Romain Grosjean confirmed for drive in Mercedes-AMG W10 next month

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information.

Romain Grojean’s escape from the burning wreck of his Haas F1 car at the Bahrain Grand Prix last November captured worldwide attention. It was amazing that he came out of the inferno, suffering only severe burns to his hands. The safety measures to protect drivers had worked even though the way the car broke up shocked everyone.

Despite his valiant efforts to recover, Romain was not allowed to drive in  the final two races of the season – a season that would be his last in F1, which he entered in 2009. During his career, the 35-year old drive had 179 starts and stood on the podium 10 times.

He was inside and inferno when his car caught fire but miraculously, Romain escaped with only severe burns on his hands.

The F1 world shared his sadness at not having a chance to have a last drive that was not remembered as the one of the dramatic accident. But Toto Wolff, boss of the Mercedes-AMG team, made a commitment to Romain that his crash would not be the closing story of his time in F1. He offered the driver a chance to drive one last time – and it would be in Lewis Hamilton’s World-Championship-winning racing car.

Preparing for drive at Paul Ricard

Romain has already been to the Mercedes-AMG F1 team’s base in England to undergo a seat fit and has spent time in the simulator in preparation for a specially-organised drive at the Frenchman’s home track, the Paul Ricard Circuit, on June 29. He will also take part in a series of demo laps ahead of the French Grand Prix which will be on  June 27.

“I am so excited to jump back in an F1 car! It will be a special opportunity for me and to drive a World Championship-winning Mercedes will be a unique experience. I’m very grateful to Mercedes F1 and to Toto for the opportunity. The first I heard about the chance to drive a Mercedes was in my hospital bed in Bahrain when Toto was speaking to the media and made the invitation. Reading that news cheered me up a lot!” said Romain.

Last December, Toto Wolff made a commitment to Romain to let him have a drive in a F1 car so that his memory of his last drive would be a good one, and not of the accident.

A commitment from Toto

Toto said that the idea first came when it looked like Romain would be ending his active career in Formula 1. “We didn’t want his accident to be his last moment in an F1 car, and we are very happy to support Romain with this special opportunity,” he said.

“I have known Romain since his days in Formula 3 when he won the Championship. He enjoyed a long and successful F1 career and we wanted to make sure that his final memories would be at the wheel of a championship-winning car,” Toto said. “Romain’s accident reminds us of the dangers these guys face each time they climb into the cockpit but it’s also a testament to the incredible steps this sport has taken to improve safety over the years. I know the F1 community will celebrate seeing Romain back on track.”

While he leaves F1, Romain is not stopping racing altogether. He will compete in the IndyCar series for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR.

F1/Round 3: Highlights & Provisional Results For 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix


Cadillac introduce limited edition CTS-V to celebrate its 115th anniversary

Cadillac, also known as the Rolls-Royce of the US market, has unveiled a new limited edition version of its sporty CTS-V called the Glacier Metallic Edition. This car has been introduced to commemorate the company’s 115-year history, and only 155 examples will ever be produced, which is quite fitting.

Though remarkably similar to the regular CTS-V, the Glacier Metallic Edition does have a number of tweaks that make it seem more special. It gets illuminated door handles, dark red Brembo brake calipers and 19-inch forged polish-finished alloy wheels with Midnight Silver painted pockets.

Further customisation can be done if buyers opt for one of three different packages. The list is as follows:

Carbon Fiber Package:

Carbon fiber front splitter

Carbon fiber hood vent

Carbon fiber rear spoiler

Carbon fiber rear diffuser

Luxury Package:

Tri-zone climate control

Split-folding rear seat with armrest

Heated rear outboard seating positions

Power rear-window sunshade

Manual rear side-window sunshades

110-volt power outlet

Rear Camera Mirror

Next-Generation Cadillac user experience:

Cloud-based driver preferences

Predictive navigation with available real-time traffic

Collections application suite

On the inside, Cadillac has given the car jet black RECARO race-inspired sport seats, the Performance Data Recorder system featuring Cosworth Toolbox analysis software, UltraView sunroof, the industry–first Rear Camera Mirror and the next-generation Cadillac user experience infotainment system.

Under the hood is the same 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine as the regular car. It produces 640bhp and 855Nm of torque. Thanks to direct fuel injection, an efficient and compact supercharger as well as Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), the powerplant is able to offer decent fuel consumption figures.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed sport automatic transmission that utilizes technology called Performance Algorithm Shifting for better efficiency. There’s also a system called Performance Traction Management that has five track-oriented modes and works with Launch control to ensure that the car can adapt to any track condition.

As icing on the cake, Cadillac will be offering owners of all V-Series models including the Glacier Metallic Edition, tuition and accommodation at the 2-day Cadillac V-Performance Academy at Spring Mountain (offer valid for 1 year).

Beginning in September, the company will beginning offering this anniversary edition car in its US showrooms. And because it is being produced in such small numbers, these cars should be snapped up in no time.


JD Power study: Malaysian motorists report less manufacturing-related issues in new vehicles

The latest JD Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) for Malaysia which provides insights into the problems faced by owners of new vehicles shows that they are experiencing fewer problems than in 2018. This is largely attributed to a decline in manufacturing-related issues and prevailing problems are nearly equally split between design and manufacturing categories.

Initial quality measures the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first two to six months of ownership, with a lower count reflecting higher quality. In this year’s study, the industry average decreased to 85 PP100, from 89 PP100 in 2018.

The study showed that the share of manufacturing-related issues has been on the decline over the past 3 years, falling to 51% in 2019 from 74% in 2016. The majority of the reduction from last year related to noise aspects, such as wind noise (-1.7 PP100); abnormal suspension noise (-1.1 PP100); seat noise (-0.9 PP100); abnormal transmission noise (-0.7 PP100); and other interior storage compartments noises (-0.3 PP100).

One-third of issues relate to noise

That said, noise-related issues accounted for 36% of all manufacturing issues identified by owners this year. On average, the overall rating on quality and reliability of new vehicle is lower among owners who reported such noise-related manufacturing issues than those who did not (7.3 and 8.2 respectively on a 10-point scale). Interestingly, engineers are some car companies have told PISTON.MY that Malaysians seem to have the ‘most sensitive’ ears as complaints about noise tend to be higher than from motorists in other countries!

“Vehicle owners continue to be sensitive to noise-related problems, which strongly affect their overall perception of the vehicle’s quality,” said E-Ling Cheah, Country Manager for Malaysia at J.D. Power. “Given the heightened customer sensitivity around buzz, squeak, rattle and wind noises, manufacturers need to not only improve their manufacturing processes but also work upstream to review and redefine vehicle design guidelines to avoid such issues surfacing early in the ownership cycle.”

Some key findings of the 2019 study

Among the top 5 problems, 4 were similar to the top 5 in 2018. Excessive wind noise (5.9 PP100) and excessive road noise (2.9 PP100) continued to be the top two most-cited problems. “Built-in Bluetooth Mobile Phone/Device Has Frequent Pairing/Connectivity Issues” became the third most reported problem (2.7 PP100), up from fifth last year (2.5 PP100). Radio problems were fourth this year (2.0 PP100).

Younger car owners cited more problems when responding. Those under 35 years old (57%) indicated more problems than those 35 years or older (91 PP100 vs. 73 PP100, respectively). Younger car owners cited more problems in the features/controls/displays (+4.6 PP100) as well as vehicle interior (+4.5 PP100) categories. Perhaps they have more sensitive hearing?

Among new vehicle owners who did not indicate any problems, 49% said they “definitely will” recommend their brand and model to friends or relatives, compared with 37% for those who had encountered at least one problem with their vehicle. One-third of new vehicle owners who did not experience any problems with their vehicle said they “definitely will” purchase a vehicle from the same brand the next time, compared with 26% of those who experienced at least one problem.

The J.D. Power 2019 Malaysia Initial Quality Study was based on responses from 1,904 new vehicle owners who purchased their vehicles between July 2018 and August 2019. The study, conducted between March and October 2019, included 50 passenger car, pick-up and utility vehicle models of 12 brands.

No more studies in ASEAN after 2019

JD Power has been conducting a series of three studies annually for the past 17 years but will no longer do so after this year. Reorganization sees the regional office in Singapore, which was responsible for the Malaysian market, shutting down. The company, founded in 1968, will focus on business activities in China and Japan from 2020 onwards.


Sales and Production Summary for May 2020

Note: Some companies are reporting on a quarterly basis so the Total volumes for April and May are not finalised.

Source: Malaysian Automotive Association.

♦ After the unprecedented fall in sales for April due to the shutdown of all operations, new vehicle sales rose as activities were allowed to resume in May. However, the JPJ only began registration processes from May 13.

♦ The Total Industry Volume (TIV) rose by 22,819 units, comprising 20,456 passenger vehicles, and 2,504 commercial vehicles (including pick-up trucks).

♦ Cumulative sales after 5 months reached 129,561 units, about half the volume for the same period in 2019.

♦ To achieve the MAA’s revised 400,000-unit forecast for 2019, the industry must sell 270,439 units in the remaining months, or an average of 38,634 units.

♦ Production also rose again but compared to the same month in 2019, the total output was 76% lower.

Source: Malaysian Automotive Association


Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion – GT aerodynamics + SUV space?

The seventh concept car of the Volkswagen ID. family has just been unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show and it’s called the Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion. As the name intended, the vehicle defines a completely new segment by combining aerodynamic properties of a Gran Turismo with the ample space commonly associated with SUVs.

According to Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design, “The new ID. Space Vizzion brings unrivalled flexibility, uncompromising quality and German design to a new era of mobility.  The concept car is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). The 82kWh gross battery capacity allows distances of up to 590km (WLTP) or 300 miles (EPA). With a system output of up to 250kW (4MOTION), the ID. Space Vizzion accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.”

