Hyundai Kona wins Best-In-Class Subcompact SUV award AGAIN

The New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) of the United States of America has awarded the Best-in-Class Subcompact SUV to none other than the Hyundai Kona. The subcompact SUV was recognised for the its second year in a row by NEMPA in the Winter Vehicle Awards.

According to Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America, “Kona continues to rack up awards as a testament to its product excellence. Kona sets the benchmark for its segment, with a 1.6L Turbo combining outstanding efficiency and robust power along with cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features.”

The Hyundai Kona was awarded with the honours through a series of evaluations done by fellow NEMPA members during the winter months. Aspects on driving ability and overall agility in rough conditions were taken into consideration as well as safety, driving please, and all-weather driving competence.

This is not the first time Hyundai’s lovely subcompact SUV have received such award. In 2019, Kona has been named North American Utility of the Year®, a Car and Driver 10Best Truck and SUV, Crossover of the Year by Texas Motor Press Association and Best Subcompact SUV for the Money by U.S. News & World Report.

We would love to see this baby arrive at our lovely Malaysian shores and based on several reliable sources, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) does have plans to bring in into the market after previewing it last year at KLIMS 2018. The question now is when and how much it will cost. One thing is for sure, it’ll make the segment that much more interesting.

Hyundai Nexo arriving soon in Southeast Asia market


Mr Bean Loved EVs But Now Feels Duped

Car manufacturers are now moving towards a “greener” future by producing electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce global CO2 emissions. However, if you look beyond what comes out of the vehicle’s exhaust system, there is a bigger picture to consider, as explained by Rowan Atkinson.

Some may already know that Atkinson is a gearhead with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering, along with a subsequent master’s degree in control systems. He has owned multiple classic and legendary cars such as the BMW 328, McLaren F1, 2002 Acura NSX-T, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977), and more. Initially, he had a love for EVs when he purchased his first electric hybrid 18 years ago and his first pure electric car nine years ago. However, he believes that EVs, while wonderful mechanisms, lack soul—a sentiment we wholeheartedly agree with.

Despite his initial love for EVs, Atkinson now has second thoughts about them. Upon closer examination of the facts, electric mobility doesn’t seem to be the environmental cure it’s often advertised as. Atkinson explains that when you zoom out and consider the manufacturing process of EVs, the situation becomes more concerning.

Volvo released data suggesting that greenhouse gas emissions during the production of an electric car are roughly 70% greater than when producing a petrol car. It’s not as “green” as it appears, is it? Atkinson points out that the issue lies with the lithium-ion batteries currently used in almost all electric vehicles—they are excessively heavy, require a significant amount of rare earth metals and energy to manufacture, and have a lifespan of up to 10 years. Relying on such equipment to lead the fight against climate catastrophe seems absurd.

He also mentions efforts being made to find something better, specifically solid-state batteries. These batteries should be lighter and charge more quickly than existing models, but it will take years before they become available for purchase. By that time, millions of overweight electric cars with rapidly degrading batteries will have been produced.

Another alternative that catches Atkinson’s attention is hydrogen, despite the fact that creating a truly “green” method of producing it is still a work in progress. Hydrogen has two possible applications; powering a hydrogen fuel cell, which is essentially a battery, and refueling automobiles with hydrogen at filling stations as quickly as with petrol. Such a system weighs only half as much as an equivalent lithium-ion battery.
Toyota
, one of the biggest automobile manufacturers, has invested a considerable amount of money in developing hydrogen technology.

Atkinson suggests that trucks and other heavy machines would be best suited for this alternative. He says, “JCB, the company that makes yellow diggers, has made huge strides with hydrogen engines and hopes to put them into production in the next couple of years. If hydrogen wins the race to power trucks—and as a result, every filling station stocks it—it could become a popular and accessible choice for cars.”

He feels that our “honeymoon” with EVs is coming to an end and that we must eventually face the music. It is necessary to explore wider options and continue the development of hydrogen and synthetic fuels to prevent the scrapping of older cars.

Atkinson explains that people typically keep a car for three to five years before upgrading to a newer one, which is the trend we observe today. Internal combustion engine (ICE) cars have much more potential and, with proper care and love, can run for almost 30 years.

When asked if someone should consider getting an EV, Atkinson simply says, “If your car is an old diesel and you do a lot of city center driving, you should consider a change. But otherwise, hold off for now. Electric propulsion will one day provide real, global environmental benefits, but that day has yet to arrive.”


You Can Soon Pay Toll Charges Using Debit Or Credit Cards!

Beginning September, 12 highways will employ the open payment system, which enables drivers to pay tolls with debit and credit cards.

The 12 highways are the Penang Bridge (JPP), New Pantai Motorway (NPE), Sungai Besi Motorway (Besraya), Guthrie Corridor Motorway (GCE), and Butterworth-Kulim Motorway (BKE), Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Motorway (MEX), Duta-Ulu Klang Motorway (DUKE), Shah Alam Motorway (Kesas), Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme (SPRINT), Damansara-Puchong Motorway (LDP), and SMART Tunnel, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

“The system is one of the efforts and initiatives of the government that is committed to the transition towards the implementation of the multi-lane fast flow (MLFF) toll collection system which is expected to be realised in stages by the end of 2024,” he said.

The MLFF system is also present in every toll booth along the
SUKE
 motorway. There are now three tolls for the SUKE. Each deck is given a separate toll booth.

Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Touch n Go cards, and SmartTag, the open toll payment system gives consumers alternative payment methods to cash payments.


F1/Round 5: Highlights & Provisional Results For 2021 Monaco Grand Prix

♦ Charles Leclerc, who had qualified with the fastest time and crashed at the end of the final session but could claim pole position on the grid, lost that position as the damage to his Ferrari’s gearbox was too great. This gave Red Bull driver Max Verstappen the pole position, with Mercedes-AMG’s Valtteri Bottas alongside. Uncharacteristically, Lewis Hamilton had qualified only in seventh (and moved up to sixth).

♦ The tightness of the circuit makes passing difficult so the status quo was maintained for most of the front runners although Alpine F1’s Fernando Alonso managed to move up two positions from his grid position to 14th.

♦ Left alone to represent Ferrari, Carlos Sainz slowly took time off the gap with Bottas which was about 3 seconds with 10 laps completed.

♦ By lap 13, gaps were beginning to open up as some drivers were urged to pick up the pace. Sergio Perez, who was 20 seconds from his Red Bull team mate, was trying hard to get past Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel.

♦ Nikita Mazepin (Haas F1) and Lando Norris (McLaren) were some of the drivers who got black and white flags to warn them about track limits. If they did it too many times, the Stewards would give them time penalities.

♦ With 29 laps done, all eyes were on the pits to see who would come in for their tyre changes. It was Lewis Hamilton who was the first, follow by his team mater Bottas was was around 63 seconds behind Verstappen. And then disaster struck for the Finn to make it worse as a front wheel could not come off the Mercedes-AMG. As a result, the tyre could not be changed – and it meant retirement for Bottas.

♦ Amazingly, Pierre Gasly (Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda), who was just ahead of Hamilton, came in and returned to the track still ahead of the Mercedes-AMG driver. But Vettel was quick to exploit the pit stops, passing Gasly and Hamilton to take fifth place.

♦ With half the 78-lap race completed, Verstappen was not secure yet as he had a lead of only 3 seconds ahead of Sainz. With Bottas out, there was a strong possibility of Hamilton losing his championship lead and implications for the team as well.

♦ With 30 laps remaining, Norris was in third – too far from Sainz but 7 seconds ahead of Perez. Vettel was a further 11 seconds but trying very hard with what has been an uncompetitive car.

♦ Hamilton was not giving up easily and pushed hard although, unlike other tracks where he could push forwardm difficulty overtaking held him back behind other cars.

♦ As the laps counted down, Perez was one of the more aggressive drivers, trying hard to pass Norris and be on the podium place instead of the McLaren driver.

♦ Yuki Tsunoda (Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda), who seemed to show promise at the start of the season, was the last car to pit and he was down in 16th position.

♦ As 10 laps remained, Hamilton came in for a new set of tyres, aiming to go flat out to the finish and improve his position from seventh and more importantly, try and set the fastest lap and get that one bonus point. He was the only driver to come into the pits twice – and he was also about to be lapped by Verstappen.

♦ Perez kept the pressure on Norris right till the end, coming within less than 2 seconds, but his fight could not continue as Verstappen crossed the finish line – and into the championship lead.

F1 – Turkish Grand Prix cancelled, 2 races to be run in Austria


BMW Product Geniuses Deliver Personalised Customer Care To BMW Owners

BMW Malaysia
 has introduced the
BMW Product Genius Programme
 for the first time in the country, with seven BMW Product Geniuses having been trained and deployed successfully to three dealerships in Klang Valley.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director for BMW Group Malaysia
 said:
 “Conventionally, stepping into a car dealership can be an intimidating experience for customers, as they may feel pressured into making purchasing decisions before being allowed to familiarise themselves fully with the products. With this in mind, our BMW Product Geniuses are on hand to provide customers with a pressure-free experience. From these highly personalised interactions, we aim for customers to derive Sheer Driving Pleasure from the very beginning of their BMW Ownership Experience.”

BMW Product Geniuses are meticulously selected and trained within select dealerships under the close guidance of BMW Malaysia, before qualifying as BMW product and brand experts. Their role complements that of a Sales Advisor, as they are focused on acquainting customers with every aspect of the BMW vehicle portfolio, from conducting needs analyses, product presentations to facilitating test drives.

