BYD Seal Coming To Malaysia: Things You Need To Know About It

At the recent Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS), arguably the most popular EV brand in Malaysia BYD revealed one of it’s latest models – the BYD Seal.

The Chinese EV specialist BYD was founded in 1995 and boasts more than 27 years of expertise, establishing itself as an industry leader in electronics, automotive and renewable energy.

The brand has done shockingly well in Malaysia over the past few months with the Atto 3, and it seems like that dominance is set to continue with the BYD Seal.

Seen at the Bangkok International Motor Show just yesterday, BYD has confirmed that 5-seater Seal will be available in Malaysia by the end of 2023.

It is already being hailed as a Tesla slayer, so here’s everything you need to know about it.

Power

The BYD Seal AWD with it’s twin motors produces 523hp and 670 Nm torque with a 0-100km/h time in 3.8 seconds! It uses the e-Platform 3.0 which actually features the world’s first 8-in-1 High Efficiency Electric Powertrain.

8-in-1 High Efficiency Electric Powertrain

Range

According to BYD, the Seal has an amazing range of up to 700km which is way more compared to its rival, the Tesla Model 3. It uses a 82.5 kWh battery and takes 25 minutes to get to 80% – 90% with a DC charge and with an AC charge it will take up to 7.5 hours, which is not too bad for an overnight charge.

Body

The BYD CTB (Cell to Body) technology integrates the Blade Battery into the vehicle body. BYD says that the “Ultra-safe Blade Battery” is the only battery that has passed the Mt.Everest Nail Penetration Test, creating the base of the CTB technology, which greatly improves the vehicle safety, stability, handling and performance.

This technology evolves from the “Battery Sandwich Structure” into a “Vehicle Sandwich Structure” which akin to a honeycomb, achieving a breakthrough in structural strength of the battery system which according to BYD, can bear 50 tons of a heavy truck rolling and the structure can absorb serious collisions.

The e-Platform 3.0 gives the vehicle shorter overhangs and a longer wheelbase, expanding the passenger space and providing the vehicles aerodynamic design.

Features:

Since the BYD Seal is already outselling the Tesla 3 in markets like China, it comes packed with all the features you would expect such as :

Safety:

Driver Airbag
Passenger Airbag
Engine Check Warning
Side Airbag-Front
Tyre Pressure Monitor
Height Adjustable Front Seat Belts
Ebd
Seat Belt Warning
Brake Assist
Crash Sensor
Vehicle Stability Control System
Door Ajar Warning
Side Impact Beams
Front Impact Beams
Anti-Lock Braking System
Day & Night Rear View Mirror
Parking Sensors
Rear Seat Belts
Rear Camera
Traction Control
Child Safety Locks

Comfort & Convenience:

Automatic Climate Control
Power Windows Rear
Power Windows Front
Central Console Armrest
Air Conditioner
Engine Start/Stop Button
Accessory Power Outlet
Rear A/C Vents
Keyless Entry
Cruise Control
Cup Holders-Front
Bottle Holder
Vanity Mirror
Cup Holders-Rear
Rear Reading Lamp
Heater

Entertainment:

Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Touch Screen
Multi-function Steering Wheel
FM/AM/Radio
Voice Control
Speakers Front
Speakers Rear
Bluetooth Connectivity
USB & Auxiliary Input
Navigation System

Exterior:

Adjustable Headlights
Power Adjustable Exterior Rear View Mirror
Outside Rear View Mirror Turn Indicator
Electric Folding Rear View Mirror
Rain Sensing Wiper
Rear Window Wiper
Integrated Antenna
Headlamp TypeLED
Centrally Mounted Fuel Tank

Security:

Power Door Locks
Anti Theft Device
Anti-Theft Alarm
Engine Immobilizer
Central Locking

Instrumentation:

Tacho Meter
Electronic Multi Tripmeter
Low Fuel Warning Light
Digital Clock
Digital Odometer

Seats & Upholstery:

Leather Steering Wheel
Foldable Rear Seat
Adjustable Seats
Electric Adjustable Seats
Leather Seats
Height Adjustable Driver Seat
Seat Lumbar Support
Rear Seat Headrest
Rear Seat Center Arm Rest

Price

The price range for the BYD Seal in China, if looked at in Ringgit sense would be from RM210k to RM259k, whereas a Tesla Model 3 is currently in the range of RM370k – RM450k. It is not immediately clear how much the Seal would cost in Malaysia when introduced, but if we have to guess, a price tag of below RM300,000 would be safe.

So, with Tesla also officially setting up shop in Malaysia at the end of this year, would you go for the BYD Seal or the Tesla Model 3 when both officially enter the Malaysian market?


BMW to reveal new 8 Series concept car

During BMW’s annual general meeting, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Krüger, announced that the automaker would be introducing a new concept car. Considered to be a design study, it will be unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 26 May 2017.

The concept car will provide a glimpse into what the new BMW 8 Series Coupe would look like when it eventually is revealed in 2018. According to the Munich based automaker, the new car “embodies uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe”.

Speaking of the new concept car, Krüger said, “The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination. The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”

At the moment, all we have is an outline of the car. It isn’t much to go on but based on the silhouette, the car may incorporate design cues from the 6 Series Coupe albeit with wider dimensions. Both front headlights and rear taillights should be of the LED kind at the very least and the car in general, should be loaded with the latest safety tech and BMW’s latest iDrive system.

We will bring you more once the car is unveiled next week, so stay tuned for more updates.


Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Now In Malaysia – Priced At RM2 million

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today unveiled the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the most powerful production vehicle ever produced by Mercedes-AMG.

Bettina Plangger, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia & SEA II introduced the car by saying, “We are excited to announce the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE to our esteemed patrons in Malaysia. The stunning AMG GT 4-Door Coupé effortlessly showcases its sporty and elegant persona, setting a new benchmark in the world of luxury automobiles. Its seamless blend of purebred sports car performance and remarkable practicality for daily usage is a true testament to its engineering excellence.”

Mercedes-AMG is carving its own technological route in order to bring its iconic brand DNA into an electrified future. In order to accomplish this, the Affalterbach-based business employs innovations from Formula 1 in its E Performance Hybrid approach. An independent drive configuration with an electric motor and battery on the back axle is part of the concept.

Equipment and Features

Fitted with advanced suspension, the AMG Ride Control+ suspension changes the damping force for each wheel in milliseconds thanks to continually adjustable pressure relief valves. The AMG Dynamic Select drive programmes are used to preselect the fundamental setup, ranging from “Sport+” mode for especially dynamic driving to “Comfort” mode for smooth glide. Furthermore, tuning can be adjusted in three stages independently of the drive programmes by pressing a button.

The integrated AMG Dynamics driving dynamics control system influences, among other things, the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), all-wheel drive, and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential control methods. This improves agility without compromising vehicle stability. The ceramic high-performance compound brake system is lightweight, long-lasting, and exceptionally stable.

Active Parking Assist with Parktronic and a 360-degree video system, as well as self-dimming and electrically folding mirrors, are included with the Parking Package. Meanwhile, the set of airbags includes side bags for the rear occupants as well as a knee airbag for passive safety.

Wide range of customisation options for Interior/Exterior

MANUFAKTUR kalahari gold and AMG green hell magno paint finishes are available as exclusive colour options. The MANUFAKTUR mark represents the greatest level of originality and luxury through the use of carefully selected materials that are largely handled by hand. Exclusive paintwork and high-quality interior finishes are also included. Other options for the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé include MANUFAKTUR classic grey uni, MANUFAKTUR olive metallic, and MANUFAKTUR copper orange magno (matt version), as well as a variety of leather colours.

There is also a two-tone leather steering wheel, deep-pile floor mats with embroidered AMG lettering, and side skirt decal kits in three colour versions.

The 21-inch AMG forged wheels with a 5-twin-spoke design, painted black, and with a rim flange with a high-sheen finish give the performance hybrid an extremely dynamic appearance. The AMG Night Package and AMG Night Package II, with their high-gloss black and dark chrome exterior features, as well as the black foiling over the side sills, complete the sporty design.

The AMG Aerodynamics Package and the AMG Exterior Carbon Package are standard features. The panoramic roof brings in a lot of natural light into the vehicle’s interior. An undiluted motorsport feeling dominates here, thanks to details like as the AMG Performance seats in Exclusive nappa leather and the AMG trim pieces in carbon.

Power and Performance

The powerplant in the AMG GT 63 S E Performance comprises of a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with a permanently excited synchronous electric motor, an AMG-developed high-performance battery, and the completely variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system. The system output of 843 hp and maximum system torque of more than 1400 Nm allow for a 2.9-second acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h. 200 km/h is attained in less than ten seconds. The top speed? 316 km/h! Holy moly, that’s fast!

Price

This is where you burn a huge hole in your pocket. On the road without Insurance will cost you around RM 2,088,888.00. Yup, that much.


No more TAMBAH NILAI at exit toll plazas on PLUS highways from November 5, 2019

Based on statistics compiled by PLUS Malaysia Berhad, the average daily traffic volume on its highways in the northern region is 253,000 vehicles, while for the southern region, 189,000 vehicles travel daily. Of these vehicles, on average, 8% and 9% respectively either have insufficient balance in their Touch‘NGo cards or choose to reload them at the toll plaza exit lanes (rather than other places).

With such a high volume of traffic, pausing at a booth to reload the tollcard will affect traffic flow as it takes up to 3 minutes for the process of reloading. This is obviously inconsiderate to other highway users even though PLUS allocates one lane for reloading – but if there is no reload booth, that lane can also be used for vehicles to proceed through without being delayed.