Taking advantage of its full-electric nature, designers and engineers at Volkswagen had more freedom to further optimise the car’s aerodynamic prowess which not only helps with driving stability but also further extending its driving range by reducing drag. Just one look at that front end and you’ll notice its smooth yet stylish façade.

Another major concept of the Space Vizzion is its interior capacity that can be compared to an SUV. VW’s technology in compact electric drives and battery integration within the vehicle has allowed for a longer wheelbase similar to the premium sedan. In other words, the Space Vizzion can go longer and further while carrying loads of cargo and passengers, without using a single drop of fossil fuel.

Other impressive features include:

AppleSkin™ – an artificial leather made with residual material from apple juice production

Fully digitalised cockpit

AR head-up-display (augmented reality).

Floating 15.6-inch touchscreen (infotainment & controls)

The production version of the Space Vizzion will probably make its official debut sometime in 2021. It may be futuristic right now but in a few years’ time, the Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion is the kind of car that you’ll want to be driving around. Stylish, spacious, powerful, and eco-friendly.

Volkswagen Golf R-Line: Fun and practical but is it worth your money?


SDAC-Ford Builds Community Ties with A-FORCE 4×4 Club’s Charity Event

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, recently sponsored the A-FORCE 4×4 Mega Charity Event, held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations at Rumah Caring Kajang in Selangor. As part of its sponsorship, the company donated a LED TV to enrich the lives of the residents at the home.

Besides the contribution, the club offered food, essential items as well as
angpao
 donations to the residents. During the event, residents were also treated to a lion dance performance.

Exemplifying the Ford spirit

“Club members and their activities truly represent the Ford Ranger way of life and persona, which goes beyond just outings and car meets,but also giving back to the community. These passionate owners truly exemplify the Ford spirit of going further to make the world a better place, and we are always delighted to contribute to their on-going efforts,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri bin Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

The Ford
 Go Further
 philosophy is the defining force behind the company’s brand promise of “
We go further so you can
”. It not only drives the brand’s innovations in products and services to make customers’ lives better and going beyond to make those innovations available to everyone. It also reflects the company’s commitment to go further in serving the society while encouraging the same from the brand’s wider community – customers, dealers and employees.

Ford currently has a series of videos called “
Ford Everyday Heroes
” to express the brand promise of ‘
Go Further
’ which showcases how these heroes really do go further to make the world a better place.

Rumah Caring Kajang is a non-profit organisation that looks after the welfare of the needy, and currently houses 32 old folks ranging from age 50 to 95 years old, inclusive of care givers. Persons who wish to donate or volunteer at Rumah Caring Kajang can contact Wendy Yap at 012-2380043 or 03-8737 7680. For more information on the home,
click here
.

Visit

www.sdacford.com.my
 for more information on Ford products, services and activities in Malaysia.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion participates in 14th Ford Global Caring Month


Bentley Batur Begins Real-World Testing Over 10,000 Kms

In August this year,
Bentley unveiled the Batur coupe
, a very exclusive model to be built by Bentley Mulliner and limited to only 18 units, each priced at from £1.65 million (about RM8.9 million). Named after a beautiful lake in Bali, the Batur is the second bespoke project by Bentley Mulliner after the
Bacalar
 and the first customers (all units have already been booked) should start getting their cars in mid-2023..

With development work completed and two prototypes available, real-world testing is now underway to verify the performance after an extensive engineering program. The validation activities, with more than 120 individual tests, include durability for both the engine and whole vehicle, environmental compatibility and sunlight simulation, high speed stability, aerodynamics, noise & vibration, and driving dynamics.

Over 58 weeks of vehicle validation are planned, supplementing 100+ weeks of vehicle development already completed to validate the increased engine power. The first activity for Car #0 is an extensive 2,500-km drive across Europe to simulate real-world conditions. The route leaves Germany and travels through Italy, France and Spain before high-speed testing work is undertaken at proving grounds.

At the proving grounds, there will be 7 weeks of durability work on handling tracks, mixed road conditions, high-speed testing and abusive surface conditions. During all of these activities, data and feedback are collated ensuring the technical targets are being met.

When the proving ground work is complete, another 7,500 kms on public roads will take place. Then comes environmental testing commences where, in just under 4 weeks, the car will endure 600 hours of solar loading – equivalent to 5 years in the desert in Arizona, USA. This is particularly important for the new sustainable materials used in the exterior components, as an alternative to carbonfibre.

By the time the first customer deliveries begin, over 810 unique parts will have completed 160 weeks of testing and development, delivering the ultimate coachbuilt grand tourer.

“There are a number of unique features that bring new challenges,” said Paul Williams, Chief Technical Officer for Bentley Mulliner. “For example, the exterior headlamps are very compact LED units and made to our styling teams challenging proportions, which transforms the exterior appearance of the car but are complex to produce. Even small details such as the angle of the diamond in the front grille representing the cylinder angle in the W12 engine have had to be considered. And even though there will only be 18 Baturs produced, the level of quality has to be identical to every one of the 15,000 cars Bentley is currently producing each year.”

“We’re also working with the most powerful development of the W12 in its 20-year history, which brings an enormous validation programme,” he added. The Batur will also be the most powerful Bentley yet, with a 740+ ps version of the iconic, hand-assembled 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine that has metaphorically and literally powered Bentley’s success for the last 2 decades.

Over 100+ weeks of powertrain development have already been completed to confirm the new air intake system, modified turbochargers, revised intercoolers and new calibrations for the engine gearbox and electronic stability control for the engine.

The engine that was born on a Japanese bullet train

Each Batur will be unique as the 18 customers will be able to specify the colour and finish of practically every surface. From the main exterior paint to the surface finish of the air vents, and literally everything in between, each customer can choose even the tiniest of details. If required, a team of experts from Bentley Mulliner will provide guidance and suggestions.

Car #0, though a development unit, has had the same level of attention to detail as a customer’s own specification. The exterior paintwork is a bespoke colour – Purple Sector – that provides a deep vibrant colour across the curvaceous surfaces. The bodywork is underscored by front splitters, side skirts and rear diffuser in a high gloss natural fibre finish. The ‘endless bonnet’ line is finished in Satin Titanium paint, as are the 22-inch wheels – with the spokes in Gloss and Satin Black Crystal to match the grille.

One small addition customers will not receive that can be seen on Batur Car #0 are the small white arrowheads found at the edges of the body panels. These markers help to provide feedback on panel movement and any form of relaxation whilst the car is undertaking the durability testing.

Using advanced manufacturing techniques, it is possible for tooling investment to be kept to a minimum which drives lower material and energy usage in the manufacturing processes. Pending successful testing, Sustainability plays a key role in the Batur to help drive the development of sustainable features for future generations of coachbuilt Bentley models.

FEATURE – The German engine that was born on a Japanese bullet-train

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Aston Martin DB11 is the first to receive Mercedes-AMG engine

Aston Martin’s DB11 will be the first receipient in the company’s line up of a Mercedes-AMG engine, which is the fruition of the partnership between the German manufacturer and the Gaydon based supercar maker.

Buyers will now be able to order their Aston Martin with either the existing 5.2-litre turbocharged V12 or the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-Benz. The latter weighs about 115kg lighter than the former, which should offer the DB11 better agility especially when meandering through corners. It’s power output is rated at close to 510bhp and 675Nm of torque, which will allow the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 4.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 301km/h.

Speaking of the latest addition, Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer, Max Szwaj, said, “As an engineer I find the DB11 a fascinating car. One with great depth of character and ability. Of course the V12-engined variant is an icon – an ultimate, if you like, but the V8 is very much its own car. One with a distinct and carefully crafted character that’s truly seductive.”

Despite it being a Mercedes-AMG sourced engine, Aston Martin’s engineers have fettled with it and added their own personal touch to ensure that the end result, is a powerplant that fits the needs and demands of a true Aston Martin. The calibration carried out included creating new ECU software and reprogramming the engine and throttle mapping to ensure that it offers and feel and sound that the brand is known for.

Several changes were made to the DB11 in order for the new V8 to fit in perfectly. They include a bespoke air intake, exhaust and wet sump lubrication systems, as well as new engine mounts. Together, they allow the engine to sit as low as possible to optimize the centre of gravity.

Most of the weight is centered within the wheelbase and as a result, should increase the car’s ability to react to sudden changes in steering input. And to fully support this, detailed revisions were made to the suspension bushing, geometry, anti-roll bars, springs, dampers and ESP software.

Looking at the exterior, there subtle design changes that tell it apart from its V12 powered sibling, and they include a unique alloy wheel finish, dark headlamp bezels and a pair of bonnet vents as apposed to the quartet that is featured on the V12 model. The vents are painted in either black or titanium-finish mesh – unique to the V8 variant.

As for the interior, there are no distinctions between the two variants as both get the same stuff, which, depending on what’s chosen, include the Options Pack, Designer Specification packages and a suite of Q by Astion Martin.

These Mercedes-AMG powered DB11 cars should go on sale towards the fourth quarter of this year but, one of them will make an appearance at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.


SDAP Porsche Adds New 718 Cayman SportDesign Series To Its Range! [+Video]

More than two years after making its debut in Malaysia, the
718 Cayman
 has now been treated to a sporty new option package with the introduction of the new
718 Cayman SportDesign Series
 by
Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP).

The series is available exclusively to
15 limited units
, with 5 available in each of the following attractive exterior colours: Racing Yellow, Guards Red, and Carrara White Metallic. Furthermore, the extensive list of options provided as standard includes a number of features designed to immerse the driver and passenger in the full Porsche experience and offers a competitive price advantage for interested buyers. The highly exclusive car will be available for viewing across all Porsche Centres simultaneously.

