the association’s annual press conference to review the market in 2019.

Good news for car companies and consumers

Datuk Aishah said she had actually been informed of a meeting to get the news but she said she was already committed to the press conference so the ministry officials thought it would be a timely announcement she could make when the media was gathered. It was a piece of good news for the industry – something rare as, more often than not, there are new policies which increase the challenges. This time, many people will be able to go off for their holidays relieved that they won’t be coming back to a more difficult situation.

“The Finance Ministry informed me this morning that there will be no increase in the on-the-road price of vehicles due to the transparent reporting of the Open Market Value (OMV). If there is any vehicle affected by this reporting, there will be 100% exemption on the increase incurred until December 31, 2020,” she said.

She was made to understand that any increase in prices as a result of the transparent methodology would be fully absorbed/exempted by the Finance Ministry during 2020, and the difference in duties for past years would also be exempted.

“This is effective immediately and our member companies have been asked to submit the OMV based on the transparent calculation to the Customs Department for those vehicles which are affected by applying the methodology,” Datuk Aishah said.

She explained that the methodology was not actually new and had been applied for years. However, with the transparent calculation, there should be no more disputes over the OMV and this will speed up things. It is understood that the actions of the ministry are related to its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Prices of CBU imported vehicles could change from the second half of this year with ‘real-time’ valuations for computing duties.

After 2020?

And what happens in 2021? “Well, we have been informed that there will be further consultations by the industry players with the Finance Ministry and Customs during the year,” she said, adding that the prices of CBU (completely built-up) imports would likely change after May 31, 2020. This is due to a revised method of computation which will be more ‘real-time’ with respect to the value of the vehicles.

So if you were worried that you might have to pay more if you buy after Chinese New Year, that’s not going to be the case. The announcement does not mean that prices won’t change as there are other factors that influence pricing, eg exchange rates, production costs, etc but those are beyond the control of the industry and the government. But as has also been the case for years, the companies will try their best to absorb increases for as long as they can so that their prices remain attractive and competitive.


IONIQ – from model name to brand name

It used to be that the company name was also a brand name and used with every model the company sold. However, in recent times, especially with the advent of electric vehicles (EVs), some companies are finding that it would be better to create a dedicated sub-brand for such vehicles and give them more prominence.

Hyundai Motor is the latest to do so with the announcement of the IONIQ brand which will be for EVs. Most readers would know that the IONIQ name has already been used by a Hyundai model. The name, which fuses ‘ion’ and ‘unique’ was first introduced in 2016 as ‘Project IONIQ’, a long-term R&D project focused on eco-friendly mobility.

Based on the project, Hyundai introduced a model named IONIQ which was unique in that it could be powered by a choice of three powertrain options – hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and full electric – within the same bodystyle.

The IONIQ was introduced to the Malaysian market in 2016, and is available only with a hybrid powertrain.

Three new models in four years

Mow, the company will re-assign the model name to become a brand name. Over the next four years, the Korean carmaker will introduce a range of numerically named EVs under the new brand, with the even numbers used for sedans and the odd numbers for SUVs. These will start, in early 2021, with the IONIQ 5. In 2022 will come the IONIQ 6 sedan and in early 2024, the IONIQ 7 which will be a large SUV.

The first model, the IONIQ 5, will be a midsize CUV (Compact Utility Vehicle) based on the concept 45 which was displayed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motorshow as a homage to its very first concept car. The IONIQ 5’s designers have taken inspiration from the past and integrated it with cutting-edge parametric pixels, a unique design element that Hyundai designers will continue to incorporate into future IONIQ models.

Concept 45 (above) will be the basis of the IONIQ 5′ design, while the Prophecy concept (below) provides the designers with the starting point for the styling of the IONIQ 6.

The IONIQ 6 sedan will be based on the company’s latest concept car, the Prophecy, which made its debut 5 months ago. The IONIQ 7 SUV will share the vehicles’ common design theme of ‘Timeless Value’. The vehicles will be inspired by past models but they will be a bridge to the future, says Hyundai.