At the beginning of August 2019
, PLUS closed its reload booths at the
 exit toll plazas
 of highways in the Central Region (between Seremban and Ipoh South) in an effort to help highway users enjoy smoother passage when exiting the highway.

PLUS aims to make passage through toll plazas more efficient so that vehicles can continue on their way without unnecessary delay.

The move proved effective in speeding up traffic flow and from November 5, 2019, PLUS will close reload booths at all the exit toll plazas in the northern region (between Hutan Kampung and Ipoh Utara) and the southern region (between Seremban and Skudai).
 However, Customer Service Centres and Reload Lanes at entry lanes at selected toll plazas will still be provided and will be operating as usual.

Closing the reload booths also helps to ensure the safety of PLUS customer service agents as there have been several cases where heavy vehicles crashed into toll booths at the toll plazas. To date, there have been 81 cases of heavy vehicles crashing into toll booths between 2016 and 2018.

There are over 11,000 Touch’NGo reload points around the country. If you use the self-service kiosk (left), there is no reload fee charged.  (
Click here for the latest list of reload points with no reload fees
) You can also reload at the convenience stores of virtually all petrol stations stations, like the BHPetromart shown above.

The closure of the reload booths may seem like an inconvenience but the Touch’NGo operators have more than 11,000 reload points around the country. If you think parking is a problem, most if not all petrol stations can process reloads and you can also do so at many ATMS if you don’t have cash in hand.

Other highway concessionaires are likely to follow the PLUS move and in fact, PROLINTAS has already announced a similar action on its highways.

PLUS reduces traffic congestion by 48.2% by stopping reload services at toll plazas


Special offers from Shell, Petron and Caltex in November and December

Although driving may be reduced now with the CMCO limiting our activities, those who do fuel up at Shell, Petron and Caltex stations can get something extra with their purchases.

SHELL

At Shell stations nationwide, the ‘
Ekstra Ganjaran Setiap Hari’
 campaign to reward loyal customers will give those with Bonuslink cards up to 4x points. The campaign begins on November 16, 2020 and will end on April 30, 2021.

“At a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty, we’ve had to rethink our loyalty programme offerings to ensure we continue to stand behind all our customers and provide them the best value. We hope customers will take this opportunity to get rewarded at Shell so they can go well on their journeys,” said Shairan Huzani Husain, MD of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.

During this campaign, customers can accumulate BonusLink Points faster than before, based on the principle of tiered rewards where the more purchases one makes in a month, the higher the points tier they move up into – up to 4x BonusLink Points!

To participate and be upgraded to a higher points tier, customers simply need to swipe their BonusLink card at Shell and pump a minimum of RM50 of Shell petrol products in a single receipt. They will then earn extra BonusLink Points for each Qualifying Transaction according to the points multiplier at each points tier. With the points collected, customers can redeem special treats in-store for as low as 100 BonusLink Points.

PETRON

Petron customers will be rewarded with a RM3 cashback just by shopping at Watsons and vice-versa using the e-wallet app, Boost. A total of 80,000 cashbacks amounting to RM240,000 via the Boost are available during the promotion duration which is currently running and will end on December 31, 2020.

They must spend a minimum of RM30 on a single purchase using Boost at participating Watsons stores to earn a RM3 cashback for fuel products from Petron. Customers are allowed a maximum of up to 4 cashbacks from both Petron and Watsons using the Boost app.

“This collaboration with Boost and Watsons is meant to further reward our customers with more exciting offers when they fuel up with Petron,” said Choong Kum Choy, Head of Retail and Commercial Business of Petron Malaysia. “In addition to these, they continue to be awarded two
PMiles
 points for every litre of fuel they purchase through our loyalty program. We invite everyone to enjoy this ‘fuel happy’ experience with Petron.

CALTEX

Caltex has tied up with the online e-commerce company Shopee to make payments for purchases easier. Customers can now use Shopee’s e-wallet known as
ShopeePay
 to purchases petrol as well as other items at a Caltex station.

Those who make a minimum purchase of RM40 and pay using
ShopeePay
 at a Caltex station will be rewarded with RM4 cashback from now until the end of 2020. Each
ShopeePay
 user is entitled to receive up to 3 cashbacks throughout the campaign period, or until it is fully redeemed, whichever comes first.

“We are excited to introduce a new contactless payment option as we continuously look for ways to bring a hassle-free fuelling experience to our customers in their Caltex journey. Working together with
ShopeePay
 allows us to provide fast, easy and secure transactions at our stations, more so now with the growing adoption of contactless payments in the country,” said Jay Gomez, Country Chairman for Chevron Malaysia, which markets Caltex fuel and lubricants.

Using
ShopeePay
 does, however, require the motorist to go to the station store to make the transaction as it cannot be done at the pump. This would mean that, in accordance with the clarified SOP, it will be necessary to register manually or using the
MySejahtera
 app on a mobilephone.


F1/Round 20: 2022 Mexican Grand Prix Preview & Starting Positions

Race starts at 2 pm in Mexico/ 4 am (Monday) in Malaysia

Following a dramatic race in at the US GP in Texas last weekend, Round 20 of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship continues in the western hemisphere in Mexico City, the 22
nd
 time a F1 round has been held in Mexico. Every race in the country has been held at the circuit now known as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, named in honour of the country’s racing drivers, Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez.

This circuit in particular is special to Honda because it was the first Japanese team to win a Formula 1 race in the 1965 event. While it did not participate as a factory team later on, it was an engine supplier and contributed to the victories of Williams (1987) and McLaren (1988-1989) in the Mexican rounds of the championship. And it is also associated in the same role with Red Bull Racing, which will be the 2022 World Champion.

The circuit, which is the third shortest this year at 4.304 kms per lap, has unique environment conditions with the high altitude and low air density. At 2,385 metres above sea level, it is situated at the highest altitude of any circuit and that’s
5 times
 higher than the height of the Petronas Twin Towers. This means the air is thinner (by about 25%) so the operating conditions are unlike other tracks. This is where forced induction is vital to avoid the loss that naturally-aspirated engines suffer due to less air being available.

With the thin air, the air less molecules and therefore transports less energy away from hot systems like the Power Unit and brakes. Therefore, cooling is a big challenge and different bodywork is required to prevent overheating.

Low air density means generating downforce is more difficult and teams will run their maximum downforce configurations this weekend, Also, the lack of downforce, in combination with smooth track surfaces causes cars to slide more, and places greater stress on the front tyres. With this year’s ground effect floors, it’s going to be interesting to note the impact on downforce compared to last year.

Cornering speeds and gear selections by the Mercedes-AMG drivers.

“Mexico is a completely different challenge to the two races that came before it,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsports Director. “Over the course of a season, our tyres have to cope with a wide variety of conditions depending on the individual characteristics of each venue. If you look back at the last two races, Suzuka was all about lateral forces and Austin was well-balanced aerodynamically, but Mexico this weekend focuses on traction and braking.”

Isola noted that the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit does not offer a lot of grip and the energy demands on the tyres are reasonably low, as the cars do not generate much downforce, especially in slow corners. “This year, the circuit might be more front-limited, as the current generation of F1 cars tends to understeer through slow corners – which this circuit has plenty of – and this can lead to some sliding on the front tyres. Due to the nature of the venue, the circuit tends to feature a dusty surface with plenty of track evolution,” he said.

“There’s quite a lot of temperature variation during the day in Mexico, even in the space of a few hours, which affects thermal degradation: an important parameter that the teams will need to monitor. Understanding this and getting the tyre warm-up exactly right is likely to be the key to success,” he added.

While Sergio Perez would certainly be the one Mexicans will cheer the most for, F1 World Champion-designate Max Verstappen is the most successful driver at races in Mexico. He has 3 wins to date, while behind him are Jim Clark (1963 and 1967), Alain Prost (1988 and 1990), Nigel Mansell (1987 and 1992) and Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2019).

Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez will certainly get a lot of cheers from his countrymen for this race. His racing career began from the age of 6 when he started karting in 1996, and he entered Formula 1 in 2011. Before joining Red Bull Racing in 2021, he raced with Sauber, McLaren, Force India and Racing Point.

Red Bull Racing has been fined US$7 million (RM 33,057,500) and will also be penalized with a 10% reduction in permitted aerodynamic research for the 2024 season as the FIA has concluded that the team broke F1 budget cap regulations. Their expenditure exceeded the cap set for all teams by £1.86 million (RM10,201,115) during the 2021 season when Max Verstappen won the championship. The penalty has been controversial and many motorsports fans feel that the FIA has not been willing to recognize the breach of rules as being comparable to cheating, for which a more severe penalty would be required.


Porsche Taycan completed 3,425km endurance run in 24 hours

A pre-production Porsche Taycan prototype was put through its paces ahead of its world premiere on 4 September 2019. A total of 3,425km were covered in the span of 24 hours as part of a test at the Nardò high-speed track in Italy and the all-electric Taycan made it out with amazing results.

Maintaining a top speed of between 195-215km/h, Porsche’s first all-electric car was pushed to its endurance limit and long-distance capabilities with the help of six Porsche test drivers who took turns in the 24 hours span. Short pauses were only taken to swap drivers and give the Taycan a quick charge before heading out onto the track again.

According to Stefan Weckbach, Vice President Product Line Taycan, “The Taycan mastered this ambitious endurance run without any problems. The result achieved in Nardò highlights the advantages of the unique 800-volt technology and its high maturity level. Before the Taycan is launched on the market at the end of the year, we will have covered over six million test kilometres across the globe.”

The Porsche Taycan will be the company’s first ever fully electric production vehicle and to put its latest core product above all competition, it is fitted with the 800-volt technology that not only provides high performance consistently but also reduces charging time, decreases overall weight, and offering more interior space.