“In addition to being a friendly face, the Product Genius is equipped with the expertise to explain and demonstrate the use of each feature and function of a BMW vehicle, and offer insights on product benefits suited to a particular customer’s specific needs. Overall, BMW Product Geniuses occupy a key role as neutral customer consultants, ambassadors for the brand, and knowledge touchpoints within the dealership,”
 added Hoelzl.

In the pilot programme last year, the first batch of BMW Product Geniuses were successfully trained and deployed in early December to three dealerships in Klang Valley:
Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, Auto Bavaria Glenmarie,
and
 Ingress Auto Damansara.


BIKES: First Impression – 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS! Modern Retros Just Got A Whole Lot Cooler! [+Video]

Modern Retros
. They are undoubtedly the coolest things on two-wheels in the biking world, and yes I’m biased…

Do you remember the Kawasaki Zephyr 750 above? I said I’m biased earlier because I actually owned one of those Zephyrs many moons ago, and when I learned of the new Z900RS, my immediate reaction was that Kawasaki were reviving the Zephyr.

But they weren’t. Not a single mention of it was made during the course of the
launch recently
,
 in fact, the only retro reference made was to the above Z1, the original sportbike from Kawasaki in the early 70’s, and the first production bike capable of 200kmh+ top speed.

This pristine example above is in the country and is on display at Gasket Alley by the way. But back to the Z900RS. We recently had a short ride of the bike thanks to Kawasaki Motors Malaysia, and folks, despite it being just an hours’ ride, this thing is absolutely incredible.

First off, apart from the single mono-shock in the rear (both the Z1 and Zephyr had twin-tube rear shockers) the Z900RS (RS = Retro Sport) looks like an amazing throwback to the bikes of the 70’s, right down to the ‘fin-tail’ rear cowl, fins on the engine, double-walled exhaust headers (that won’t tarnish no matter how hard you ride), round front headlight (full LED) and typical upright riding position.

As it was just a short first-impression, I had to max out every kilometer, and the first test was acceleration, right of the parking lot, and yeah, not too smart seeing how the tyres were still cold, but hey, I was riding the ‘spiritual’ successor to my old Zephyr, I was excited, and that’s putting it mildly.

Despite having the same engine as the current Z900, the RS has been tuned and its gear rations altered for better low-end and roll-on acceleration, and damn, does it show. Acceleration is phenomenal for a 948cc 4-pot, and even in 6th gear, there is still a lot of acceleration left, so downshift if you want to hear that exhaust “tuned” for a more retro sound, but there’s no need to.

Stability and composure are the other aspects that make the Z900RS a bona-fide joy to ride, be it a short hop or a long haul. Yes, the seat could use a bit more padding, but the riding position (above) is absolutely spot-on, even for my 6’2″ frame.

Roll-on acceleration is also incredible, and I think I surprised the marshal on a Kawa GT-R1400, when I was able to keep up with him during hard acceleration. Of course ABS & KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control with 2 ride modes) also helps a lot in the background. Here’s a video on how KTRC works:

In typical Kawasaki fashion, stopping the bike only requires a 2-finger pull of the right lever, which brings the bike to a safe, sure-footed stop. There are 2 models to choose from, price below, and both are identical, one is just a sporting a retro paint job and a bit more bling, more importantly, both models have ABS and KTRC.

The Z900RS is the kind of bike that is perfect for anyone thinking of getting back into the biking world after a long hiatus, and anyone graduating from a 600cc who really doesn’t want a supersport. Honestly, I would have gladly ridden this bike for a lot longer, it has that allure of being an ‘all-day ride’ kinda bike, and that’s exactly what I plan to do when I get the bike all to myself in the near future. Care to join me? –
Chris Wee.

Specs that matter:

Engine: 948cc, 4-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valves, liquid-cooled

Max Power: 111Ps @ 8,500rpm

Max Torque: 98.5Nm @ 6,500rpm

Kawasaki Z900RS Photo Gallery…


Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept To Go ‘beyond Zero’

Toyota, it seems, is eager to show the world that even though it will continue to offer mobility solutions that include combustion engines, it is also giving a lot of attention to developing new battery electric (BEV) models. Behind the scenes, there must be a lot of R&D going on and
at the end of last year
, Akio Toyoda showed no less than 17 prototype BEV Toyota and Lexus models.

Since then, the company has been rolling out new models to show that it is making rapid progress and will have a growing range of BEVs in the near future. This will soon include a model that is presently known as the bZ Compact SUV concept. It looks production-ready so expect it to be on sale sometime in 2023.

BEV from the start
The bZ Compact SUV Concept is designed as a BEV right from the start, so it’s fully optimised for electric propulsion. With minimum wind resistance being vital for an electric vehicle, the bZ Compact SUV form is very aerodynamic, which gives it a futuristic look.

The wheels are set right at the corners to give an aggressive stance, and make the vehicle look like it is moving even when standing still. The short overhangs and sweepback angles make it stand out as an advanced technology vehicle, while a narrowed-down cabin design gives it an agile appearance for a low coefficient of drag.

The edgy styling extends to the interior with premium finishes resulting in a distinctive look. The design team included several eco-friendly touches, like seating material made from plant-based and recycled materials to follow the ‘Beyond Zero’ theme.

Toyota has developed an in-car personal agent named ‘Yui’ which connects the driver and passengers with the vehicle. With the use of audio and visual lighting cues that move around the cabin, it responds to requests or commands from front or rear passengers.

The bZ message
‘bZ’ is the brand umbrella which refers to ‘beyond Zero’ which has the message that encourages diligently adapting how we live our lives in the present to ensure a better future for all. Toyota envisions a future in which carbon neutrality is achieved through the practical marketization of a portfolio of products with advanced, alternative-fuel and zero-emission powertrain technologies.

Globally, Toyota plans to eventually expand to around 30 dedicated BEVs, including 5 with bZ branding. The diverse portfolio of electrified products will help Toyota move towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Different solutions for different regions
The BEV range will be complemented by a hybrid range as Toyota doesn’t want to ‘leave any customer behind’. It recognises that not every region develops economically at the same pace to support the switch to BEVs. Therefore, to ensure that there are alternative mobility solutions, hybrids will be offered in markets where they are more practical. And to make sure that the technology is advanced, the carmaker will spend as much on developing future hybrid models as it will on BEVs.

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade


Fuel Price Updates For August 5 – August 11, 2021


Formula E Rounds 8 & 9 – Puebla ePrix sees Edoardo Mortara extend lead to 10 points

With a new circuit in Mexico for the eighth and ninth rounds of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the playing field was levelled a bit for all participants. Though it was the sixth time since the series’ inception that Mexico was a venue, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the capital city was not used. This time, the
Autodromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla
, about 100 kms from Mexico City, was used instead. The reason for this change of circuit is because parts of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez are still being used as a hospital for COVID-19 patients during the current pandemic.

Coming out of the weekend, the happiest driver was Edoardo Mortara of ROKiT Venturi Racing who collected a win for the second time in his Formula E career. Mortara’s victory came after mastering the strategy with the challenging ATTACK MODE activation zone to control the race from the lead.

Mortara moves into the lead

The victory sees Mortara jump to the top of the Drivers’ standings from eighth in the table, the Swiss-Italian now sitting 10 points clear of Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing). Pascal Wehrlein, who  rebounded from the day before, took second position to boost TAG Heuer Porsche team’s standing in the championship.

The second round had started with Nissan’s Oliver Rowland making a strong start Nissan. While he sped ahead, Mortara out-braked Wehrlein around the outside, as Jake Dennis (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) duelled with Jean-Eric Vergne into the first bend.

Punching through the thin air (due to the high altitude of the location), Rowland gradually started to open up a gap, the Brit unfazed as he kicked up dirt after running slightly wide at the tricky Turn 7. Climbing up from 14
th
 on the starting grid, Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing) rounded out an action-packed second lap by running past both Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing) and Tom Blomqvist (NIO 333).

ATTACK MODE

As always, ATTACK MODE proved to play an important role in shaking up the lead group. Wehrlein dived to activate the first of his two power boosts and Rowland immediately followed the German. Tactically shadowing the Porsche driver’s moves to take his second and final ATTACK MODE in quick succession. With the ATTACK MODE zone open, Rowland took an early move to claim his extra 35kW of power on lap 4. The British driver immediately took advantage of the extra boost of speed to squeeze past Dennis into Turn 1.

Further down the field, there was drama on lap 8 as early season leader Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) had to crawl back to the pits with a tyre puncture following a collision with Lucas di Grassi. The Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver punting the rear left of the Dutchman’s Silver Arrow after immediately challenging on the exit of the ATTACK MODE activation zone.

Turn 7 saw a hard scrap between Sebastien Buemi and Bird running side-by-side into the right hander, with Di Grassi behind running out of room ploughing into the back of the Jaguar and forcing it into the side of Buemi’s Nissan.

Pascal Wehrlein’s missed chance

The battle for second started to get hot under the Mexican sun, with Wehrlein on a charge and right up to the rear diffuser of Rowland’s car. A mistake from the Nissan driver clipping the wall in the middle complex allowed Wehrlein to capitalise and move past Rowland. Clear of Rowland, Wehrlein set his sights on Mortara in the lead. The German driving with the bit between his teeth, lapping nearly a second quicker than the Swiss-Italian.

Rounding out a difficult weekend in Mexico after a DNF in Round 8, two-time champion and Rome race winner, Jean-Eric Vergne spun out of fifth position, losing two places in the process and then a few corners later Maximilian Guenther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) picked off the Frenchman for seventh.

After a mistake running just slightly wide at Turn 7, Wehrlein handed a strong advantage to Mortara heading into the final laps with the Venturi driver making the most and picking up a gap on the German.