E-GMP platform

All IONIQ models will sit on an Electric Global Modular Platform, known as ‘E-GMP’, that will have fast charging capability and generous driving range. The EV-dedicated platform will allow Hyundai designers to reimagine the cabin as a ‘smart living space’ with highly adjustable seats, wireless connectivity and unique features such as a glovebox designed as drawers.

The platform paradigm shift will extend into the user interfaces that will be simple, intuitive and ergonomically designed to help occupants feel at ease.

Strategy 2025

The Hyundai Motor Group recently announced that the Group aims to sell 1 million units of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and take 10% share to become a leader in the global EV field by 2025. Under Strategy 2025, Hyundai Motor Company itself aims to become the world’s third-largest automaker of eco-friendly vehicles by 2025, with 560,000 BEV sales in addition to Fuel Cell EV sales.

Hyundai celebrated the launch of the IONIQ brand by turning the London Eye into a giant letter ‘Q’ using electric lights just before the official reopening of the famous attraction. With the otherwise bustling city of London having come to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, Hyundai is ‘bringing new energy into the city’ by lighting up and turning one of its most iconic sights once again.

Revised prices of 2020 Hyundai models


2021 BMW 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition – only 36 units available

The BMW 5-Series is the best-selling executive sedan in the world, so there are obviously many on the road. For those who want their 5-Series to be a bit more exclusive, BMW Malaysia has prepared 36 units of a Dark Shadow Edition of the latest 530i M Sport.

RM10,000 more than standard version

Priced at
RM392,800
 (excluding insurance) – RM10,000 more than the 530i M Sport – the limited edition has a Carbon Black exterior colour with Shadow Line Part and M Performance Wheelset. The signature kidney grille is also finished in high-gloss black, and the window finishers are also in black. Also fitted are 20-inch M Performance light alloy wheels in Double-spoke style 669 M Orbitgrey.

Customers can choose either Black Dakota leather with blue stitching, or Cognac Dakota leather with contrast stitching.

Assembled locally at the BMW facility in Kedah, the 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition has a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol with an output of 252 bhp/350 Nm. Power goes to the rear wheels through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.

For online purchase only

While you can view the car at selected dealerships in the Klang Valley, you can only purchase the 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition via
BMW Shop Online
 from January 4, 2021. The booking fee is just RM1,000.

Customers requiring financing for their purchase can consider the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia. This plan has monthly instalments starting from RM4,488 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a 5-year tenure), subjected to terms and conditions.

Click here for other news and articles about BMW.


Aston Martin DB11 Volante finally unleashed

Aston Martin has unveiled the DB11 Volante , the convertible version of the DB11 Coupe that was launched last year. Engineered to be the best open-top supercar created by Aston Martin, it boasts a convertible fabric roof that has been designed to withstand close to 10 years of abuse without breaking a sweat.

Like its Coupe brethren, the Volante is constructed from an all-new bonded aluminum structure, which is 26% lighter and more rigid than is predecessor’s. Adding to that, it is said to offer better performance and handling abilities without sacrificing refinement and luxurious that are expected of a gran tourer.

Aston Martin has given the car the same single-piece aluminium bonnet and ‘Curlicue’ aerodynamic feature from the DB11 Coupe, which improves airflow and reduces weight. Then, there are also new wood/carbon fibre veneer panels on the seat backs, ultra-slim ‘light blade’ tail lights and newly designed forged alloy wheels.

Under the hood is the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine that delivers close to 510bhp, which is coupled with a smooth shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Drivers will be able to alter the Volante’s behaviour by adjusting its 3-stage powertrain and chassis modes.

These systems coupled with dynamic torque vectoring, allow drivers to adapt the vehicle’s behavior to the various roads and weather conditions. But, much to the dismay of purists, the DB11 Volante is fitted with an electric power steering as apposed to the tried and tested hydraulic setup.