How was the Taycan able to cover over 3,000km within 24 hours? It’s all thanks to a set of 800-volt high-power charging stations by Porsche Engineering Group GmbH that gave the Taycan a super quick boost of juice which in turn will shape the future of electric mobility globally. We simply can’t wait to see the final product and luckily, September 4
th
 is not so far away.

20 years of the Porsche 911 GT3


HiPhi X Luxury EV From China Gets Approval From TUV SUD, Can Start Selling in Europe

Just as the Japanese and then the Korean carmakers have swept across the world, displacing the older European and American brands, carmakers from China are now starting their offensive on international markets. They are targeting Europe in particular as this region is moving strongly ahead with electrification, with regulations that aim to minimise or even stop sales of vehicles with combustion engines.

Electrified vehicles are an area where Chinese manufacturers have built up a lot of experience and knowledge, thanks to their government’s introduction of the national New Energy Vehicle (NEV) policy in 2009. This had the goal of 500,000 electrified vehicles – battery (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) – by 2012, which would account for 5% of new passenger vehicle  sales.

This focussed development on BEVs and besides the bigger existing companies, many new and smaller ones also started up as there were huge opportunities in the world’s largest car market. Among these companies was Human Horizons which developed NEVs with artificial intelligence and  autonomous capabilities.

Since May 2021, when it unveiled its HiPhi EV model, sales have been strong in the luxury EV segment in China, especially with the
HiPhi X
. Eager to grow its volume, it has plans to start selling in Europe and will start with the HiPhi X and then the HiPhi Z.

While globalisation means that products are more freely sold around the world, there are still regional regulations that must be met before a vehicle can be allowed for sale. In Europe, safety and emissions are very important and approval after testing and verification by an independent body are required.

12 years ago, when the Jiangling Landwind was submitted for testing in Germany, it was so badly crumpled that it completely failed. At that time, the perception was that cars from China would not be safe and so their entry was not likely.

But that was 12 years ago and since then, Chinese carmakers have made great progress in vehicle engineering and can meet global safety standards. This has been demonstrated by the HiPhi X gaining approval after being tested by Germany’s TUV SUD organisation which is accredited to conduct tests.

In its testing and evaluations, TUV SUD examined the battery management system, chassis control, brakes, steering and active systems such as park assist and radar-guided cruise control. It conducted  stringent EMC (Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) testing to ensure that the HiPhi X and its high-voltage components don’t interfere with the ambient electromagnetic environment.

A new vehicle undergoing emission testing at a TUV SUD facility.

“The homologation was crucial in enabling HiPhi products access to the European market,” said Stefan Merkl, Vice-President Automotive at TUV SUD. Homologation by TUV SUD now allows the HiPhi X to be sold in European countries.

The HiPhi X has key technologies which include programmable headlights able to project images or even movies. and an intelligent automatic door system. Its powertrain consists of 220 kW dual motors (front and rear) which are powered by a 97 kWh battery pack. A range of 650 kms ins claimed.

Following the HiPhi X will be the HiPhi Z which went on sale in China last year. This is a coupe model with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds. With a 120 kWh battery pack, it is said to have a range of up to 705 kms.

The HiPhi Z will have some revolutionary technologies, including the HiPhi Bot. This is the first robotic arm in the industry, and it holds the central infotainment screen, with adjustability in four degrees of freedom/eight directions.

“Receiving the necessary test reports from TUV SUD for the European vehicle approval is not only an important step forward in our carefully considered plans for launching in Europe, but it’s also a reinforcement of the meticulous standards to which HiPhi products are engineered. European road safety standards are among the strictest in the world, and the homologation by TUV SUD confirms that HiPhi X meets these standards,” said the company’s Chief Technical Officer and Co-Founder.  Mark Stanton.

China to end subsidies for New Energy Vehicles after 2022


Fuel Price Updates For June 2 – June 8, 2022


Toyota GAZOO Racing Online Challenge starts in Malaysia!

UPDATE: The first round will be on April 24/25 (Friday/Saturday)

Since 2018, UMW Toyota Motor has been extending its involvement in eSports as a complementary activity to its Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival and Vios One-Make Race events. In fact, it was the first Malaysian car company to be associated with eSports when it sponsored the Toyota Velocity Esports Championship which saw over 400 participants. The
second season of the championship
 last September saw 650 participants.

Now with the Movement Control Order (MCO) restricting much of the Malaysian population to their homes, the company has come up with something that will excite racing simulator gamers and those who are the ‘best of the best’ can even win cash prizes.

One of the participants in the the ToyotaGAZOO Racing Velocity ESports Championship which had its finals last year at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

RM7,500 total prize money

UMWT has announced an online challenge the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia Online Challenge which starts off this tomorrow (Friday
, April 24, 2020
). This is a virtual time-attack challenge which will have 5 rounds between April 24 and May 22, 2020.

The 5 fastest racers in each round will win prizes ranging from RM500 to RM100, with the total prize money for the entire tournament amounting to RM7,500.

Click here to go to the registration/information page for the TGR Malaysia Online Challenge

Entry is free by registering online and open to any Malaysian resident 6 years old or older. Those who want to participate must have a PlayStation4 console (and the relevant accessories, of course) and a copy of ‘Gran Turismo Sport’. They must have, either unlocked or purchased, the GR Supra RZ ’19, Toyota TS050 Hybrid, Lexus Au TOM’S RCF, Toyota GT86 Group B Rally or Supra Racing Concept which are the cars required.

The GR Supra RZ, one of the racing cars used in the TGR Online Challenge.

Players are only allowed to join each Round once to set their best time. The time they set will determine their position and when they enter the next round, there will be a ‘Time Handicap’  imposed on all Top 5 Winners of each round to make it more interesting and challenging throughout the Online Challenge. The Time Handicap will range from 2.5 seconds to 0.5 second.

UPDATE: First round changed to April 24/25


5 Million Volkswagen Tiguans Have Been Made, Now Comes With New Cost-Free Upgrades!

As part of
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia
’s continuous efforts to enhance the ownership experience for its customers, the Volkswagen Tiguan will receive an upgrade of a new 2019 Active Info Display (AID) and
LED Taillights
 (below). The upgrades will take effect on all Tiguan units from
March 2019
 onwards.

The new
Active Info Display
 (below) has a high resolution display colour thin-film transistor (TFT) that is similar to a smartphone. It incorporates functions and features in 2D and 3D graphic display for navigation and media. There is now a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment with over 30 combinations options. The dials can also be pre-set to show a combination of data and a full 3D view map for better navigation.

On the exterior, the
 LED Taillights
 have been updated to a new unit with distinctive light graphics. More than a style factor, the new taillight also incorporates brake animation that enhances visibility for safety. The taillights continue to be an all LED system.

For added peace of mind, the upgrades will see
no price hike
 to the Tiguan, and it will remain priced at
RM 165,990
 for the Highline and
RM 175,990
 for the JOIN variant. All Volkswagen cars come with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance. The Tiguan combines a
1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine
 with a
6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG)
 with sport mode to give an impressive output of
150PS
 and a torque of
250Nm
 between 1,500 to 3,500rpm. It boasts an impressive acceleration of
8.9 seconds
 from 0 to 100kph.

The Tiguan boast safety features such as six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control. For comfort, the Tiguan features Park Assist, Manoeuvre Braking and 3-Zone Climatronic. For complete connectivity, the Tiguan comes with App-Connect for easy access to apps via the 8”-inch infotainment touchscreen via MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

The production of the first generation Tiguan began in
2007
 in Wolfsburg and has become Volkswagen’s most successful SUV to date with the
5 millionth unit
 leaving the assembly line in January 2019. Aside from its worldwide success, the Volkswagen Tiguan has enjoyed local success in Malaysia and is locally assembled at Volkswagen’s Pekan Plant, Pahang. For more information, please visit
www.volkswagen.com.my


Apple CarPlay Finally Adds Multi-User Music Sharing

Remember the time we used to keep a folder in the car full of CDs so that everyone in the car could take turns and play their favourite hits? Then it eventually evolved into the aux cable and then Bluetooth made life easier. Later on, Apple CarPlay made the music experience way easier and more accessible to one user. How do you top that?

Well, with all the big commotion going on about the new Vision Pro by Apple, this sleek update to Apple CarPlay was overshadowed. It’s an update to iOS 17 which allows passengers to join in on being the DJ in a shared media session. Now to those who do not know, this is a feature that has already been accessible in the Spotify app. So… Apple is kind of late to the game.

To make things worse, the feature is currently only compatible with Apple’s native music app. Third-party apps might, however, someday be supported. We probably have to wait for an iOS 25 update before they can do this…

This update is the only CarPlay change for the iOS 17 that has been publicly announced thus far. The offline version of Apple Maps, which allows users to access turn-by-turn directions even when there is no cellular reception, was also unveiled by Apple. This feature will benefit people who live in locations with patchy cellular coverage. It’s unclear, though, whether CarPlay or only handheld cell usage will allow this feature.

Now, it’s certainly fair to say that those anticipating an array of news regarding CarPlay found this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to be a bit of a letdown. After all, a virtual aux cord is merely the beginning of Apple CarPlay’s upcoming major enhancements. Although customers desire this, some OEMs are working against it in favour of
internally built systems
. Others have vowed to preserve Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It’s still unclear whether or not CarPlay will receive any big changes soon. We are confident that the first car to implement Apple’s CarPlay vision will be huge news, despite the fact that Apple is generally coy about its improvements prior to an official release. It might even turn out to be the rumoured Apple Car after all.