In a perfectly played 45 minutes plus one lap, Mortara crossed the line to take the second win of his Formula E career. After a strong drive Wehrlein rebounded from Round 8 to end second with rookie Cassidy rounding out the podium with a debut rostrum finish.

The result sees Mortara become the eighth different winner in 9 races and leave Mexico with a 10-point lead at the summit of the Drivers’ World Championship with Mercedes-EQ leading the Teams’ World Championship by 3 points. The next venue is in New York City and will also be a 2-round affair on July 10 and July 11.

MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW is the new Formula E Safety Car


The Ferrari SP38 Is A Stunning New Creation From The Ferrari “One-Off” Programme

A confirmed future classic, the incredible
Ferrari SP38
– the latest offering from Ferrari’s
One-Off Programme –
has been unveiled at Fiorano where, after the ceremonial handover to one of Ferrari’s most dedicated customers, (We weren’t told who, Nick Mason maybe? –
Ed
.) the car was immediately put through its paces in a series of hot laps.

Designed by the Ferrari Design Centre on the chassis and running gear of the
488 GTB
, this unique car reflects the specific vision of a client with a deep passion for racing. The result is a model that can be driven both on road and on track, while at the same time expressing all the beauty and innovation inherent in Ferrari’s road cars.

The all-new bodywork, in a newly conceived three-layer metallic red, marks a radical departure from the language aesthetic of the donor car. The
twin-turbo, twin-intercooler
 set-up of the award-winning 488 GTB inspired the team to reference the mighty F40 as an icon from which to instruct the project’s general direction.

Compared to the 488 chassis, the visual mass of SP38 appears concentrated over the rear wheels as the wedge design sharply stretches towards the front. In plan view, the strongly tapered nose expands towards muscular wheelarches, giving the car potency and agility. Specific inset headlights were designed to be as thin as possible, with the mandatory DRL (daytime running lights) units relocated to add character and functionality to a slim bumper lip reminiscent of the 308 GTB.

On the side, the defining air scoop of the 488 GTB is completely concealed where the sheet metal folds in on itself from the low belt-line on the door and into the rear wheel-arch and three-quarter light.

The effect is dramatic, as it reinforces the importance of the rear volume while, at the same time, maintaining the air flow to the intercoolers at the base of the side window. The dynamic styling continues over the engine cover, which sheds its rear glass and is treated as a flip-up assembly in carbon fibre with shutlines slashing the flanks in a gesture directly reminiscent of the F40’s.

Three transversal slats slash across the engine cover to evacuate engine heat, and the smooth integration of a substantial rear spoiler is a hint at the famous rear wing of the F40. The trailing edge of the spoiler links seamlessly with the wing and with the aerodynamic diffuser at the bottom, to create a suggestive frame surrounding the tail volume.

A full
Tailor Made
 cabin trim puts the finished touches on this truly special Ferrari, which will be on public display for the first time at the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
 on Saturday 26
th
 May 2018.


Bentley Continental GT’s 20th Birthday Celebrated With One-Off Grand Tourer

The Continental GT, which has been in production since 2003, marks its 20th birthday in 2023. At the Shanghai Auto Show, a one-of-a-kind car was unveiled with a multitude of commemorative badging and several special features, kicking off a year-long celebration.

The one-off commission comes coated in a stunning shade of dark grey metallic, matched by 22-inch wheels in black and a black-finished chrome front mesh grille. It is based on the GT S, which means it is powered by the 4.0-liter V8 rather than the 6.0-liter
W12
 we associate with Bentley’s grand tourer.

The 10-spoke wheels look stunning against the red side skirt extensions, red lip spoiler up front, red side mirrors, and red brake callipers that have been painted red.

The unnamed one-off vehicle is both sporty and special, and it has something very unique inside as well. Beluga and Hotspur leather upholstery, Piano Black trim, dual-finish fascias and waistrails, and distinctive decoration for the centre console and treadplates are all visible when the driver’s door is opened.

Mulliner is shown in capital letters on each of the four headrests, while 20 Years of the Continental is displayed on the centre console cubby door, dashboard’s passenger side, and treadplates. Along with the wheel designs of the original and the vehicle that Bentley unveiled in Shanghai, stylized silhouettes of the first-generation and third-generation Continental GT coupes are also included.

Granite Stone for the upper fascia veneer and Grand Black for the bottom fascia veneer, divided by a red pinstripe, add to the uniqueness. The distinctive projection of the LED welcome lamps that evokes the Continental GT serves as the final touch.

Bentley points out that the Conti GT was born on the same day as the Volkswagen Group’s W12 engine, which is ending production in April 2024. Although the British corporation is preparing for an all-electric future, hybridised powertrains should suffice.

The aforementioned W12 is actually a little older. The A8 was the first vehicle produced by Audi under the Volkswagen Group to use this engine in Europe and Asia. Audi only sold 750 units of it through 2003, the year that engine came to be associated with the Continental GT, indicating that it did not sell well.

It’s also absurd that Bentley didn’t include a 12-cylinder legend in its one-off vehicle, but keep in mind that China heavily taxes motors with displacements greater than 4.0 litres. Because of this, the Audi-Porsche V8 has a displacement of almost 4.0 litres, while Mercedes-AMG uses a 4.0-litre V8 engine.

A global Continental GT relay will cover three continents in July as part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with events in the Western Hemisphere planned by the automaker. Additionally, there will be drive hubs where invited guests can test drive all three Continental generations, including first- and second-generation models from the Bentley Heritage Collection, at the company headquarters in Crewe and in Geneva, Switzerland.

The final product is a second, one-of-a-kind Continental GT that will make its premiere during Monterey Car Week and was inspired by the original model.


High demand for new Mitsubishi XPANDER exceeds supply from plant

Customers for the new Mitsubishi XPANDER are now receiving their vehicles around the country as deliveries are underway. The first units began rolling out from the assembly facility at HICOM Automotive Manufacturers Sdn Bhd in Pekan, Pahang at the end of October. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) plans to assemble around 6,000 units for sale
annually, and every unit to be assembled till the end of the year already has a customer waiting.

Demand exceeds supply

“Due to the overwhelming response, the total amount of bookings which MMM received has exceeded the total production capacity until December 2020. Customers who book the new XPANDER moving forward will receive the 2021 model year vehicles, which will be subjected to sales tax,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.

The XPANDER is priced from RM91,359 (without insurance) during November and December, after which the price will increase to RM94,800 with the inclusion of 10% sales tax when the exemption ends.

Only one variant is currently available, powered by an all-aluminium 1.5-litre MIVEC petrol engine with an output of 105 ps/141 Nm. Power delivery to the front wheels is through a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The 3-row cabin has an overall length of 4475 mm and an overall height of 1730 mm, made possible by the 2775 mm wheelbase. MMM says that the XPANDER is the only model in its class with fold-flat second and third rows seats providing full luggage space and a car-like cargo area.

“Mitsubishi Motors is very excited to deliver the Malaysian-made new XPANDER to some early bird customers. The XPANDER has already attracted a strong following here and wherever it is sold in ASEAN. With its combination of style, practicality and competitive pricing, we believe the XPANDER will play an increasingly important role in growing our sales,” Mr. Shinnishi said.

New colour for Triton

Meanwhile, those who are considering the Triton pick-up truck have a new exterior colour choice for the Adventure-X version – Sun flare Orange Pearl. The new colour joins Jet Black Mica and White Diamond in the available colour range.

New colour for flagship version of Triton.

The Triton Adventure-X is the flagship of the Triton range imported from Thailand. Prices for the Triton start from RM79,890 and go up to RM137,900 (excluding insurance).

Viewing and test-drives of the XPANDER and Triton are available at authorised dealerships nationwide. Their locations can be found at
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my
.

Click here for other news and articles about Mitsubishi Motors
.


BAASB officially opens first Peugeot 3S facility in Selangor

Peugeot owners in the Klang Valley will be happy to note that Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn. Bhd. (BAASB), the new representatives of the French brand, has officially opened its first Peugeot flagship 3S Centre in Glenmarie, Selangor. Located on the same site as the Peugeot 3S centre before, the new facility has the new Peugeot brand identity. After-sales support at this facility will also be available to owners of Citroen and DS vehicles.

The service facilities available include 21 service bays with the latest manufacturer’s diagnostic system equipment and maintenance tools. Fully trained technicians will ensure the vehicles are maintained and serviced for optimum performance.

Owners who wish to wait for their vehicles that are being serviced can make use of a comfortable waiting lounge with free refreshments and for those who want to also do some work, there are wifi connections available.

As part of the Bermaz Automotive group (which also handles the Mazda brand), Bermaz Auto Alliance aims to provide best ownership experience and will ensure full and comprehensive after-sales support, especially with warranty-related issues.

Appointments can be made online

The service centre operates from Mondays to Saturdays and offers online service appointments (available at
customer.peugeot.com.my
) for the convenience of owners. Roadside assistance is also available by calling1-800-22-3399 (24 hours availability).

BAASB currently offers the 2008 (above), 3008 and 5008 (below), all assembled at the Stellantis factory in Kedah.

Peugeot owners are urged to update their information with BAASB so that they can be properly supported and receive important communications relating to their vehicle. They can provide the information at
baasb.com.my/Peugeot/
 and are assured that all information will be kept and protected in accordance with Personal Data Protection Act of Malaysia.

New Peugeot brand identity and Lion logo launched


Lexus releases pictures of electric sportscar on the track as well as other future BEV models (w/video)

In 2020, Toyota (or more specifically, its President, Akio Toyoda) expressed reluctance to make a bigger push towards fully electric vehicles (battery electric vehicles or BEVs) and even felt that it was not the right move in pursuit of carbon neutrality. While the other major carmakers were outlining their EV plans and even previewing models to come, it seemed that Toyota was not going to join the crowd if it meant leaving some customers behind. And being the world’s largest carmaker, that certainly has implications.

