Great Wall Motors (GWM), which has been a leader among SUV makers in China, has created a new sub-brand called TANK. The name originally began as a model name under the company’s WEY brand but at the end of last year, GWM decided that TANK would be a standalone brand. The first product is the TANK 300, a conventional looking SUV with a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. With an output of 227 bhp and 3 differential locks in the drivetrain, it seems like a serious off-roader.
At the Chengdu Motor Show 2021 in China this month, GWM will display a second SUV which is currently referred to as TANK ‘X’. Designed by Andrew Collinson, formerly with Land Rover, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and some other carmakers, the new SUV is to be a more premium product.
It will have a ‘hardcore look’ and as the sketches show, there is a hexagonal grille, which will have chrome highlights. The side view shows a muscular form not unlike other large SUVs in the market today.
TANK ‘X’ is built on GWM’s global intelligent professional off-road platform. It will be the manufacturer’s first SUV to be equipped with the 3.0GDIT+9AT powertrain. This engine is said to have advanced technologies such as dual-injection system and Miller cycle, with a thermal efficiency of 38.5% and maximum power output of 354 bhp/ 500 Nm. Its 9-speed automatic transmission was developed by GWM and is said to have a fast shift speed, smoothness, high transmission efficiency and also light weight.
The TANK brand joins four existing brands – HAVAL, Ora, GWM PickUp and WEY. In the first half of 2021, GWM’s total sales volume was 618,211 vehicles, a year-on-year growth of 56.5%, of which nearly 10% were sold outside China.
GWM TANK 300
GWM has been growing its presence in many regions and this year, it has stepped up its activities in Thailand with the aim of penetrating the ASEAN market. As an indication of the importance it places on the Thai market, GWM used the Bangkok International Motor Show this year as the venue for the world premiere of the HAVAL H6 Hybrid SUV.
GWM’s factory in Thailand was acquired from General Motors last year and will produce vehicles for the region.
Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has launched its Hyundai Grand Starex Smart Lease Programme to offer corporations and businesses an attractive leasing programme with significant savings. The programme, which is in partnership with Sime Darby Rent A Car, is also available for individuals.
Customers who sign up for the Hyundai Grand Starex Smart Lease programme – which can be from 3 to 5 years – will enjoy the ownership experience of a new vehicle without having to worry about a loan application, and costs related to long-term maintenance, roadtax and insurance. There is also no need to consider the resale value or have the headache of disposing a vehicle.
Less outlay than a downpayment
Customers will only need to pay the agreed fixed monthly payment, a 2-month deposit and a booking fee of RM500 upon signing of the Hyundai Smart Lease Agreement. The deposit fee is lower compared to a downpayment and there is flexibility at the end of term. When the lease agreement expires, customers can opt to renew the lease programme with a new unit.
“We have tailored the programme to fit the business vehicle needs of companies. The Smart Lease programme will provide greater flexibility without the hassle and burden of hefty up-front payments and other costs,” said Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM. He added that the cost-savings are approximately RM17,000 for a 5-year ownership term.
Customers who use the programme can choose from all four variants of the MPV – Standard Corporate, Executive Plus without bodykit, Executive Plus with bodykit, and Executive Prime. The Grand Starex can accommodate up to 11 persons and is powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
The monthly payment for the Standard Corporate variant is RM2,800 for a 5-year leasing programme with mileage capped at 15,000 kms per annum. This includes a car replacement benefit of 3 days. Customers can choose to extend the mileage cap up to 30,000 kms per annum or 40,000 kms per annum with a monthly repayment of RM3,250 and RM3,550, respectively.
Showing gratitude to frontliners
Meanwhile, HSDM has a special programme to express gratitude to the healthcare workers and frontliners dealing with public health emergencies – such as fire fighters and uniformed law enforcement officers – as well as public school teachers.
Known as the Hyundai Frontliners Appreciation Programme, it is an initiative by HSDM to show its appreciation and support to frontliners who have worked tirelessly to serve the people. The programme comes with grocery vouchers, and other goodies worth RM7,900 in total. Additionally, a special rebate will make owning a new Hyundai model more affordable.
Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected without showing symptoms but can spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.
Over at Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), opening of all its authorised Nissan showrooms will take place progressively from tomorrow (Friday, August 20). With the exception of a few outlets, all showrooms (branches and dealers) in Perlis, Penang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan will open from tomorrow. Those that do not will do so by August 23. However, in Kedah, Melaka and Johor, the showrooms will still remain closed until further notice.
