AMG Celebrates 55th Anniversary With Very Exclusive Mercedes-AMG GT3 EDITION 55

For its 55th anniversary this year, AMG has been celebrating in various ways and one more is the production of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EDITION 55. This will be a very exclusive edition because there will be only 5 units in the world, so it will be a much-coveted collectors’ model.

To guarantee and to document the minimal production run, a specific range of numbers (“GT3.190-55”) was created for the chassis numbers of the cars. Each car will have an ex-factory price of 625,000 euros (around RM2.8 million).

While this has a GT3 designation, it is not FIA-homologated so it is not subject to the stringent regulations of the racing class. This has allowed the engineers at AMG to raise the power output of the AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine to 650 bhp, around 100 bhp more than in the homologated version that can be used for racing. Appropriately, the performance exhaust system made of Inconel comes without a silencer, generating an even more characteristic sound pattern as a result.

Maximum exclusivity is also assured as the colour is a special finish in MANUFAKTUR alpine grey uni with red accents. This perfectly complements the matte finish of the aero components in visible carbonfibre (front diffuser, rear diffuser, rear wing including end plates, flicks, louvre, radiator grille, side skirts).

The Affalterbach crest has been painted on the doors, while next to the AMG logo, the 55 year anniversary logo can also be seen on the rear wing.

In the functional racing cockpit, the GT3 EDITION 55 has exclusive details such as the anniversary symbol on the seat embroidery and plaques with ‘EDITION 55 – 1 OF 5’ inscription can be found on the centre console and the carbonfibre seat.

The matte Anthracite metallic is characteristic for the AMG interior with the high-quality visible carbonfibre elements harmoniously blending in, from the door sills, door covers and centre console to the dashboard. Another exclusive feature in the interior are the seatbelts with silver accents.

As a technical highlight, the cockpit of the includes a Data Display Unit (DDU) of the latest generation. The Bosch DDU 11 has a high-resolution graphic display that shows relevant information like speed, engine speed, operating temperatures, lap times, gear and shift indication, among others. The 55 year anniversary logo makes its appearance each time the car is started.

Besides a tailor-made and specially designed car cover, each owner will also receive an exclusive watch. IWC Schaffhausen has created a limited EDITION 55 box that contains a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘AMG’ with each watch matched to the specific unit by the Mercedes-AMG car’s chassis number engraved on the back of the watch case made of grade 5 titanium.

The 1,049 bhp Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar is ready for production


5th Generation Range Rover To Be Launched In Malaysia Next Month

Long before there were premium and luxury SUVs, there was the Range Rover. Flagship of the Land Rover range when it was launched in 1970, the Range Rover would be the choice of the rich and famous and be the benchmark for 4×4 vehicles as it was always a technological leader. And even when the luxury carmakers began to offer their SUVs, the Range Rover still held its position high in the segment.

Now, five decades later, the fifth generation has come out and as before, it comes with refinement and innovations that are in tune with the world of today. Progressively introduced in various markets over the past year, the new Range Rover (L460) will be introduced in Malaysia in mid-February.

“The Range Rover L460 is a best-in-class luxury performance SUV that is primed to be a game-changer in the segment. With a perfect blend of innovation and effortless refinement, this will mark the most desirable Range Rover yet and we are excited to bring this to the Malaysian market very soon,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director of
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia
 (JLRM), the exclusive importer, distributor and retailer of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

While the new Range Rover has been developed with electrification in mind (a battery electric variant is expected next year), Land Rover continues to also offer powertrains with just petrol and diesel engines. Given how Land Rover’s vehicles are able to go very far away from civilisation, relying on a battery pack that needs recharging would be impractical. Hence the availability of combustion engines at least in the medium term.

For the Malaysian market, JLRM will import the new Range Rover with a 4.4 litre turbocharged V8 P530 petrol engine. The new Range Rover is the first Land Rover to be powered by this engine which develops 530 ps/750 Nm. It will deliver power through an 8-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels via the intelligent All-Wheel Drive system with optimisation by the Terrain Response 2 system.

The new Range Rover also has All-Wheel Steering, made possible by the electrically operated rear axle. This capability provides more effortless drive with heightened high-speed stability and improved manoeuvrability at low speeds, especially in tight urban streets.

All-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Steering

The Range Rover was the first luxury SUV to feature Electronic Air Suspension in 1992, and the new Range Rover continues to be a pioneer in this area. There is now Dynamic Response Pro and pre-emptive suspension that uses eHorizon Navigation data to read the road ahead and prepare the suspension to provide perfect responses.

Apart from the advanced technologies that give the go-anywhere capabilities, it will also come with a High Specification Equipment that befits a flagship model. As with models in the luxury segment, an extensive list of options will be available for customers to personalise their vehicle.

While supreme comfort is assured, personal wellbeing has also been given attention by Land Rover. Advanced clean air systems like Cabin Air Purification Pro use dual-nanoeX technology for allergen reduction and pathogen removal to help significantly reduce odours and viruses, while CO
2
 Management and PM2.5 Cabin Air Filtration enhance air quality.

Full details of pricing and specifications will only be available at a later date. If you register your interest at a Land Rover showroom, you’ll be able to get the information as soon as JLRM announces it.

Range Rover celebrates 50th anniversary this year


All-new Land Rover Defender makes global debut in Frankfurt

When you have been selling a vehicle that is engineered to be as durable and reliable as possible to be driven anywhere on the planet, it’s probably unnecessary to change it frequently. Especially for many of the customers who buy it, the fundamental design and construction remains good enough for their needs. But there still comes a point in time when the original design is just ‘too old’ and the world has changed too much, so it’s time to retire. That’s probably what happened with Land Rover’s Defender, which was produced for 67 years up till 2016 (although the Defender name only came into prominence in 1990).

Over 67 years, the vehicle evolved and met changing demands while remaining true to its ‘Best4x4ByFar’ promise. Armed forces loved it and so did adventurers, wealthy farmers and celebrities. Like the Mini, it was the sort of vehicle that was acceptable at every strata of society, though in different forms.

Now,  3 years after the last Defender was given its farewell at the Solihull factory, where the vehicles have always been built, Land Rover has revealed an all-new successor at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new 4×4 made its first appearance by descending an extreme 42-degree incline at the show – a feat broadcasted live to a global audience of eager fans.

The unstoppable New Defender is the most capable and durable Land Rover vehicle ever made, it is claimed, and its debut in Frankfurt marked the end of its first adventure, to the Valley of the Castles in the Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan – one of the most land-locked places on earth.

An icon reimagined

A distinctive silhouette makes the new Defender instantly recognizable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles. Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer at Land Rover and ‘Guardian of Land Rover DNA’ said: “The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age. Its unique personality is accentuated by its distinctive silhouette and optimum proportions, which make it both highly desirable and seriously capable – a visually compelling 4×4 that wears its design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.”

“The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age.”

Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land Rover

The range will have 5 variants – Defender, S, SE, HSE, First Edition and top-of-the-range Defender X. Depending on market, customers will be able to personalize their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover vehicle, with 4 Accessory Packs. The Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban packs each give the Defender a distinct character to help owners to make the most of their world. Exclusive First Edition models featuring unique specification will be available throughout the first year of production.

The New Defender completes the Land Rover dynasty and will be available in 90 and 110 bodystyles, with up to 6 seats in the 90 and the option of 5, 6 or 5+2 seating in the 110.

Switch to monocoque construction

Departing from past construction, Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure the brand has ever produced. Three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, it has been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedures and provides the perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil-sprung suspension while supporting the latest electrified powertrains.

Although hybrids will grow in importance, Land Rover will continue to offer a choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines in markets where conventional internal combustion engines continue to be needed. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will join the range next year providing the prospect of EV-only progress.

Permanent 4×4 will still be standard, of course, with a twin-speed automatic gearbox. The Defender is also the first Land Rover to feature Configurable Terrain Response, which allows drivers to fine-tune a range of settings to suit the conditions more precisely than ever before. A new Wade program optimizes the vehicle for fording – giving customers even more confidence when tackling flooded roads and tracks with a world-class maximum wading depth of up to 900 mm.

21
st
 century technologies

Inside, the highly functional cabin design is marked out by exposed structural elements and 21st century technologies, including the state-of-the-art new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The next-generation touchscreen is more intuitive and user-friendly, requiring fewer inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses. In addition, Software-Over-The-Air technology, with 14 individual modules capable of receiving remote updates, ensures Defender customers always benefit from the latest software, wherever they are in the world.

“We’ve embraced the Defender’s stunning capability and minimalistic, functional interior to reinvent the icon for the 21st century. The New Defender gives us the licence to do things differently, to push the boundaries and do the unthinkable, without ever losing the character and authenticity of the original. From the start, we had an absolute obsession with functionality beneath the skin, from choosing the right materials through to state of the art connectivity. The result is not only the most capable Land Rover ever made, but also a truly comfortable, modern vehicle that people will love to drive,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.

Depending on specifications, the New Defender will have prices starting from around £40,000 (about RM206,000) when sales start in the fourth quarter of this year. While Land Rovers were once assembled in Malaysia, sufficient numbers are needed to justify the investment for local assembly and it is unlikely that the numbers will be right. So, as with the rest of the Land Rover range, the vehicles will have to be imported from the UK in CBU form, which means higher duties imposed.

