Proton Starts 2023 With 162.3% Increase in Sales Volume Year-On-Year

Proton has started off 2023 with a strong surge in sales, having its best start to a year since 2013. With 11,681 units (including export sales) delivered in January, the increase in sales compared to the same month a year ago was 162.3%. With the market size for January estimated to be 51,000 units, Proton’s share would be 22.9%, an improvement of more than 12% compared to January 2022.

The strong performance is due to greater supply of vehicles from the two factories in contrast to the reduced output that the carmaker experienced last year due to flood-related supply issues. At the end of 2021 and early 2022, there was very severe flooding in some areas of Selangor which affected the operations of some of Proton’s suppliers.

Component supply shortages also affected many assemblers during 2022 and for Proton, deliveries of the Persona, in particular, were badly affected by a shortage of microchips for electronic systems. With supply of these components more stable now, its numbers have rebounded resulting in the Persona reclaiming top spot for B-segment sedan sales, according to Proton.

A total of 2,039 units were delivered in January, marking the second consecutive month that the Persona has finished above the 2,000-unit threshold.

X50 remains bestselling SUV
The X50 was the country’s most popular SUV last year and the model is maintaining its top position two years after its launch. With 2,992 units sold in January, it topped the B-segment and overall SUV sales charts. 993 units of the bigger X70 were delivered during the month.

Two years after launch, the X50 remains as the bestselling model in Malaysia’s SUV segment.

As for other Proton models, the Saga was the brand’s overall bestseller with 4,788 units delivered, while sales of the Iriz rose 111% to 597 units. The Exora retained its leadership of C-segment MPVs with 332 units delivered in January.

Positive trend expected to continue
“Proton has enjoyed a good start to 2023 and while the growth over January 2022 is exaggerated by the poor opening month number last year, it should not be overlooked this is our best January since 2013. We expect this trend to continue for the first quarter of the year as we must fulfil outstanding orders exempted from sales tax by March 31, 2023,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Proton.

“Looking ahead to the rest of 2023, while the market outlook is for the total annual volume to recede from the record numbers last year, Proton remains optimistic of recording a fifth consecutive year of growth. With new facilities due to become operational at our plant in Tanjung Malim, continued expansion of our dealer network, investments in the EV charging infrastructure as well as the addition of new conventional and EV models to our range, we are confident of being able to end the year with another positive result,” he said.

Marketing of the smart #1 EV in Malaysia later this year will be handled by PRO-NET, Proton’s subsidiary dedicated to New Energy Vehicles.

Aiming to be No.3 in ASEAN
As always, Proton is also looking beyond Malaysia borders and still maintains its stated goal of becoming the No.3 brand (passenger vehicles) in ASEAN within 4 years, as well as being the leader in Malaysia. Among the ways that it will achieve this goal will be with the introduction of new models (up to 8 in the coming 5 years) with conventional powertrains as well as New Energy powertrains. The latter will be hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric powertrains.

Proton is also looking at developing a sound ecosystem for electric vehicles (EVs) in coming years. It has already taken the first step by establishing a subsidiary dedicated to New Energy Vehicles (PRO-NET) which will start selling the smart #1 EV later this year. There are also plans to manufacture EV models and become a production hub for righthand drive (RHD) versions. This could be realised if Geely assigns RHD production of some of its global models to Proton’s Tg. Malim plant.

More cars sold = more loans
Meanwhile, Proton Commerce, the financing arm of the Malaysian carmaker, also had a successful year in 2022. It was able to achieve a record-breaking number of loan disbursements in tandem with the strong sales growth of new Proton vehicles.

For 2022, Proton Commerce issued 22,467 loans to Proton customers, with eight out of 12  months having more than 2,000 disbursements. Overall, this represents volume growth of 54% over 2021 and is also a new volume record.

Recently, Proton Commerce announced that the validity of Letters Of Undertaking (LOU) issued will be extended from 90 to 180 days. This will make it more convenient for buyers of Proton models who face a long waiting time for the variant of their choice.

“Aside from extending the validity of our LOUs, Proton Commerce will also honour the interest rate offered at the time of approval and as we offer fixed rate financing, our customers do not need to worry about increasing monthly payments. This will make it easier for customers waiting for their cars and help control their personal budgets,” said Mooi Fi Phang, CEO of Proton Commerce.


Nissan VC-Turbo engine listed on Ward’s 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems for 2020 (w/VIDEO)

Nissan’s 2-litre VC-Turbo engine has been picked as one of Wards’ 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems on its list for 2020. Wards, an authoritative industry publication in America, has assessed automotive powertrains since 1995 and recognised the best in its annual listings.

Winners are evaluated based on several factors including horsepower, torque, noise, fuel economy, comparative specifications and applications of new technology. This year, the judges began testing from a group of 26 all-new or vastly improved engines, by putting them through the paces of daily life – commuting, road trips and running errands. To be eligible, a vehicle’s base price may not exceed US$65,000.

The VC-Turbo engine, used in the latest Altima, is a turbocharged 4-cylinder unit with variable-compression. It leverages an industry-first production technology to achieve its goals of offering high levels of power and efficiency from the same powerplant. Monitoring driver inputs several times per second, the engine adjusts the compression ratio from 8:1 to 14:1 as needed, optimizing power and efficiency.

The range in capability is derived using a multi-link system that adjusts the length of the piston’s stroke, while adjusting the engine’s compression ratio on the fly. When the driver demands power, an internal actuator reduces the throw of the connecting rods allowing compression to drop, while tapping the turbocharger for maximum output.

Conversely, during highway cruising and other low-power needs, the engine automatically adjusts to a higher compression ratio. This offers a significantly higher level of efficiency said to be 27% better than a conventional engine with a fixed compression ratio.

2020 Nissan Altima

“Offering our best technologies on top-selling models is a priority. We purposely debuted this technology on Altima, which can be had for less than US$30,000 when equipped with the VC-Turbo engine,” said Chris Reed, Senior Vice-President of Research & Development at the Nissan Technical Centre North America. “We’ve worked for years perfecting this innovation and are extremely proud to be recognized by Wards as one of its 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems for 2020.”

The VC-Turbo engine was revealed at the 2016 Paris Motorshow as the world’s first production-ready variable compression ratio engine. Its first application was in the Infiniti QX50 2018 and Nissan has applied for as many as 300 patents for the engine. Nissan’s achievement for 2020 marks the company’s 18th trophy in 26 years of Wards annual listings, many having been gained by the V6 VQ engine family.

Visit
www.nissan.com.my
 to know more about Nissan vehicles available in Malaysia.

Nissan investing 33 billion yen on advanced manufacturing technologies globally (w/VIDEO)


BMW Global Sales Sky-High In Q1, M3 Touring Still Popular!

The start of 2023 has been great for BMW with new models being pumped out. We’ve seen quite a number of impressive models ranging from the 2 series up to the 8 series.

Even its SUVs are a blend of performance with a punch. With so many great models available, who wouldn’t want a BMW? With that being said, the global sales for BMW have skyrocketed in the first quarter of 2023.

Starting with the M Division, deliveries climbed by 18.9% in the first quarter of the year for M Performance and M cars compared to January-March 2022, totalling 46,430 units. One of the most popular models contributing to sales is the 2022 544hp BMW i4 M50.

Although sales figures for each model are not listed by BMW M, they did note that the M3 Touring was and still is “in very high demand”, which is great news for fans of the wagon.

According to BMW M, the M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe/Convertible made a “key contribution” to overall sales even though these models have been around for some time.

You must be thinking, “People still buy wagons? Isn’t it a slow family car?”. No my friend, the 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged straight-six M3 Touring comes in Competition form only. This means the super wagon puts out a whopping 510 hp and does 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds.

We would definitely get one. Maybe two or three, each in a different colour and one for each day of the week.

Not to mention, the recently launched
XM
 has been only the second standalone M model ever since the legendary M1. Collectors of BMW models will definitely want this SUV for their lineups.

We will also see a number of models in 2023 that will feature the “world’s most powerful letter.” These won’t be fully-fledged M models, but rather i5 and i7 versions that feature M Performance.

A plug-in hybrid M560e xDrive with an inline-six engine is anticipated to replace the M550i’s V8 power in the upcoming 5 Series. This year should also bring the first-ever X1 M35i.

In addition to that, BMW also states the demand for the iX, i7, i4, and the iX3 contributed to the doubling in sales of purely electric vehicles, reaching 55,979 units or 112.3% more than in Q1 2022.

Although the overall demand for BMW EV models is on the low side, BMW is confident that EVs will represent more than half of annual sales in the coming future. With models like the next-generation 5 Series Sedan with its first-ever, i5 electric sibling, iX2, and i5 Touring, BMW will definitely see a growth in sales for its EV lineup.

Adding to that, the entire BMW Group (including MINI and Rolls-Royce) targets a minimum of 15% of sales from EVs in 2023. BMW predicts that the iX1 is likely to show to be the most popular EV given its more affordable price tag out of all those now on the market or soon to be added to the range. MINI and
Rolls-Royce
will exclusively sell EVs beginning in the next decade.

2023 Rolls-Royce Spectre

BMW has already taken steps ahead to see this growth as it has plans to launch at least six “Neue Klasse” (new class) EVs until 2028. The
BMW i Vision Dee Concept
 is an example of an EV with the Neue Klasse architecture.

Also scheduled for arrival in 2025 will be a sedan and a crossover in the 3 Series segment. BMW has already disclosed significant investments in its current factories in order to get them ready for the upcoming wave of EVs.

