Czinger 21C hypercar ready to go into production with final spec confirmed

Czinger (actually pronounced ‘
zinger
’), the company that uses an in-house invented Human-AI (Artificial Intelligence) production system to build its vehicles, has unveiled the final production spec of its 21C hypercar. This is the first model in a series of exclusive performance vehicles – only 80 units – created in part using additive manufacturing technologies. Each component manufactured using this technology is computationally engineered using AI, optimized for weight and performance, and is beautifully finished by hand.

1:1 power-to-weight ratio

The latest version has significant updates since its first public introduction in March 2020 just before the cancelled Geneva International Motor Show. The changes include a revised width of 2050 mm. With 1,250 bhp and a dry weight under 1240 kgs, the 21C is said to achieve a true 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. All the power generated by the hybrid powertrain goes to the road via an all-wheel drive system and ultra-light, sequential 7-speed automated manual gearbox.

The hybrid powertrain, developed in-house, incorporates a 2.88-litre V8 petrol engine with twin turbochargers positioned mid-vehicle. It is supplemented by 2 high-output electric motors, each powering a front wheel with torque vectoring. The redline is at 11,000 rpm, and customers can also opt for an upgrade which will add another 100 bhp.

The 21C V8 is designed to use a range of fuels, including carbon-recycled methanol and other e-fuels. This will enable it to be run as a zero-emission vehicle.

Top speed of 450 km/h

The hypercar has a top speed claimed to be up to 450 km/h in optional low-drag vmax configuration. Putting the driver and passenger in the centre position for ultimate weight distribution, aero and driver engagement, its claimed 0 to 100 km/h is 1.9 seconds, with 0  to 400 km/h in 21.3 seconds. At 160 km/h, its aerodynamic features and design can generate 615 kgs of downforce, increasing to  2,500 kgs at 320 km/h.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Czinger-21C.mp4

Patented production system

The hypercar is designed, built, and manufactured in Los Angeles using advanced technology tools that are integrated into a patented production system. This system includes automated AI-based design and optimization software, patented additive manufacturing driven processes, high accuracy automated assembly and novel performance materials. This revolutionary technology enables Czinger’s design and engineering team to unlock performance and styling not before seen in the automotive industry.

Computationally engineered, printed and assembled, each component is at the frontier of theoretical performance. For example, the front upper control arm is hollow with internal structures allowing it to achieve significant mass savings compared to a traditional tooled variant, thereby greatly reducing unsprung mass and further driving the 21C’s dominating performance.

Both of the fully homologated specifications of the 21C can be highly customized, and it is unlikely that anyone will pay the base price of US$1.7 million (about RM7.01 million) for a standard model. When the prototype was unveiled over a year ago, the plan was to deliver the first cars in early 2021. However, the pandemic would have upset the development and production timetable and Czinger is not giving saying when it can complete the cars.

Czinger 21C hybrid hypercar – 1,233 bhp and 0 to 100 km/h in 1.9 seconds! (w/VIDEOS)


Fuel Price Updates For May 5 – May 11, 2022


Fuel Price Updates For December 29, 2022 – January 4, 2023

For the final week of 2022, prices of all fuel grades remain unchanged from last week. The government says that they are formulating a scheme of targeted subsidies which could use engine size as a basis although that won’t work well today with even expensive models having engines as small as 1.5 litres. Some other criteria would need to be applied in this case.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


The Boss has arrived in Malaysia

ADVERTORIAL

21 years ago, BMW introduced a new type of vehicle to the world. It was the
BMW X5
 which very quickly established itself as the best in the ever-expanding segment of dual-purpose vehicles. It introduced high performance in a segment that had up till then focused on ruggedness and off-road capability with compromises in on-road performance.

To be a true
BMW, the X5
 had to be the best in driving dynamics in all conditions, no compromises. The xDrive system gave this capability. Because it was superior to any other all-wheel drive (AWD) system,
BMW designated the X5
 as a Sport Activity Vehicle or SAV, rather than the utilitarian-sounding SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).

The xDrive system of the
BMW X5
 adapts to all types of surfaces and terrain. On the hard and smooth highway, it maximizes grip and stability when cornering at high velocities. When the road ends and the surface changes, the system intelligently manages torque flows to each wheel as required – almost instantaneously – to maximise grip on uneven ground, mud, sand and whatever else the X5 encounters.

Over four generations, the
BMW X5
 has held its commanding position as The Boss in its segment. Each generation has introduced new technologies, extending its capabilities. Powerful, yet nimble, the SAV term has been constantly justified.

Following on from the introduction of the latest G05 BMW X5 generation in Malaysia a year ago, the SAV range is now joined by the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid (or PHEV, for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). Like the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series PHEV models, the new BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid has the latest electrification technologies developed by BMW.

Its advanced hybrid powertrain, a major element in BMW’s electrification strategy, provides high performance while also promoting the eco-friendliness and sustainability. This is what today’s generation of customers expect to see in a product from a responsible and forward-thinking manufacturer.

The 3-litre straight six-cylinder petrol powerplant develops maximum output of 210 kW/286 hp at 5,000 to 6,000 rpm, with maximum torque of 450 Nm available between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm.

Battery technology, an area of constant advancement, is one which BMW has leadership in. More energy is packed into the lithium-ion battery pack to give the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid a generous range of travel. It can also run on emission-free electric propulsion for extended periods.

The versatility of the SAV concept has endeared the
BMW X5
 to a broad spectrum of customers, most of whom are in positions of leadership and influence, just like The Boss. No longer is there a need for a formal image in the choice of transport for such leaders; with the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid, the credentials endowed on the owner confirm leadership qualities that are essential to be The Boss.

Meet The Boss

The new BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid is at BMW showrooms nationwide, ready for a test-drive. Or immerse yourself in the X5 Plug-in Hybrid experience with Augmented Reality (AR) in the comfort and safety of your home. Log on with your mobile device at this
link:
https://app.bmw.com.my/AR/X5/

Buy like A Boss

– Enjoy added peace of mind with 8 Years/160,000 kms of Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Battery Warranty for any BMW Plug-in Hybrid model.

– Stand a chance to win a BMW i8 Coupe when you book a new BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid
online on
BMW Shop Online
.

Don’t keep The Boss waiting.


Interacting With Pedestrians To Make Road-Crossings Safer

With autonomous vehicles coming in future, the interaction between a vehicle and other road-users, especially pedestrians, will change. Without a human making decisions and a computer taking action, there will be a need to ‘communicate’ intentions in different ways. This is one of the many areas which researchers are looking into with autonomous vehicle development.

Skoda, the Czech carmaker, is developing unique technology which displays to pedestrians – via the car’s grille – when it’s safe to cross the road, as part of a wider trial scheme looking to make roads safer for children, senior citizens and people with disabilities. While this concept is being explored at this time for use in vehicles controlled by human drivers, it could lay the groundwork for autonomous vehicles of the future.

The system replaces the Enyaq iV’s backlit Crystal Face grille with a new body featuring LED strip holders. These programmable LEDs can be controlled separately, making it possible to create unique animations that convey messages.

When the car approaches a pedestrian crossing, it can warn those waiting to cross in advance that it has spotted them. It then stops and displays green arrows, for example, to tell them it’s safe to cross. Once they have crossed, and the car is about to set off, it can display a different signal to warn pedestrians that the car will be moving forward.

In more extreme examples, a car approaching the crossing that is unable to stop can send out a clear signal to pedestrians not to cross. This might be with sounds, lights as well as messages and animations.

The symbols currently being tested include green arrows and a green person, plus a warning triangle or a red triangle with a cross – symbols that are widely recognizable and understood. According to Skoda, technology like this could potentially help to reduce the number of overall pedestrian injuries on the road.

Also included as part of a wider trial is a robotic rover called IPA2X, which has been designed to help children, seniors and people with disabilities cross the road safely. Experts from the Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Technical University of Munich and Skoda have been working together to develop this smart assistant, alongside the signalling radiator grille.

The robot, which is over 2 metres tall, looks like a mobile traffic light that makes its way to the middle of a pedestrian crossing. Once it gets there, it will display a green light and pedestrians can cross. The robot is constantly monitoring its surroundings, so it can detect that a car is approaching the crossing.

With sensors located 2 metres high, it is able to see over parked cars. It then heads out into the road when it sees it’s safe to do so. The robot displays both information for pedestrians and warnings for approaching cars. showing drivers a stop sign. It also sends a warning to the car itself, which is displayed as an animation on the infotainment display. Once the pedestrians have crossed the road, the robot goes back to the kerb.

The moment it reaches the kerb, the alert on the car’s dashboard disappears and the driver can continue on their way. Further developments of the robot will look to also provide audio warnings and further in the future, it might even interact with the car’s computer to coordinate movements.

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These concepts can work almost anywhere although, if the car is controlled by a human, then driver attitude is still important. Drivers have to respect and protect pedestrians and be willing to give them priority when it comes to crossing the road. At the same time, pedestrians must also cross at designated areas and not just run across the road wherever they wish.

Data for Road Safety initiative in Europe provides advance warning of dangers ahead


Ram’s Concept EV Truck Proposes A 3-Row Cabin!

Ram is unlikely to be known to Malaysians as it is a brand presently mainly in North America. It used to be the name of a truck range in Dodge but got spun off in 2010 to become a brand on its own within the Fiat Chrysler Group. With the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the PSA Group in 2021, Ram became part of the enlarged
Stellantis group
.