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


Why The Little Suzuki Jimny Is THE BEST 4×4 Ever And There’s A New One Coming! [+Videos]

Let me tell you a story…
 There was a time when I went full-retard for the world of 4×4’s, no,
really
. It was quite a sight I tell you, and since it was me, and everyone knows you never go full-retard, needless to say it was pretty epic… And one of the 4×4’s I had early on was a little Suzuki Jimny SJ413, which looked almost exactly like this (minus the roof-rack, alloy rims, bull-bar, air-press, spot-light, decals, etc.)…

It was the most uncomfortable vehicle I’d ever owned in my life, and I also later learned that during previous ownership, a fire had broken out in the engine compartment. Wow. Powered by a small, naturally-aspirated 1300cc engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, it had manual-locking front hubs if I needed to get into 4×4 mode, but more importantly, it also had a 4WD High & Low transfer case, and that’s what mattered most. Actually, forget the photo above, mine looked exactly like this one, bare-bones and basic as hell – and also that filthy – cos it looked better that way…

You see, I was crazy into off-roading back then, and often accompanied friends, who happened to be in the 4×4 line, as a back-up car when they went to recce locations for upcoming 4×4 events. The thing I recall most fondly about my SJ413 SWB (short wheelbase, there was also a LWB, but that was pretty rare even back then) is that it
never
 got stuck, not once. The bigger 4×4’s in the convoy would always invariably get stuck at some point, and had to be winched or snatch-strapped free, but not the little Jimny. It would just scuttle along merrily past them, seeing as how it was so light, so nimble and much
smaller
 than the rest.

And you wanna know the best part? Short of a set of M/T tyres (mud-terrain), my Jimny was bone-stock-standard. No bull bars, no snorkel, no body-lift, no raised suspension, no winch, not even a tow-hook to speak of. This always made me smile (well, snigger actually) when those who had gotten stuck earlier in the day would talk about their expensive 4×4 modifications and add-ons around the campfire later that night.
Stock-standard, never stuck.

Classified ad image from www.Carlist.my

Here’s an old video showcasing the SJ413 against its (then) newer sibling, which debuted in 1998. A bit of an unfair comparison seeing as how the (then) newer one seemed to be on road tyres, and traction matters most when you’re ascending a slippery incline, but it does show just how tough and nimble the old one was…

I still occasionally scour the on-line classifieds to scope out used Suzuki Jimnys, and I’m quite pleased to see that they’ve maintained their value in the used-car market. Good ones still command five-digit figures easily, and sometimes those digits don’t start with 1.

Classified ad image from www.Mudah.my

Sadly though, the Suzuki brand is no longer represented here, which is a shame really, because the new Jimny set to debut next year looks brilliant. It looks like a mini
Merc G-Wagen
 to be honest, and well if you’re gonna be design-inspired, it might as well be by one of the best out there right? Here’s the intro video:

And now from

CarBuyer
UK,
check out the new Suzuki Jimny due in 2019!

These are the first official pictures of the 2019
Suzuki Jimny
, showing that the new version of this diminutive SUV will look tougher than ever when it arrives next year. The Jimny has a reputation for being a superb off-roader despite its small size and the outgoing model has the oldest design of any car on sale, with few major changes in the past 20 years.

Its long-awaited replacement is clearly recognisable, but has squared-off lines, a table-top bonnet, upright windows, bright colours and a black roof. Viewed from the front, its two-tone look apes cars with a ‘floating roof’ design, including rivals like the Ford EcoSport. The Jimny could also tempt buyers away from the Dacia Duster and Jeep Renegade.

Funky features like round headlights and a slotted grille pay tribute to the old model, as do rear light clusters either side of its simple bumper and the spare wheel hung on the tailgate. The overall effect is similar to a
Mercedes G-Class
 (toldja! – Ed.) that has shrunk in the wash. Basic versions will come on practical steel wheels, while chunky alloy wheels will be offered on Jimnys further up the food chain.

The angular design theme carries on inside, where the staunchly horizontal dashboard has been treated to a large infotainment screen, sitting above Suzuki’s modern switches and dials for the heating and ventilation system. There’s also a new steering wheel and large gauges sunk into an old-school square binnacle.

Under the retro bodywork, there’s a tough ladder-frame chassis featuring rigid axles and part-time four-wheel drive, with
a low-range set of gears
 you can switch into for serious off-roading. There’s no word on engines yet, but we’d expect Suzuki to fit petrol engines from its current portfolio, with the
1.2-litre Dualjet
and
 advanced 1.0-litre Boosterjet
 from the Swift the most likely candidates.

Sitting between the smaller
Suzuki Ignis
 and larger
Suzuki Vitara SUV
 in the Japanese manufacturer’s line-up, the new Jimny is expected to sell for close to the £12,999 price of the current model.

				Classified ad image from www.Mudah.my

				Image from Carlisy.my

WikiHistory
: The history of
Suzuki
 four-wheel-drive cars dates to 1968. Suzuki bought former Japanese automaker
Hope Motor Company
 which had introduced fifteen small off-road vehicles called the HopeStar ON360. The first Suzuki-branded 4-wheel drive, the LJ10 (Light Jeep 10), was introduced in 1970. The LJ10 had a 359 cc air-cooled, two-stroke, in-line two-cylinder engine. The liquid-cooled LJ20 was introduced in 1972 with the cooling changed due to newly enacted emission regulations, and it gained 3 hp. In 1975, Suzuki complemented the LJ20 with the LJ50, which had a larger 539 cc, two-stroke, in-line three-cylinder engine and bigger differentials. This was originally targeted at the Australian market, but more exports soon followed (Malaysia included).


Women’s World Car Of The Year Announces Six Category Winners For 2023

While it may sometimes seem that cars are largely a ‘guy thing’, many women also have interest in cars. In fact, it should be remembered that it was a woman – the wife of Karl Benz, inventor of the motor car – who was the very first driver in the world in 1886. Women are also equally present in every aspect of the automotive world and can be influential when a couple is shopping for a new car.

The various Car of the Year (COTY) organizations around the world have women on their juries but there is one COTY program which is specifically female-oriented. It’s the
Women’s World Car of The Year
 (WWCOTY) which has been run since 2009.

It is the only car awards group in the world which has only women motoring journalists making up its judging panel. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist Sandy Myhre, who is Honorary President today.

The judges who picked the Peugeot 308 the overall Women’s World Car of The Year in 2022.

The WWCOTY awards recognize the best cars of each year, with voting criteria based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a car. The jurors do not select a ‘woman’s car’ because cars are not gender-specific. Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, benefits and environmental footprint, among others, are considered when casting the votes.

However, the assessments are also done from a woman’s perspective which may differ in some respects from a man’s. Male judges might give more attention to performance and technical details whereas a woman might focus more on practical aspects.

In any case, beyond choosing the best cars of the year, the WWCOTY organization says their goal is also to give visibility to women in the automotive world. They also want to contribute to making women’s voices heard on all continents because mobility for a woman means access to many personal and professional possibilities.

This is the thirteenth edition of the awards presented by WWCOTY, a team of 63 women motoring journalists from 45 countries on five continents. It is the only all-female jury in the automotive industry.

The jurors’ work has been marked by an industry evolution towards more efficient and sustainable models. The challenge faced by the jurors this year was even greater than in previous years due to the excellent quality of all the candidates. Nevertheless, each one was subject to demanding driving tests, detailed analysis and careful comparative assessments.

As in previous years, the voting process has been verified by auditors Grant Thornton, who have been involved in scrutinizing the votes since the establishment of the WWCOTY.

This time, there are 6 categories and the winners are as follow:

There will also be one overall winner from these six but which one will only be revealed on March 8 which is also International Women’s Day.

Jeep Takes European Car Of The Year Title For The First Time With Avenger EV


BHPetrol’s Mudah Menang Contest could win you RM33,333 for just RM30 of fuel

Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd is back with a brand new contest that offers lucrative prizes to appreciate its customers. Known as the
MUDAH MENANG CONTEST
, it is open to all valid BHPetrol
e
Card members at participating BHPetrol service stations. The contest starts this month and will end on
May 30, 2021
.

To participate in this contest, customers only need to spend a minimum of RM30 on petrol or biodiesel products at any BHPetrol service station and/or purchase any items from participating BHPetromart stores during the contest period. Each purchase must be swiped with a valid registered
e
Card or scanned with the
e
Card mobile application. Each accumulated expenditure amounting to RM30 is entitled to 1 entry.

A total of 51 winners will receive prizes consisting of the Grand Prize of RM33,333 in cash plus 100,000
e
Point points for 3 winners; the Consolation Prize of RM3,333 Cash; and 30,000
e
Points for 3 winners. There are also Weekly Prizes of 100,000
e
Points points for 3 winners per week.

Additionally, there are Monthly Prizes specially for customers who use the
e
Card online application during the contest period. Two winners are eligible to receive one unit of iPhone 12 (64GB) or one unit of iPad Gen 8 each.

Click here to read the contest Terms & Conditions

“At BHPetrol, we always strive to provide the best to our customers by offering the best quality fuel, a wide selection of attractive items at BHPetromart stores and adequate public facilities. Through this
Mudah Menang
 contest, it is our way of showing appreciation to all customers for their continued support. In addition, we hope that more customers will take the opportunity to become
e
Card loyalty members to enjoy various privileges every time they refuel or shop at BHPetrol,” said BHPetrol General Manager of Marketing. Lawrence Chuah.

To obtain the free BHPetrol
e
Card application, visit the Apple Appstore or Google Playstore. After installation, registration as a member can be made.

To know more about BHPetrol products and services as well as the location of service stations, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
.


Fuel Price Updates For January 5 – January 11, 2023

The price of RON97 petrol continues to remain unchanged, while the other fuel grades – RON95 petrol and biodiesel – are subsidized and maintained at their levels.

Regardless of whether fuel consumption matters to you, it’s good to try to use less of it as fossil fuels will eventually be finished on the planet. Here are some ways to reduce the fuel consumption in your vehicle:

Plan trips: If you have different places to go on a single journey, spend a few minutes to think about the route so that you avoid congested areas. You may have to travel a few extra kilometres using a less congested route but you will actually use less fuel because the car won’t be stuck in a jam burning fuel going nowhere. Plus you will probably be less stressed out when you reach your destination.

Don’t carry unnecessary weight: The less weight your car has to move, the less hard the engine has to work. So whatever you do not need to keep in the boot should be taken out. This includes those golfbags and camping gear.

Service the engine regularly: Engine parts wear out or get dirty over time and reduce the operating efficiency of the engine. Regular servicing ensures that adjustments are set correctly and periodically, parts like filters or sparkplugs need to be replaced.