With all these amazing models making their debut in the EV and M market, there are sufficient reasons to think that the German automaker will close the year with a new sales record.


Chevrolet creates John Force COPO Camaro Edition racing car in 50th year of special edition

Over the past 7 years, Chevrolet has been a producing 69 specially developed Camaro racing cars at its factory. Known as COPO Camaros, these rare machines have crossed the auction block for charity, raising nearly US$2 million for a variety of important causes.

And if 552 units since 2012 is not rare enough, there will also be a 2020 COPO Camaro John Force Edition, bringing together the legacies of Chevrolet’s factory racing car and John Force, the 16-time NHRA (the US National Hot Rod Association) champion driver.

The distinctively styled, supercharged racing car, which can deliver low elapsed times on the drag strip, will be auctioned by Chevrolet in January with the proceeds going to DonorsChoose.org. It carries a unique “2020COPO-FORCE” identification plaque and is considered a unique build in the COPO Camaro range – not part of the annual production run of 69 COPO Camaro racing cars.

“This is a great-looking COPO Camaro, and I enjoyed helping design this car,” said John Force. “The COPO Camaro is already a formidable car, and hard to beat on the track. But this one is even more special, as it will help support a cause I firmly believe in.”

“John Force is one of the most legendary drag racers in history – and his legend started with Chevrolet,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. Vice-President of Performance and Motorsports. “We are proud to partner with him on this one-of-a-kind COPO Camaro and are excited to see what it will do on the auction block for charity.”

Additionally, a black-and-silver paint scheme inspired by the John Force Edition is an available option on 2020 COPO Camaros. In fact, there are more colour choices than ever for the 69 buyers. Along with the John Force colour scheme and 4 production colours (red has been the most popular so far), there are seven heritage colours from the 1969 Camaro colour palette: Hugger Orange, Butternut Yellow, Frost Green Poly, Olympic Gold Poly, Garnet Red, Fathom Green Poly and Azure Turquoise Poly.

The 2020 COPO Camaro’s available engine line-up includes a revised version of the supercharged, LSX-based 350 engine, featuring a 2.65-litre Magnuson supercharger and all-new LSX-SC cylinder heads, as well as an LSX-based naturally-aspirated 427 engine.

Also available is the Racer’s Package, which includes a carbonfibre air inlet, dual batteries, weight box, parachute and a quick-change coupling (with the supercharged engine).

While most of the COPO Camaros sold are in the USA, Chevrolet says there are units in Canada, Sweden and Germany too. Many are not just sitting still as collector’s items as the owners have won 36 NHRA events to date.

History of the COPO Camaro

While Chevrolet began building COPO Camaros from 2012, the history of this special version actually goes back to 1969 when dealers used Chevy’s special-order system that enabled them to create high-performance vehicles not available elsewhere. It was a sort of loophole to get around the limitations GM placed on Chevy’s performance vehicles.

The 1969 COPO Camaro

Instead of placing an order for Camaros using the Regular Production Option sheet, dealers found they could order using the Central Office Purchase Order (which is what ‘COPO’ means) that was usually used for making changes to vehicles sold to municipalities such as special paint or truck equipment. The dealers instead used it to equip the Camaro with the all-aluminium ZL1 427 racing engine.

In 2011, Chevrolet created a COPO concept car and response was so positive from enthusiasts that the company was willing to produce limited numbers, choosing 69 which was the year the first COPO Camaros appeared. The plan was to offer the cars for a few years but demand remained high so production has continued to this day. However, unlike the early versions, the factory-built ones are not street legal. It is in fact the first purpose-built racing car offered by Chevrolet and the fastest Camaro to come out of the factory.


Ferrari Does Not Care About Autonomous Driving

Would you want a self-driving
Ferrari
? We wouldn’t. No matter how developed the technology is for autonomous driving, we would never want it in a supercar or hypercar. It can remain in Teslas but a self-driving Ferrari is just utter rubbish.

Ferrari has a long history of producing supercars that people desire to drive, making it the most well-known supercar company in the world. According to The Drive, Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, was forthright about the automaker’s position on autonomous vehicles (AVs).

“Software comes in four different varieties. Performance software, comfort software, infotainment software, and autonomous software. We don’t care about the last one,” said Vigna.

The company has previously rejected AVs, so this is nothing new. Similar media pronouncements have been made by numerous previous executives. Nevertheless, the carmaker claims to have the internal competence to produce an electric vehicle. In the case of AVs, it’s possible that the firm was not only adamantly opposed to developing the concept but also lacked the funds to do it independently.

A Ferrari without a driver would actually not be very much of a Ferrari. After declining to join the FCA and PSA merger that gave rise to Stellantis, the brand is its own master. This indicates that it does not receive top-down orders to create AVs and that it has other businesses in its portfolio with whom it can readily exchange highly developed technological resources.

Whenever we sit in a Ferrari, we want to get the feel of the V12, V8 or V6 ourselves. We want to downshift and floor it in a tunnel just to hear the music that comes out from the engine and exhaust. What would we possibly enjoy in a self-driving Ferrari?

The majority of other exotic car producers are part of a larger carmaker. Most of the time, it’s the Volkswagen group, which also owns Bugatti-Rimac and the recently united Porsche-Lamborghini. These businesses might develop AVs themselves or at the very least use their parent’s technology to do so. Others, like the financially troubled McLaren and the extremely low volume Koenigsegg, which devotes most of its resources to vehicle engineering, are unlikely to develop autonomous vehicles on their own. Self-driving vehicles may be created independently or with the help of a licence from another business, but this appears unlikely.


New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For October 2020

Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)

♦ The upward trend seems to have flattened out with October’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) less than 1% higher (226 units) than the TIV for September. No doubt, the reduction in the cost of buying a new vehicle due to the government’s Sales Tax exemption incentive still helps encourage sales and when compared to the same month in 2019, this year was 5.2% better.

♦ The TIV for the period from January to October has almost reached 400,000 units, reached 398,159 units to be exact. With two months remaining to hit the MAA’s 470,000-unit forecast for 2020,  can the monthly TIV for November and December average 36,000 units? Since July, it has been above 50,000 units.

♦ Of the 56,670 units registered, 86% were passenger vehicles (excluding pick-up trucks).

♦ The output from the plants rose more substantially to 58,631 units in October to meet the higher demand and to also build up stocks for the end of the year period. It is likely that December will see a rush to take delivery so as to enjoy the sales tax exemption, This would be unusual as many customers often want to defer to the new year.

♦ One thing that could dampen sales a bit would be the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. While the government is reluctant to impose a full-scale MCO like what we had in March and April when businesses had to shut down completely, there may be areas where stricter conditions are imposed, especially in the Klang Valley where there is the largest number of vehicles sales.

♦ The MAA does expect some softening of the market in the light of a broader impostion of the CMCO and says that members have reported a slowdown in showroom traffic. Nevertheless, many companies now have online facilities for customers to know more about products and then make bookings as well, so at least the initial phase of transactions has been addressed in the ‘new normal’.

Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)


Formula E round in China cancelled, other motorsports events under review by FIA due to concerns about coronavirus

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently stated that the coronavirus outbreak meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and therefore appropriate actions are to be taken by governments and other organisations worldwide. Public events where many people are in close proximity would need have the risk factor reviewed and such events include motor racing.

Last week, the FIA (the international organisation governing motorsports) said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation concerning the coronavirus with relevant authorities and its Member Clubs, under the direction of FIA Medical Commission President, Professor Gerard Saillant. The FIA will evaluate the calendar of forthcoming races around the world and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motorsport community and the wider public.

The FIA says it will evaluate the calendar of forthcoming races around the world and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motorsport community and the wider public.

In view of the continued spread of coronavirus and after close consultation with the relevant departments of Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, Round 6 of the Formula E all-electric championship is cancelled. The Sanya e-Prix was scheduled to be run at the Haitang Bay Street Circuit on the island of Hainan on March 21.

“Given the current growing health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus an international emergency, Formula E has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of its travelling staff, championship participants and spectators, which remains of paramount importance,” the FIA said in a statement.

“We are working closely with our regional partner and the local authorities in Hainan Province and Sanya Municipal Government, to continue monitoring the situation as it develops. All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates should the situation improve,” it added.

The Formula 1 round at the Shanghai Circuit in China, scheduled for April, would also be under review.

Obviously, other events are being reviewed with those that will be held in China being at the top of the list. In April, the third round of the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship calendar is to be held at the Shanghai circuit and that too may have to be cancelled or postponed.

During the second half of the year, there are also two rounds of the World Touring Car Cup (September and November). However, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar does not include a round in China this year as the Kyalami circuit in South Africa is reinstated. The Monza 6 Hours will take the weekend that the Chinese WEC round at Shanghai has traditionally been held on.

Of course, given every country’s concern about the virus and preventing its spread, all public events which would have large crowds would be reviewed by local authorities and organisers, not just motorsports.


Proton’s market share reached 27.1%, highest in 7 years

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

For most car companies, February tends to see low numbers; for one thing, it is the shortest month in the year and some years, the Chinese New Year festive period also occurs during the month, reducing the number of working days further. However, for Proton, February 2021 was a productive month as the Malaysian carmaker reached market highs that it had not achieved for several years. With a total volume (including exports) of 11,873 units, the company had its best February in over a decade.