“The 718 Cayman SportDesign Series is aimed particularly at drivers who appreciate a vehicle that is suitable for everyday use but do not want to sacrifice sportiness,”
 said
Christopher Hunter,
 (above)
 Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Auto Performance.

Design

The 718 Cayman SportDesign Series stands out from the 718 model line not only in terms of performance, but also in its visual design. The result is a subtle carbon fibre design for an extra element of individualisation. The new SportDesign Series also enhances the overall appearance, complemented by the SportDesign Package which has a unique front end with a newly designed front spoiler and rear apron. The contrasting black accents on the door handles and the centrally positioned black tailpipes from the standard sports exhaust system gives the SportDesign Series its contrasting sporty appearance.

LED main headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+) helps to ensure optimum visibility without hindering other road users. At the rear, the three-dimensional design of the taillights incorporating four-spot brake lights leaves a lasting impression. The vehicle rolls on the 20-inch wheels are available in either the Carrera S or Carrera Sport Wheel design. A forged one-piece alloy wheel in high gloss black completes the side view.

Interior

The accented colour of the exterior colour scheme, combined with the carbon decorative and black leather interior package makes the 718 Cayman SportDesign Series even more visually succinct. For an even greater driving experience, the car is equipped with 14-way power seats that include comfort memory foam for the driver and front passenger. To further complement the luxurious interior, a Bose Surround Sound System comes standard with 10 loudspeakers, offers a total output of 505 watts, and provides a sophisticated audio experience of the highest calibre.

Performance

For the ambitious drivers, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is fitted as standard. This lowers the body of the 718 Cayman SportDesign by 10mm and offers for a sportier chassis tuning for greater agility. To further enhance vehicle performance, the Sport Chrono Package and PDK, the 718 Cayman SportDesign Series is able to accelerate from
zero to 100 km/h in just under four seconds
.

The 718 Cayman SportDesign Series is priced at
RM625,000
 and exclusively limited to only 15 units. As with all vehicles sold by Sime Darby Auto Performance, it comes with a four-year warranty and free maintenance package for peace-of-mind ownership. The stated price includes all applicable duties, except registration fee, road tax and insurance. Specifications and prices are subject to change without prior notice.

718 Cayman: combined fuel consumption 7.0 l/100 km, urban 9.1 l/100 km, non-urban 5.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions 160 g/km


Free vehicle inspection at PUSPAKOM, 24 May – 2 June 2019

Raya Aidilfitri is so close right now, we can all smell that rendang and lemang cooking up a storm across the country. PUSPAKOM wants to help you out by providing free voluntary vehicle inspection for all those who wish to check if their vehicles are up to its safety standards for that ‘balik kampung’ journey.

The 10-day period has already started and those interested can just head on over to any of the 54 PUSPAKOM vehicle inspection centres located around Malaysia from now until 2 June 2019 (except for Shah Alam and Pasir Gudang, unless you drive a bus or lorry).

There are also mobile inspection teams going around town to provide free inspections at several locations which are:

Pasar Awam Berapit, Pulau Pinang & AEON Mall Nilai (26 May 2019)

BHP Petrol, Karak (27 May 2019)

Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Putrajaya (28 May 2019)

Petronas Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu (28-29 May 2019)

Unisel Bestari Jaya, Selangor (29 May 2019)

Wisma DRB-HICOM, Shah Alam (30 May 2019)

PUSPAKOM is running this campaign free of charge in order to raise awareness about vehicle health to the owners. According to their findings, around 51% of private vehicles that were sent for voluntary vehicle inspections held previously did not meet company’s fixed inspection standards.

The most worrying out all the standard failures or parts of the car that weren’t functioning optimally were the brakes (35% failure rate), side slip test (30% failure rate), and emissions (10% failure rate).

Other inspections included in the campaign are tyres, side slip, suspension, emission, chassis, window tint, plus many more. For each vehicle sent for inspection during the campaign period, PUSPAKOM will donate RM2 to their charity of choice to help lower the burden during this special time of year.

To know more, head over to
www.puspakom.com.my
 or check out their official Facebook page. Don’t worry, they won’t summon you if your car is not up to safety standards. They just want to help you if there’s anything wrong and you can get the right things fixed without comprising safety (and also to avoid getting cheated at workshops).


Gone in 33 days!

To know about other promotions, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.m
y
.

Those who have driven the new
Toyota GR Yaris
 have nothing but praises for it, impressed by its  handling and power. It’s a ‘
Homologation Special’
 which means it’s ready to be used for international motorsports competition – mainly rallies – right out of the showroom.

To satisfy homologation requirements by the FIA (the body which governs international motorsports), a manufacturer must produce at least 25,000 units of the model in identical form. Toyota, with its resources and also the enthusiastic support of a President who is a racing driver, decided to do this, and enthusiasts around the world have been delighted.

Related:
What is a Homologation Special?

The 25,000 units are built at the same plant that made the Lexus LFA and exported globally for sale. The exceptional  demand for the GR Yaris has also been evident in some countries. In  Australia, for example, 1,000 units were sold within just one week.

For the Malaysian market, less than 200 units were imported by UMW Toyota Motor and they are now all sold out.

Development of the GR Yaris has used all the experience gained from competing in the World Rally Championship.

Potential great for Malaysian market

“When we were informed of the new Toyota GR Yaris by Toyota Motor Corporation, we knew it would  have great potential in the Malaysian market, especially with the increasing motorsport and  motorsport-related activities organized by UMW Toyota Motor,” said Ravindran K., President of  UMW Toyota Motor.

“The enthusiastic fans were eagerly awaiting the launch of the model and wasted no time booking  one right after we launched the car on December 17, 2020. And now, just over a month since its  launch, we received such overwhelming response. We thank customers for their enthusiastic support,” he said.

The world’s most powerful 3-cylinder engine (261 bhp/360 Nm) and the lightest and smallest 1.6-litre turbo unit currently in production. It comes only with a 6-speed manual transmission and the new GR-Four 4-wheel drive system.

Available only from exclusive dealers

Priced from RM286,896 (excluding insurance, roadtax and sales tax exemption), the GR Yaris has been offered only through a limited number of dealerships in Malaysia which have the GR Garage. This is a dedicated sales channel for GR products such as the
GR Supra
,
GR Yaris
 and
Vios GR-Sport
 as well as performance items.

Explaining the GR brand, Akio Takeyama, UMW Toyota Motor’s Deputy Chairman and GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, said: “The GR brand harnesses the experience gained by pushing the limits in motorsport and applies it to  a whole new generation of high-performance cars from Toyota. The result is models like the GR Yaris that are fine examples of how we are making ever-better cars  that are rewarding and fun to drive. Further to that, we are also more than pleased that we will be introducing even more GR models to the in the near future.”

Will there by additional units?

While each of the units imported to date now has an owner, there is a hint that some more might be available as Mr. Ravindran suggested that ‘keen parties continue to register their interest with our GR Garage Dealers nationwide’.

For information on the GR Garage network and GR products, visit
toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/gr garage/
.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches THREE new SUVs! From RM913,888

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has recently launched three brand new high-performance SUVs for the Malaysian market. These three models are none other than the highly-anticipated
Mercedes-AMG G 63, Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe 4MATIC+
.

Starting with the
Mercedes-AMG G 63
 aka “The Godfather of SUVs”, this off-road beauty packs quite a punch based on what’s available under that stylish and boxy facade. Equipped with a one-man-one-engine AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo power plant, the G 63 generates a whopping 585hp at 5,500rpm and 850Nm of maximum torque from 2,000rpm!

These numbers are able to propel the G 63 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds from a standstill. Push it to the maximum and you’ll find yourself flying at its top speed of 240km/h. Not bad at all considering that this baby can basically travel in all types of road conditions with its multitude of selectable driving modes.

According to Mark Raine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, “The G-Class, a vehicle that is truly stronger than time, iconic and legendary but timeless at the same time. The G 63 reinforces its position as an off-road vehicle with a powerful on-road performance through the AMG 4-litre V8 biturbo with that unmistakable symphonic sound.”

Exterior wise, the unmistakable design features give the new AMG G 63 its unique appearance: the boxy silhouette, the proud bonnet, external door hinges, round headlamps, mounted direction indicators, robust door handles, muscular protective strips with inserts in high-gloss black with a silver AMG emblem, the exposed spare wheel on the rear door with a stainless steel cover and three-pointed star.

The front section of the G 63 is characterised by the AMG-specific radiator grille and the AMG bumper with large side air inlets and trim in matt iridium silver. The headlamps, indicators and tail lights are in LED High-Performance technology as standard. This lighting consumes less energy and has a particularly long service life.

As for the transmission package, the G 63 comes with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G that has a model-specific software application to achieve very short shift times. The multiple downshift function allows more spontaneous bursts of speed, while the double-declutching function in “Sport” and “Sport Plus” transmission modes makes for an even ‘more emotional driving experience’.

Coupled with the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive and Dynamic Select driving modes, the G 63 offers a wide range of dynamic driving, especially with the presence front axle which has an independent, double wishbone suspension plus a rigid rear axle with a five-link suspension to handle basically anything thrown in its path.

There are five DYNAMIC SELECT on-road modes “Slippery”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport+” and “Individual” plus three off-road modes which are “Sand”, “Trail” and “Rock”. All the driving modes, both On Road and Off Road, are visualised in the instrument cluster and in the central media display. De-selection of all the locks returns the setting to the on-road driving modes.

Moving towards the other two models launched last night are the
Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe 4MATIC+
. The new GLC 63 S series also placed themselves as two of the highest-performing SUVs in the market thanks to their AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine that churns out an exhilarating 510hp and 700Nm of torque.

