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Even before the excitement with the all-new Honda City Hatchback has died down, Honda Malaysia is preparing to launch another all-new model – the 11th generation of the Civic. It will be launched in the first quarter of 2022, and those who want to be the first to own one can place a booking now at any authorized Honda dealer nationwide. Prices and variants have not been revealed (although we know there will be an RS variant for the first time), but sales tax will not be charged till after June 30, 2022.

Evolutionary styling changes
The new Civic has undergone an evolutionary styling change that gives it a ‘New Age Identity’. The focus on the new exterior design is to give the driver and occupants a more expansive view from within, enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. This has been achieved by expanding the glass area with windscreen pillars repositioned further back.

2022 Honda Civic 11th generation

The Civic RS, flagship of the new range, will come with black finishing for the housings of the door mirrors, Shark Fin antenna, Outer Door Handles, boot spoiler and also the 18-inch alloy wheels. The new lighting units use LEDs and have new designs while the Civic’s styling DNA is reflected in the rear lights.

Longer and wider body
Measuring 4678 mm in length, 1802 mm in width, with a height of 1415 mm and a wheelbase of 2735 mm, the new Civic is larger and wider with the rear track also widened to provide a low and wide stance. The factory in Melaka will use Honda’s advanced manufacturing technique employing Lazer Brazing technology (a Civic-first) which gives a sleeker roofline and strengthens body rigidity.

2022 Honda Civic 11th generation

The familiar and proven VTEC 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used again. The latest version generates higher power output which is a maximum of 182 ps, with 240 Nm of torque. That’s even more powerful than the 2.4-litre engine that powered the Accord.

5 stars from ASEAN NCAP
ASEAN NCAP has already tested the new Civic and it received a maximum overall score of 5 stars. It is the first Honda model to be assessed under the new ASEAN NCAP 2021-2025 protocol which includes requirements for protecting motorcyclists.

2022 Honda Civic 11th generation

Honda SENSING will be offered with the Civic RS and the driver assistance package is said to have improved functionality by offering natural and smooth steering operation. The Honda SENSING suite has 9 active safety systems which can help the driver avoid an accident or reduce the effects of one. A new addition is Lead Car Departure Notification System which alerts the driver when the vehicle ahead moves off. There is also a Driver Attention Monitor which will reduce the dangers of a fatigued driver losing attention by alerting the driver if unusual driving behaviour is noticed.

2022 Honda Civic 11th generation

A segment leader
“The Civic has a strong identity and is one of the favourite Honda models for Malaysians who love a car with exceptional styling and powerful performance. Since 2001, we have sold close to 148,000 units of Civic and this legendary model continues to expand its fan base in the country. The iconic 10th Generation Civic, which was launched in 2016, has contributed more than 66,600 units to the total Civic sales and continues to lead in the  C-segment with 71% market share as of October 2021,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Madoka Chujo.

“The 11th Generation Civic, which is a modern interpretation of the classic, offers a piece of the future. It raises the benchmark of a C-segment sedan in every way while maintaining the best of the Civic DNA which is loved by Malaysians. The All-New Civic is truly A Legacy, Reborn!” she added.

To locate an authorised Honda dealership for more information or to make a booking, visit www.honda.com.my.

The Civic, launched in 1972, was Honda’s first global model and began life as a compact 3-door hatchback in its first generation.

For Ferrari-lovers and those who are thinking of buying one, Naza Italia recently organized an event to take them on a unique ‘journey’ through the Ferrari universe. The 3-day private viewing event was an immersive experience, offering specially invited guests a glimpse of the brand’s full range and connecting them to the heart of Ferrari in Maranello via the latest technological innovation.

Using tablets and augmented reality (AR) gear, the guests went on a virtual tour as they moved through 6 different exploration zones where they saw the entire line-up of Ferrari models currently available worldwide. A ‘journey presenter’ accompanied them through each zone as well.

Ferrari Malaysia

Ferrari Malaysia

Ferrari Malaysia

The tour included a close-up view of the 488 Challenge Evo and as an introduction to Ferrari’s DNA – its racing spirit, innovation and technology, commitment to craftsmanship, passion for performance and distinct design elements.

Another zone displayed the latest models available for purchase, such as the SF90 Spider, the Portofino M, and Roma. The personalisation zone was in the Atelier, where guests were encouraged to get creative and have a taste of what it feels like to customize their own Ferrari. They could look through a broad selection of materials and putting their designer skills to the test with the car configurator.

