Why it’s safer for small children to look backwards in cars

On January 1, 2020, the new law on compulsory usage of child restraint systems (CRS) comes into effect. This complements an earlier law requiring all occupants in the vehicle to use the seatbelts and now, small children who cannot use such restraint systems must be placed in childseats.

There are grumbles about the cost of getting childseats, especially for those with many children – not uncommon in Malaysia. The government is looking into solutions for such cases but stands by its position that the law will still be implemented even though it may be an unpopular move. The benefits in reducing deaths is significant enough that the government is willing to ‘take the heat’.

Installation of childseats should be in the rear; placing them at the front passenger’s seat should be only be done if really necessary. And apart from ensuring that they are installed securely (the ISOFIX points in most modern vehicles ensure this), having them facing rearwards is better.

Fact: small children highly vulnerable in car accidents

To understand why the rearward-facing position is better, we need to look back at the history of childseats. For a long time, it had been observed by automobile safety researchers that small children were highly vulnerable in car accidents. Although 3-point seatbelts were available, they were not suitable because of the smaller size of children.

In 1964, using the same idea that protected astronauts from the effects of the tremendous g-forces experienced during a rocket’s lift-off into space, Professor Bertil Aldman in Sweden designed a rearward-facing childseat.

The purpose of this seat was to distribute the forces of a frontal collision over a large part of the child’s body, ie the entire back, neck and head, and also to provide support to the spine during the course of an accident.

The way the seat was constructed and installed was particularly important for small children as a conventional forward-facing restraint system would not provide sufficient support to the child’s unproportionally large head and a neck that was still fairly weak compared to an adult’s.

ISOFIX points (left) are usually found in the rear seats and enable the childseats to be easily and securely installed.

Strict regulations

By the end of the 1960s, the first rearward-facing child seat became available and was intended for children between 9 months and 4 years old. In 1973, new regulations were introduced in Sweden pertaining to the approval of CRS and were so stringent that only those with a rearward-facing design could be approved by the authorities.

Researchers at Volvo began compiling data on the way children (of up to 4 years old) were restrained in cars and there was some evidence of benefits. However, up till the end of the 1970s, awareness of the value of CRS was still not great so statistics were insufficient.

The 1980s, however, seen a rapid rise in childseat usage and virtually all small children travelling in cars in Sweden were properly restrained. Part of the reason for the increased usage by parents was also due to the campaigns to make people aware of the importance of restraint systems for adults and children, something which the authorities in Malaysia have been carrying out.

Improper usage of childseats

Studies have shown that there are two major ways that parents have misused CRS, both of which are dangerous. The child may not be restrained properly or be in a seat that is not the right type for his or her age or worse, the child seat is not mounted correctly, or the child is not restrained in the seat at all.

If a child is not restrained properly in a child seat, the forces during an accident can send him or her flyting around the cabin and sustain serious injuries. In an extreme situation – and there have been cases reported – the child may even be ejected through the window.

A correctly-used child seat can help to reduce the risk of fatal injuries by approximately 70% but for a partially-misused child seat (eg wrong size), the reduction is approximately 40% only.

From Volvo’s own investigations of thousands of accidents involving its own vehicles with children in them, the most common type of misuse was found to be that the seat was not fitted according to the instructions. In two cases, the child seat was wrongly fitted facing forward and one of these two cases saw the child sustaining fatal head injuries when the roof intruded into the compartment where the child was seated (but it is not clear whether the child was restrained or not).

Various other studies at the time did not provide reliable conclusions regarding the difference in outcomes between rearward-facing childseats but there was a feeling that they were more ‘positive’ than the corresponding number of forward-facing seats. Over time, as more data was collected, it was increasingly obvious that children in rearward-facing childseats have had the lowest risk of injury (from slight to serious injuries).

An examination of the types of injuries sustained showed that only 5% those in rearward-facing child seats had head injuries whereas 18% of the unrestrained children suffered such injuries. In every case, the highest percentage of injuries was experienced by children without any form of restraint. They are also likely to have injuries to their limbs.

When the children get bigger and taller, they require booster seats that raise their body so it will put them in the correct position to use the seatbelts.

It is interesting to note, however, that those on the booster cushion/seat had relatively high rates of neck and chest injuries, which suggests that the wrong positioning of the seatbelt could have been the cause.

How do the children feel?

In promoting the use of rearward-facing child seats, it is also important to understand how the little users feel. However, the studies undertaken have shown adult attitudes which might not accurately reflect the real experiences of the children.

In one study, observations were made regarding how adults and children travelled. It showed that 66% of all children — but only 25% of all adults — preferred to sit with their backs against the direction of travel. Adults seemed to have a resistance towards travelling backwards so there is a possibility that they may have a misconception regarding the experience of the child.

Various studies suggest that the greatest problem in connection with the use of the childseat is that the child does not like it preventing him or her from moving around, especially during long trips. This is not peculiar to rearward-facing seats as a similar problem, with the same magnitude, would also be the case with forward-facing seats. To overcome this, it is suggested that the child be allowed to see and communicate with others in the car; if the driver is alone, the seat can be installed in the front seat where the child can see another person.

Rearward-facing or forward-facing, investigations of many accidents all over the world have shown the importance of proper CRS in preventing a child from being ejected from the car if it should roll over or tumble down the side of a slope.

Child car seat: No summonses for first six months of 2020


Perodua contributes medical equipment to Sarawak General Hospital

Perodua continues its support to public hospitals with the recent by contribution of  medical diagnostic equipment to the Sarawak General Hospital. The initiative is to support the government’s mission in improving the quality of health services in the country and, at the same time, thank the dedicated frontliners.

The Malaysian carmaker contributed seven Vital Sign Monitors (for monitoring body temperature, pulse and respiration rate as well as blood pressure) worth a total of RM84,450. At the same time, hampers were presented to patients and staff in the paediatric ward of the hospital.

The handover ceremony was attended by Perodua President & CEO, Dato’  Zainal Abidin Ahmad; Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Chief Operating Officer, JH Rozman Jaafar; Sarawak General Hospital Director, Dr. Ngian Hie Ung; and Deputy Director (Medical), Dr. Norinawaty Abg. Daud.

“We thank the staff of the Sarawak General Hospital for their service to the community, we hope our contribution will further benefit the people of Kuching and Sarawak,” Dato’ Zainal said.

“As part of our Corporate Responsibility initiative, we are always looking for opportunities to provide the best assistance to strengthen the country’s health system. As such, we are in constant communication with Ministry of Health and other relevant parties to continue our initiatives,” he added.

“This is one of our ways to thank the government and Malaysian, especially our customers who have given us their trust and support over the years,” he said.

To date, Perodua has donated medical and health equipment to public hospitals including Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Selayang, Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas, Hospital Shah Alam, Hospital Kuala Kubu Bharu, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Hospital Ampang, Hospital Putrajaya and several community clinics within Hulu Selangor.

Last year, Perodua donated RM80,000 of medical supplies to Hospital Sg. Buloh which was a key medical facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Perodua was quick to use its resources in the war against the coronavirus. Besides health facilities, the carmaker also provided face shields to schools for the use of academic and support staff. The face shields were made by an associate of Perodua.

To know more about Perodua’s other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, visit
www.perodua.com.my
.

Perodua expands on public protection initiative


Updated Porsche Panamera launched in Malaysia

The updated Porsche Panamera is now available from Sime Darby Auto Performance, with pricing for starting from RM 1,026,735, excluding insurance but with 50% sales tax exemption (until June 30, 2021).

For 2021, the new Panamera feature the previously optional Sport Design front end with striking air intake grilles, larger side air intakes with adapted single-bar front light layout. The appearance of the rear end has a revamped light strip that extends the full width of the luggage compartment lid with an adapted contour. It thus provides a continuous and flowing connection between the two newly designed LED light clusters.

Technical updates

The chassis and control systems have been geared towards a sporty and also comfortable character for 2021. Some systems have even been applied completely from scratch. In order to transfer the enormous power to the road in a controlled manner and maximise cornering performance, the revamped Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system with optimisation, while the control of the electric roll stabilisation system Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport) improves body stability. This is achieved while also providing a noticeable improvement in damping comfort.

Six-piston aluminium monobloc fixed brake calipers are fitted at the front, with four-piston aluminium monobloc fixed brake calipers at the rear, and single-piece brake calipers enclosed. The brake system in the latest Panamera has reduced weight but is highly resistant to deformation. The engineers have set the pedal travel to be tight with the pressure point precise so the driver can modulate deceleration efficiently.

An improved tyre generation is fitted, increasing the bandwidth between comfort and sportiness while simultaneously offering a lower rolling resistance. Sport tyres with a softer rubber compound and optimised tread have been developed especially for the Panamera and are offered for the first time, further improving lateral performance and are particularly suitable for sporty cornering.

Three new 20-inch and 21-inch wheels have been added to the wheel range, so that a total of 10 different designs are now available, including the Exclusive Design 21-inch alloy wheels.

