Subaru Solterra EV unveiled in Japan, to go on sale in mid-2022

It’s no secret that the new Subaru Solterra unveiled today is essentially the same as the
Toyota bZ4X
 that had its global debut earlier. It’s the same thing as the
Toyota GR86
 and
Subaru BRZ
, which the two companies developed jointly and which is probably necessary because of the volumes. With this new battery electric vehicle (BEV), both companies are entering a new era of high-volume pure electric vehicles that will likely become mainstream by the end of the decade and certainly in the next decade.

Being a joint project, the key structural elements are shared so the Solterra would use the e-TNGA architecture of the bZ4X. TNGA stands for Toyota New Global Architecture and is used for virtually all its latest models. How much involvement Subaru had in the e-TNGA, which is a BEV-dedicated platform, is unknown and just to differentiate its product, it calls the platform the e-Subaru Global Platform.

Toyota’s version of the BEV which is known as the bZ4X.

Slightly different styling

Like the Toyota model, the Solterra has sharp lines and futuristic styling. Its look certainly makes a statement that it is a different sort of vehicle (which, being a BEV, it is). The SUV profile is the same as the Toyota but as is the usual case in shared models, things like the lights and front end have different styling, along with the wheels.

In the case of the Solterra, the front end has a hexagonal shape where the grille would be. There is no grille, since there is no radiator to be cooled, so it is just a flat panel. But the styling is rather messy, like loose jigsaw puzzle pieces and the intake vent along the lower section does not help make things any better.

The headlights are more expressive with distinctive DRLs around 4 LED cubes. The rear lights also differ from the Toyota’s a bit but there is a similar light strip that runs the width of the body.

One of the areas that would certainly be identical is the powertrain with high capacity 71.4 kWh battery packs placed under the floor. Being part of the structure, the battery pack positioning helps in body rigidity as well as lowers the centre of gravity which helps stability and driving dynamics.

FWD and AWD

There will be front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, the latter providing AWD by having a second motor at the rear axle. Total system output is 160 kW with two motors, and 150 kW with a single motor.  Factory tests have achieved ranges of around 530 kms and 460 kms for the FWD and AWD versions, respectively. Subaru doesn’t mention recharging time but for the Toyota model, an 80% charge is said to be possible within 30 minutes with a DC fast charging outlet.

The e-Subaru Global Platform for BEVs.

Subaru has had long expertise in AWD, having been a
pioneer among Japanese carmakers
, so its long experience and knowledge would probably have been drawn upon for developing the drivetrain. Like the other SUV models, the Solterra has an X-MODE AWD control system that enhances the sense of security on rough roads. By adding the new Grip Control function, which enables the vehicle to run at a constant speed while stabilizing the vehicle even on rough roads, the capability is further enhanced.

Identical cabin layout

Inside the SUV, if you remove any brand identification, it would be hard to tell whose model it is. However, Subaru has not shown that it will offer the unusual yoke-like steering wheel that the Toyota has (initially for China) and provides a conventional circular one.

It is hard to have different designs for dashboards since the platform fixes many elements like vents and aperture sizes for various displays. To be very different will mean extra cost as the order to the supplier will be smaller so it is practical from the cost point of view to just have common parts and differentiate with colour and trim.

The whole dashboard is set low while the instrument panel is positioned high ahead of the steering wheel. The higher position of the panel allows the driver to view the meters while also keeping eyes on the road ahead. Over at the centre is a large tablet-like panel which shows other information and route guidance.

Subaru plans to begin selling the Solterra from the middle of 2022, which is also the same time that Toyota will start sales of its bZ4X. While the Toyota GR86 is made at Subaru’s factory alongside the BRZ, the Solterra will probably be made at a Toyota factory in Japan and perhaps also in China. Initial markets will be Japan, China, North America and Europe. Now that the Malaysian government is willing to allow duty-free import and sale of BEVs, perhaps Motor Image will be considering offering the model. However, it would also have to consider the potential volume since, as an official distributor, it will have to invest in providing full aftersales support.

Toyota reveals details of production bZ4X EV to be launched in mid-2022 (w/VIDEO)


Four lucky winners drive home new Toyota Sienta

Remember the Toyota All About The Drive-Bonanza Contest 2018? The contest which ran last year from October to November finally concluded with four lucky individuals announced as the grand prize winners of a brand-new Toyota Sienta MPV this week.

The contest saw many lucky folks walking away with an array of amazing prizes just by test driving Toyota models during the contest period. Among the prizes of the contests were smartphones, mobile gadgets as well as holiday packages.

It was those who confirmed their bookings for a new Toyota vehicle that went into the final contest where the four grand prizes winners were selected lucky draw style. The winners are:

Chew Huat Boon from Penang (S&D Tama Sdn Bhd)

Loh Hau Ning from Johor Bahru, Johor (Saksama Otomobile Sdn Bhd)

Wong Chee Sun from Keningau, Sabah (Golden Tradeway Sdn Bhd)

Joseph Anak Kasi from Bintulu, Sarawak (Boulevard Bintulu Sdn Bhd)

Congratulating all the lucky prize winners, Mr. Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor said: “We are very delighted with the response by customers from all over Malaysia.  The All About The Drive Bonanza Contest is held to show our appreciation for the support given by our customers.”

He also added, “We always welcome the public to visit our showroom and test-drive Toyota models to experience it for themselves.  At the same time, we also want our customers to know that owning a Toyota is always a rewarding experience.”

New Toyota 2S outlet opens at Taman Petaling Utama


Malaysia Autoshow 2023 Received Around 190k Visitors

After a 4-day showcase, the much-awaited Malaysia Autoshow 2023 came to an end, leaving auto lovers and industry insiders enthralled over the newest developments and innovations. The exhibition, held from May 4 to May 7, featured an impresive spectrum of brands that produce or distribute automobiles, 2-wheelers, electric vehicles (EVs), accessories, and technology suppliers.

About 190,000 people attended the Malaysia Autoshow this year, filling up all available space at MAEPS. Notably, the Autoshow passed the billion-ringgit mark, with OEMs estimating RM1 billion in potential sales over the course of the 4-day exhibition, as well as a total of around 2,200 car reservations and 6,800 sales leads generated.

One of the key learnings from the event was the spike in interest in electric vehicles, with many attendees putting orders for their future vehicles. 41% of all bookings were represented by the ones that were recorded. Visitors were given the chance to reserve their electric automobiles from the manufacturers while at the event, suggesting a rising desire for eco-friendly cars and a growing understanding of the advantages of electric cars.

This year’s Autoshow also included a large number of vehicle introductions and reveals, with seven on the Media Day alone and more scheduled over the course of the four-day event. Along with the newest vehicles and technology, Malaysia’s national brands dominated the show by debuting novel ideas and product lines. One of them was Perodua’s EM-O (ELECTRIC MOTION ONLINE), the focal point of their showcase.

Following the formal launch of the
Proton X90
 in Kuala Lumpur by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Proton also unveiled the vehicle at their exhibit. A solid lineup of the newest models from other renowned manufacturers, including GWM, Honda, Toyota, Chery, Kia, and EONs were shown. These models come in both ICE and electrical versions.

The success of the test drive event at the Malaysia Autoshow in 2023 emphasises the value of giving buyers a hands-on product experience. 2,800 test rides and 3,500 test drives overall were documented. This demonstrates the automotive industry’s dedication to offering customers fresh and interesting experiences.

The Soundvalley Festival 2023 Concert, which complimented the many entertaining events at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 Autofest, was another significant highlight of the Autoshow. Aina Abdul’s performances and XPDC’s special tribute performance to lead singer Allahyarham Syed Ismail Syed Ibrahim (Mael XPDC) were among the Soundvalley’s highlights. Five thousand guests at the Malaysia Autoshow came to the concert.


2023 Lotus Emira First Edition V6 and 4-cylinder AMG M139 versions

Lotus will enter the electric era on March 29, 2022 when its Type 132 debuts. There will be no more combustion-engined sportscars from the company and the last one is the Emira which has been seeing increased interest following overwhelmingly positive global coverage of prototype ‘first drives’.

First Editions with V6 or 4-cylinder engines

The company has confirmed full details on the price and spec of the Emira First Edition which will be fully loaded with ‘desirable’ technology, infotainment and comfort features, plus unique badging. There will be a V6 version as well as an entry-level 4-cylinder version.

The 4-cylinder Emira is powered by AMG’s M139 direct injection engine, manufactured specifically for the car with hardware changes to suit mid-mounted placement and new software to give it a true Lotus character.

World’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine

First introduced in 2019, the M139 is still the world’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine homologated for road use (up to 208 bhp/litre) and is used in the
Mercedes-AMG A45
, along with the CLA45 and GLA45. Its twin-scroll turbocharger with roller bearings is optimized for fast spool-up and minimum lag, while the exhaust system has been designed by Lotus exclusively for the Emira.

The Mercedes-AMG M139 4-cylinder engine supplied to Lotus for the Emira.

The engine is coupled to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with paddle-shifter – a first for Lotus. “It’s a bespoke rear-wheel drive variant of the transmission developed by Lotus in collaboration with AMG. On top of that, the gearshift strategy has been defined by the Lotus team as part of the car’s performance attributes. It is unique to the Emira and optimized for the best blend of outstanding driving engagement and performance, fuel consumption and emissions,” revealed Gavan Kershaw, Director, Vehicle Attributes at Lotus.

The 360 bhp engine comes with a unique engine bay cover and C-pillar badging. As with the Emira V6 First Edition, this version offers a high level of standard equipment and is available with a variety of ‘no-cost’ optional finishes and materials to enable customers to personalize the car to their own style.

The car rides on 20-inch ultra-lightweight V-spoke forged alloy wheels, diamond-cut to create a premium 2-tone finish. Two-piece brake discs – with branded calipers in either red, black, yellow or silver – are part of the First Edition spec, plus a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System so the driver doesn’t have to make physical checks.