“The Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S & GLC 63 S Coupe are two high-performance cars in an SUV skin making them powerful predators in their element, in any terrain. They exude an aura of athletic dynamism and sheer power coupled with overwhelming traction and driving dynamics. These two are all about appearance, features, performance, and sound,” added Mark Raine.

We’re talking 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 270km/h! The new GLC 63 4MATIC+ and GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ also feature the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed transmission, which made its debut in the Mercedes-AMG E 63 4MATIC+.

There are four AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs which are “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual” that allow the driver to basically tackle any road conditions with ease and confidence. These driving modes will automatically alter the state of the vehicle such as the response of engine, transmission, suspension, steering, ESP®, and all-wheel drive. (There’s also a manual mode if you’re feeling a little bit ‘frisky’.)

As for looks, the new GLC 63 4MATIC+ series is will definitely turn heads when they come rolling into town. The biggest eye-catcher is the featured Panamericana grille which was only previously available exclusively for the AMG GT sports car family.

This design statement affirms the consistently dynamic design of the new Performance SUV and Coupé. A wide front apron inspired by the design of a jet wing, with a large front splitter, impressively embodies the power of the new models. By dispensing with a fine-meshed grille, it gives a view of the cooling technology – a typical attribute from the world of motorsport and a further differentiation from the other GLC models. Wider wheel arch claddings at front and rear lend emphasis to the muscular looks.

With the AMG Night package in high-gloss black enhances the racing-inspired looks, complemented by the matte black 21-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels. The racing feel is also reflected in the interior. The sports seats are upholstered in Nappa leather and ARTICO man-made leather in black Nappa for the dashboard and beltlines, as well as the red design seat belts.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has priced the new SUVs as follow (price inclusive SST):

Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC –
RM915,888.00*

Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Coupe 4MATIC –
RM933,888.00*

Mercedes-AMG G 63 –
RM1,464,888.00*

To know more, head over to
www.mercedes-benz.com.my
.


Peugeot introduce L750 R Hybrid racer for Gran Turismo Sport

Peugeot and Peugeot Sport have joined forces to produce a sleek concept vehicle called the L750 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turismo. This is the follow up racer to the L500 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turismo, which was introduced last year for the Playstation virtual world.

The L750 R HYbrid Vision Gran Turism has been launched alongside the release of the latest PlayStation®4 Gran Turismo Sport video game. It features an angular designed body that tapers toward the rear to form a wedged-like nose.

It’s an extremely low-slung design that looks unlike anything else that the French automaker has ever produced. And though its destined to remain in the virtual PlayStation realm, it would look just as awesome had it been made for real.

Peugeot says that the vehicle benefits from the company’s expertise in performance and ultra-efficient engine designs. Under the hood is a petrol engine that produces nearly 580bhp at 10,000rpm, which is assisted by a 170bhp electric motor.

Belle détermination ! La bataille fait rage. Go, go, go ! ??
#PeugeotSocialRace

pic.twitter.com/NydAwtuua5

— Peugeot (@Peugeot)
October 10, 2017

You're catching up very fast! You're having an amazing race! ?
#PeugeotSocialRace

pic.twitter.com/XaxOsrEAKm

— Peugeot (@Peugeot)
October 10, 2017

This 750bhp super sleek racer is said to come with a whole host of innovative features. They include dual-circuit hydraulic braking system and four ventilated carbon discs as well as independent front and rear suspensions which vary the ride height according to the car’s speed.

It has a carbon-fibre structure meaning the L750 R weighs a mere 825kg, which is about 175kg lighter than its predecessor. Meant to be an absolute powerhouse, this new vehicle is available to drive in the Playstation 4 exclusive game, Gran Turismo Sport, which should be made available for purchase this month.

Until then, check out the picture gallery below to view the most outrageous cars that will be made available in the upcoming game. Gran Turismo Sport is said to feature some of the most realistic graphics and particle physics of any racing simulation game. The textures and 3d modelling look almost life-like, which is a major selling point for the game’s producers.


One-off Bentley Continental GT Azure Created As Tribute To R Type Continental

A 70-year old Bentley with the registration JAS 949 has been a special car among Bentley models. It was one of only 208 units of the R Type Continental ever built – but the car had a greater impact than the limited numbers suggest. Quoted as ‘a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances’, the R-Type Continental was the fastest 4-seat luxury sedan in the world when it debuted in 1952.

The first owner of JAS 949 was a Dr. Rowland Guenin in Switzerland, who received his car in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with a Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today along with the original 4.6-litre engine.

In 2001, Bentley acquired JAS 949 and made it one of the models in the company’s 43-car Heritage Collection kept at the Heritage Garage in Crewe, where Bentley has its factory. It has been well maintained with the patina preserved and the car is driven on the road on a regular basis.

One-off model
As a tribute to this significant model, the new Continental GT Azure has been curated as a unique and one-off model, celebrating the elegance and timeless design directly descended from the R-Type Continental.

Using Mulliner’s Personal Commissioning Guide to recreate the closest specification for the modern interpretation of JAS 949, the Continental GT V8 Azure has been hand painted in Old English White. This is a faithful re-creation of the heritage paint colour that dates back to the 1950s.

As per the muse, the Continental GT is fitted with bright chrome (including the matrix grille). While JAS 949 rolled on 16-inch wheels, today’s Continental GT has 22-inch hand-finished wheels, in a black and polished finish as per the original.

Original colours
Inside the beautiful cabin, Cricket Ball leather can be seen throughout providing a cosseting, deep and rich heritage feel for the driver and passengers and mirroring the hide colour of JAS 949. To provide contrast and to preserve the design lines of the cabin, hand-applied piping in Beluga leather brings accents to the seats.

Through Bentley’s renowned craftsmanship, cross banding inlays are still available today. Reflecting the interior details of JAS 949, the cross banding of the Continental GT uses Australian straight grain veneer with a boxwood inlay, enhanced with a Bentley Mulliner overlay in a rich gold. The finishing touches of the silhouette of the R-Type Continental have been added to the fascia veneer and interior treadplates to complete the cabin.

The Original R-Type Continental
The development of the R-Type Continental in the 1950s set a template that continues to inspire Bentley designers. To keep down to the target weight, coachbuilders HJ Mulliner crafted the bodywork, window frames, windscreen surround, backlight, seat frames and bumpers in aluminium. Even at a lower weight, tyre choice was critical; no standard road tyre existed which could carry a 2-ton car at speeds in excess of 185 km/h, and Dunlop Medium Distance Track tyres were specified.

The power of the 4566 cc, 6-cylinder in-line engine was raised from 140 to 153 bhp. It had a pushrod overhead inlet, side exhaust valve design, cast iron block, aluminium cylinder head and Zenith downdraft carburettor. The transmission was given a higher final drive ratio.

Bentley Residences In Miami To Have Car-lifts To Bring Your Car Up To Your Apartment


The Coachbuilt 2021 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail

Recently, Rolls-Royce announced that it has
re-established its Coachbuild department
 which will offer customers a totally exclusive car of their own, well beyond the personalisation available from its Bespoke services. The Coachbuild department brings back a lost art and science of making cars which goes back to the earliest years of the motorcar, before mass production began in factories.

The carmaker must have been talking to some customers about this new development for some time as they already have a coachbuilt model to show. It has been commissioned by a customer and is known as the ‘Boat Tail’.

“Today marks a seminal moment for the House of Rolls-Royce. We are proud to unveil Rolls-Royce Boat Tail to the world, and with it, the confirmation of coachbuilding as a permanent fixture within our future portfolio. Historically, coachbuilding had been an integral part of the Rolls-Royce story. In the contemporary Rolls-Royce narrative, it has informed our guiding philosophy of Bespoke. But it is so much more. Rolls-Royce Coachbuild is a return to the very roots of our brand. It represents an opportunity for the select few to participate in the creation of utterly unique and truly personal commissions of future historical significance. This is authentic luxury. This is contemporary patronage in its truest form. This is Rolls-Royce Coachbuild,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, at the presentation this afternoon in England.

Sweptail demonstrated coachbuilding expertise

The Sweptail, presented in 2017 as a demonstration of the coachbuilding expertise of Rolls-Royce attracted the attention of a number of customers. They approached the company to discover if they too could collaborate on a unique commission. The company was agreeable and this was the genesis of a permanent contemporary Coachbuild department at Rolls-Royce.

2017 Rolls-Royce Sweptail

Within this group, it emerged that three potential customers shared a deep appreciation of contemporary nautical design. J-Class yachts were often referenced as points of inspiration, both for their purity of form and their requirement for hand-craftsmanship at the highest level to bring them into existence.

Customer-led creative expression

This customer-led creative expression established the contemporary expression of the Boat Tail typology, where coachbuilders would graft the hull forms of sailing boats onto the rolling chassis of a Rolls-Royce. When the idea of this design direction was proposed, the three customers made a single demand: “Show me something that I have never seen before.”

In consultation with the customers concerned, an agreement was reached whereby three cars would share a common body, but each would then be individually, highly personalised, reflecting the confluence between vision, capability and ambition of the marque and each of the individual commissioning patrons.

New realms of design opportunity

The manual techniques of coachbuilding offer new realms of design opportunity. Once the preliminary design proposal is penned by hand, the discovery of the form is enabled with a full-sized sculpture in clay, allowing hand-crafted manipulation of the expansive surfaces to perfect its shape.

Employing age-old individual hand skills and craft, a living canvas is created from metal–honing and optimising the aluminium body, creating a clarity of surface and continuation of line that is unable to be achieved by machine alone. The process is akin to yacht building with the process of hand-refinement repeated almost endlessly, without the pressure of time.

Who are the customers?

The first Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, unveiled today, is a curation of exceptional thoughts, concepts and items, which culminate to form the customer’s perfect experience. The commissioning customers of this unit are a globally successful couple and their desire was to create a response to a life of hard work, success achieved, and celebration required.