Fire at Sg. Buloh R&R on the PLUS North-South Expressway

Motorists passing the Sg Buloh Overhead Bridge R&R may have noticed huge plumes of smoke rising from the complex yesterday. PLUS has confirmed that there was a fire which occurred at the Burger King outlet around 6:25 pm.

The highway concessionaire said that the fire was small and started in the fast food restaurant’s kitchen. There were no injuries or structural impact resulting from the incident.

BOMBA, which responded to an emergency call promptly, put the fire out following efforts by Burger King staff as well. The Burger King outlet is sealed off until further notice but the rest of the R&R is still open to the public who can go to the other F&B outlets.


Model Year 2050 – what to expect in 30 years

In the 1950s, carmakers envisioned sleek cars with advanced powertrains and autonomous operation on the roads of the 21
st
 century while futurists and science fiction writers imagined flying cars. Well, we have the sleek designs with advanced powertrains due to make changes in this decade as electric motors take over from the internal combustion engine. But flying cars have yet to be available in showrooms although there have been developments in recent years with prototypes taking to the air.

UK’s Auto Trader takes a look at what vehicles might look like 30 years from now with concept designs based on the expertise of futurologist Tom Cheesewright, market trends, the rate of technological development and research into consumer demand.

“Tomorrow’s car takes you from A to B with minimum fuss and in maximum style. Future technologies will give designers free reign to create more space and comfort, so that we can get on with our lives while an AI assistant takes care of the driving. While our cars won’t be flying any time soon, we can all benefit from cleaner, quieter, safer roads. In just twenty years, the age of the combustion engine will be well and truly over,” predicts Cheesewright.

Past, present and future of the motorcar and motoring

Digital paint for different colours

Auto Trader’s 2050 concept car is a fully electric, colour-changing vehicle with space for passengers to make the most of the time they spend in the autonomous vehicle – by relaxing, doing yoga and even sleeping during the commute. Featuring ‘digital paint’, the car allows passengers to change the colour and style of the car from the tap of an app, depending on their mood, with advances in technology meaning this feature could be widely available as early as the year 2040.

Designed to be a home away from home, passengers can relax and unwind on the built-in mattress in the centre of the spacious cabin – a feature which 24% of motorists said they’d use for catching up on much-needed sleep and a cheeky 13% of men would use for some intimate time with a partner.

Reading or watching TV on the move

Drivers also said they’d like to reclaim their commute time by delving into a good book from the built-in library (22%) or watching their favourite Netflix shows and movies from the large in-built TV screen (19%).

Other popular recreational uses for the spacious design include beating friends and family at board games (16%), getting hair and make-up done on the way to an event (15% of women would do this), and 4% would even practice yoga whilst in transit.

AI assistant

Catering to the 10% of drivers who want cars to be fully voice-operated in future, the car welcomes passengers with a friendly AI (Artificial Intelligence) assistant that helps them set their preferred driving speed and style, whether out for a leisurely Sunday drive or rushing home for dinner. Given that the car is likely to be operating autonomously, rushing will not be done recklessly so an accident is unlikely to occur.

The 2050 car is fitted with windows that extend right over the roof in one large bubble, offering more head room to allow passengers to freely move around during transit. It also features 360-degree panoramic views for those wanting to sit back, relax and enjoy an autonomous ride, plus black-out functionality on the windows, which can be activated with a quick tap.

All images and Timeline provided by Auto Trader UK.

Rinspeed MetroSnap concept – different bodies for different needs


F1 – Highlights of the 2019 British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Silverstone this year is his sixth British GP win, the most of any driver in the race.

Sebastian Vettel rammed into Max Verstappen’s car on lap 37 but the Ferrari driver acknowledged it was his fault and apologized to Verstappen at the end of the race. He was given a 10-second penalty which dropped his finishing position to 15th, and 2 penalty points on his racing licence.

Despite the dramatic incident, Vettel and Verstappen completed the race with the Red Bull driver collecting 10 points for his 5th placing.

Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen – both driving for the American Rich Energy Haas F1 Team – never had a chance to race this weekend as they collided in the first corner and had to retire as the damage was too severe.

The duel between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen received praise as the two drivers showed gentlemanly behavior even as they challenged each other.

Kimi Raikkonen’s 8th placing at the British GP brings him points for a third consecutive race but not without having to work hard. The car still lacks speed on the straights, he said.

Lewis Hamilton revealed that he ‘went easy’ on Valtteri Bottas because they are team mates, even though they compete hard against each other and Bottas certainly would like to win the championship. “When you’re racing with a team-mate it’s on a different level. If I were racing a Ferrari, you take more risks. Still respectful, but you can lean on them a bit more but as team-mates, we sit down at the beginning of the race, we talk about Turn One and how we’re going to respect each other,” Hamilton said at the post-race press conference.

Next round in Germany on July 28


Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge Landspeed Collection

The world’s first automobile, built by Karl Benz, was able to travel at a maximum speed of 16 km/h. That would certainly have been very fast in 1886 when he first drove it along rough tracks in Mannheim, Germany. But before long, the challenge of building ‘the fastest car’ was taken up by many and Land Speed Records began to be listed.

The first person on the list was Frenchman Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat who took an electrically-powered Jeantaud Duc to a speed of 63.13 km/h. As an indication of how fast technological advances were taking place, just one month later, Belgian Camille Jenatzy reached 66 km/h in a GCA Dogcart. No, it was not powered by dogs but by electricity as well, like the car it beat.

By 1909, the fastest speed achieved was around 200km/h, a speed so fast that there were people who believed it would be impossible to survive because you’d simply not to be able to breathe! The challenge of going faster and faster did not diminish and in the 1920s, the British asserted dominance.

Among those who pushed cars to the limits was a mechanical engineer by the name of George Eyston. In the late 1920s, he was seriously engaged in developing and running cars that broke records. His car, called the Thunderbolt, established 3 new land speed records between 1937 and 1939. The records were set on the wide expanse of the Bonnevile Salt Flats in the American state of Utah where such events have been held for decades.

While the Thunderbolt was powered by two 37-litre, V12 Rolls-Royce aero engines, the Wraith uses a 6.6-litre V12 with an output of 632 ps and 870 Nm of torque.

His projectile-shaped machine had 3 axles, 8 wheels and weighed 7 tonnes (and that was even with the body being made from aluminium). The Thunderbolt was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R supercharged 37-litre, V-12 aero engines, each producing well over 2,000 horsepower. Less than 20 of these engines were ever made; so rare were they that the Thunderbolt’s engines had actually been used earlier in the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6.B seaplane that would lay the foundations for the legendary Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War II.

Inspiration for the Landspeed Collection

The story of Eyston’s dauntless, fearless, pioneering spirit and his Thunderbolt served as inspiration for the Rolls-Royce Land Speed Collection, a series specially designed and built by the company’s Bespoke division. The two cars are Black Badge versions of the Wraith and Dawn and of the 35 units of the Wraith available, one was acquired by a customer in Malaysia.

The Wraith Landspeed is presented in a specially created two-tone finish which marries Black Diamond Metallic with a new Bespoke colour, Bonneville Blue. This specially developed hue bears particular significance to the Collection, with a colour that transitions under sunlight from light blue to silver, illustrating the reflections of both the vast sky over Bonneville and the crisp salt flats on the Thunderbolt’s aluminium body.

However, Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, suggested a change in the colour scheme which the customer agreed to. Instead of the light coloured flanks and dark bonnet, there is a reversal of the colours with Bonneville Blue on the bonnet instead. To add to the unique difference, the grille is also in chrome instead of black, which is the usual colour for Black Badge versions.

To associate the Wraith with the Thunderbolt, the Bespoke team of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen read everything they could about the record-breaking events that took place on the desert-like salt flats in the 1930s. In particular, they learnt about how, while rocketing over the ground, Eyston had to hold the car on a very precise course – to deviate even slightly would be disastrous at the extreme speeds. To help him guide the car, his team painted darkened track lines on the salt surface for Eyston to follow – effectively his sole means of keeping the Thunderbolt straight at over 560 km/h.

This simple yet ingenious idea is recalled in the Wraith by perforated line in the upper-centre of the steering wheel, which continues through the centreline of the driver’s seat and can also be seen on the rear right seat. It is subtle and is only evident when the left seats are compared to the right ones.

A cracking dashboard?

Then there’s the fascia to the right of the classic analogue clock. At a glance, it seems like the surface is cracking… which would be shocking to see on a Rolls-Royce! But it is not actually a defect in the material: the ‘cracks’ are reproductions of those on the surface of the dry and dusty salt flats. The tiny fissures form a distinctive texture that was digitally retraced from the surface itself, onto the wooden veneer of the fascia (and console lids as well).

Records commemorated for all time

The interior references continue with the Thunderbolt’s unique silhouette, and the records it achieved, depicted on the polished, anodized aluminium surface of the Landspeed Collection’s front tunnel.

According to the record books, Eyston’s third and final land-speed record of 575.57 km/h stood for 341 days. In the Landspeed Collection Cars, it is commemorated for all time, engraved into the housing of the clock alongside the name ‘Bonneville’, in homage to where the record was set. Based on the instrument dials from the Thunderbolt, with yellow and black details, the black-tipped hands of the clock are inspired by the arrows painted on the original car’s exterior.

Recreating the night sky

The Bonneville Salt Flats are so vast, open – and with no artificial light – that they are an ideal place to look at the stars in the exceptionally dark night skies. In the Wraith Landspeed, the
Starlight Headliner
 on the ceiling perfectly recreates the skies as they appeared over the Flats on September 16, 1938, the date on which Eyston and his Thunderbolt set their record. The constellations are precisely marked using 2,117 individually placed fibreoptic ‘stars’, the largest number of stars in a Rolls-Royce Wraith Starlight Headliner ever featured.