However, just a year later, the Toyota President went in front of the cameras and announced to the world that t
he company would be spending a total of 8 trillion yen
 (1 trillion yen = around RM37.2 billion) over a period of 9 years from 2022. Of this gigantic amount, 50% would be for the development of BEVs (inclusive of battery development).

And while other carmakers might show a handful of prototype models that will be in showrooms in coming years, Toyoda had no less than 17 models of the Toyota and Lexus brands assembled in the hall. They represented virtually all the segments that the two brands are in, including pick-ups, a segment that the American manufacturers already have fully electric models about the enter the market. And as long as Akio Toyoda is still the boss, we will certainly also get sportscars, even if they no longer run on combustion engines.

The BEVs to come

Only a couple of models among the 17 shown last December are to go on sale this year or in 2023 and, presumably, the others are just having the development programmes started. From Lexus, the closest one to production is the SUV known as the
RZ450e
 but there was also interest in some of the other models that were visible, including a sportscar.

It is likely that top management has signed off on the designs and Lexus can now give a preview of the 3 BEVs that will follow the RZ450e. The three will slot into the segments the brand is now in – sedan, SUV and sportscar – and are associated collectively as the ‘Lexus Electrified’ vision. The brand aims to accelerate sales of electrified models from 2025.

https://www.piston.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Lexus-BEV-Sport.mp4

Of the three, Lexus has provided three bits of information about the sportscar which it says revives the spirit of the LFA. Its targets are a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time in the low 2-second range, a cruising distance of over 700 kms, and it will possibly use solid-state batteries.

Charging stations for all

On the issue of charging stations for BEV owners, Toyoda said that this is an area where different parties must collaborate and cooperate. Some of the companies may establish the infrastructure on their own, but that infrastructure should be accessible to all other customers who drive vehicles of other brands.

“Toyota would like to urge related parties to realize that. When it comes to infrastructure, there’s a limit to what each OEM (company) can do to realize the sufficient convenience for customers. Of course, we will try to do what we can do. Regarding the regions where Lexus aims to achieve 100% BEV sales, in North America, there are 1,800 dealers, 2,900 in Europe, 1,700 in China, and 5,000 in Japan. I believe it is important to utilize these locations, and make such infrastructure open and available to non-Toyota [and non-Lexus] owners,” he said during the press conference last year.

Lexus RZ450e

202x Lexus BEV Sedan

202x Lexus BEV SUV

202x Lexus BEV Sport

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade


Audi A4 is now available in three new variants

Audi has added three new variants to its A4 line-up which are the 1.4 TFSI, A4 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and the range topping 2.0 TFSI quattro. Launched last September, the A4 portfolio initially comprised of the A4 2.0 TFSI and A4 2.0 S Line. The added contenders will provide buyers with more options to choose from and allow the brand to meet the needs of many more buyers.

Considered the entry level variant of the lot, the A4 1.4 TFSI differs a little in terms of styling compared with the standard 2.0 TFSI. It has a different wheel design and comes with xenon plus headlights with DRLs but halogen taillights. Inside, the car is identical to its larger engine sibling with the exception of the steering wheel, which is of a different design.

Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre engine that produces 150bhp and 250Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission. Fuel consumption is pretty good too, Audi claims that the car should provide a fuel consumption figure of 5.2 l/ 100km on a combined cycle.

Moving up the range is the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack which features the Audi virtual cockpit and Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators in the front. Inside, the infotainment system has the Audi smartphone interface for Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as a number of others. It’s powered by the same engine as the rest of the 2.0-litre A4 variants but it produces 190bhp and 320Nm of torque.

The third variant, called the 2.0 TFSI quatrro, features the same 2.0-litre engine but is tuned to produce 252bhp and 370Nm of torque. Due to the power, the 0-100km/h time for this variant drops to a mere 5.8 seconds which is close to the sports car territory. Also, its fitted with Audi’s clever all-wheel-drive system (quattro) enabling the car to have better grip especially on roads even in poor weather conditions.

There some subtle cues that enable the car to stand out from the rest of the line-up which include sportier front and rear bumpers, 18-inch 5-spoke cast aluminium wheels, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, sports front seats, Alcantara upholstery, matte brushed aluminium inlays, Audi smartphone interface for apple Carplay and Android Auto, Audi connect as well as other features.

The 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI Tech pack variants can be ordered in seven different body colours which are Glacier White, Floret Silver, Scuba Blue, Tango Red, Monsoon Grey, Argus Brown, as well as Mythos Black. The 2.0 TFSI quattro can be had in the same range of colours except for Argus Brown, which has been replaced with Daytona Grey. Pricing starts at RM218,900 for the 1.4 TFSI, RM273,900 for the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and RM314,900 for the 2.0 TFSI quattro.

However, since the cars have just been launched, Audi are offering them at a lowered price to entice buyers meaning, for a limited time only and starting from April 14, the 1.4 TFSI costs just RM199,900, the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack is offered at RM 249,900 and the 2.0 TFSI quattro is priced at RM294,900.

All variants of the A4 line-up come with a 5 year and unlimited mileage warranty. If you are interested, visit your nearest dealership or visit the automaker’s local website to learn more.


Fuel Price Updates For May 13 – May 19, 2021

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


BMW brand logo modernised with visual style of today to suit digital age

After more than 20 years, the BMW brand has a new corporate identity for online and offline communication purposes. The BMW, BMW i and BMW M communication logos have been completely reworked, with a new logotype and new design principles. According to the company, it has ‘the visual style of today and is better-suited to the digital age’.

The new design is described as an expression of the revised brand identity, which places the customer at the centre of all activities. More minimalist in a sense and two-dimensional, it conveys openness and clarity. The additional transparent version of the logo is a more open invitation than ever for customers to join the world of BMW. The change reflects BMW’s transition from centering purely on the automotive world to being about technology and connections.

The redesigned logotype expresses openness and strength of character to ensure a contemporary, future-proof presence both online and offline.

History of the BMW logo. Its design has always been linked to an aircraft propeller although this origin is a myth (and even BMW admits it).

The origins of the ‘BMW propeller’ design

The fundamental elements of the BMW logo are its colours: white and blue, which are the colours of the state of Bavaria in Germany, home of BMW. The myth of the ‘BMW propeller’ actually began 91 years ago with aA BMW ad  showing an airplane with the BMW logo in the rotating propeller. At the beginning of the global economic crisis, the ad was trying to promote a new aircraft engine that BMW was building under licence from Pratt & Whitney. The propeller interpretation fit very well into the advertising image of the young company, as it underlined the company’s roots and its expertise in aircraft construction.

Then, in 1942, BMW itself linked the propeller to its company symbol. An article appeared in a BMW publication called ‘
Flugmotoren-Nachrichten
‘ (Aircraft Engine News) which backed up the story of the BMW badge as a spinning propeller. The story was illustrated with a photo of the BMW logo overlaid on a rotating propeller.

“For a long time, BMW made little effort to correct the myth that the BMW badge is a propeller,” explained Fred Jakobs of BMW Group Classic. So according to the expert, sticking to the story that the BMW emblem is a propeller would not be entirely wrong. It’s not strictly true that there is a propeller in BMW’s company logo, though. Constant repetition has made this explanation a self-propagating urban myth. “This interpretation has been commonplace for 90 years, so in the meantime, it has acquired a certain justification,” Jakobs said.

New logo stands for openness and clarity

“BMW is becoming a relationship brand. The new communication logo stands for openness and clarity,” explained Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice-President for Customer and Brand BMW. “We want to use this new transparent version to invite our customers, more than ever, to become part of the world of BMW. In addition, our new brand design is geared to the challenges and opportunities of digitalization for brands. With visual restraint and graphic flexibility, we are equipping ourselves for the vast variety of touchpoints in communication at which BMW will be present, online and offline, in the future. This additional communication logo symbolizes the brand’s significance and relevance for mobility and driving pleasure in the future.”

The global launch of the new brand design starts this month and progressively up to May 31, 2021, it will begin to appear in all communications, on and offline, and for international trade fairs and events.

The new logo is intended for media communications and not for use on vehicles or dealership facilities, but it can be seen on the BMW Concept i4 unveiled recently.

BMW clarifies that the new logo is a new media branding and will be used in addition to the existing logo. It won’t be used on the vehicles or feature on the exterior and interior of dealerships. However, it seems that concept cars may use it, as evident in the
BMW Concept i4
 unveiled recently.

Volkswagen unveils a new logo and brand design for new era


The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class now has a price: RM698,744

Following the introduction of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) last December, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia can now provide the price of the model. Only one version is available – the S 580 e Plug-In Hybrid – and it is priced at
RM698,744
 (excluding insurance), As it is assembled locally at the company’s facility in Pekan, Pahang, it can have full exemption of sales tax until June 30, 2022, which would be big savings for customers.

The flagship of the Mercedes-Benz range has been on sale in Malaysia since the 1970s, with over 18,000 cars sold to date, almost all assembled locally. The model’s history goes back to the W180 of 1954 although it was only in 1972 that it came to be known as the ‘S-Class’. Globally, more than 4 million units have been sold since the early 1970s.

The W223 is the seventh generation and as with every generation before, the new S-Class brings with it advanced technologies. In fact, this model has often introduced many new technologies, especially in the area of safety, that it shows ‘the future of motoring’. For example, in 1980, the W126 generation was the
f
irst production car in the world to be equipped with an airbag system.