Ram has always been a truck specialist and when it was a division in Chrysler, it focussed on delivering ‘real trucks’ and not the ‘lifestyle’ machines that have become common in recent times. It therefore has a solid niche in the market where capable trucks are sought for serious work.

At CES 2023 recently, Ram gave a preview of what it’s looking at further down the road in the age of electrification. It presented its vision in 3-dimensional form as the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery-electric Vehicle (BEV) Concept which also gives an idea of its design direction.

The cabin design is something that is a bold departure from the norm with three rows of seats. Demand for 3-row SUVs has been growing, and Ram probably sees a similar demand in trucks in time to come. To get three rows of seats, the 1500 Revolution BEV Concept has a cabin that is 100 mm than today’s typical production truck sold in America.

Known as a ‘one space environment’, the cabin has one continuous space front to back that enables several different interior configurations. The theme is bolstered by a new interior layout that offers lots of flexibility with room to configure a workspace.

The significantly more spacious interior and greater cabin length are the result of a new architecture while the battery pack’s size allows for more cargo volume. Ram Track, the brand’s rail attachment/floor track system, provides cabin flexibility for the seats and console, as well as usable tie-downs or other storage potential. Ram Track is also incorporated in the frunk at the front, as well as the cargo bed, allowing for flexibility from front to back.

Nearly 50 years ago, the club cab was introduced with second-row seating. Now Ram installs a third row which are really jump seats for infrequent use. The jump seats have a removable lower section for placement in the bed or outside the vehicle. The mid-gate with powered glass enables a pass-through (and into the frunk) that can fit long objects with the tailgate closed.

Seating and console flexibility was a focus with the centre console’s ability to be removed for even more space. If desired, the centre console armrest individually converts to a workstation surface. Combined with mid-gate and jump-seat options, the 1500 Revolution BEV Concept offers multiple flexible seating configurations.

Lightweight seats feature integrated seatbelts, grab handles and speakers with the ability to fold flat along with extended recline, work, conference modes and deploying the jump seats. Vastly more interior volume benefits second-row and third-row jump seat passengers who enjoy limo-like space.

On the technical side, powertrain details are brief since this is just a concept model. Ram says that it is proposed with two electric drive modules (EDMs) which are positioned toward the front and rear of the vehicle, maximizing interior space and enabling the cavernous frunk. Designed to accommodate larger capacity EDMs, there is potential for future high-performance applications.

With 800V DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, 10 minutes is claimed to be enough to provide around 160 kms of range for the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept. Ram aims to customers what is most important to them: range, towing, payload and charge time.

The Ram 1500 BEV Concept will be the basis of a new production model which will appear in 2024. It is part of the Stellantis ‘Dare Forward 2030 ‘strategic plan to deliver innovative, clean, safe and affordable mobility solutions.


Lexus Mutiara Damansara transferred to dealer to manage

Besides its Toyota branches around Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) is also transferring its Lexus retail operations to dealers. Although this may seem something new to Malaysians, dealers are usually the ones who manage retail outlets in other countries. It’s only in Malaysia that distributors have established their own branches to do retail as well and it goes back many decades. Back in the 1960s, only the large distributors had the money so they started the retail outlets themselves and the trend remained for a long time.

The Lexus Centre in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has been transferred to Hiewa Auto Gallery (Lexus) Sdn Bhd. This outlet was the first official Lexus outlet in Malaysia when it was opened over 10 years ago.

By transferring retail responsibilities to dealers, UMWT will be able to increase intensity on high value-added upstream activities such as product development, marketing and dealer network support.

“It is essential for Lexus Malaysia to continue achieving high customer satisfaction standards,” said Lexus Malaysia President, Ravindran K. He gave assurance that the typically high quality of customer care that Lexus is well known for will be maintained.

“I am extremely excited about working even more closely with our dealers to achieve a shared vision for Lexus Malaysia, which is to develop the concept of ‘Best In Town’ that focuses more on one-to-one customer engagement. Although this arrangement signifies an important change for Lexus Malaysia, our customers should rest assured that our service will not be compromised but gets even  better in the future” he added.

Lexus UX

Information on the Lexus network of sales and aftersales locations in Malaysia can be found at
lexus.com.my
.

Revised Lexus pricelist with exemption of 5% Sales Tax


2020 Dodge Charger launched in the US – From RM125,349

Dodge//SRT is going all out for their 2020 Dodge Charger line-up with the introduction of eight different variants for the US market. With the new line-up, the American-built performance sedan manufacturer offers something for everyone looking for the right balance in a powerful sedan.

Starting from the base Dodge Charger SXT RWD which is powered by a 300hp 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 engine, the performance goes all the way up to the super massive 6.2-litre HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine for the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody that produces 707hp and over 880Nm of torque.

According to Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America, “With 707 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, .96 g on the skid pad and a suggested starting price less than $70k, the new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is a unicorn in the performance sedan segment. Nowhere but Dodge can you find a sedan with the power and performance per dollar across the entire Charger line-up.”

The model that had us going ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ is the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, which maintains its status as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world. 0-100km/h is completed in just 3.6 seconds, and is able to reach a top speed of 315km/h.

Other impressive specs include:

Integrated fender flares

20-inch by 11-inch Carbon Black forged wheels

Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires

SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping suspension

Carbon & Suede Interior

Essentially, the 2020 Dodge Charger line up has something for everyone and for those who are looking for that extra kick of power in the gut, there’s also the limited-production 2020 Dodge Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition which comes with the same 6.2-litre HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine but has been tuned to a massive 717hp.

Pricing for the 2020 Dodge Charger in the US starts at $29,895 (around RM125,349) all the way up to $74,140 (around RM310,869). Our favourite Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody comes in at $69,645 (around RM 292,021).

Golfer wins 1973 Dodge Challenger; gifts it to his caddie!


Bonuslink rewards programme enhanced with 4-level structure

From this month Shell Malaysia and BonusLink are offering their Extra rewards and loyalty programme with enhancements. The consumer rewards programme, now having more than 14.9 million members nationwide, has a new 4-level structure – Member, Silver, Gold and Platinum – which increases the level of rewards as members collect more BonusLink points at Shell stations nationwide.

Get points with card or app

As always, getting Bonuslink points can be done by fuelling up, or buying snacks or lubricants at the stores in the stations. Points can be collected either by using the BonusLink card or the BLINK App with each purchase.

Depending on the tier status, members are entitled to enjoy customer-exclusive rewards and various perks of up to 3X BonusLink Points multiplier, Deli2Go and Upsize Coffee promo, discounts on Shell products, birthday treats and more.

Extra rewarding experience

“As a mobility retailer, we are constantly evolving with our customers and striving to provide quality at every touchpoint. Our partnership with BonusLink allows us to give our customers an extra rewarding experience every time they fuel and shop at our stations,” said Seow Lee Ming, General Manager Mobility, Shell Malaysia & Singapore.

“Starting July 2022, BonusLink is taking the loyalty services one step further to reward our loyalty members. This is an exciting time for us as we begin to transform our service offerings to add value and to offer more rewards to our members based on their level. With this, members can enjoy an array of goodies and Extra Points simply by continuing to swipe their BonusLink Card or their Virtual Card via BLINK App at Shell,” explained Melvin Ooi, CEO of BonusLink.

Sunshine powers Shell stations in Malaysia


New Joint Venture Between Honda and GS Yuasa To Build Battery Factory in Japan

Being able to develop electric vehicles (EVs) is a vital expertise for carmakers as the industry speeds towards electrification of its products. However, just as vehicles with internal combustion engines are useless without liquid fuel, EVs will not run without electricity. The electricity can come from various sources – even the sun – but what’s more important is being able to store the energy.

That’s where batteries come in and currently, there is much focus on the development of batteries for EVs, with the technology advancing very quickly. As we have seen with the shortage of microprocessors disrupting vehicle production globally, a shortage of batteries would also mean EVs cannot leave the factory, even if the vehicle is completed.

For this reason, the major carmakers have looked for ways to secure supply of batteries for coming years as demand for EVs increases rapidly. The biggest companies have established their own subsidiaries to develop and manufacture batteries, setting up factories around the world to ensure that different regions are covered.

Following on from the January announcement, it has been reported by
Nikkei
 that the joint venture between Honda and GS Yuasa International will invest over 400 billion yen (around RM13.3 billion) to establish an efficient production operation including the supply chain for key raw materials. This will include building a new factory in Japan which will have a production capacity likely to be up to 20 gigawatt hours (GWh), according to the newspaper’s report.

Honda and GS Yuasa have had a close relationship since 1981 when Yuasa began supplying batteries as original equipment for Honda motorcycles. Over 4 decades, the two companies have grown together and with the EV age starting, Yuasa’s long expertise in making batteries (going back to 1915) has become even more valuable. The company evolved into GS Yuasa Corporation in 2004 and five years later, formed a joint venture with Honda that was called Blue Energy Co. (BEC) to produce lithium-ion batteries for Honda’s hybrid models.

In January this year, Honda and GS Yuasa announced the basic agreement toward collaboration for a high-capacity, high-output lithium-ion battery. With the EV market becoming more competitive, this is an important step for Honda not only in R&D and battery production methods but also establishing a supply chain for key raw materials and a highly-efficient battery production system.