The Panamera is powered by the familiar 2.9 litre V6 biturbo engine which generates 330 ps/450 Nm to provide a claimed 0 to 100 km/h capability of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h. The coasting function of the 8-speed PDK (activated in normal driving mode and already part of predecessor models) is also improved to enhance fuel efficiency.

Sporty ambience within

As in every Porsche, there is a sporty ambience inside the car in keeping with the Porsche design DNA. A new multifunction steering wheel is among the updates, with operating elements cleverly integrated into the design. The visual cut-outs bringing to mind the lightweight steering wheels found in racing cars.

The Panamera offers an extensive range of innovative light and driver assistance systems which include Lane Keeping Assist with road sign recognition as well as Night Vision Assist, Lane Change Assist, LED matrix headlights including PDLS Plus, Park Assist including Surround View and a Head-up Display. For the first time, Porsche Connect will be made available in the new Panamera in Malaysia.

For more information on the new Panamera or other Porsche models available in Malaysia, contact one of these authorised Porsche Centres:
Porsche Centre Ara Damansara
 |
Porsche Centre Sungai Besi
 |
Porsche Centre Penang
 |
Porsche Centre Johor Bahru
.

Porsche to assemble in Malaysia for regional market?


Honda e to address environmental issues just as the original Civic did in 1970s

Back in the early 1970s, Honda launched a new car model called the Civic and although the company had already been making cars for a while, this new model was remarkable in many ways. It came at a time when the new regulations in the US forced manufacturers to introduce solutions to reduce toxic exhaust emissions – and the innovative CVCC system in the Civic could meet those demands without a even using a catalytic converter.

The Civic’s popularity also grew quickly because consumer preferences were shifting to smaller cars, in part because fuel prices shot up during the energy crises. The Civic’s fuel-efficient engine was just the thing and it also helped to draw more people to Japanese cars.

The original Honda Civic launched in 1972

Almost 50 years later, Honda is about to launch another new model that again addresses environmental issues. This time, it has done away with the internal combustion engine altogether so there will be zero emissions.

Another standard-setter

The new model is the Honda e, to go on sale in Europe later this year. It’s been engineered to set new standards in the compact electric car segment.

The Honda e is equipped with a high-power electric motor delivering up to approximately 100 kW (150 ps) and torque in excess of 300 Nm. The 35.5 kWh battery in the Honda e is one of the most compact in its class, contributing to an exceptional balance of low weight, fast-charging capability of 80% in 30 minutes, and a claimed range of over 200 kms, more than enough for daily urban commuting.

Honda engineers paid special attention to enhancing the driving dynamics to deliver a fun and engaging experience. With the battery located low under the vehicle floor, the car’s centre of gravity is approximately 50 cm from the ground. With a 50:50 weight distribution, wide yet compact size and short overhangs at the front and rear, the Honda e delivers an optimal balance of stability and handling performance.

To help deliver a sporty character, power is delivered through the rear wheels, which also enables a greater steering articulation for the front wheels. As a result, the turning radius is approximately 4.3 metres, giving the car good manoeuvrability in small city streets.

Only one pedal

The Honda e will have Single Pedal Control, enabling the driver to accelerate and slow the car using only the accelerator pedal. When the accelerator pedal is depressed, the car will accelerate as normal; when it is released, automatic regenerative braking will occur, and will slow the car.

The Single Pedal Control improves driving efficiency in urban environments and reduces the need to use multiple pedals, making the drive more engaging, exciting and seamless with maximum control for the driver. Older drivers may probably need a while to get used to this feature.

Having been originally developed to be an electric vehicle, the engineers started with a clean sheet and did not have to use traditional construction methods. High-strength materials used in the skeletal structure contribute to structural rigidity while also reducing weight. The lightweight chassis provides the ideal platform from which to fine tune suspension and steering settings for a dynamic driving experience.

It is unlikely that Honda will offer this model in Malaysia in the near future as the focus is on Europe where it aims to sell a large proportion of EVs and hybrids by 2025.


Cadillac CELESTIQ Aims To Top Luxury Segment With Technological Advancements

On the same day that Rolls-Royce unveiled the
Spectre
, its first electric model, to the world, Cadillac also presented its first all-electric ultra-luxury sedan model – the CELESTIQ. Described as the most technologically advanced Cadillac ever, it leads the brand into the electrified future built on legacy, cutting-edge technology and personalized luxury.

While the basic structure and bodywork of the CELESTIQ will come from a series production process, each unit will be personalised to the customer’s specific requirements. No two cars will be alike as customers will work directly with their dealer and Cadillac designers to have what the company says will be ‘unprecedented levels of personalization tailored to reflect the owner’s tastes’.

“CELESTIQ is the purest expression of Cadillac, acknowledging our incredible history and driving us to a bolder and brighter future,” said Global Vice-President of Cadillac, Rory Harvey. “It is a completely bespoke work of automotive art, built around the most advanced and innovative technology that we have ever engineered into an automobile.”

Low volume and handbuilt
“With an extremely low volume of hand-built vehicles to be offered globally each year and an exclusive declaration process, CELESTIQ will truly be a custom-commissioned one-of-one,” said Harvey. “Each client will experience a personalized journey to make their vehicle exactly the way they desire.”

As the flagship of the 120-year old brand’s electric future, the CELESTIQ uses the
Ultium platform
 and batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) which General Motors developed models (and which
 Honda will also use
). This dedicated BEV architecture combines a 111-kWh battery pack and a 2-motor, all-wheel-drive propulsion system to offer a GM-estimated 600 bhp/868 Nm, with a GM-estimated driving range of 483 kms on a full charge.

Unique among Ultium-based BEVs are the CELESTIQ’s 11.59:1 front and 11.63:1 rear gear ratios  which were specially calibrated to optimize range and performance. In addition to the high output, the car is also projected to deliver one of the quickest 0 – 100 km/h times of less than 4 seconds.

The Ultium Platform also serves as a structural element of the car, contributing to its overall strength and feeling of solidity, in addition to its performance. The battery cells are mounted horizontally, allowing for long, low and lean proportions, while the low mounting position of the battery pack drops the centre of gravity. These enhance handling and ride comfort while also maximizing interior spaciousness.

Regen on Demand Braking helps maximize driving range by converting the kinetic energy of the car’s forward momentum into electricity that’s then stored in the battery pack. It also includes One-Pedal Driving, which can slow the vehicle to a complete stop using only the accelerator pedal. That might take a bit of getting used to but in time, drivers will probably appreciate it.

When it comes to charging, the Cadillac can hook up to a DC fast-charging system with a 200 kW supply and almost 50 kms of range can be obtained with 10 minutes of charging, it is claimed. Owners will also have access to Ultium Charge 360, a holistic approach to EV charging that’s designed to simplify the overall charging experience. It includes access to more than 110,000 publicly available charging points in the USA and Canada.

Although the suspension layout seems simple on paper – 5-link front and rear suspension – to give the occupants the comfort levels expected of a flagship luxury model, the CELESTIQ has Adaptive Air Suspension, Active Rear Steering, and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0.

For superior driving dynamics, there’s an Advanced AWD system which turns the front or rear motors on or off as required to provide optimal torque to enhance ride quality and electric driving range. Active Roll Control, a Cadillac-first, is a significant contributor to the car’s nimble handling. There’s also an Active Rear Spoiler which is angled aerodynamic efficiency at lower speeds and raised at higher speeds to improve stability.

Cadillac engineers worked with Michelin to develop the Pilot Sport EV tyres specially for the CELESTIQ. Mounted on 23-inch forged aluminium wheels, the tyres have optimal rolling resistance and precision steering with the tread pattern and foam inserts to keep noise levels low. Self-sealing technology eliminates the inconvenience of punctures.

Art of Travel design philosophy
The CELESTIQ story is rooted in Cadillac’s history of building handcrafted, iconic vehicles such as the 1933 V16 Aerodynamic Coupe and the 1957 Eldorado Brougham. Its interior is where Cadillac’s Art of Travel design philosophy is fully realized through the use of authentic materials and indulgent details.

“With CELESTIQ, we’ve been able to push classic American luxury into a new modern space,” said Tristan Murphy, Interior Design Manager, CELESTIQ. “Executed with exceptional craftmanship, there is a staggering variety of colours, trims and genuine materials that ensure no two cars will ever be alike.”

With a clean, minimalist aesthetic, the cabin acts as a pure showcase for all the different materials and colour options. “The interior is defined by long uninterrupted surfaces and theme lines; the sense of movement is all around you. With such a clean design, it allowed the details to shine, emphasizing precision in even the smallest of areas, truly highlighting a sense of space and scale,” said Murphy.

Immersive sensory experience
The interior lighting is fundamental to CELESTIQ, featuring more than 450 distinct LEDs, delivering an immersive sensory experience. Customers can personalize their colour selections for each interior lighting zone or let the CELESTIQ curate the lighting combinations to harmonize throughout the cabin. In addition, there are 18 different lighting animations which showcase the interior’s lighting capabilities where the choreography of light enhances the mood.

Many of the metal elements throughout the cabin require detail and finish work such as fine milling, anodization and a final polishing by hand, reflecting the authenticity and high level of finish detail that goes into each handcrafted vehicle. For example, the leather surfaces have premium leather wrapped by artisans.