With Mercedes-Benz now putting its full commitment to electrification during this decade, the S-Class also leads the way and for the Malaysian-assembled model, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is the only one offered. Hybrid powertrains are not new to Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia and have been available with some models (including the S-Class) over the past 8 years.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has its own plant in Pekan, Pahang, where the latest S-Class and other models are assembled. (File image)

For the latest S-Class, the model is designated S 580 e but its engine not 5.8 litres. It is actually an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine of 3 litres and works with an electric motor which generates 110 kW with 440 Nm. The engine’s output is 367 bhp/270 kW with 500 Nm of torque and the combined output can propel the S 580e from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 250 km/h.

If conditions permit, it is possible to run only on electricity for up to 100 kms. When the lithium-ion battery is empty, ‘refuelling’ will take up to 2.5 hours, depending on the charging method. One concern owners have is the cost of the battery pack if it needs to be replaced as it is pretty expensive. But for the first 8 years or a maximum of 100,000 kms, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will provide warranty coverage which should offer some peace of mind.

Showcase for new technologies

New for this S-Class is DIGITAL LIGHT, which offers significantly better illumination from the  headlamps. Each light module has 3 extremely powerful LEDs with light that is refracted and directed by 1.3 million micro-mirrors. The resolution is therefore more than 2.6 million pixels per vehicle, allowing highly precise light distribution.

The millions of pixels allow the lighting pattern to be precisely shaped so that maximum illumination levels can be provided without blinding oncoming drivers. Light/shadow graduations and the light distribution of all the other adaptive light functions are also realised with considerably more precision, optimising illumination in all ambient lighting conditions.

Aerodynamic efficiency has always been important for cars as lower wind resistance of the shape means more power can be used to move the car, and fuel consumption can be lower. Low wind resistance is even more vital for hybrid and electric vehicles so extensive wind tunnel research was done and the result is a body that has a Cd of 0.22, impressive considering its size.

Not visible are improvements in aeroacoustics; the new model’s quietness is said to be even better than the e previous generation which already excelled with a very high level of interior noise comfort. The high rigidity of the bodyshell provides the basis for this achievement, and is enhanced with fine-tuning.

Lounge-like interior

These days, car interiors are designed to be like lounges and not just seating spaces inside a cabin. Especially with a model like the S-Class, comfort and spaciousness are high on the list of expectations. With the new generation, the interior has fully evolved into a ‘third place’ for the occupants, between the home and workplace. So it has to be able to provide not just comfort but also be functional enough for those who want to get some work done while on the move.

The seats qualify as technological benchmarks for long-distance comfort. The complex technology inside each seat uses multiple motors for adjustments in the tiniest dimension. The flowing, 3-dimensional layer design theme gives an impression of lightness with its nappa leather upholstery. The adjustment range and angle of the front passenger seat in the chauffeur configuration and the reclining seat behind it have been improved as well.

MBUX – the Mercedes-Benz User Experience – is a big thing for the brand and has appeared in every new model since the current A-Class was launched in 2018. Since then, it has continued to evolve and gain more sophistication, with the second generation of this learn-capable system making its debut in the new S-Class.

The possibilities for personalization and intuitive operation have become far more extensive, especially in the rear. Both the hardware and software have made great advancements with brilliant displays on up to 5 large screens (in part with OLED technology). The new 3D driver display allows a spatial view at the touch of a button for the first time – a real 3-dimensional effect without having to wear 3D glasses.

The voice assistant ‘
Hey Mercedes’
 is constantly learning, by activation of online services in the Mercedes me App. Moreover, certain actions (like accepting a call) can be performed even without using ‘
Hey Mercedes’
  which, incidentally, can also be activated from the rear.

With digital and graphic displays nowadays, it’s possible to have multiple displays and not end up like the cockpit of a 1970s fighter jet. The screens can be individualized with a choice of 4 display styles and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service), so the driver can choose whatever information is most important to him or her when driving. Furthermore, this new version of MBUX uses 27 fewer buttons and switches, underscoring the minimalist appearance of the interior.

Rear airbag – world first

As mentioned earlier, an earlier S-Class was the first production car in the world to be fitted with an airbag. This pioneering position in safety continues with the latest generation and is demonstrated by having the world’s first rear airbags. These are integrated into the backrests of the front seats and deploy in a severe front impact. They deploy gently and protect strapped-in outer rear seat passengers against contact with the front seats.

Mercedes-Benz S 680 GUARD 4MATIC comes with protection against bullets and explosives


‘Live The Ranger Life’ celebrates Ford’s pick-up truck evolution into the modern lifestyle machine that it is today

In the early 1990s, various manufacturers considered what the ‘Asian Car’ should be. With the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) created, there was a need to choose a product which would be suitable for the different markets in the region. While Toyota and Honda decided on a low-cost sedan, Ford chose a pick-up truck which it felt would be a suitable alternative to sedans. And with its long history and experience in making pick-ups, it could certainly come up with a very good world-class product.

The new model was called the Ranger and it was built in Thailand at a brand new US$500 million factory Ford set up to be a production hub. Apart from attractive investment incentives offered by the government, the choice of Thailand was also because it was the second largest pick-up truck market in the world after the USA.

The Ranger would be sold mainly around the region (but also exported worldwide), imported tax-freewith the privileges offered by the AFTA Agreement. Ford had gone further with the development of the new model, making it more like a passenger car in comfort and convenience as well as safety.

When it appeared in the late 1990s, the Ranger built and shaped the pick-up truck market, introducing Malaysians to a more active lifestyle outdoors and also encouraging them to be more adventurous.

Leading and shaping the market

In countries like Malaysia, where the regulations were changed to allow private use of trucks, the introduction of the Ranger was timely. In its launch year, the Ranger was only on sale in the last quarter of the year and yet achieved a 21% share. The following year, sales crept up quickly as it became the pick-up that everyone wanted. By the early 2000s, it was the market leader with a share of around 50% of the pick-up segment. The Ranger certainly helped to develop pick-up popularity and started a new segment of ‘lifestyle machines’.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has now adopted a new brand positioning –
Live the Ranger Life
 – which celebrates the Ranger’s evolution into the modern lifestyle truck that it is today. The new brand essence encapsulates the values and persona of the Ranger, which has transformed over the years beyond being just a truck for work to one that can be used as an alternative to the car, supporting the lifestyle choices of a diverse range of customers.

“
’Live the Ranger Life’
 is spot-on in personifying how the Ranger is more than a purely utilitarian workhorse. It is now leading the pack as a versatile and premium truck that is increasingly purchased for lifestyle reasons that people aspire to own. Customers are choosing to purchase a Ranger not just for work, but also for play and family, thanks to its renowned strength, engineering capabilities, smart technologies, luxurious cabin and passenger vehicle features,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

Bringing the brand essence to life

Five core tenets fuel the guiding principles for fully expressing the ‘Live the Ranger Life’ spirit and way of life which was gathered through a global customer survey which was conducted by Ford across its markets:

“We Make Our Own Fun”
 (fun in driving and in living),

“Up and Over”
 (tackling challenges),

“Bring Others Along the Journey”
 (family and friends),

“Can’t Help but Help”
 (assistance to others), and

“Carve Our Own Path”
 (being bold and fearless in life).

“These five values reflect the way that Ranger owners and those aspiring to own one go about their lives. They are always open to new experiences. They are fearless in tackling challenges not just on or off road but also in life. They form kinships with each other and enjoy having their own fun adventures. They are also always finding ways to give back the community and support others in need. And in everything they do, they make a point to go over and above,” said Encik Zuhair.

More lifestyle options

To enhance the lifestyle focus, SDAC will soon have a Lifestyle Ford Merchandise store on its e-commerce enabled website. Here, customers can browse for the available merchandise and make their purchases which can be delivered to an address they specify.

Encik Zuhair added that other exciting programmes targeted at the pick-up segment will also announced in the coming months.

If you want to ‘
Live the Ranger Life
’, visit
www.sdacford.com.my
 to know more about the wide range of Ranger models available and where to experience them.

2021 Ford Rangers get 5-year warranty as standard


Hyundai celebrates IONIQ with brand new TV Campaign

The folks from Hyundai are celebrating their award-winning IONIQ model this week in a very special way. A brand-new TV advertising campaign dubbed “The Amazing Drop of Fuel” has been launched on YouTube and you can watch the brand-spanking new video, below!

Inspired by the news that the IONIQ has won Best Hybrid at the 2019 WhatCar? Awards for the second year in a row, the advert is a rousing look at what petrol power can do when electrified by the IONIQ’s hybrid technology.

A single drop of fuel is filmed in super slow motion as it falls through the air. After being charged with electricity mid-flight, it can “do more”; smashing through any object that crosses its path. Once it strikes the car beneath, the IONIQ fires into life.

Set to Strauss’ The Blue Danube, the spot is full of life and energy as well as a sense of celebration and fun, and dramatizes just how hybrid technology – the fusion of electrical and petrol power – can be more efficient and effective than petrol power alone.

According to David Pugh, Hyundai UK’s Marketing Director, “We’re extremely proud that IONIQ has been named Best Hybrid two years running by What Car? and this achievement gave us the perfect opportunity to communicate the car’s efficiency credentials to a wide audience.”


November new vehicle sales down by 2.4%

New vehicle sales in the month of November declined by 2.4% or 1,286 units, bringing the Total Industry Volume for the month to 52,584 units of passenger and commercial vehicles. By segment, passenger vehicles accounted for 47,754 units (91%) of the month’s TIV with the remainder being commercial vehicles (including pick-up trucks).

Compared to the same month in 2018 when the market was still in a state of ‘fatigue’ after the surge during the 3 months of GST-free sales, it was to be expected that the figures in 2019 would be higher, with 4,302 units more sold in 2019. A larger volume of passenger vehicles (10% compared to 2018) was sold but commercial vehicles were actually 2% lower.