Additional features

Exterior details include LED lights all round, a titanium exhaust finisher, heated power-fold door mirrors and rear parking sensors. The Lower Black Pack is fitted as standard, which means the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all in finished in gloss black.

The Emira First Edition with the 4-cylinder engine costs £59,995 (about RM330,000), while the First Edition with the V6 costs £71,995 (about RM396,000). Deliveries of the V6 start towards the end of this year but the entry-level 4-cylinder version will only be available in 2023.

Lotus to offer competition-spec GT4 version of Emira


Hongqi L5: China’s Rolls-Royce Is Back With A Refreshed Design

The L5, China’s most expensive domestic vehicle, made its grand appearance at the Shanghai Auto Show with the latest version of Hongqi’s flagship sedan. Just like its predecessor, it follows the classic shape and lines. The outcome of it looks like a 1940s lowrider and a 2020s Rolls-Royce had a baby.

On that note, it is heavily influenced by the Brit-built Rolls and is said to be more imposing and expensive. Well, if you’re a Chinese billionaire, price should not be an issue.

Exterior

A series of updates have been implemented to distinguish the new L5 from its 2014 predecessor. The changes include a higher chrome grille, a redesigned front bumper with new running lights, and a lower black grille piece with a chrome element in the centre. The previous model’s retro-inspired headlamps are nicely blended at the front. The L5 displayed in Shanghai also has a striking two-tone white and blue paint scheme that commands notice right away.

At first glance from a side view, you may mistake it for a Royce. Particularly noticeable features include the upright front fascia, the extended rear side windows, the chrome window trim, and more chrome accents on the door handles and wheels. The more chrome, the more premium, right?

Interior

The L5’s interior is a fascinating fusion of old and new school. For instance, the dashboard is dominated by three enormous displays while the steering wheel features only two spokes. Despite the prevalence of screens, Hongqi has refrained from shifting all controls to these screens, leaving plenty of traditional buttons on the centre console and the dashboard.

Although the exterior may look grand and premium, the wacky colour scheme that is applied to the interior is questionable. Purple, white and green? Just throw a clown in there and you’ll have yourself a premium Batman movie.

Powertrain and Pricing

The Hongqi L5’s technical specifications are still mostly unknown but local media reports indicate that it will come with a standard turbocharged V8 engine. The model from the previous generation offered a 402bhp 6.0-litre V12 and 381bhp a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8. Pricing information for China is not yet available, but the starting price for the original L5, which was sold in extremely small quantities and cost close to 6 million yuan (around RM3.8 million), was by far the most money could buy in China at the time.


Four Toyota Vios awarded to ‘As Never Before Bonanza’ campaign winners

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) held the
‘As Never Before Bonanza
‘ campaign where those who booked any new Toyota models stand a chance to win four brand new Toyota Vios. Thousands joined the festivities where attractive prizes were handed out each month, but four lucky winners took home the new Vios 1.5G. In other words, they got two Toyota models for the price of one!

According to UMW Toyota Motor President, Mr. Ravindran K., “We were delighted with the response from the public to our
 ‘As Never Before Bonanza
‘ campaign which ran for the first four months of the year. With fresh new models in the showrooms, it was an opportunity for customers to drive and experience the latest Toyota models. Congratulations to the lucky winners. It is our way of thanking you for your loyalty and support which has helped make Toyota one of their favourite brands in Malaysia for decades.”

UMWT also rewarded three other winners with holiday packages worth up to RM8,000. Other prizes included prized electronic devices like the iPad, VIVO NEX and Samsung Note 9 smartphones. Below is the list of winners from the ‘
As Never Before Bonanza
’ campaign.


Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils all-electric Hummer

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the famous hollywood actor and former governator of the state of California, has collaborated with Kreisel Electric to develop an EV Hummer. Based on the original H1, the all-electric prototype was unveiled by Schwarzenegger himself to hoards of fans and members of the media.

The civilian version of the US military Humvee, the EV H1 forgoes its gas guzzling V8 in favour of two electric motors, one for each axle. Juice is supplied via a 100 kWh battery pack that enables this behemoth to reach a top speed of 120km/h and cover a distance of 300km.

Video taken from
königstein performance Youtube Channel

Weighing 3300kg, this isn’t even in the same ballpark as your average Prius. It retains the entire shell of the original vehicle and as such, still has the macho and go anywhere appeal of the original that made it a staple of the US military.

As daunting a task as it maybe to convert the H1 into an all-electric vehicle, it took Kreisel a mere two months to complete the project. This labour intensive effort may have been well worth the cost because it shows the general public that any car can be an EV.

That said, this project isn’t the first time that the governator and Kreisel has collaborated on creating a new vehicle. He previously worked with the company to develop an EV Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon that is capable of holding its won against the legendary vehicle that it is based on.

Unlike the unruly nature of the standard V8 powered G-Wagon, Kreisel’s version operates quietly yet is able to match the capabilities of the world famous vehicle that it is based on.

Kreisel Electric is a mobility company who believes that the electric motor is the most efficient method of propulsion. They have developed their own battery solutions for high performance applications.

The company’s founders Philipp, Johann and Markus have been involved in the electronics sector for the past 35 years. Philipp is the mechanical engineer, Johann the electronic specialist while Markus concentrates on the commercial aspects of the business.

Their company website provides an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings at Kreisel Electric and the amazing work that they are doing. This goes to show that you don’t need to be a fortune 500 company to do amazing things in the automotive industry.

Source:
Road & Track
,
Kreisel Electric


Hennessey Powered Bronco Raptor Unleashed

The improved version of Ford’s factory
Bronco Raptor
 was approved by Hennessey’s engineering team following cold weather testing in the snowy mountains of Colorado, allowing production and delivery to start at the company’s headquarters in Texas.

The hypercar manufacturer calls it the Hennessey VelociRaptor 500 Bronco Raptor. Yes, that is a mouth full.

According to Hennessey, during the testing, Mother Nature’s obstacles were no match for the modified 4×4, which was equipped with Hennessey’s distinctive 20-inch alloy wheels and 37-inch off-road tires. Can it handle our Malaysian floods?

Although the exoskeleton and interior are a Ford Bronco Raptor, Hennessey has put their magic touch on its performance. The VelociRaptor puts out 82 hp more than the Ford, giving it 500 hp and 746 Nm of torque.

Hennessey, the company that ‘makes fast cars faster’, included a VelociRaptor 500 package that features:

enhanced air induction
a high-capacity intercooler with a blow-off valve
upgraded engine-management system to boost the performance of its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine
custom VelociRaptor bumpers
LED off-road lights
unique Hennessey 10-spoke alloy wheels
VelociRaptor 500 Bronco badging
embroidered head restraints
all-weather floor mats
unique build number plaque

“The VelociRaptor 500 Bronco is one of our most agile and capable off-road offerings — it’s nearly unstoppable off the pavement. Our 500 horsepower upgrade pairs perfectly with Ford’s rugged Bronco Raptor 4×4 as we improve upon the factory’s high-performance offering and enhance it with more power and a more aggressive appearance,” said John Hennessey, company founder, and CEO.

It is priced from $28,950 (RM 128k) and Hennessey confidently backs every Bronco build with its comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty.


New Honda CR-V wins Best New Car for Teens award

Honda has picked up another accolade in the US and this time, its for winning U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best New Car for Teens award in the SUV and Crossover category. The all new CR-V is a marked improvement over its predecessor sporting rugged good looks an better offroading abilities.

The vehicle comes with some of the latest suite of safety tech known as Honda Sensing, which is leaps and bounds better than what was used in previous generation vehicles that bore the nameplate.

The list of aids include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow.

These features used to be reserved for high-end German luxury cars, but now are available with a plethora of more affordable models. And they are a Godsend because when activated, a vehicle that is equipped with this, could save you from embarrassing and costly fender benders throughout your ownership experience.

No stranger to snapping up awards, Honda has been on a bit of winning streak as of late, winning several awards from various different competitions. And in case you were wondering, this new CR-V has already been made available here in Malaysia. Click
here
 to learn more.


Toyota Yaris impresses on first-ever appearance in Sepang 1000KM race

The
Toyota Yaris
 which was entered in the Sepang 1000KM endurance race (S1K) recently was the first ever appearance of the model in a local race and it was a ‘baptism by fire’ on all accounts. Competing in the top MTC Production Class, the Yaris, driven by the pair of 16-year old Hayden Haikal and 24-year old Timothy Yeo, had taken the chequered flag 3 laps ahead of their nearest rival. However, a post-race penalty reclassified the duo to third position in class and fourth overall.

Three Toyotas occupied the top 5 front positions on the starting grid for the 9-hour/181-lap race laps around the 5.534-km Sepang International Circuit. The number #39 Yaris had been the highest-placed Toyota on the starting grid, qualifying second with a time of 2 min 38.932 seconds. They were followed by Wing Hin Motorsports team mates and the pair of Boy Wong and Dannies Ng in the number #38 Vios.

Two entries from GAZOO Racing Malaysia

Backing them up were the trio of Tengku Djan Ley, Naquib Azlan and Akio Takeyama from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia in car number #37 (another Vios) which was fifth fastest. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia fielded a second entry, another Vios crewed by a trio comprising celebrity Zizan Razak, and young drivers Jwan Hii and Mika Hakimi in the SP2 Production Class in car number #36. Despite qualifying 30
th
 , they went on to finish 20th in class and fifth in the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.

With three Toyotas in contention for overall victory, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s number #37 Vios, the number #39 Yaris and the number #38 Vios showed their dominance from the beginning to the final hours of the race. Four cars traded places for the lead throughout the race, but no one expected a huge turn of events that was to unfold in the closing laps.

Bad luck for #38 Vios

The number #38 Vios’ hopes of a podium finish were essentially erased due to technical issues, forcing it to rejoin 6 laps down but still managing to finish fourth overall and in Class. The number #37 Vios, meanwhile, was well poised for victory until 26 laps to the finish when the front left wheel was ripped away, dropping the team to 11th in Class.