Right tyre pressures: Under-inflated tyres will cause more rolling resistance (not to mention faster wear) which will worsen fuel consumption. Be sure they are inflated to the minimum recommended by the manufacturer and a bit more might also be better.

Slow and steady: You don’t have to drive at a crawl to save fuel but if you just drive more frequently at 80/90 km/h instead of 100/110 km/h, you could save 10 to 15% in fuel. Keeping a steady speed rather than ‘pumping‘ the pedal will also save on fuel. On the highway, you can use cruise control, if available.

Switch off the engine more: Many motorists do not fully realize that the engine is burning fuel every second it is running. They will keep the engine running for long periods while waiting for someone to buy things or waiting for their children to come out from school. This is very wasteful and running the air-conditioner at the same time wastes more fuel. Switch off the engine when you are going to be stationary for more than 5 minutes and you’ll find your fuel consumption improving.

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Tesla Officially Launched In Malaysia!

Tesla has officially been launched in Malaysia today and the
Model Y
 is the first model to be officially offered for the Malaysian market. According to Tesla (Malaysia), the Model Y is the most affordable SUV by Tesla; designed and built as Tesla’s first mass-market sports utility electric vehicle.

Tesla’s launching in Malaysia is in line with the government’s goal to promote low-carbon mobility and to support the EV industry. Tesla also stated that this is to assist the government’s move to install 10,000 EV charging stations in Malaysia by 2025.

As part of its own initiative, Tesla Malaysia has introduced indoor Supercharger stations with eight superchargers located at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and is said to open as soon as possible, pending a few more approvals. Prior to this, Tesla has already revealed a list of
10 available supercharger locations
 throughout Malaysia:

Iskandar Puteri, Johor
Negeri Sembilan
Dengkil, Selangor
Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Two locations in Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh, Perak
Perai, Pulau Pinang

According to Tesla Malaysia, more superchargers will be available in the coming future to make trips from Singapore to Malaysia and then to Thailand a seamless journey.

Tesla has also announced that their headquarters for the Malaysian market will be located in Cyberjaya.

Customers can benefit from 100% road tax exemption and individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 on expenses related to EV charging facilities for the assessment year of 2023.

The Model Y is available to
order
 in Malaysia with prices starting from as low as RM199,000. There are three trims available to choose from:

Model Y(Rear-wheel Drive)

Range: 455km
Top Speed: 217km/h
0-100km/h: 6.9 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 19″/20″
Price: RM199,000

Model Y Long range Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Range: 533km
Top Speed: 217km/h
0-100km/h: 5 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 19″/20″
Price: RM246,000

Model Y Performance Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive

Range: 514km
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100km/h: 3.7 seconds
Seats: 5 seater
Wheel: 21″
Price: RM288,000

Tesla has over 1.3 million cars produced in 2022 and over 4 million total cars delivered as of today.


THROWBACK THURSDAY: Our Favourite Photos & Honourable Mentions From 2018! [+Photo Gallery]

2018

was a great year for
Piston.my
! It was our first ‘full’ year as a bona-fide automotive portal in Malaysia covering both local and international motoring news, as well as attending and covering local events and launches, while producing videos, reviews and features for the site. It’s been a fantastic ‘first-year’ for yours truly, and I’m deeply humbled and grateful for all the support we’ve received from our readers and clients alike, thank you for making 2018 a truly memorable one for all of us here at
Piston.my!

And now, in no particular order, I present my favourite photos & honourable mentions from the past year! Thanks again for being here on this journey with us, and do hang around for a lot more to come in 2019! –
Chris Wee.

ALFA ROMEO DISCO VOLANTE SPYDER

What would possess anyone to drive to another country to just see, touch and hear a car? Well, if it’s an extremely rare and limited-edition Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder, and that country is just next door, why not! So yeah, Bobby Ang of
EVOLTN
 and I took a roadtrip down to Singapore for one day last year, just to view this stunning creation. We didn’t go see a car, we went to see a work of art. Read about it
here
.

PORSCHE 911 GT3

There are many alphanumerics in the world, but when the letters ‘GT’ and the number ‘3’ are put together, it’s a whole new ballgame. Quite possibly the most lusted-after Porsche 911 ever made, the GT3 & GT3 RS personify the very definition of a sports-car. Largely unchanged design-wise for half a century, I guess there’s really no need to fix something perfect from the start. See more and read more about it
here
.

FORD RANGER RAPTOR

It was the truck
everyone
 was talking about in 2018. All waited in breathless anticipation at its imminent arrival, and many figured it would cost upwards of RM220,000, making it the most expensive ‘lifestyle’ pick-up truck ever sold in the country. So when the covers finally came off, and the price of less than 200k was announced, we were shocked.
Really
. I for one didn’t think Ford Malaysia could sell this unbelievably awesome monster truck for anything less than the aforementioned estimate. Watch a video and see more of the Ranger Raptor
here
.

FERRARI GTC4 LUSSO T

It was one of
those
 days, it was one of
those
 cars. Just an amazing drive with an amazing car on an amazing day. The weather was perfect, the roads were clear, and we had a freakin’ Ferrari.
‘Nuff said.
More photos and video on this incredible car can be found
here
.

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA T

Back in Singapore for a car again, but this time to drive! And not just any car, but the delectable Carrera T of the Porsche 911 lineage. Despite ALL 911’s carrying the decades-old credo of ‘Race on Sunday, Drive to work on Monday’, this Carrera T personified that the most I think. Subdued, subtle and sophisticated most of the time, it transforms into a raging beast so fast you’ll swear you’re driving two different cars. Find out more and view more of the Porsche 911 Carrera T
here
.

KIA PICANTO

Not a mistake. You didn’t really think this post was all about
supercars
 did you? Hell no. And as a day-to-day runner, there’s nothing else out there that gives you as much bang-for-your-buck as the diminutive and frugal little Kia Picanto. Value-for-money wise, and for what you get stock-standard, I called it the best deal in town.
It still is.
 You can find out more on why that’s so
here
.

HONDA CIVIC TYPE R

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed driving this car. The CTR is just an unbelievably brilliant machine, it’s so well-sorted there’s nothing needed to make it better. The fact that it’s a manual with 3-pedals is of course an added bonus. How Honda are going to improve on this for the next generation Civic Type R is beyond me. Watch a video and learn more about this Nurburgring record-beater
here
. Well, fret not because if you can’t afford the Type R, there’s still this wild-looking HR-V RS to consider…

MOST BADASS SHOT – BMW SIXER GT BOYS

My favourite post-launch ‘posed’ shot of 2018… are these two BMW Malaysia guys the biggest badasses in town or what? I trembled while shooting it, my hands shivered, I was in awe. This was the 6-Series GT
launch event
 that this photo was from.

MERCEDES-BENZ DREAMCARS

When it comes to dream cars, nobody does it better than Mercedes-Benz. At every one of their multitude of events in 2018, I came away wanting one, but this one…well, this AMG GT C just made me stare. And stare. And stare. But then I drove home in my classic W126, and that was nice too. There’s more in here from the Mercedes Dreamcars 2019 launch
event coverage
.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI

The alphabets “GTI” in the automotive realm really should stand for something, THEY MUST, and this was (and still is) one of the best GTI-class cars out there, the Golf GTI. So well balanced, so well put together, so rewarding to hoon. Love it. There’s more info, photos and video of the Golf GTI in this feature
here
.

PEUGEOT 508

A trip to Monaco to drive it notwithstanding, I’m hoping the new Peugeot 508 arrives on our shores soon, because it is a fantastic car. Not only does it look staggeringly gorgeous from every angle, it drives well and has an interior that you won’t believe. It is going to redefine the D-segment when it arrives sometime in the very near future. In the meantime, there’s more photos and videos of the Peugeot 508 at this
link
.

THE VOLVO GEAR KNOB

What
. Why is there a gear knob in here you ask? Well, just looooooook at it! It’s made of crystal, there’s a soft-light below it; it glistens in the sunlight and at night it sparkles like the Hope Diamond. Totally unnecessary, doesn’t do anything to improve the technicalities and drivability of the car, and yet just so, so right. You can read about the latest XC40 launch at this link
here
.

THE WHITE KNIGHTS – VOLVO & ASTON MARTIN

It was one of those weird coincidences; two launches, two months apart, two very different vehicles, both black and white, both extremely appealing in their own way, and both would look really good in my driveway next to each other…. Here’s the
 launch coverage
 on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and the
launch
of Volvo XC40 below.

THE ALIEN BMW 8

Really don’t know how and why this photo turned out this way, but it’s definitely one of my faves. I swear the 8-Series was saying “take me to your leader…” I didn’t, but you can read the coverage
here
.

THE LAST PORSCHE OF 2018

It was a good year for Sime Darby Auto Performance, and at one of their numerous events, as I was leaving I arbitrarily snapped this shot, turned out pretty decent. You can read more about the year Porsche had in 2018
here
.

HONOURABLE MENTION OF 2018 – RENAULT KOLEOS

Taken somewhere along
Felda Nenering
 up north before
Grik
, the Renault Koleos was actually quite a delight to drive. It’s very understated, been under the radar for too long and deserves more time in the limelight. I liked it. You can read more about it
here
.

2018 Fave Photos Gallery…


KL Underground Is Happening Today @ Putrajaya! [+Video]

If you happen to be anywhere near the
Putrajaya Recreational Airfield

@ Putrajaya, do drop by the
KL Underground
 event happening today
24th Nov until midnight
 (possibly later, Waze your way to the location).

Here’s our walkaround video captured earlier today…

Expect some amazing metal to be at the show folks, so after you’re done with
KLIMS
, head on over here to complete your automotive weekend! For more details, check out the KLU Facebook page
here
.


BMW Group Malaysia donates engines to engineering campuses

BMW Group Malaysia donates several engines to five Malaysian automotive learning institutions.

BMW Group Malaysia
 recently donated a number of engines to five local Malaysian engineering universities and colleges. These institutions will use the engines for research and development purposes and to further enhance the development of local engineering expertise.