Blue Energy battery factory in Kyoto, Japan

“Honda is striving to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities which the company is involved in by 2050. Honda and GS Yuasa have already been working together on lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles, and this new collaboration will further accelerate Honda’s electrification strategies toward the achievement of our carbon neutrality goal,” said  Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer of Honda Motor.

While Blue Energy has not been named, it is believed that this company will also be involved in the factory which would make sense. Production is expected to begin in 2027.

Earlier this month, in its presentation of
Vision 2035
 (GS Yuasa’s long-term vision and 6th Mid-Term Management Plan), the company showed its R&D roadmap for battery development over the next 3 decades. It will move towards all-solid-state batteries to achieve higher energy density with the company’s unique solid electrolyte technology. Liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries as they currently exist will evolve into batteries free from the use of rare metals, possessing longer lives, and capable of being recycled.


Another car on motorcycle lane – and causes a motorcyclist to have an accident!

UPDATE (22/8/20): The driver of the car with registration number QMN 5338
(as shown in the video) which was driven along the motorcycle lane
by the Federal Highway has surrendered himself to the police tonight.

A while back, we wrote about
the case of a car which was seen being driven along a motorcycle lane
. The police managed to track down the owner and according to their investigations, he said he had set the Waze GPS navigation system wrongly. Giving him the benefit of doubt, we looked further into the matter to see if it was possible for Waze to give different directions if the vehicle setting was a car and a motorcycle, as we suspected that could have been the case.

There were people who didn’t think it was possible as GPS accuracy is not fine enough to be able to separate a motorcycle lane and the highway. However, when we used two different vehicle settings, the guidance did show differences, with the one for motorcycles being clearly on the motorcycle lane and the one for cars on the highway.

So it is possible that if the Waze app was accidentally set to motorcycle mode, the guidance could have directed towards a motorcycle lane. Of course, the driver should have been aware he was off the highway but it was said that he was an old man and he may really not have been familiar with the roads, so he didn’t realize he was actually on a motorcycle lane.

Video from
INFO ROADBLOCK JPJ/POLIS FB

Recently, there was another case which could have resulted in a head-on collision. Fortunately, the motorcyclist (who happened to have a GoPro camera on him) swerved out of the way but still crashed against the side. The car had suddenly come out of a tunnel and as can be seen in the early part of the video, the motorcycle lane was on the left side of the highway (said to be near MidValley City in Kuala Lumpur).

This would suggest that the car entered the motorcycle lane already going the ‘wrong way’ – in relation to the highway flow – and that cannot be a GPS route guidance error. The system would not have guided the driver in the wrong direction, so it would appear that it was a deliberate action. We hope the police will also be able to track down the driver and charge him as that was certainly a very dangerous situation which could have killed someone.

Yes, Waze MOTORCYCLE and CAR modes can give you two different routes.


Ford Focus can be yours for just RM668/month

Ford has made it even easier for car buyers to own its award winning mid-size family hatchback, the Focus. According to the automaker, owning a Focus will only cost you RM668/month or you can forgo this deal for a RM15,000 cash rebate, the choice is yours.

This is an exceptionally good deal based on the numbers but we would advice our readers to speak with a Ford repesentive to know the full terms and conditions of this repayment scheme before committing to anything.

That said, the Focus is one of the best vehicles that the US based automaker sells in our market. It’s the third generation car of the Focus family and is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine.

Thanks to forced induction technology, a smaller engine is now able to offer similar output to a much larger displacement one. As such, though the car only has a 1.5-litre engine compared to the 2.0-litre one in its predecessor, power is relatively similar.

It’s exceptionally smart too – the automated louvers behind the front grille open and close to minimize drag of up to 6% enabling the car to save more fuel. The car does this automatically when it detects the vehicle’s speed is sufficiently high and that the engine is receiving adequate air for cooling purposes.

Then, there’s a slew of safety tech such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert feature. This system warns drivers of obstacles (vehicles) that are in their blind spots and also alerts them when it detects a vehicle approaching from either left or right side of the car, up to a range of 40 metres.

But the Focus’ best party trick, is its ability to park on its own, with minimal human intervention. Through the use if the Enhanced Active Park Assist system, the car is able to parallel or perpendicular park perfectly, with the driver only having to change gears, brake and accelerate when necessary.

In addition to that, the car can also drive itself out of parking spaces through the use of the Park-Out Assist feature. This takes the stress out of having to carefully maneuver out of tight parking spaces on congested streets. Sounds like magic, but in actual fact, the car relies on various ultrasound sensors that act as its eyes, to help it navigate in and out of spaces.

Enhanced Active City Stop system, allows the Focus to apply the brakes as and when needed at speeds of up to 50Km/h when it senses an impending collision. It cuts engine power and engages the brakes to prevent avoidable fender benders or reduce their severity.

Finally, there’s Enhanced Transitional Stability, which is a Godsend for those who constantly drive during heavy downpours. This system, monitors the car’s movements and intervenes when necessary to prevent the driver from loosing control and sending the vehicle into a spin.

Going one step further, with the Ford MyKey, owners can set limits on the abilities of the Focus when the supplementary key is in the hands of a different driver. This key can be programmed to enable or disable certain features in the vehicle. For example, if a less experienced person is about to drive, the owner can programme the key, allowing for additional features. These could include, reducing the maximum speed of the car, prompting low-fuel alerts earlier and limiting entertainment (SYNC 3) functionality until seat belts are fastened.

Other features of the Focus include the following:

Keyless entry Push-button Start

Six airbags

Dual-zone climate control

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Electronic Power-assisted Steering (EPAS)

Torque Vectoring Control

Hill Launch Assist

Six-speed SelectShift with paddle shifters

The Ford Focus can be ordered in six different body colours that include Frozen White, Panther Black, Ingot Silver, Candy Red, Magnetic and Winning Blue. The Focus Trend is priced at RM118,888, the Focus Sport+ is RM139,888 while the sedan version, the Focus Titanium+, comes with a price of RM139,888.

For more information about this or other Ford models, visit the automaker’s local website or your nearest authorized dealer.


New McLaren 620R brings the track-only 570S GT4 to the streets

With the new 620R, McLaren now offers a car with ‘true motorsport credentials’ in a fully road-legal package. An evolution of the competition specification of the 570S GT4, only 350 units of the limited-edition coupe will be available worldwide. In the UK, the car will be priced from £250,000 (equivalent to RM1.37 million) and production will start next month.

“The McLaren 570S GT4 is a first-class GT race car, having won races in every championship it has competed in since its first appearance in 2017 and it is attracting an increasing number of customer racing teams. Now, in response to repeated customer requests, we have homologated that class-leading package for the road in the new McLaren 620R, a limited-edition, 620PS superlight coupe that is the perfect choice for an enthusiast wanting an authentic motorsport driving sensation – and performance to match – on both track and road,” said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive.

Seamless transition from race track to road

As the ultimate track-focused, track-ready but roadgoing McLaren Sports Series model, the 620R is destined to be both rare and collectable, thanks to its strictly limited production run. It is a unique proposition, delivering a pure motorsport experience in a road car with authenticity. It looks like a race car, handles like a race car, performs like a race car and feels like a race car.

McLaren GT4

The overall result is a seamless transition from race track to road – and vice versa. Exclusive and extreme in equal measure, the 620R retains the DNA of a fully homologated track car yet is free from the restrictions that race regulations apply.

A high level of commonality with a 570S GT4 has been integral to the development of the 620R from the very outset. They have the same, single-piece carbonfibre Monocell II chassis providing the foundations for the strength and light weight of the car, with a targeted lightest dry weight of 1,282 kgs. This carbonfibre core – a McLaren signature that in different guises features in every car in the company’s range – also underpins the dynamic precision and composure for which McLarens are renowned.

These characteristics have been enhanced in the 620R by the inclusion of the GT4’s adjustable aerodynamic elements, race-derived suspension components and powertrain recalibration to increase power and performance.

Same powerplant as GT4

The 620R has the same M838TE 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine used in the GT4 but with a significant difference in power output. Not constrained by stringent racing regulations has allowed the engine ECU and turbocharger management to be reconfigured to generate 620 ps, making this the most powerful Sports Series car yet.

The engine also develops maximum torque of 620 Nm and even with lap times more important than sheer top speed, the combined outputs helps to deliver benchmark performance figures of 0 – 100 km/h claimed to be 2.9 seconds and 0 – 200 km/h in 8.1 seconds. Maximum speed is said to be 322 km/h and we don’t doubt it being possible.

The 620R has the GT4’s two-way manually adjustable coil-over motorsport dampers which feature 32 clicks of adjustment per corner to allow a driver to tailor compression and rebound rates to suit their driving style and track conditions. The dampers also help to bring weight down overall, being more than 6 kgs lighter than the regular Sports Series units.

Stopping power comes from McLaren’s latest lightweight braking system which, in the track-focused set-up on the new 620R, comprises carbon ceramic discs and forged aluminium brake calipers all round, with improved pedal response, modularity and resistance to fade even after repeated hard-driven circuit laps.

Option to use slick tyres

The 620R runs with standard Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres, but drivers who swap to the optional, full-slick motorsport tyres when they arrive on circuit will experience a whole new level of braking. Specially developed for McLaren by Pirelli’s Motorsport team, the slick tyres are optimised to complement the motorsport brakes and race-derived suspension of the 620R. They unlock a contact patch 8% larger than that of the road tyre, increasing lateral G-forces and enabling quicker lap times.