Source: Monthly reports of the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)

As for the TIV for the year to date, ie 11 months, the cumulative volume has reached almost the same level. From January to November, the TIV was 549,445 units which was just 965 units less than for the same period in 2018.

The output of locally-produced vehicles was lower than in November 2018, probably as companies started preparing to scale down stocks with the year coming to an end. 46,517 vehicles were produced, about 8% less than in 2018.

However, the cumulative TIV for 11 months shows that 2019 saw a higher output of 528,333 units where in 2018, the output during the same period was 522,572 units. Passenger vehicles accounted for the boost in numbers but commercial vehicles declined.

A last push to get more sales before 2019 ends.

One month remains and in order to achieve the forecast of 600,000 units for the year by the MAA, 50,555 units would have to be registered in December. This is likely to be possible, with some extra added, as companies will be pushing hard to clear stocks and offer special deals in sales promotions. Many will also be closing their financial year and will want to be able to report the highest numbers to shareholders.


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

The auto industry has been developing autonomous vehicles that can operate on their own, without human control, and sometime in the future, perhaps all vehicles on the road will move around autonomously. However, besides imagery and sonar scanning to detect other vehicles and road-users so as not to knock into them, vehicles can also communicate with each other to enhance safety.

For example, if there is an accident around a blind corner, vehicles near it can broadcast the hazard and other approaching vehicles can take appropriate action to slow down. Likewise, at junctions, communications between vehicles could greatly improve safety and avoid accidents.

In order for this to be possible, there must be a common communications system that all vehicles can use and this is now being developed. Suzuki Motor Corporation, Subaru Corporation, Daihatsu Motor, Toyota Motor Corporation and Mazda Motor have reached an agreement to jointly develop technical specifications for next-generation vehicle communications devices and to promote the common use of communications systems.

Linking automobiles and other related elements

These systems will use connected services to link automobiles and other related elements with the aim of creating new appeal, value and services, to be standardized for early provision of safer and more convenient connected services.

Within the field of CASE (connected, autonomous/automated, shared, and electric), which is said to be bringing about major transformations in the automotive industry, rapid advances are being made in the connected domain, in relation to the communications and data aspects of technology and business including cloud services, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and AI. Individual automobile manufacturers are independently developing vehicle communications devices, and even in cases where the same connected services such as remote operation functions are provided, each company is adopting a different approach in proceeding with development and deploying relevant resources.

Safer and more convenient connected services

In response to these circumstances, the companies can provide safer and more convenient connected services to customers as early as possible, by positioning the development of vehicle communications devices, which are basic functions of the connected car, as a cooperative domain; positioning the development of applications and services as an in-house domain; and achieving greater efficiency and accelerating the development of vehicle communications devices. Each company can focus more on the development of applications and services on this common infrastructure through these steps.

Having a common communications system is vital as individual systems will create a fragmented infrastructure. It can be likened to the establishment of the common Windows operating system. In the early years of computers, there were different operating systems and users could not easily communicate with each other, or even exchange data. Once the Windows system (or MS-DOS) became a common system, companies could focus on developing software that was compatible and this led to faster growth for the industry.

At this time, Suzuki, Subaru, Daihatsu, and Mazda, while incorporating their own technologies into the base vehicle communications technologies developed by Toyota, will together build systems for next-generation connected cars with common connection specifications from vehicles to networks and the vehicle communications device centre.

A common communications system will allow vehicles of different brands and types to exchange information, reducing accidents.

Optimizing R&D resources

As a result, by stabilizing the communication quality between vehicles and vehicle communications device centre further, it will be possible to provide more convenient connected services to customers, such as clearer calls between customers and operators and faster connection speeds. At the same time, it will be possible to reduce the development burdens of each participating company and simplify system operation and version upgrades that include additional new functions, thereby optimizing resources such as facilities and personnel.

The 5 companies will openly consider collaboration with other like-minded partners regarding the joint development agreed on at this time while continuing their efforts to develop services that enrich the lives of people and solve social problems.

Hino, Isuzu and Toyota to form new partnership in Commercial Vehicle Development


KL International Motorshow “KLIMS” Is Back For 2018!

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has announced the return of the
Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS)
, slated for
23 November to 2 December 2018
 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.

(L-R) President of MAA YBHG. Datuk Aishah Ahmad, Minister of International Trade & Industry Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Chairman of Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd, YBHG. Dato’ Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad.

The launch announcement was officiated by
YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed,
Minister of International Trade and Industry
.

The signing ceremony held at the event was between
Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of MAA
 and
Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, the Chairman of Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd
, for the appointment of the latter as show manager of KLIMS 2018.

KLIMS 2018 is poised to rev up Malaysia’s automotive industry and capture the public’s attention with many new model launches and exciting automobile concepts. For KLIMS 2018, MAA is expecting more than
350,000
 visitors to the 10-day extravaganza.

“KLIMS is Malaysia’s most established and significant automotive event. The motor show is trailblazing towards its 9
th
 presentation after a five-year hiatus, on the theme of “Beyond Mobility”

Datuk Aishah Ahmad
 emphasized that KLIMS will continue to be represented as the eminent national automotive event, which has played a significant role in Malaysia’s automotive industry.
“MAA has worked with our members and the automotive industry to navigate through some arduous times. With the rise in cost of living affecting consumers and the rise in cost of doing business impacting companies, the local automotive sector is expected to face another challenging year. Therefore, MAA and leading auto companies have indicated that having the motor show in 2018 is opportune to re-ignite consumers’ sentiments, define brand presence, and refuel the industry.”
said Datuk Aishah.

She also added
“The recent completion in the construction of Malaysia’s largest and state-of-the-art exhibition centre with the opening of the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, was also an impetus for the return of KLIMS in 2018. MAA is confident that this brand new home for KLIMS will deliver a renewed experience for exhibitors and visitors alike.”

MAA is urging automotive industry players to leverage on KLIMS 2018 to fuel their market position.
Daihatsu, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Kawasaki, Kia, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Perodua, Proton, Toyota, UD, V-Kool, 3M
 are among the front-runners in confirming their exhibition spaces.

KLIMS 2018 is expected to encompass over
50,000 square meters
 of exhibition floor with over
100 participating exhibitors
 and is targeting to attract over 350,000 visitors.

TOP FEATURED IMAGE
: (L-R) President and COO of Honda Malaysia & representing the Vice Presidentship of Malaysian Automotive Association (Manufacturing) Tuan Haji Roslan Abdullah, President of UMW Toyota Motor & representing the Vice Presidentship of Malaysian Automotive Association (Trade) Encik Ravindran Kurusamy, President of Malaysian Automotive Association & Chairman of Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 organizing committee YBHG. Datuk Aishah Ahmad, Minister of International Trade & Industry Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Chairman of Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd YBHG. Dato’ Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad, Managing Director of Daihatsu Malaysia & representing the Malaysian Automotive Association Honorary Secretary and Treasurer Dr. Iqbal Shaharom, Managing Director of Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd YBHG. Dato’ Albert Lai.

For more information on KLIMS 2018, log-on to
www.klims.com.my
, or contact Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd at Tel:+603-7842 9863 or E-mail info@trade-link-group.com


Infiniti QX60 wins Best Luxury SUV for Families award

The Infiniti QX60 has won the Best Luxury Three-Row SUV for Families award by U.S. News & World Report. The award is meant to highlight vehicles that have exceptional safety ratings, cargo space and family-friendly features.

“We develop vehicles that offer a combination of empowered performance, interior versatility and advanced safety for our owners, and the Infiniti QX60 is a perfect fit for all stages of family life, from toddlers in car seats to teenage drivers,” said Randy Parker, vice president, Infiniti Americas. “We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for this commitment to delivering a premium drive experience for the entire family.”

This year, the QX60 went up against some stiff competition before it was chosen fro the award. U.S. News & Word Report reviewed over 200 entries which include cars, SUVs and MPVs that are currently on sale in the US market. Each vehicle was judged based on automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating, cargo volume, and the availability of children-friendly features.

Infiniti’s QX60 was chosen because it comes with a whole slew of tech that include advanced driver assistance features, such as Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Backup Collision Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention, Blind Spot Warning, Distance Control Assist, Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection, rear view camera and in-car WiFi.

It’s family friendly too because the seven-seater QX60 allows parents to access the third row of seats without having to remove one of the second row’s seats. When purchased with the Theater Package, the vehicle offers dual eight-inch colour monitors to entertain rear passengers on long journeys. Available as an option is an automatic boot system that allows the rear tailgate to open and close electronically, which should be to the liking of many parents.

There’s also the InTouchTM system that integrates navigation, convenience, security and entertainment features into the infotainment system. Drivers can interact with it by voice commands for various in-car features including the vehicle’s health report.

Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury arm and produces some of the most sophisticated vehicles that the Japanese company has to offer. Visit the automaker’s local site to know more.


New vehicle sales and production pick up again in August

Data source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association

With business operations in most parts of Malaysia allowed to resume after over 2 months of forced closure, new vehicle sales and production started to rise in August. However, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) recorded was only 17,500 units as showrooms began operating only from the middle of the month. The August TIV was less than half of the average monthly sales during the first month of the year.

Compared to the same month in 2020, this year’s August TIV was 35,300 units lower although it was not as bad as in June when the full MCO lockdown began. In that month, the sales volume for the whole industry fell by 42,774 units,

As would be expected, the closure of showrooms has had an impact on the cumulative volume for the year. For the first 8 months of 2021, the TIV reached 273,757 units or 12,504 units (4%) less than for the same period in 2020. This has led the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) to reduce its TIV forecast for the year by 70,000 units to 500,000 units. This would be almost 30,000 units lower than the TIV for the whole of 2020.