That said, the stand out feature of the Volante has to be its sophisticated fabric roof. It is an all-new 8-layer design that is fitted with insulation materials that help reduce ambient noises especially tha of weather and wind. It only needs about 14 seconds to fully fold into the rear and a mere 16 seconds to come back up – all done with just the remote key.

Due to the construction method and the way that this fabric roof is able to fold neatly away, the the car has 20% more boot space in the rear compared to the outgoing DB9 Volante. This makes the new vehicle a more practical grand tourer, and one that can be used on a daily basis.

Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer, said, “For many of our customers, indeed many generations of Aston Martin customer, the Volante has always offered something very special: a unique combination of elegant style, innate sporting ability and sensory engagement that lifts it above other open-top cars.”

He then added that, “The new DB11 Volante captures those qualities perfectly and promises the kind of pleasure and enjoyment that can only come from driving an open-top Aston Martin.”

Aston Martin has announced that the first round of deliveries will take place towards the first quarter of 2018, which is still a long way off, but judging from the looks alone, we doubt Aston Martin will have any problems selling this particular car.


Audi A5 Sportback: If You’re Tired of BMWs and Benz’s!

“… but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” is a quote penned by Benjamin Franklin in 1789.

And though 234 years have passed since then, the quote still holds true.

The Malaysian automotive tax structure is among the highest in the world. This is great for the government coffers, but not so great for car buyers and lovers since we have to pay tens if not hundreds of thousands more for cars than anywhere else but Singapore.

Because of the taxes, seemingly regular cars that are designed to be affordable elsewhere, are considered a luxury in Malaysia.

Take the Audi A5 Sportback for example. In Germany it sells for 33,300 Euros, roughly about the RM165,000. One could argue that it is priced as such because the A5 Sportback is made in Germany.

In neighboring Thailand on the other hand, the A5 Sportback retails for RM400,000.

In Malaysia, the same car is priced at a little over RM460,000. Which is undoubtedly expensive, but does the A5 Sportback actually warrant such an asking price?

Design & Interior

Sexy, sleek and a definite head turner is how we would describe the A5 Sportback. It is an obvious evolution of the first generation of the A5 which is how Audi likes to do it – a keen desire to moderns its designs with a firm eye on the past, is how I would describe Audi’s design language.

The frameless doors are arguably the best thing about the design of the A5 Sportback. The doors are reminiscent of times of past where frameless doors were cool and extravagant. These days they are found in expensive supercars, in Malaysia at least.

Audi also deserves credit for those hexagonal twin exhaust pipes. Not for the way they look but because they are not just there for show but are actual exhaust pipes. Which is something a lot of car makers love to fake for the sake of design.

Inside the overall design is simplistic yet functional. And again, in usual Audi form, everything feels well built. Though the buttons and switches are obviously from the Volkswagen parts bin, somehow they feel better in the Audi. It’s as if more thought and care was put into assembling the Audi than a Volkswagen.

There are annoying buzzes from the dash over uneven surfaces and at certain speeds, but a quick flick of the volume knob fixes that.

On the topic of knobs, I truly appreciate the fact that the Audi A5 Sportback has not succumbed to haptic buttons like some of the Volkswagen models have. Some of the most basic controls such as air-conditioning and audio controls are still controlled using regular physical knobs. Haptic buttons are horrible especially when you are trying to drive and slide your fingers over the controls at the same time. It is worse if you suffer from sweat palms which makes the buttons completely unusable at times.

So the fact that the A5 Sportback still uses regular knobs is a great thing. But considering that a number of Audi models have already turned to haptics including the latest RS6, it is unfortunately only a matter of time before the A5 succumbs as well.

Space too is a little tight. Though there is space in the backseat for a baby chair, a three year old toddler will find little room to stretch his legs. Space in the 465-litre booth though was decent enough for a weekend getaway with the family including space for a small stroller. And though the driver is able to get comfortable for long distance drives, the passenger sitting directly behind a six-foot tall driver wouldn’t be left with much.