Paying tribute to the man himself, Eyston’s military honours are marked with a subtle detail in the driver’s door, made in the same Grosgrain weave silk and colours to match the original medal ribbons. The armrests on both the passenger side and below the ribbon detail are specially padded to give them the comfortable ‘club armchair’ quality that Eyston favoured in his driving seats, much to the amusement of his fellow racers.

The Thunderbolt was originally left unpainted, which caused an unexpected problem. During the first record attempts, the photo-electric timing equipment was unable to detect the polished aluminium body against the searing white of the Salt Flats’ surface, making accurate timing impossible. Eyston’s brilliantly simple solution was to paint a large black arrow with a yellow circle on the side, to heighten visibility when travelling at great speed. Hence, the yellow inserts around the inlets on either side below the front bumper.

“As with many of the cars I bring to Malaysia, I try to make them unique. Not only do we have some of the most discerning customers here who appreciate true luxury, I also believe in the mantra: “Rolls-Royce is Bespoke, Bespoke is Rolls-Royce.”  The Wraith Landspeed is Bespoke Luxury of the finest order, craftsmanship and an unwavering dedication to achieving the very highest levels of excellence,” declared Encik Anas Zawawi Khalid.

Black Badge Ghost by Rolls-Royce for those who refuse to adhere to established conventions


GWM’s Ora Good Cat Now Available in Pistachio Green In Malaysia!

The
Ora Good Cat
 in Pistachio Green was introduced by Great Wall Motor (GWM) during their exhibition in Sunway Velocity Mall recently . The Ora Good Cat in Pistachio Green, a colourful addition to the world of automotive excellence, sold out of 20 units on the first day it was available, signalling how well received it is. This response demonstrates the fascinating allure and attractiveness of this electric vehicle.

The whimsical and distinctive pattern of this shade, which is only offered in the 500 Ultra variant, is sure to steal the show and leave a lasting impression.

The Pistachio Green exterior and two-tone green-beige inside of this Ora Good Cat make it unique. The blending of the two tones creates a calm-looking atmosphere. An inviting interior is created by the comfy seats, which have a cute paw-shaped pattern on the middle armrest, the air conditioning vent cover in a bright orange shade, and the pistachio green and beige steering wheel. Additionally, a Houndstooth pattern is woven into the front and back seats to provide a touch of class. The outside cushions have a bright orange trim to further the colourful appearance.

The Pistachio Green Ora Good Cat has a front-wheel drive, a front-axle electric motor, and a 63.1 kWh ternary lithium battery. It has a range of 500 kilometres per charge and has a maximum speed of 152 km/h, 143 PS, and 210 Nm of torque.

It also comes with six airbags, variable speed control, a panoramic 360-degree camera for a cat’s eye view, stability control to keep you “feline” fine, and cutting-edge driving assistance systems to give you peace of mind. You’ll have a safe and secure ride thanks to features like automated cruise control, collision warning, and emergency braking.

The new Pistachio Green colour, which is available on the more expensive 500 Ultra variant and costs RM169,800 on-the-road without insurance, joins the existing Coral Blue, Sun Black, Mars Red, Hamilton White, Verdant Green, and Em Beige colours in the Ora Good Cat colour palette. The base 400 Pro variant costs RM139,800.


Ford Donates RM33,000 to Montfort Boys Town

Ford Motor Company together with Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) awarded the Montfort Boys Town a grant worth US$8,000 or RM33,000 as part of the Ford Education Grant program here in Malaysia. This generous deed was done to help support the local automotive industry with training to develop qualified technicians.

With the grant, the Montfort Boys Town were able to source two lift posts for their Automotive Production Department and at the same time keep its training facility up to date. This will greatly help their students not only in gaining precious knowledge but also to support them in becoming high-quality technicians in the automotive industry.

According to Truong Kim Phong, Managing Director of Ford Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, “Serving the communities where we do business has always been an important commitment for Ford. Together with our local partner, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, we are proud to continue supporting Montfort Boys Town and further build learning opportunities with practical training and skills development for their students.”

To those of you who are wondering what the Montfort Boys Town is, it’s a learning institution dedicated in providing practical vocational training and life skills to underprivileged youths. With the acquired skills, these youths will be able to develop their lives for the better with all the skills acquired to flourish in the working environment.

Back in 2017, Ford also donated two vehicles and equipment that helped with additional training program for their ever-growing curriculum. Ford has been very hands on when it comes to their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts with programs like Ford’s Driving Skills for Life and Ford’s Global Caring Month just to name a few.

For more information about Ford, visit
www.sdacford.com.my
.

Photo credit: Monfort Boys Town Shah Alam

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 price announced – From RM305,429


Ferrari SF-23 For 2023 Formula 1 World Championship Unveiled

Around lunchtime (7 pm in Malaysia) today at Ferrari’s Fiorano track in Italy, its Formula 1 team unveiled the 69th F1 racing car built by Ferrari. Being the first physical launch of a model after two years of virtual car presentations (due to the pandemic), 500 fans were invited to attend the event.

Before the launch, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz went to greet the crowd which included many members of the various Scuderia Ferrari Clubs and students from Muner, the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna, and some from the Alfredo Ferrari Higher Education Institute, along with their teachers.

The new car is designated ‘SF-23’ and this marks a return to the format of the Scuderia Ferrari initials combined with the year of competition, as has been the case for most of the hybrid era, was first seen on video.

A surprise announcement after the unveiling was that the car would be fired up and driven on the track. The last time that was done was in 2017 and to decide which of the two drivers would get behind the wheel first, a coin was tossed. Doing the tossing of the special coin – with the race numbers of Leclerc and Sainz (16 and 55) on each side – was Fred Vasseur, the new team principal and general manager of Scuderia Ferrari.

It was Leclerc who won and he took the SF-23 for its first couple of laps, while Carlos got his turn shortly afterwards.

The SF-23 livery features some parts in naked carbonfibre, while the historic ‘long F’ logo appears on the rear wing. The red colour is also brand new, created by Ferrari Design. This is a matt version on the Formula 1 car, and glossy on the 499P Hypercar, which makes its endurance racing debut this year.

“Our whole team has put a lot of work into this new car and seeing it in front of us for the first time just feels amazing. It means that the start of the season is very close, which is always an exciting moment,” said Leclerc. “It felt great to drive it here at Fiorano today, sharing the experience with our
tifosi
 and partners. We still have to wait for the first real laps at testing to make any real assessments though.”

“Our target for the season will be to do even better than last season, bring home more victories and be more consistent. The biggest goal will be to win both championships and we will do everything to achieve this,“ he promised.

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Legendary Honda Integra Type R racing car Screams Back to the Track at 8400 rpm (w/VIDEO)

The combination of RealTime Racing (RTR) and the Acura Integra Type R forged a race-winning record that remains unbroken after nearly two decades. RTR’s #42 Integra Type R is now returning to the track with Sports Car Club of America Hall-of-Famer Peter Cunningham behind the wheel and the video below documents the story.

The video showcases the Integra Type R’s original run in near-stock form; its dominant performance in the SPEED Touring Car championship, and its return to racing glory. At the WeatherTech International Challenge vintage race weekend at Road America, the #42 car qualified and finished fourth in a field of over 60 vehicles.

“It was our first race back out with the Acura Integra Type R, and it was like we never skipped a beat. We had a great time!” said Cunningham, team owner of RTR. “There were some 60 cars in our group and only a few vehicles in a class above beat us, so it was a great day for RealTime and Acura and great to have the Type R back on track.”

The ‘97 Acura Integra Type R

When it debuted in 1997, the Acura Integra Type R was much more than a faster Integra GS-R, the previous top-line trim. The Type R’s B18C5 engine became a legend in its own right for its factory modifications, the highlights of which included a hand-ported head, thinner valves and unique valve springs, robust connecting rods and numerous other upgrades, to give a screaming 8400-rpm redline.

The Integra Type R body also benefited from extra welds for additional chassis strength and stiffness. There was an under-bonnet chassis-stiffening strut bar straight from the factory, and the suspension and brakes were unique to Type R.

Ready to race ‘out of the box’

The fundamental goodness of the Type R wasn’t lost on RTR, and the factory car was so good out of the box that racing modifications for the track were limited to race-spec springs and shocks, mandatory safety equipment, such as a roll cage, and a stripped-out interior. Even the transmission was unmodified from stock.

When the Integra Type R debuted, RTR had already been competing, and winning, with Acura cars for nearly a decade. The team began with Acura’s first-generation Integra and later raced with the legendary first-generation Acura NSX.

RealTime Racing has been in motorsports for over 30 years. competing in a variety of different types of races.

From its racing debut in 1997 through the 2002 season, RTR’s Integra Type R dominated the SPEED Touring Car Championship, capturing 23 race wins on the way to 5 Drivers’ Championships. The record remains unbroken to this day.

“We knew from the start the Acura Integra Type R was a very special car,” said Cunningham. “But now, after all these years, it’s achieved legendary status, and rightly so. I believe it’s still one of the best performing front-wheel drive cars ever built.”


Formula E Season 8/Round 14: London E-Prix

Lucas di Grassi took his maiden win for ROKiT Venturi Racing in the Formula E London E-Prix Round 14, after overcoming Julius Baer Polesitter Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) over a hard-fought, strategic 38-lap battle in the UK capital. Di Grassi emerged through his last of 3 mandatory ATTACK MODE activations with enough in-hand to ensure he’d make it by Dennis when the Brit jumped for his last 30kW boost. The Brazilian then stretched his advantage over the final few laps and into TAG Heuer Added Time to take the chequered flag first.