Image credit: BMW Group Press

The firm donated five units of the BMW TwinPower Turbo 2.0-Litre four-cylinder engines, each designated to some of the nation’s leading automotive learning institutions. Amongst the beneficiaries include the University Malaysia Pahang, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), Taylor’s University, International College of Automotive (iCAM) and The Otomotif College (TOC).

A brief hand-over ceremony was held where BMW Group Malaysia MD and CEO Alan Harris and head of aftersales Stefan Sloboda handed over the engines to representatives of the aforementioned institutions.

This is not the first time that BMW Group Malaysia engaged itself with a local higher learning institute. The firm had previously collaborated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor in the field of Supply Chain and Logistics Management by establishing a joint working partnership.

Shortly after the handover, BMW Group Malaysia’s Alan Harris stated:
“Working with engineering universities and colleges here provides us with the opportunity to share and grow expertise, skills and indirectly helps drive innovation for the automotive industry in the country. It is our way of creating value for the industry which is a core principle of the BMW Group.”

Main image credit: BMW Group Malaysia


Proton In 2018 – Part 19: Bookings For Upcoming New Proton X70 SUV Exceed 10,000!

PROTON announced recently that it has received over
10,000 bookings
 for the
Proton X70 SUV
 during the official launch of Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd, a new 4S dealer in Setapak. The Company also confirmed that it exceeded its 3S/4S outlet submission approval target of 109 and that more applications to open such outlets were still being received. PROTON’s highly anticipated first SUV, the Proton X70, was made available for prelaunch bookings from 8 September. Interested parties were invited to place a deposit at a PROTON outlet but since 17 October, they have also been able to use an online booking platform, allowing bookings to be made from anywhere with an Internet connection.

To date the response from Malaysians has been very encouraging as total bookings now total over 10,000 units of which nearly 2,000 were made online, thus confirming the Company made the correct decision to develop and launch the platform.
“We are thankful to all Malaysians for the support they have given to PROTON since we started accepting bookings for the Proton X70. Despite our need to control the flow of information prior to its launch, the response has been very encouraging as we have received over 10,000 bookings with those placed online via our booking platform exceeding our expectations. We were unsure how customers would react to this new method to book a car but its success points to how cars might be sold in the future”
 said
Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON
(above).

“Now we ask for a little bit more patience from everybody as we make the final preparations for the launch of the Proton X70. This will be the first Proton SUV as well as the first car to be jointly developed by
PROTON
and
 Geely
. We are working hard to ensure it meets the expectations of buyers and are also investing heavily in our outlets and dealerships so that we have the necessary sales and after sales resources to support such an important product,”
he added.

Target for 3S/4S outlet approvals achieved…

Having stated its target to achieve 109 submission approvals for 3S/4S outlets earlier in the year, PROTON announced it has now exceeded the target amount. To date, 113 outlet submission approvals have been recorded, accounting for a 104% achievement against the set target.
“We are very proud of this achievement as it means the market has responded well to the PROTON brand by deeming it as a good investment. I commend the efforts of our existing dealers who took the opportunity to stay invested with us as well as the new dealers for their faith and vision to see the potential for PROTON in the current and future automotive market,”
 added Dr Li.

“When JD Power released their 2018 Sales Satisfaction Index ranking (SSI) for mass market automotive brands, it showed PROTON had improved to sixth in the table with a score of 782 points. While we are not satisfied, we still managed to surpass the score of some of our major rivals, which is a sign our customers have responded positively to our efforts to serve them better. I believe with a concerted effort, we can achieve our target to be ranked in the top-3 by 2019,”
 he added.

New 4S outlet opens in Setapak…

Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd
(Ming Heng) is the newest
4S dealership
 to join the list of PROTON 4S outlets. Situated along Jalan Genting-Klang, the facility has a built-up area of 3074 square meters and cost
RM6 million
 to build. On-site facilities and amenities include 14 work bays with 12 service hoists, a customer lounge, coffee area, free Wi-Fi, kids’ play area, laptop and mobile charging facilities as well as prayer rooms for the convenience of customers. The body and paint shop is still being commissioned and will be operational by December 2018.

“The decision to apply for a dealership was made because Ming Heng is confident of the potential the PROTON brand has for the future. We are thankful our proposal was accepted and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship that is focussed on delivering the best products and customer service to all customers,”
 said
Eric Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Ming Heng Motor Sdn Bhd.


Marc Philipp Gemballa reveals his first supercar – the MARSIEN (w/VIDEO)

In May this year, Marc Philipp Gemballa – the son of the man who founded the Gemballa tuning company 30 years ago – announced that he was developing a new car of his own, codenamed ‘Project Sandbox’. It had nothing to do with the Gemballa company and is a venture by his own company.

Based on the all-new Porsche 992 Turbo S, the sportscar is off-road capable and inspired by the legendary Porsche 959 rally era. Only 40 units will be produced and most of them already have customers waiting. The price for conversion starts at 495,000 euros (about RM2.455 million) ex-factory plus the cost of a 992 Turbo S.

‘Project Sandbox’ now has a name – MARSIEN – which is derived from the French word ‘Martian’ or ‘from Mars’. The choice of this name came about during the intense test phase in the Al Faya desert in the United Arab Emirates. The stunning red desert sand with sharp fossil rocks and mountain backdrops gave the 27-year old Gemballa and his team the feeling as if they were in an entirely different universe.

“Since it looked and felt like we were on Mars paired with the futuristic design and the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, we couldn’t think of a more fitting name for our first project,” he explained, and so the name was born.

A more unique supercar

Although he grew up in an environment where building the fastest and most powerful production car on the planet and setting the next world record on the Nurburgring was key, Gemballa believes the horsepower game is over. He observes that tuning is done by the carmakers themselves and that the market is constantly being flooded with an influx of new supercars.

The young entrepreneur realised, when aiming to build a successful company for the future, he could not offer just ‘another supercar’, and he needed to come up with something very special for his clients.

The legendary Porsche 959 from the original Paris-Dakar era.

Entirely new concept

Drawing inspiration from the legendary Paris-Dakar rally era and more than two years of intense design and engineering development, Gemballa has come up with an ultra-modern, timeless looking supercar. It is a hybrid between a modern-day supercar with all its comfort and day-to-day practicality combined with off-road capabilities using the latest technologies.

The all-new Porsche 992 Turbo S provided the perfect base to realise the young entrepreneur’s vision. With that model as the starting point, the MARSIEN features a full carbonfibre bodyshell. All exterior components are produced in pure carbonfibre, exclusively designed for performance, light weight and cooling. Each body panel is manufactured by a leading German carbonfibre specialist which also supplies leading supercar manufacturers as well as several leading Formula 1 teams.

The exterior paint is applied by a state-of-the-art and certified paint shop which will meet the most ‘daring’ customer colour requests. For the launch vehicle, there is an elaborate triple layer pearl white with special metallic flakes, along with additional protection through a ceramic coating. Customers also have the request for a fully exposed carbonfibre body.

Besides the full carbonfibre body, the exterior of the bodywork has functional design upgrades such as a completely bespoke taillight. Adopting the latest LED technology, the rear light has been developed together with light specialist GERG Lighthouse, enabling a completely holistic design appearance for the MARSIEN.

The shape has been the subject of intensive Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis in order to achieve the best possible aerodynamic efficiency. This area was the responsibility of engineering partner KLK, which has gained expertise in working with LMP1, Formula E, and Formula One racing teams for over 20 years.

Power by RUF

To offer a top-notch powertrain, Gemballa has teamed up with legendary Porsche engine specialist RUF Automobile for the engine development of the MARSIEN. Founded in 1981, RUF Automobile is known for its Porsche engine expertise, having already worked with Marc’s father to produce powerful powertrains for various cars in the 1980s. The engine upgrade ‘POWERED BY RUF’ enables the 6-cylinder boxer engine to deliver over 750 ps  and 930 Nm.

For those who need more power, there is second stage power upgrade by RUF Automobile taking the engine up to 830 ps with enhanced VTG turbochargers and a revised ECU mapping and transmission setting.

The Porsche PDK transmission is also used, and it has been revised and adapted to the new conditions so that the enormous power reserves arrive at all 4 wheels without loss. Extended driveshafts have been developed with reinforced Porsche Cayenne joints to reliably enable the enormous spring deflection and the engine’s high torque.

Akrapovic, the well known exhaust system manufacturer, has also developed an entirely new titanium system exclusively for the MARSIEN. This lightweight system focusses on a bespoke sound experience while also helping to enhance power output.

Cutting-edge chassis technology

The suspension and chassis have been developed by KW Automotive to be a bespoke system. Being also intended for off-road motoring, extensive changes to the chassis of the base vehicle have been required. These include a completely new double wishbone front suspension set-up equipped with KW Automotive’s solid piston damper technology. This has an intelligent active damper control as well as an adjustable ride height system that can create overall ground clearance of up to 250 mm at the touch of a button.

Drivers looking for the ultimate off-road experience and don’t mind limited road usability can fit an optional off-road package. This is equipped with Reiger Suspension rally specification off-road dampers further enhancing the suspension travel and increasing the ground clearance to a fixed off-road ride height.

The MARSIEN is currently undergoing a full road homologation process, which includes crash tests,  in order for it to be legally used on roads in target markets. The markets that Gemballa is looking at are in Europe, the Middle East, the USA, as well as other major global markets later on.


New colour for Honda City, Jazz & CR-V – Passion Red Pearl

Honda Malaysia has just announced that there will be a new colour offering for three of their CKD models which are the Honda City, Jazz, and CR-V. The new promising colour which hopes to attract more Malaysians to the brand is called Passion Red Pearl.

The Passion Red Pearl colour option will replace the Carnival Red for Jazz, the Dark Ruby Red for City; and the Obsidian Blue Pearl for the CR-V. This move was done as the colour of choice was proven to be highly preferred by Malaysians. 30% of the Honda HR-V sold so far are of that colour choice.