Peace-of-mind experience for customers
“ETCM adhere to strict standard operating procedures (SOP) ensuring the safety of its employees and a peace-of-mind experience for customers at all times. Only vaccinated employees including post-vaccine incubation period are allowed to resume work in Nissan showrooms. All employees will be wearing face mask, undergo frequent body temperature check, and regular disinfecting will be carried out at the showrooms including display and test drive vehicles, the company said in a statement today.
Customers are also advised to comply with SOPs when entering the premises; ensure full vaccination including post-vaccine incubation period, provide proof of digital certificate on MySejahtera, have a body temperature below 37.5°C and wear a face mask. Other SOPs set by the Government remain active.
Customers requiring more information can visit www.nissan.com.my or call the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838.
After over two months of closure, the local auto industry is relieved that operations at all its facilities, including assembly plants, can resume. As the summary of new vehicle sales showed, the Total Industry Volume for the months of June and July were at rock bottom, and for August, there remain only two weeks in the month to do business.
Nevertheless, it is good news that showrooms can open again, and customers can visit them to make purchases. Besides serving customers, the showrooms will also be rushing to register and deliver new vehicles to customers, while plants will also be trying to meet the backlog of orders.
“Resuming our business activities, especially at Toyota and Lexus retail outlets, will enable a return to some form of normalcy so we can move forward and do our part to help in the economic recovery of the country,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Strict adherence to SOPs
He said that the company understands the seriousness of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and will follow all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), conditions and guidelines provided by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council. These will be implemented throughout the company and will be strictly followed to ensure the safety of the public as well as its employees.
“In fact, after the MCO last year, we already implemented many of the SOPs at our showrooms and service centres, and these have been maintained even until now. These include temperature scanning of everyone, registration with MySejahtera, use of hand sanitisers and facemasks, and regular sanitisation of premises,” he said.
“Vehicle owners visiting service centres are also requested to make appointments in advance. As far as possible, contactless payments are encouraged and social distancing is to be observed at all times. We assure our customers that we have made sure that our premises have a safe environment for them to visit,” Mr. Ravindran added.
Specified capacities for factories
On the resumption of manufacturing activities, Mr. Ravindran said the two assembly plants and related factories in the UMW Toyota Motor group will be able to operate at specified capacities, depending on the percentage of workers who are already vaccinated, with full capacity permitted if more than 80% are vaccinated. “The company has been carrying out a vaccination programme and all our employees have already been vaccinated or will be vaccinated very soon,” he said.
“Now that the restrictions are lifted, we have more certainty as there are many important plans in the pipeline. For example, we have been preparing for the local assembly of Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicles and while the past 2 months have disrupted planning, we will now proceed as quickly as possible to make up for the time lost,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.
In the past year, Genesis, Hyundai’s premium brand, has been busy expanding its range, especially with its entry into the European market this year. Soon, the range will be joined by the new GV60, the brand’s first electric vehicle based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated EV platform (E-GMP).
Numbering system of Genesis range
The ‘G’ in GV60 represents ‘Genesis’, while the ‘V’ represents the vehicle’s versatility. The number ‘60’ is the lowest in the Genesis line-up and comes as the brand evolves its model-numbering scheme to fit the design identity of ‘Athletic Elegance.’ Applying a different approach from convention (where smaller numbers refer to smaller size), lower numbers will emphasize athleticism under the scheme, with elegance represented by higher numbers.
Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP for EVs
Sleek, coupe-like design
The exterior design highlights a high-performance image along with a dynamic and smooth appearance, with the front featuring a design optimized exclusively for an electric vehicle. Below the line of flanking Two-Line Quad Lamps is a more athletic Crest Grille. While there is no internal combustion engine to cool, the grille is still used to allow air to blow towards the high-voltage battery pack in the underbody for cooling.
The GV60 will also see a new wing emblem applied to the grille, with the thickness of the emblem reduced by nearly 80% from previous models. It has the same unique Guilloche pattern often seen in luxury watches, a blend of the brand’s analogue sensitivities with high-tech innovations.
In addition, Genesis designers have opted for a ‘Clamshell Hood’ for the first time, a single panel which combines the bonnet and fenders, creating a sleek impression by removing lines between the parts.
The side view shows a smooth and dynamic profile of a high-performance coupe. The silhouette is simple yet sharp, running from the bonnet to the rear spoiler. The spoiler accents the coupe-shaped roof. A chrome line flowing from the windscreen to the top of the Day Light Opening (DLO) window extends to a C pillar-garnish design that embodies the image of ‘electric’, adding a distinctive characteristic to the model.