Their misfortune left the race for the taking of car number #100 driven by Mitchell Cheah and Brendan Paul Anthony, but their hopes of a victory too came to a crushing end when mechanical problems 10 laps from the finish put them into retirement.

Yaris takes podium finish on debut

As all this unfolded, the charging #39 Yaris kept piling on the pressure and clocking consistent lap times right up to the chequered flag. “The Yaris performed impeccably, not putting a foot wrong! This is a huge testament to the car’s performance and reliability under extreme conditions, and to finish on the podium in the prestigious S1K race on its debut is, without a doubt, an amazing result,” said a happy Mr. Takeyama who is also GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer.

“We would like to have won and seen two or all three cars on the podium but unfortunately, in racing, nothing is ever certain until you cross the finish line, and this is a disappointment we will have to graciously accept despite running very competitively until the final hours,” he said.

“The S1K is a challenging test of nerves not only on the reliability and durability of the car, but also the physical and mental strength of the competing teams and drivers,” he said, with his personal experience of racing in the event. ”As a team, we have proven to ourselves that we are competitive, and this setback has certainly fuelled our desire to come back and be even stronger next year.”

The Yaris’ third place finish, however, was made that much sweeter with one of the drivers (Hayden) being a competitor and the youngest ever champion in Toyota’s Vios Challenge racing series. In fact, eight of the drivers in the top 4 cars in contention for the race win had competed in the one-make series which has run for 4 seasons.

“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival and Vios Challenge will next year enter its fifth successive season and we hope that it has not only made a huge impact towards enhancing the profile of Malaysian motorsports by bringing it to the masses, but also in creating a strong foundation for the development of existing, new and especially young drivers. We are committed in making an impactful contribution to Malaysian motorsports and this is an initiative we intend to continue to expand on moving forward,” Mr. Takeyama promised.

Inaugural Vios Enduro Cup

In the inaugural Vios Enduro Cup, Aylezo Motorsports’ trio Mirza Syahmi Mahzan, Zen Low and Aiman Haziq completed 166 laps enroute to collect a cash prize of RM10,000. It was a 1-2 victory for Aylezo with Dato’ Danny Yip, Kenneth Teh and Chang Choon Ming placed second. In third spot was 23 Motors’ Al- Farouk and Abdull Miqail, followed by Toyotsu Racing’s Liew Jo Choon, Tan Chan Wei in fourth.

A total of 10 Toyota cars took to the track for the S1K race which attracted 38 teams, with three cars competing in the MTC Production Class and the remaining seven vying for positions in the SP2 Production Class and the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.

Highlights Of The Season 4 Vios Challenge Night Races (Second Night)


2nd generation Lexus NX

When the Lexus NX was launched in 2014, it arrived at the right time when SUVs were progressively downsizing as customers preferred more compact models. The
RX
 had been a huge success ever since it was launched in 1997 and pushed the premium luxury makes into offering SUVs as well but new niches below it were growing.

Having proven to have a successful formula, the Lexus designers have not tried to make major changes visually, retaining the looks of the first generation for this new one. However, under all the sheet metal, the engineering is new and as would be expected, the structure and platform utilize the Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA), in this case, the GA-K platform. This has similarities to the
latest Toyota RAV4
 but Lexus engineers would also have added enhancements for the NX.

The new Lexus has increased dimensions all round, with 20 mm more overall length, 20 mm extra width and a wheelbase that is 30 mm longer. Virtually every aspect is said to be new and only about 5% of the entire SUV has parts that can be found in the model it replaces.

GA-K platform

The GA-K architecture and platform gave the engineers a lightweight, highly rigid body with a low centre of gravity that made it easier for them to achieve the superior handling that was a target. The basic performance of the vehicle has been greatly improved, and it has the ‘Lexus Driving Signature’ which is said to achieve a balance between linear steering feel and driving force in an SUV.

4 powertrains, including a PHEV

Depending on the market, there are up to four powertrains with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The 4-cylinder combustion engines have 2.5-litre and 2.4-litre displacements, the latter with a turbocharger. The bigger engine is also part of two hybrid powertrains, one of which is the first plug-in (PHEV) hybrid for Lexus. While the brand has already gone further with an
all-electric UX
 (the smaller SUV), it has so far been offering hybrids rather than PHEVs.

NX 450h PHEV

The NX PHEV is the big news and it comes with the E-FOUR AWD system with constantly variable front-to-rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 20:80 modes. Technical details are not available at this time although it is expected to be the most powerful NX variant that will be designated the NX 450h.

The hybrid versions are unlikely to be promoted strongly in Malaysia as, without any government incentives to offset their high price, they will be expensive. At this time, the government has mentioned having some sort of incentive program but some of its sounds like the one that was used the last time and brought prices of hybrid models down.

PHEV unlikely for Malaysia

So it is likely that Lexus Malaysia will focus on the combustion engine versions, and most likely that 2.4-litre turbocharged one (above) which has a new high-torque Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission and and a newly developed electronically-controlled full-time AWD system. There is also an F Sport version which could be the top version offered.

Tazuna Concept

The cabin has a cockpit design based on the Tazuna Concept, an interior concept first introduced in the LF-30 Electrified concept car in 2019. The word ‘tazuna’ is derived from the ‘reins’ used to control horses, and applied to the NX cockpit layout, it aims to give the driver stronger interaction with the vehicle.

The layout of the information system components leading from the Head-Up Display to the metters and to the centre display allows for smoother, less distracted eye movement while driving. In addition, the start button, shift lever, and drive mode select switch are placed around the steering wheel where they can be operated more naturally.

The ratio of the driver and passenger floor is designed to create the optimal space. For the interior colour scheme, a diverse colour line-up is offered, with the newly developed ‘3D Cutting Black’ theme. This is a geometric pattern that gradually becomes denser towards the rear to help enhance the sense of dynamism and advanced technology.

64 colours of interior illumination are used to accentuate the beauty of the interior shapes and materials, colouring the entire cockpit. 14 recommended colors are preset, these expressing the emotions and changes in feelings that occur when looking at beautiful natural phenomena. If a driver desires to freely select other colors, they can choose from 50 other colors in the color palette of the centre display, providing an atmosphere that better aligns with their mood.

Lexus also provides owners with a Digital Key which uses a special application on a compatible smartphone. This can lock, unlock, and start the engine without operating the screen anddDigital keys can be shared between smartphones, making it possible for family and friends to borrow and lend vehicles remotely.

Lexus Safety System+

The new NX has a more advanced Lexus Safety System+ with the existing features and functions enhanced for better and more intelligent performance. For example, the detection range of the millimetre-wave radar and monocular camera are expanded, while an advanced driving support technology provides safe, secure and smooth parking. Additionally, a new function has been added to allow remote parking using a smartphone.

Replacing the latch/unlatch mechanism of the doors with electrical control by switches (e-Latch) makes for smoother and effortless operation. This complements the Safe Exit Assist (SEA) system which is linked to the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) sensor and e-latch system. When exiting the vehicle, the system uses the sensors of the BSM to detect vehicles approaching from behind, including bicycles. If the system determines that there is a possibility of a collision with an open door or an alighting occupant, the indicator in the outer mirror will light up to alert the driver.

In addition, if the driver tries to open the door, the system cancels the door opening in cooperation with the e-latch system. This world-first system notifies the occupants with a buzzer, flashing indicator in the outer mirror, display on the meter, and voice notification.

Lexus reveals DIRECT4 technology for future hybrids and EVs


Netizens Furious On Tax Free Exemption For EVs And Not ICE Cars

Netizens are expressing their frustration over the fact that luxury electric car brands like Tesla are exempt from taxes and duties, supposedly ‘making wealthy Malaysians even wealthier’, while fuel-powered, more affordable cars like the Perodua Axia are subject to high-er taxes, inadvertently  burdening the less fortunate segments of the Malaysian population.

Questions about the environment are allegedly fairly important with electric cars (EVs). When their batteries reach the end of their useful lives, they will compound the already existing environmental concerns.

There are several difficulties for EVs in Malaysia, say experts from Universiti Malaya. The high expenses are one of the main reasons for the lack of adoption. Additionally, its development is being hampered by a lack of charging infrastructure and regulations.

However, to aid its progress in the country as well as to encourage EV adoption,
Tesla Malaysia
 has added eight indoor Supercharger stations as part of its own project. They are situated in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and are expected to operate as soon as feasible, subject to receiving a few additional clearances. On top of that, Tesla has already disclosed a list of 10 locations with superchargers in Malaysia with more to come in the future.

Anthony Loke said that he has also directed the Ministry to study the
road tax structure
 in order to make it less expensive than the levy on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. He thinks this will encourage EV ownership and make it more accessible to consumers.

However, enraged internet users have made several suggestions including offering a tax-free programme for EV’s which will benefit more Malaysians.

“More well-off EV owners don’t even pay taxes to use our roads unless they utilise toll roads”, a netizen said, despite the pollution they cause in battery mineral mining areas and for allegedly consuming power produced by dirty energy.

Besides the pollution issues, there were several concerns that an RM200,000 Tesla was receiving a tax-free incentive but an RM40,000 Axia wasn’t.

There will most probably be more users of the Axia overall, especially with the
cheapest variant
 just introduced. As some people view this as unjust, netizens are expressing their puzzlement over the situation. A tweet that recently went viral showed an Axia and a Tesla side by side and claimed that only one of them is tax-free.

A netizen said, “EV cars are still pricey. We aim to increase the use of renewable energy while minimising carbon emissions and pollution.” Therefore, one of the ways the government can promote a shift towards a greener world is to review taxes and pricing of future cars.

The idea is supported by a netizen who pointed out that even European nations have introduced incentives to encourage the use of electric vehicles, while another user recommended that local automakers “undertake R&D (research and development) to produce our own EVs”.