By its estimation, the brand will have a market share of 27.1%, which will be the highest for the company since September 2013. Overall, Proton also believes it finished the month ranked second with sales nearly doubling that of the month before. Compared to the same month in 2020, the volume was 19.9% greater. However, the total volume for the first two months of the year is 3.5% (643 units) less than last year’s cumulative total for the same period.

X50 deliveries accelerate

Proton’s second SUV,
the X50
, was in showrooms from October 27, 2020 and the response was exceptional strong. By year’s end, over 30,000 bookings were collected. Unfortunately, deliveries were hampered by delays to the production schedule as well as focusing on build quality. In February, Proton delivered 3,345 units bringing the total number of X50s on the road to 8,141 units.

This monthly volume was also the highest ever achieved by an SUV in Malaysia,  and Proton therefore lays claim to the X50 being the best-selling SUV in its segment and also overall leadership.

Add the 1,475 units of the X70 delivered in February (claimed to be the highest for a C-segment SUV), and the company sold a combined total of 4,820 SUVs. This is its best ever performance and said to be the highest volume for any brand in the country.

Strong sales for other models

While the X50 had strong sales, the evergreen Saga continued as the company top-seller with 4,217 units delivered. The sedan has also started sales in Kenya as a locally-assembled model, the first time Proton has entered the market of that African country.

Other Proton models that performed included the Persona (1,818 units) and Exora (361 units), with the latter model maintaining its leadership in the C-segment MPV market.

“February continued to be a difficult month for Malaysia’s automotive industry but it turned out very well for Proton,” said Roslan Abdullah, Proton Edar’s CEO. “thanks to the efforts of the government to ensure a continuation of economic activity during the MCO, we were able to produce more cars and, in so doing, started to clear our backlog of orders. This is important as we need to consistently deliver on the bookings made to avoid a rush before the PENJANA incentives expire at the end of June this year.”

“The automotive sector continues to be vibrant with exciting new model launches which are sure to spark consumer interest and create healthy competition. But we will continue to be cautious even as we push forward to avoid infection rates flaring up again and disrupting operations,” he added.

One of the four Special Edition models launched in February

February also saw Proton launch
four Special Edition models
, all with a bold black theme. The Persona and Exora Black Edition as well as the Saga and Iriz R3 Limited Edition were unveiled online and will be available in limited numbers. Encik Roslan revealed that, as of February 26, 1,169 bookings have been received, about a third of the total production run that will be just 3,500 units.

Aftersales revamp

Proton has a 10-year strategy and during this period, the company is to completely overhaul several operational areas in order to succeed. An area of immediate importance is product quality which has to be improved and today, the brand’s quality scores have improved to the point of almost matching those of its partner, Geely.

The distribution network has also drastically changed, with the company having the most 3S/4S outlets in the industry. Its focus is now on wholesale activities rather than consumer-driven business. These measures have been effective with Proton posting some of the highest sales growth numbers for the local industry over the last 2 years.

This year, the focus is on the improvement of the entire aftersales value chain so that customers can enjoy a premium brand experience after buying their cars. “Proton admits that some aspects of our business have not been able to keep up with our recent successes. While we have dramatically moved forwards in product quality, brand image and the technology offered in our cars, our aftersales service has not made the same leap. This situation was exacerbated in 2020 by firstly COVID-19 and then our decision to invest in a completely new back-end ordering and delivery system,” explained Encik Roslan.

“As a result, we have experienced integration issues and customers requiring accident repairs as well as regular servicing have faced delays. We are working on these issues around the clock to overcome them in the shortest time possible but for now, I urge all Proton owners facing delays to please contact our customercare hotline at 1-800-88-8398,” he advised.

With greater attention to overseas business, Proton aims to double export volumes in 2021


Proton Launches Rahmah Service Campaign

Times are tough for everyone with prices of goods on the rise. The Malaysian government has taken initiatives to address this issue by introducing Rahmah campaigns that offer goods at discounted prices.

Proton is the first automotive brand to respond to the Government’s call to expand the Rahmah initiative to other sectors.

Today, the official launch of the 2023 Proton Rahmah Campaign took place at Jewel Sonic, a Proton 3S Platinum Flagship Outlet.

This campaign is one of the Government’s initiatives to help reduce the cost of living for the B40 group. The 2023 Proton Rahmah Campaign was initiated in conjunction with the successful launch of the Menu Rahmah programme earlier this year.

Owners of Proton vehicles who are travelling to their hometowns for the upcoming Raya Festival can breathe a sigh of relief. The service package is priced at only RM150 and it encourages owners to send their vehicles to authorised service centres for a free 40-point safety check.

Officiating the launch was YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry.

“Vehicle ownership is essential to the daily lives of many Malaysians and the expenses related to it, such as loan repayment, fuel, tolls, and maintenance are major components of a household’s expenses. With the launch of the Rahmah Campaign, Proton owners will be able to get their cars inspected for free and purchase an affordable service package, which will ease their burden and free up funds for the approaching Hari Raya celebration,” Zafrul said.

“I am pleased for Proton to be the first automotive company to support the Government’s initiative, and I hope other brands will follow suit to reduce the cost of living for those who need it most,” he added.

Adding to this, Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Proton said “An inclusive campaign, costs are shared evenly between Proton Edar and our dealers as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CS) activities and we hope with it in place, owners are compelled to service their cars at our authorised service centres before starting the journey back during the festive period.”

The campaign offers a service package for the Proton Persona, Iriz, Saga, Exora and older models such as the Inspira, Waja and Wira starting today, 12 April, until 31 May 2023.


Gordon Murray’s T.33 Spider Unveiled, Only 100 Units To Be Produced

Gordon Murray, designer of the Brabham and McLaren F1 racing cars and the McLaren F1  road car, has revealed the fourth product of his company, Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA). It’s the T.33 Spider, a topless version of the
T.33 Coupe
 which was unveiled in January 2022.

Developed in parallel with the coupe and sharing the same ultralight carbonfibre monocoque construction, the T.33 Spider has been engineered with greater torsional stiffness as it does not have the roof structure. However, with the stringent and meticulous weight-saving approaches taken, the Spider is just 18 kgs heavier than the 1,090 kg coupe.

T.33 Coupe

‘Supercar like no other’
Inspired by iconic designs of the 1960s and with the perfect proportions and flowing surfaces crafted from carbonfibre, the T.33 Spider is said to ‘a supercar like no other’. To deliver the design vision defined by the very first sketches, every surface from the A-pillar backwards is unique to this derivative of the T.33.

“From the very beginning, I knew that one of the biggest challenges in designing the T.33 Spider would be keeping the purity, balance and overall beauty of the T.33. That’s why I sketched both versions at the same time to make sure that the proportions would work,” said Murray

Exterior design
The fixed section of the roof features elegant buttresses which blend harmoniously into the rear deck, behind which are louvres which further aid engine cooling. The ram induction airbox, mounted directly to the engine itself and a hallmark feature of the T.33, becomes even more distinctive on the Spider, especially when the roof panels are removed.

Made from lightweight carbon composite, the panels can be specified in a range of colours. To enhance usability, they can be stowed neatly in the front luggage compartment when not in use. The rear glass drops behind the rear bulkhead at the press of a switch.

 Seamlessly integrated into the rear haunches, and opened with a button concealed under the dihedral doors, are two 90-litre stowage compartments. The mechanisms through which these doors and stowage compartments open are works of engineering art and design ingenuity.

Leveraging all the experience acquired from a career designing ground-effect racing cars, Murray and his team developed the T.33 Spider’s exceptional aerodynamics without resorting to the ostentatious ducts, skirts and splitters that are typically used in other supercars. Instead, first principles were used to develop the Passive Boundary Layer Control (PBLC) system. Introduced on the T.33, PBLC has been further refined for the Spider.

A ground-effect inlet at the front of the car directs low pressure air underneath the floor, which is then fed into a rear diffuser with a boundary layer removal duct. In combination with the deployable active rear spoiler, PBLC delivers the ideal balance of low drag, high-downforce and superb high-speed stability, with or without the roof panels in place.

iStream Ultralight carbon monocoque technology.
The T.33 Spider is shaped around Gordon Murray Technologies’ iStream Ultralight carbon monocoque technology. Comprising carbonfibre composite panels bonded to extruded aluminium tubing triangulated at precision die-cast aluminium nodes, this delivers a body structure which provides the optimal balance of high stiffness, light weight, and exceptional levels of safety and occupant protection.

The precision inherent to iStream also delivers exceptionally precise manufacturing tolerances. Taking full advantage of this enabled the engineering team to optimally position everything within the car much closer than would be possible with many traditional body construction methods. This degree of packaging efficiency contributes to the car’s compact footprint and remarkably low weight.

Following motorsport practice, the powertrain of the T.33 Spider is semi-structural, with the rear suspension mounted directly to the transmission casing. To maximize the weight reduction and vehicle dynamics benefits this brings without undue noise, vibration and harshness being transmitted into the cabin, the system features GMA’s Inclined Axis Shear Mounting (IASM). This system uses flexible mountings to deliver exactly the right amount of isolation required for refinement while at the same time enabling precise handling.

Aluminium suspension
Like the coupe, the Spider has all-round double wishbone suspension, made from lightweight aluminium. The high-pressure monotube dampers are of coil-over design and are also made from aluminium. GMA’s vehicle dynamics team have purposefully chosen not to offer adaptive damping;  in keeping with the principle of driving perfection, the bump and rebound rates have been meticulously calibrated to deliver the ideal ride and handling balance for the car.