This is the first time that a road-legal car with 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels has been engineered to be able to run on slick tyres without the need for additional mechanical adjustment. This means that if weather conditions allow, owners can on arrival at a circuit either fit a second set of wheels or change tyres and go straight out on track without further delay.

While the rear wing quite literally stands out as an obvious distinguishing feature on the 620R, it is not the only component adapted from the GT4’s aggressive track specification to meet road homologation standards. The front bumper, splitter and bonnet have been redesigned – the splitter retaining pronounced aero blades and cut-out – while the carbonfibre bonnet has twin nostrils to aid downforce and clean up the airflow over the top of the car.

Track-inspired cabin

The interior clearly and immediately stands out as track-inspired – any GT4 race driver will feel instantly at home. As with any serious circuit car, it is as much about what has been stripped out as what has been included:  the 620R does not have a floor carpet or a glovebox. Air-conditioning, IRIS Navigation and an audio system are also missing from the standard specification although all can be selected at no additional cost.

Driver and passenger are secured in super-lightweight carbonfibre racing seats by 6-point racing harnesses, fitted as standard. Key ‘track touchpoints’ include the red 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel. Structural carbonfibre elements such as extended shift paddles, steering wheel spokes and centre console enhance the sense of being in the cabin of a race car.


DENSO’s Third Generation Global Safety Package offers increased active safety

DENSO, a company within the Toyota Group, has developed an improved version of its Global Safety Package which is an active safety system designed to improve the safety of vehicles by giving them high sensing capability of their surroundings. The system is already in use in many Toyota Group models and this latest third generation will be offered from now on.

The Global Safety Package uses the combined performance of a millimetre-wave radar sensor and vision sensor to obtain data on the various objects ahead of the vehicle. The radar sensor detects the shapes of road objects, such as vehicles and guardrails, while the vision sensor uses a camera to detect the environment ahead of the vehicle. This data is then analysed at high speed by an on-board computer which will determine the situation ahead and whether any warnings are to be given to the drive, or actions taken to prevent an accident.

Radar Sensor

In the new Global Safety Package, the radar has a wider detection angle, longer detection range, and improved speed resolution. There are also improvements such as in-antenna design and in radio wave transmission efficiency. The wider angle of coverage can help avoid collisions at intersections, whether with other vehicles or pedestrians.

The sensor’s wider horizontal field of view also assists adaptive cruise control and lane changes over a broader speed range. Moreover, the product uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve sensing performance and assistance functions, such as headway distance control – the ability to maintain consistent distance between a preceding vehicle – and traffic sign recognition.

With reduced size and cost, this radar sensor has fewer installation requirements and can be used in more vehicle types and models. It uses fewer than half the number of parts compared to the previous generation. This has been achieved by integrating the antenna and power supply board, simplifying product structure and leveraging multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which allows for a smaller antenna with fewer channels to transmit and receive radio waves.

Vision sensor

The vision sensor is a high-sensitivity, high-resolution imager with a wider horizontal field of view and longer detection range. It employs AI technology to identify drivable areas, preceding vehicles, road signs, and other solid objects based on image data. Vehicles and pedestrians in all directions, including those ahead, behind, and to the side, can be detected.

Like the radar sensor, it has reduced size and cost. The downsizing  was achieved by integrating image processing and system control functions, which reduced the number of microcomputers used. The structural design has also been adjusted to control heat emitted from the processor, while the lens design has been revised.

DENSO will continue to improve its active safety systems to eliminate road accidents and provide stress-free mobility. This will be done using cutting-edge technology with an underlying objective of pricing the systems attractively so they can be installed in more vehicles.

Daihatsu, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota to jointly develop specifications for vehicle communications devices


Fuel prices for September 14 – 20 2019


Video: Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato in action!

In December 2019, just before the world was attacked by COVID-19, Lamborghini showed the
Huracan Sterrato
 as a proposal for a super off-road machine. It was only a concept then, based on the V10 Huracan which drew on off-road expertise developed with the Urus.

Now it appears that there is a running prototype in action although Lamborghini is not saying anything. All it has released is a video entitled
‘Beyond the Concrete’
 which shows the Sterrato in action on very rough ground.

The video shows the supercar racing along a country road and then diverting off-road to race with a mountain bike up to a villa on a hill. There’s a lot of drama along the way as the 5.2-litre V10’s power tries to reach the ground with the chunky tyres.

The Sterrato is intended for rough and demanding environments and its appearance illustrates this.  More ground clearance is necessary in rough terrain so 47 mm is added, with the car’s front approach sharpened by 1% and the departure angle enhanced by 6.5%.

The wheel track is enhanced front and rear by 30 mm, with 20-inch wheels on balloon tyres set into widebody wheelarches with integrated air intakes. The larger tyres have been specially developed with increased sidewalls to improve the absorption of bumps and also provide good grip.

When driving over rough terrain with rocks and loose stones, the underside is at risk of being damaged. To prevent this, the Sterrato is fitted with underbody reinforcements and body protection, including a rear skidplate that acts as a diffuser. Aluminium reinforcements are integrated within the front frame and covered with an aluminium skidplate, with aluminium-reinforced sideskirts.

We don’t know what exactly this video is meant to tell other than that another super SUV could be coming soon. It could be the last model in the Huracan line which was introduced in 2014, and certainly a wild way to finish off.

Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato concept explored off-road supercar design


The Hummer is returning but you’ll hardly hear it coming… (w/VIDEO)

It’s been almost 10 years since the last Hummer was produced and for a while, it seemed that a company in China would take over the brand which started in 1992. However, that never happened and General Motors, the brand owner, stopped production and marketing after 2010. Although sold mainly in America, the Hummer was an iconic vehicle globally because of its looks and size and perhaps the fact that it was a civilian version of a military vehicle.

In May 2020, GM will revive the Hummer with the unveiling of an all-new model although statements by senior GM executives indicate that it will be a model name rather than a brand as it used to be. The vehicle will be sold under the GMC brand and it will be a totally different type of Hummer because it will have an all-electric powerplant instead of the 6.2-litre engine (the Hummer H3 had a smaller 3.5-litre powerplant).

It will be GMC’s first all-electric truck, a rival to Tesla’s Cybertruck which Elon Musk says already has 250,000 orders from people who paid refundable US$100 deposit. Starting off with the theme of ‘Quiet Revolution’ in advertising spots starting on May 20, the HUMMER EV, as it will be known, will have 1,000 bhp, 15,592 Nm of torque and a claimed 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of 3 seconds. And without the noise and unhealthy emissions Hummers of the past generated but expected to still have superior capabilities off-road.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GMC-HUMMER-EV-1.mp4

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GMC-HUMMER-EV-2.mp4

The HUMMER EV will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant which has received a US$2.2 billion investment to make it the company’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly factory. GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pick-up with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco last week. Somewhere in the production schedule would also be the HUMMER EV which GMC informs will be initially available during the fourth quarter of 2021.

GMC has been around for almost 120 years as a truck manufacturer. Its current range includes SUVs like the Terrain (above).

GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing US$2.3 billion to manufacture battery packs – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck. It will be interesting what size of battery packs the HUMMER EV will have – would it guzzle electricity the way the original Hummer consumed fuel at a rate of around 4 kms/litre (even the ‘lighter’ H3 did 7 kms/litre at best). That consumption figure was one of the reasons why Hummer sales died quickly as fuel prices rose, taking the company down with it.

The Toyota MegaCruiser (left) and Dongfeng HUV were almost certainly inspired by the original Hummer.


Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn Bhd Emerges Victorious In Nissan Service Advisor Excellence Awards 2018

Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn Bhd (TCEAS) recently emerged as Champion in the
Nissan Service Advisor Excellence Competency (NISAC) Award Asia Regional Contest
 held in Thailand.

Mr
Ernest Chong Ruichen
 (below) from
Nissan Kuching 3S Centre
, who took national honours in the NISAC National Contest held in April 2018, was chosen to represent Malaysia for the regional competition. Being the youngest contestant, Ernest Chong topped the Service Advisor contest, beating other more experienced contestants from Hong Kong, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Brunei and Sri Lanka. He was commended for his extraordinary soft skills,
Nissan Sales and Service Way
 handling standards and customer’s centric mindset.

Nissan Service Advisor Excellence Competency (NISAC) Award Asia Regional Contest is a regional competition organised by Nissan Motor Co Ltd. (NML), aimed to recognise and award the best-skilled service advisor from After-Sales and Service divisions. The contest evaluation aspects involved method in welcoming customers, seriousness in meeting customer’s needs and wants, transparency for the customer’s peace of mind, and sincere explanation for customer’s thorough understanding,

“We are extremely proud of Ernest Chong’s achievement as the champion of NISAC. Being the youngest achiever, he will be a role model in setting quality service standards to many other Nissan service advisors here in Malaysia. We will continue to improve the skills and capabilities of our service specialists, and consistently provide our customers with the highest after-sales and service support”,
 said Mr
Michael Yao Tsu-Wei, Head of After-Sales, TCEAS.

Takata Airbag Inflator Replacement Service Campaign

TCEAS together with Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) would like to re-emphasize on the Takata airbag inflator replacement service campaign.