The lockdown also saw production at factories having to suspend their operations. During the lockdown months, the auto industry used the PIKAS initiative to get its workforce vaccinated in preparation for resumption of operations.

From mid-August onwards, the government permitted factories to resume operations but the number of workers allowed would be dependent on the percentage vaccinated. Those with 80% or more of their workers vaccinated were allowed to operate at 100% capacity.

From January to August, the total output from all the vehicle plants was 258,024 passenger and commercial vehicles. The same period in 2020 recorded 263,876 units or 2% higher.

With four months remaining, the car companies are hoping for the market to pick up as much as possible. To achieve the MAA’s target of 500,000 units by the end of the year means that monthly sales will have to average 56,560 units. This may well be possible if you look at the sales during the last quarter of 2020. However, in 2021, many more people and businesses have been struggling with the prolonged restrictions of movements and spending on expensive items like new cars might not be considered or possible.

Perodua sales picking up but sales target for 2021 is lowered by 10.8%


Drive 4 Paul Malaysia – A tribute to Paul Walker

Image credit: autoforcar2013.blogspot.com

This
12 October 2019
 will mark the first ever Malaysian car show paying tribute to the late Fast & Furious megastar, Paul Walker. Dubbed the Drive 4 Paul Malaysia, the event organised by Retro Havoc is open to public (RM10 per entry) from 10am to 6pm at Bandar Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

What makes this event a bit more special than other conventional car shows is that there will be a huge charity element where the funds raised will be donated for disaster relief organisation, ROWW (Reach Out Worldwide), founded by Paul Walker himself.

Dozens of impressive local cars related to Paul Walker’s career in the Fast & Furious franchise will be joining the car show from Nissan Skyline to Toyota Supra and many more. You’ll also get to witness a Nissan Skyline R34 replica from the 2 Fast 2 Furious movie (the one where he jumped a bridge over the golden Toyota Supra).

Image credit: blog.dupontregistry.com

Those who are interested to join the car show with your beloved rides can still register before 1 October 2019 by Whatsapping +60192923032 (Alie Retro Havoc). Each entry is only RM200 to enter the car show and join a special drive to Sepang Circuit for a track cruise on 13 October 2019. Paul’s brother, Cody Walker, will also make a special appearance for the event.

Image credit: Drifted.com

If you’re interested to do more charity work on behalf of this event, Drive 4 Paul Malaysia is also organising a special lunch with Cody Walker at the Equatorial Hotel Kuala Lumpur. This event is limited to only 300 folks. For more details, head over to
https://www.facebook.com/Drive4PaulMalaysia/
.


Perodua’s Cumulative Sales Volume Passes 250,000 Units With One Month Left

With one month remaining to the year, Perodua’s total sales volume has reached 250,785 units, already exceeding its 2022 target of 247,800 units. The output from the Malaysian carmaker’s two factories also reached new highs in November as the company shifts into higher gear to meet demand.

During the month of November, another 28,592 units were added to the sales volume, an increase of 40.9% when compared with 20,299 units delivered in November 2021, and a 10.6% increase when over the 25,849 units delivered in October this year.

On a year-on-year comparison, the total volume of 250,795 units was 50% higher than the 167,250 units delivered during the same 11-month period in 2021. However, Perodua also notes that the significant increase compared to 2021 was due to the COVID-19 lockdown between June and mid-August last year. The previous highest annual (12 months) volume was in 2019 when the company delivered 240,319 units, so this year will see a new record.

During November, the 8,089 units of the Bezza were delivered, followed by the Myvi with 6,624 units and the Axia with 5,812 units.

28% of the vehicles Perodua delivered in November were the Bezza.

“This sales achievement is on the back of our production achievement so far this year, which numbered 258,960 units. We also achieved our highest monthly production ever since inception at 29,149 units,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“This achievement is meaningful on many levels; the first shows our ability to further maximise current resources, both within Perodua and its supplier ecosystem. The second is that through this achievement, we now realise that we can further increase output – both in sales and production without investing in a new plant or acquiring more land for our manufacturing operations,” he said.

“That being said, we will continue to invest in upgrading our operations as a group with emphasis in knowledge and skill development of our people. We are also working closely with our suppliers and dealers to ensure that their operations are capable to meet future demand and challenges.” Dato’ Sri Zainal added.

Dato’ Sri Zainal said the company will ensure that all those who booked their vehicle before the sales tax exemption expiry date (June 30, 2022) will get their vehicles before March 31, 2023. The government has given up to that date for deliveries and registration to be made in view of the parts shortage affecting the industry which reduced output.

“We are looking to continue the sales and manufacturing momentum to ensure that all our valued customers will receive their Perodua vehicles quicker,” Dato’ Sri Zainal promised.

Visit
www.perodua.com.my
 to know more about Perodua models and locations of showrooms to test or purchase them.

Perodua to surge forward in 2022 with RM1.326 billion investment

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Volkswagen’s ‘Buckle Up’ campaign educates children on importance of road and car safety

In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of messages to the public focus on social distancing and personal hygiene to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, traffic accidents still happen and road and car safety are still important.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has not forgotten this and is taking an initiative to educate the younger generation on the importance of road and car safety. The company has created the ‘
Buckle Up
’ animation series on YouTube for children.

Targeting children 3 – 7 years old

Part of the brand’s social responsibility here in Malaysia, the entertaining series brings online the much-loved Volkswagen mascot, a familiar face and adored by children at roadshows and events. Specifically targeting children aged between 3 to 7 years old, the content is communicated in a fun and entertaining way and covers topics such as how to cross the road, understanding traffic lights and the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

“As a responsible brand, we are socially accountable to our stakeholders and the public – at the same time not forgetting the little ones. It is never too early for us to teach children how to keep safe, and we believe that in the long run, this will help them develop the right attitude and behaviour on the road. Of course, with children being more internet-savvy, the perfect avenue to communicate this is online” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research reported that road accidents are the fourth common cause of death in Malaysia, and more than 1,500 children under the age of 10 died in road accidents from 2007 to 2017. Last year, Malaysia had the third highest fatality rate from road accidents in Asia, behind Thailand and Vietnam.

A follow-up campaign

Volkswagen first launched the ‘
Buckle Up
’ campaign in 2015 and partnered with the Association of Registered Child Care Providers Malaysia or PPBM to educate the general public on the importance of child passenger safety through training modules across 280 childcare centres nationwide.

Since then, Volkswagen has constantly communicated child safety through training modules to dealers at the Volkswagen Academy in Selangor, to customers and owners via dealership events, and on social media platforms.

The Volkswagen ‘
Buckle Up’
 campaign series is available on Volkswagen’s YouTube channel
here
. Parents are encouraged to subscribe to receive the latest updates and notifications when new episodes are added.

Volkswagen and Tarik Jeans collaborate to save the Malayan Tapir


An Aston Martin motorcycle will be unveiled next week

Since its original founding in 1913, Aston Martin has produced only 4-wheeled machines So it’s Big News that the iconic Aston Martin wings appearing on a motorcycle for the first time ever. The motorcycle will be the product of a collaboration between Aston Martin Lagonda and Brough Superior which will be unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy next week.

Brough Superior, like Aston Martin, is a luxury brand with great heritage. It was even regarded as the ‘Rolls-Royce of motorcycles’ by a British motorcycle publication. Brough Superior, founded in 1919, offered the fastest, best-looking, most expensive motorcycles that drew thrill-seeking record-breakers and gentleman riders of the Roaring Twenties. Its  most famous fan was T.E Lawrence of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ who owned seven motorcycles of the brand.

George Brough (right) founded his company in 1919 and produced what were regarded as the finest motorcycles of the 1920s.

T.E Lawrence of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ owned seven motorcycles of the brand.

The brand was relaunched in 2013 by Thierry Henriette, a highly-respected motorcycle designer who has worked for major manufacturers throughout the world. He started by relaunching the most famous of George Brough’s motorcycles, the one favoured by Lawrence of Arabia, the SS100. The new era Brough Superior bikes have kept the DNA of the classics such as the art deco design and improved it beyond the modern standards with exclusive technologies and the finest materials.

Today’s Brough Superior motorcycles draw on the design DNA of the originals with modern technology.

Today Brough Superior produces a range of three luxury modern classic motorcycles, recognised for their superior quality, high performance and precise handling that provide a joy riding experience. These distinctive motorcycles are handcrafted in limited numbers in a fully integrated process including the specific engine built in France and shipped worldwide.

Both companies take pride in craftsmanship and use the finest materials to breathe life into their designs. As independent companies, they also revel in their ability to offer bespoke design and engineering solutions so a collaboration between the two brands is virtually guaranteed to produce something very special.

The limited edition Aston Martin – Brough Superior motorcycle will be unveiled at EICMA, a motorcycle trade show in Italy with a 100-year history.

The first new motorcycle, to be produced as a limited edition, is the combined vision of Aston Martin Executive Vice-President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman and Henriette, both motorcycle enthusiasts.

“This is a fascinating and very popular project for myself and my team. The opportunity to collaborate with Brough Superior has given us the chance to bring our own unique views on how beauty and engineering can combine to create a highly emotive piece of vehicle design. We’re excited about the end result and can’t wait to see the reaction the motorcycle receives when it is revealed,” Reichman said.

Final testing for first Aston Martin SUV before December launch


Naza Corp. Holdings & Groupe PSA Announce Joint Venture

Naza Corporation Holdings
and
 Groupe PSA
 have announced the signing of a share sale agreement and a joint venture agreement, officially establishing shared operation of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah, as the first manufacturing hub in ASEAN for Groupe PSA. In attendance to witness the event was the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

Groupe PSA, as a global automotive player and the second largest carmaker in Europe, is confident and committed to the Malaysian and other ASEAN markets, holding majority stake in the business operations of Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM). The Naza Group will have sole responsibility for the distribution of Peugeot, Citroën and DS Automobiles in the domestic market and, with Groupe PSA, will explore distribution prospects in other ASEAN markets to address the potential 680 million customers in the region, where the automotive equipment rate is growing.