To deliver the traction and steering response demanded from the rear-wheel drive configuration, together with the minimum possible mass, the T.33 Spider, like the coupe, uses an asymmetric wheel and tyre specification. The front and rear axles have lightweight, forged aluminium 19-inch and 20-inch wheels, respectively, together with 235/35 ZR19 and 295/30 ZR20 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres.

V12 with motorsport principles
Just like its coupe stablemate, the T.33 Spider is powered by the Cosworth GMA.2 V12. This all-aluminium powerplant is designed according to motorsport principles in partnership with Cosworth to deliver GMA’s exacting brief: lightest, highest specific output, highest revving, fastest response.

The dry-sump, 3.9-litre unit features a 65-degree cylinder bank angle for optimum packaging within the monocoque, and contributing to the car’s low centre of gravity. Foregoing turbocharging for the compromises this imposes in throttle response and to aural quality, the GMA.2 is naturally-aspirated.

This contributes to responsiveness, with 75% of the 451 Nm maximum rated torque is available from only 2,500 rpm, while 90% is maintained from 4,500 – 10,500 rpm. Maximum power of 617 ps is delivered at 10,250 rpm, with the engine electronically-limited to an impressive 11,100 rpm. At the upper end of the rev range, the driver is rewarded with an unmistakable 12-cylinder crescendo before moving to the next gear. The complete engine weighs just 178 kgs; making it the world’s lightest road car V12 engine.

In response to strong customer preference for the manual gearbox with the T.33 coupe, the Spider is offered exclusively with this transmission. Developed with Xtrac, this 6-speed unit is designed to be as mass-efficient as possible. At only 82 kgs, there is no lighter supercar transmission, and it delivers the quick, smooth, precision shifts that enthusiasts demand and expect.

Inside the T.33 Spider
One of the unique interior features distinguishing the T.33 Spider from the coupe is that the rear bulkhead trim between the two seats is body-coloured. With the roof panels removed and rear glass down, this subtly enhances the feeling of openness through the exterior colour flowing into the cabin.

Befitting a supercar, the focal point of the instrument cluster is the 120 mm, floodlit and defiantly analogue centrally-mounted tachometer. Calibrated to 11,100 rpm, it clearly signals the Cosworth GMA V12’s performance potential. On either side are secondary displays for climate control and infotainment, the latter featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

All of the main controls are beautifully tactile, with the carbonfibre steering wheel trimmed in leather, The lightweight, race-inspired carbonfibre seats are trimmed in a combination of leather and Alcantara.

Pricing has not been announced and only 100 units of the T.33 Spider will be available for worldwide sale, with deliveries in 2025. Aftersales support is provided by 5 Global Service Centres with technicians trained by GMA to service, maintain and repair its cars. The Global Service Centres are supplemented by a network of 14 Service Support Centres located in Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia and key American states.

‘MOTIV’ autonomous vehicle platform by Gordon Murray Design ready for real-world trials


Mercedes-Benz to have regional After-Sales Logistics Centre in Malaysia from 2024

Mercedes-Benz has finalized the planning for a regional After-Sales Logistics Centre in Malaysia which will start operations from 2024.The German carmaker has signed a long-term lease agreement for the location and will partner with Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd to establish the new facility in Senai Airport City outside Johor Bahru.

The warehouse size of the planned location will be approximately 1,000,000 square feet. The building management system of the new warehouse will be equipped with the latest storage and material-handling systems. Operation of the facility will be by Mercedes Benz Parts Logistics Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, a 100% subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG.

Part of global supply chain network

The new distribution centre will be a part of the global Daimler AG After-Sales Supply Chain Network and will serve as a distribution site for spare parts in the Asia-Pacific region and other countries. It will take care of the importation, the storage as well as the regional management of spare parts and accessories distribution.

“With our planned After-Sales Logistics Centre, Mercedes-Benz is committed and will invest to strengthen our foothold in Malaysia. We have found excellent conditions and great support in cooperation with MIDA and the related ministries. Located strategically in Johor Bahru, this new After-Sales Logistics Center will enable us to reaffirm our position as a global and regional distribution hub whilst creating new jobs for the region. Both our customers and our dealer networks will enjoy a good service and high-quality standards through this new infrastructure,” said Thomas Schulz, Vice President Global Service & Parts Operations.

Historically strategic location

Historically, Singapore’s location at the southern tip of the Malayan peninsular has made it a strategic point for trade. It served as an ideal transit point between East Asia and Europe, and even Australia, hence its development as a bustling trading port. Over the years, while Singapore has been an obvious choice for regional storage by various companies, nearby Johor has also become attractive for logistics activities.

Parts from the regional facility are sent to dealers for use at authorised service centres or for retail sale.

In 2003, the BMW Group moved its regional parts storage facility from Singapore to the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor and then in 2017, it again relocated the facility to an industrial zone adjacent to Senai Airport. The facility is a logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre serving over 20 countries.

The
 Volkswagen Group likewise moved its regional parts facility
 from Singapore to PTP in 2016. It stores tens of thousands of parts for the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen commercial vehicle brands of the German group for distribution to over 20 markets.

Having a storage facility in Johor (or Singapore) is useful for the carmakers as it can speed up deliveries to customers on this side of the world. Customers will benefit as delivery times can be shortened compared to having them come all the way from Europe.  The proximity to the airport as well as the port also mean that logistics can be more efficiently managed.

Upgraded Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Johor Bahru enhances retail experience for C&C customers

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and although you may not show symptoms, you could spread the coronavirus to others. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.


Proton Certified Pre-Owned (PCPO) website ‘opens’ for business

Proton now has a used car website, providing car-buyers a convenient way to shop for used Proton vehicles. The
Proton Certified Pre-Owned (PCPO) website
 provides a listing of current  stocks available at 36 dealers nationwide.

PCPO is a further extension of Proton’s used car business which began with the establishment of established a Used Car Management (UCM) division in 2019. Its task was to grow a network of dealers to sell used cars alongside new ones.

Dealers must meet qualifying criteria

From an initial pilot project comprising just 8 Proton outlets, there are now 36 in the PCPO programme. All of them have met several qualifying criteria, both financial and physical, and agree to perform the necessary steps to prepare their trade-in stock for sale. For instance, each car undergoes a comprehensive 201-point inspection and is given a new battery, fresh engine oil and an oil filter.

Other requirements for PCPO vehicles include being less than 7 years old with less than 130,000 kms covered at the  time of trade-in. They must also not have any flood or major accident damage that may affect their structural integrity.

“Proton’s PCPO is the next step for the company to build a holistic ecosystem. As we continue to offer new and  improved products, we also want to attract those interested in purchasing a used car and offer a quick and easy way  for customers to trade-in their current vehicles. All our PCPO cars get an extended one-year warranty for the engine  and transmission as well as a free service, redeemable up to 6 months after the date of registration,” said Roslan  Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

Cars of other brands too

Proton will also sell cars from other brands that have been traded-in via its PCPO website. In this instance, the vehicles do not receive an extended warranty from the company but will still be thoroughly inspected and repaired if necessary prior to being put up for sale.

“Aside from helping to drive new car sales, the aim of Proton’s UCM division is to help stabilise and gradually build  the residual value of Proton vehicles. By offering high quality used cars, we hope to see a general lifting of prices for all our models, making it easier for customers to obtain competitive financing rates and raising trade-in values when they want to buy a new car,” added Encik Roslan.

1.5-litre Powertrain in Proton X50 TGDi Flagship wins China auto industry’s ‘Nobel Prize’.


LEGO Group And Lazada Host Largest Super Brand Day On 18 May

On May 18, The
LEGO
 Group will collaborate with Lazada to stage the biggest LEGO LazMall Super Brand Day yet. This 24-hour shopping event enables customers to ‘Dream It, Build It’ by turning their ideal cars into reality with LEGO® vehicle sets. It features exclusive bundles, a social media building contest (#LEGOMYDreamItBuildIt), prizes with purchase and great bargains around the clock.

The LEGO Group has partnered with Universal Products & Experiences this year to present a series of distinctive Fast & Furious-themed activations and LEGO vehicle sets for its LEGO LazMall Super Brand Day. This in the hopes of encouraging customers to unleash their creativity with LEGO bricks and discover the limitless possibilities of what makes a dream car their dream car. Customers may anticipate unique LEGO Fast & Furious Starter Kits and enter to win movie tickets for the upcoming May release of Fast X, the newest installment in the Fast & Furious Saga.

#LEGOMYDreamItBuildIt Social Contest

In order to encourage families to construct their ideal LEGO vehicles together using LEGO bricks from any LEGO set, The LEGO Group is hosting the Dream It, Build It! social contest from now through May 18 in preparation for LazMall Super Brand Day. This contest builds on the idea of family, which is one of the main themes of the Fast & Furious Saga.

Participants are required to:

Take a photo of their dream LEGO Vehicles build
Share the idea behind their design in a post with a caption
Include the hashtags #LEGOMY and #LEGOMYDreamItBuildIt
Tag @lazada_my to submit their entries on either Facebook or Instagram

The awards for the top three winners with the most inventive builds will be worth at least RM 950, while the prizes for the 10 consolation winners will range from RM 450 to RM 950, thanks to The LEGO Group and Universal Group.

Along with the “Dream It, Build It!” social contest, customers can also keep an eye out for exclusive LEGO Fast & Furious Starter Kit Bundles, which include two LEGO Fast & Furious Speed Champion sets, the 76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T and the 76917 Fast & Furious
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
 Speed Champion sets, as well as an exclusive box that unfolds into a play mat for a memorable and long-lasting unboxing play experience.