It is absurd that we can’t (produce our own EV’s). Long-term benefits include not having to rely only on imports, which is undoubtedly preferable and should be more affordable.

Everything needs a first step and our national carmaker Proton’s subsidiary brand, Pro-Net has taken a step towards introducing a possibly affordable EV: The
Smart #1
. However, we are still waiting on the price reveal which should not be too far away.


Kona will be first SUV to get high-performance Hyundai N badge

To know about other promotions, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
.

Hyundai Motor has confirmed that the next model to have the high-performance N badge will be from its Kona range. The compact model will be the first high-performance SUV from the Korean carmaker.

2-litre turbo engine, 8-speed N DCT

The Kona N will be available with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, known as N DCT. Combined with its 2-litre turbocharged engine, it can be expected to deliver impressive performance. Besides an ‘emotional sound experience’, there will be Launch Control to enable the driver to exploit the high output.

“The all-new Kona N is the first ‘hot SUV’ from the N brand,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice-President and Head of N Brand Management and Motorsport Sub-division at Hyundai Motor Company. “As a ‘hot SUV’, it will have plenty of versatility as well as the driving pleasure like any other N vehicle. Enthusiasts will enjoy taking this car anywhere; from road to the track.”

Hyundai’s high-performance brand N, which ventured into the high-performance field with its i30 N, is planning to expand its line-up in 2021. Especially with more diversified segments in its line-up, like the i20 N and the upcoming Kona N, the brand will provide enthusiasts with fun-to-drive vehicles.

How Hyundai N started

The first association of ‘N’ with Hyundai was when the carmaker presented its N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car for PlayStation’s
Gran Turismo
 videogame series in 2015. In that same year, Hyundai brought in Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW’s M division, to spearhead the development of the N sub-brand and create a line of high-performance production cars.

The N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car

The N brand has gained prominence with the many successes of the Hyundai N team in the World Rally Championship.

The ‘N’ in Hyundai N stands for Namyang, home to Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea since 1995, and also for Nurburgring, where N models are tested and developed further. The close connection between Namyang and the Nurburgring created the foundation for N, aiming to build on the company’s motorsport experience to bring winding road fun to customers who love cars. The ‘N’ logo itself embodies this idea, as it symbolises a chicane.

Click here for other news and articles about Hyundai.


Groupe PSA starts Peugeot vehicle exports from Naza Automotive Manufacturing, its production hub for ASEAN

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) was conceptualised in the early 1990s and all the member nations signed an agreement to establish it in 1992. It was intended to create a regional trade bloc where goods and services could be exchanged between ASEAN countries with preferential tariffs .

The AFTA agreement’s main feature was the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) which required all ASEAN members agree to adopt the same tariff structure and impose import duties of between 0 and 5% on goods and services which originate from any ASEAN country. A condition is that at least 40% of the content of the goods should be of ASEAN origin, besides being made in one of the ASEAN countries. This applies to finished goods, like complete vehicles, as well as components.

The benefit of AFTA to carmakers

Why have AFTA? The simple answer would be strength in unity and size. Having AFTA also means that instead of separate small markets, there will be a single larger one which can be treated as a single common market and estimates in the 1990s already placed the number of consumers at over 550 million – larger than the European Union then. Many ASEAN consumers were already in the middle class or moving into it (although the financial crisis of the late 1990s slowed things down a bit) and this increasing prosperity has certainly very attractive to companies doing business globally.

When AFTA was conceptualised in the 1990s, it was estimated that the single market would have over 550 million consumers. Today, the potential customer base is estimated at 680 million, an attractive number for carmakers.

For carmakers, AFTA was an attractive idea and during the 1990s, a number of global players began to establish big factories in Thailand and Indonesia. These would become regional hubs for certain popular models and as there would be no import duty imposed exporting vehicles between ASEAN countries, it was as good as making them in each country. The major advantage was that concentrating production in a single factory meant bigger volumes which would provide the vital economies of scale to push production costs down and have more attractive pricing.

Groupe PSA, the French automobile conglomerate with brands like Peugeot and Citroen in its group, also looked at AFTA but didn’t see the right numbers in the 1990s, and it was also focused on China which was then a fast-growing market. However, they kept an eye on the market growth in ASEAN and in Malaysia, where their partner is Naza Corporation, Peugeot sales were growing rapidly and accounted for 86% of the volume sold in ASEAN.

Assembly operations at NAM, now majority owned and managed by Groupe PSA. (File image)

Malaysia’S Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant becomes a regional hub

The Malaysian company also had its own assembly plant in Kedah and with Naza having proven its commitment, Groupe PSA made the decision to use Malaysia as its regional hub. The decision was announced at the Peugeot World Conference in January 2010. However, planning took some time but, in the meantime, Groupe PSA began small volume production of a Peugeot model at Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) as a shared operation.

Early last year, the French company acquired a majority stake in the business operations of NAM which began operations in 2004. Groupe PSA and Naza will jointly produce Groupe PSA-branded cars for Malaysia and other ASEAN markets which now has a potential customer base of 680 million. Further opportunities will also be explored beyond ASEAN, with a potential to contribute significantly to Malaysia’s economy.

Peugeot 3008 and 5008 models assembled in Malaysia will be exported to the Philippines.

First exports to the Philippines

This month, NAM will begin exporting its first shipment, a batch Peugeot 3008s, to the Philippines. “The Peugeot 3008 with the Peugeot 5008 1.6 THP are targeted to be available in the Philippines with more than 4,000 units by 2023. The Philippines is the first ASEAN country where our cars manufactured at NAM is being exported to under the AFTA,” said Laurence Noel, Head of ASEAN & CEO of Naza Automotive Manufacturing, Groupe PSA. “More cars will be exported to other ASEAN countries very soon,” she added.

Find out more about the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 at
www.peugeot.com.my
.


British and American police evaluating all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E

Police forces on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are showing interest in using the all-electric version of the Ford Mustang – known as the
Mustang Mach-E
 – for patrol and other duties. In response to the interest, Ford specially built a concept unit that it is loaning for evaluations. Some seven police departments in the UK have either tested the new e-SUV, or will soon be doing so.

The Metropolitan Police Force has already assessed the standard Mustang Mach-E and has now requested a full evaluation of the marked concept. A full ‘blue light’ livery test car was built following enquiries from UK police forces looking for greener solutions to the vehicles currently available to them.

RWD and AWD available

The initial concept is a demonstrator Mustang Mach-E Standard Range with all-wheel drive (AWD). Subject to testing of this model, Ford is planning to offer Extended Range version of its rear-wheel drive and AWD versions. The extended battery types would give the police even greater range, and therefore versatility and capability, for police operations.

The new Mach-E, with an output equivalent to 480 ps, is claimed to be capable of 0 – 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (GT version) and can reach a top speed of almost 180 km/h. Its instant and super-quick acceleration – and quietness – will be useful in a pursuit situation while it is also economical and environmentally-friendly in operation.

The all-electric Mustang Mach-E which has been on sale since the end of 2020.

Lowest energy consumption

The Mustang Mach-E is already a Guinness World Record holder after having achieved the lowest energy consumption on a journey in an electric car. It’s capable of travelling up to 610 kms between charges.

The issue of where the power to operate the concept car’s blue lights, sirens and other high-tech equipment would come from, has been addressed by Ford technicians. “The vehicle range is uncompromised as the blue light equipment is being drawn from the vehicle’s 12V battery and not the drive battery,” said Terry Adams, Blue Light Direct Sales Manager, Ford of Britain and Ireland. “In future developments, we will look to increase this battery capacity to allow for additional equipment to be fitted.”

Some of the items in the equipment fitted to the concept car are bespoke mounting pods and brackets to ensure suitable locations are found for operational use, with minimal damage to the vehicle.  All lighting is LED with very low power consumption to reduce current draw from the vehicle’s 12V power system. The 999 livery is a first-off design which utilises high specification material to maximise day and night visibility requirements.

Tested by American police too

Over in the USA, Ford has been helping to pave the way for electric police fleets with all-electric, purpose-built law enforcement vehicles. To demonstrate that a vehicle with an electric powertrain can deliver strong performance and stand up to demanding police duty cycles, the company is submitting an all-electric police pilot vehicle (pictured above and below), based on the latest Mustang Mach-E for testing by police in the company’s home state of Michigan.

A Ford Ranger Raptor police car!


New Bentley Flying Spur V8 arrives in Malaysia, priced from RM839,000

At the uppermost end of the car market, ‘best’ is rather subjective and those who spend a million ringgit and more would consider that what they have purchased is ‘the best’. Nevertheless, each carmaker in that sector would present its car as being the best and Bentley declares its Flying Spur  as ‘the best luxury sedan in the world’.

The Flying Spur is now available through the officially importers for Malaysia, Bentley Kuala Lumpur, and is available in both 4-seat or 5-seat configurations. The basic price starts from
RM839,000
 excluding taxes and registration, and a typical customer would obviously pay a higher price.

Driver-centric experience

While most Bentley customers in Malaysia are likely to be chauffeur-driven, the company’s research shows that an increasing number of its customers prefer to drive the car themselves. In fact, global research (including two customer clinics in America and China) indicated that over 40% of customers travel with rear seat passengers at least once a week.

For this reason, Bentley’s engineers focussed on offering a more driver-centric experience, with a  class-leading portfolio of intelligent and intuitive equipment and technology tailored to the driver and also the passengers.

V8 that can become an I4

Under the bonnet is Bentley’s 4.0-litre, twin turbocharged V8 engine, an alternative choice to the iconic W12 unit. With turbocharging, it produces 550 ps/770 Nm with responsiveness and a top speed claimed to be 318 km/h.

When the driver is not blasting along at high speeds, the engine can save fuel by literally halving its displacement and running on 4 cylinders. It does this by shutting down one bank of cylinders under light-load conditions, when torque demand is below 235 Nm and the engine speed is below 3000 rpm.