According to Mr. Toichi Ishiyama, Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, “With the new colour introduction, the Jazz will exude a young personality feel while the City with a vibrant outlook and the CR-V appears more stylish. We believe all three popular models will look well-suited with vibrant colour for the versatile lifestyles of their owners.”

“In terms of sales performance, Jazz, City and CR-V have contributed 62% of total sales for Honda Malaysia between January and April 2019. City recorded the highest contribution with 34% of the overall sales of Honda Malaysia while the versatile and segment-leading Jazz recorded at 12% sales contribution.”

“Meanwhile, sales of the CR-V recorded at 15% of Honda Malaysia’s total sales. Honda Malaysia sold over 28,000 units between January and April 2019, recording 15% market share. This resulted as of April 2019, Honda Malaysia maintains the No.1 car brand position in the Non-National segment and No.2 position in overall Total Industry Volume (TIV)”.

The Jazz, City, and CR-V in the new exterior colour Passion Red Pearl are available for viewing and test drive at any of Honda’s 98 authorised dealers nationwide. Customers can call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my for more information.


Honda Malaysia adds City Hatchback variant with Honda SENSING

As with the
 City Sedan
, Honda Malaysia has now added another variant of the
City Hatchback
 with the Honda SENSING driver-assistance package for those who want more advanced safety systems. The new City Hatchback V-SENSING variant is similar to the City Hatchback 1.5V and is priced from
RM91,708.51
 (excluding insurance and sales tax), which is around RM3,852 more than the 1.5V without Honda SENSING.

While Honda has provided various types of active safety systems over the years such as ABS, Vehicle Stability Assist and Traction Control, these have been independent in their functions. With Honda SENSING, which was first introduced in 2015 in Japan and 2017 in Malaysia (with the
5
th
 generation CR-V
), the active systems function in a collaborative manner and expand the capabilities of recognizing as well as reacting to potential accident situations.

Such unified systems use either a radar or a camera, or both, to scan the road ahead for other vehicles and road-users as well as road markings. More expensive models usually have the radar as well but for the City Hatchback (and Sedan), Honda uses only a camera, probably to reduce the cost. However, compared to the earlier Honda SENSING system, the camera (mounted in the space above the rearview mirror) in the latest one has a wider view and improved imaging capabilities in all lighting conditions. The imagery captured by the camera is constantly analysed and also picks up lane markings on the road as well as the edge of the road.

Compared to the original Honda SENSING system first introduced in Malaysia, today’s system has increased features and consists of:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)

Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Auto High Beam (AHB)

With ACC, the desired cruising speed can be set as well as the length of the gap with the vehicle ahead. The system will adjust the speed to maintain the gap.

ACC is a more advanced type of cruise control where the car can run in semi-autonomous mode. The driver still needs to pay attention and steer but once the cruising speed is set, there is no need for the driver to use the brakes to slow down if there is a vehicle ahead. The system will do it automatically to maintain a safe distance, returning to the set speed when there is no vehicle ahead. This will not only make driving easier in heavy traffic but also help to reduce fatigue on long journeys, improving safety.

CMBS and FCW are related systems, both functioning to prevent a collision with a vehicle ahead or hitting other road-users. FCW will warn the driver by sound and by warning lights if there is a risk of a collision. If the driver does not act to prevent this from happening – ie slowing down or braking – CMBS then activates and the brakes will be applied automatically. While the automatic emergency braking may or may not prevent a collision (depending on road conditions and speed), the earlier deceleration could reduce the damage of the impact if it occurs.

With CMBS, the brakes will automatically be applied if the Honda SENSING system determines that a collision will occur and the driver has not taken action to prevent it.

Incidentally, when CMBS occurs, the rear brake lights automatically flash and the hazard warning lights will also come on. This is to alert drivers in vehicles behind of the sudden braking so they won’t also collide… not all cars may have systems like Honda SENSING.

LDW, LKAS and RDM also related and their main function is to keep the car within its lane. These systems were developed as studies have found that many accidents have occurred due to the car wandering out of its lane without the driver being aware (usually due to lack of attention or drowsiness). The systems will not activate if a turn signal is in use, signifying that the car’s movement out of its lane is deliberately done.

The process starts with LDW which relies on the camera imagery to recognise lane markings. This may not be 100% perfect since the markings may not be present or worn out, or the road may be wet with rain. If the car is not positioned within its lane, there will be alerts to make the driver aware. Should the car keep drifting out of the lane, LKAS will start and the steering wheel will receive a slight turning action to guide the car back into the lane. Like ACC, this feature can also reduce driving fatigue on long journeys.

RDM operates like LKAS except it is for a more extreme situation such as when the car is about to leave the road unintended. The system will apply steering torque to bring the car back into the lane but if that is not likely to work, braking action may also occur to prevent further departure from the road.

How Road Departure Mitigation works.

AHB is a straightforward system which just switches the headlights between high and low beams automatically. When driving at night, the illumination should be maximised as much as possible and this is usually with high beams. However, they can dazzle oncoming drivers so they need to be switched low beams. AHB takes away the need for the driver to do this and the lighting will be kept at maximum as much as possible. Having high beam in use also enhances the effectiveness of the camera at night.

Also of note in the safety department is Honda Lanewatch, an innovative feature which provides the driver with a view of the blind spot on the left side of the car by using a small camera mounted on the door mirror. The real-time image is displayed on the 8-inch panel in the middle of the dashboard so the driver doesn’t have to turn the head all the way to the left to see the mirror. The camera is only on when the left signal is activated.

Besides having the same standard equipment as the Sedan, the City Hatchback also comes with the ULTRA seats at the rear. This is a simple but clever idea which originated in the
first generation of the Jazz
 some 20 years ago. Where hatchbacks usually have rear backrests that fold flat to expand the cargo volume and floor length of the boot, the ULTRA seat folds up to also create extra cabin height for carrying tall items like plants.

Besides this TALL mode, there are three other modes – UTILITY, LONG or REFRESH. For the LONG and REFRESH modes, the front passenger’s seat can also be folded flat so there is an open space from the back door all the way to the dashboard to carry a really long item or just to stretch out. The UTILITY mode is essentially like what you get in other hatchbacks with the rear backrests folded down to enlarge the boot space which can accommodate bicycles.

Performance-wise, there is the same well proven 1.5-litre DOHC i–VTEC engine. This produces 121 ps/145 Nm which is the highest in its class and the power gets to the front wheels through a CVT.

For more information on the City Hatchback V-SENSING and other Honda models, visit
www.honda.com.my
 or any authorised Honda showroom.

Honda Malaysia’s local vehicle assembly crosses 1 million mark


F1 (Round 19) – 2019 United States Grand Prix Starting Grid

Race starts in Texas at 1:10 pm Sunday/3:10 am Monday in Malaysia


This is the world’s only road-legal Aston Martin Vulcan

According to Wikipedia, The Gumball 3000 is a collection of companies that includes an apparel brand, a registered charity and is best known for an annual 3,000-mile (4,800 km) international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads.

This year, fans of the high-profile rally will witness the world’s only road-legal Aston Martin Vulcan participating from Mykonos, Greece all the way to Ibiza, Spain.

Those who are new to the Gumball 3000 should also take note that this is no mere long-distance drive with normal cars. Participants from all over the world will not only show off some of the world’s most expensive and rarest supercars but also dressed them up with eye-catching custom designs.

Out of the 114 teams taking part, the one being driven by YouTube personality, Mr. JWW, is definitely worth nothing. Dressed and inspired by the Royal Air Force’s Avro Vulcan Bomber, Mr. JWW went through great lengths to ensure that this Aston Martin Vulcan is deemed road-legal just for Gumball.

The list of works done include:

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires

Custom headlights

Increased ride height

New front splitter

New radiator

Removed steering lock stops

Modified steering rack

With some assistance from Aston Martin, the only Vulcan out of 24 fine examples made for the planet now has a more subtle façade by toning down the madness only the Vulcan has. This is indeed a good thing to have, especially for Aston Martin for their next supercar.

James Bond’s 50th anniversary Aston Martin DBS Superleggera unveiled


Honda’s IGNITION program helps start new businesses proposed by employees

In many factories, one of the many practices where employees can be involved in improving processes or quality has been the suggestion system, for which they are rewarded if their ideas are adopted.

Honda also has a program called IGNITION which was started in 2017 by Honda R&D Co., Ltd., its research and development subsidiary. This is a business creation program where Honda employees can propose new business ideas and then implement the technologies, ideas or products to help solve societal problems and create new value for people.

Since being initiated, many applications have been received for new business ideas as well as numerous suggestions that fit with Honda’s business activities and are already being pushed internally towards commercialization.

Bringing new ideas to the market

There have also been proposals with added social value that can be implemented more quickly in the form of a start-up instead of being implemented within the Honda organization. In 2020, IGNITION was therefore expanded to include the option of bringing new business ideas to the market by setting up companies.

Ashirase system for visually impaired

The first company to emerge from the IGNITION program in this way is Ashirase Inc., which will develop an in-shoe navigation system to support the visually impaired while walking. The system, also called ‘Ashirase’, uses a smartphone app and 3-dimensional vibration device including a motion sensor, which is attached inside the shoe.

With the concept of ‘navigation which enables safety and a relaxed state of mind for the visually impaired’, Ashriase is being developed as a product which helps the users reach their destinations safely and have a more independent lifestyle.

The IGNITION program was originally for Honda R&D but is now expanded to the entire company for full-time employees in Japan to drive new business ideas. The ideas will not come from engineers but also of employees from other areas such as production, sales and even administration.

Ashirase system uses a smartphone app and 3-dimensional vibration device including a motion sensor, which is attached inside the shoe.

Evaluated from investor’s perspective

IGNITION works with a corporation that, as one of the jurors, evaluates the proposals from the perspective of an investor. In addition, applicants have access to advice and support from the corporation during the assessment process.

The decision on whether to market is made within 6 months and the marketing will be done by Honda itself or through the establishment of a start-up company.  In order to preserve the independence of the start-up company, Honda’s equity stake is limited to a maximum of 20%.