On the other hand, the software of the Audi entertainment system deserves a special mention as it is one of the easiest to use in the automotive business.

It does not hide instructions behind layers of commands and everything is laid out neat and tidy across large tiles that clearly spell out what they are supposed to do. Some car makers (Mercedes especially) can be over enthusiastic with their programs and there are just way too many commands, which makes it difficult to navigate around. Not in this Audi.

And the fact that it comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a definite plus point.

The 10.1-inch Audi infotainment system is faultless as is the Audi Virtual Cockpit which is basically Audi lingo for digital meter panel.

The fully digital meter panel offers three different display styles, each with its own unique style – either basic with minimal information which I like, or Dynamic and Sporty which tries too hard to make it feel like a race car with too much information which can be overwhelming.

Engine & Drive

The A5 Sportback is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine that is mated to a 7-speed twin-clutch S Tronic gearbox. The powertrain is another one from the Volkswagen parts bin, but that is not a bad thing.

And just as you would expect of any Audi, power is sent to all four wheels. The Quattro system has become synonymous with the German carmaker. Afterall, this single piece of technology catapulted Audi to “Gods of Rally” status back in the early 80s. On the road, this translates to enhanced safety especially when driving through the torrential Malaysian afternoon showers.

The A5 Sportback also offers five different driving modes which Audi calls Drive Select. Drive modes is not particularly special since a lot of cars offer it now but the one in the Audi has one called Auto, which basically means that the car is able to “study” your driving style and give you the best efficiency or performance depending on the behavior of your right foot. Now that’s not something a lot of cars can boast about.

On the move, the A5 Sportback offers a serene interior that not even the 35 profile Bridgestone tyres can intrude on. Now that’s saying something as low profile tyres don’t have much rubber to absorb noise before it is transferred back to the cabin.

I particularly liked the Jackly & Hyde character of the A5 Sportback. Depending on the selected driving mode, it can either be a laid back and comfortable car, or in Dynamic mode (which is Sport mode), the car engages the driver with a sportier engine note and sharper handling with the accelerator responding to every little throttle input.

Conclusion

There are very few cars in today’s market that offer four doors, great looks and a fun driving experience while retaining some comfort and perhaps even space for a small, vertically challenged family. The Audi A5 Sportback has all of that, but at RM460,000, it is its own worst enemy.

But the price is not Audi Malaysia’s doing because the A5 Sportback is one of the few European cars in Malaysia that is actually made in Germany and it shows with the quality of the interior and some of the fit and finishing around the car.

But because it is imported, that simply means that buyers will have to pay the usual mountain of taxes.

So should you buy it? Well if you like a car that screams style and elegance then of course you should. Just don’t pay attention to the automotive classified websites where an A5 Sportback with similar specification sells for a fraction of the price. The only thing going for you then would be the fact that you can rest easy knowing you have an official Audi service centre to turn to should anything turn awry.

Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, petrol, TFSI

Power: 249PS @ 5000rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1600rpm

Transmission: 7-speed S Tronic

Fuel Consumption: 7.1-litres/100 (Combined cycle)

Price: RM460,162 (with Audi Assurance Package)

We like: Stylish good looks, refined interior, fun drive

We don’t like: Price


Driving impressions of the new Kia Carnival

In America, they call MPVs ‘minivans’ and in fact, that’s where these people-carriers started. In the mid-1980s, Chrysler came come out with a vehicle that could carry more people than a stationwagon and had the spaciousness of a van. It was actually an idea that Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich came up with when they were in Ford but Henry Ford II didn’t like the concept and then later fired both of them (for other reasons). Both men moved to Chrysler where they continued the project and introduced a new market segment that was so successful that it saved Chrysler from collapse.