The Fixed Smart Glass Roof has an industry-first feature – Suspended Particle Device technology to allow variable transmission of light. Multi-colour ambient lighting and lighting choreography create a unique interplay between the exterior and the amount of light (tint levels range from less than 1% to 20%) allowed into the cabin through the 4-zone glass roof. The glass is also treated with infrared reflective and low-emissivity coatings that help prevent sunlight from raising the cabin’s temperature.

Largest HD display panel
The centrepiece of the interior and the CELESTIQ technology interface is a pillar-to-pillar, 55-inch (diagonal) advanced HD display — the largest in the segment. It is a technological marvel, containing two separate screens under a single pane of glass. The driver-side display — with pixel density comparable to an 8K screen — shows driver and shared vehicle information, while the passenger side allows the occupants to play media, use the internet capability, connect their smartphones, and more.

The CELESTIQ is the first vehicle to feature a Gentherm ClimateSense 4-zone microclimate system as standard equipment. It features 33 unique microclimate devices that allow each occupant to tailor their seat heating and cooling, along with advanced airflow technology that creates truly individualized comfort.

The CELESTIQ is expected to go into production in December 2023, with an expected price starting from over US$300,000 (RM1,421,400 at today’s exchange rates). The actual price a customer pays will be more and dependent on the level of personalization. As every unit will be personalized, there will be no ready stock at dealers and customers will have to wait some time after their order is placed.

Cadillac InnerSpace concept reimagines the luxury experience of motoring in future


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Launches The World’s Fastest…. Family? AMG Owners Community Malaysia Officially Launched!

The
AOCM
 or
AMG Owners Community Malaysia
, is the latest initiative by
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
 to elevate the AMG experience to greater heights, driven by passionate enthusiasts and customers. Members become a part of a dedicated and exclusive community with access to all things AMG – driving days, product previews, elite motorsport events, and unique collectables.

(L-R) Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia presenting Nabil Jeffri, Malaysian Race Driver and Mercedes-AMG Brand Ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia his very own AOCM Welcome Pack alongside Guido Brormann, AMG Regional Sales Manager SEA

“It gives us great pleasure to welcome our Mercedes-AMG owners to join The World’s Fastest Family via the AMG Owners Community Malaysia, where the cost of membership is nothing more than ownership and enjoyment of your Mercedes-AMG automobile. We look forward to hosting these passionate fans and enthusiasts of our most powerful and dynamically desirable cars with experiences that are exclusive only to them as we uphold the AMG ideal of Driving Performance in everything that we do,”
 said
Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
(above, left).

AOCM is a gathering of connoisseurs of the most accomplished performance cars in the world, the Mercedes-AMG family – where unique character, incredible intensity and desirable emotion come together. These vehicles are among the most powerful in the world yet deliver exemplary safety, superior quality and the signature Mercedes-Benz premium cabin experience and luxurious finishing.

The AMG product range in Malaysia is currently represented by the A 45, CLA 45 and GLA 45 from the progressive compact car range, the versatile and practical range of AMG 43s which includes the locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 limousine and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 SUV, the C 63 Coupe, C 63 Limousine, E 63 Limousine and S 63 Coupe along with the recently added CLS 53 and AMG GT C – the latter joining the AMG GT S and AMG GT R in the unrivalled AMG GT collection.

Owners who register new Mercedes-AMG vehicles, as well as existing owners who sign up from now until 30
th
 of November 2018, will receive a Welcome Pack which includes a numbered member card, car sticker, custom-designed polo-shirt and laser-engraved paperweight.

High on power. Low on instalment.

With its superior performance and reliability, the Mercedes-AMG comes with so much excitement. So does the financing. The innovative Agility Financing from Mercedes-Benz Financial comes with so many benefits. The most significant one is the guaranteed future value of the car. Through this risk-free financing, customers can be confident in the future value of their Mercedes-Benz vehicles should the car value decrease.

At the end of the agreement, customer is in control with the options to settle or extend a financing contract or even return their vehicles and upgrade to newer models. Return option is subject to fair wear and tear conditions and kilometer restrictions.

With the introduction of Performance Agility Care, customers now can drive a Mercedes-AMG with flexible financing solutions that comes with a service and maintenance package. For a limited time, the first few customers to activate Performance Agility Care will receive an exclusive Mercedes-AMG merchandise package worth RM5,000. Campaign ends on October 31, 2018. For more details, contact 1-800-88-1133.

*Terms and conditions apply.


Michelin Asia Cup Powered by Gran Turismo is on again

The annual Michelin Asia Cup Powered by Gran Turismo returns again for gamers from Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia, and Malaysians are also invited to compete for the opportunity to represent Malaysia. This is an e-racing competition that will use the ‘Gran Turismo’ platform on PlayStation 4 in Sport mode.

The Grand Prize Winner will win an all-expense paid trip to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Michelin Passion Experience (MPE) event, held this year at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The First Runner-Up will receive a full set of tyres, while the Second Runner-Up will receive a fuel card worth more than RM1,500.

Registration for qualifying rounds runs are on from now
until July 8, 2022
. The first 500 registered participants in Malaysia will each receive exclusive Michelin merchandise. It is important to note that the Grand Prize Winner must have a driving license or a racing license (valid at least until September 9, 2022), to be eligible to claim the prize. Needless to say, he or she should also have a valid international passport.

The registered participants must submit their best time to the Qualifying Round from July 11 – 15, 2022.  The top 6 participants with the fastest lap time will be announced on July 20, 2022 to represent Malaysia in the Semi-Finals, racing against the top 6 from 3 other participating countries. The total of 24 semi-finalists will be divided in two groups, each consisting of 12 gamers.

The 6 fastest gamers of each group will advance to the Final Round, which will be broadcast live on August 26, 2022 onwards, via social media channels. The top three winners will be officially announced on August 30, 2022.

Last year, Michelin Malaysia held its first-ever e-Racing competition – the
Michelin Virtual Racing Series 2021
 – as the brand’s first major endeavour into the local e-sports industry. This activity has seen increased activity in the past few years, especially when the pandemic-related Movement Control Order (MCO) limited outdoor motorsports events.

The event, which had prizes worth a total of RM70,000 (in cash, tyres and merchandise) was run in 3 phases in June and July. All the races were held on the Sardegna Road Track AII with participants using the BMW M6 GT3 M Power equipped with Michelin racing medium tyres.

First Michelin Virtual Racing Series 2021 now underway in Malaysia


Renault Group and Geely To Form Joint Venture Company For Combustion Engine Production

The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group – more commonly referred to as Geely – is relatively young in the global auto industry, having been established in 1986. Yet over the past decade, it has acquired several well-known international automotive brands and formed alliances or partnerships with others. Its business today spans the automotive value chain, from research, development and design to production, sales and servicing.

The latest partnership announced today is with Renault SA where a 50-50 joint venture will be formed for producing petrol engines and developing hybrid technology that will be used by each company’s brands, and possibly supplied to others.

Renault (through its engine manufacturing subsidiary, Renault Moteurs) has supplied engines to other manufacturers for decades. It provided its F9Q engine (above) for the Proton Waja 1.8 in the early 2000s, followed later by the D4F 1.2-litre unit for the Savvy.

Renault has long been an engine supplier to other carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz and Proton, so it is already familiar with the business. Geely has so far used its powertrains within its own group brands, taking advantage of shared resources.

The new company will be a standalone unit which will have the support of 5 global R&D centres. It will have a long list of customers and large volumes by virtue of both Renault and Geely already having numerous carmakers within their groups. The Renault Alliance, for instance, includes Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors as well as Dacia and Alpine. Geely has Volvo Cars, Lynk & Co, and Proton.

The non-binding framework agreement signed today describes a plan to operate 17 powertrain plants on 3 continents, employing around 19,000 people in total. The combined annual volume from these plants will be in excess of 5 million combustion engines, hybrid powertrains as well as transmissions. The new company’s joint product portfolio and regional footprint could supply to 80% of the global market demand for combustion engines in over 130 countries and regions.

Comments from CEOs
Luca de Meo, CEO Renault Group:
 “As Renault Group accelerates with its Renaulution transformation to capture value on the entire new automotive value chain, we are pleased to have agreed plans for an ambitious partnership with Geely to keep developing the ICE and hybrid engine technologies that will remain a critical part of the automotive supply chain for decades to come. We’ll be able to offer best-in-class powertrain and electrified solutions to multiple OEM brands worldwide, unleashing the market potential for this low emission technology.”

Eric Li ShuFu, Geely Holding Group Chairman:
 “Today’s agreement with Renault Group will enable the creation of a global leader in hybrid technologies to provide highly efficient advanced solutions for automakers around the world. We are looking forward to working together with Luca de Meo and his Renault team to make this partnership a reality. This agreement builds on our commitment to leverage our group wide technological expertise and brand portfolio to continue our pioneering journey in sustainability and value creation that leads to consumer excellence.”