Shoulder volume is emphasized in the rear fender to create a low and wide profile and further accentuate the image of high-performance by combining it with technical functions such as various sensors, taillights, and rear turn signals at the bottom.
Digital rearview mirrors
The GV60 will not have conventional door mirrors using reflective surfaces. Instead, they will capture the rearward views on either side using a camera and display images on a monitor. The door handles remain flush when not needed, improving aerodynamics, and automatically pop up when the driver approaches the car.
The Crystal Sphere
The interior takes on Genesis’ design ethos of the ‘Beauty of White Space’ to create a spacious and comfortable interior. At the same time, it has embodied differentiated images with its floating architecture and unique details. The most noticeable feature is the Crystal Sphere, a sphere-shaped Shift-By-Wire (SBW) that intuitively informs drivers when the car is ready to drive.
The Crystal Sphere is one of the most compelling design elements of the GV60. When the car’s powertrain is turned off, the Crystal Sphere becomes mood lights, adding to the aesthetic of the driving experience. When readying to drive, it rotates and the SBW display appears, creating an indoor atmosphere of futuristic mobility. The Crystal Sphere can this also provide emotional connection with driver while indicating driving status.
The ‘floating’ console, where the Crystal Sphere is located, works with other design features such as the slim cockpit and flat floor to provide passengers with a maximum level of openness. The ‘crash pad’ in the cabin is designed in a wide and slim shape to augment the pleasant interior, emphasizing a high-tech atmosphere with a wide-screen integrated indicator for audio, video, navigation, telecommunication.
Genesis has not given details of the electric powertrain although it is likely to be shared with recent new EV models like the Hyundai Ioniq5 and Kia EV6. The launch date is also unknown but the Korean market is likely to get it this year, and shipments to other markets will start in 2022.
Lamborghini Marzal: the car with the most glass surface area
Developed with the intention to create a 4-seater grand tourer, the Marzal, designed by Marcello Gandini for Carrozzeria Bertone, became a worldwide icon of style and design. Among the features that made the Marzal’s design special were the interior, entirely upholstered in silver-coloured leather and the hexagon, the central theme of its entire design which was repeated in as many details as possible. It was echoed in the shape of the dashboard, the rear window and in the console cut-out.
But the most striking feature of all was the extensive glass surface that covered 4.5 square metres in total, from the gull-wing doors to the roof. Though the Marzal was a fully operational showcar, it could claim having the largest glass surface in history.
Lamborghini Miura: designed by the youngest team in Lamborghini’s history
From the very beginning of his entrepreneurial history, Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted to give ample space to brilliant and capable young people, and the Miura project was a prime example of this. With the aim of challenging the competition of that era and getting his company off the ground, he made use of talented collaborators selected from universities and from among the youngest professionals in the automotive world.
In 1966, with an average age of just 29, the youngest in the history of the brand, designer Marcello Gandini and test driver Bob Wallace, both 28, along with chief engineer Gian Paolo Dallara and assistant engineer Paolo Stanzani, both 30, brought the Miura to life, an extraordinary car that was destined to become a legend.
Lamborghini LM002: the first Super SUV
Starting as a project aimed at developing a high-performance off-road vehicle for military use, the LM002 was first unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show in 1986. At the time of its launch, the LM002 was a completely different car from any other available in the market. It had performance similar to those of Lamborghini’s super sportscars, thanks to a 5167 cc engine delivering 450 bhp.
With a body made of aluminium and fibreglass, all-wheel drive, a 2-speed transfer-case with central locking differential, it could also be used off-road on rough terrain. It was undoubtedly the first Super SUV in history, with today’s Urus being the direct descendant. 300 units were produced between 1986 and 1992.
Lamborghini Countach: the first car with ‘scissor doors’
‘Scissor doors’, so called because of the way they opened upwards at an angle, were a unique feature in futuristic cars, usually design concepts. The first car with such doors was the Lamborghini Countach designed by Gandini. In 1971, it was the first production car equipped with vertically opening doors of this type, still today a distinctive feature of the most powerful Lamborghini models.
This feature was not just to wow the public as there was a useful function. The driver could lean out to see the area behind the car when reversing, solving the problem of poor rear visibility as well as that of parking in tight spaces, where a long door could not otherwise be opened.
Lamborghini Miura: lowest production roadcar at 105.5 cm in height
In the 1960s, low height and sinuous, aerodynamic forms were the most important aspects in the minds of designers developing a sportscar. At just 105.5 cm in height, the Miura was the lowest mass-produced car ever, a record that is part of Lamborghini’s DNA and still a styling feature in its cars today.