Elsewhere in the world, the minivan idea caught the attention of other carmakers but they called it a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) which emphasized its versatility in carrying people and cargo. MPVs quickly became a new segment, joining sedans, coupes, liftbacks, hatchbacks and stationwagons. They came in various sizes, big and small, just as with the SUVs that started appearing in the following decade.

Kia came out with its first MPVs in the late 1990s, a small one called the Carens and a big one called the Carnival. Both were popular in many markets and the Carnival was even adapted by Naza and sold as the
Ria
 under its own brand in the 2000s. Although SUVs have since gained dominance in the company’s product lines, MPVs still have a place and the effort put into styling the Carnival’s fourth generation is no less than for the other models. In fact, Kia is even trying to reposition it higher up by referring to it as a ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’ (GUV?).

Large MPV with SUV style

The dimensions of the new Korean MPV give it an imposing presence on the road – slightly more than 5 metres in length and 2 metres wide. However, it’s not as tall as other MPVs and the styling is SUV-like with an upscale appearance. There is yet another interpretation of the ‘Tiger nose’, a familiar signature element in Kia models for some 15 years, which spans the whole width of the front end.

The detail is impressive with the integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs), headlamps and grille, having a futuristic new look and unique light signature. The new Kia brand logo is also seen for the first time on a model in Malaysia, affixed to the bonnet and the rear door.

A key design highlight is its new ‘island roof’ design, with blacked-out A and B-pillars beneath a body-coloured roof. An eye-catching new C-pillar signature design also stands out, with a chrome fin bearing a subtle diamond pattern. Another element of the SUV-inspired design is the metallic lower skidplate at the rear.

The monolithic form is also aerodynamically efficient and little details along the sides keep airflow smooth for less drag. The underside is also largely closed off so air rushing through underneath does not become turbulent as it encounters openings in the floorpan.

The new body sits on a new midsize Hyundai Motor Group platform that has a longer wheelbase of 3090 mm and the structure has had a lot of engineering improvements to strengthen rigidity. There’s expanded use of hot-stamped parts as well as ultra high-tensile steel and cold-rolled steel.

Progression towards a more premium image

Like the exterior, the inside of the Carnival shows another progression towards a more premium image. The finishing is impressive and the materials have a high-class feel and look. Some new models have gone fully digital and touchscreen for everything and it is not always practical. In the case of the Carnival, the interior designers provide different adjusting methods that are more sensible.

For example, a rocker switch is used for temperature adjustment (individual for left and right sides) which is a lot better than a touchscreen which you need to look and pinpoint your finger on – not so good while driving. For the blower speed and switching between recirculating and fresh air mode, there are pushbuttons and for tuning the radio, a rotary knob is used.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen is the command centre for the infotainment system where you might need to just touch an icon once to activate an app. The system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready so compatible smartphones can easily be connected and the popular apps operated from the display.

The 11-seater cabin

The lengthened wheelbase means a more spacious interior and there’s space for up to 11-persons in the massive cabin. That ‘11-seater’ is mentioned gives it an image of being a minibus though it is far from that! The 4-row/11-seat layout is available when really needed but it is likely that the Carnival will be used as a 7-seater at most with the fourth row folded into the floor. For smaller groups, it can even be configured with four individual rear seats (generously-sized) and a passage between them which can be filled by a table that appears when the middle seats are folded.

The centre row can be folded sideways to create a walk-thru aisle to the rear when there are four or more rear passengers, and when the middle seat is folded down, the back of the seat can be turned into a table with cupholders (below).

Each seat has 3-point seatbelts and the air-conditioning is well designed to ensure that the last row gets cool air as well. A separate control unit is provided for the rear occupants to adjust their environment for a more comfortable journey.

The Carnival comes with two side doors which are motorized and are ‘smart’ because they can open automatically when you stand next to them (or you can press the key fob button) . To avoid accidents when getting out, the sensors that are used for the blind spot detection are also used to detect vehicles approaching. If a vehicle detected and the door is about to be opened, its operation will be stopped. This is a great safety feature, especially for those with kids who may be eager to rush out when the vehicle is stopped.