Customers with affected Nissan vehicles are advised to call the nearest TCEAS outlet for Takata airbag inflator replacement appointment. Selected TCEAS outlets have extended its operation hours and now open 365 days, making it easier for customers to service their vehicles on weekends, as well as to alleviate the capacities for the replacement activity. All labour and replacement parts for this replacement service campaign will be at no cost to owners.

TCEAS and ETCM would like to reassure that our customers’ confidence and peace of mind is of utmost importance. We are committed to ensure our customers’ safety, service and satisfaction are of the highest level, and are working together to promptly address this concern.

Customers may call Nissan Customer Care Centre at the toll-free line: 1800-88-3838 for further clarification or visit
www.nissan.com.my
 (click on ‘Owners’ tab followed by ‘Recall Campaign’) to find out if your Nissan vehicle is involved in this recall campaign.


David Beckham creates a Maserati MC20 that is truly his own

The
Maserati’s MC20
 Fuoriserie Edition for David Beckham is like a letter written to the city of Miami, home of Beckham’s football club in America. It began as part of the carmaker’s Fuoriserie customization program which allows customers to create a very personalised Maserati. In this case, the customer was the brand’s ambassador himself, who became a designer with the help of the Maserati Centro Stile.

At Maserati Fuoriserie, a car starts as a blank canvas and customers are offered an array of instruments to create with. The rest is left to the clients taste and inspiration, giving them the opportunity to set their own trends and express their personality.

After a personalized and collaborative design process, Beckham and the designers created the MC20 Fuoriserie Edition for David Beckham. This car translates true passion into a carbonfibre monocoque, entirely Made in Italy, and powered by a patented V6 petrol engine derived from Formula 1 technologies.

The end result of this very personal sportscar is black and pink, a chromatic dichotomy, as well as the interplay between glossy and matt surfaces. The team colours are black and pink, and the team uniforms are characterized by contrasting glossy-matt treatments.

Starting from this as an inspiration, the bodywork features a glossy black tone which contrasts with the Trident logos on the grille and on the C-pillar, in black, but with an opaque finish. The Maserati lettering on the rear is also opaque, while the MC20 badge on the door is pastel pink, as are the Brembo brake calipers.

The interior, in leather and Alcantara, is black with contrast-stitching in pink. The backrests, in Alcantara, are worked with a tone-on-tone laser engraving method and the headrest features a 3-dimensional pastel pink embroidery.  In the centre tunnel between the two seats is a personalized nameplate with a glossy-matte effect. At the top, next to the Trident, the Maserati Fuoriserie lettering is pastel pink, at the bottom are the italics ‘
For David
’ which appears with an aluminium effect.

“As car designers, our mission is to offer a holistic experience. This value guides our Brand’s stylistic research, making each Maserati uniquely recognizable. Our customization program is another example of our brand’s goal to create singular experiences for our customers: Maserati Fuoriserie is a blank canvas, on which Maserati clients can write their own stories and unleash their creativity, making their dreams come true,” said Klaus Busse, Head of Maserati Design.

“Designing this special edition MC20 with David, as with all our Fuoriserie projects, is also an ode to the Brand’s past, taking us back to a time when every car was hand-built to the client’s requests, giving life to a one-off, a true ‘fuoriserie’,” he explained.

“I have always been a car enthusiast, so to be part of designing and creating my MC20 through the Fuoriserie customisation programme has been an amazing experience. Cars are about individual taste whether it’s the model, colour or small personal details on the inside. It has been incredible to collaborate with the Maserati team and designers to create this one-off car that is inspired by my second home, Miami and my football club there. It is a joy to be behind the wheel,” said Beckham.

Maserati Levante SUV gets hybrid variant


Special edition to celebrate Porsche Panamera’s 10th anniversary

The Porsche Panamera arrived on the scene in 2009, offering sportscar performance one with the versatility of a touring sedan. It has shaped the brand over the course of the last 10 years as a technology platform for innovations that were transferred to other Porsche models.

Over 250,000 units have been delivered worldwide to date and to celebrate the model’s 10
th
 anniversary, Porsche has prepared a special edition model series. The 2020 Panamera 10 Year Edition models feature upgraded standard equipment and exclusive design highlights. The special edition is available for the Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid versions.

The special standard equipment list includes 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels in satin-gloss White Gold Metallic and ‘Panamera10’ logos on the front doors, also in White Gold Metallic. The anniversary logo can also be found in the interior on the front passenger trim panel and on the door entry guards. The interior is black with deviated stitching in White Gold.

Additional standard equipment

The Panamera 10 Year Edition models come as standard with a host of additional comfort and safety features. ParkAssist including Surround View, LED matrix design headlights including PDLS Plus, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keep Assist are part of the extended standard equipment, as are heated 14-way comfort seats with Porsche crest on the headrests, soft-close doors, and a BOSE Surround Sound system.

With standard adaptive 3-chamber air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Power Steering Plus, the Panamera10 models are also ideally equipped for outstanding driving dynamics.

The hybrid version comes with the otherwise optional 7.2-kW on-board charger rather than the 3.6-kW charger that is included in a standard Panamera 4 E-Hybrid model.

The Panamera 10 Year Edition and Panamera 4 10 Year Edition both use a mono-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine generating 330 ps, while the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid 10 Year Edition has a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor that generate a combined 457 ps.

A Porsche for four

Looking back at the company’s history of over 70 years, the idea of offering a Porsche for four was considered from time to time. However, prototypes such as the Type 530 based on the 356, lengthened variants of the 928 or the 4-door coupe Type 989 did not make it into production.

Type 530 of the 1950s

A prototype built in the 1960s on one of the occasions when the engineers thought about a Porsche for four.

At the start of the new century, the decision was made to develop a 4-door hatchback sedan. The requirements included outstanding driving dynamics, generous interior space and a quintessentially Porsche appearance. The first Panamera made its public debut on April 19, 2009 on the 94th floor of the World Financial Centre in Shanghai, and set standards in its class thanks to the wide spread between sportiness and comfort. It was packed with innovations: for the first time, a luxury-class production model was offered with a dual-clutch transmission and start-stop system. The flagship Panamera Turbo also introduced air suspension with adjustable air volume, as well as an adjustable, multi-dimensionally extendable rear spoiler.

In 2011, the Panamera set the stage for a new age of electromobility: as the first parallel full hybrid in the premium sedan segment, the Panamera S Hybrid was the most economical Porsche to date despite a power output of 380 ps. Two years later, the Panamera S E-Hybrid once again led the way in the segment as the world’s first plug-in hybrid.

With the second generation, introduced in 2016, Porsche embraced electric performance . The boost strategy adopted from the 918 Spyder allows sportscar-like performance in combination with high efficiency. The top model is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with a system power of 680 ps.

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


Soundwaves from the Polestar 2 turned into music

Electronic music has been around for some 50 years and with the arrival of the computer age, digital music began to spread widely. Now Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car brand, has teamed up with a robotics engineer and musician, Moritz Simon Geist, to create a whole new type of music for the digital age.

Challenging conventions

“The car industry is traditionally a closed one. We believe in looking outside of the sector and are intrigued by people and companies that go their own way,” said Head of Brand and Marketing at Polestar, Asa Borg. “Polestar aims to challenge the conventions of the automotive industry; Moritz aims to challenge the way we perceive sound and make music – a like mind with a different and interesting perspective.”

Moritz has made a name for himself by building robots that create music from unlikely sources, and now the Polestar 2 is such a source. Robots made from parts of the car, as well as samples of both audible car sounds and the electrical systems inside the car are used.

Robots collect sound samples

Moritz first built robots from parts of the car. Each robot extracted a sound sample using the various elements inside that component, either from a physical noise or from the system’s changing electromagnetic field.

The samples were used to create beats which Moritz wove into an original composition, playing the car like an instrument. The package of sound samples has also been made available on Polestar.com so that anyone can play with the beats online and create their own soundtrack from the sounds of Polestar 2, allowing fans to explore the car in a new, creative way.

Available for listening online

Many of the sounds that created the song are specific to the nature of electric cars. With a premium Harman Kardon audio system and significantly lower levels of noise and vibration compared to traditional cars, the Polestar 2 is a perfect audio listening booth. But you don’t need a Polestar 2 to listen as the composition has been released online. It is
available for streaming here
 at no charge.

“In my work, I am genuinely interested in finding new ways to combine state-of-the-art technological tools with art and music. For me, art is a sand-box experiment for testing out and bringing new perspectives to technological novelties, before they are adapted by a broader audience. This can be AI-algorithms, robotics – or electric vehicles, which are playing an increasing role in our transition to a more sustainable future,” said Moritz.

Polestar enjoys the explorative concept of unexpected collaborations with kindred spirits in different fields. Polestar seeks groundbreakers, culture-changers and challengers – people who are reshaping society and pushing boundaries within art, tech and innovation. Moritz added an emotional element to an otherwise sterile area of the car.

“We’re used to listening to music in cars. Thanks to Moritz and his squad of robots, we can now listen to cars in music,” concluded Borg.

Experimental Polestar 2 with higher output shown at Goodwood Festival of Speed


Volvo is preparing infotainment systems for the future when the driver doesn’t have to drive

Ever since the radio could be installed in a car, entertainment while motoring has been constantly evolving in tandem with the technologies of different decades. What used to be audio systems before are now called infotainment systems – providing a combination of information and entertainment of different kinds.

In the old days, a radio in the car was the only form of entertainment on a long journey.