76917 Fast & Furious Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)

76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T

Additionally, the top three pre-sale spenders who made purchases from the pre-sale collection on LEGO LazMall Super Brand Day will be entered to win a pair of tickets each to the upcoming Fast X movie premiere on May 16, 2023 (available 11 May – 18 May, 11:59 PM).

The first 250 orders will also get to take advantage of the “Fast & Furious X-Perience,” which includes free same-day delivery on selected orders, discounts of up to 33% off the entire store (new launches will be excluded), a variety of pre-sale discounts and deals, flash sales, and exclusive LazMall Super Brand Day coupons.

From 13 April to 28 May, a number of LEGO Certified Stores, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, and Toys”R”Us locations will host in-store activations centred around LEGO Vehicles in conjunction with LEGO’s LazMall Super Brand Day. On a first come, first served basis, interested attendees can register for their top session choices with the LEGO team or event personnel. These vehicle-themed in-store activations work to foster awe-inspiring play for kids in an environment surrounded by cool, aspirational, and intricate models of realistic dream automobile sets with the goal of realising every child’s desire to own a supercar.

Participants will not only get to play interactively and hands-on with a LEGO Vehicles set, but they will also have the opportunity to build a simple LEGO car right there and then with the various LEGO bricks that are offered. Participants can get a free LEGO polybag by finishing both checkpoints with a vehicle theme.


Fuel Price Updates For September 12 – 18, 2020


Restoring Your Volvo To A Certified Safe Condition After An Accident

If your Volvo looks like it’s been through a crash test after an accident and you would like to continue using it, you can get it restored to a condition safe to be driven, certified by Volvo. Two authorized Volvo dealerships in Malaysia now have Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centres (VCDR) which can provide end-to-end high quality body repair and paint services that meet the Swedish carmaker’s standards.

The two dealerships are Federal Auto Cars (located in Glenmarie, Selangor) and Sime Darby Swedish Auto (Ara Damansara, Selangor). Malaysia is the second country in the region to have such facilities. Each facility measures 11,133 square feet and can handle up to 1,260 vehicles a year.

“We are very happy to be able to witness the milestones that Volvo Car Malaysia has achieved thus far,” said Nick Connor, Head of Volvo Cars APEC. “From the implementation of a global electrification strategy to selling the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, here we are today, launching Volvo Car’s VCDR to further realize our vision in offering the highest standards of aftersales care to our customers. We are very happy that through the investment made by our partners, Malaysia is now the second country in the region to introduce VCDR.”

VCDR provides Volvo owners with quick and efficient body repair and paint services. High overall repair quality is ensured using advanced tools and equipment combined with strict adherence to the standard Volvo processes for such work.

The VCDR standard integrates the use of sustainable technology for their body and paint repair services. For example, a low-pressure ventilation system with automatic controls reduces the emission of carbon dioxide and emission of microscopic particles, thereby minimizing air pollution. The system also has lower energy consumption while the machinery utilizes batteries when heating the electric system. More than 80% of the air will be sucked in through a filtration system that reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in paint is now replaced with a water-based paint, reducing the Volvo employee’s exposure to hazardous chemicals.

“We aim to continue delivering the best quality service and offerings to our customers. This includes ramping up the sustainability of our operations to minimize environmental impact, while maintaining service excellence. As such, we are pleased to adopt the VCDR standard for Volvo vehicles at our Sime Darby Motors Centralized Body and Paint facility, in line with our Environment, Social & Governance’s initiative to lower carbon transition, continuously invest in solutions and inspire meaningful change,” said Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Retail and Distribution of Sime Darby Motors Malaysia.

When Volvo drove a car off a building for a crash test (w/VIDEO)


Nissan EVs as mobile power supply units in disaster areas (w/VIDEO)

Many of today’s electric vehicles (EVs) have a battery pack that can store a considerable amount of energy. The energy is used to power the electric motors that move the vehicle, but the battery packs can also be used as mobile power supply units in areas that have experienced natural disasters.

Nissan is exploring such an idea with the RE-LEAF, a working prototype based on its
current  LEAF EV
. The RE-LEAF can be driven into a disaster zone and provide a fully mobile power supply for machinery or other equipment on-site used by rescue teams.

Electricity for all kinds of devices

Alongside modifications to navigate roads damaged or covered in debris, the RE-LEAF has weatherproof plug sockets mounted directly to the exterior of the vehicle. These can be connected to 110V to 230V devices which can be supplied electricity from the car’s high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack.

The integrated energy management system can run medical, communications, lighting, heating and other life-support equipment.

“We’re constantly exploring ways that electric vehicles can enrich our lives, beyond just zero-emission transportation,” said Helen Perry, Head of Electric Passenger Cars and Infrastructure for Nissan in Europe. “Concepts like the RE-LEAF show the possible application of EVs in disaster management and demonstrate that smarter, cleaner technology can help save lives and provide greater resilience.”

Real-world applications

Nissan developed the RE-LEAF to demonstrate the potential of electric vehicles in disaster recovery. Although it’s just a working concept, the technology is already being used in the real world. In Japan, Nissan has used the LEAF to provide emergency power and transportation following natural disasters since 2011, and the company has formed partnerships with more than 60 local governments to support disaster relief efforts.

Natural disasters are the biggest cause of power outages. A 2019 World Bank report found natural shocks and climate change caused 37% of outages in Europe between 2000 and 2017, and 44% of outages in the U.S. over the same period.

When a disaster hits, the time for electricity supply to be restored is typically 24 to 48 hours, depending on the severity of the damage. During that period, EVs can provide zero-emission mobile emergency power.

Portable power station

Acting as a portable power station, the latest LEAF e+ model with a fully charged 62 kWh battery pack can provide enough electricity to power the average European household for 6 days. As a disaster recovery vehicle, it can power multiple devices simultaneously for a period of up to 24 hours.

Some examples which use 230V power are an electric jackhammer, pressure ventilation fan, 10-litre soup kettle, intensive care medical ventilator, and 100W LED floodlight.

Once electricity is restored to the area, the EVs can then be recharged and provide zero-emission transport – up to 385 kms for the LEAF e+.

Nissan EVs can also act as mobile storage batteries to supply homes and society with electricity during non-emergency situations through Nissan Energy Share, creating a distributable energy model that can be used to help stabilize supply and demand.

“Electric vehicles are emerging as one of the technologies that can improve resilience in the power sector,” Perry said. “By having thousands of EVs available on standby, either as disaster support vehicles or plugged into the network through Vehicle-to-Grid, they’re uniquely capable of creating a virtual power plant to maintain a supply of energy.”

The latest Nissan LEAF EV is available in Malaysia. For more information, visit
www.nissan.com.my
.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Nissan Leaf – “Simply Electrifying”


How Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) came into existence

Daytime Running Lights or DRLs are a common lighting feature on many vehicles today, even the lower-priced ones. Their original purpose was to increase conspicuity of the vehicle during the daytime, or in poor or low lighting conditions, alerting other road-users earlier. It offers the same safety benefit as a motorcycle’s headlight being kept on all the time.

An approaching vehicle that has a DRL will be visible earlier to the driver, reducing the chance of a head-on collision.

Born in the USA

Like the Third Brake Light (or Centre High Mounted Stop Lamp, which is the correct term), the DRL came into use in the USA although, initially, there was controversy and some states did not allow it. In Europe, though, there was easier acceptance in regions like Scandinavia where lighting conditions are low much of the year (especially during winter). Although Finland required vehicles travelling on rural roads to have DRLs slightly earlier. Sweden was the first country to require vehicles to have DRLs, introducing the law in 1977, although Finland required vehicles travelling on rural roads to have DRLs slightly earlier.

In the USA, though, the DRL was not considered as being important enough and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) felt that the conditions did not make them necessary. There were also critics who argued that they were more a danger than a contribution to road safety. Back then (the 1980s), the DRLs were very bright in order to be effective in the daytime. As they were in a fixed position, their height on some vehicles (like pick-up trucks or SUVs) could also result in the light shining straight into oncoming drivers’ eyes.

Nevertheless, the value of DRLs was considered to be great enough that General Motors actively lobbied the NHTSA to support their usage and subsequent mandatory requirement. One presentation by the carmaker elaborated on studies made of the effectiveness of DRLs after they became compulsory on vehicles in Sweden. An 11% reduction in daytime collisions was observed while two-vehicle head-on collisions were reduced by 10%, and collisions involving cyclists and road-users on 2-wheelers were reduced by 21%. Collisions involving pedestrians were reduced by 17%.

In places where there are winter conditions, lighting is low so having DRLs which are on all the time has proven effective in reducing accidents.

Opposition to use of DRLs

In early 1987, the NHTSA agreed to permit the installation of DRLs but this proposal was terminated in June 1988 because there was strong and influential opposition. GM then petitioned, in 1990, for the optional use of DRLs which was accepted and addressed a multitude of state laws which had the effect of not allowing the use DRLs.

General Motors installed simple DRLs on some of its models from 1995 and made them standard across the range from 1997.

GM began to install DRLs on some of its 1995 model year vehicles and within 2 years, DRLs were standard equipment on all GM vehicles sold in the USA. Besides GM, Saab, Volvo and Volkswagen were also the first manufacturers to introduce DRLs in the US market.