This new development will free Renault of having to continue its own direct investments in combustion engine development and production and allow it to give more focus to electric vehicle development, especially powertrains and technology. While it will need combustion engines for some time to come – but in regions outside Europe – it needs to make faster advances in EV development with European markets set to go fully electric by 2035.

Renault will focus on electrification with the aim of creating Europe’s most competitive and efficient EV production hub.

The ElectriCity hub is made up of 3 factories, with powertrains coming from a fourth factory in France.

In the third chapter of its
Renaulution
 plan: Revolution, the Renault Group will build upon 5 focused businesses. One of them is called Ampere, which will develop, manufacture, and sell full EV passenger cars, with cutting-edge software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology. Ampere will be based in France and have a workforce of around 10,000 employees. Before 2030, Ampere’s line-up will consist of 6 electric cars with a target of around 1 million EVs for the Renault brand in 2031.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance to spend 23 billion euros on massive electrification push


Limited edition Casio EDIFICE watch features NISMO’s ace number 23

Fans of NISMO, the Nissan division which produces high-performance models and is also responsible for the brand’s motorsports activities, will want this Casio EQS-930NIS on their wrist or as part of their collection. It’s the latest model in Casio’s EDIFICE range of high-performance metal watches and is a special limited edition which was created in collaboration with NISMO.

Like all EDIFICE watches, the concept of ‘Speed and  Intelligence’ is the basis for the design of the EQS-930NIS watch. The face and body design captures the spirit of NISMO and motorsports, with the brand colours – red and black – featured prominently. The inset dials, bezel sides, and buttons  are accented in red against a black base.

In addition, the inset dial at the 10 o’clock position recreates the colour gradation that appears on a  sports car’s titanium tail pipe when the exhaust heat and the temperature difference between car  parts cause the titanium to turn bluish. The surface of the urethane band has been processed to  resemble tyre tread after an intense race.

Why NISMO likes No. 23

The traditional Nissan and NISMO ace number, ’23’, is engraved on the bezel at the 23-minute mark, as well as on the case back. ‘23’ (or ‘two-three’) when said in Japanese is ‘
ni
’ and ‘
san
’, so it is chosen for NISMO racing cars and has certainly brought them good luck on several occasions. The NISMO logo can also be seen on the bezel, band loop, and case back.

Solar-powered

The 52-mm diameter EQS-930NIS is solar-powered and when fully charged, it can last about 5 months until movement stops. The wearer will be aware of the remaining charge as there is a battery level indicator on the face. Like other EDIFICE watches, it is water-resistant (down to 100 metres) and has a stopwatch which will be useful for those watching races.

There’s no indication of how limited the number of watches will be, nor the price and if it will be available outside Japan.

Limited edition Citizen Eco-Drive watches inspired by new Nissan Z


2024 Lexus LC 500 Ditches Annoying Trackpad

The 2024 Lexus LC 500 will finally get rid of the most annoying feature that Lexus has ever come up with, the dreaded trackpad.

This year will finally mark the end of the trackpad era for the Lexus which was a contentious interface that was hated by many. For the past few years, Lexus has been gradually moving away from its trackpad technology in favour of a more contemporary touchscreen layout and we Malaysians got our first taste of it in the new
Lexus NX
.

The infotainment system in the new model will be an upgraded screen from a 10-inch unit to a 12.3-inch one. The screen has also been moved 86 mm (3.4 inches) closer to the front passengers, making it easier to access.

Just like the “Hey Siri” command for the iPhone, Lexus has upgraded the voice recognition system which can now be summoned by saying “Hey Lexus”. This feature will respond to up to 100 different commands. Physical controls are still available for climate control in the LC 500.

Nevertheless, Lexus didn’t simply switch out the screens without adding other upgrades. The centre console now has switches that are arranged longitudinally, a new aluminium volume knob that both front passengers can easily reach, Apple CarPlay that can be used wirelessly or wired (Android Auto is still only wired), and a new cloud-based navigation system.

DK Rose option

Two new paint colours and two new interior options are available for the 2024 Lexus LC 500. The interior options are Blue & White and DK Rose, while the two new colours are Hot Blue Contrast Layering and Sonic Copper. The LC 500 now comes with a digital rearview camera and carbon fibre sill plates if you select the Sport Package.

Updates to the safety features have also been added as Lexus’ Safety System+, which can now spot cyclists, in addition to other cars and pedestrians, and brake accordingly. The system can also steer the LC to keep it in lane and slow it down if it notices a slower speed limit sign.

There are improvements to the suspension’s shocks, springs, and underbody braces too. In addition, the steering, engine mounts and brake-by-wire system have all been overhauled.

If that’s not enough, Lexus offers an Ultimate Edition to the LC 500 lineup which features:

Exclusive Hakugin White pain (matte finish inspired by Japanese porcelain)
Integrated canards (moulded into the bumper)
Kachi-Blue interior (inspired by samurai armour)

Lexus has gone the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction by integrating all these new features. They could have just dumped the trackpad and called it a day.

Normal 2024 Lexus LC 500 models go into production in May 2023 for the European market, though there’s no word on when they might enter the Malaysian market. Production of the Ultimate Edition versions for the Euro market begins in September 2023.

Pricing of the 2024 LC 500 has not been announced, but if it were to enter the Malaysian market, we believe that it would cost slightly more than the previous RM1.25 million
2020 LC 500
.


Isuzu Malaysia offers ‘Adventures of a Lifetime’ to D-MAX customers

Owners of the Isuzu D-MAX generally have an active lifestyle, part of the reason why they bought the popular pick-up model. It’s an ideal vehicle for work and for going on holidays, exploring our beautiful country.

“When you throw versatility and comfort into the mix, what you have is a vehicle that is the perfect holiday or work buddy,” adds Masayuki Suzuki, COO of Isuzu Malaysia. He notes too that, by design and through its shared DNA with Isuzu commercial trucks, ‘the D-Max performs with tenacious dependability and amazing fuel efficiency’.

Now, for those who want to even more exciting adventures and in distant lands with totally different environments, Isuzu Malaysia is offering the chance to experience a dream holiday in the
‘Isuzu Win an Adventure of a Lifetime’
 contest. Open to customers who purchase and register a new D-MAX from authorised Isuzu dealerships between now and September 30, 2019, the contest offers holiday packages for 10 lucky customers.

Iceland (left) is the destination for the Grand Prize winner, while destinations for 9 other winners include Turkey (right), Greece and Korea. While each winner can bring a partner along, Isuzu Malaysia doesn’t mention that they can also bring their new D-MAX with them for the adventure.

Holiday packages overseas for 10 lucky customers

Besides the Grand Prize of a 10-day holiday for two to Iceland, there are also prizes to destinations such as Greece, Turkey and Korea. All winners will enjoy accommodation in 4-star hotels with tours and meals included during the stay.

After the vehicle purchase and registration have been finalised, each customer can enter the contest by submitting a 100-word slogan which starts with ‘
I Chose Isuzu D-Max because
……..’. The winners will be randomly selected through computerized system by a third party, with the slogans also being considered as judging criteria.

To be eligible to enter the contest, customers need to purchase and register any of the latest D-MAX RT85 models by September 30, 2019.

Enjoy what the world has to offer

“The ‘
Isuzu

Win an Adventure of a Lifetime’
 contest is our way of encouraging Malaysians to take that step back to enjoy what the world has to offer. Through vehicles that have the range and versatility such as the Isuzu D-Max, we are encouraged to explore and experience the myriad of attractions that Malaysia and the world have to offer,” said Mr. Suzuki.

Information about the contest and Isuzu vehicles can be obtained at authorised Isuzu dealerships nationwide. To locate a dealer, visit
www.isuzu.net.my/pickup
. Contest terms and conditions can also be found at the
Isuzu D-MAX Malaysia Facebook page
.


Tan Chong Motor Holdings organises in-house vaccination programme for employees

The National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) is intended to vaccinate a large proportion of the Malaysian population in order to achieve ‘herd immunity’ as well as provide better resistance against the serious effects of COVID-19 infection. The government is funding the programme which the private sector also supports.

With the increasing daily number of administered COVID-19 vaccine doses nationwide, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH) has initiated engagements under various vaccination programmes including the Public-Private Partnership COVID-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (PIKAS), a vaccination programme by MITI for employees in the manufacturing sector.

Aiming for fully vaccinated workforce

TCMH has organized its COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for all its employees nationwide who may not have received their vaccinations through the mySejahtera channel. To date, 70% of the company’s employees have confirmed appointments or have been vaccinated (some already completing their second dose). The programme, which starts this month, includes family members of employees and the vaccinations are done at local clinics or at the company’s premises throughout the country.

“In our shared fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our colleagues, customers and surrounding communities remain our top priority. The Group has been regularly communicating the importance to maintain and observe health and safety protocols to avoid any resurgence of the virus. With this vaccination programme, we hope to achieve a fully vaccinated workforce by the end of September and hence protecting them so that they can return to work safely when permitted,” said Daniel Ho, Group CEO of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad.