The transition from V8 to what is essentially an inline four is imperceptible to the occupants and can be executed within 20 milliseconds (a tenth of the time it takes to blink). The result is savings of up to 16% in fuel consumption, allowing a longer range and less stops to refuel if driving very long distances.

Advanced chassis

The latest Flying Spur has powertrain and chassis advancements; Adaptive Air Suspension, Torque Vectoring by Brake, Drive Dynamics Control, and Electric Steering, all of which are standard features. The technically advanced, adaptive chassis can feature Bentley’s pioneering 48V electric active anti-roll control system (Bentley Dynamic Ride) and Electronic All-Wheel Steering are available as options.

Recognisable as a Bentley

The bold exterior design is new and modern but still recognisable as a Bentley. It has increased road presence and stronger, more muscular lines that sweep the full length of the car. Compared to the second generation, the latest one has a wheelbase that is 130 mm longer, benefitting interior space and comfort.

For the Flying Spur V8, there are seven Bentley paint finishes to choose from and for those who want even more exclusivity, there is an extended range of over 60 colours, including Mulliner and personal commission.

Cabin with fine materials and craftsmanship

The interior has comfortable, spacious seats available in 5 hide colours, with Bentley’s ‘Wing’ theme across the lower console and fascia. Sweeping horizontal veneer flows across the dashboard and into the doors, emphasising the spacious width of the cabin. Besides Crown Cut Walnut as standard, there are 7 other veneers to choose from, plus a High Gloss Carbonfibre technical finish.

The industry-first Bentley Rotating Display is also available on the new Flying Spur V8. When the engine start button is pressed, the veneer section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch touchscreen, displaying three, customisable digital tiles. The second side of the display reveals three elegant analogue dials showing outside temperature, a compass and a chronometer. A complete digital detox can be selected on the third side, to simply enjoy the seamless wood veneer fascia continuing around the cabin.

Needless to say, the range of equipment is extensive and can be supplemented with options like Rear Seat Entertainment tablets, Naim for Bentley audio system and even the luxury of an onboard 2-bottle drinks cooler. A completely new design means that the cooler is packaged into a much smaller space than the previous generation of the Flying Spur, resulting in less intrusion into the 420-litre boot space.

Only electric power for Bentley vehicles by the end of this decade


2022 Proton Saga launched with refreshed looks and added convenience features

While the newer X70 and X50 SUV models have been selling well and have strong demand, it has been the Saga that has consistently remained the strongest seller for Proton all these years. It contributed to a large share of sales each year that the original model was able to last right up till the beginning of 2008 – almost 23 years after it was launched.

The generations following enjoyed the same success and loyal customer base that kept growing, and so when it comes to any updates, the focus is on providing more but not tampering with the success formula. That’s the case with the updated 2022 Saga launched today and the slight changes in price across the range are matched with additional features and of course, some cosmetic changes.

The 2022 range is offered with 4 variants – Premium S and Premium, and Standard with automatic and manual transmissions. From what we recall, the last price range for the Saga was between RM32,800 to RM39,800 and the new pricelist shows a range of between RM34,400 to RM44,300.

When Proton Design began working on this new model, the COVID-19 pandemic had started and people had to work from home. But fortunately, it was already decided that there would be no major changes required so the ‘new normal’ in working life was not a problem for the design team.

For facelifts, the designers usually make alterations in the usual areas where fixed apertures in the bodywork are – typically the grille, bumpers and lighting units. Unless there is extra budget, new body panels are avoided and this has been the case for the new Saga which also retains the bumpers from before.

The grille has the same ‘Infinite Weave’ design as before – a signature feature of Proton models – and now incorporates the latest brand logo in the middle. Sharp-eyed observers will spot the differentiating element which is in the strip running along the bottom of the grille. Where is used to be just a straight line running the full width, the logo now ‘cuts’ into the strip which also has a ’dip’. It would seem the designers have recalled a little detail that began with the Waja 20 years ago and was present up till the Satria Neo.

Depending on the variant (of which there are four), the strip is silver (or is it white) on the Standard and Premium versions and red on the Premium S.

To add sportiness to the top Premium S version, side skirts are added along with extensions to the front bumper. While skirts do have a vital role in aerodynamics on racing cars, they are largely cosmetic attachments that visually lower the car. At the rear is a slim spoiler which is also found on the other 3 variants.

Facelifts also often see the wheel designs changing as this does not require any engineering changes. For the 2022 model, the 15-inch alloy wheels for the Saga Premium S/Premium have an interesting design with 4 spokes finished in a light colour and the other sections of the wheel left dark. The wheels for the Saga Premium have all the spokes in the same colour for differentiation.

15-inch wheels on Saga Premium S (left) and Saga Premium (right).

The Standard versions also have different wheels or rather, the Standard with automatic transmission has 14-inch rims of a similar design as before and the one with manual transmission is fitted with steel wheels (and covers). Standard versions have 175/65 tyres while the Premium versions get a wider 185/55 size.

The same proven 1.3-litre 16-valve DOHC VVT engine is used for all variants. Its output of 95 ps/120 Nm reaches the front wheels through a 4-speed automatic (not a CVT) or 5-speed manual transmission. No mention is made of tuning changes but to help the driver stretch each litre, there’s ECO Drive Assist to indicate when the driving style is efficient. Of course, the engine runs fine on RON95 so no worries about the rising price of RON97 petrol.

One thing we noticed was the absence of insulating pads on the undersides of the bonnet as well as bootlid. These pads can be found in most cars nowadays, even rivals to the Saga. Exposing bare metal (even if painted) doesn’t help the image of a car as it gives a ‘cheap’ impression but Proton probably needed the cost-saving. While acknowledging the omission, a senior executive on the engineering team said that in as far as noise is concerned, the absence of the insulating pad does not make a lot of difference as a lot of effort had already gone into reducing overall noise levels earlier. However, for those who have bionic ears and insist that an insulating pad makes a difference, Proton does offer the item as an accessory. It’s like the old days when EON used to sell sound-absorbing pads which owners could add on to the bodywork to reduce noise.

Omission of insulating pad exposes the bare metal (even if it’s painted), which gives a ‘cheap’ look.

Like the exterior, the interior also gets changes which do not require major changes in the overall structure of the various sections, eg the dashboard. The Premium S gets some extra attention in detailing with red accents around the air vents. The same red treatment is also seen around the meters, an idea which was originally used on the Anniversary Edition (but with a different colour).

New convenience features include automatic folding mirrors, keyless entry and a pushstart button which means the key fob can stay in the pocket and handbag. However, it would need to be used if you want to open the bootlid from a distance.

The boot space is still 420 litres, quite generous for a small car, and when more space is needed, the rear backrest can be folded down. This lengthens the boot floor into the cabin so you can load a long carpet.

As a general policy, the Geely Group which Proton is a part of has made cabin air quality an important matter, and this is especially important today to control the spread of viruses. During the pandemic’s early months, Geely was quick to develop more effective air filtration systems for its cars and other brands in the group have also followed suit. For the new Saga, the N95 cabin filter is now standard for all variants.

The infotainment system has updated has the new operating software and Bluetooth 4.2 for better wireless connectivity. It also easily connects to compatible Android and iOS smartphones so drivers can use and manage their favourite apps while on the move. Switches located on the steering wheel allow for easy access to change audio settings and answer calls while driving.

For the absent-minded types, there’s now a reminder message which appears on the display when the engine is switched off. It reminds the driver to check that they have all their belongings and more importantly, have not left their children behind! It seems odd that a parent can forget their child was travelling with them and leave him or her inside but as we have read in many reports, that does happen and sometimes end in tragedy.

The Saga, being of an earlier generation of cars, doesn’t have the increasingly common suite of integrated driver-assist systems. Nevertheless, it still has many active safety systems that will help the driver avoid an accident. ABS, traction control, stability control, etc are all provided but it’s a pity that the Standard with manual transmission does not have electronic stability control/traction control. Again, this is probably a cost-saving matter but where safety is concerned, Proton should be working towards providing every customer with the best safety equipment possible.

Perhaps the Saga, being a legacy model, is constrained by having been developed along different cost structures and there’s not much that can be done to change that. Moving forward with Geely now providing its expertise and experience in more cost-effective engineering and manufacturing, the next generation of the Saga should be able to have more features, even as an entry-level model.

Proton R3 moves forward with new range of Premium Genuine Oils and new merchandise


No more RM200 ‘hold’ when you use your MyDebit ATM card to buy fuel at Petron stations

Ever since petrol stations began accepting payments electronically, using credit cards or debit cards are the pumps, motorists have enjoyed greater convenience when refuelling. While the use of credit cards has not required a ‘hold’ of RM200 on the related account, those who use a debit ATM card from a bank are subjected to this inconvenience for up to 3 days. That’s certainly an unnecessary burden, especially for a motorcyclist who may buy just RM2 of fuel.

MyDebit and the 22 participating banks are putting consumer interests first by doing away with this practice. Related to this initiative, Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) has announced a collaboration with Petron to accept payments using ATM cards at all Petron station self-service fuel pumps with no RM200 hold.

“With 42 million ATM cards in circulation, virtually every customer carries an ATM card which they can use to pay for their fuel purchases,” said Peter Schiesser, Group CEO of PayNet, the operator of the MyDebit card scheme.  “As Malaysia’s national debit card scheme, our priority is the rakyat. MyDebit is the only card scheme in Malaysia that does not hold RM200 at petrol pumps.”

“When a petrol chain accepts MyDebit payments, consumers can select the amount of fuel that they wish to purchase and only that amount is blocked during fuelling. If consumers refuel less than the amount selected at the start, all excess amounts are credited back to their bank accounts immediately after fuelling is done,” explained Mr. Schiesser.

Motorcyclists especially will be happy that there is no RM200 ‘hold’ for 3 days when they purchase just a few ringgit of petrol.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the launch of ‘
FUEL-YoooH MyDebit Je with your ATM Card!’
 recently at a Petron station in Bandar Baru Kulim, Kedah. The move, which supports the government’s aim to develop a cashless society, enables Petron customers easier, faster, more seamless and convenient cashless payment using their ATM cards at the fuel pumps.