Ferrari Malaysia

Ferrari Malaysia

Ferrari Malaysia

In the community area and lounge, guests could also have the ‘360 Factory Experience’. This allowed them to ‘visit’ the Maranello factory using the dedicated MyFerrari app. Here, with Ferrari’s world of superlative sporting experiences and activities, owners got to experience being part of the Ferrari family. They viewed the Corse Clienti, Passione Ferrari, Esperienza Ferrari and Calvacade events, among others.

For those considering a pre-owned Ferrari, there is Ferrari Approved, a certification programme that puts pre-owned Ferraris through a comprehensive 190-point check by the brand’s trained technicians. Ferrari Approved cars were on display for guests to view, and they could also learn about the Ferrari Genuine (Out-Of-Range) accessories and kits that are exclusively designed and developed to give Ferrari owners the ability to make their car unique.

The tour concluded with an in-depth look at the brand’s aftersales services and maintenance programmes such as Genuine Maintenance, MainPower and Ferrari Premium. Also showcased in this zone was a collection of Ferrari Genuine (In-Range) accessories.

Ferrari Malaysia

Ferrari Malaysia

When you pay over a million ringgit for a car, you would definitely want it to be special even though it is likely to be one of the few in the country. After all, if you can pay that much, what would be a few hundred thousand more to customize it to exactly how you like your car to be. The premium and luxury carmakers have such customization programs and now Bugatti also offers it officially with Bugatti Sur Mesure. The program is in response to ever-growing demand for personalized Bugatti creations.

Bugatti Sur Mesure, translated to English, means ‘tailored’, and it builds upon the marque’s distinguished history of coachbuilding, handcrafted interiors, paint finishes, embroidery and bodywork. The collective expertise of skilled designers and engineers is drawn upon for ultra-customized designs, materials and finishes.

Bugatti Sur Mesure

As part of the official program, with one-to-one support from the Bugatti Sur Mesure Team, customers will be guided through the world of possibilities open to them. When configuring a Bugatti, the sheer number of exterior colours and leather finishes is nearly unlimited, but Bugatti Sur Mesure can take a further step and create a truly unique piece of personalized automotive art.

In recent years, Bugatti has showcased the depth of its ability to personalize its hyper sportscars to an ever greater degree. For example, in 2013, the Veyron ‘Les Legendes de Bugatti’ series saw 6 exclusive model editions, each personalized with unique exterior and interior finishes, celebrating individual heroes of the marque.

Bugatti Sur Mesure

2019 witnessed the arrival of the Chiron1 ‘Zebra 1 of 1’ – a special commission for a customer in Qatar. Featuring an elaborate Titanic Blue and Gunpower Grey colour scheme, the car was hand painted by Bugatti’s talented craftspeople over the course of more than 3 weeks.

This year, the Divo2 ‘Lady Bug’ made its debut with a highly complex geometric-dynamic algorithmic fading pattern. The pattern was developed over 18 months for the Divo’s bodywork, illustrating how Bugatti will push the boundaries in making customers’ visions become reality.

The first official ‘Sur Mesure’ creation for a customer is a Chiron Pur Sport inspired by the 20th century heroics of renowned racing driver, Louis Chiron. Early racing pioneers who piloted Bugatti’s prototype racing cars continue to fascinate and are admired for their bravery and talent displayed on-track. Today, their spirit lives on and is the very source of the custom design of the unique Chiron Pur Sport.

Bugatti Sur Mesure

Among Louis Chiron’s countless victories at the wheel of a Bugatti was his legendary 1931 win at the French Grand Prix, together with Achille Varzi, in a Bugatti Type 51 emblazoned with the number ‘32’. This number – painted entirely by hand – now adorns the sportscar as just one of a number of custom-made elements developed especially for this customer.

Two new exterior colours were created to pay homage to the legendary Grand Prix racing Bugattis of the 1920s and 1930s. The Bugatti Sur Mesure team also developed a new fading ‘EB’ painted pattern, applied meticulously by hand, which is complemented by a multi-layer stitched ‘EB’ motif on the door panels. Both required new techniques and processes to be developed.

Bugatti Sur Mesure

Bugatti Sur Mesure

The ‘32’ and ‘Grand Prix’ motifs continue throughout the cabin, including a special centre console inlay in black anodized aluminium, with a silver hand-painted inscription. The motifs extend to the door sills, headrests and entry lights. Subtle branding distinguishing the model as a rare and unique product of the program can also be found. Many of the customer’s ideas will also be available to more owners of the Chiron Pur Sport.