Their fascination of the Boat Tail form was furthered by a motorcar in their private collection – a 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, lovingly restored by them, in time for their modern Boat Tail’s completion. Thus this creation tells the romantic tale of Rolls-Royce’s history, echoing a Boat Tail design but not explicitly mimicking it, fusing an historical body type with a thoroughly contemporary design.

The visual connection to boats

While much of the car, almost 5.9 metres long, has all the elements of a modern Rolls-Royce, it is at the rear where the nautical references are apparent. The ‘aft deck’, a modern interpretation of the wooden rear decks of historical Boat Tails, incorporates large swathes of wood. Caleidolegno veneer is applied in a feat of Rolls-Royce engineering; the grey and black material which is typically housed in the interior, has been specially adapted to be used on the exterior, with no compromise to the aesthetic.

From the rear, one perceives a strong graphical composition marked by further horizontal emphasis, accentuating Boat Tail’s great width. An explicit architectural influence is discovered in the Boat Tail’s unconventional fixed-canopy roof. Adding to the sculptural form, the sweeping roofline concludes in delicate structural elements that touch down on the rear, redolent of flying buttresses. Of course, if rainy weather is encountered while the roof is removed, a temporary tonneau is stowed for static transitory shelter.

Blue bodywork and elements

The exterior of Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is swathed in a rich and complex tone of the customers’ favourite colour – blue. The hue, with an overt nautical connotation, is subtle when in shadows but in sunlight, embedded metallic and crystal flakes bring a vibrant and energetic aura to the finish. To ensure the smoothest possible application when rendering the exterior, a finger was run over the definitive body line before the paint had fully dried to soften its edges.

The wheels are also finished in bright blue, highly polished and clear coated to add to the Boat Tail’s celebratory character. A hand-painted, gradated bonnet, a first for Rolls-Royce, rises from a comparatively subdued deeper blue which cascades onto the grille, providing a progressive but informal aesthetic and a solidity of overall volume when viewed from the front.

The interior leather reflects the bonnet’s colour tone transition with the front seats swathed in the darker blue hue, recognising the Boat Tail’s driver focused intent, while the rear seats are finished in the lighter tone. A soft metallic sheen is applied to the leather to accentuate its pairing with the painted exterior while detailed stitching and piping is applied in a more intense blue inspired by the hands of the car’s timepieces.

The fascia is distilled in its appearance, purposefully reduced to provide a modern aesthetic. This minimalist canvas accentuates the jewel like features of the completely unique BOVET 1822 timepieces specifically commissioned by the customer for the Boat Tail. As collecting pens is another of the customers’ great passions, a particularly cherished Montblanc pen will reside in a discretely placed, hand-crafted, case of aluminium and leather, in the glovebox.

“This car should mark a sense of occasion and serve that occasion like nothing else”. Such was the brief of the customers. In response and in reflection of their character, the rear deck  inconspicuously houses a highly ambitious concept never seen before in the automotive world. At the press of a button, the deck opens in a sweeping butterfly gesture, to reveal an intricate and generous hosting suite. Its complex movement was inspired by cantilever concepts explored by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.

Unique rear compartment

The chest contains all that is required for a true Rolls-Royce al fresco dining experience – one side dedicated to aperitifs, the other, cuisine, complete with cutlery engraved with the name ‘Boat Tail’. A double refrigerator has been developed to house the customers’ favourite champagne, with elegant cradles created to stow the specific bottle size within the refrigerator, the surrounds are highly polished and colour matched to the bottle.

A classic design element of contemporary Rolls-Royce motor cars is the stowage of Rolls-Royce umbrellas in the doors, in anticipation of possible bad weather. In a delightful twist and to heighten the languid experience of the Boat Tail, a unique parasol is housed beneath the rear centreline in anticipation of fine weather. A telescopic movement opens this beautiful and whimsical canopy inversely, ensuring effortless deployment.

Cocktail tables, which elegantly rotate to mimic the offering of an attendant, open on either side of the hosting suite providing access to two highly contemporary minimalist stools, which are discretely stowed below. Designed by Rolls-Royce and created by Italian furniture-maker Promemoria, the slim-line interlocking stools are formed from the same technical fibre found on the exterior of the car.

“Boat Tail is the culmination of collaboration, ambition, endeavour, and time. It was born from a desire to celebrate success and create a lasting legacy. In its remarkable realisation, Rolls-Royce Boat Tail forges a pivotal moment in our marque’s history and in the contemporary luxury landscape,” said Muller-Otvos.

Rolls-Royce re-establishes its Coachbuild department to go beyond Bespoke


ENYAQ Coupe iV is Skoda’s first fully electric model to get vRS badge

‘vRS’ is to Skoda what GTI would be to Volkswagen, the designation for high-performance versions of the various models of the Czech carmaker. The vRS story began in 2001 with the Octavia getting a 178 bhp 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, the most powerful road-legal Skoda ever offered when it was launched. It had credible performance and from that model, Skoda engineers began to always develop an extra-hot version of each model range deserving of the vRS badge.

Actually, Skoda had initially wanted to use ‘RS’ as the designation, the two letters referring to ‘Rally Sport’ which the carmaker had participated in since the 1960s. However, in the UK, they had a problem as Ford felt its RS models were already well established and did not want another manufacturer confusing customers. So rather than fight over the matter, Skoda decided to add a ‘v’ (for ‘victory’) to the RS and thus the ‘vRS’ badge was born. However, in many markets, the badge is more distinctly shown as ‘RS’ and the model also referred to as ‘RS’.

Octavia was first model to have the vRS badge in 2001.

Over the years, impression vRS models have appeared in showrooms, with the first performance SUV from the brand being the Kodiaq vRS in 2019, and it had a 235-bhp twin-turbo diesel engine. This July, Skoda will launch its first all-electric model to have the vRS badge – the ENYAQ Coupe iV vRS.

Like the ENYAQ iV SUV, the new ENYAQ Coupe iV vRS also use the Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular platform developed specially for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The ENYAQ iV models are the first modern-day Skoda vehicles with a rear motor and rear-wheel drive/dual-motor and all-wheel drive.

The ENYAQ Coupé iV vRS is powered by an 82 kWh lithium-ion battery pack providing electricity to the electric motors at the front and rear axles. The system output is 299 ps with maximum torque rated at 460 Nm and available virtually from standstill. This will give a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of almost 180 km/h.

A range of almost 500 kms is claimed on a fully charged battery pack. The system is able to accept rapid charging at levels up to 135 kW, which will enable an 80% charge to be achieved within 36 minutes (depending on charging level). On a standard 7.2 kW home wallbox, however, the time to fully recharge will be around 13 hours if the battery pack is completely empty.

As would be expected with the vRS badge on it, the ENYAQ Coupe iV has a sporty appearance with gloss black surrounds for the grille, window trim and rear diffuser. Badges, tailgate lettering and the air curtain trim on the front apron are also finished in black, while the rear bumper adds a full-length red reflector – a design feature shared will all other vRS models.

Specific to the vRS version are black 20-inch Taurus wheels as standard with 21-inch Vision wheels with an anthracite finish available as an option. Both feature aerodynamically optimized plastic Aero trims. Full LED matrix headlights and Crystal Face (illuminated by 131 LEDs) complete the vRS model’s exterior design package.

Inside, the ENYAQ Coupe iV vRS is fitted with a model-specific Design Selection exclusively reserved for the sporting flagship of the range. In addition to black perforated leather sports seats with integrated headrests, grey piping and contrast stitching, the vRS also gets a leather multifunction sports steering wheel. The dashboard is upholstered in a leather-look material to match the seats and is edged with contrast stitching.

Standard equipment includes carbonfibre effect inserts on the dashboard and door trim and aluminium pedals, plus LED ambient lighting and an electrically operated boot with virtual pedal. To further enhance the responsive driving experience, Dynamic Steering is standard, complementing the sports chassis that is 15 mm lower at the front and 10 mm at the rear.


TRUCKS: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Launches All-New Triton 4×4! All You Need To Know

IT’S HERE! Following its maiden appearance at the
KL International Motorshow 2018
,
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia
 has officially launched the all-new
Triton 4×4
! Boasting incredibly unique front looks, which Mitsubishi calls the
“Dynamic Shield”
 design, the new Triton is available in
5 variants
 including a 6-speed manual. Here’s the official price list:

5 Things you need to know about the new Mitsubishi Triton 4×4…

It’s the
 6th Generation
 Triton, having first debuted in 1978.

Both the Auto & Manual are
6-Speed
.

The 2,442cc Common-rail MIVEC Turbo-diesel VVT engine is used in all 5 variants,
181Ps
&
 430Nm
 torque.

It has a form of selectable
Terrain-Response
 that adapts to Sand, Mud, Gravel & Rock surfaces, and
HDC
.

It has
7-Airbags, Forward Collision Mitigation, BLIS + Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Mis-Acceleration Management,
and
 Auto High-Beam Assist.

Stay tuned for the full review coming soon! In the meantime here’s the official full PRESS RELEASE on the new Triton from MMM!

New Mitsubishi Triton Officially Launched in Malaysia –
Five variants with prices starting from RM100k

Kuala Lumpur, 30 Jan 2019
 – Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, is pleased to announce the official launch of the new Mitsubishi Triton today.

The new Triton is priced from RM100k and available with a choice of five variants and four colours.

Variant

Price (RM)

Colour

Triton Adventure X

135,200.00

White Diamond, Jet Black Mica

Triton AT Premium

118,600.00

White Diamond, Graphite Gray

Triton MT Premium

112,500.00

White Diamond, Graphite Gray

Triton AT

105,990.00

White Diamond, Sterling Silver

Triton MT

100,200.00

White Diamond, Sterling Silver

Prices are quoted on-the-road without insurance (10% SST inclusive) for individual private owners only in Peninsular Malaysia and not applicable in duty free zones.