The efforts of TCMH will help meet the immunisation target set by the government which is for all adults in Malaysia to be fully vaccinated by October 2021.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s Nissan showrooms continue to remain closed with the ongoing Movement Control Order. However, the public can still obtain information and even make a booking at the
Nissan Online Showroom
.

TCMH, which has the major part of its business activities in the auto sector, has been enduring the consequences arising from stoppages of the automotive factories, workshops, and distribution centres due to the ongoing Movement Control Order. Hopefully, with its workforce fully vaccinated, it can be allowed to resume its activities while adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor opens Nissan Flagship Store on Lazada


SDAP unleashes Porsche Cayman GT4

SDAP ushers in its latest offering for Malaysian Porsche enthusiasts, the manic new Porsche Cayman GT4.

Malaysian Porsche cars importer and distributor Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) heralded in the arrival of its latest addition to the local market, the manic new Porsche Cayman GT4. The new mid-engined sports car was presented in the Johor Premium Outlets, Johor by SDAP CEO Arnt Bayer.

Sitting at the top of the Cayman model range after the Cayman GTS, the Cayman GT4 takes a much more extreme as it was developed with ultimate track performance in mind. This is not the Cayman for the faint-hearted to say the least.

Powering the GT4 is a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six engine lifted from the 911 Carrera model. In the GT4, the mill is tuned to a whopping 385hp and 420Nm of peak torque and is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. As a result, the Cayman GT4 despatched the century sprint just 4.4 seconds before hitting its claimed top speed of 295km/h.

Complementing its powerful powertrain are it’s the aerodynamic and track-focused chassis enhancements. Notable highlights include a large fixed rear wing, as wella s the 911 GT3-derived ventilated disc brakes grabbed by six-pot calipers up front and four-pot calipers in the rear.

Besides that, the Cayman GT4 also boasts the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Stability Management (PSM) systems, along with lightweight carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) full bucket seats, as well as 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels wrapped in ultra high performance tyres.

Unlike its other siblings in the Cayman model range, this rather ‘focused’ GT4 variant sits lower, longer and slightly wider as a result of its enhanced aerodynamics. Furthermore, the cabin is also richly lined with a mix of leather and alcantara whilst featuring a three-spoke steering wheel designed exclusively for the Cayman GT4.

SDAP have set the new Cayman GT4’s starting price with a four-year factory warranty at RM840,000 (excluding road tax, insurance and registration costs). SDAP states that customers who place orders now will have their vehicle delivered within the second half of 2016.

Porsche Cayman GT4 launch @ Johor Premium Outlets

Porsche Cayman GT4

Image credit: Aaron Lee Photography for SDAP & Porsche Global Media


GR Heritage Parts Project adds Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series to its list of models

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been around for 70 years and
approximately 10.4 million units have been sold
 all over the world. In some markets like Malaysia, it was the first Toyota model to be sold, establishing the brand which would become a household name. In fact,  the history of the Land Cruiser symbolizes Toyota’s QDR―
Q
uality,
D
urability and
R
eliability

Of the millions that were sold, many are still in service. Being 4×4 vehicles, they have been ideal in less developed regions where the terrain is rough or road conditions are poor. The replacement parts for the older models may not be so easy to find as an industry norm is that original parts are produced for up to 10 years after a model has ended production. After that, there may be some third-party suppliers who will produce parts for the aftermarket business.

Old Land Cruisers still in use by loggers in Russia (left) and fishermen in Oman (right).

Land Cruiser 40 Series

For those who own the 40 Series Land Cruiser (produced between 1960 and 1984), there is good news regarding replacement parts. Toyota, through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), will re-produce a selection of parts for the model as part of the GR Heritage Parts Project.

The project is intended to re-produce spare parts that have been discontinued and sell them as genuine parts through a special collaboration with suppliers. This will address a shortage of spare parts that has been evident in recent years and enable Land Cruiser owners to continue to use their vehicles.

TGR has carried out preliminary surveys with exclusive Land Cruiser dealers and fan club representatives from various countries and gained useful insights into what is required. They have learnt that there is demand for parts related to driving, turning, and braking for the 40 Series Land Cruiser. These parts include engines, drivelines, and exhaust systems, which will be supplied as ‘heritage parts’.

Parts will be re-produced for engines such as the Toyota 2F which was one of the powerplants used by the Land Cruiser 40 Series.

Availability of the parts will be announced in the early part of 2022. Additionally, TGR is preparing a
questionnaire on its website
 where customers can submit their parts requests. This feedback will be used in the selection of the parts to be re-produced.

The 40 Series Land Cruiser is the third model for the TGR heritage parts project. The company is already supplying selected heritage parts for the
Supra (A70 and A80)
 and the
 2000GT
. In addition to the 40 Series, the company is also looking at the possibility of re-producing parts for later generations of the model.

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


Fiat 500 to be part of collection in New York’s Museum of Modern Art

Many don’t realize that the Beetle wasn’t the only icon of the early era of the automotive industry, it shared the limelight with the rather chic little Italian called, Fiat 500. Measuring just 2.97m long and 1.32m wide, this was the car that made personal transportation attainable for the average Italian.

It was known as a little car that could do big things. Thanks to the minuscule dimensions, it was small enough to fit through the narrow Italian streets while being spacious enough to fit four adults. Its 500cc engine may have only had 18bhp, but that was enough and helped deliver some pretty impressive fuel consumption figures.

Like the original Beetle, it was gender neutral, meaning it appealed to both men and women. Neither gender felt out of place while driving the 500, and rightly so. It’s classic silhouette is relatively timeless and has become somewhat of a style and fashion icon.

A car with such history deserves recognition, which is why the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), in New York has acquired a Fiat 500 and will showcase it along with the rest of its collection. It’s only fitting that that they did this because the 500, turns 60 this year. Not many cars are given this much importance when they turn 60, but then again how many have actually altered car design quite like the 500?

“While the Fiat 500 has unquestionably left its mark on automotive history, it is equally true that it has never been just a car,” said Olivier François, Head of FIAT Brand and Chief Marketing Officer, FCA – Global. “”n its 60 years of history, the 500 has transcended its material manifestation to enter the collective imagination and become an icon, which has now the honor of being certified by being acquired by MoMA in a tribute to its artistic and cultural value.”

Fiat sold about 4 million Fiat 500 cars between 1957 to 1975 and in that same time frame, various variants of the 500 were produced. Initially there was only the 500, then there was the Sport, D, F, L (the most comfortable) and finally, the R.

The 500 nameplate was revived in 2007, when Fiat introduced the new car which, though completely new, shared some similarities in design to the original. Though it may not have made the same impact as its predecessor, Fiat sold more than 2 million of them in the 10 years that it has been in production.


Son Killed In Car Crash, Father Survives

Image source: NST

A father survived but unfortunately, his 26-year-old son was killed in a collision on Friday morning on the North-South Expressway.

According to Rembau District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Hazri Mohamad, initial investigations report that two cars collided before one of them skidded and slammed another vehicle.

The father’s Toyota Vios lost control and collided with a Honda City car in front of him in the same lane. The father then exited the Vios and asked his son, R.Thiru Murugan, to turn on the car hazard lights to warn other vehicles. However, a 31-year-old woman driving a Perodua Myvi in the right lane from behind lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the Toyota Vios.

The son was seated in the Vios during the second collision and was unfortunately confirmed dead at the accident scene at 7:20am.

The Perodua Myvi driver received treatment at a private hospital in Senawang. The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing someone’s death by driving recklessly or at a dangerous speed.


Taycan GTS Sport Turismo joins Porsche’s all-electric range as third variant

Henry Ford may have forced the colour black on all his Model T customers but even he knew that there was a need to offer different bodystyles to suit different tastes and purposes. The auto industry has continued to provide customers with a wide variety of shapes and sizes for cars, with designs evolving over different periods.

So it’s not surprising that Porsche’s all-electric Taycan family is growing with additional bodystyles. The original model was joined earlier by the Taycan Cross Turismo, and now comes a third body variant in the form of the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo.

“The Taycan model range has grown steadily since its world premiere in 2019. Three body variants with up to 5 engine options offer something for everyone,” said Kevin Giek, Vice-President Model Line Taycan. “I am particularly pleased that we now also have a Taycan with the legendary GTS moniker. It is positioned above the Taycan 4S and below the Taycan Turbo derivatives, so it represents a real sweet spot in the range.”

The new Taycan GTS and Taycan Cross Turismo (right).

The newcomer has a similar front end as the Taycan, but the rear half of the body and the silhouette with rearward-sloping roof line are similar to the Taycan Cross Turismo. There are numerous black or dark details on the exterior, such as the front apron, the bases of the exterior mirrors, black alloy wheels, and the side window trims – as is traditional on a GTS. However, the Taycan Sport Turismo does not have off-road design elements.

The electric powertrain generates up to 440 kW (598 ps) which goes to all four wheels. With Launch Control, this can send car from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.7 seconds, and reach a top speed of 250 km/h. A fully charged 93.4 kWh battery pack is said to be able to provide a range of up to 625 kms in town, with a combined range of up to 504 kms. It is the first Taycan to break the 500-km mark, thanks to a new more efficient drive strategy. The richer sound pattern of the modified Porsche Electric Sport Sound also underscores the character of the new model.