Outside North America, carmakers also began to add DRLs to their vehicles as new marketing features. There was no compulsion (other than in countries already having DRL laws) to install them so the appearance of the additional lights within the headlamps was progressive, subject to costs going down.

In the early 1980s, Volvo introduced the DRL concept in the Malaysian-assembled 240 by having the corner lights on all the time. Unfortunately, our high temperatures all year round caused an unexpected problem.

Unexpected problem in Malaysia

The first ‘DRL-equipped’ cars in Malaysia were from Volvo in the early 1980s. At that time, the DRLs were not really separate lighting elements as we know them today but bulbs were kept on all the time. As they had to be very bright to be effective in the strong Malaysian sunshine, they had a higher wattage which meant they generated more heat. This created an unexpected problem – the plastic covers began to deform! It was not a known problem in Sweden since temperatures are very much lower but for Malaysia, some changes had to be made to the materials. Needless to say, owners got the covers replaced under warranty.

From being merely a safety feature, DRLs have also become styling features, providing a visual ‘signature’ that identifies the model. This has been evident on premium brands where there have been common themes for the DRL style and further downmarket, designers are also doing the same thing these days.

DRLs offer significant safety benefits and have no drawbacks; the issue of dazzle which can occur at night is addressed as the DRLs set to deactivate when the headlights are switched on. In the early days, DRLs used incandescent bulbs which could result in a tiny increase in fuel consumption but with low-energy LEDs now in use, this is no longer an issue.

Older vehicles don’t have DRLs so you should switch on the headlights if lighting conditions are poor.

If your vehicle does not have DRLs but you believe in the value of being more visible to other drivers, then be sure to switch on your headlights whenever lighting conditions are poor or low. This includes occasions when you may be driving along country roads where there are trees blocking the sky and the lighting is low. Having the headlights on could make a difference as drivers approaching from a distance can see the lights and not attempt to overtake other vehicles.


Proton launches Four Special Edition models

Last year, Proton created a special edition of the Saga to commemorate the 35th anniversary Malaysia’s first national car. Only 1,100 units of the Saga Anniversary Edition were available – and every single one was taken up within just 5 days.

Now, the Malaysian carmaker is offering more choices with its latest Special Editions, all of which follow the black theme of the Saga Anniversary Edition. The models are the Persona and Exora as well as the Iriz and Saga. The Persona and Exora are Black Editions while the Iriz and Saga are R3 Limited Editions. R3 (Race, Rally & Research) is the performance arm of Proton which has been developing competition models and participated in international rallies as well as circuit events with many successes.

The prices of the Special Editions and units available are as follow:

Proton Saga R3 Limited Edition (2,000 units):
RM42,300

Proton Iriz R3 Limited Edition (500 units):
RM52,900

Proton Persona Black Edition (500 units):
RM54,700

Proton Exora Black Edition (500 units):
RM67,800

These prices are for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia and do not include insurance. Sales tax is also not included but will be added if the purchase is made after June 30, 2021 when the exemption is set to expire. However, it is likely that all units will be sold out by then as there will be many who will certainly want to own one of these limited production editions that can be collectors’ items in future.

“By launching four Special Edition models today, Proton is giving its customers more choices. These are products manufactured in Malaysia targeted to Malaysian car buyers and are reminders that Proton is and always will be a ‘full-service’ car manufacturer with the ability to design, develop and build our own cars from a clean sheet of paper,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 to find out more about other promotions at BHPetromart.

PROTON SAGA R3 LIMITED EDITION

The Saga R3 Limited Edition has similarities to the earlier Anniversary Edition with its overall black finish and black elements with yellow striping for highlights. The door mirror covers are in yellow, which seems rather jarring and some might prefer if they were also black.

Unlike the Anniversary edition, this R3 Limited Edition has a strong association with R3 through the decals around the bodywork. The alloy wheels have an ‘open’ design and are 15 inches in diameter, wrapped with tyres of 185/55 size.

In the cabin, the black theme is to be expected as well with seat upholstery in leatherette that has ‘R3 Limited Edition’ stitched on the upper section of the front seat backrests. Like the exterior, yellow striping is used on various styling elements on the dashboard and other trim panels, as well as the carpets.

This being a Special Edition, Proton has made sure it is also equipped to the highest level and owners get items like switches on the steering wheel, a touchscreen display for the infotainment system which also shows the imagery from the reverse camera.

Though it has R3 in its name, the car does not have any special performance enhancements to add speed or  give stronger acceleration. The engine is the same 1.3-litre unit as other Sagas and the good thing is that it uses a 4-speed torque converter unit that gives more pleasurable motoring than the CVT used before.

PROTON IRIZ R3 LIMITED EDITION

The Iriz R3 Limited Edition takes the same approach as the Saga R3 Limited Edition with the dominant black bodywork and certain elements highlighted in yellow. It does get an injection of sportiness – visually – with the R3 bodykit as standard, 16-inch wheels and of course, the requisite R3 decals.

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre engine while inside, the cabin  too has the same black and yellow theme. It’s what you would expect of a Special Edition where the manufacturer gives cosmetic enhancements but skirts anything which would require engineering time and money. That would be necessary to raise the performance levels but given the volume, it won’t be justified. Better to just let R3 do some business selling performance parts and providing their tuning expertise to owners.

PROTON PERSONA BLACK EDITION

The Persona is a pretty popular sedan in the B-segment so there are many on the road. For those who want their Persona to stand out, Proton offers the Black Edition to just 500 people. The bold black appearance will already draw attention and to highlight styling elements, gold striping is applied. It’s an approach that strengthens the car’s presence in a subtle way.

Inside too, areas like the centre console between the seats, trim panels, vents and certain knobs gets the gold treatment. The front seats have leather-like upholstery but do not have any special stitching. Still, the all-black ambience is something which has its own appeal.

The Persona infotainment system has ‘intelligence’ and responds to the ‘
Hi Proton
’ command. It’s not as sophisticated as what you get in the X70 (where you can have the windows opened just by asking) and is limited to managing music and navigation, and getting weather forecasts.

The powertrain is the proven 1.6 litre unit with VVT and a CVT to get the 107 ps/150 Nm to the front wheels.

PROTON EXORA BLACK EDITION

The Exora MPV is now 11 years old and is still popular among those who need a people-mover. While it is somewhat old, it is also a proven MPV and whatever bugs there were would have been ironed out already.

The Black Edition gets the same sort of treatment as the other models with the Quartz Black finish being the body colour, and gold accent lines flowing around. Already big, the black effect gives the MPV a stronger image like a SWAT vehicle. The black treatment is also used throughout the cabin and gold striping added in certain areas. Incidentally, Proton did offer black as a colour choice in the years prior to 2017.

The Exora is powered by a 1.6-litre CAMPRO CFE engine with turbocharging which boosts output to 140 ps/205 Nm. Power goes to the front wheels through a CVT.

Like the Persona, the Exora was also upgraded with the GKUI developed by Geely when the Chinese carmaker came into the picture. This is an intelligent interface which is activated by the words ‘
Hi Proton’
, allowing the driver to manage certain functions without having to reach for knobs or switches or touch the screen (though there is also a touchscreen).

As with all new Protons sold today, the Special Editions come with a Basic Warranty of 5 years or the first 150,000 kms. Bookings are accepted at all authorised Proton outlets from today and to locate one, visit
www.proton.com
.


Red Edition Focus RS to be launched soon

Ford has decided to introduce a limited edition Focus RS just in time for the holidays. Called the RS Red Edition, with just 300 examples salted for production, will feature a Race Red exterior, grey brake calipers, black cast alloy wheels as well as contrasting black roof, door mirrors and rear spoiler.

Like the special edition RS, this one also gets a front mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential (LSD). This clever tech provides the car with better traction to the wheel that needs it most. As such, during hard cornering, the Focus RS will be able to deliver impressive levels of grip and stability.

“The Focus RS Edition represents accessible performance at its finest”, said Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain. “As RS production nears its end, we wanted to celebrate with a limited run of cars for those who want to stand out as an RS fan.”

The car is available to order now at Ford dealerships but its production will only begin in February of 2018. As such, this jolly red Focus RS won’t be rolling out in time for this Christmas but we are sure many enthusiasts wouldn’t mind the wait.

In general, the latest Focus RS is a technological masterpiece, it crams sports car-like performance into a compact package. Powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, all-wheel-drive and a Limited Slip Differential, it’s a hot hatch that can give certain supercars a run for their money.


Sunsuria And China’s IAT To Develop EVs For Malaysia

Sunsuria is considering a partnership with China’s IAT Automobile Co Ltd to do research and development in electric vehicles (EV) and EV-related products.

According to a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the collaboration will involve the development and production of Malaysia’s own brand of EV with cutting-edge technological developments together with China’s largest independent automotive design company, IAT.

Sunsuria IAT (M) Sdn Bhd is a joint venture in which Sunsuria owns 51% and IAT owns 49%.

IAT T-Mad by IAT Automobile

The collaboration also intends to build and grow EV innovation parks, as well as jointly establish an ASEAN Automotive Design and Innovation Centre. The collaboration will be headquartered in Malaysia, with plans to expand to additional nations in the region in the future.

The MoU would allow the corporation to engage with IAT on research and development in the area of EV and EV-related products, as well as provide automotive education and talent cultivation for Malaysia and South East Asia to improve operational efficiency.

It is also part of a series of foreign direct investments totaling RM170 billion from China, secured in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China.