Speaking at the launch of the Triton,
Tomoyuki Shinnishi, CEO of MMM
, said
“Pick-up trucks are the foundation of Mitsubishi Motors and the company has been producing pick-ups since 1978. Over 40 years, much experience has been gained not only in engineering reliable and durable vehicles but also understanding the needs of diverse customers. As such, Mitsubishi Motors has been able to keep improving the vehicles and today, we are proud to introduce the new Mitsubishi Triton as the fifth generation of a successful line of pick-up trucks.”

Shinnishi said that the company is confident this new model will be well received and accelerate the momentum of growth for MMM. The sales target for this year of 600 units a month and is expected to see an increase of 28% in Triton sales.

“With the concept of ‘Engineered Beyond Tough’, the project team strived to offer a vehicle which would be trend-setting, tough and safe. Besides drawing on 40 years of experience in developing pick-up trucks that are durable, reliable and comfortable, the new Triton adopted four pillars under the
4Sure Handling
 USPs:
4Sure Power; 4Sure Control; 4Sure Agility; 4Sure Safety
. With these four pillars, customers are assured of a vehicle that is built to high standards and performance,”
 explained Mr. Shinnishi.

4Sure Power:
 The new Triton is powered by the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine with aluminum block for optimum performance and efficiency. The strong output of 181 PS of power and 430 Nm of torque is delivered to four wheels through a new 6-speed automatic transmission has also been added to improve driving efficiency and flexibility as well as providing seamless shifting.

4Sure Control:
 The new Triton is equipped with Mitsubishi Motor’s Super-Select 4WD II system, developed with decades of experience in off-road competition such as the Dakar Rally. The intelligent and robust system delivers optimum traction and handling characteristics over all surfaces. The Super-Select 4WD II system has a new Off-road Mode increased capability in different off-road conditions such as gravel, mud, sand and rock. When engaged, Off-road Mode regulates engine power, transmission and braking for optimum wheel traction in various terrains conditions. Additionally, Hill Descent Control automatically applies brakes on downhill terrain, allowing the driver to focus on steering operations.

4Sure Agility:
 Although the Triton is long and large, the iconic J-Line design enables exceptional manoeuvrability, especially with a best-in-class turning radius of 5.9 metres. This allows it to have better agility on the road as well as being able to get around tight off-road situations and during parking. The J-Line design makes it possible for such manoeuvrability without compromising on cabin space or load space.

4Sure Safety:
 The new Triton has a high-durability, high-reliability ladder-type frame and high impact safety cabin structure to provide the occupants with the best possible protection during an accident. This is complemented by class-leading advanced active safety and driver assistance systems that include Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), which can detect vehicles and pedestrians ahead; Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), which helps avoid colliding with another vehicle when changing lanes by detecting vehicles behind or at the rear quarter and alerting the driver with an audible alert and flashing light in the left or right door mirrors.

An Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) is now fitted to help reduce accidents resulting from improper use of the accelerator when moving off or reversing in carparks and other confined spaces. This system sounds a buzzer and displays a warning if front or rear sensors detect a nearby obstacle. Engine output is also automatically controlled if the driver suddenly accelerates during such situation.

Also helping to enhance safety is Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which helps avoid collisions when reversing by scanning the area on either side. If a vehicle is detected approaching, the driver will be alerted to take appropriate action. As before, a rearview camera is also provided which gives a view of the area directly behind the vehicle.

For convenience and added safety, the new Triton has an Auto High Beam system. The camera sensor detects oncoming vehicles and automatically switches to low beams so as not to dazzle other drivers. This allows the high beams to operate automatically for better illumination of the road at night.

The new Triton incorporates the latest evolution of Mitsubishi Motors Dynamic Shield design language. Fronting the newly sculpted body is a more powerful and imposing front face with a high bonnet line and bolder lamp designs. The lights and bumper elements contribute to the tough image while also adding visual width.

While retaining some of the original styling cues that made the previous generation a trendsetter among pick-ups, the designers have added body curves with contrasting sharp lines, extended wheel flares and bright accents that embody the strength of a Mitsubishi Motors pick-up truck and add modernity.

As with the exterior, the interior restyling also follows the theme of ‘Engineered beyond Tough’, with a sporty and modern feel. A sense of high quality will be felt with additional soft padding in seating areas such as the armrest and knee pads, with double stitching for a more premium appearance. In addition, the new Triton’s interior adds on Rear Smartphone Charger and Storage as well as Air Circulator with Individual Vents.

The new Triton is imported to Malaysia as a Completely Built-Up (CBU) vehicle from Mitsubishi Motors’ global production hub in Thailand. It is the only pick-up truck (up to 2.4-litre category in Malaysian market) with a 200,000 km or 5 years warranty for ultimate peace of mind driving. As an introductory offer to celebrate the launch of the all-new Triton, the first 1,000 customers will receive an exclusive limited edition
Thule Subterra Luggage worth RM2,000.

The Triton 4×4 pick-up truck are imported as CBU (Completely Built-Up) units from Thailand while  the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander are locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia.

Mitsubishi Triton 4×4 Photo Gallery…


Receive Up To RM200 By Purchasing Goodyear’s Assurance ComfortTred Tyres

Goodyear Malaysia has introduced its newest exciting promotion delivering up to RM200 Touch ‘n Go eWallet credit with the purchase of four units of
Assurance ComfortTred
 tyres. In addition to thanking consumers for prioritising a safe driving experience without sacrificing performance, this promotion is a part of the company’s efforts to offer Malaysians top-quality, cosy, and quiet tyres.

Customers can purchase Goodyear Assurance ComfortTred tyres from any participating Goodyear retailers or from the official Lazada and Shopee stores for Goodyear Malaysia. The promotion is valid from now through June 30, 2023.

The managing director of Goodyear Malaysia, Alex Ng, stated, “At Goodyear, we are dedicated to giving our clients the greatest tyre products. We recognise the value of having a safe, peaceful, and comfortable driving experience, and we want to make it simpler for Malaysians to get their hands on our high-quality goods that feature cutting-edge tyre technology. This campaign is how we give back to our clients and guarantee their on-the-road security.”

The Goodyear Assurance ComfortTred tyres, which will be on sale in November 2022, are intended to offer a smooth, quiet ride made possible by its AANX™ Technology, as well as maximum safety and performance. Customers now have access to even more benefits from their transactions thanks to the additional Touch ‘n Go eWallet credit reward.

Additionally, customers can sign up for the Worry Free Assurance (WFA) Warranty when they buy tyres. This warranty provides a five-year warranty for any manufacturing defects of the purchased tyres as well as a one-year road hazard warranty to protect customers from damage caused by road hazards.

Customers can follow these simple steps to participate in the limited-time promotion:


Next Generation Ranger Set To Debut At The End of This Month!

An all-new next generation of the Ford Ranger makes its debut in Malaysia at the end of this month. Already being progressively introduced around the world, this is the smartest, most versatile and most capable Ranger to be introduced and will once again redefine the segment as a lifestyle vehicle for work, family and play – just like the first Ranger in the late 1990s.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, will start off with localised introductions of the next-generation Ranger in 5 regions (including East Malaysia) over 5 weekends from July 22, 2022, ahead of its nationwide availability.

Those who want to get the first look can
sign up here
 to receive regular updates and exclusive debut invitations. Attendees will receive an in-depth product presentation and walk-around of the vehicle as well as be able to talk to a sales consultant and place bookings.

Everything about this next-generation Ford Ranger is new as it has been redesigned from the ground up. As with every Ford vehicle, the new Ranger is Built Ford Tough and has been developed and tested over millions of kilometres in the toughest conditions on the planet.

For this new model, the design team looked at the much larger F-150 truck – one of the best-selling vehicles in the world – and also considered the iconic features that have evolved with the Ranger over the years. The bold looks are maintained, with evolutionary changes in the surface treatments that are stronger and more muscular for added distinctiveness.

As the smartest, most versatile and most capable Ranger ever, the next-generation Ranger is an even more desirable and trusted partner for work or for play… or both. It offers a refined interior with premium comfort, advanced technologies and safety features that keep it in a leadership position among pick-up trucks.

“Ranger customers are proud makers and doers who value a well-rounded quality of life. The next-generation Ranger is exactly the vehicle these customers need to Live the Ranger Life – to take control of their work, fearlessly explore the places they like to play and strengthen connections with family, community and other like-minded individuals,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford.

Once they have joined the Ranger family, owners can join the Ford Ranger Getaways – an immersive Live the Ranger Life experience. This community-based adventure platform brings to life the unique experience of Living the Ranger Life through a series of handpicked local adventures. Like-minded individuals who are part of the Ford Inner Circle can gather to build kinships while enjoying the versatility, capability and full potential of their Rangers across all variants.

Ranger owners can choose from a range of getaways, including off-roading courses to test the limits of their vehicles, becoming a pilot for a day, enjoying a leisurely day with nature or relaxing during a simple retreat with family.

To find out more about other fun and exciting outings and to book a special Ford Ranger Getaways
visit here
.

For more information about the next-generation Ranger, SDAC and Ford, follow the Ford Malaysia Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channel or visit
www.sdacford.com.my
.


First fully electric production Volvo model to be launched next month (w/VIDEO)

‘Electrification’ has been a buzzword in the auto industry over the past few years as carmakers have announced plans for the next decade. Tightening emission regulations have forced them to accelerate solutions which largely use electrification of powertrains, either as hybrids or as fully electric.

Volvo Cars was one of the early companies to make progress in its electrification program, introducing its first model with a hybrid powertrain 7 years ago (in a V60 model). Since then, it has focussed on electrified models while developing a fully electric powertrain which will be unveiled next month.