The adaptive air suspension, including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), is specifically adapted to the GTS, to the benefit of the lateral dynamics. A sportier set-up is available for the optional rear-axle steering.

The new variant is aimed at those who want a similar level of everyday practicality as offered by the Taycan Cross Turismo, but who also want the on-road performance of the Taycan sports saloon. The headroom in the rear is more than 45 mm greater than that in the Taycan, while the cargo capacity under the large tailgate is more than 1,200 litres.

Numerous Black Race-Tex features in the interior underscore the elegant, dynamic ambience, as does the standard brushed aluminium interior package with Black anodised finish.

The first deliveries start in early 2022, with Taycan GTS Sport Turismo prices starting from 132,786 euros in Germany.

Track-only Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to debut at LA Auto Show


Petronas Lubricants & Hong Leong Yamaha Organise 1,000 Bike Convoy To MotoGP 2018

PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia
and
 Hong Leong Yamaha
 recently joined-forces to organise a convoy of over
1,000
 bikes and motorcycle racing fans who travelled from Cyberjaya to Sepang to catch the Malaysian MotoGP at the Sepang International Circuit.

The bikers from across Malaysia, were flagged off for the 40km journey at TSI Arena in Cyberjaya by PETRONAS Vice President of Downstream Business, Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Tahir (above, left), Managing Director of Hong Leong Yamaha, Dato’ Jim Khor and PETRONAS Lubricant International (PLI) Head of Asia Pacific, Mohd Khalid Mohamed Latiff (above, right).

“It is great to see enthusiastic bikers supporting the biggest motorsport event in the country. Motorcyclists are very important to PETRONAS as our technology from the race track are translated into our in the motorcycle lubricant products we develop for bikes on the road. The riders’ feedback are important to us for further improvement,”
 said
Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin.

At the mall area of Sepang Circuit, the PETRONAS Experience offered a host of exciting activities for some 10,000 people who visited the booth. Visitors had a chance to participate in a 5D MotoGP experience, a PETRONAS Sprinta UltraFlex™ Challenge, purchase exclusive PETRONAS merchandise and win free premium giveaways. The PETRONAS Experience also included a meet and greet with riders of PETRONAS’ two teams – PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Moto2 and PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Moto3, who made special appearances.

For 2019, as recently announced PETRONAS, Yamaha and Sepang Circuit have signed up Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quatararo for the MotoGP team. This marks PETRONAS as the first oil company in the world to sponsor all classes in World MotoGP Championship.


Italdesign and Williams Advanced Engineering offer complete range of services to design and develop high-performance EVs

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

Henry Ford believed in his company owning and managing every aspect of making cars – including even owning the plantations of rubber trees that provided rubber for his cars. But as the years went by, specialisation began and while carmakers focussed on designing and manufacturing cars, some activities were also farmed out to other companies. Design, for instance, was sometimes done by external consultants more specialised in the work, notable Italian studios like Pininfarina, Ghia and ItalDesign being among them.

In the 21
st
 century, as the whole idea of making cars changes with the transition to electric vehicles, there are many newcomers (especially in China) who want to get into the game. Some of these have experience in other types of manufacturing, eg batteries or mobilephones, but no experience in engineering cars. For them to gain that experience as the global players did will take too long; today’s companies do not have the luxury of time to learn themselves as the market is so competitive.

So the answer has been to commission companies that specialise in certain areas. In fact, Chinese companies have been doing this, not just for design but also for powertrains. There are top-notch engineering consultancies in Europe like Lotus Engineering that can develop a car on par with any experienced manufacturer – and even the established ones sometimes ask Lotus to help.

Manufacturers sometimes ask experienced design studios to propose designs for future models. This was the EMAS hybrid concept for Proton by Italdesign Giugiaro which was displayed at the 2010 Geneva Motorshow.

So there’s a growing business in offering a full range of services to develop cars and Italdesign has formed a partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE)  to provide such services to those who want to produce and sell high-performance EVs. WAE is the technology and engineering business that was established by Williams F1. It takes technology originally developed for Formula One cars and adapts it for commercial applications.

Combining a state-of-the-art composite electric vehicle rolling chassis from WAE with turn-key vehicle development services from Italdesign, the joint venture will enable both newcomers and customers to benefit from the expertise of two global leaders in EV engineering and vehicle design, supporting them in the creation of a range of upper premium EVs from high performance GTs, crossover and sedans.

The foundation of this new venture is WAE’s innovative EV architecture – a new rolling chassis which distils WAE’s expertise in electrification, light-weighting, innovative chassis structures and vehicle and system integration into one advanced architecture known as ‘EVX’.

Differentiating itself from other EV platforms currently in the market, EVX integrates the battery pack casing with elements more commonly perceived as part of the body structure. Front and rear chassis structures mount to the carbonfibre composite case and crash loads can be transferred via internal reinforcements to the integral side sills.

The resulting higher profiled cross section achieves much of the torsional stiffness needed to deliver the full potential of the platform. These two design philosophies reduce reliance on the upper structure, which then gives greater design freedom for a variety of ‘top hats’.

Starting from WAE rolling chassis, Italdesign’s Engineering Team then complete the vehicle architecture adding safety systems, structures, and UX devices to constitute the modular platform that will be the base to build-up several different high-performances vehicles.

The innovative modular platform is ready for customisation by the Italdesign styling team who will shape the final vehicle to match the brand’s requirements in terms of marketing positioning, design direction etc. As well as being a structural component of EVX, the platform can accommodate wheelbases from 2900 mm to 3100 mm, with customers able to choose rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive layouts.

Combining recycled composite materials with aluminium, EVX is lightweight and sets new standards for static and torsional stiffness. With class-leading performance and mass targets, EVX will provide the perfect basis for tomorrow’s electric vehicles, supporting a flexible range of powertrain options with outstanding aerodynamics and safety performance.

Majoring on high performance, reduced time to market, flexibility and affordability at low-to-medium volumes, the new platform is capable of supporting production runs up to 10,000 units, up to 500 of which could be manufactured by Italdesign at its facilities in Italy.

WAE was the original supplier of batteries to all participants of the FIA Formula E World Championship cars in 2014, a relationship that has been revived for the 2022-23 season. WAE also supplies battery systems to ETCR and Extreme-E and has considerable experience in high-performance electrified road car programmes stretching back more than a decade.

“We are delighted to join forces with Italdesign on this exciting and timely joint collaboration” said Paul McNamara, Technical Director at WAE. “Demand for high performance electric vehicles is continuing to show considerable growth but to date, there has not been a complete EV production solution. This unique relationship brings together state-of-the-art EV rolling chassis technology with one of the world’s leaders in vehicle body engineering.”

Production-ready Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign makes debut on track


0.88% interest rate or RM6,000 cash rebate – you choose

If you’re thinking of buying a new Mitsubishi Triton in the next few months, you have a choice of either paying a lower interest rate for the high-purchase (H-P) loan or get a cash rebate of up to RM6,000 to reduce the amount of the loan taken. This is the latest offer from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) in conjunction with the upcoming Merdeka and Malaysia Day festivities.

Some of the conditions

The offer is for three variants of the Triton VGT – Adventure X (RM135,200 without insurance), Premium with automatic transmission (RM118,600) and Premium with manual transmission (RM112,500). The special interest rate is only applicable for H-P loans taken from Maybank. Only available while stocks last and vehicles purchased must be registered
by September 30, 2019
.

Additionally, MMM is also offering RM4,000 cash rebates for the standard Triton VGT with either automatic or manual transmission. These variants are priced, without insurance, at RM105,990 and RM100,200, respectively.

Cash rebates for SUVs too

Prefer a SUV instead of a pick-up truck? You can save money too as there are cash rebates of up to RM6,000 for the Outlander which is available with 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre engines. Cash rebates of up to RM12,000 are also offered for the smaller ASX which has 4WD and 2WD variants.

Visit
www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my
 to locate a showroom in Malaysia to view, test-drive or purchase the models.


Volkswagen eShowroom revamped for greater clarity and convenience

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has refreshed its
eShowroom
 to provide greater convenience and clarity for those looking to purchase a Volkswagen. On the revamped website, customers will know what models are available for sale at the respective authorised Volkswagen dealers nationwide in real-time.

Loosely based on the concept of “what you see is what you get”, only vehicles that in stock at the showrooms of dealers will be featured. In this way, a customer will be able to know that he or she can have the vehicle right away (subject to loan approvals and completion of other processes related to a new vehicle registration).

Customers can browse through the website to see the models currently available and their showroom locations. They can either book a test drive, or reserve the unit online with a standard booking fee of RM1,500. After that, a representative of their preferred dealer will be in touch to assist them through the next steps to complete the purchase.

Special offer
As part of the Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations over the next 2 months, those who place a booking via the eShowroom will also receive an exclusive RM500 rebate on their purchase.