In time, we’ll be travelling in cars that can operate on their own, driving safely to wherever we want to go. Without the need to control the car or even pay attention to the road ahead, the driver will have more time to do other things – read a book, watch a movie, listen to music or even play videogames. Such a scenario means that infotainment systems in cars will have to change and provide even more features and capabilities.

Volvo is already starting on this evolution and is developing next-generation infotainment systems that can be offered in the near future. For example, using Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms takes the carmaker’s Google Android Automotive-based infotainment system to the next level. By leveraging Volvo Cars’ and technology firm Qualcomm’s in-house R&D competence, the companies will improve the overall capability of Volvos powered by Google Android to become faster and more responsive.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms is designed to be a central hub for high-performance computing. It is capable of fulfilling highly demanding graphics, audio and artificial intelligence requirements in the forthcoming Polestar 3 SUV and Volvo Cars’ upcoming fully electric SUV, all while having a very low power consumption. Using the latest Snapdragon Automotive Platforms, the next generation infotainment system will be more than twice as fast, while graphics generation will be up to 10 times faster.

The continued partnership between Volvo Cars and Google will also see Volvo being the first carmaker to directly integrate its cars with Google Assistant-enabled devices. This integration basically turns cars into smart devices.

This planned direct integration allows for a seamless connection between Google Assistant and cars to date, letting Volvo drivers control functions in their car by issuing voice commands to Google Assistant-enabled home and mobile devices. By pairing their car with their Google account, drivers can directly talk to Google in their car and remotely control a variety of functionalities, such as cooling it down on a hot day or just locking the doors in case they forgot to do so.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Volvo-1.mp4

“Volvo Car Group was first to introduce Google technology and services in our cars and we are now looking to be the first to integrate fully with Google Assistant-enabled devices – it is a natural next step in our partnership with Google,” said Henrik Green, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Cars. “This integration allows us to improve the customer experience immensely, as it gives customers the possibility to easily and securely manage their car while at home or on the go, through any personal device that has Google Assistant.”

Finally, YouTube video playback will also come to all Volvo cars with Google built-in. YouTube will be the first video platform to be featured and available for download in Volvo cars on Google Play. This is the beginning of enabling video streaming in cars. Volvo is providing YouTube video as an enjoyable way to pass the time during stop with an EV to recharge. However, mindful of safety, videos will be allowed to be played only when the car is fully stationary.

“Allowing our customers to watch videos while charging or when waiting to pick up their children from school is part of our promise to make their lives better and more enjoyable,” said Green. “With YouTube and other major streaming services coming soon, our customers can enjoy their charging break instead of seeing it as just a hassle – making electric car ownership that bit easier.”

“The car is a great venue for enjoying video and audio, so I would not be surprised if this means that people spend more time in their Volvos, even when they are not going anywhere!” added Green.

Volvo will introduce unsupervised motoring in California first


Fuel Prices For March 28 – April 3, 2020

Refuelling your car? Remember to take these precautions…


Toyota’s New Tech Will Boost EV Sales, More Electric Models Coming Soon!

Executives at Toyota Motor seem more assured than before in their capacity to produce and market millions of electric vehicles.

Hiroki Nakajima, chief technology officer of Toyota, said during a daylong series of technology briefings last week at Toyota’s research facility that’s close to Mount Fuji, that consumers switching from hybrids to fully electric vehicles are giving the world’s largest automaker a good indication of where the market will be in three years.

Toyota will meet its objective to sell 1.5 million battery-electric vehicles by 2026, he assured, adding that “development and production will be ready when there is demand for 1.5 million units.”

Years of cautious statements from Toyota executives about when auto buyers will be ready to switch to all-electric vehicles were contrasted with the remarks and hours of presentations. The executive team of the producer was also transparent about the advancements planned for the future generation of EVs, including longer-range batteries, sleeker aerodynamics, and more productive manufacturing techniques.

Toyota was a pioneer in electrifying vehicles with the hybrid Prius, but it is currently lagging behind Tesla and China’s BYD in terms of sales. Toyota continues to support various approaches to reduce vehicle emissions and continues to believe in the possibilities of hydrogen and carbon-neutral fuels, but new CEO Koji Sato has pushed for an EV-first strategy.

2023 Toyota Prius

This strategy took place near Fuji where Toyota engineers and product managers showcased their research and product plans in broad view. New cars and prototypes were tested out, including an electric vehicle (EV) that mimicked a clutch-equipped manual gearbox car and a Lexus SUV with a hydrogen-burning combustion engine.

The manufacturer displayed more advanced vehicle software, more compact e-axles, and more reasonably priced fuel cells in addition to outlining its battery roadmap, which may see the deployment of solid-state batteries within a few years.

Soon after assuming the position of CEO in April, Sato announced intentions to sell 1.5 million battery electric vehicles yearly and introduce 10 new EV models by 2026 as a first step towards reaching 3.5 million by 2030, a target established by his predecessor Akio Toyoda, who is now chairman.

Considering that Toyota sold about 38,000 battery EVs during the fiscal year that ended in March, those are impressive targets.

Toyota’s goals should be viewed in the context of the two decades it took the automaker to sell 1.5 million electrified vehicles, the vast majority of which were hybrids, in its first year after the debut of the Prius in 1997.

The automaker was able to reach efficiency never previously seen by integrating a battery, electric motor, and smaller combustion engine in a powertrain, giving hybrids much more range and petrol mileage than its rivals.

Celebrities and environmental organisations praised the
Prius
, enhancing Toyota’s reputation as a green manufacturer and helping Toyota surpass Volkswagen AG as the biggest automaker in the world. Although Prius sales have slowed, hybrid technology is now present in nearly every Toyota model, including the Lexus range. As part of its multi-pronged strategy to cut emissions, Toyota continues to place a high priority on reducing emissions from gas-electric vehicles.

Given the variations in EV readiness and regulatory requirements across key markets, among other things, Nakajima was less definitive about Toyota’s sales objective by the end of the decade.

In the upcoming months and years, car buyers could anticipate a faster pace of product releases, according to Takero Kato, who oversees Toyota’s battery EV activities.

Within the following few years, Toyota intends to introduce at least two new battery types. In comparison to the battery in the
bZ4X
 sport utility vehicle, one will launch in 2026 with a range of 1,000 km and advances in weight reduction and airflow design, while costing 20% less. The other, a lithium iron phosphate battery scheduled for release in 2026 or 2027, aims to do the same while extending the range by 20%.

Toyota plans to begin manufacturing vehicles using high-nickel cathodes in 2027 or 2028, which will provide even larger cost and higher range advantages.

Toyota also spent some time demonstrating some of its innovative concepts for car manufacturing, which seek to cut plant investment and development costs in half. Toyota would use what it called a “giga casting” technology, much like Tesla has collaborated with suppliers to streamline the body structures that support its vehicles and use a lot fewer pieces of metal. By switching to three-part body topologies, the front and back structures as well as the batteries tucked between them will be more interchangeable.

Building EV powertrains on wheels that can move independently from one workstation to the next would eliminate assembly line conveyors, one of the company’s more extreme ideas for its production system.

Koji Endo, a managing director of SBI Securities who attended last week’s briefings, said Toyota’s management team was persuasive. Many questioned if they could increase output by 500,000 units annually, according to Endo. But now that they’ve seen the research centre, the majority of experts believe they can.


Big Changes For Season 9 Of Formula E In 2023

Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – the series for all-electric single-seaters – will see big changes when it starts in January 2023. Not only will the new Gen3 racing cars be used for the first time but there will also be new teams, new sporting formats, new venues – and even a new Formula E sound.

The inaugural championship was run in 2014/2015 with the first race held in Beijing, China. As more venues were added with each season and the series had met the criteria of having 4 manufacturer competitors and races on 3 continents, it was granted World Championship status by the FIA.

The opening round of Season 9 will be held in Mexico City on January 14.

New cities
Three new cities hosting Formula E races for the first time will be Hyderabad, India; Cape Town, South Africa; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The venues for two rounds have still to be confirmed. Although Korea has hosted a round before, the event cannot be held at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul as there is ongoing renovation work. The organisers are exploring other options in South Korea to replace this venue.

One advantage of Formula E events is that they can be held on city streets, as most have. In the first two seasons, Putrajaya in Malaysia was one of the venues. So it is a question of whether the city authorities are willing to allow closure of some areas for races and local organisers are willing to spend a substantial sum to set up safety measures that meet FIA strict standards.

McLaren
 and
Maserati
 will make their debut in the championship next year, being among the 11 teams and 22 drivers competing for world titles. Major manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW which had been participating before will no longer be represented on the starting grid.

Maserati will be the first Italian carmaker to join Formula E.

Regulations updated
The regulations have been updated and include a return to racing over laps, as well as a 30-second 4 kWh ‘Attack Charge’ boost at some of the races. This has been made possible through the development of the most advanced EV battery in the world today.

Every team must complete at least two Free Practice 1 sessions during the season with a driver who has never previously competed in the championship. The goal is to give up-and-coming drivers the chance to experience the unique qualities of Formula E racing and to contribute to the progress of the team.

“Our updated sporting regulations are evidence of the continued evolution and positive impact of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship for drivers, teams, partners and fans into the consumer EV world. The combination of sporting enhancements, a step change in car performance, cutting-edge battery technology and the innovation of Attack Charge will make our racing more competitive and entertaining while showcasing the future for EV development. This is at the heart of what Formula E set out to achieve and we look forward to seeing the new generation come to life in Season 9,” said Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E.

