Customers for the new Mitsubishi XPANDER are now receiving their vehicles around the country as deliveries are underway. The first units began rolling out from the assembly facility at HICOM Automotive Manufacturers Sdn Bhd in Pekan, Pahang at the end of October. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) plans to assemble around 6,000 units for sale annually, and every unit to be assembled till the end of the year already has a customer waiting.
Demand exceeds supply
“Due to the overwhelming response, the total amount of bookings which MMM received has exceeded the total production capacity until December 2020. Customers who book the new XPANDER moving forward will receive the 2021 model year vehicles, which will be subjected to sales tax,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.
The XPANDER is priced from RM91,359 (without insurance) during November and December, after which the price will increase to RM94,800 with the inclusion of 10% sales tax when the exemption ends.
Only one variant is currently available, powered by an all-aluminium 1.5-litre MIVEC petrol engine with an output of 105 ps/141 Nm. Power delivery to the front wheels is through a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The 3-row cabin has an overall length of 4475 mm and an overall height of 1730 mm, made possible by the 2775 mm wheelbase. MMM says that the XPANDER is the only model in its class with fold-flat second and third rows seats providing full luggage space and a car-like cargo area.
“Mitsubishi Motors is very excited to deliver the Malaysian-made new XPANDER to some early bird customers. The XPANDER has already attracted a strong following here and wherever it is sold in ASEAN. With its combination of style, practicality and competitive pricing, we believe the XPANDER will play an increasingly important role in growing our sales,” Mr. Shinnishi said.
New colour for Triton
Meanwhile, those who are considering the Triton pick-up truck have a new exterior colour choice for the Adventure-X version – Sun flare Orange Pearl. The new colour joins Jet Black Mica and White Diamond in the available colour range.
The Triton Adventure-X is the flagship of the Triton range imported from Thailand. Prices for the Triton start from RM79,890 and go up to RM137,900 (excluding insurance).
Viewing and test-drives of the XPANDER and Triton are available at authorised dealerships nationwide. Their locations can be found at www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.
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In just a month after being officially launched, some 9,000 bookings have been received for the all-new 5th generation Honda City. To date, over 2,400 cars have been delivered nationwide from Honda’s assembly plant in Melaka.
Clearly, the new model has many appealing attributes that have drawn this impressive number of orders, although it could also be that there are many people who want to enjoy the sales tax exemption before it ends on December 31, 2020.
Sales tax-free pricing
The three variants already in showrooms (the City RS e:HEV will be available at the beginning of 2021) are currently priced (without insurance) as follows: City 1.5S: RM74,191.27 | City 1.5E: RM81,664.82 | City 1.5V: RM86,561.45.
After December 31, when the 10% sales tax is included again, the prices will be: City 1.5S: RM76,800 | City 1.5E: RM84,800 | City 1.5V: RM89,800.
Most popular colour choice
According to Honda Malaysia, the City 1.5V is the most popular variant, accounting for 54% of total bookings received. Of the 5 exterior colour choices offered, Platinum White Pearl appears to be the favourite, with 28% of customers wanting it for their new car.
Not surprisingly, the majority of orders (44%) are in the company’s Central region, with the Northern and Southern regions accounting for 22% and 19%, respectively.
“The 5th Generation All-New City is very well received in the market and the bookings increased by an additional 80% within a month of its official launch. This outstanding Honda model continues to capture the hearts of Malaysians be it working adults, young executives or young families,” said Toichi Ishiyama, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO.
“Many customers also took the opportunity to purchase their new car during the sales tax exemption period. The attractive pricing of the All-New City in addition to the advanced features are plus points which resulted in the encouraging bookings received,” he added.
Related: The Game-Changer Strikes Again with the 5th Generation Honda City
5-year unlimited mileage warranty
The City comes with a 5-year warranty and no mileage limit. Owners will also be entitled to free labour service for 5 times during the first 100,000 kms or 5 years after registration.
To view or test-drive the new City, visit any of the 102 Honda authorised dealerships nationwide. Information on Honda models and the locations of dealerships can be found at www.honda.com.my.
Toyo Tyre Malaysia has added a new tyre to its Proxes range with the launch of the Toyo Proxes CR1 tyre in Malaysia tonight via an online event. The new tyre is for passenger cars and SUVs, especially those between the A-segments to D-segments.
36 sizes are available for the Malaysian market, ranging from 14-inch to 18-inch diameters (9 sizes for the Proxes CR1 SUV tyres from 17-inch to 19-inch diameters). The recommended retail prices for the passenger car version range from RM160 to RM440, while the SUV version ranges from RM380 to RM580, depending on the tyre size.
Main features
The Proxes CR1 tyres have four strong points – Quietness, Safety, High Grade and Comfort. The secret of the Proxes CR1 achieving these attributes is the use of Toyo Tires’ proprietary T-Mode and Nano Balance Technology.