“Volkswagen Malaysia is always looking for ways to enhance the ownership experience for our customers, and begins at the moment of purchase. With this in view, our eShowroom is anchored on the concept of bringing a dealership right to the customer’s fingertip, and we are pleased to now bring it up a notch by introducing real-time availability. This will bring greater convenience, thus ensuring a smoother journey for our customers,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

Online sales channel since 2020
VPCM was among the early companies to establish an online channel for customer to shop when the COVID-19 pandemic started. In fact, the company ‘opened shop’ for its eShowroom in March 2020, the same month when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first introduced. It was timely as businesses, including showrooms, had to stop operating. But with the e-Showroom, they could still ‘visit’ to know more about Volkswagen products and initiate a purchase if they were interested.

The availability of an eShowroom has provided customers with another channel to obtain information at their convenience – even at 2 am in the morning! From time to time, there have been special offers for purchases made only at the eShowroom, saving money for customers.

Illustration only as delivery methods may vary! But customers are assured that the new vehicle will be protected from risk of damage while being transported to their home.

With social distancing being urged to reduce spread of the coronavirus, authorised Volkswagen dealers have also been offering a
home delivery service
 for the past 2 years. The service is available nationwide up to a distance of 20 kms from an authorised dealership serving the customer. To avoid any risk of damage, the new vehicle (which is covered) is delivered using a flatbed carrier truck right to the customer’s doorstep.

Volkswagen Malaysia’s Das WeltAuto website refreshed for better user experience


Kia Stinger GT gets West Coast Customs touch

Kia has teamed up with world renowned aftermarket modification expert, West Coast Customs, to turn the Korean automaker’s Stinger GT into something special. The car will be put on display at the upcoming SEMA motorshow that will take place on the 31st of October.

According to a statement by the automaker, the car will receive extensive upgrades that include design and performance modifications. The Stinger GT will spearhead Kia’s charge into the grand tourer segment of the market.

It’s striking good looks, rear-wheel drive platform, decent performance figures and practical layout may play a part in swaying would-be continental car owners toward the Korean brand. But the SEMA showcar, will build upon the strengths of the base model to showcase the possibilities and configuration options that are available.

Working together with West Coast Customs, Kia has revealed that the showcar will get lowered front and rear suspensions, a gloss black finish for its signature front grille, stylistic yet functional carbon-fibre aero kit and widebody fender flares.

Based on the teaser image that was revealed, it has been made apparent that West Coast Customs has lived up to its reputation of being one of the best at making good car even better. A custom made rear diffuser and squared-off quad exhaust tips provide car with a more prominent sporty presence.

The same can be said of the 21-inch forged wheels that sit perfectly snug within the custom made bodykit. However, the cambered stance may not be to everybody’s taste, especially when it comes to practicality, but as a show car, it definitely earns points for uniqueness.

There will probably be a number of other features will be added to the car before it heads to SEMA, but Kia has not divulged much else regarding details and specifications of the car. That said, all will probably be revealed as we approach the launch date.


#DropTheTop: All Set For Going Topless, Porsche AG Introduces The New 911 Cabriolet [+Video]

Six weeks after the 911 Coupe’s launch, attention now turns to the
911 Cabriolet
. The open-top 911 continues in a decades-long tradition, established when Porsche unveiled the prototype of the
first
 911 Cabriolet at the
International Motor Show
 (IAA) in Frankfurt in September 1981: customers and fans alike were instantly captivated. The first open-top 911 variant rolled off the production line in 1982, and it has been a constant feature in the model range ever since.

The open-top version of the iconic sports car will be launched in 2019 to almost unprecedented fanfare. It includes all the innovative features of the Coupe, along with Cabriolet-specific advanced features such as new hydraulics which get the roof opened and closed more quickly than ever.

The new model echoes the modern lines of the Coupe, though it remains unmistakably a Porsche 911 in Cabriolet form. The fully-automatic soft top has an integrated glass rear window, while the soft top structure contains magnesium surface elements known as bows, which reliably prevent ballooning of the roof at high speeds. The soft top can be opened or closed at speeds up to 50 km/h. New roof hydraulics reduce opening time to around twelve seconds, while an electrically extendable wind deflector ensures that necks are shielded from wind impact.

The 911 Cabriolet is initially available as a Carrera S* with rear-wheel drive and Carrera 4S* with all-wheel drive. Both rely on a 2,981 cm³ charged six-cylinder boxer engine with
331 kW (450 PS)
 at 6,500 rpm and 530 Nm torque between 2,300 and 5,000 rpm. The drive efficiency has been increased and emissions reduced by way of an improved injection process; other optimisation measures have also been implemented, such as a new layout for the turbochargers and charge air cooling system.

The power is delivered by a newly developed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Carrera S accelerates from
zero to 100 km/h
 in
3.9 seconds
 (with optional Sport Chrono Package: 3.7 seconds) and can reach speeds up to
306 km/h
. The Carrera 4S attains a top speed of
304 km/h
 and achieves
0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds
 (with optional Sport Chrono Package: 3.6 seconds).

The new engine mounting position makes the Cabriolet even more torsionally rigid than its predecessor. For the first time, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) sport chassis is available for the 911 Cabriolet. The springs used for this are harder and shorter, the front and rear anti-roll-bars are more rigid, and the chassis overall has been lowered by ten millimetres. These adjustments give the 911 a more neutral feel on the road, with better weight distribution.

An exterior design that draws on earlier generations of the 911

The new 911 Cabriolet looks wider, more self-assured and altogether more muscular than its predecessor. Wider wings arch over the large 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear. The rear-wheel-drive models now match the bodywork width of the existing all-wheel models. The rear axle is 44 mm larger. The front end – generally 45 mm wider – revives a traditional feature from earlier 911 generations: a forward-extended bonnet with a distinctive recess in front of the windscreen. Both elements lengthen the front of the vehicle and give it a dynamic look.

The rear of all models is dominated by the significantly wider, variable-position spoiler and the continuous, seamless and elegant light bar. With the exception of the front and rear sections, the entire outer skin is now made from aluminium.

Redesigned interior with clear lines

The interior is distinctive, with the clear, straight lines and recessed instruments defining the dashboard. As it does in the original 911, the new dashboard covers the entire width between two horizontal wing levels. Alongside the centrally positioned rev counter, two thin, frameless freeform displays deliver information to the driver. Now 10.9 inches in size, the centre screen of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) can be operated quickly and without causing distraction.

Sophisticated assistance systems enhance safety and comfort

In a world first, Porsche has developed Wet Mode, which is included as standard. This function detects water on the road, preconditions the control systems accordingly and warns the driver, who can then set the car up to focus on safety, by simply pushing a button or using the mode switch on the steering wheel (Sport Chrono Package). The camera-based warning and brake assist system, also fitted as standard, detects the risk of collision with vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, and initiates a warning or emergency braking procedure if necessary. A park assistant system including reversing camera completes the standard configuration of the Cabriolet. Options for the 911 include Night Vision Assist with thermal imaging camera, as well as adaptive cruise control with automatic distance control, stop-and-go function and reversible occupant protection.

*911 Carrera S Cabriolet: Combined fuel consumption 9.1 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions 208 g/km;

911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet: Combined fuel consumption 9.0 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions 207 g/km

The consumption and CO2 emission values were determined in accordance with the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The NEDC values derived from this should continue to be specified for the time being. These values cannot be compared to the values determined in accordance with the NEDC measuring procedure used up to now.

2019 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Photo Gallery…


Nissan LEAF wins ‘Product of the Year’ award

The recent EE Pocket-lint Awards 2019 saw the
Nissan LEAF e+
 being crowned with the ‘Product of the Year’ award as well as ‘Best Car’ in a single night. Voted by the major players of the industry as well as the general public, the award ceremony celebrates the best of technologies, gadgets, and games that were released in the past 12 months.

This was an amazing achievement for the Nissan LEAF as hundreds of products were shortlisted for Pocket-lint reviewing and the final 19 winners were labelled the best of the best in their respective categories. The ‘Best Car’ award had its fair share of tough competitors, including the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla but The Nissan LEAF e+ came out triumphant.

As for the ‘Product of the Year’ award, the challenge seemed to be more of an uphill battle against some of the biggest names in the tech industry. Nissan had to go through stiff competition from Apple, Nintendo, Sony, Amazon, and many more but we’re guessing that Pocket-lint saw what’s special about the Nissan LEAF to make it stand out above the rest.

According to one of the Pocket-lint judges, “The Nissan LEAF is one of our favourite cars and the e+ takes the range to a higher level. It’s a hatch rather than a crossover or SUV but offers more space than you might first think. The interior tech and the overall comfort is appealing, making it a very easy car to live with. Not only does it set the standard for a more conscientious, greener future, it’s a superb looking car, to boot. Splendid.”

The current Nissan LEAF offering here in Malaysia is priced at RM188,888 (OTR price without insurance). Packed with 150hp and 320Nm of pure electric performance, the Nissan LEAF has a maximum range of around 311km (when driven sensibly) which is more than enough to cover your daily drives. To know more, check out our first-drive review in the link below.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Nissan Leaf – “Simply Electrifying”


Perodua Continues To Contribute To Public Hospitals

Perodua recently contributed RM151,000 to two public hospitals as part of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in further enhance the public healthcare system. The contribution (in the form of goods and equipment) was presented by JH Rozman Jaafar, Chief Operating Officer of Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd, to the respective hospital managements.