“For many years, we have worked with our clients to create their own personal vision of the ultimate hyper sports car. It has always been a highly tailored process but as an ever-increasing number of our clients request detailed and intricate customization, the launch of Bugatti Sur Mesure will ensure we can cater to their desires with the perfect level of detail required from a Bugatti,” said Hendrik Malinowski, Bugatti’s Managing Director for Sales and Marketing.

Bugatti Sur Mesure

Before Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) came into existence, the safety performance of cars was not known to the public. While carmakers conducted their own tests, they did not necessarily share the results with the public. Of course, as responsible companies, they constantly aimed to make their products safer and to provide the best possible protection for occupants during an accident.

But just how safe was a car? That was not known until EuroNCAP was established in 1996 and began to crash new cars to see how they performed. EuroNCAP’s findings were made public in a standardized form so that comparisons could be made for car-buyers to make informed decisions. Cars that scored better would usually have better safety features, which added cost, and it was up to buyers if they wanted to pay more for the extra protection.

Most new models tested by EuroNCAP can score the maximum of 5 stars.

EuroNCAP focussed on new models sold in the European markets and for many years, their results were also used by carmakers when marketing the same models in other regions. In time, it was realized that due to overseas production of certain models, there could be differences in the safety performance due to engineering differences in some areas. This led to the establishment of NCAP organizations in other regions which focussed on models which were made and sold in those regions.

ASEAN NCAP is one of them and has been evaluating new models sold in the region for the past 10 years. In fact, ASEAN NCAP can be credited for pushing carmakers to raise safety standards with the addition of certain safety systems and features which are required in order to score the maximum number of stars.

The existence of these NCAP organizations has brought about discoveries of the differences in performance of some models in different regions. There have been cases of a model sold in Europe offering much poorer protection when built for sale in South American markets. Likewise, a number of cars in India have been found to scored poorly when subjected to crash tests.

With such information made public, manufacturers have had no choice but to make improvements to make their vehicles safer and more in line with global standards. Although NCAP results are not referred to when vehicles are inspected by local authorities in various countries, they are still important as car-buyers refer to them. A high score would give more confidence to a customer who in interested in a particular model, so manufacturers work hard to achieve the best score which is typically 5 stars.

Many new models can now score maximum stars and carmakers like Toyota have been recognized for offering the most models with 5-star ratings in ASEAN. It may seem that in this day and age, most new vehicles will be able to get a few stars, so it is shocking to know that there are some models that fail to get even a single star!

This has been the case with the latest Hyundai Tucson which was tested by Latin NCAP which evaluates models sold in the Central and South American markets. The model was unable to be given even a single star which was disturbing because a Tucson tested by EuroNCAP a month earlier had been able to get 5 stars. The initial reaction of many people was that the model built for Latin American markets was not engineered differently or lacked too many safety features. However, it was learnt that the model tested by Latin NCAP was actually an older fourth generation one, whereas EuroNCAP had tested the latest fifth generation model.

The Tucson tested actually scored well in adult protection for frontal and side impacts, as well as in whiplash protection as it at least has two front airbags. However, with no side airbags and inadequate chest protection as well as poor child occupant protection, its overall score could not even rate one star, not to mention that it also did not have any form of electronic stability control.

“Latin NCAP is disappointed by Hyundai’s attitude to Latin American consumers’ health and safety. It is unbelievable that an SUV like the Tucson does not offer side impact protection and ESC as standard. The long delay in replacement parts delivery is also concerning. We make an urgent call to Hyundai for a dramatic change in basic safety strategy in LAC and level it to its policy in Europe, Australia and USA, among others,” said Alejandro Furas, Secretary General of Latin NCAP.

“Once again, thanks to Latin NCAP, we can know the risks that certain corporations, mostly Latin Americans, expose us to due to the sale of low safety vehicles. Hyundai gives us an unpleasant surprise to see that one of its most popular models in the region, the Hyundai Tucson, which has had significant sales in our countries, gets 0 stars safety. This is one more example of the discrimination in vehicle safety that the inhabitants of the region have to suffer from some car manufacturers that use our region as a sub-standard market to maximize their profits,” added Stephan Brodziak, Chairman of Latin NCAP.

Hyundai models sold in Malaysia, like the forthcoming Palisade SUV (above), are high-scorers in NCAP tests as Malaysian regulations require high safety standards.

A zero-star result would certainly discourage most buyers and fortunately, this is not the case with Hyundai models sold in Malaysia. The Tucson is not currently sold (but has been in previous generations) but for the models imported to Malaysia, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has been taking models with specifications comparable to those sold in Europe due to the tougher requirements of Malaysian regulations.