Debut of Gen3 racing cars
Finally, the Gen3 cars which have been shown over the past 6 months and are now appearing with the livery of the various teams. The Gen3 models are the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric racing cars ever built. Developed by engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E, the Gen3 car is intended to show the world that high performance and sustainability can co-exist without compromise.

“Both technologically and environmentally, Gen3 sets new standards in the sport. The FIA and Formula E development teams have done a superb job, and I thank them for their hard work on this project. I am delighted to see so many leading manufacturers already signed up to the championship’s next era and await Gen3’s competitive debut in Season 9 with great anticipation,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA.

New logo and sound
To coincide with the start of the Gen3 era, Formula E has reimagined the visual and sonic brand identity of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The new identity is inspired by the instant torque of electric acceleration. A new sound of Formula E has also been developed for use across broadcast, digital and marketing channels, with the sound of the new Gen3 car at its core.

Porsche Taycan plays important role in Formula E as Official Safety Car


Naza to give up Peugeot, which will be taken over by Berjaya Auto Alliance

As widely rumoured, the Peugeot franchise is to change hands and this has finally taken place, with Berjaya Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd (BAASB) being appointed to the new role of distributor. BAASB is a joint venture between Berjaya Corporation and Bermaz Auto, with the former having a majority share of 51%.

The Naza Group, which has been handling the French brand, is believed to be giving up its involvement in some of its automotive brands and Peugeot appears to be the first one to go. Kia is also expected to be taken over by another party although the fate of the DS and Citroen brands is not known yet. Both are also part of Groupe PSA which has Peugeot as its main brand.

Commenting on the development, Datuk Sri Robin Tan Yeong Chin, CEO of Berjaya Corporation, said: “Berjaya is pleased to be given this opportunity to be part of the new collaboration (via BAASB) with Groupe PSA. This new collaboration will complement our group’s existing automotive business, namely HR Owen and Berjaya China Motor. We believe this collaboration between BerjayaCorp, Bermaz and Groupe PSA will bring positive synergistic benefits to all parties.”

Strong track record of Bermaz team

At this time, it’s not clear what role Bermaz (which is not a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation) will play although it is most likely to manage distribution and retail activities, having a strong track record with the Mazda brand for more than 10 years. The team at Bermaz had earlier also successfully established and grown the Hyundai brand in Malaysia before it was acquired by Sime Darby Motors.

On the Groupe PSA side, the track record of Bermaz is likely to be highly beneficial. The Group had already made a decision some years back to designate Malaysia as its production hub in ASEAN although it took a while to actually start production. To speed things up, it acquired the Naza plant in Kedah in 2018 rather than build its own, and today assembles the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 for the Malaysian market as well as for export.

Groupe PSA took over the Naza plant in Kedah and builds vehicles for the Malaysian market as well as for export (file picture)

“Groupe PSA has made Malaysia its export hub for the region. BerjayaCorp is a multi-national conglomerate group of companies whilst Bermaz is a renowned automotive company in Malaysia; both listed on the Malaysian stock exchange. Hence, Groupe PSA is indeed pleased and is confident that the business collaboration with BerjayaCorp and Bermaz (via BAASB) will accelerate growth and create a synergy of key strengths between Groupe PSA and BAASB, which will see us further consolidating and increasing our market presence here,” said Laurence Noel, Senior Vice President – South East Asia, Groupe PSA.

Peugeot in Malaysia

Being one of the older brands in the auto industry, Peugeot has had a long presence in Malaysia, even in the pre-Merdeka days. The first major importer was Asia Motors which was selling the French cars back in the 1960s. In the 1970s, it even set up an assembly plant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and invited Peugeot and also Mazda (which it also represented) to make small investments as well. The plant, called Asia Automobile Industries, assembled models such as the 504, 305 and 505.

Peugeot advertisements by Asia Motors in the 1970s

Due to internal issues, Asia Motors ceased much of its automotive operations in Malaysia after the mid-1980s although it continued in SIngapore selling Mazda. For a few years, the brand was handled by a small company and then the MBf Group (through MBf-Peugeot) took it on. MBF’s founder, the late Tan Sri Loy Hean Hong, had taken on the franchise as the country was coming out of the economic recession of the mid-1980s and he saw that people were able to afford more expensive cars.

He himself had high regard for the French cars as he had serviced them in his younger days and knew they were durable. In having cars to sell, he also found that it benefited MBf’s other units that sold insurance and offered financing. The 405 was very popular and kept Peugeot among the top-selling European makes in the first half of the 1990s. However, the financial crisis of the late 1990s severely affected the MBf Group and it had to give up the Peugeot franchise.

C&C Bintang, strongly associated with Mercedes-Benz, was the next company to take on the franchise and handled it for 6 years (2002 – 2008). It also handled Mazda during that time, and passed it to Bermaz at the same time it ceased handling Peugeot.

A Peugeot outlet in Selangor.

The Naza Group, which was on the ascent as a strong player in the local auto industry, took on Peugeot (under its subsidiary, Nasim Sdn Bhd) and very quickly established a retail network as well as assembled models locally. It seemed to have a good future working with the French carmaker, with plans to even do business beyond Malaysian borders. However, that will not be happening as it gives up Peugeot after 12 years.

When Bermaz took over Mazda, it had also to take over stocks, the workforce involved with the Mazda business, and many of the outlets. The same scenario is likely with Peugeot and BAASB to ensure a smooth transition. In such situations, existing owners are usually assured of continued support, particularly with regards to warranty issues which Peugeot would take responsibility for.

Naza Kia Red Cube showroom in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has shut down


LOOKING BACK: My first encounter with Malaysia’s first National Car in 1985

With the automobile being over 100 years old, there are obviously lots of anniversaries celebrated every year and for Proton, July is a special month because it was in this month that the first Malaysian National Car was launched. Over the past 34 years, the anniversary has been celebrated in big and small ways although this year, it seems to have been somewhat low-key. Maybe next year will see something special.

My very first encounter with the Proton Saga was actually some weeks before the official launch. I had the honour of being among the first group of people outside Proton and those involved in the project to drive the car before it was in the showrooms. I think there were a dozen of us from the newspapers and auto magazines (no websites and bloggers in 1985) who were offered the exclusive opportunity.

One of the first two official pictures of the Saga released about 2 months before the launch.

No camouflage, no secrecy

Surprisingly, although the car’s appearance and details had been kept secret for a long time and only two official pictures had been released, by the time our event took place, there seemed to be no more secrecy. Nothing was camouflaged or taped up and we were under no orders to avoid being seen on the roads. In fact, the aim was for us to expose the car to the public as much as possible and report on the comments we picked up. The newspaper guys, with more resources, went further out of the Klang Valley to the rural areas to show off the car. A common question asked was how come we had the cars already when the public was told that they would only be available on September 1.

The event was handled by Edaran Otomobil Nasional (EON) which was set up to handle domestic distribution and marketing. It was separate from Proton, the company manufacturing the cars, and the man who was handpicked by Tun Dr. Mahathir to establish it and run it was the late Datuk Eric Chia (later Tan Sri). His UMW Corporation (in a joint-venture) with Toyota Motor Corporation had also acquired the Toyota franchise two years earlier, so he was deemed to have experience for the job of selling the National Car.

For those who want to know what the specifications of the first Saga were, here is a page from WHEELS MALAYSIA’s test report.

Datuk Eric Chia had an aggressive character and the first press conference we had with him was certainly ‘memorable’. Apart from a general briefing, we had a bit of time to ask some questions and one journalist asked him about the pricing structure and the optional items. Back then, when you bought a car, you generally paid one price and that was it. But with the Saga, the air-conditioner was optional and at that time, other companies were beginning to make it standard. EON probably felt that customers would still prefer to save money than enjoy cool comfort so they gave the option of leaving it out.

The ‘
char kuey teow
’ explanation

Anyway, the reply by Datuk Chia was what I would call the ‘
char kuey teow
’ answer because he used the popular fried kuey teow dish as an example. Sounding somewhat infuriated at having to explain what seemed (to him) like a simple thing, he said that when you order a plate of fried kuey teow, you get the basic preparation for one price. If you want an egg or more eggs, you pay more. So, if customers want the air-conditioner, they pay more.

In the early years. there was a bridge from the factory over the road to make it easier to send finished cars to the EON stockyard.

It wasn’t such an issue then but in later years and at least up till the end of the 1990s, this issue of extra-cost options and the ability of customers to reject them would be a controversial subject. The joke was that they were really ‘standard options’!

After the press conference, we went to the cars and each one had the name of the journalist on a giant sticker on either side. I cringed seeing that and my friend, Shariza Hussein, editor of
Auto International
, later removed it because he too didn’t like the idea. I was a bit more ‘junior’ to him so I didn’t dare do the same thing for fear of getting in the bad books of the EON people at such an early stage!

There was no fanfare for the start-off, just a simple wave of a flag, and we headed out of the gates. The EON office then was just across the road from the factory and many of us went right towards Puchong. Now back in 1985, the road was nothing like it is today. It was still a narrow country road winding between estates but it was a nice road for driving, so we instinctively took it, I guess.

The first incident with the Saga!