New model will highlight safety leadership

This all-new powertrain will be used in the XC40 SUV (to be called the XC40 Recharge) and while the company is not talking about the powertrain at this time, it is highlighting the safety of the car’s design and engineering. Despite a fresh set of challenges presented by the absence of an internal combustion engine, Volvo once again lives up to its well known reputation for safety leadership.

“Regardless of what drives a car forward, be it an electric motor or combustion engine, a Volvo must be safe,” said Malin Ekholm, Head of Safety at Volvo Cars. “The fully electric XC40 will be one of the safest cars we have ever built.”

While building on the superior safety standards of the original XC40, the safety engineers had to completely redesign and reinforce the frontal structure to deal with the absence of an engine, meet Volvo Cars’ high safety requirements and help protect the occupants as well as in any other Volvo.

“The fundamentals around safety are the same for this car as for any other Volvo. People are inside, and the car needs to be designed to be safe for them,” said Ekholm.

Structural redesign

To help keep passengers safe and the battery intact in the event of a collision, there is a new and unique safety structure for passengers and battery alike in the XC40. The battery is protected by a safety cage which consists of a frame of extruded aluminium and is embedded in the middle of the car’s body structure, creating a built-in crumple zone around the battery. The battery’s placement in the floor of the car also has the benefit of lowering the centre of gravity of the car, for better protection against roll-overs.

Meanwhile, the car’s body structure has not just been reinforced in the front but also at the rear. Here, the electric powertrain has been integrated in the body structure to realise a better distribution of collision forces away from the cabin and reduce the strain on people inside the car.

New Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

In terms of active safety systems, the XC40 Recharge also introduces new technology. It is the first Volvo model equipped with a new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) sensor platform with software developed by Zenuity, the joint venture company owned by Volvo Cars and Veoneer.

The new ADAS platform is a modern, scalable active safety system that consists of an array of radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors. Because of its scalable nature it can easily be developed further and lays the foundation for the future introduction of autonomous drive technology.

One of the variants of the current XC40

The XC40 Recharge is part of the ongoing plan to have 50% of Volvo Cars’ sales volume to be fully electric by 2025.

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


Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

From just a weekend motor carnival and a one-make series with the Toyota Vios, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) has continued to grow since starting in 2017. The one-make series, known as the Vios Challenge, has been a regular highlight of the TGR Festival which has taken place in different parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

This year, as with other international motorsports events, there was disruption due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, the fourth and final round scheduled in mid-April at the Sepang International Circuit had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had alternative motorsport-related activities online as well as the
Toyota GR Velocity eSports Championship
 which had also started in 2018.

Hopefully, the ‘dark period’ is behind us and we can look forward to a new year with less restrictions. UMWT is certainly optimistic about 2021 and has prepared a calendar of events  for Season 4 of the TGR Festival. To start next month, the event takes on a new format that offers racers three racing series with a total of 11 races and combined prize money amounting to RM420,000.

“Three individual racing events will spearhead the GAZOO Racing (GR) presence in Malaysian motorsports. GAZOO Racing is the umbrella for all of Toyota’s motor-racing activities globally, and after 3 seasons of successfully organizing the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival, 2021 will cement an even greater commitment from Toyota to contribute to the development of motorsports in Malaysia,” said UMW Toyota Motor Deputy Chairman and GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.

Related:
The Story Behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing And Why It Was Created

GR Vios Challenge

The Vios Challenge retains its one-make format with specially prepared Vios sedans, all having identical specifications and performance levels. The idea behind such a series is that while the car must have good performance, driver skill will also be very important. This makes for close racing which is what spectators want to see.

Malaysia has a long history of motor racing so there are already many drivers of varying levels of skill, as well as newcomers who want to enter the sport. For this reason, the Vios Challenge has 4 classes so that the newcomers and those with limited racing experience can still have a chance at winning races and gaining encouragement. For the skilled drivers, there is the Super Sporting Class, while the Sporting Class is for amateurs and newcomers.

Some of the celebrity racers have raced in earlier seasons, and some are new. All have received training prior to the events to familiarise themselves with the cars as well as learn racing techniques.

Then there is the popular Promotional Class for celebrities and this is a big draw as the celebrities have their fans who follow them around the country to the different venues. In the Promotional Class, some of the ‘old-timers’ from the previous seasons are racing again – Shukri Yahaya, Janna Nick, Nabil Ahmad, Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar.

Janna Nick (left) and Akio Takeyama (right), two of the celebrity racers, have taken part in all 3 seasons to date.

The three newcomers to the Vios Challenge Promotional Class – (from left) Talitha Tan, Zizan Razak and Ahirine Ahirudin.

They will be joined by three newcomers – actor Zizan Razak, singer/songwriter Talitha Tan and television personality Ahirine Ahirudin. Zizan and Ahirene have competition experience, though Ahirine’s has been on 2 wheels. She has done superbike racing and also does pretty well on a motocross bike. And being a reservist in the Royal Malaysian Navy, she would also be quite fit (she also does triathlons). Talitha also does motocrossing, so we can expect these three newcomers to give the others a good challenge. Incidentally, Mr. Takeyama is also racing in the Promotional Class, and has done so for all 3 seasons.

To further its aim of helping promote and develop motorsports, there is also a new Rookie Class for young drivers. This new class will see 6 drivers who are graduates of the
GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program
 offered by UMWT.

The 6 rookies are now undergoing training not only in driving but also fitness, just like professional racing drivers.

Training program for rookies

The program is first of its kind to be introduced by any Malaysian car company. It has identified 6 drivers to train and develop. They all have a background in karting and/or sim-racing and are now undergoing training from experienced instructors. The training is not just for driving but also many different aspects which a professional driver should be good at, including fitness training.

The 6 drivers are Mika Hakimi (17), Naquib Azlan (20), Amer Harris (17), Jwan Hii (18), Putera Adam (14) and Troy Eimann (16). Though they may already be top-notch sim racers or karters, this will be the first time they are racing on the track in real life, and they will use the Vios racing cars supplied by UMWT.

The opening round of the Vios Challenge will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from January 28 – 30. Round 2 will be held from July 16 – 18, also at the SIC, while the third and final rounds will be from September 24 – 26. The use of SIC is probably in case there are limitations to the number of spectators, or if the races can only be run without spectators (as was the case with most of the F1 rounds this year). By September, perhaps things will be better and a  custom street circuit can be used, as with previous seasons. Each round will have 2 races with individual round prize money, and with points being scored as a championship series.

Most of the races will be held at the Sepang International Circuit.

GR Vios Sprint Cup & Enduro Cup

Season 4 of the TGR Festival will also see the introduction of the GR Vios Sprint Cup and GR Enduro Cup (an endurance race). The former will consist of 2 rounds with 2 races each, and the latter will be run in conjunction with the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race. The 2 Sprint Cup rounds will be in March and May, while the Enduro Cup will be in November.

The cars eligible for the two additional events – the Vios Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup – will be those already used in the Vios Challenge.

These additional events are independent of the Vios Challenge series and intended to provide drivers and teams with more racing activities to use their cars, and the opportunity to win additional prizes.

Both the Vios Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup will retain the format of a one-make race, and only cars used in the Vios Challenge will be eligible. The races, however, will only be run as one single open class and drivers competing in the Vios Challenge. Teams meanwhile, are also not confined to competing with their regular driver/s signed up in the Vios Challenge and are free to field new drivers for both events (but they must have the requisite competition licence).

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created


McLaren 720S now available in LEGO form

McLaren’s 720S, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow last month, has been immortalized in the form of a  LEGO® miniaturized model. The car joins its its bigger brother, the McLaren P1 in the  LEGO® Speed Champions range of model cars that are available for purchase.

Named the LEGO speed Champions McLaren 720S, in the box you get the usual bits that make up the car as well as a car designer mini figure and design studio desk, which comes complete with a coffee cup and original design sketch of the car.

Aimed at supercar enthusiasts aged 7 and up, the model will give young minds some understanding into complexity of assembling a vehicle of this nature. LEGO says that the task of recreating the actual car into a LEGO based model was quiet complex especially when it came to mimicking the actual vehicle’s aerodynamic and svelte body shape. It took a LEGO designer a year to prefect and freeze the design – a lifetime by any kid’s standards.

“The LEGO interpretation of the McLaren 720S reflects the most exciting part of the design process, when a two-dimensional sketch is transformed into a physical, three-dimensional model,” commented McLaren Automotive Chief Designer, Rob Melville. “Building a model like this gives the next generation of McLaren enthusiasts a taste of just how exhilarating that moment is for designers.”

The actual McLaren 720S is a second-generation McLaren Super Series supercar that is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that produces 720bhp. Thanks to that power, the car is able to accelerate to 200km/h from a standstill in just 7.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 341km/h.

Well, if you don’t have the means to afford such a car, you can always go for the miniaturized LEGO version and indulge in the joy of building your own McLaren with your bare hands.


‘Tokyo 2020 Version’ e-Palette vehicles by Toyota to provide autonomous transport at Olympic villages

Japan hosted the Olympics in 1964 (although it also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998) and on that occasion, the country showed off its technological, industrial and economic advances to the world. Notable in the advancements in transportation was the introduction of the
Shinkansen
 or ‘Bullet Train’ which could reach 210 km/h. That speed was achieved in 1964 and today, the sleek trains can reach top speeds of 260 km/h.

At the
Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
, the country will once again showcase advanced transportation technologies, some of which have been specially developed for the event by companies like Toyota Motor Corporation.

Dedicated transport around the event villages

Among the many different types of vehicles Toyota will provide will be specially-designed ‘Tokyo 2020 Version’ e-Palette vehicles to support athlete mobility. Up to 20 such vehicles will provide automated, loop-line transportation in the Olympic and Paralympic villages for athletes and personnel involved in the event. The battery-electric, automated vehicles have been adapted specifically for use during the Games based in part on feedback from athletes about their mobility needs in the past games.