But while models sold in Europe may lead in safety performance when tested by EuroNCAP, this is not the case with every model. In its most recent series of tests, EuroNCAP found that the latest Renault ZOE EV was poorer than before – so poor in crash-tests overall, poor in vulnerable road user protection and lacking meaningful crash avoidance technology, that it was disqualified from getting any stars.

It would seem that while giving attention to improvements for the battery pack, Renault had compromised on safety elements. EuroNCAP noted that the seat-mounted side airbag which previously protected head and thorax has been replaced by a less effective thorax-only airbag, representing a degradation in occupant protection.

“Renault was once synonymous with safety. The Laguna was the first car to get 5 stars, back in 2001.  But these disappointing results for the ZOE and the Dacia Spring show that safety has now become collateral damage in the group’s transition to electric cars. Not only do these cars fail to offer any appreciable active safety as standard, but their occupant protection is also worse than any vehicle we have seen in many years. It is cynical to offer the consumer an affordable green car if it comes at the price of higher injury risk in the event of an accident,” said Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary-General of Euro NCAP.

As the 19 cars (Haas F1’s Nikita Mazepin could not start due to COVID-19 infection) slowly took their places on the starting grid for the final round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship, the air was full of tension. Tonight’s result would decide who the new champion would be. It could well be the race of the century.

As the lights went out, the Red Bull driver got a good start but was not quick enough to outrun Lewis Hamilton to the first turn and coming out on the other side was the Mercedes-AMG. But the first controversy started by Turn 6 as Hamilton ran wide and Verstappen alleged that he had been pushed off the track. However, the Stewards did not see anything wrong and decided not to investigate… much to Christian Horner’s frustration again.

While McLaren Lando Norris slipped back and was overtaken by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, it was Verstappen’s team mate, Sergio Perez, who managed to slip into third place about 4 seconds behind Hamilton. It was a good position to be where he could take over when the two leaders headed into the pits.

By lap 11, Hamilton was 3,5 seconds ahead but coming in was something that would need to be carefully considered as there was a risk in giving up the place too soon. Meanwhile, Verstappen was beginning to struggle with the soft tyres he started with, as opposed to Hamilton who had mediums from the start.

On lap 14, Verstappen had to come in and took on hard tyres. As usual, Mercedes-AMG followed next and when Hamilton rejoined, he was ahead enough to be in second place behind Perez who had taken over. However, Verstappen was further down and rejoined as Norris passed by. He had a 9-seconds gap from Hamilton who was ahead of Sainz.

With everyone more careful not to be the cause of any incident that could impact either of the championship leaders, Sainz didn’t put up a fight when the Red Bull was about to pass. Verstappen was up into third place but Hamilton had been pushing harder to reach Perez, and the gap was still 8 seconds.

On lap 20, Hamilton began to dice with Perez who had been instructed to delay the Mercedes-AMG driver enough so that Verstappen could close in. And as Hamilton had to be careful, he lost out as Verstappen shot forward unimpeded by his team mate who was ready to head for the pits. This put the Dutchman in second position and ready to fight for the title.

16 seconds behind Verstappen was Tsunoda, pursued by Bottas, while Perez slotted into fifth place after getting his fresh tyres. However, the Japanese drivers position was lost when he pitted, dropping him to tenth.

Alfa Romeo ORLEN’s Kimi Raikkonen did not get to finish his final F1 race as his car had braking problems around lap 26 and he had to limp back to the pits. Fans of the Finn, who was among the senior drivers, were saddened that the 20-year career had to end on a low note.

At the halfway point of the 58-lap race, Hamilton was still in the lead, 4 seconds ahead of Verstappen but without the security of having Bottas near enough. Though his team mate was in third, he was some 20 seconds behind. In any case, he had to come in for a tyre change and rejoined in tenth. His place was taken over by Perez who had a comfortable gap from Alpine F1’s Fernando Alonso, so he could focus on staying in the race.

Raikkonen’s team mate, Antonio Giovinazzi, also had an unhappy ending with the team as his car came to a stop on lap 36, triggering the Virtual Safety Car to enable clearing. Verstappen came in for hard tyres and rejoined still in second place as Hamilton did not want to lose his top spot. Twenty laps remained and Hamilton looked like he would keep the hard tyres till the end and take another world championship.