Sunsuria is a multi-faceted and well-established publicly listed property developer, that also diversifies into construction, landscape and nursery, food and beverages, digital development, education, integrated healthcare, retail and other complementary businesses and joint ventures.


Euro NCAP assessments become tougher in 2020 with new protocols

Since 1997, the European New Car Assessment Programme – better known as Euro NCAP – has conducted independent assessments of new vehicles sold in Europe for consumers’ information. The assessments include crash tests (but are not the only aspect) as well as other active systems influencing safety performance.

While several European governments, motoring, consumer and insurance organizations support the work of Euro NCAP, their star ratings – summaries of the results from assessments – are not specified in vehicle safety regulations. However, Euro NCAP has, over the years, been influential in pushing manufacturers to incorporate new and better safety systems as they have become available and affordable.

Consumers refer to the star ratings and other information in the reports to help them in deciding which model to buy. Naturally, a maximum 5-star rating is ideal but sometimes, this means a higher cost so the consumer can make an informed choice to settle for 4 stars instead. In some cases, very poor scores will affect sales as consumers understand that they will not be sufficiently protected in the event of an accident.

Every 2 years, Euro NCAP updates and toughens its testing processes, adding new requirements in order to score maximum points. This year, new tests are introduced to address some longstanding needs in occupant protection, improve post-crash protection and promote the latest advanced driver assistance technology.

A key change is the implementation of a new moving barrier to the moving car frontal crash test, replacing the regulation-based moderate offset-deformable barrier test, used by Euro NCAP for the last 23 years. This new crash test not only evaluates the protection of occupants inside the car, but also assesses how the cars’ front-end structures contribute to injuries in the collision partner.

Important innovations are the Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier and the unique method to rate vehicle compatibility, as well as the first adoption of the world’s most advanced ‘THOR’ mid-sized male crash test dummy.

Inside the advanced THOR dummy used for recording effects on the human body during a crash.

To the public, Euro NCAP’s assessments may seem to be all about crash tests but the organisation also evaluates other safety systems.

Side impacts account for the second highest frequency of death or serious injuries. The latest updates to this area of the safety assessment include adjustments to the near-side barrier test speed and mass, increasing the severity of the test. More significantly, Euro NCAP will for the first time evaluate far-side impact protection, focussing on driver protection and the potential interaction between driver and front seat passenger. With the latter test, the protection offered by new-to-market countermeasures such as centre airbags can be adequately verified.

Euro NCAP continues to test the latest generation of crash prevention and driver assistance systems. New, challenging test scenarios are added to rate AEB technology for cars and vulnerable road-users. In addition, the first step is taken to evaluate Driver Status Monitoring systems, designed to detect driver fatigue and distraction, as part of the Safety Assist assessment.

Child restraint systems and provisions for protecting children are also evaluated.

Since 2013, Euro NCAP has also been assessing Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), influencing more and more manufacturers to offer the system which automatically brakes the car.

Improving your car’s safety isn’t just about more airbags or better driver assistance systems. Post-crash safety too plays a vital role in crash survival. In partnership with the International Association of Fire & Rescue Services, Euro NCAP has developed new rating rules to promote better post-crash safety. Manufacturers will be rewarded when rescue information is accurate and easily available. Euro NCAP also checks ease of extrication, electric door handles, etc. and endorses advanced eCall functions.

The organisation believes the impact of these updates, as well some other minor changes, will be significant. Therefore, consumers must be careful when directly comparing the latest results with ratings from previous years. What stays the same is that only vehicles that perform excellently in crash protection, post-crash and crash avoidance – and the ones that car buyers should look out for – will achieve the top 5-Star rating.

The success of Euro NCAP has inspired the establishment of similar organisations in other regions, including Southeast Asia where there is the
ASEAN NCAP
.

Mazda CX-30 is the safest model tested by Euro NCAP to date

Fighting COVID-19 is our joint responsibility. Protect yourself and others: make these 6 simple precautions your new habits.


MagnaFlow wants to give more power to your Toyota GR Supra

If you’re knee-deep in the world of vehicle modifications (or just a Need for Speed or Gran Turismo enthusiast), the name MagnaFlow might be familiar. The performance exhaust manufacturer recently launched their latest xMOD premium performance exhaust series and their first model is made specifically for the
2019 Toyota GR Supra
.

With modular design plus quality and performance synonymous to the MagnaFlow brand, their latest xMOD series is meant for quick swaps to provide a more awesome volume and exhaust tone for those who want something different in their sports performance vehicles. It’s indeed a good start with using the GR Supra as their first platform.

Customers have the ability to configure the sound emitted from the MagnaFlow exhaust system from a deep, yet aggressive note supplied by the xMOD Muffler Modules or a more race car roar with the xTreme Delete Modules (which is intended for track use only).

MagnaFlow also offers two different inlet pipe options for fellow Supra owners. The first Opti-Flow Module comes with a fast-flowing three-inch mandrel bent stainless steel design which ‘corrects flow restrictions present in the factory crushed Supra exhaust’. Opt for the 3.5-inch big bore xTreme Flow Module design and your presented with 36% increased airflow.

In stock setup, the Supra xMOD Series exhaust increases the overall power output by 4hp but if you can manage to find a tuner that can help to remove some of the car’s factory calibrated limitations, MagnaFlow reckons that you can bump that up to an extra 14hp. You’ll definitely feel and hear the differences from its 3.0-litre twin-scroll single-turbo DOHC 24-valve inline-six engine.

Want one? It’ll only cost you $2,500 (around RM10,491) if you happen to be in the States. That might seem like a huge sum to pay but this complete bolt-on exhaust system also comes with a Lifetime Construction Warranty and each kit includes all the necessary hardware and components for easy installation. Head to

www.magnaflow.com

for more info.

2020 Toyota GR Supra has landed in Malaysia! From RM568,000


2018 Toyota Vios Now Available For Booking Starting @ RM74,980

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has announced that the order-taking of the new Toyota Vios will start effective from this week onward.

UMWT has started the New Year with upgrades to its bestselling model, the
Toyota Vios.
It will now give customers even better value for money. The 2018 model gets cosmetic changes on the exterior as well as interior, providing a fresh appearance.

Besides design refreshment, new accessories such as Parking Sensor, Shark Fin Antenna, and Illuminated Scuff Plates have been introduced. Vios will be the first model in its segment to have a Parking Sensor and this item will be offered as standard for TRD, GX and G variants.

A new DVD-AVX entertainment system with enhanced features is also available for this Vios and it is offered with a reverse camera as standard for all variants except Vios J (MT) and J (AT).

Existing advanced items such as Panoramic View Monitor and Digital Video Recorder, etc are still offered on top of the new accessories.

As before, there are 6 variants to choose from with prices starting from
RM74,980
 (excluding insurance, for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia). All the variants of the Vios qualify as Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV) under the current National Automotive Policy.

As with all the latest Toyota models sold by UMWT, the Vios comes with a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage. If the vehicle is sold off during the first 5 years, the warranty coverage will also be available to the next owner, enhancing the value of the vehicle.

Bookings are now accepted at all Toyota showrooms nationwide. For more information, kindly visit
toyota.com.my
.


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

It was less than two weeks ago when the
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
 was announced with the world’s most powerful supercharged 5.2-litre V8 production engine with 760hp and 850Nm of torque. Today, Ford announced its price tag and power does come with price.

For the basic model, the starting price has been set at $73,995 (around RM305,429) for the US market. The numbers will only go up from there if customers choose for different variants and options available like the Carbon Fibre Track package which can hit up to $90,000 (RM371,565).

This RM76,400 package consists of carbon-fibre wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track tires, an adjustable carbon-fibber wing, removable rear-seats, and front dive planes. The new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with this package makes it the current record holder for the most expensive factory Mustang in the street-legal category.

The standard machine is able to hit a limited top speed of 290km/h and an impressive quarter mile drag time of 11 seconds. With all that added carbon fibre goodness and some weight reduction (superlight Recaro seats included in the packages), that price will instantly give customers a 10-second monstrous dragstrip eating machine.

It is very unlikely that this machine will grace our Malaysian shores anytime soon but we have high hopes that the new-generation Mustang will arrive as it was exclusively previewed at the end of last year during the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2019 (KLIMS).

Stay tuned to
Piston.My
 for more automotive updates.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Mustang yet


Seven Special Edition models to be won in Honda’s ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign

Just two years after crossing the 900,000th vehicle milestone, Honda Malaysia has now crossed the 1 million mark. To celebrate this significant milestone, the company has prepared Special Edition models to be given away in the ‘
1 Million Dreams’
 campaign’.

“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to members of the media for their ongoing support and honest reviews of Honda products as well as our dealer partners for their strong commitment to uphold the Honda brand. The ‘
1 Million Dreams Campaign
’ is an initiative for us to say
‘thank you
’ to all our customers as it is their strong support that has enabled us to come a long way and experience this inspiring journey. As our heartfelt appreciation, we are giving away seven Special Edition models of the Jazz, All-New City, BR-V, HR-V, Civic, New CR-V and Accord,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to members of the media for their ongoing support and honest reviews of Honda products as well as our dealer partners for their strong commitment to uphold the Honda brand. We would also like to thank the Malaysian government for their continuous support throughout the years as well as introducing the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) during the pandemic. Tis provides substantial support to the automotive industry,” he said.

Unique feature for Special Editions

The seven Special Edition models to be given have been specially designed with unique features, making them one-of-a-kind models in Malaysia. The exterior has a Dual Tone, with Front Fascia having Red Highlights; Sporty Red Line Side Mirrors, Black Painted Alloy Wheels with Red Highlights as well as
1 Million Dreams
 Signature Emblem to signify them as Special Edition models.