To commemorate the roll-out of MyDebit ATM Card at Petron stations, PayNet and Petron have a campaign that rewards motorists who use their ATM cards for fuel purchases. Until
 March 13, 2020
, any fuel purchases at Petron pumps using ATM cards issued by banks in Malaysia with a minimum spend of RM5 will provide a chance to win prizes that include 2 Grand Prizes of Proton X70 SUV. Besides a total of 84 prizes, there are also four RM500 Petron Gift Cards to be won weekly.

Boost e-wallet payments now accepted at almost all Petron stations


Perodua sets new sales record – 82,700 from January to April

It looks like 2019 has started off amazingly well for Perodua. From January until April, they’ve successfully sold 82,700 units which is a whopping 9.5% increase compared to the same period back in 2018 where they registered 75,500 vehicles.

That’s one heck of a boost and Perodua has stated that it is the highest number of vehicles Perodua has sold in the first four months of any year in its history.

According to Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, “The sales figures, which are internally generated, show strong continued support for our products and we, along with the country’s automotive ecosystem, consisting mainly of suppliers and authorised dealers, are sincerely grateful for this endorsement.”

“While Perodua awaits the Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) official total industry volume numbers, we believe that Perodua’s market share is above 43% for the four-month period, thus directly benefitting the domestic economy as a whole.”

“In fact, in the first four months of the year, Perodua spent RM1.8 billion on component purchases from local automotive suppliers and is on track to fulfil our commitment of RM5.4 billion in component purchases this year,” added Dato’ Zainal.

Looking at the model type, here’s how they fare in term of sales figure for the first four months of 2019:

Myvi – 7,700 units

Axia – 5,900 units

Bezza – 4,200 units

Aruz – 3,200 units

Alza – 1,100 units

Commenting on the Aruz’s sales figures, Dato’ Zainal added “We are happy to report that in April we registered over 3,200 units – the most we have ever managed in a single month for the seven-seater SUV. This achievement is significant to us as the Aruz represents our latest transformation effort towards becoming a regional brand.”

Perodua will be running a special campaign throughout May in conjunction with the upcoming fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. To know more, head over to
www.perodua.com.my

or visit the nearest authorized showroom.

100,000 3rd Generation Perodua Myvi Are Now On The Road!


Volvo Car & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge is on again for interior design firms

The Volvo Car & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge is on again, a follow-up to the inaugural event in 2018 which invited interior design firms around the country to submit their most creative spatial designs. For 2020, the Swedish car brand has organized it in collaboration with
duduk
 – a new brand by Eco World Development Group Berhad (EcoWorld) – and lifestyle publishing house Aurizn.

The concept behind the event is to bring Scandinavian philosophy of human-centric design to the fore, focusing on functionality and sustainability to bring out the natural and organic beauty of a product.

“The Swedish philosophy on design is to start with the user and design it around his or her needs. There is an aversion to overcomplicating things and the tendency to ask ‘how would this make life better for the people who will use it?’” explained Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Volvo has introduced Scandinavian design traditions to the world through its cars.

Raising the stakes from the previous event, 6 winners of this year’s challenge will each be rewarded with usage of the Volvo XC60 T8 for 6 months, with contracts to furnish actual units of
duduk
 by EcoWorld projects in Eco Ardence and Eco Sanctuary to be sold to end-users. In total, the 6 contracts are worth a combined value of RM4 million across both developments, which will be available for sale to the general public.

The submission phase of the Challenge is from May 14 – June 10, 2020. All Malaysian-based design firms are invited to submit their entries by sending in the best existing designs from their portfolio. They can do so by posting their designs on Facebook and Instagram, then tagging
@dudukmy
,
@aurizn
, and
@volvocarmalaysia
 in their posts. Firms are also required to email supporting company documents to Aurizn for verification.

(Above and below) Two of the winning entries in the 2018 event.

“On June 18, 2020, we will be announcing 12 finalists. These finalists will then have about one month to design and furnish, within a given budget, an actual
duduk
 by EcoWorld unit. Out of these 12 finalists, the 6 best designs will be selected, and they will be given that budget to realize the layout that they created in units that will be sold to actual customers,” said Bobby Ang, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Aurizn.

The actual selection process of the 6 winners will be accomplished through a process that combines the outcome of an online vote with feedback from a panel of judges comprising representatives from Volvo Car Malaysia, EcoWorld, and Aurizn.

“Volvo Cars have always placed a high priority on environmental sustainability and also the wellbeing of people,” said Mr. Nalin. “Through the Volvo Car & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge, we are pleased to have this opportunity to promote sustainable home designs, whilst at the same time provide working opportunities for interior design firms amidst this challenging economic climate.”

Submission for the finalists’ design closes on July 17, after which the designs will be published online and open for a 2-week voting period from July 22 to August 4, followed by an announcement of the winners on August 15, 2020.

For more information, visit
www.volvocars.com/my
, Volvo Car Malaysia’s
Facebook page
 or and
Instagram page
.

Pledge to maintain social distancing and Volvo Car Malaysia will reward you


Bringing modern connectivity to old Porsche models

Porsche Classic is responsible for spare parts supply and factory restorations of all the brand’s road-approved classic cars. As part of that role, it has developed a system which brings the digital world to older models.

The new Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) is designed to replace original built-in units with 1-DIN or 2-DIN dimensions. They can exactly replace the old systems with new infotainment systems that offer a high-resolution touchscreen and modern functions such as DAB+ and Apple CarPlay as well onboard navigation.

PCCM is a further development of the previous radio navigation system for classic Porsche sportscars. It is operated via two rotary knobs, six integrated buttons and a touch-sensitive 3.5-inch display.

Like the predecessor model, it includes a navigation function with ‘Points of Interest’ search in an enhanced version. Route guidance optionally takes place as a simple arrow representation in a 2D or 3D view. The corresponding map material is provided on a separate SD card.

State-of-the-art digital technology

The PCCM can receive digital radio stations with DAB+. A further highlight for this device class is integration of Apple CarPlay providing a modern connectivity option that puts apps on the dashboard. Media playback is also possible via an SD card, USB, AUX and Bluetooth.

The PCCM blends harmoniously into the dashboard of classic models with its black surface finish and the shape of the knobs. It features the Porsche logo and is suitable for the sports car generations between the first 911 models of the 1960s and the last 911 with air-cooling from the start of the 1990s (the 993 model series).

911 models of the 996 generation and Boxster models of the 986 generation which were built in the 1990s could already be optionally equipped with a Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system in 2-DIN format. For these cars, Porsche Classic has developed the Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus) system which features a high-resolution 7-inch touchscreen with optimised display.

The haptic and visual design of the PCCM Plus is based on the adjacent components such as air vents or pushbutton switches. The PCCM Plus can thus be integrated seamlessly into the ambience of the sportscars. The peripheral components already installed in the vehicle such as amplifier, loudspeakers or antenna can still be used. The navigation displays in the instrument cluster are also still supported.

Prices for the PCCM start from 1,439 euros (about RM6820) with the price of the PCCM Plus starting from 1,606 euros (RM7,615).

90 options for the Porsche Taycan owner who wants a more personalised car

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


Season 3 of Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship to run throughout September

Although this year has seen virtual racing or digital motorsports take a big leap in popularity due to the lockdowns that prevented real-world racing to take place, the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has actually been running earlier. In fact, two seasons have been run and next month will see the third season.

Racing events throughout September

The 2020 championship will start off with a series of qualifying rounds, followed by a semi-final and finally, a 4-race format Grand Final. There will be 4 online qualifying rounds (limited to 180 participants per round) which will be run over two consecutive weekends from September 3 and 4 and September 12 and 13.

The virtual track for qualifying will be the 4.5-km Fuji International Speedway in Japan with racers using a GR Supra RZ. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), the organisers, expect up to 720 participants this year.

The racers use Thrustmaster T-GT hardware and race on Playstation’s Gran Turismo platform.

The top 20 fastest drivers will then advance to the semi-final to be held on September 26. This will be held at  UMWT’s headquarters complex in Shah Alam, Selangor. The semi-final will involve two individual races held in Japan. The first is a 22-lap race at the Kyoto Driving Park behind the wheel of a TS050 Hybrid prototype sportscar and later, a Dallara Super Formula SF19 around the 5.8-km Suzuka Circuit in an 18-lap battle.

The 10 fastest drivers will enter the final challenge Grand Final on September 27 at the same venue. Besides the Grand Prize of RM20,000, there are cash prizes of RM10,000, RM7,000, RM5,500, RM4,500 for the other 4 overall winners. Cash prizes of between RM4,000 and RM2,000 also await those who finish in 6
th
 to 10th positions. RM500 each will also be given out to those who finish in 11th to 20th positions.

The most lucrative online racing series

Racers will also stand a chance to win additional cash prizes in the form of RM450, RM200 and RM100 awarded to the first, second and third place winners at each of the 4 Grand Final races. This makes the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship  one of the most lucrative and rewarding online racing series locally.

The Grand Final of the first Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship in 2018.

The Grand Final will have 4 gruelling races with points awarded for every round. Race 1 will see drivers competing in a GR Supra RZ at the Autodrome Lago Maggiore circuit in Italy (15 laps). Race 2 will be at the Autopolis Racing Course Japan in a FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo (18 laps). Race 3 will put the driver behind the wheel of a TS050 Hybrid sportscar at Circuit de la Sarthe in France (10 laps). The fourth and final race will take place at the 13.6-km Belgium Spa- Francorchamps circuit with a Toyota-powered Dallara Super Formula SF19 (18 laps).