The Virtual Safety Car had given Verstappen a chance to close in on Hamilton and by lap 43, he had gained 4 seconds, though the gap was still over 12 seconds. His steady progress to close the gap meant that it was going to be a thrilling finish. And with 12 laps remaining, Hamilton was also getting close to backmarkers which could make things tricky.

With his tyres having been in use for over 37 laps, the team was warning Hamilton to be careful on the kerbs. A puncture would be disastrous at this point with the remaining laps.

7 laps from the end, Hamilton finally got past the traffic but Verstappen still had to carefully find his way past at least 5 cars, some of whom were also battling each other. The delay kept the gap at around 12 seconds.

And then Williams Racing’s Nicholas Latifi crashed at Turn 14 while duelling with Haas F1’s Mick Schumacher, and the Safety Car had to come out. Just 6 laps remained and with the cars unable to race, the release of the Safety Car would certainly be a dramatic moment as the two leaders tried to sprint to the finish. Verstappen decided to come into the pits to get fresh tyres – certainly the last time in the race – but Hamilton was unwilling to take any risk of losing his position right at the front.

With 3 laps remaining, the gap was just 3 seconds between Hamilton and Verstappen. Everyone was biting their nails as the outcome was going to be very tight. Verstappen still had 5 slower cars in front of him.

On the 57th lap, the cars were still  behind the Safety Car so it seemed like a real shoot-put to the finish line. Then race control told the 5 cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake the Safety Car as it was about to leave the track – and it would be Hamilton and Verstappen going for it as they were side by side. An incredible setting to the end of the season!

The moment racing resumed, Hamilton had a slight edge but Verstappen grabbed the lead – and held it to the chequered flag to become the new World Champion. Crossing the line, the Dutchman was about 2 seconds ahead of the Mercedes-AMG driver, whose boss was unhappy at the circumstances. But his team does win the Constructors Championship again, which makes it 8 times in a row. But for the Red Bull Racing team, the hard work finally paid off and for Honda, their engine supplier, it was a great way to end F1 involvement.

Valtteri Bottas leaves the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team to take over the spot vacated by Kimi Raikkonen, while Williams Racing’s George Russell will become Lewis Hamilton’s team mate in 2022.
Guanyu Zhou 2022 F1 Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN
Guanyu Zhou will join Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN in 2022 to partner with Bottas.

COVID-19

 

The Malaysian Championship Series (MCS) 2021 heads into its final double-header with Round 3 and Round 4 to be run on December 15 and 16. It’s been a challenging year for the drivers and teams, not to mention the disruption caused by the extended suspension of activities due to the pandemic. The MCS 2021 will be the last action from 4-wheel racers to conclude the National  Championship calendar for 2021.

For Race 1 and 2 in Round 3 (Wednesday), the drivers will be competing for a total of 22 laps.  Race 1 starts at 10:30 am, while Race 2 will be from 3:30 pm. The next day will see Round 4 starting at 11:15 am with the competitors racing 54 laps around the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit.

After Round 2, Alif Hamdan and Lai Wee Sing from R Engineering HMRT remain unbeaten as they are the only entry in the Touring (T) Production category. Leona Chin from the Tedco Racing team spearheaded the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) Production, leaving Muhammad Roni Risman and his partner, Shaifulnizam from Dori’s Racing team in second place and the pairing, Natasha Seatter and Nurul Husna from Niza Racing team finished in third place.

In Stock Production 1 (SP1), Shazull Hisham and Mohd Syahrizan, from the Empire M Racing team  took the chequered flag, with Ken Urata from Rworks in second position. Chiow  Teck Song from R Engineering HMRT team finished in third place to join them on the podium.

As for Stock Production 2 (SP2), the perfect combination of Hayden Haikal and Adam Khalid in the Honda Fit GK5 throughout the 22 laps of the race earned them the class victory. Putera Adam from R Engineering HMRT finished in second position, while Eddie Lew Kar Wai and William Ho from the Tedco Racing team were in third place.

The MCS 2021 is organised by Sepang International Circuit (SIC), supported by the Ministry of Youth  and Sports, sanctioned by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM). The Official Tyre Distributor is Yokohama while BHPetrol is the Official Fuel Partner.

Spectators (18 years old and above) are permitted to watch the races and can gain free entrance at the SIC Main Grandstand. As per government regulations, they must be fully vaccinated and show their certificates. SIC reminds everyone that they must adhere to all Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines imposed by the National Security Council to curb the spread of COVID-19. Facemasks should be worn at all times and social  distancing (minimum 1 metre apart) must be maintained.

If you cannot go to the track, you can still watch the last battles of MCS 2021 live on SIC’s Facebook page.

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