Perodua contributed items including diagnostic equipment, rehabilitation equipment, patient care equipment, dialysis machine and even hampers for the patients as well as frontliners at Hospital Kuala Kubu Bharu and Hospital Selayang.

Commenting on the contributions, Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said: “Our intention is to assist institutions that give the greatest benefit to all Malaysians, such as government hospitals which are available to all.”

“We believe that in order to make a difference, we need to be consistent in our efforts, we are proud to assist those who work tirelessly in serving the nation. We will continue to work with such bodies in the future as we believe that this is the best way for us to give back to the support that has been shown to us,” Dato’ Sri Zainal said.

To date, Perodua has contributed medical and health equipment to public hospitals all over the country. These include the Sarawak General Hospital, Selayang hospital, Sungai Buloh Hospital, Sabah Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Likas, Shah Alam Hospital, Chancellor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital and several community clinics in the Hulu Selangor district.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Perodua was quick to support key public institutions nationwide in various ways in fighting the pandemic. It made major contributions in cash and supplies, distributing thousands of face shields for protection of the public, especially schoolchildren. The face shields were manufactured by an associate of the Malaysian carmaker.

Perodua provided thousands of faceshields to schoolchildren as part of its efforts in helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perodua continues to help key public institutions with contribution to Shah Alam General Hospital

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Mercedes-Maybach creates limited edition to celebrate 100th anniversary of Maybach W3

Back in the late 1990s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were up for sale and BMW eventually acquired the former while the Volkswagen Group got the latter. As Daimler-Benz did not have anything beyond the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that could be on par with those two ultra luxury British brands’ limousines, it decided to revive a brand it had acquired in 1960 – Maybach. This was a historically significant brand which produced elegant and desirable cars between 1921 and 1940.

In 2002, the carmaker launched the standalone Maybach brand with two very expensive models, designed with the same sort of superlative luxury that would rival the best in the world. There were great plans to have a strong presence at the summit of the car market but only 3,000 were ever sold in 9 years – when the target was 1,000 units each year. The old brand name made no impact either, and the pricetag was considered just too high. By 2013, the Maybach brand was once again retired.

Ultra-luxurious sub-brand

However, Mercedes-Benz did not stop trying to have an offering to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley and it instead decided to develop an ultra luxurious version of the S-Class, and giving it exclusivity by being branded as Mercedes-Maybach. Since 2018, there have been two models – Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC Sedan and the S 650 Sedan.

This year marks the 100
th
 anniversary of the first mass-produced car which Maybach Motorenbau GmbH presented at a motorshow in Berlin. It was the W 3 model and was the first German production car with brakes on 4 wheels, an epicyclic gear system and an interior with the finest materials.

Only 200 units of Edition 100

To commemorate that historic model’s 100
th
 anniversary, Mercedes-Maybach has come up with the ‘Edition 100’. This is a special edition of the current S-Class and GLS models, each limited to 100 units. Both models have the impressive radiator grille bearing the brand emblem. They are hand-painted in the same two tones – high-tech silver/nautical blue – and feature a special design of leather interior in designo crystal white/silver grey pearl.

The brand logo including the inscription ‘Edition 100’ adorns the C-pillar (S-Class) or D-pillar (GLS), various stowage compartments and the illuminated panels in the interior. The same lettering also adorns the hub caps on the forged wheels of the GLS and the grey wheels of the S-Class.

A car cover with the iconic double M as well as a fine handmade case made of soft crystal white or black leather in file size – made to store keys and papers – further underline the exclusivity of the edition.

Limited editions of lifestyle accessories

In keeping with the anniversary edition, Mercedes-Maybach’s long-standing partners are also designing strictly limited special series: Licensing partner Maybach Icons of Luxury, for example, offers a diamond-studded fountain pen from the Maybach the Peak collection; while the silver and yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking offers a champagne flute with a specially created engraving.

The top-class GLS SUV combines a sporty appearance with the luxury of a saloon. It is 33 cm higher than the classic saloon and offers a generous interior with 1.10 metres of legroom. Electrically extendable running boards make getting in and out easy, while the interior is soundproofed and upholstered with the finest leather. The engine is a V8 with 557 bhp output, and air suspension ensures a very smooth ride.

The S-Class luxury saloon comes with a V12 engine that produces 612 bhp. It is intended as a chauffeur-driven saloon and much of the focus is therefore given to the noise-insulated first-class rear compartment. Compared to the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, this model has an 18-cm longer wheelbase and is equipped with all-wheel drive for the first time.

Besides an extensive range of personalisation options for the cars, owners can also have matching lifestyle accessories such as exclusive travel bags, leather goods, clothing, home and eyewear. Sustainably selected materials are used, such as natural horn, precious woods, titanium, cashmere or leather types that meet the highest environmental standards. The artfully staged understatement of the products conveys the fascination of the brand and fulfils the desire for personal expression.

Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS for the new generation of customers


Volvo Reveals Polestar 2!

Polestar has taken the next step in its development as the electric performance brand with the reveal of the new Polestar 2. Polestar 2 is the new all-electric fastback that brings electric performance cars to a broader and increasingly progressive audience. It offers avant-garde design and a unique customer experience in the premium compact electric segment. Polestar 2 is the first electric car to compete in the marketplace around the Tesla Model 3, with the range starting at a guide price of 39,900 euros. For the first 12 months of production, guide price of the launch edition is 59,900 euros
1
.

“Polestar 2 is our first fully electric car and first volume model. Everything about it has been designed and engineered with passion and dedication. As an electric performance brand, and through the forthcoming launch of a portfolio of fully electric cars, Polestar is determined to address the world’s air quality challenges. Polestar delivers electric performance cars that are great to own and drive,
” says
Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar.

Polestar 2 is a premium five-door fastback with two electric motors and a 78 kWh battery capacity
2
 that will enable a targeted range of 500 km
3
, based on Volvo Car Group’s adaptable Compact Modular Architecture platform (CMA). The 27-module battery pack is integrated into the floor and contributes to the rigidity of the chassis as well as improves the car’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels – road noise has been reduced by 3.7 dB compared to a traditional chassis.

Polestar will answer the important question of charging Polestar 2 with a smart, convenient and extensive approach. With a connected digital solution available both in-car and on mobile devices, Polestar is setting up strategic collaborations to give Polestar 2 owners easy and hassle-free access to the world’s largest public charging networks.

For Polestar, performance underlies the entire driving experience. The all-wheel drive electric powertrain in Polestar 2 produces
300 kW (408 hp)
 and
660 Nm
 (487 lb-ft). This translates to a
 0-100 km/h acceleration time of less than 5 seconds.

The standard dynamic chassis can be enhanced by the Performance Pack that improves driving dynamics with Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and unique 20-inch forged wheels. Polestar’s signature gold seat belts, brake callipers and valve caps complete the performance visuals.

Highlighting the technology spearhead role that Polestar plays within the Volvo Car Group, Polestar 2 is one of the first cars in the world to embed an infotainment system powered by Android. The Android backbone provides a solid and adaptable digital environment for apps and vehicle functions to coexist, and brings embedded Google services to a car for the first time – including the Google Assistant, Google Maps with support for electric vehicles and the Google Play Store
5
. Natural voice control and a new 11-inch touch screen display bring the new interface to life.

Phone-as-Key technology enables car sharing and a more integrated ownership experience, as well as Polestar’s connected services such as pick-up and delivery. It also allows Polestar 2 to sense the driver upon approach. Smart features like enlarged graphics in the instrument cluster allow the driver to easily see the charging status and range before entering the car. Polestar 2 can also predetermine the driver’s next move to create a seamless experience with a prepared cabin and quick start sequence.

Maximilian Missoni, head of Design at Polestar
, comments:
“We decided to bring something different to the segment. Our avant-garde design has evolved from Polestar 1 into an edgier, bolder statement. We have also designed a standard vegan interior with progressive textiles that will appeal to the forward-thinking audience who will subscribe to Polestar 2.”

Design-led features include Pixel LED headlights
4
 and proximity lighting which enable a unique welcome sequence, Polestar’s now-signature frameless side mirrors and the unique illuminated Polestar logo, which is reflected onto the car’s panoramic glass roof.

In common with all Polestar cars, Polestar 2 will only be available for ordering online. The guide purchase price for the launch version of Polestar 2 is 59,900 euros
1
 with subscription pricing to follow at a later date. Pre-orders are open at
polestar.com
. Production of Polestar 2 begins in early 2020 in China for global markets in both left- and right-hand drive.

Polestar 2 made its first public appearance at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show in March, and then embark on a global roadshow in Europe, North America and China throughout 2019. Polestar 2 will also be available in a network of soon-to-be-opened Polestar Spaces that will provide physical viewing and test drive opportunities.

Initial launch markets include China, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Other markets are under consideration for future expansion.