When 11 seating spaces are not needed, the fourth row can be folded flat and out of sight (below).

The back door also has the smart sensing feature which opens it automatically upon approach. While it is certainly a convenient feature, it might not be practical in certain situations. For example, if you are parked near a wall and the door starts to open by itself (when you are nearby), the door may hit the wall or worse, trap you against it! Perhaps the system should detect if there is a wall and deactivate the automatic opening. Or better still, just deactivate the feature in the settings and use the button on the key fob.

Both the front seats have 8-way power adjustment with the driver’s seat having lumbar adjustment as well. The seating position is such that the driver can have a commanding position which is important given the size of the Carnival. In fact, on our drive, we had a rather small-sized person who was not intimidated at all by the vehicle’s size and found easy to drive.

Individual safety systems

The latest Carnival comes with a long list of active safety systems but it doesn’t have a suite with a fancy sounding name like many of the new models introduced lately. Besides the airbags at the front, all the side windows have curtain bags which will deploy if the vehicle is hit from the side and by covering the openings, there is reduced risk of someone being ejected if the accident is a violent one.

The Surround View Monitor makes it easy to park the large Carnival and the simulated overhead view is detailed enough to help position the vehicle properly in a bay.

An interesting safety system is Multi-Collision Brake Control (MCBC) which reduces the severity of a secondary impact if it occurs after a collision. This can happen after the vehicle is hit and the driver may no longer be in control. When activated, the system measures vehicle speed and any changes of direction, applying the appropriate level of braking force to bring the vehicle to a stop. It may also use the electronic stability control system in some cases but will not activate if the speed is very high as automatic brake intervention at high speeds could cause undesirable vehicle reactions.

Driving impressions

The Carnival imported to Malaysia (and which will be assembled locally in future) comes with only a turbodiesel engine that runs on Euro5 (B7) fuel. This is the new 2.2-litre Smartstream unit that has an aluminium block which saves 38 kgs compared to the previous engine with a cast iron block. It generates 199 bhp with maximum torque of 440 Nm available from 1,750 rpm to 2,750 rpm. The strong low-end torque at the front wheels will be appreciated when the 2,000-kg MPV moves off.

Kia has fitted a conventional torque converter automatic transmission and it has a good choice of 8 ratios well matched to the relaxed engine’s characteristics. A rotary knob (with a high quality finish) on the centre console is used for selecting the main operating modes with a PARK button in the middle. The driver can choose drive modes for more acceleration or better economy but we found that the default mode is a good balance and there was no real need to use the other modes.

On the move, the size of the Carnival becomes less apparent the longer you drive it. Thanks to the nicely-weighted motor-assisted steering, the vehicle is easy to maneuver and it doesn’t wallow in corners either. The size and weight became advantageous on highways where there is good stability and the vehicle sits firmly on the road at high speeds. The long wheelbase also smoothens the ride quality although those in the rearmost row will tend to feel bumps a bit more noticeably.

For now, the Carnival imported in completely built-up form from Korea is priced at RM196,340.80 (without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia registration). You have a choice of 6 colours, and Dinamikjaya, the new distributor, offers a 5-year vehicle/100,000 km warranty and during the first 5 years (or maximum of 100,000 kms), scheduled maintenance will be free.

It’s no secret that the Carnival will be assembled locally at the Inokom plant in Kedah later this year. And the assembly operations will be managed by Kia Malaysia, which Kia Motors has majority share in. Naturally, when assembled locally, the price will be lower and if Dinamikjaya can maintain a similar level of equipment and features, the Carnival should be a worthwhile buy for those wanting a large MPV. As we said earlier, don’t let the ’11-seater’ description be a turn-off as the extra seats can be out of sight (though not removed).