“There are many employees at Honda who want to contribute to social development with their technologies and ideas. IGNITION is a program that promotes and develops these ideas and technologies among Honda employees and helps them create new values that contribute to solving societal problems,” explained the Head of the IGNITION Jury and Managing Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yasuhide Mizuno (who was a former MD & CEO of Honda Malaysia).

“We are now expanding the program to all employees in Japan and offering them the additional option of starting their own business. The hurdles for starting a business are very high, but we hope that IGNITION will continue to drive the challenging spirit at Honda and enable us to create new products and experiences that go beyond our core business,” said Mr. Mizuno.

Click here for more news and articles about Honda.


Audi RS 3 Sedan Now Available In Malaysia

Audi Malaysia has made the
RS 3
 Sedan available from RM646,990 to RM655,990 with the Audi Assurance Package.

Exterior

The RS 3 Sedan has a bold exterior and widened body giving it that lowered sports look. The front wings and huge air vents complement the wide honeycomb grille with the signature RS black Audi four rings.

In addition, the Darkened Matrix LED headlights offer digital daytime running light signature and RS-specific coming home/leaving home and dynamic light sequences.

Other features include:

Ceramic brake discs
19-inch wheels with a 10-spoke design
RS-specific front and rear bumpers

Six colour choices are available:

Kyalami Green
Kemora Grey
Glacier White
Mythos Black
Python Yellow
Daytona Gray

Interior

The interior is wrapped in black, red, or green trim and features Nappa leather sport seats with RS honeycomb stitching. It also comes with an RS-exclusive steering wheel.

The virtual cockpit displays key information about the car’s performance, while Audi Drive Select offers different RS-specific driving modes to suit owner preference and road conditions.

It also includes:

a shift indicator that changes from green to yellow to red
10.1-inch infotainment display
12.3-inch virtual cockpit
a heads-up display

Performance

The RS 3 Sedan does 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and draws its power from a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI turbocharged engine to deliver 400 PS and 500 Nm of torque.

Seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic gearbox
Quattro all-wheel drive system
Top speed of 250 km/h
Powertrain features an RS Torque Splitter (enables controlled drifts)
RS sport suspension plus with adaptive damper control
RS exhaust system (comes with a fully variable flap control system)

In 2021, the RS 3 Sedan dominated the famous Nordschleife track in just seven minutes and 40.748 seconds, making it the fastest compact model in the world.


Carrozzeria Ghia – from fame to obscurity

Bertone, ItalDesign and Pininfarina are well known names in the auto world, having been the design studios that created many exotic models – as concepts as well as production cars – for companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini. Also included among these historical Italian design houses is Ghia, which is owned by Ford today.

Ghia began as an independent company in 1916 and like companies involved in automobiles then, it specialized in coachwork (
carrozzeria
) and its founder Giacinto Ghia, was a master-builder of wooden models as well as skilled at styling. His talent was apparent in the models he styled with the best known said to be the Fiat 508 Ballilla sports coupe which was displayed at an exhibition in Turin in 1933. Back then, in the period before World War II, such companies were commissioned by carmakers to design some models for them.

The building that Ghia had was demolished during the war, and while it was being rebuilt in 1944, Ghia had a heart attack and died. His widow offered the company to a couple of good friends who saw the value of the Ghia name and chose to retain it for the name of the company. One of the two friends was a stylist named Felice Mario Boano whose designs were characterised by wheels which were enveloped.

Alfa Romeo 1900 Supersonic Conrero designed by Ghia in 1953.

How Ghia connected with Chrysler

In the early 1950s, Luigi Segre, a designer in the company as well as its owner from 1954, visited the USA and looked for new business opportunities there. He came in contact with Virgil Exner, who was a designer in the American company. Exner was also in charge of Chrysler’s showcar division and had to come up with models to display at motorshows. As he was busy with design work, he decided to let Ghia work on the showcars.

One of the many concept cars Ghia did for Chrysler. This was the Chrysler Ghia Streamline X Gilda which appeared at motorshows in 1955.

Segre got on well with Chrysler executives and his close relationship with Exner was strong. The partnership went on for 15 years, during which time Ghia produced numerous models. Eighteen of them even carried the company name as Chrysler Ghia Specials.

The Karmann-Ghia

The 1950s saw many more Ghia creations and one of the most famous was the Karmann-Ghia. Karmann was approached by Volkswagen in 1953 to come up with a sporty model which would use the Beetle platform. Volkswagen had in mind a roadster with an open top but when Karmann got Ghia to develop the model, the Italian studio came out with a coupe.

The Karmann-Ghia was unveiled at the 1955 Frankfurt International Motor Show. Ghia provided the Italian sportscar design, Karmann built it and Volkswagen provided the Beetle platform. The Karmann-Ghia was unveiled at the 1955 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

It took Ghia about 5 months to build a prototype and, in fact, the design team was able to come up with 3 designs within days of being told of the ‘unofficial’ project. Fortunately, when Karmann presented the coupe design to Volkswagen management, it was well received and a decision to build the car was made within the same day.

Karmann had planned to do 3,000 units but in the first year of production, 10,000 units of the car – named the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia (Type 14) were made and delivered to customers. Between 1955 and 1969, 485,987 units were produced and those still in existence today are cherished collectors’ items.

Unlike Bertone and Pininfarina, however, Ghia never ventured into making cars for sale in any significant way. It remained as a styling studio, offering some very memorable designs which are still admired today.

Although it is described as having ‘Italian styling’, Ghia is not mentioned in official Volvo documents related to the P1800 coupe. However, the Italian studio did have an indirect involvement in the design of the car driven by ‘The Saint’ in the 1960s TV series.

Ghia and the Volvo used by ‘The Saint’

One of these was the Volvo P1800 coupe, the car used by
 ‘The Saint’
 in the TV series of the 1960s. The Volvo designers were busy working on the Amazon (121/122) at that time and had no time to think of a sports model. The consultant for Volvo, Helmer Pettersson, who was given the project decided to pass it on to his son, Pelle, who was working for Ghia as a designer at that time. And that is how Ghia got involved in that memorable car.

Ghia’s relationship with Chrysler came to an end in the early 1960s, by which time Exner had left and Segre passed away. Between 1963 and 1967, Ghia changed owners a few times and then Alejandro de Tomaso bought it over in 1967. De Tomaso was an arrogant and unforgiving man, perhaps due to his background from a wealthy and influential family in Argentina where he grew up. Under de Tomaso, Ghia lost many of its designers and one of them was Giorgio Giugiaro who would start his own company called ItalDesign and go on to also become a famous name in the auto world.

Alejandro de Tomaso bought over Ghia in 1967 and then sold it to Ford in 1973 when his company was in financial difficulties.

In August 1969, Lee Iacocca, who was a rising Ford executive destined to become company president, visited Ghia. The flamboyant Iacocca was impressed by de Tomaso’s sportscars and asked the studio to do some engineering prototypes and concept models, as well as some special editions.

One of the first projects was a running prototype of a small sportscar. It was adapted from the Ford Mustang, the car Iacocca was closely associated with. It was a smaller version and eventually became the Mustang II. Ghia’s designers took just 53 days to complete their assignment which also provided Ford with a new direction in thinking.

The ‘baby’ Ford Mustang II designed by Ghia came out in time for the energy crisis decade when the auto industry had to downsize its cars.

Ford buys over Ghia

The effort impressed Ford and in 1973, when de Tomaso ran into financial difficulties, the American carmaker decided to buy over Ghia. The idea was to have a professional studio as an external design house to work on specialized and advanced projects.

The man who headed it was Filipo Sapino who was a designer at a smaller Ford studio which was also located in Italy. Actually, he had also worked for Ghia earlier (as well as having a short stint with Pininfarina where he was involved in Ferrari styling) and by 1976, Sapino was given the position of Managing Director of Ghia. He would hold that position for the next 25 years.

Ghia versions of production models

Besides being used as an advanced styling studio by Ford, Ghia was also tasked to refine production models. These refinements were aimed at creating luxurious versions with higher-quality trim levels and equipment, mainly for models sold by Ford of Europe, starting with the Granada in 1974. This was followed by Ghia versions of popular models like the Escort, Capri and Cortina. The Ghia image was so strong that some Malaysians even referred to the late 1970s Escort Ghia as just a ‘Ford Ghia’. However, after 2010, Ford decided to drop the Ghia name and replaced it with ‘Titanium’ for the top versions.

The Ford Lynx Ghia was the last Ghia-badged model sold in Malaysia in the early 2000s.

The Streetka was a showcar that Ford decided to turn into a production model.

Some Ghia concept models were also turned into production cars, usually sporty models. For example, the Barchetta was the basis for the reincarnation of the Ford Capri in the 1980s, a product which was made in Australia using a Mazda 323 platform. The Streetka, which started off as a concept, also became a production model.

Today, Ghia is not prominent outside Ford and is part of the global network of studios which share work and combine efforts and resources. It does however have a major role in designing concept cars, just as it did when Chrysler’s Exner first appointed the studio to do showcars in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Italian connection in the 1963 Prince Skyline Sport Coupe


Know Your Rights For ‘Loss Of Use’ Claims

A Facebook user shared her frustration through a post regarding her experience with an insurance company and the ‘Loss of Use’ claim.

What is the ‘Loss of Use’ claim?

The standards for claim settlement procedures have undergone numerous revisions since 1995. Just be aware that “compensation for actual repair time” (CART) is the same as the term “Loss of Use” that you may have previously heard.

A third-party insurance claim allows you to get CART or compensation for the loss of use of your vehicle in addition to damages to your vehicles. Other unanticipated costs, including paying for alternate sources of transportation from using ride-hailing services or apps, may occur while your car is getting repaired. When this occurs, you can request CART to help pay for some or all of these unforeseen costs.

Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Guideline On Claims Settlement Practices (consolidated) states as follows: “Where a claim for compensation for assessed repair time (CART) is payable, the Insurer should adhere to the scale of CART agreed by the industry and explain how the amount is derived in its offer of settlement to the claimant”.

Vehicle Type
CART/Day
Up to 1500cc
RM30
Above 1500cc up to 2000cc
RM40
Above 2000cc
RM50

The Issue

The only issue to determine here is whether the amount offered by the Takaful Operator is in accordance with the Claim Settlement Practices and the Guidelines issued by Bank Negara Malaysia for such compensation.

When the mentioned Facebook user stated that she received a letter from the insurance company noting that her claim was only approved for less than a thousand. Her car was hit badly from the rear end and according to her post, her 2,500cc BMW had to be repaired in a shop for 98 days.

According to her Facebook post, the letter from the insurance company did not make sense at all. They stated that the reason for this is because the insurance company thought the time needed to repair the BMW was only 76 hours, or 3 days and 4 hours. Anyone with a sane mind would take one look at the damage done and know that 3 days to repair this is utter nonsense.

After taking into account weekends, holidays, and the supply of spare components, she calculated that it should take more than 50 days (at RM50 per day).

When she contacted the adjuster to demand justification for this, the reply she received was, “My boss is the one that asked me to do the stated calculations”. On top of that, she did not receive any black-and-white guidelines as to how this calculation was made despite asking for it.

After writing a complaint and quoting the Bank Negara guidelines in the letter, she received an email stating that her loss of use was extended by a further 14 days, making it a total of 28 days. Perhaps good for some who will settle for less, but not her.

Dissatisfied about this, she proceeded to write an appeal letter demanding the full claim and this time she made sure to keep Tribunal Tuntutan Pengguna (TTPM), Bank Negara and her lawyer’s office in the loop.

To her surprise, she received emails from agents with these responses:

If possible, do not involve Bank Negara, in my experience, it is difficult for us to involve the national bank.
Miss, did you send a copy letter to Bank Negara?
If you haven’t, don’t send it yet… because we can check the claim, ma’am.
If we can give a full claim, you don’t need to involve Bank Negara.

Just minutes after this, she received an email stating that her demand for the full claim had been approved and after two days, the money was transferred to her bank account.

Imagine the number of people who have fallen for this tactic and lost money. People should know their rights when it comes to matters such as this. As a customer, you have the right to fair judging, which includes payment for any goods or services you acquire.

Her post has gone viral ever since with more than 10,000 likes, 3,500 comments and over 35,000 shares. Netizens have also shared their experiences in the comment section regarding this issue.

It is nice to see good samaritans out there feeding people with useful knowledge in hopes that others do not fall for these tactics or scams.

If you are in a similar predicament and need to get Bank Negara involved, here’s a link to the official website which we think may be of help:
https://www.bnm.gov.my/consumer-info/complaints

We also suggest getting a lawyer. Most lawyers will be happy to take up a case like this so it shouldn’t be too difficult securing a good lawyer.


REVIEWED: Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T – This Time Your Friends Can Come With You [+Video]

I’ve not slept very well since this drive. I’m still rather perplexed as to how it was possible to create something with so much power and yet dial in so much user-friendliness as well. I’m referring of course to the
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T
, which Piston.my reviewed recently. Here’s the day we’d not soon forget…

Review: Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T

We got to drive the new Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T!!! As you can probably imagine, we were super excited about it. Here's what our Managing Editor Chris Wee had to say about this Italian beauty.

Posted by
Piston.my
 on Rabu, 20 Jun 2018

The Facts & Figures…

Boasting
448kW (610bhp)
 and
760Nm
 from a twin-turbocharged
3.9-litre V8
 mated to a
7-Speed F1-DCT
 gearbox, the GTC4 Lusso T also benefits from 4-wheel steering and an E-Diff. All this culminates to enable the GTC4 Lusso T to accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in less time than it took you to read this sentence;
3.5sec
 to be exact. Drive modes are of course selectable via the
manettino
 on the super-mega-multi-function-steering-wheel, which also houses the turn-signal buttons, starter button, suspension settings and even the friggin’ wipers.

Pedal to the floor, and with enough road, in
11-seconds
 from zero it’ll hit
200kmh
, and it will see the bright side of
320kmh
 flat-out before giving up the ghost, while a slew of active safety systems constantly monitor every rotation of the wheel to ensure the intended path of travel remains exactly that. You can find more of the GTC4 Lusso T’s specifications
here
.

The Indescribables….

So now you need to forget all that techno babble above, because I really do believe that that’s not what the GTC4 Lusso T is all about. Sure it may look, feel and even
sound
 like a super-sports car, and from most of the reviews I’ve read emanating from the USA and Europe, many of my counterparts there seem to think it is, but I don’t. Dare I say it? The GTC4 Lusso T is not really a supercar, it’s a gentleman’s
super-cruiser.

Before the pitchforks and lit torches arrive en masse, accompanied by the
Tifosi
 braying for blood though, let me explain. First-off, it’s a Ferrari, so it’s a
given
 that it has – absolutely has – to be fireballs-out-the-flanks type powerful, and don’t get me wrong,
it is
. It’s just that in the GTC4 Lusso T – and this despite all the aforementioned figures I regurgitated on you three paragraphs up – is exceptionally, and I mean
exceptionally
, easy to drive.

It came to a point (when I was alone in the car) where I intentionally tried to get it to kill me and it outright refused. Perhaps it was able to cotton-on to my juvenile nefariousness, and decided to show me just who was smarter of the two.
It won.
 As weird as it sounds, I was actually a bit disappointed that the car didn’t try to kill me; my own cars try to ‘suicide’ my ass all the time…

No, the GTC4 LT is actually docile; fast as hell, but docile. One giveaway could very well be the fact that it has two rear seats. Yes, it’s now possible to ferry 3 of your friends around in a Ferrari, and not just 1. However, now that
that’s
 possible, one must take into consideration that those ‘friends’ may very well be – and will likely be – replaced by
‘family’
 at some point or other.

Image from http://www.topcarrating.com/

That’s a whole new ball-game isn’t it? Rhetorical question.
Of course it is
. If you’re ferrying your wife in front and your 2 kids at the back, it’s 100% guaranteed that you will not be driving the same way as you would be with friends. Think about it; where’s the fun in a family-drive if half the time you’re going to have to stop to clean puke off the floorboards, seats and the back of your neck? Sorry, I needlessly over-emphasized that. My articles should come with a warning sometimes,
graphic imagery ahead…

So, has Ferrari created the world’s first
family station-wagon supercar?
 Okay, okay,
shooting-brake
. Happy? Tomatoes,
tomatoes
. Sure everyone knows they made a one-off Ferrari 456GT Wagon for the Sultan of Brunei a while back, so have they made one for the masses now? I use that
‘masses’
 term lightly of course, seeing as how the GTC4 Lusso T costs more than most bungalows in really nice neighbourhoods. Well, I think they have.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still every bit a Ferrari from fore to aft, top to toe, inside and out. It still imparts an extremely rewarding and spirited drive when
(WARNING: Graphic Imagery Ahead!)

you’re alone and unconcerned about copious amounts of semi-digested sustenance unexpectedly adorning the interior of your car courtesy of passengers. Attack any road, and it’s guaranteed that the GTC4 Lusso T will be able to handle anything you throw its way, with the kind of ease and panache that almost seems to taunt you to push harder. If cars could talk, this one would be saying
“Is that all ya got?”
…. a
lot
.

If you really feel the need to know more about the 20-inch alloys, 46:54 F&R weight distribution and CS brake discs that are bigger than most cars’ wheels and tyres combined, feel free to click
here
. But, come on, does it
really
 matter? I didn’t think so. –
Chris Wee.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T Photo Gallery…


Mazda’s first mass-production EV is coming soon!

The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show is just around the corner and already motoring journalists around the world are feeling the heat of what’s to come. The folks from Mazda also has something up their sleeves as they will be revealing their very first mass-production battery electric vehicle (EV).

Mazda has also stated that their very own EV technology is ‘developed in accordance with Mazda’s human-centric philosophy and making full use of the benefits of electric drive technology, it offers performance drivers can enjoy effortlessly and wholeheartedly.’

The world premiere of Mazda’s completely new EV battery model will be the brand’s third instalment of new-generation vehicle line-up as the market for EVs continues to grow around the globe. We’re pretty sure that the new battery will be powering their upcoming EV and we hope that it’ll close to the Mazda e-TPV (Electric Technology Prove-Out Vehicle).

The e-TPV has been said to be equipped with a 35.5kWh battery that is able to propel the all-electric SUV with 140hp and 364Nm of maximum torque. We’ve also been informed that Mazda might be releasing two versions of this new technology where one will be a pure EV and the other is a hybrid equipped with a brand-new hybrid rotary engine.

Now, that is exciting news for every Mazda enthusiasts around the world, both old and new. The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show will commence at the end of next month starting from 24 October 2019 until 4 November 2019. Stay tuned to Piston.My for more details.

2019 Mazda CX-5 now open for booking


Land Rover belonging to Rowen Atkinson to be sold at auction

A Land Rover Defender 90 belonging to world famous actor, comedian and screenwriter, Rowen Atkinson CBE, will be put up for auction at the Silverstone Auctions, which will take place at the Silverstone Classic festival at the end of July.

The Land Rover in question, is a 2015 Heritage edition, one of 400 examples built to commemorate the end of UK production of the stalwart Defender 90. Considered an automotive icon, over the many decades that the nameplate has been around, Land Rover has consistently improved the Defender to keep it relevant to modern day buyers while retaining the classic box design that many have come to love.

Despite resembling the same vehicle that came out about 70 years ago, the 2015 Defender has all the modern creature comforts that one would come to expect in a contemporary vehicle. It has Grasmere Green metallic paintwork, Alaska White roof, heritage style grille, headlamp surrounds, silver front bumpers, heavy-duty steel wheels and HUE 166 graphics in tribute to the first ever pre-production Series I Land Rover from 1947.