Nyck de Vries came home third, while his Mercedes-EQ teammate – standings leader Stoffel Vandoorne – clambered to fourth from 13th on the grid. His closest title rival Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) had made his way as high as fourth himself from 14th at the start of the race, but a late technical problem ended his Lond E-Prix and dealt a hammer blow to his title chances.

Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) did his utmost to get his hands on some points from 17th at lights out, but a scrappy, combative performance yielded only 13th position. Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) retired early on, seemingly in contact, all but ending his championship charge.

Antonio Felix da Costa fought to fifth in the sister DS, with Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) producing his second-best result of Season 8 in sixth, Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) seventh and Sam Bird eighth for Jaguar TCS Racing on home soil.

Sergio Sette Camara got his hands on his and DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT’s first points of the campaign after he ran out of usable energy at the death in Round 13 having hassled the top four throughout. Pascal Wehrlein rounded out the top 10 for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.

Londom E-Prix as it happened
The pack emerged from the darkness indoors to the light of the Docklands with Dennis ahead of di Grassi and Giovinazzi clear of da Costa in third. Some contact between Mahindra’s Oliver Rowland and Oliver Askew in the Avalanche Andretti left the former damaged and out, while Vandoorne clipped Wehrlein’s Porsche into the complex on the way to taking 12th. The top nine stood as you were on the grid.

Just 5 minutes after starting, Jean-Eric Vergne’s title challenge looked to have all but ended after contact – the DS TECHEETAH coming to a halt out on-track. This of course brought out the
Porsche Taycan Safety Car
, electrically powered like the racing cars.

The 5-minute neutralisation period came to an end on Lap 5 and de Vries took the opportunity to dive for ATTACK MODE – the first driver to do so. Three 4-minute doses of ATTACK MODE were on the menu for Race 2.

Giovinazzi had the elbows out on Lap 7 to fend of da Costa at Turn 2. The DRAGON driver was holding on for everything he’s worth to that third place, with da Costa losing out to de Vries in the scramble.

The first round of ATTACK MODE saw Giovinazzi shuffled to fifth before the Italian was given a drive-through penalty for overpower – frustrating driver and team. The net beneficiary looked to be Evans, who’d worked hard through the field to as high as fifth from 13th. Frustratingly for him, Vandoorne had also made ground to seventh.

On Lap 14, Dennis led di Grassi with da Costa able to slip beyond de Vries for third with Evans fifth, Buemi sixth, Vandoorne seventh, Wehrlein eighth, Bird ninth and Mortara rounding out the points-paying positions in 10th.

The race leader made the jump for his second 30 kW boost, ceding the lead to di Grassi in the process but the Brit clung on to the back of the Venturi Silver Arrow 02. The lead pair had pulled a 2-second gap on de Vries who’d retaken third from da Costa in the interim.

Lap 20 saw Evans by da Costa and into fourth, though again, Vandoorne wasn’t far behind in his shadow – the Mercedes driver now sixth. Meanwhile, di Grassi went for his final jump through the ATTACK MODE loop with Dennis holding one in hand. A fascinating tactical battle lay ahead…

The Brazilian tried to pile on the pressure but Dennis defended hard and held the Venturi driver at bay and di Grassi wasn’t quite able to get within range of a move. An overambitious move from Mortara sent his title chances spinning as he tried to make it by Bird for ninth. Vandoorne, meanwhile, was busy consolidating his advantage with a move on da Costa for fifth. Evans now being just a position ahead ensured he wouldn’t eat into the Belgian’s standings margin too significantly.

With 8 minutes plus one lap to go, di Grassi had done enough to keep in touch with and make it by Dennis’ Andretti when the Brit made his final run through the ATTACK MODE activation loop. That would mean the home favourite would have to pass the wily Brazilian on-track. No easy task.

He’d have to get there first though, as the Venturi man put the hammer down to drive to a 1.5-second lead with FANBOOST employed perfectly. Into TAG Heuer Added time, and Evans’ title hopes took a huge hit – the Kiwi lost himself down the escape road at Customs House with a technical problem and into retirement.

Di Grassi’s late-race pace saw him take the chequered flag with Dennis unable to hold on to him as the time ticked away. De Vries came home third, ahead of Vandoorne, da Costa and Buemi. Frijns, Bird, Sette Camara and Wehrlein rounded out the top 10.

Evans vs Vandoorne in Seoul
In all reality, it now looks to be a head-to-head between Evans and Vandoorne for the title with 58 points available in a fortnight’s time at the inaugural Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix double-header weekend. The Belgian now holds a commanding 36-point margin over the Jaguar driver in the points table.

Formula E Gen3 racing car unveiled, to be used from Season 9 in 2023


VIDEO: 2019 Proton X70 – Official Media Drive @ Langkawi: Part 1!

That’s right folks
Piston.my
 has arrived safely at the venue of the much-anticipated ‘official’ media drive of the new
Proton X70 SUV
 in Langkawi. I know many of you may be asking why of all places,
Langkawi?
 Well, for one thing traffic away from town is pretty sparse, and the B-roads here are quite awesome, based on previous media drives that have been conducted on this island. Plus I’m not complaining, not with views like this….

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’d just landed and instead of the usual express bus to ferry us to the hotel, Proton had arranged a fleet of X70’s replete with white-gloved chauffeurs to handle this task, which meant I got to shoot a very quick video from the back seat, and talk to the X70 for the first time! Here it is…

Stay tuned for more to come! –
 Chris Wee.


Fuel Price Updates For November 3 – November 9, 2022

No changes in fuel prices for the following week, so unsubsidized RON97 petrol remains just below the RM4/litre level, based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism. Other grades continue to be subsidised by the government to maintain pump prices at a fixed level.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


All-New Lexus LM Premieres At Auto Shanghai 2023

Lexus has revealed the next generation of its ultra luxurious, fit for a royal,
LM
 minivan. The “Luxury Mover” which is what the LM monicker stands for, is set to launch in over 60 countries, including in Europe and UK for the very first time.

The Toyota-owned brand launched its first LM in 2020 as a response to customer aspirations for chauffeur-driven MPVs in China and other parts of Asia. It offered both 4-seat and 7-seat configurations.

Exterior Design

The exterior of the LM follows the Lexus design language which includes the vehicle’s lines reflecting function and dynamic performance. The front design further evolves the Spindle Body similar to the new Lexus RX.

The revised design is better integrated by reducing the space between the surrounding components and the body, which improves aerodynamic performance, cooling performance, and manoeuvrability.

The new Lexus LM has dimensions of 5,125 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, and 1,955 mm in height, with a 3,000 mm wheelbase. The revised exterior measurements indicate an increase in length of 85 mm, width of 40 mm, and height of 10 mm, while the wheelbase is unchanged from the previous model.

Through the use of braces on the radiator support and rear underfloor, a straight rocker structure, and reinforcement of the quarter pillars, the chassis’ torsional rigidity has been increased by 50% higher than that of the outgoing model, resulting in an improvement in ride comfort. Vibration is also lessened by the application of structural glue on both the floor and the upper body.

Interestingly, the “AVS Suspension with Frequency-Sensitive Piston Valve” system, is a first for Lexus. It combines an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) actuator and a frequency-sensitive piston valve in the shock absorber. An emphasis on rear-seat comfort is possible thanks to a new “Rear Comfort” drive mode. Rear-seat comfort is given priority in the AVS’s dampening force characteristics, and the integrated management of the brake and gas pedal minimises posture changes during acceleration and deceleration.

Interior Design

By utilising the spacious interior height of the car and offering an open, pleasant area with a seamless design characterised by crisp horizontal and vertical lines, the goal was to create a relaxed, lounge-like ambience.

The Lexus Tazuna Cockpit design is integrated into the front seats’ contemporary and roomy cabin, which is supplemented with a straightforward instrument panel and console that allow the driver to focus on the road.

It comes in either a 2-row with 4 seats or a 3-row with 6 or 7 seats. To guarantee a naturally calm condition, passenger body movements were carefully examined during the seat construction process.

No matter how much G-force is generated during turning, the front seats optimise surface pressure distribution on the seat cushion to support the body. The objective is to create a comfortable driving environment and comfortable seats that reduce driver fatigue. Perfect for a long drive!

The 4-seat model improves privacy and personalization by including a partition in front of the back seats that has been fitted with a stunning 48-inch wide-screen display. While providing a clear forward vision, a retractable glass barrier above the display divides the front and rear compartments, and assist grips make entry and exit simple.

While considerable care has been taken to keep the panel gaps between components to a minimum, the speakers, refrigerator, storage compartments, and other functions are integrated into the design aspects.

Every interior element has been created to minimise visual noise, resulting in a comfortable setting for all passengers. The side window furnishings are also straightforward rectangles. Large independent seats that gently enclose the body are also provided with the intention of immediately releasing the body and mind via comfort. Who needs a bed when you can just sleep in this?

The interior hues evoke an elegant, modern atmosphere consistent with this fresh take on luxury. Black has grey tone gradations all over, whereas Solis White has copper accents on the surroundings. A subtle pattern is also used to finish the neat, rectangular door trim.

Indirect lighting not only brings out the beauty of the materials and designs used within, but it also fosters a calm environment. 64 illumination colours are offered, including 50 bespoke colours that can be chosen based on choice and 14 themed colours. Themes like “soothing” or “relaxing” are associated with each colour scheme, and passengers can select the colour scheme that best suits their state of mind or goal.

An ideal interior atmosphere for passengers is made possible with the “Rear Climate Concierge,” a first for Lexus that offers integrated control of things like air conditioning, seat adjustment, sunshades, and lighting. In addition to the four pre-programmed modes, the passengers can choose from a variety of configurable settings.