Somewhere near the spot where the toll plaza is today, one of the cars spun and we stopped to check. No damage, just a dramatic moment but that was rather odd as there was no oil or gravel. Then someone checked the tyre pressures and they were very high – about 300 kPa when they should have been around 200 or 210 kPa! No wonder the steering felt rather light even though there was no power assistance.

There were two theories why the pressures had not been right. One was that the cars had been rushed over and usually, when cars leave the factory line, they may have high pressures in the tyres if they are going to the stockyard. They may be there a while so if the tyre is kept harder, then it won’t ‘flatten’ at the bottom.

The other theory was that someone felt that since the cars were going to be tested ‘hard’ by journalists, it was better to have higher pressures. After all, that was what was done with the racing cars at Batu Tiga which would have their tyres pumped up to 280 kPa. It’s not dangerous if you are aware but we weren’t and besides, having non-standard pressures would give a wrong impression of the ride comfort too. So we adjusted the pressures to what was recommended and the car felt pretty good.

Unprecedented attention for the car

By that time, I was already 8 years into my career so I had driven many new models. But the amount of attention the Saga got was nothing I had ever seen before (and it didn’t help having my name on the door though I appreciated the little bit of publicity for my magazine,
Wheels Malaysia
).

Some people even followed me home, normally a worrying thing but I got used to it and to just letting them view the car. I remember one couple said they had asked to see a brochure at the EON showroom but they didn’t have any so they were reluctant to pay the deposit. Then after they saw my testcar, they fell in love with it and said they were going to head to the showroom to pay the deposit as they wanted to be among the first to own one.

The price was a common question and I could only repeat what was speculated in the papers. But it seemed that there was the expectation that as our National Car, it was going to be cheap and therefore good value for money. When the price was revealed, it was RM16,047.62 for the Saga 1.3S.

It was interesting to watch how people checked out the Saga. There was the typical opening and closing of doors, some slamming hard and giving a nod of approval when they heard a solid enough sound. Some even rocked the car and of course, there was a lot of pressing and touching here and there.

There were no phones with cameras then, let alone mobilephones, so you didn’t have almost everyone taking pictures. Today, I suppose there would be lots of selfies being taken in such a situation!

There were lots of questions… how powerful, what were the features, what colours were there, were alloy wheels available, how did it feel, was it stable, and so on. Some tried their luck and asked if they could drive it but I had to say no. As it was, I was concerned the public ‘testing’ might break something although the Saga stood up pretty well.

A patriotic cover for the first Malaysian National Car

The importance of the National Car project

To be frank, the Saga was a Malaysian National Car, our very first, but it had Japanese since it was adapted from a model sold by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. There was a fair amount of ‘customisation’ by Malaysian designers and engineers to ‘Malaysianise’ it and it was also just the start when much had to be learnt. The Malaysian public didn’t care, of course, as there was pride that we were able to make our own car.

The Saga was the first product of the National Car project which was to help accelerate the country’s industrialization. It was well known that the auto industry was a good catalyst for such a purpose and it had worked for Germany, Japan and the USA. This industry alone generates millions of jobs upstream and downstream globally, and it also supports the development of ancillary industries. There were critics of the project who felt that our market was not large enough for such a project and they were right but after over 30 years, it is also clear that the National Car project at least helped the auto industry to develop further and be an important contributor to the economy.


Fourth Year Of Growth For Proton, With 23.3% Increase In Sales

In spite of the challenges of getting parts, especially microprocessors, to complete vehicles, the auto industry in Malaysia actually had a boom year and is expected to have a Total Industry Volume (TIV) of over 700,000 units. Even by November, the TIV had reached 642,306 units, exceeding the sales forecast of 630,000 units made by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

For Proton, it was also another great year – the fourth, in fact – as the brand saw overall sales of 141,432 units (including exports) in 2022. This was with the addition of another 14,750 units in December, the fourth best monthly performance for the year.

Compared to numbers reported in 2021, Proton’s total sales grew by 23.3% despite a tough start to the year. Production was disrupted at both factories due to a combination of flooding which affected parts vendors in Selangor and an acute shortage of microprocessors, which was a global problem. The situation limited output and deliveries for the first 4 months of the year.

Sales for 5 out of six Proton models grew during 2022 and, according to the carmaker, 3 of those models were segment leaders. The X50 maintained its position as the best-selling SUV in Malaysia with a total of 40,681 units delivered, a new SUV annual sales record. This was an increase of 41.4% over 2021 and the B-segment SUV recorded the second highest volume in the Proton line-up.

The X70 joined the X50 in strengthening Proton’s position as the most popular SUV brand. Despite facing a strong challenge from new competitors, total deliveries during the year amounted to 18,533 units, an increase of 13.1% over the previous year. This kept the X70 in its position as the best-selling C-segment SUV for the fourth consecutive year.

The evergreen Exora kept its ironclad grip on the C-segment MPV market with 4,275 units sold in 2022, up by 5.9% compared to 2021. Having undergone a minor update in August, it continues to be the popular choice of buyers looking for a spacious people carrier with intelligent features, and offers great value for the price.

Saga still Proton’s bestseller
The bestselling Proton model was the Saga and with the addition of 5,913 units in December, its total volume for the year came to 55,878 units, an increase of 31.1% over the previous year. The high volume was achieved in spite of the Saga being the model most acutely affected by the floods at the end of 2021 (only 76 units could be delivered in January 2022).

There was also positive progress for the Persona, which also faced tough competition and production disruption due to the chip supply issue. It finished the year with a total of 16,357 units which was a small increase over the volume in 2021.

“2022 was a year of achievements but also missed opportunities for Proton. The effect of the floods at the end of 2021 spilled over in to the first quarter of the year and we began 2022 on the back foot as we collaborated with our vendors to restore parts supply. Thankfully, the volume was made up over the next three quarters. We are certain we could have achieved more and posted even better numbers if not for the disrupted start to the year,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.

“Still, Proton now has sales growth for a fourth consecutive year, and we are proud of being the only automotive company in Malaysia to achieve that from 2019 to 2022. Looking ahead towards 2023, Proton  is confident of achieving more growth as we add to our range of offerings with our new model launches this year,” he said.

2023 volume likely to recede
Encik Roslan Abdullah, however, expects the TIV to recede from the record volume in 2022 as deliveries for orders placed during the sales tax exemption period will be fulfilled by the end of March. The car companies are rushing to ensure their customers get the vehicles by the end of March 2023 which is the deadline for them to enjoy the sales tax exemption (provided they booked before June 30, 2022).

Interest rates are also expected to increase again this year so it will be tough for the automotive industry to continue an upwards trajectory,” he added.

Growing outside Malaysia
After doubling its numbers in 2021, Proton’s export sales continued to grow last year by 79.1% with a closing figure of 5,406 units. This number was the highest among the brands exporting vehicles produced in Malaysia.

The growth was powered by increasing consistency in the shipping industry, growth in key markets such as Pakistan and the addition of South Africa to the list of export markets.

Mirroring domestic sales, the Saga continues to be the most popular export model with 2,408 units sold last year. This was an increase of 31% over the previous year and proves there is still a lot of sales potential for the model in export markets.

The company’s two SUV models performed even better. 1,708 units of the X70 were sold in export markets, an increase of 101% while a first full year of export sales saw the  X50 record 1,117 units, a jump of 277%.

“Growth in Proton’s export markets remains vital to the company. We are now halfway through our 10-year business plan and export sales will need to account for a growing percentage of our volume for the company to achieve its goals. With new models being added and growth from our current offerings in 2023, we are confident of hitting even bigger numbers this year,” said Encik Roslan Abdullah.


“Michael 50” Schumacher Exhibition Officially Opens! Fans From All Over Europe Flock To The Ferrari Museum [+Video]

As covered by
Piston
.
my

earlier
, fans and representatives of
Scuderia Ferrari Clubs
 from all over Europe were flocking to the Ferrari Museum recently for the opening of the
 ‘Michael 50’
 exhibition on the occasion of the champion’s 50th birthday. Maranello has put together a special exhibition telling the story of Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary record-breaking F1 career: the German champion won an as yet unequalled
seven world titles, 91 victories, and 155 podiums
.

The Hall of Victories displays some of the most important Ferrari single-seaters driven in his eleven years with the Scuderia. They range from the F310 of 1996, with which Schumacher won three GPs in his first season with the Prancing Horse, to the F399, the car that won the Constructors’ title in 1999 to set Formula 1’s oldest team off on an exceptional run of victories.

There is also the F1-2000 of the legendary ‘Alba Rossa’ (‘Red Dawn’), when at Suzuka Michael secured Ferrari its first the world title since Jody Scheckter 21 years before. Then of course there are the record-breaking F2002 and F2004, and the 248 F1 of 2006, in which he triumphed at the Chinese GP for his 72nd and final victory with Ferrari.

Fans will also be introduced to a lesser-known side of Schumacher, that of developer. Indeed, after leaving Formula 1, the German driver remained at Ferrari not only to help the Scuderia but also to contribute to the development of various road cars, such as the 430 Scuderia in 2007 and the Ferrari California in 2008.

The exhibition will run alongside
 ‘Driven by Enzo’
and
 ‘Passion and Legend’
, which are already open at the Maranello Museum. ‘Michael 50’ has been organised in partnership with the
Keep Fighting Foundation
.

#KeepFightingMichael

				#KeepFightingMichael