On the inside, when separates the Heritage edition from the rest is the addition of the aluminium clock, aluminium door handles and perforated leather on the steering wheel, gear stick and handbrake, as well as cloth seats with vinyl sides and backs.

Then there’s  also a padded cubby box and Heritage logo rubber mats, an upgraded DBS stereo, mud flaps, tow bar, and bespoke dog guard.

“Silverstone Auctions are very proud to offer this car with such a distinguished pedigree and which, in our opinion, represents the very best of a great British tradition. Never has there been a car that has so captured the imagination of the world,” said Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions.

Judging from the manufacturing date, the famous actor hasn’t had this particular Defender very long. He received ownership of it on the 28th of November 2015 and since then, has only managed to clock 3,637km.

It is believed that the vehicle should fetch about £38,000 – £45,000, which is about RM208,519 to RM246,931. Considering that a famous movie star has owns it, that figure may only be a modest estimate.


Pekema Academy launched in Cyberjaya

The folks from Pekema (Association of Malaysian Automobile Importers and Traders) has officially launched their latest Pekema Academy. Located at the Wisma Yayasan Pekema in Cyberjaya, Selangor, the special institution provides training for Pekema members, AP holders, and franchise owners across Malaysia.

This launch signifies a new era in the institution as they’ve also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UTMSpace. This partnership will provide three different important courses in the world of automotive, sales and sales management which are:

Auto Diagnostic Professional Diploma

Auto Sales Consultant Professional Diploma

Strategic Professional and Business Management Diploma

According to the CEO of Pekema, Mohamad Shalan Hassan, “The partnership involved the UTM Academy and UTM’s School of Professional Education & Continuing Education (UTMSpace). This course is designed to give more exposure to industry players who want to enhance their existing knowledge and skills.”

Each course will only require 12 months to complete (three semesters in total) and will begin operations starting January 2020. The programs are not only open for industry participants but also for postgraduate students as well as the public. A full year’s program for each course is offered at RM10,000.

For more information, head over to
https://www.facebook.com/pekemaacademy
. Alternatively, you can also head over to the Pekema Academy located at Wisma Yayasan Pekema, Cyberjaya.


First Driving Impressions And More Details Of New Perodua Axia

As with previous new model introductions, Perodua offered the media a chance to get first impressions of driving the new Axia as well as provided more details of the specifications. The company has asked us not to write about the specs and features as it wants to them made public only when the car is officially launched on February 14.

However, we have been encouraged to share our brief experience with the new car (albeit a brief one) and also pictures of its exterior (which was camouflaged) as well as interior. Four variants will be available  – G, X, SE and AV – and all will have the same powertrain.

First official uncamouflaged views released today.

Although it seemed that there will no longer be a manual transmission option available, Perodua will still offer it – but in the outgoing model. To be called the Axia E, this variant will cater to driving schools and anyone who likes shifting gears themselves. It is expected to be quite cheap but is likely to be fairly basic too. Availability won’t be so soon and probably start during the second quarter of this year.

A major difference between the old Axia and the new one is DNGA – Daihatsu New Global Architecture. This is a platform and architecture which has been developed to be used for different types of compact models. It is light but very rigid and also optimized for manufacturing. When shared with different partners, it can form much of the structure and each brand can then design its own body on it. The new Axia is Perodua’s third model to adopt DNGA.

Comparison of side profiles of new Axia (above) and first generation (below).

For the brief test-drive, the route was 8 kms long near KL International Airport. With the short time available behind the wheel, our impressions were limited. However, some of the improvements were apparent even during the short drive – like the more solid feel and stability which gave the car a more planted feel.

But one thing was still evident – that ‘motorboat sound’ which Axia owners would be familiar with. It’s characteristic of a 3-cylinder engine but in some cars, it can be masked by generous sound insulation measures. The Axia, being an entry-level model, has limited insulation so the sound tends to be more obvious (some might regard it as part of the car’s ‘character’!).

The 1-litre engine is the same unit as before (sorry, no turbocharged version as rumoured) and would have received improvements in various areas though there’s no mention of increased output which means it’s still 68 bhp/91 Nm. The car’s acceleration was about the same as before but the totally different transmission gave a smoother feeling with quicker transitions between ‘gears’.

In place of the dated 4-speed automatic transmission that used a torque converter, Perodua is now using the D-CVT (Dual-mode CVT). CVTs are better for compact cars, especially when used in urban conditions and the 7-speed D-CVT is engineered for low mechanical loss by using gears as well as a belt drive. This increases transmission efficiency to benefit performance, especially fuel economy which is claimed to be 23.2 kms/litre (with use of ECO mode), 7% better than before.

The route didn’t have many sharp corners so there was not much chance to find out about the handling. Some weaving at high speed did indicate that the car is fairly stable and doesn’t roll as much as the old model which was also rather light. Apart from architecture, DNGA also encompasses suspension geometry with optimized bush properties, springs and shock-absorbing characteristics.

Other things which we can comment on at this time are the slight increase in cabin size which puts a bit more space between the front passengers, rather than feeling too ‘intimate’. With the new dashboard design, there’s also a more open feel that takes away the sense of being in a small ‘box on wheels’. The seating position also feels better, a bit less cramped than before.

Rear legroom is also fairly good although headroom is unchanged. The rear backrest is a single piece which can be folded down to extend the boot area. But it requires unlocking latches on both ends which is a bit troublesome if you don’t have long arms. Perhaps a release strap can be provided that can release both sides together.

As with other models, the top Axia AV variant has all the goodies, with much of the dashboard features and systems like what you see in the Ativa and Alza. These include a 9-inch centre  touchscreen and 7-inch TFT digital instrument cluster which can be configured in a few ways.

Switches on the steering wheel are common today and the Axia has them as well, making it easy for the driver to adjust some functions. In general, all the systems and switchgear follow conventional operating procedures so most people will be able to jump in and operate them instinctively. There are no unusual methods of operation (like what you find in the new generation of EVs) that are sometimes puzzling.

The Axia AV also comes with the complete package of driver-assist systems and up to 6 airbags, we’re told. These driver-assist systems – which are part of the Perodua Smart Drive Assist suite – are still expensive so Perodua can’t offer them in all variants just yet. As costs come down over time, they will begin to appear in lower-priced variants.

But what’s important is that all variants do have active systems like ABS with Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and even Hill-start Assist. These were not available in the earliest Perodua models so you can see how far technology has come and how costs have fallen so drivers can enjoy more safety.

The pricing will range from RM38,600 to RM49,500 and although this seems a bit more than before, Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said that it should also be looked at from the perspective of a new model which is better value for money with the new features and technologies.

Dato’ Seri Zainal also said that the total number of units of first generation Axia produced was around 582,000 when production ended last month. There are still about 44,000 orders outstanding  for the outgoing model and customers have been asked if they would like to switch to the new one, and many have agreed.

Bookings for the new model to date are more than 3,500 units and as is usually the case, the more expensive versions are popular. The Axia should become Perodua’s bestselling model this year since 25% of production will be of the new model.

Bookings can be made at any authorized Perodua dealer as well as
online
. To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit
www.perodua.com.my
.

First Details Of New Perodua Axia, Bookings Open With Prices Starting From RM38,600


Hyundai and Kia vehicles will have cleaner air in cabins in future (w/VIDEO)

COVID-19 has impacted the world in many ways, forcing us to change the way we go about doing things in our daily lives. At the same time, it has also directed carmakers towards addressing issues that were not a high priority before. Air quality is one of them and the Hyundai Motor Group has developed new technologies to improve the quality of air in vehicles and create a more pleasant indoor environment for customers.

The Korean group has unveiled three new air-conditioning technologies – After-Blow, Multi-Air Mode, and Fine Dust Indicator. The technologies will be introduced initially on certain models sold in Korea and then included in the export models of the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands later on.

After-Blow Technology

Moisture that collect in the air-conditioning system’s evaporator enables mold to grow, especially if the weather is hot. The mold can give off an odour which is unpleasant to the occupants. To address this issue, After-Blow dries the condensate on the evaporator to suppresses mold growth.

Normally, after the engine is turned off, the condensate on the evaporator drains naturally for about 30 minutes (that’s the puddle of water you see under the car). The After-Blow system then activates for 10 minutes to dry the evaporator and any condensate leftover in the air passage. The air-conditioning system automatically allows influx of outside air during this time to prevent humidity from building up.

The technology uses an intelligent battery sensor to monitor the battery condition and stops functioning when the battery is low. This will avoid the battery going flat and causing inconvenience to the vehicle owner. It also de-activates when the air conditioning system is not in use for a certain period of time, or when the outside temperature is low.

Multi-Air Mode Technology

Multi-Air Mode uses multiple vents for air conditioning and heating to create a more pleasant indoor environment with a gentle wind. When this mode is activated, the air is dispersed to the newly added multi-air slots in the driver and passenger seats in addition to the normal air vents.

The overall wind volume remains the same, but the dispersion of wind reduces direct air contact and softens the air. This mode can be switched on and off based on the preference of the driver.

Fine Dust Indicator Technology

Dust is all around us in the air and with the Fine Dust Indicator, it is possible for the driver to get information on the dust levels inside the vehicle in real time. With the digitized information, the driver can better manage the air quality.

The indicator displays the concentration and pollution level of ultrafine particles (PM 2.5) inside the vehicle using integer numbers and colours for better visibility to the user. Blue is for 0 to 15 μg/m
3
, green for 16 to 35 μg/m
3
, orange for 36 to 75 μg/m
3
, and red for 76 μg/m
3
 or higher.

If the level of ultrafine particles exceeds 36 μg /m
3
 while the function is active, the air-cleaning mode will run to purify the air in the vehicle. The air-cleaning system automatically sets the air volume between 3 and 8 and switches to air-recirculation mode and activates the air conditioning system to reduce indoor humidity. If the air does not improve in air-cleaning mode, it can also serve as a reminder to the driver to replace air-conditioner filters or to clean contaminated seats and mats.

VR technology enhances vehicle development processes for Hyundai and Kia