The rear multi-operation panel is a removable touch-screen controller that may be used to individually manage the seats, lighting, and audio as well as a number of rear-seat features, such as the “Rear Climate Concierge”. For the left and right passengers’ convenience, two controllers are situated on the console armrests of the second-row seats.

The 4-seat model is designed for dedicated use as a chauffeur-driven MPV. The front and back seats are separated by a partition. A retractable glass window with a dimming feature is included in the upper half, providing two levels of privacy without sacrificing an open sense.

A sizable 48-inch widescreen display is shown below. It can be utilised for a range of activities, such as online meetings and entertainment. Under the display is a refrigerator and storage areas.

Only the 4-seater model’s back seats have separate chairs. In comparison to the previous model, the ottoman’s range of extension and retraction has been enhanced while still leaving enough space between it and the partition.

Another first for Lexus is heated ottomans and armrests. Furthering this, a specialised rear seat Warmth-Sensing IR (Infrared) Matrix Sensor situated on the upper centre piece of the partition measures the temperature of passengers as well as vehicle components like the windows, trim, and ceiling that have an impact on the ambient temperature.

The technology that is integrated calculates how warm or cold the occupant feels in their face, chest, thighs, and lower legs, and controls the air conditioning and seat heaters simultaneously to keep the interior of the car at a pleasant temperature at all times.

A tablet or laptop computer can be placed on the retractable table, which is big enough to fit inside the armrest. It boasts a better-textured, leather-wrapped surface with a non-slip, scratch-resistant finish.

Safety and Technology Enhancements

In keeping with the ultimate objective of a mobility society—”zero fatalities and injuries from traffic accidents”—Lexus keeps enhancing its safety technology.

Lexus Safety System + is now available in the new LM. The system offers Proactive Driving Assist, which provides appropriate driving support in accordance with driving conditions, and optimal vehicle control by integrating with the driver monitor, in accordance with the driver’s operating conditions. These features help customers drive safely and confidently.

Enhanced Safety Features:

Pre-crash safety (PCS)
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (with all-speed follow function)
Lane Departure Alert (LDA)
Abnormal Driver Response System
Proactive Driving Assist (PDA)

Powertrain

Other than announcing that the new LM will be offered in two hybrid configurations—a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid and a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid—Lexus has yet to release the complete powertrain details.


BMW iX3: For Those Who Don’t Want to Wait For An iX

It wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that BMW Malaysia has enjoyed unprecedented success in the EV segment thanks to the iX.

The BMW iX3 looks nearly identical to the petrol powered X3, except that the iX3 does not have any exhausts for obvious reasons.

Seen almost everywhere and in every major city in Malaysia, the iX has gathered the attention of the young and not so young alike. Even royals have been spotted driving one. In fact, the iX has been so successful that it is said new buyers now have to wait up to 12 months to receive their new iX.

It is also quite surprising that buyers seem to overlook the other electric SUV from BMW – the iX3, the topic of this article, and simply put, the electric version of the ever-popular X3.

The grille’s of the iX3 are a sure fire way of distinguishing the electric car from the petrol powered X3.

While the iX has its unique styling that is both unique and futuristic, the iX3 looks nearly identical to its petrol powered brethren – the X3. And that is perhaps the biggest thorn on its side, because as this writer found out during an interstate drive to Penang and back to Damansara, the iX3 is more than a capable all-electric SUV.

Because there’s no engine to cool, these plastic panels are in place of where the grille would usually be.

From the outside, there are a few distinguishing elements that separate the iX3 from the X3. For starters the grille is sealed off by stylised plastic panels because there is no engine to cool, so there is no real need for a grille to let air into the engine bay.

The current generation X3 is the best looking ever, and that makes the iX3 a really good looking car.

And since there are no exhaust pipes, the rear bumper is slightly different than the X3. But besides that, one would be hard done to tell the difference between both cars. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing because the X3 is among the best looking BMWs in today’s market.

The interior too is nearly identical to the X3, but that’s not a bad thing because comfort and quality is the name of the game.

The interior too is identical and is a pleasant place to be in, and those with families and are on the upper end of the scale in terms of size and stature will appreciate the vastness of leg and head space.

Because the X3 has clearly grown in size, this translates to more storage in the booth and more legroom for the rear passengers as seen below.

Of course the iX3 is not as big as a X5, but it has grown considerably in size and nowhere is this more obvious than the leg and shoulder space as well as the size of the boot.

Then there are other elements that makes the iX3 a charming car to live with on a day to day basis. Elements like the wireless Apple CarPlay make your connected life easily accessible while on the move without distracting you from the road.

The cockpit is typically BMW, everything is within easy reach for the driver.

There’s also a heads up display that gives you key readings such as the local speed limit and your current speed reading. This lets you focus on the road ahead instead of having to constantly look down on the meter panel.

The meter panel is 100% digital and flicker free, this gives you a clear crisp read out.

Of particular importance to this writer is the adaptive cruise control which automatically adjusts the speed of the car to the surrounding traffic. This feature also comes with Stop & Go function which means the iX3 can come to an absolute standstill and pick up speed again, all without the driver’s intervention.

This feature makes driving less stressful and also extends the available range as the car decides braking and accelerating factors. All the driver has to do is pay attention to the surroundings and steer.

The top of the line BMW iX3 runs on 21-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama tyres that have been specifically developed for electric vehicles and thus have very low rolling resistance for maximum range.

But what truly gives the car its charm is what lays underneath – a 73.8kwh battery that is good for a WLTP range of 453-461km. Real world range though is said to be between 340-380km. However on a test drive to Penang and back which included highway driving and moments in traffic, we managed a range of 448km which adds credibility to BMWs claim.

The seats, like the rest of the interior, come wrapped in Vernasca leather, and don’t only look great but are brilliant for long distance drives too. Thigh support though is manually adjusted, not a bad thing.

Of course, to attain this range, we had to keep the car at the speed limit, sometimes lower. Any increase in speed by even 10km/h saw a drop in range of between 10 – 15km. This did not bode well for our range anxiety. But this is something that effects all electric cars and not just the iX3.

The blue hue around the gear knob indicates an electric BMW.

But there are charging ports available along the way, such as the Shell station at the Simpang Pulai R&R. The 180kW DC charger has two charging ports and splits 90kW between the two ports. Charges are set at RM4 per minute, which means it will cost you RM120 for a 30 minute juice up. That is far from cheap.

However, there are DC fast charging facilities available at BMW dealerships in Ipoh, Juru and on Penang island itself. And charges are set at RM1 per minute for BMW owners, which is far more reasonable.

BMW’s iDrive system is still one of the best in the business, and the touch screen system is just so simple to use.

As more charging facilities become available, range anxiety will soon become a thing of the past. And with cars like the BMW iX3 offering a real world range of over 400km’s, which is almost the same as a petrol powered car as long as you’re not speeding, electric powered interstate drives will soon make more sense.

Just like the gear knob, the blue start/stop button too indicates an electric BMW.

But BMW dealers are taking things up a notch and offering their own charging facilities. Dealerships such as Ingress Auto offer fast charging 90kW DC facility at its showroom in Damansara and have even installed chargers at places such as the Tropicana Golf Club for those looking for a quick power up.

A 16-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system makes a bad day good, and a good day great.

This just means that cars like the iX3 can be driven like one regularly would and be able to charge up just about anywhere. And with the iX3 offering everything one would expect, it is the ideal go to SUV for those who want an electric SUV but do not want to wait 12 months for an iX.

Specifications
:

Battery: 73.8kwh Lithium Ion battery

Charge time: 0-80% in 30 minutes (with ? DC Charger)

WLTP Range: 453 – 461km

Horsepower: 286hp

Torque: 400Nm

Gearbox: Automatic Transmission

0-100km/h: 6.8 seconds

Top speed: 180km/h

Price: RM341,000

We like: Interior comfort and great looks

We don’t like: Range anxiety on the highway


Conti360º can help fleet operators run their vehicles more efficiently and reduce operating costs

For fleet operators who have many vehicles to maintain and run, manage operating costs is of great importance. They constantly need to ensure their vehicles are in good order, operational costs are minimized and goods are delivered on time. If savings can be achieved for one vehicle, they can also be replicated for other vehicles in the fleet and reduce costs, especially for fuel.

Continental Tyres has developed Conti360º solutions that can help commercial vehicle operators who face multiple challenges in managing large sized fleets. Being a tyre company, the area where they can help most is the tyres which play an important role in a vehicle’s running efficiency. With tyres specifically, proper tyre inflation will result in the optimum fuel consumption, optimum mileage and better tyre casing value for operators. Continental estimates that a vehicle which travels 100,000 kms with the tyres just 10% under-inflated could increase fuel and mileage costs alone by up to RM3,100 annually.

A survey conducted by Continental in Malaysia showed that 20% of fleet tyres are severely under-inflated while 38% were moderately under-inflated. This could lead to tyre damage, worse fuel consumption, reduced tyre life and an increased risk of tyre breakdowns while on the road. The latter would, of course, affect delivery schedules and upset customers. According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), one of top 5 reasons in crash occurrence in heavy commercial vehicles were tyre-related issues.

Conti360º offers 3 services and solutions for fleet operators to address these challenges and the complexity of tyre management so they can focus on their core business. The three offerings – Core Services, Advanced Services and Digital Solutions – cover a variety of services and solutions including training, on-site support, and real-time tyre monitoring to help fleet managers operate more efficiently.