Season 3 of the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship will also feature a special 10-lap exhibition race involving racers and celebrities who competed in the Toyota Vios Challenge and Toyota GAZOO  Racing Festival. The racing drivers will go participate in a 10-lap race behind the wheel of a  GR Supra Racing Concept racing car at the 4.5-km Fuji International Speedway while celebrities will drive a TS050 Hybrid sportscar in a 17-lap race at the Tokyo Expressway.

First ever regional championship

The top three racers will also earn the honour of representing Malaysia in the first ever GR Supra GT Cup Asia 2020 regional e-motorsports competition organized by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific in October 2020. The GR Supra GT Cup Asia 2020 will see competitors from Malaysia competing against the best from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and India.

“The race must go on, amidst a post-pandemic era and in the new norm. While physical motor racing involving Toyota is not expected to return until the first quarter of 2021, the past 5 months presented UMWT with the perfect opportunity to advance our virtual racing activities and to bring the GAZOO racing spirit and motorsports to the masses,” said Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.

Interest keeps growing in Malaysia

UMWT is the first and still the only Malaysian car company to be associated with the fast-growing e-sports activities, contributing to the growing interest in online simulator racing in the country. According to Ravindran K., President of UMWT, the number of participants who competed in the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship grew to 657 in 2019 from 400 when the series was first introduced in 2018.

Grand Final of the second season in 2019 at the Pavilion KL.

Incidentally, 2018 was also the year when the FIA (the world motorsport governing body) recognised simulator racing and certified it as
Digital Motor Sport.

“Online racing, particularly the growing interest in Simulator Racing, has exponentially grown, more evidently over the last 5 months, and it has successfully attracted both real-world racers and virtual racers,” Mr. Ravindran said, adding that some 300,000 viewers are expected to tune in to the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship live streamed online races this year.

For more information on the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship and to register to compete, visit
www.toyota.com.my
.

More online racing events coming from UMW Toyota Motor


TCEC Announces 0% GST Prices + Promos For Renault Vehicles, RM40,000 Less For Fluence! Wait, what?!

TC Euro Cars (TCEC)
, the sole franchise holder for
Renault
 vehicles in Malaysia, has announced the new prices for its Renault models, which will take effect immediately with the upcoming implementation of the zero-rated GST. TCEC is also offering additional incentives in the form of
rebates
 on the related models, with combined savings of up to
RM40,000
for the
 Renault Fluence
(see chart below).

TCEC will
absorb
 the 6% GST for vehicles registered with
 immediate effect
 and new zero-rated GST prices will remain in effect until the implementation of the sales and services tax (SST). Customers are also able to enjoy additional rebates for relevant models immediately.

The table below lists the prices of Renault models, with 6% GST versus with 0% GST, as well as the new prices that are inclusive of the respective rebates. All prices stated are on-the-road, without insurance, for Peninsular Malaysia and private individual Malaysian registration only.

Current Price with 6% GST

New Price     with 0% GST

New Price with 0% GST + Additional Incentives

Total Savings

Fluence

(limited units available)

RM119,888

RM113,143

RM79,888

RM40,000!

Captur (Pre-Facelift)

RM109,000

RM102,845

RM89,999

RM19,001

New Captur (Facelift)

RM109,000

RM102,845

RM95,999

RM13,001

Koleos 2WD

RM184,200

RM173,840

RM159,888

RM24,312

Koleos 2WD Signature

RM198,800

RM187,614

RM179,888

RM18,912

Koleos 4WD

RM209,000

RM197,237

RM189,888

RM19,112

“This is a great time to buy a Renault. We strongly encourage those looking for a stylish, vehicle with continental quality and safety standards to take advantage of this tax-holiday plus our additional incentives,”
 said
Kuan Kim Luen, CEO, TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd.

The new prices with zero-percent GST include Renault’s five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage for the models listed in the table above. For the Renault Captur, the new GST zero-rated price also covers the 5-in-Captur aftersales package, which includes:

Free service and maintenance (parts and labour) for five years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first

A five-year manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage

Complimentary
24 hours roadside assistance*

Pick-up and delivery during scheduled maintenance at Renault service centres

Mobility service of replacement car in the event any part is not available for over 48 hours at authorised service centres, subject to availability

“Customer satisfaction is the number one priority for us and a key component of that is ensuring top-quality aftersales service and support. In addition to providing strong coverage for servicing and maintenance through the 14 Renault service centres and Tan Chong Group’s wide network, customers can also rest assured of an established parts supply system that ensures consistent parts availability,”
 said Kuan.

For more information about Renault in Malaysia, please visit
www.renault.com.my
 or
www.facebook.com/RenaultMalaysia
.

*only available for customers who purchase their insurance under Tan Chong Insurance Business Stream (TCIBS)


Euro NCAP’s Best in Class for 2019

After assessing 55 new models in 2019, Euro NCAP has announced the ‘Best in Class’, noting that 41 of those models achieved top scores. This makes 2019 one of the most impressive years on record since Euro NCAP started to evaluate consumer safety of cars on the European market.

Mercedes-Benz regained its crown in the best performing Small Family Car category with the CLA. This is the sporty alternative to the A-Class Sedan, the winner of last year’s Best in Class. It achieved a score of more than 90% in three of the four areas of safety and delivered the best overall rating of the year. Remarkably, Mercedes-Benz launched 5 more 5-star vehicles in 2019, all with outstanding crash protection and driver assistance technology.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Tesla Model 3 and Model X

Tesla also made a strong appearance in 2019’s tests. The Model X is 2019’s winner in the Large Off-Road category, with the SEAT Tarraco in second place. The Tesla Model 3 is top of the ‘Electric and Hybrid’ vehicle class and, together with BMW’s 3-Series, shares top spot in the Large Family category. The two cars ended up with identical overall scores, the BMW scoring better in pedestrian protection, and the Tesla edging it in Safety Assist. Skoda’s new Octavia is the runner-up in this category.

BMW 3-Series

Subaru Forester

In the combined Small Off-road/Small MPV class, Subaru won with the new Forester showing excellent all-round performance. Mazda’s CX-30 and Volkswagen’s T-Cross were close followers in this category.

Mazda CX-30

Volkswagen T-Cross

Despite missing out on the top spot, Mazda had an excellent year in the tests, with the Mazda3 turning in an exceptional performance in Adult Occupant Protection and taking the second place to the Mercedes-Benz CLA in the Small Family Car category.

In the Supermini class, there was a tie between the sporty Audi A1 and top-selling Renault Clio which have been among Europe’s most popular and desirable hatchbacks for years. Their latest generations arrived in 2019 and came out equally well in Euro NCAP’s tests, while the newcomer Ford Puma was the runner-up in this category.

Audi A1 & Renault Clio

The Supermini segment remains the most competitive in the European market, as illustrated by the presence of 3, 4 and 5-star cars in the list. Euro NCAP said the winners deserve extraordinary credits for their uncompromising stance on safety.

Finally, a special mention was made of the new BMW Z4, the only roadster tested in 2019. It has unquestionably set a new safety benchmark for the segment.


New Suzuki Swift Sport to make world premiere at Frankfurt

Suzuki will be unveiling the all new Swift Sport at the 67th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Since the first generation car made it onto showroom floors back in 2005, the Swift Sport has embodied the spirit of a true super mini. The lightweight body and a peppy naturally aspirated engine made for an extremely agile vehicle that offered similar thrills to that of a sports car.

This new car, retains the same basic recipe of the original but forgoes the rather angular design for more softly contoured curves that result in a silhouette that has a more sports car feel to it.

The front end of the bonnet features a wedge shape design that integrates nicely with the similar styled bumper assembly. Then, there’s the noticeably larger honeycomb grille compared to the outgoing car, which is rather tastefully done and is reminiscent of the Nissan GT-R.

The side profile of the car is  little more interesting because from this angle, it becomes evident that the roof features a raked design that tapers off towards the C-pillar. This does provide the car with a compact and sporty look, which should be to the liking of younger car buyers.

The blacked out hexagonal type rims may not be to everyone’s taste, however it does complement the sporty styling and provide the car with a more aggressive stance. And overall, the Swift Sport is a very good looking car that we hope that the Japanese automaker keeps the design as is for the production version.

For now, the automaker is keeping mum on the exact details of the car. But as the 12th September launch date gets closer, Suzuki should divulge more information to build the excitement for the world premier of its third-generation Swift Sport.


New Volkswagen Tiguan launched

Volkswagen has officially launched its all-new Tiguan for the Malaysian market. The new SUV is longer, wider and sits lower than its predecessor. It has adaptive LED headlights and rear tail lamps which are far more prominent than the standard ones found on the previous vehicle. Fitted as standard is the 18-inch “Kingston” alloy wheels and for convenience sake, a keyless entry system and its tailgate can be operated electronically.

Inside, the new Tiguan offers a leather multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters, Vienna leather seat upholstery, height adjustable armrests, 12-way driver electric seat and climatronic air-conditioning. Rear passengers of the Tiguan have their own foldable tables which should come in handy especially on long trips. VW have even fitted ambient lighting on the door lining and side steps to to make it easier for occupants to exit the vehicle instead of fumbling about looking for the door handle in the dark.

Unlike before, the instrument cluster of the new Tiguan is a 12.3-inch full colour TFT display that replaces the analog style dials and meters found in its predecessor. Drivers can even change its theme with six different options that have been made available.

Seated in the centre stack is a 8-inch infotainment system that offers the usual multimedia connectivity and navigation system. For a limited time only, VW is offering its App Connect function on the higher spec Tiguan at a price of RM699, which is significantly lower than the standard RM1,099. This function will offer smartphone app accessibility for the infotainment system that is compatible with Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Mirrorlink.

Under the bonnet of the Tiguan is a 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged direct injection engine that is mated to a 6-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG). It’s power is rated at 148bhp and offers 250Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm. Not that you would be eager to do this often, but the Tiguan has the ability to sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in just 8.9 seconds. This fuel sipping engine is said to deliver a fuel consumption figure of just 6.7-litres per 100km, which has helped earn it the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certification.