Kia Malaysia reveals 5-year plan with 61% of local production to be exported


Fuel Price Updates For December 23 – December 29, 2021


2019 BMW X5 & BMW X2 M35i previewed – Estimated RM400k-RM640k

Apart from the official launch of the all-new BMW X4 last night, BMW Malaysia also took the opportunity to preview to other additions from the BMW X family which are the all-new BMW X5 and BMW X2 M35i.

Simply put, the new versions of the Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) and Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) are now available with more power and better styling for those looking for something a bit on the wild side without sacrificing any of the BMW class.

Mr. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “In the first four months of this year alone, the delivery of over 1,500 BMW X vehicles demonstrates the demand for our Sports Activity Vehicles and Sports Activity Coupe. We are committed to fulfilling that increasing demand with the All-New BMW X5 and the New BMW X2 M35i, and once again set a new benchmark for the premium SAV & SAC segment.”

“As the pioneer of the BMW X family, the BMW X5 delivered more than 2.2 million units across its three model generations, making it the best-selling SAV worldwide. This worldwide success is also reflected here in Malaysia as the BMW X5 is a key contributor to BMW Group Malaysia’s performance year on year. On the other hand, its sportier sibling, the BMW X2 has delivered close to 100 units since its introduction last April,” added Hoelzl.

All-new BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport – Estimated price RM640,000

Exterior muscular prowess is undeniable when it comes to the new BMW X5 and now, it is sportier than ever especially with its new lower profile and large kidney grille surrounded with those Adaptive LED headlights.

The M Sport package which include 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels, M Sport brakes with fixed callipers, and BMW M logo further accentuate the vehicle’s sporty driving capabilities.

Go around the rear and one will quickly notice its new three-dimensional wrap-around LED taillights and large rectangular tailpipes which projects an ‘image of formidable power familiar to the BMW X Series.’

Just like the X4, the new X5 is now longer and wider to accommodate not just better handling but also increased comfort for all occupants and also more boot space at the back (650 litres to be exact). It is also to ensure that BMW is able to house a more powerful 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.

The petrol-based powerhouse in the new X5 is able to reach a top speed of 243km/h thanks to its capabilities of producing 340hp and 450Nm of maximum torque. 0-100km/h only takes 5.5 seconds and even more amazing is that is able to provide a low fuel consumption of 9.2-litres/100km.

The M Sport DNA has been injected heavily when it comes to designing the new BMW X5 with the additions of M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, electrically adjustable sport seats, Vernasca Leather upholstery, plus many more.

Creature comforts are also not neglected with specs like four-zone air conditioning, Rear Seat Entertainment Professional, panorama glass roof, two-piece tailgate, and more. Other specs include:

New BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Navigation Professional

3-inch Information Display

New BMW Head-up Display

BMW Operating System 7.0

BMW Personal CoPilot

Four colour options will be made available once the car goes on sale; Mineral White, Black Sapphire, Artic Grey and Phytonic Blue. BMW Malaysia stated the expected price of the BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport will be around RM640,000 (OTR without insurance).

BMW X2 M35i – Expected price RM400,000

The new X2 M35i is all about these three aspects; extreme athleticism, dynamic driving performance and pure confidence on the road. Redesigned with a huge dose of that M Performance goodness, the M Performance SAC is ‘more assured on the asphalt thanks to its sharpened design and powerful proportions.’

Styling updates presented in the X2 M35i can be seen straight away from the double kidney grille finished in Cerium Grey. Side air inlets for better brakes and cooling efficiency has also been enhanced not just for better looks but also performance.

The rear comes ready with a distinctive M spoiler and huge 100m M Sport exhaust system tailpipes. More M goodness can be seen from its 20-inch M Sport light alloy wheels which are also finished in the Cerium bicolour scheme.

Pop up the hood and you’ll find a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine ready to let loose all of its 306hp and 450Nm of maximum torque. This in turn offer a top speed of 250km/h and a fuel consumption rating of 7.4-litres/100km and 0-100km/h clock time of only 5 seconds.