With Conti360º Core Services, the Continental technical team conducts an analysis on operators’ fleet tyres to provide feedback on tyre performance, sharing industry-best tyre maintenance practices on efficient tyre handling and assisting in specialized driver training. The training modules for drivers focus on the importance of driver behaviour, good tyre usage and maintenance practices, and the significance of good pressure maintenance.

Conti360º Advanced Services provides fleets with ContiFleetCheck, a comprehensive health-check solution where the Continental technical team will perform routine inspections using advanced digital tools which relay data to proprietary systems for in-depth analysis of tyre conditions including pressure and tread depth. This active engagement provides managers with an overview of their fleet’s tyre efficiency, identifies trends and patterns of common causes of failures observed in the tyres, identifies areas for cost reductions and provides recommendations to be taken to further increase tyre life.

Finally, Conti360º Digital Solutions is an end-to-end completely automated offering with sensors that enable 24/7 monitoring of tyres on the road. Fleet managers are then kept abreast and alerted via an online portal and analytics dashboards on potential punctures, pressure loss, tread depth and so on, to help them manage tyres, prolong tyre life and increase vehicle safety on the road.

“Though tyres contribute only 5% to a fleet’s costs, they do influence around 50% of the fleet’s operational costs through fuel consumption, repairs and maintenance, and administration. Conti360º is designed specifically to minimize these costs and caters to the diverse needs of our customers depending on their fleet size and operating conditions,” said Winson Khoo Han Kee, National Sales Manager of Trucks & Tyres at Continental Tyre Malaysia.

“Customers who implemented Conti360º solutions have realised savings in the form of reduced fuel expenses by up to 3%, and increased tyre mileage by 20% while seeing significant increase in vehicle and driver safety,” he added.

According to Andrea Somorova, Managing Director of Continental Tyre Malaysia, the aim of Continental is to move beyond the transactional relationship so often associated with commercial tyres, and transcend into a technology-backed, value-added services and functional partnership with our commercial fleet customers.

“The technology within Conti360º will help our customers maximise their investments on tyres while deriving benefit from long-term after sales technical support and performance monitoring. Conti360º solutions is the next step in fleet management operations. Our investment in the development of these technologies, is our continuous commitment to our commercial and fleet customers to address real challenges so they can better meet their business goals,” she said.

TGX joins New MAN Truck Generation as flagship model


Petronas Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Mobile Bike Workshop, Announces 2019 MotoGP Contest!

Petronas Lubricants Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd
, a subsidiary of
Petronas Dagangan Berhad
, has launched the first ever
‘mobile’
 service workshop, where motorcyclists can get their bikes serviced somewhere other than a normal workshop.

Modified from a 20-foot container,
“The mobile-service workshop aims to provide our customers convenience and a unique seamless experience, where they can just sit back, relax and leave the service to our skilled technicians”
 said
Dato Sri Syed Zainal Abidin, PDB’s MD and CEO
(below).
 “On average the end-to-end process takes about 8-minutes for small and medium capacity bikes”
 he added.

Also announced at this event, in conjunction with the upcoming
2019 MotoGP
 season – in which Petronas is represented in
all
 classes – Petronas is launching the
“Petronas Sprinta Bonanza 2019”
 Contest, in which winners stand to ride away with monthly prizes such as a brand new
Yamaha Y15ZR
!

In addition, the overall grand prize winner at the end of the promotion will take home a new
Yamaha R6 Superbike
, painted in special
Petronas Yamaha SRT MotoGP Team

colours! The second place winner will take home a new
Yamaha R25
, also in team livery.

The contest runs from
11th March to 30th September 2019.
For more info on the
Mobile Service Workshop
 and the
“Bonanza MotoGP 2019 Contest”
, log on to www.mymesra.com.my


Pininfarina Battista Electric Hypercar Sets Record-Breaking Times At Nardo (w/VIDEO)

The switch to electric powertrains has seen a sudden leap in the power and torque available to propel cars. Unlike internal combustion engines, electric motors generate power in an entirely different way, with a huge amount of peak torque available from almost standstill.

So impressive new performance numbers are beginning to appear and new records are being set by this new generation of cars. Every month, some company will announce a sub-5-second time and sometimes it is recognised as a world record as well.

Pininfarina’s Battista electric hypercar
, the most powerful car designed and built in Italy, has an output of 1,900 ps/2,340 Nm and it has achieved sizzling times for 4 different acceleration runs. They were 0 – 60 mph in 1.79 seconds; 0 – 100 km/h in 1.86 seconds, 0 – 120 mph in 4.49 seconds; and 0 – 200 km/h in 4.79 seconds.

The confirmed times (set at the Nardo course in Italy) were announced at the debut of the hypercar in the Middle East which took place on the track at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the company also claimed it to be the fastest braking electric car in the world, decelerating from 100 km/h to standstill in 31 metres.

The Battista has a 120 kWh battery pack which provides power to the four electric motors – one at each wheel – and has a claimed maximum range of 476 kms, with a maximum speed said to be 350 km/h.

“I am proud that our new electric hyper GT delivers on the promises we made when we set out or development plan. In Battista, we have achieved performance beyond our original, extreme targets,” said Paolo Dellacha, the company’s Chief Product and Engineering Officer.

“Perfectly optimized weight distribution and low centre of gravity are at the heart of this result. The combination of bespoke chassis and suspension tuning, tyres proven over many thousands of test miles and 4-motor torque vectoring delivering unprecedented power enables Battista to be the fastest accelerating road-legal car in the world,” he said.

Pininfarina offers no less than 128 million possible interior combinations and promises new levels of bespoke tailoring. Customers can choose from near-unlimited levels of interior colour schemes and finishes, in addition to the exterior colour combinations with bespoke detailing and exclusive aluminium exterior jewellery and alloy wheel designs.

The Battista also features a unique soundscape, SUONO PURO, that complements the driving experience. The soundscape can be personalised via one of five driving modes – Pura, Calma, Energica, Furiosa and Carattere.

Only 150 units will be built by Automobili Pininfarina, which is related to the original Pininfarina that designed cars for Ferrari, Peugeot, Lancia and many other carmakers in past decades. Each Battista is ex-factory priced from €2.2 million (around RM10.33 million) although customers are likely to pay more with the additional personalisation that will be required.

1,900 ps Pininfarina Battista hyper GT undergoing final tests before deliveries commence

C
lick here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


RM11 Million Perodua 3S Centre Opens In Sg. Buloh

A new
Perodua 3S Centre
 has officially opened for business in
Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh
, catering for the sales, service and spare parts needs of customers and residents in the vicinity.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Haji Ahmad Maslan signing the plaque to commemorate the opening of Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd’s new Perodua 3S centre in Sungai Buloh. Looking on is (from left to right): Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh, Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd Executive Chairman Tuan Haji Ir Yusoff Daud, Malaysia Automotive Institute Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Madani Sahari, and Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd Managing Director Tuan Haji Sarizal Yusman Yusoff.

Owned and operated by authorised dealer Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd, the outlet occupies a built-up area of 16,000 sq ft on a total land area of 45,000 sq ft, and is staffed by a total of 65 employees including 30 sales advisors and 12 service advisors.

The opening of the outlet was officiated today by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Haji Ahmad Maslan. Also in attendance were Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Madani Sahari, Jeram State Assemblyman Dato’ Haji Amiruddin Setro and Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.

Also in attendance were Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Madani Sahari, Jeram State Assemblyman Dato’ Haji Amiruddin Setro and Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.

“Yusmanida Auto has been a Perodua dealer since 2003, previously operating a sales outlet on Jalan Meru, Klang,”
 said
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh
.

Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd Managing Director
Sarizal Yusman Yusoff
 said that the
RM11 million
 3S outlet began construction in August 2016. Building completed in April 2017 ahead of the start of operations in September 2017.

Yusmanida Auto’s new Perodua 3S centre is located at
Wisma Yusmanida, Lot 28808, Persiaran E1/1, Seri Pristana, 47000 Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh
.

Perodua now has a total of
186
 sales and
183
 service outlets in Malaysia, as well as
24
 Body & Paint outlets.


RM133,200 from the charity auction of Volkswagen Arteon art cars

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and Wei-Ling Gallery successfully raised RM133,200 from the
charity auction of Arteon art cars
 recently, with the proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA).

The auction marked the culmination of the collaboration between Volkswagen and the art gallery to celebrate the launch of the all-new Arteon R-Line. Featuring the talents of 13 Malaysian artists, the collaboration provided the unique opportunity to collectors and art enthusiasts alike to own diecast scale models of the Arteon that have been transformed by the artists into unique one-of-a-kind sculptures.

“It was truly heartening to see Art and Arteon come together at the auction, and to witness how much the bidders recognised the value of owning such collectible art pieces. What more, was that their enthusiasm stemmed from their desire to contribute to charity, in this case, breast cancer awareness and support,” said Erik Winter, the Managing Director of VPCM, who was delighted to see the enthusiasm displayed by bidders.

“The Arteon is more than just a car for Volkswagen. It also represented a way for the brand to engage with art fans around the world, as it has also been described many times as a true work of art. To have been able to work on this collaboration with Wei-Ling Gallery has been an honour for us, and we would like to express our sincerest appreciation to Wei-Ling Gallery and all 13 artists for this,” he said.

The Arteon project was an extension of the recent ‘18@8 Turning Points’ exhibition by Wei-Ling Gallery, curated with this idea in mind and explores the 13 artists’ pasts through different philosophical, technical and aesthetic approaches, in the form of thought-provoking art pieces that reflected on this ideology.

Those who want to view and experience the full-sized Arteon R-Line, priced from RM225,490 (RM220,043.28 with sales tax exemption until the 31st of December 2020), can contact any authorised Volkswagen dealership. To locate a dealership in Malaysia, visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.

Volkswagen R-Line in Malaysia expanded to four models