“Olympic and Paralympic athletes work tirelessly to achieve the impossible, and we wanted to provide them with a vehicle specifically designed and calibrated to fit their mobility needs during Tokyo 2020,” said Takahiro Muta, development leader for the unique version of the ‘Tokyo 2020 Version’ e-Palette.

“Throughout the development process, athletes, especially Paralympians, helped us to better understand how we could adapt and upgrade the e-Palette to better meet the need for simple, convenient and comfortable mobility. We are proud to work with them on a vehicle that will not just move athletes physically throughout the Olympic and Paralympic villages, but will also offer them new opportunities to interact with others, share new experiences, and be moved emotionally,” he said.

Developed for autonomous mobility

First announced in 2018, e-Palette is Toyota’s first vehicle developed specifically for autonomous mobility as a service application. It reflects Toyota’s ongoing transition to a mobility company and combines electrification, connected networks, and advanced driving technologies to support new shared mobility businesses and business models.

Measuring 5255 mm long and 2065 mm wide, the Tokyo 2020 Version has been adapted to meet the unique needs of the Olympic and Paralympic villages, featuring large doors and electric ramps to allow groups of athletes, including Paralympians, to board quickly and easily. The 20-person vehicle will be controlled by an automated driving system capable of operating up to 20 km/h at SAE Level 4, supported by an on-board safety operator.

Deploying the e-Palette to support athlete and staff mobility is a key element of Toyota’s program to provide advanced mobility solutions for Tokyo 2020 as the first worldwide mobility partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In addition, Toyota plans to leverage the knowledge gained from operating e-Palette at Tokyo 2020 to continue developing the vehicle to support future ‘Mobility-as-a-Service’ applications.

Toyota developing mobility vehicle as ‘last mile solution’ at 2020 Olympics in Tokyo


Halloween concept that should give you chills

Hallowen is upon us and though many consider the celebration as an event reserved for kids, MotorEasy doesn’t seem to think so. The car ownership and maintenance start-up has unveiled the scariest thing imaginable for an enthusiast – owning a vehicle that will bleed them dry.

Called the Hallowe’en horror show concept, MotorEasy has put together a theoretical Frankenstein car with the worst bits of certain vehicles and the costs involved to have each of these parts fixed.

Should such a vehicle give up the ghost, the total repair cost of bringing it back to life will amount to £24,606.74 (RM 137,527). That is partly due to it having an engine from a 2011 Range Rover, brakes from a BMW Z4 and an electrical system from a 2009 Audi A3.

The following is a breakdown of the components and the costs involved for individual repairs:

Speaking of the concept, Duncan McClure Fisher, MotorEasy founder, said, “This car is every motorists’ nightmare, with a stratospheric repair bill. While the concept is just a bit of fun, it does nonetheless highlight the financial hit when things do go wrong with cars.”

“Our creation is an extreme example but the fact is that very few people have money lying around if the worst happens. It pays to be protected,” he added.

In the UK, MotorEasy offers a full suite of car warranty, maintenance and repair services as well as a network of 10,000 of garages. It allows for easier access to such services via telephone or by communicating online.


BMW launches 740Le xDrive in Malaysia

BMW has launched a new variant of its ever popular 7-Series model, called the 740Le xDrive. The new vehicle has a sophisticated hybrid propulsion system, intelligent all-wheel-drive technology and a luxurious interior suited for top level execs. The car is part of BMW’s i line of vehicles and is touted as the most advanced modern luxury limousine in Malaysia by the Munich based automaker.

Unveiling the All-New BMW 740Le xDrive, Mr. Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Since its introduction early last year, the BMW 7 Series has already redefined the idea of driving luxury in the premium automotive world, even taking home the much coveted World Luxury Car of the Year 2016. The All-New BMW 7 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology will only set the benchmark even higher, offering to our customers the most cutting edge BMW eDrive technology which we have developed through our expertise with BMW i.”

There are subtle hints that can help you tell the 740Le xDrive apart from other variants, it has eDrive badges on the C-Pillars and BMW i logos on the front side panels. Based on the same wheelbase as its predecessor, the new car is the largest 7-Series in the company’s history and features tech that rival that of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Under the bonnet is BMW’s TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre inline four engine which produces 258bhp and 400Nm of torque. The turbocharger has been integrated into the cast-steel exhaust manifold for a more compact and efficient package, which coupled with high precision injection, double-VANOS and advanced Valvetronic technology offer decent performance figures.

Mated to the engine is an 8-speed Steptronic trasnmission, which aids in getting the 7-Series to its top speed of 250km/h. Working with the petrol engine is a synchronous motor that develops 113bhp and 250Nm of torque. Juice to the electric motor comes courtesy of a 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged using any electrical outlet. But, through the use of BMW’s Wawllbox Connect charger, the battery can be fully charged in under 5 hours.

The car has a combined output of 326bhp and 500Nm of torque which allows it to accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.3 seconds, which is impressive for a car of its size. But this Bimmer’s party piece is the eDrive system that governs the propulsion system, activating or disengaging either petrol engine electric motor as and when required. When the Auto mode is selected, the engine and motor work together to deliver performance and fuel economy.

The engine is only cranked over once the car’s speed exceeds 80km/h which should help conserve quite a bit of fuel. when Max is selected, the vehicle can be driven in electric only mode, allowing the petrol engine to be shut off completely but awakened when the accelerator pedal is pressed to the floor.

The car’s suspension and driving behaviour can be altered through the use of the Driving Experience Control with five different modes which are Adaptive, Eco, Pro Comport and Sport. But what takes things to the next level is the xDrive all-wheel-drive system that operates proactively and varies power delivery between front and rear axles depending on the requirement at any given time.

Inside, BMW has fitted the Ambient Light design which includes the Welcome Light Carpet feature that illuminates the cabin and provides a sense of occasion for the occupants. The lighting system has three different colours to choose from and the car also comes with panoramic Sky Lounge glass roof which comprise of over 15,000 lighting elements.

Passengers at the rear are able to change the vehicle and entertainment systems through the use of the BMW Touch Command control located in the rear console. There is also a removable 7-inch tablet that allow passengers to change the comfort and entertainment (16-speaker  Harman Kadron Surround Sound System) settings by tapping the appropriate commands.

On the safety side, the car comes with front and side airbags, head/curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, a knee airbag for the driver, ISOFIX child seat mountings in the rear, and the Active Protection System – along with other features.

The All-New BMW 740Le xDrive is available in Black Sapphire, Imperial Blue, Mineral White, and Sophisto Grey. Inside, the upholstery is lined with exclusive Nappa leather while the interior trim is finished in Poplar Grain Grey fine-wood.

The new 740Le xDrive is priced at RM853,800 but after factoring in the government incentive for hybrid vehicles, the price is comes down to a more reasonable RM598,800. BMW is offering the car with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Head on over to the manufacturer’s local website to learn more.


Ford To Return To Formula 1 In 2026 With Red Bull Racing! (w/VIDEO)

Ford has announced its return to Formula 1 after 22 years away from the sport. Despite having been absent from F1 since 2004, Ford remains the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history with 10 Constructors’ championships and 13 Drivers’ championships. Between 1967 and 2004, the carmaker provided engines to no less than 67 teams.

It was present in F1 up to 2004, with its last entry being with the Jaguar team (acquired from former F1 driver Jackie Stewart) as the British carmaker was then owned by Ford. The extremely high (and rising) cost of participating in F1 was given as the reason Ford withdrew and sold its team to Red Bull (the energy drinks company) for US$1 at the end of the 2004 season.

Drawing the carmaker back to the sport it dominated in the late 1960s and 1970s is the increasing interest in key markets around the world, including the USA. Furthermore, the FIA and F1 have a commitment to sustainability with increased use of electric power as well as sustainable fuels.

The new hybrid power units jointly developed by Ford and Red Bull Powertrains will be used in Red Bull Racing’s cars and also supplied to Scuderia AlphaTauri (below).

Ford will partner Red Bull Racing (which previously used Honda engines) to enter a team in the 2026 season (the same year that will also see the
Audi-Sauber team
 making its debut in F1). Red Bull Powertrains and Ford will collaborate in  the development of the next-gen hybrid power unit that will be supplied to both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams from 2026 to at least 2030.

Areas to be explored together are in the combustion engine development and key developments like battery cell and electric motor technology, power unit control software and analytics. Based on the new technical regulations in 2026, the powertrain will include a 350 kW electric motor and a new combustion engine able to accept fully sustainable fuels.

Ford’s presence in F1 began in the 1960s when it provided the Cosworth-DFV (Double Four Valve) engines built in partnership with the UK-based engineering company.

The last time Ford was in F1 was in 2004 when Jaguar, then owned by the carmaker, entered a team. Between 2000 and 2004, the team’s drivers were Eddie Irvine, Johnny Herbert, Luciano Burti, Pedro de la Rosa, Antonio Pizzonia, Mark Webber, Justin Wilson and Christian Klien

“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” said Bill Ford, Executive Chair. “Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”

“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” said Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO. “As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from a manufacturer’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition. They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations. From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself. For us as Red Bull Powertrains to open the next chapter of that dynasty, as Red Bull Ford, is tremendously exciting. 2026 is still a while a way but for us the work already starts as we look to a new future and a continued evolution of Oracle Red Bull Racing.”

World Champion Max Verstappen already has the Ford logo on his jacket although the Red Bull Ford team won’t start racing till 2026. But he’ll still be with RBR then as his contract continues up till 2028.

Audi And Sauber Team Up To Enter Formula 1 in 2026