Inside each of the models, there are ‘
1 Million Dreams
’ Embossed Leather Headrests for both driver and front passenger seats as well as a Leather Steering Wheel with Red Stitching and Centre Mark. The owner of each unit will receive a Special Edition Leather Key Pouch.

The campaign runs
 from February 26 to March 24, 2021
 and during that period, there will also be a variety of exciting activities in store. Honda Malaysia’s President & COO, Sarly Adle Sarkum, said the activities will be at all showrooms nationwide and include a
‘1 Million Dreams
’ exhibition. “We are also delighted to have special collaborations with our brand partners CUCKOO, Shopee and Watsons,” he said.

“In addition, we want to express our appreciation to all the frontliners for their hard work and dedication. Hence, we have allocated one of the seven Special Edition cars specially for them to win through this campaign. On top of the seven Special Edition cars, we have prizes worth 1 Million Shopee coins to be given out to 150 lucky winners on a weekly basis; throughout the campaign, we will also have prizes worth 5 Million Shopee coins,” he added.

Various ways to enter and win

Malaysians can stand a chance to win these seven Special Edition models just by completing a few easy steps to participate in the contest. Participants can take part in any of the 6 activities prepared by Honda Malaysia to earn as many entries as they can and submit the entries at authorised Honda dealers or via Honda Malaysia’s official website.

Participants can collect the entries by downloading and signing up for the HondaTouch application, playing the ‘
1 Million Dreams’
 Quiz Game at Honda Malaysia’s official website, test driving a new Honda vehicle, booking a new Honda vehicle, servicing or repairing a Honda vehicle, or registering a new Honda vehicle within the campaign period.

The more entries collected, the higher the chance of winning the Special Edition cars. The lucky winners of the Special Edition cars will be announced at the Grand Finale which is scheduled for the end of March 2021.

Partners collaborate with Honda Malaysia

”Sharing our passion as a Healthy Home Creator to constantly bring value and enhancing the lives of all Malaysians, we are proud to be partnering with Honda Malaysia through their ‘
1 Million Dreams Campaign
’. Through this collaboration, we will be offering our customers and fans who purchase any of our selected Beyond Standards CUCKOO, or our newly launched and astoundingly comfortable A-Series Mattresses in March, a chance to drive home a Honda car. We welcome all our CUCKOO customers and fans to grab this opportunity to complete their dream homes with us,” said CUCKOO International Founder & CEO, Hoe Kian Choon.

Shopee’s Regional Managing Director, Ian Ho said Shopee will be giving away a special edition Honda HR-V on Shopee and be part of making a dream come true for that one lucky user. “We are honoured to be partnering Honda Malaysia in this celebration of having sold one million units of their vehicles here in Malaysia. Apart from Honda Malaysia showing its appreciation to its customers for their trust in the brand, this partnership speaks volumes of Honda’s digitalisation journey whilst giving us the chance to help it gain further success through e-commerce. Here’s to many more milestones to come and we look forward to driving meaningful experiences with Honda Malaysia!” Mr. Ho said.

Watsons Malaysia has put together an exclusive contest for its loyalty members to stand a chance of winning the Special Edition BR-V. Watsons members can participate in the contest by spending more than RM50 in a single receipt at any Watsons store or online.

“Congratulations to Honda Malaysia for the remarkable achievement! We are glad to be part of the ‘
1 Million Dreams Campaign
’ to commemorate this milestone with Honda Malaysia. I encourage all our members to grab this opportunity to join this contest!” said Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons Malaysia.

Speeding forward in digitalisation

”This year, Honda Malaysia is set to excite the Malaysian market,” said Mr. Ishiyama. “In the era of digitalisation where its development and uptake are further accelerated by the new normal, Honda Malaysia strives to provide a comprehensive digital platform for its customers by enhancing its
HondaTouch application
 and digital pre-booking platform.”

For more information on the ‘
1 Million Dreams Campaign
’, visit the campaign’s website at
honda.com.my/1milliondreams/entry
 or any of the 102 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. Alternatively, you can call Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at
1-800-88-2020
, or visit
www.honda.com.my
.

Honda stays at No.1 position in Non-National segment for 6th year


The Beetles that never made it to the showrooms

Over the years, the Volkswagen Beetle represented many different things to many different people. It was a classic example of German ingenuity, a symbol of the counterculture movement, and a reminder that the simplest of things can sometimes be the best. It was truly a car for the people, compact, economical, reliable and durable.

The Beetle was a boom car for affordable transportation in Europe and elsewhere and, by 1952, it was sold in 46 countries. Eventually, it would be built in 14 countries, including Malaysia, and more than 21.5 million were sold before the final, modern-generation Beetle left the line at the factory in Mexico in 2019.

When the original Beetle was produced in the 1940s, who would have imagined that it would remain in the same form until 2003?

The original Beetle retained its form for many decades, becoming a familiar shape on roads all over the world. Its attributes which kept it in demand were not easily replicated and so it continued n production even after the Golf arrived as a successor in 1974.

Although it may seem that Volkswagen did not consider redesigning the original car, starting in the early 1950s, it had design proposals from time to time. There were more than 70 potential replacements, but none seemed able to match what the Volkswagen represented. Here are some of the proposals that never made it to production.

1955/56 EA47-12:
 Number 12 of 15 prototypes produced between 1953 and the end of 1956, the EA-47-12 was the carmaker’s first attempt at creating a more modern successor. It was the first of many Beetle replacements designed by Italian automobile designer Ghia, which is probably why it looked like the Karmann Ghia. The car was powered by a 1192 cc 4-cylinder boxer air-cooled engine with a power output of 30 bhp. In addition, it boasted a transverse link front axle, torsion bar rear suspension, and fully synchronized gearbox—unique technology for the time. The top speed was said to be 80 km/h.

1955 EA48:
 In 1953, Volkswagen began toying with the idea of developing a car positioned below the Beetle in terms of size, performance, and price. The result was this boxy car. Some call it the first ‘City Car’, an accolade bestowed upon the British Mini because the EA48 never went into production. The EA48 was also the first prototype designed in-house without any input from Porsche. None of the components from the Beetle were carried over to the EA48; instead, engineers decided to start from scratch. The front-wheel drive car used unibody construction, a front-mounted 700 cc air-cooled, flat-twin 18 bhp engine, and a MacPherson-type front suspension.

1960 EA97:
 It is believed that the EA97 project was abandoned while workers were preparing its assembly line, and after 200 pilot cars had been assembled by hand. The development of this rear-engine 2-door model began in 1957. It featured a more pontoon-shaped body and a 1.1-litre engine. What was the problem? “It was positioned too close to the Beetle and the Type 3,” according to the AutoMuseum Volkswagen website.

1961 Type 3 Cabriolet:
 The Type 3 released in 1961 gave motorists a more upmarket alternative to the Beetle. This Cabriolet prototype featured a folding top and a glass rear window. Sadly, it was shelved out of fear the model would create internal competition with the Karmann Ghia convertible.

1966 EA142:
 While developing the Type 4, which made its debut in 1968, Volkswagen experimented with various bodystyles, including this elegant EA 142. The rear engine hatchback used the same 1.7-litre engine that would appear in the production version of the Type 4.

1969 EA276:
 This was the inspiration for the original Golf. The front-wheel drive hatchback was boxier than many of the other Beetle replacements. Though this car had the same air-cooled flat-4 engine as the Beetle, the powerplant was changed to a 4-cylinder, water-cooled inline engine before installed in the Golf 1974.

1969 EA266:
 One of the more innovative replacement candidates was the EA266. It was developed with assistance from Porsche and a team led by Ferdinand Piech, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who would later become Chairman of the Volkswagen group in 1993. The mid-engine hatchback had a water-cooled 4-cylinder 1.6-litre engine mounted under the rear seat in a longitudinal configuration with the transaxle directly behind it to save space. Despite the sporty design and Porsche DNA, the EA266 never made it to showrooms and can only be seen in the museum today.

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and you may not show symptoms but spread the coronavirus to others. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.


Airspeeder – a radical new airborne motorsport for the 21st century [w/VIDEO]

Airspeeder – a radical new airborne motorsport for the 21st century – combines the format of Formula E, the thrills of air racing and the glamour of F1. Developed by Alauda Racing, an Australian start-up with the long-term ambition to use its technology to develop a world-beating flying sportscar for sale to the public, the Mk. IV octocopter can hit speeds of 200 km/h and offer a power-to-weight ratio superior to an F-18 fighter jet!

Each sky-high Grand Prix will take place at a different landmark motorsport venue around the world, with Mk IV Airspeeder pilots competing in timed trials and heart-pounding white-knuckle head-to-head races 20 metres above ground.

First world championship in California

After making its global debut at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, manned demonstrations of the new Mk. IV race speeder, which will compete in the first world championship, will begin in California’s Mojave Desert this November.

The Airspeeder series has the opportunity to reset motorsport, using competition as a canvas to develop highly efficient and highly effective airborne vehicles. Speaking on the title sponsorship of Airspeeder Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of Equals, said: “We’re delighted to have agreed this partnership with Airspeeder who are using cutting-edge technology to deliver a new generation of motorsport. The spirit of ingenuity and engineering behind Airspeeder makes it the perfect fit for Equals, as these are also the drivers behind our new brand identity.”