As for the interior, these features are made available in the latest X2:

M Sport leather steering wheel with shift paddles

Aluminium Hexagon Anthracite interior finish

Dakota Leather-upholstered M sport

Harman Kardon 12-Speaker sound system

Navigation Plus with an 8.8-inch touch sensitive control

You can expect the latest X2 to arrive at all BMW showrooms around July and August with five different colour options; Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Galvanic Gold, Misano Blue and Sunset Orange. Head to
www.bmw.com.my
 for more details.

Alternatively, you can also experience All-New BMW X5 and the New BMW X2 M35i at the BMW X Crew event taking place at Plaza Arkadia, Desa Park City on the weekend of the 21st to the 23rd of June 2019.


A lap in the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport hyper sportscar (w/VIDEO)

The rear end breaks out slightly into a controlled drift, the tyres start to squeal. Sven Bohnhorst reacts with lightning speed and countersteers briefly. He keeps his foot on the accelerator, drifting with a smile on his face.

Bohnhorst, a chassis setup engineer at Bugatti, is testing the new Chiron Pur Sport at the limits of its handling dynamics. The aim is to improve the vehicle even further and to tune the chassis, steering and dampers even more precisely.

Aiming for ‘the perfect driving experience’

His starting point is in the area of fine nuances and minute details. These are almost imperceptible individually but will later convey the complete picture of a perfect driving experience to customers. After weeks of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his colleagues were finally able to return to testing the new Chiron Pur Sport on a racetrack.

“The track at Bilster Berg with its very own topographic relief is challenging and demands a high level of concentration. It’s a technical circuit with varying radii, fast and slow sectors and severe elevation changes. A genuine challenge for us chassis developers,” explained Bohnhorst.

The track goes up and down, making the car lighter in some places, and pressing it down into the dips with significant spring compression. These are ideal conditions for fine-tuning the running gear and safety systems. This is where engineers can test and take the Chiron Pur Sport to its limits.

ESC Sport+ driving mode

Particularly suitable for this purpose: the new ESC Sport+ driving mode. Experienced drivers can activate this mode when driving on racetracks. For this first time, this mode allows larger drift angle with much easier controlled drifting – the driver is able to stay on the throttle much longer to control the rear end before the ESC kicks in. This turns the Chiron Pur Sport into an extreme Chiron derivative at the other end of the performance spectrum, a model with very active driving characteristics that is made for cornering.

“The combination of an uncompromisingly sporty and harder chassis set-up, new tyres with a softer rubber compound geared towards lateral dynamics, and the shorter transmission ratio make it possible to manoeuvre the Chiron Pur Sport out of any corner safely and at lightning speed. An incredible feeling at the wheel that makes the adrenalin flow,” said Bohnhorst enthusiastically.

‘A car for those who have petrol in their blood’

The new hyper sportscar is much firmer, dynamic and direct to drive than the Chiron. It generates more grip, understeers less and provides neutral handling even in fast corner combinations. “It’s a car for drivers, for all those who have petrol in their blood. I never want to get out again!” he exclaimed happily.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Bugatii-Chiron-Pur-Sport.mp4

Even though Bugatti usually tests on longer race circuits like the handling track in Nardo or on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Bohnhorst feels at home at Bilster Berg which he knows well. “I now know exactly how to drive around the track. Because the Pur Sport offers such confident handling, it is easy to familiarize yourself with the special characteristics of the track,” he explained.

The 8-litre W16-cylinder engine with 1,500 ps/1,600 Nm does not get as much attention during such tests as the engineers are not primarily focused on lap times. Instead, they want the Chiron Pur Sport to handle perfectly even in extreme situations.

“In terms of development, we are close to reaching our goals – the Chiron Pur Sport is very precise and extremely agile to drive, even on such a tight handling course,” added Bohnhorst.

Bugatti Divo hypercar reaches final phase of development