Like most VWs, the Tiguan is loaded with safety tech including six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System, (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and hill-hold control. For child safety, the vehicle has anti-pinch power windows and ISOFIX anchorage points for child seats.

Buyers have a choice between five different colours which are Pure White, Deep Black, Blue Tungsten Silver and Indium Grey. As of now, there are two variants of the Tiguan that are currently being offered to Malaysian car buyers – the Comfortline which is priced at RM148,990 and the higher spec Highline, priced at RM168,990. Both cars are backed by a 5-year warranty and 5 year roadside assistance service from Volkswagen.


Honda Stays At No.1 Position In Passenger Vehicle Sales in Malaysia For 2022

While we await the official data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for the sales and production of new motor vehicles in 2022, some of the companies are already announcing their numbers. Among them is Honda Malaysia which reports that it delivered more than 80,200 units during the year, more than the target of 80,000 units that it had set. This was a 51% increase over the previous year’s sales volume.

The achievement keeps Honda in the No.1 position in the non-national passenger car segment (which excludes pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles) for the ninth consecutive year since 2014. During the year, the brand also recorded its highest ever sales in Malaysia with more than 10,500 units delivered nationwide.

Commenting on the results, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Hironobu Yoshimura, said: “2022 was a challenging year with global chip shortage and flood disasters that have affected our vehicle production. With Challenging Spirit, Honda Malaysia shifted into higher gear in 2022 and exceeded our sales target with the strong support from all the stakeholders. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our customers and the dealers for their unwavering support towards the Honda brand, as well as the Malaysian Government for the extension of sales tax exemption.”

“Honda Malaysia values our customers, and we will continue to strive to enhance customer satisfaction. We are working closely with the suppliers and dealers to ensure timely delivery for customers, especially those who booked their cars during the sales tax exemption period,” he added.

Looking back at the highlights for Honda during 2022, the year started with the launch of the
 11
th
 generation Civic
 at the beginning of the year, followed by the
HR-V
 in July, the latter being among the top three contributors to the achievement. The launch of the
Civic e:HEV RS
 in November gave customers an additional choice with
Honda hybrid powertrain technology
.

The bestselling Honda model in 2022 was the the City, now with a hatchback version as well, which contributed 36% to the company’s overall sales. The
City Hatchback
 and HR-V were among the top three best-performing models and accounted for 20% and 14%, respectively, of the total sales.

As for the sales performance in the various regions, the Central region was the highest contributor and accounted for 51%, followed by Southern region and Northern region which were 19% and 17%, respectively.

For more information on Honda vehicles and services, and or locate a showroom for a test-drive, visit
www.honda.com.my
.

e:HEV – How Honda’s Hybrid Technology Has Evolved In Over 20 Years

Click here
 for more Honda videos at The Piston Show.


BMW X & Luxury Lifestyle Roadshow Is Coming To A Town Near You!

The true spirit of X is for the adventurer who knows no boundaries, no finish line. No matter the situation, the possibilities to push courage and determination to the limits are endless much like the BMW X models with its rich heritage in defining the benchmarks in the segment.

BMW Malaysia is inviting you to
Find Your NeXt
 at
The BMW X Range Roadshow
 taking place throughout the country. Details of The BMW X Range Roadshow are as below:

Venues

Dates

Bangsar Shopping Centre

18
th
 – 22
nd
 July

AEON Mall Bandaraya Melaka

31
st
 July – 5
th
 August

AEON Mall Kinta City

8
th
 – 12
th
 August

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

15
th
 – 19
th
 August

East Coast Mall

30
th
 August – 2
nd
 September

IOI City Mall

8
th
 – 11
th
 September

Sunway Carnival Mall

27
th
 – 30
th
 September

Also from Wednesday,
18
th
 July 2018 to Sunday, 22
nd
 July 2018
, BMW Malaysia will once again share another glimpse into its future of modern luxury at the Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) Kuala Lumpur.

The new vision utilises precise, understated lines and subtle surface work for ultimate presence and prestige at the same time, demonstrates that luxury in the future will also be centred on personalised digital connectivity with intuitive technology.

For more details on The BMW X Range Roadshow please visit
www.bmw.com.m
y
or call BMW Voice at
1800-88-3000
.


Showing a new model and hiding it at the same time (w/VIDEO)

Back in earlier years, car companies had only to worry about professional spy photographers capturing images of their next model. The occasions when ordinary members of the public happened to spot and know what they were seeing were few and usually, they saw but could not record anything. The cameraphone changed all that and with it also came social media which had an image up within seconds and seen around the world within minutes.

Furthermore, with sophisticated editing software, it was also possible to ‘strip away’ simple camouflage like the black tape that was commonly used. Even in earlier days, some of the pros would try to remove camouflage and then sell their pictures to magazines as ‘scoop pictures’.

More sophisticated camouflage created

So for the carmakers, especially those in the R&D department which had to conduct tests in public areas, camouflaging prototypes required even more sophisticated approaches. Working with the design studio, they have come up with wraps with mind-bending patterns, squiggles, and swirls which cover almost every part of the vehicle except things like the front and rear lights which must be visible to other road-users for safety reasons.

The aim of these patterns is to confuse the eye and prevent industry spies from being able to focus on the vehicle’s features. While a general idea of the shape may be discernible even with the camouflage, some key elements like the design of the grille or the actual shape of side windows are still hidden.

Ford’s latest camouflage, inspired by the block pattern on the Bronco R Baja racer as well as mountain ranges, uses hundreds of blue, black, and white blocks in a pixelated pattern to break up the appearance of the underlying shape of the vehicle while it’s still under development.

Optical illusion

The camouflage is being used on the next generation of the Ford Ranger at the moment. Designed by a team at Ford’s Design Centre in Melbourne, Australia, this camouflage pattern creates an optical illusion that makes it difficult to pick out exterior features in sunlight, while a reflective element helps hide the vehicle’s shape at night.

“We were asked to develop a camouflage that allowed you to clearly see that this is the new Ranger but not see it at the same time,” said Leigh Cosentino, Design Manager at Ford Australia. “The inspiration originally came from the Baja livery Ford has been using; as I’m a huge fan of motorsport it’s hard for me not to be obsessed with machinery like that,” added Lee Imrie, the Ford Australia designer who developed the successful pattern.

Not usual type of camouflage

According to Cosentino, the project was about more than just disguising key features in the sheet metal.  “We wanted the design to be dynamic and exciting and build anticipation towards the reveal of next Ranger without looking like a derivative of military camouflage,” he said.

The design is dense at the bottom and then the pattern becomes scattered towards the roof. It ends up being a good camouflage, is visually exciting but also gives the pattern a sense of movement. It’s not the usual static type of camouflage.

“There’s no linework on this camo that aligns with anything on the exterior and that means you can’t see volume or shape or lines in the vehicle,” added Imrie. “My intention with this design was to scatter your eye so that you can’t focus on a specific line; and the colour patching adds to that effect.”

But there’s more to the pattern than just scattering your eye. While Imrie said he based the pattern on the Bronco R racer, he also took inspiration from the Next-Generation Ranger itself. “I started with squares rotated at 45 degrees, and scattered them throughout the page, attempting to make a reoccurring silhouette of a mountain top landscape which echoed the lifestyle orientation of the Next-Generation Ranger. When you stand back, it has a clear connection to a digitised military camouflage but with a connection to nature,” Imrie said.

The digitised pattern took the team 2 months to develop and test. It’s printed onto vinyl and applied in 2 stages taking up to two days to apply. The full-vehicle base layer contains the blue, black, and white blocks and is applied in the same way a regular wrap is. The second, reflective ‘layer’ consists of up to one hundred individual reflective elements hand placed on the vehicle.

If you’re wondering when the new Ranger will be seen without all the camouflage, Ford has confirmed that it will be this coming November 24.

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


VW owner proud of being a loyalist for 50 years

Brand loyalty isn’t something we hear much about these days. Modern car buyers aren’t brand conscious anymore, instead, flock to manufacturers that provide them with the best bang for their buck. That said, a Volkswagen car owner in the UK, has the exact opposite understanding.

Karen Wilson has owned in total, 16 VW cars and plans to keep it that way. She currently drives a 4-year-old Polo R-Line with a 1.2L TSI engine. Prior to this, she has owned a pretty colourful list of Volkswagen vehicles dating back to 1967.

In the past 50 years, Wilson has owned several cars including a Campervan, 2 Beetles, 3 Golfs and 10 Polos. Her first love was a cream-coloured Volkswagen Beetle that she purchased new, in 1967. She loved it from the very beginning, taking it on several road trips including one, from Austria to Germany.

The Beetle may not have been a technological marvel or a powerhouse, but its peppy flat-four engine was extremely reliable and easy to maintain. Running costs were low and since it made use of rudimentary mechanicals, mending a problem was fairly simple.

Wilson’s love for the brand stems from this very reputation. VW is known for building safe and reliable cars. In her ownership experience, her vehicles have been extremely dependable, getting her from point A to B with little to no fuss at all.

Her local retailer, JCT600 Volkswagen York, invited Wilson over for coffee and cake as an appreciation gesture for her loyalty and love of the brand. Besides the food and beverages, the celebrations also included gifts and a letter of thanks from the Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones.

Speaking of the sales and after-sales aspects of the brand, Wilson, said, “I’ve always had really good service from all the Volkswagen dealerships. They’re nice and friendly and when you walk in they remember your name, and the salespeople don’t put pressure on you to make a sale. They don’t need to because of their confidence in the cars.”

According to Volkswagen UK, Wilson’s love affair with the brand is quite common in the country. Her experience isn’t unique because there are many other owners who have similar stories to share. In fact, VW’s customer service in the UK is aware of a number of high mileage cars that are still out and about.

However, Wilson’s commitment to the brand is nothing short of remarkable. These days, consumers are spoiled for choice due to the market being flooded with good vehicles. So, for someone to pledge an allegiance to a certain brand, said automaker has to offer something extraordinary in return.