With this agreement in effect, Groupe PSA and Naza will jointly produce Groupe PSA branded cars for Malaysia and other ASEAN markets. Further opportunities will also be explored beyond ASEAN, with a potential to contribute significantly to Malaysia’s economy.

This strategic partnership will benefit from the strong and qualitative supplier network implemented in the region. The Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant has been operational since 2004, has a workforce of close to 450 people and boasts a 50,000-vehicle production capacity, operating in line with the highest international quality standards.

Naza Group and Groupe PSA are now strengthening their partnership,
established in 2008
, to develop a sustainable and profitable business in Malaysia and in the rest of the ASEAN region. Groupe PSA’s investment in the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant will see the implementation of its EMP2 modular platform dedicated to C and D segments – taking the partnership and Naza’s commitment to another level.

Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of Groupe PSA
, commented:
 “The creation of the ASEAN hub in Gurun, Kedah is a significant leap forward for Groupe PSA which will lead to the development of a profitable business in the region as part of our Push to Pass strategic plan. We are pleased to partner with Naza Corporation Holdings and continue leveraging our historical relationship.”

“We are grateful for Groupe PSA’s support and confidence in Naza Corporation Holdings as we take our longstanding partnership to greater heights. With this collaboration, there is enormous potential for Kedah to be the leading automotive manufacturing hub in Malaysia,”
 said
SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman/CEO, Naza Corporation Holdings
.

Together, both Groupe PSA and the Naza Group are poised to achieve a stronger footing in the automotive industry within the ASEAN region.


BMW Malaysia Unveils 6 New i-Charging Facilities @ Bangsar Shopping Centre [+Video]

BMW Group Malaysia
 “charges” forward in the new year as the leading e-mobility provider in the country, unveiling six New
BMW i Charging
 Facilities at Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director at BMW Group Malaysia
 (above) said,
 “2018 was a remarkable year for the BMW Group globally and we reflected this here with another year of record-breaking business performances for the eighth consecutive year with 14,338 vehicles delivered, a segment-leading growth of 13%. This reinforces Malaysia’s position as a key market in the region for the BMW Group and we are truly humbled with this achievement.”

Hoelzl added that BMW Malaysia’s portfolio of Visionary Mobility vehicles accounted for over
57%
 of deliveries last year with over
7,500 Plug-in Hybrid
 variants of BMW and MINI vehicles making their way to homes across Malaysia in 2018.

“As the country’s leading provider of premium electrified vehicles, we are constantly driving initiatives for innovation, local assembly capabilities, awareness on new and clean technology for the automotive industry as well as helping develop the infrastructure for electrified premium vehicles in the country. We began working on these initiatives with the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) as early as 2015 and we have also developed projects on our own with our network of dealerships across the country.”
 said Hoelzl.

BMW Malaysia unveiled
six
 New BMW i Charging Facilities at Bangsar Shopping Centre (above), marking another important step in its industry-leading efforts in fostering the country’s shift to Electro-Mobility. This follows the introduction of new BMW i Charging Facilities at
Ramada Plaza
 by Wyndham Melaka
, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
in Ipoh
, the Iconic Hotel
 in Penang as well as at
 WEIL Hotel in Ipoh
 last year.

BMW Group Malaysia’s portfolio of Visionary Mobility with the BMW iPerformance vehicles are also supported by the ChargEV platform through its partnership with GreenTech Malaysia. The
BMW ChargeNow Service
, which is offered as part of the
BMW 360° ELECTRIC
 programme provides straightforward access to partner charging facilities like
ChargEV,
 where customers can enjoy
24/7 support
 and access to all charging locations in ChargEV’s growing network nationwide.


Toyota Vios GR-Sport – more than just a ‘special edition’ car

Less than 200 units of the new
Toyota GR Yaris
 will be officially available in the Malaysian market, each priced at RM299,000. If you miss the opportunity to own one of these ‘
Homologation Specials
’ that are ready for competition use, there’s also another new sporty Toyota model available and it costs considerably less.

It’s the Toyota Vios GR-Sport (GR-S), and it has been specially developed for the Malaysian market by UMW Toyota Motor. In fact, at this time, no other country has this variant of the Vios which was launched last night along with the GR Yaris.

RM7,700 more than top Vios variant

The Vios GR-S is priced at RM7,700 more than latest Vios 1.5G, which is the top version of the popular Toyota sedan range. This means it would be
RM95,284
 (without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia price) and there will be considerably more units available as it is assembled in Malaysia at UMWT’s own plant in Selangor.

While there are 5 colour choices for the Vios range, the Vios GR-S is only available with a choice of 2 colours – White and Red, the former being a pearl finish and the latter is mica metallic.

For RM7,700, you get a Vios that stands out with a more aggressive appearance. It has a sculpted front bumper with a large black lower grille and the rear bumper includes a diffuser. The boot spoiler and side mirrors are finished in black and side skirts are also fitted, lowering the body visually.

The Vios GR-S also gets exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black with 205/45R17 tyres. The tyres are Toyo Proxes TR1 and these are the same type of tyres that are used by the cars racing in the Vios Challenge one-make series.

While a buyer would look at the visible items that come in the GR-S package, what cannot be seen and has to be experienced by driving is the suspension tuning that has been done. It draws on the experience of the Vios Challenge which has provided Toyota engineers with useful information to make the Vios better.

The Vios GR-S has been developed with experience gained from preparing the racing cars for the Vios Challenge.

The suspension is the same as that in a regular Vios with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. Tuning of the springs and stabilizer bars gives a sportier feel and sharper handling. However, comfort is not sacrificed which is not always the case when a car’s suspension is sports-oriented.

Tengku Djan’s comments

“It’s a fun to drive car and has a dual personality. On your daily drive, you have comfort and if you want to push it hard, then it transforms into a refined version of a racing car. I believe the Toyota engineers went to great lengths to accomplish this,” says GR Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley who has been Vios Challenge champion twice and is also a top drifter.

“What Toyota has done with the Vios GR-S is to take it to another level. It is not the run-of-the-mill special edition cars produced in Malaysia that normally focuses only on body kits, wheels and tyres, and interior enhancements. For the price, you are actually getting a lot of car,” he adds.

Reliable engine with dual performance characteristics

Reliability is one of the things people buy a Toyota for, and the company has worked hard to ensure this in all its models. For this reason, ‘improving’ engine performance is not common if it involves modifications. Toyota has many engines with different power outputs but there is also extra cost and to keep the Vios GR-S affordable, it has meant using the standard 1.5-litre 2NR-FE engine that has proven reliability.

However, you can still ‘modify’ the performance characteristics yourself even if you are not an engineer or a computer programmer. This can be done by just activating the Sports mode at the push of a button and an alternative ‘map’ in the Engine Control Unit (ECU) will be used which gives stronger acceleration.

10-speed CVT

The Vios GR-S also comes with a 10-speed CVT, rather than the 7-speed unit in the other variants. The additional ratio allows the car to be more responsive by sustaining higher rpm, and the gears (actually there are no gears in a CVT) can be selected using the paddle shifters as well. Toyota’s CVT has often been praised for having a feel which is closer to that of a conventional torque converter automatic transmission so you don’t get that ‘rubber band’ sensation.

The cabin has a more individualistic and bold look with black as the dominant colour., The black semi-bucket sports seats have red stitching on the suede and leather. The 3-spoke steering wheel is also leather-wrapped as is the shifter and of course, the ‘GR’ logo can be seen in many places including the start/stop button for the engine.

Meters originally developed for Lexus

The instrument panel is similar to the one in the Vios 1.5G with those sharp and distinctive Optitron meters. The meter technology was originally developed for use in Lexus models and has since trickled down to even the Vios so it’s a high-quality item.

For a sporty look, the meters have red calibrations and red pointers on a matt black background. Exclusive to this variant is a GR animation sequence on the 4.2-inch Multi-Information Display which appears whenever the engine is started.

The GR Garage in selected Toyota dealerships sell not only the GR Supra, GR Yaris and Yaris GR-S but also accessories for spirtier looks or enhanced performance.

Like the GR Yaris, the Vios GR-S is available only at Toyota dealerships with the GR Garage (only 5 nationwide at the moment) as well as those dealers which have teams participating in the Vios Challenge. To locate a GR Garage dealer, visit
toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/gr-garage.

UMW Toyota Motor launches competition-ready, road-legal Toyota GR Yaris


Fuel Price Updates For December 1 – December 7, 2022

Perhaps it’s a coincidence but with the new government now confirmed, the first update of fuel prices has RON97 petrol becoming 10 sen cheaper per litre. This would still be based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) which determines the retail price for unsubsidized fuel in Malaysia. RON95 petrol and biodiesel are currently subsidized to maintain their prices but the government may soon review the subsidies to have a more targeted approach that benefits those who really need assistance.

Regardless of whether fuel consumption matters to you, it’s good to try to use less of it as fossil fuels will eventually be finished on the planet. Here are some ways to reduce the fuel consumption in your vehicle:
Slow and steady:
 You don’t have to drive at a crawl to save fuel but if you just drive more frequently at 80/90 km/h instead of 100/110 km/h, you could save 10 to 15% in fuel. Keeping a steady speed rather than ‘pumping‘ the pedal will also save on fuel. On the highway, you can use cruise control, if available.

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

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

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

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

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

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.