To run quietly, noise reducing materials have been incorporated in the tyre. The silent wall and out-in different pitch arrangement collaborate to disperse pitch noise, and a noise protection sheet is inserted within the construction of the tyre to reduce casing noise.
The Proxes CR1 offers superior performance in both wet and dry road conditions. Its highly developed water drainage system is made of wide circumferential grooves that quickly expel water from under the tyre.
As important as wet road grip is dry road grip, which is probably the condition for more of the driving time. The triple taper and rib design improves the performance by securing rib rigidity and suppresses circumferential fluctuation resulting in less uneven wear. In addition, the multi-wave sipes help in the prevention of irregular wear by ensuring block stiffness and a joint-less cap ply improves high speed performance.
The high grade of the tyre is saod tp be in its overall performance. Toyo Tires claims the Proxes CR1 produces 11% less road noise and has 2% reduction in aquaplaning on wet roads compared to its predecessor, the Nano Energy 3. It also has lower rolling resistance for better fuel consumption.
Tengku Djan’s comments
“Overall, the low rolling resistance and low noise levels of the Proxes CR1 are the aspect that really shine,” said Tengku Djan Ley, Malaysia’s professional drift driver, who has tested the new tyres on his Mercedes-Benz C230. “I must say the rolling comfort with these tyres is exceptional.”
“If you are using it for daily driving, the Proxes CR1 is 100% comfortable,” he added. “It’s actually the perfect tyre for street use.”
He praised the tyre’s grip at high speeds and was impressed with the braking in both wet and dry conditions. “What I found is that there is good support in the sidewalls, with good resistance to stress during hard cornering. Under pressure, this tyre performs extremely well,” he noted. “This tyre is up there with the best where safety is concerned.”
In conjunction with the launch of the Proxes CR1, customers who purchase a set of four Proxes CR1 tyres will receive a free limited edition Proxes CR1 umbrella (while stocks last).
UMW Toyota Motor’s Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) program has now been on for two decades, during which time the importance of preserving the environment has been nurtured among Malaysian youth. It has also empowered the youth with Toyota’s own problem-solving skills and knowledge.
For the 20th edition of TEY, the Ministry of Education once again joins forces with UMW Toyota Motor to run state and national level competitions. It is the leading program cultivating environment consciousness and innovation amongst the youth of the nation, with Leaderonomics Community as the working partner for this year’s initiative.
Over the course of the last 20 years, TEY has introduced various themes with one common goal: molding an environmental conscious society of the future. A total of 258 schools, 1,910 secondary school students and 762 teachers have successfully benefited from the program and invigorated environmental initiatives in their school compound or district.
Additionally, the program gives them a platform to lobby their ideas with stakeholders that involves local authorities, community and even media.
Reimagining Mobility
The theme for the 20th edition is ‘Reimagining Mobility’, which depicts the creation of safe and eco-friendly mobility solutions for the nation. The spirit of inclusivity and freedom of ideas are the foundation to this year’s theme.
“Toyota Eco Youth has been leading the way in Malaysia for 20 years and this year promises even more innovation and advancement under the theme of ‘Reimagining Mobility’,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor. “The young people of this country are the seeds of its future and TEY aids in growing their creativity and bring their innovations to fruition. We see this program as a tool to assemble the brightest minds of our nation to propagate a greener future for all of us”.
3-year program, instead of one year
The program is open to secondary school students aged 13 – 16 years old and there is unlimited school participation. However, unlike previous years which have been completed within a year, the concept for this year’s TEY program is will run for 3 years.
The 2020 edition of TEY will also see the class of 2020/2021 having the privilege to return as facilitators for the following year’s batch. The digitalization angle of TEY is taken up a notch by setting up a TEY Apprentice online club.
The top 16 teams for Year 2020/2021 TEY members will be equipped and trained with project management skills that incorporate Toyota’s Problem Solving Methodology. With the knowledge harnessed, the top 16 TEY competitors will build a prototype solution based on their local community. This dual-pronged approach that has been curated for TEY ensures that they are both theoretically and practically comprehensive.
Students can register now via www.toyota.com.my/toyotaecoyouth, or with their respective schools. The format of this program will be fully online which includes the interactive e-learning lessons and workshops. The final judging phase enables students to showcase their progress through social media and livestream channels.
RM64,000 prize pool
This year’s prizes are also doubled to further reward ingenuity amongst the youth and winning teams will stand a chance to win cash prizes from a RM64,000 prize pool.
“The pandemic has not deterred us from our steadfast commitment to empower the youth of our nation through the Toyota Eco Youth program. With every problem comes an opportunity and this pandemic has enabled us to circumnavigate these obstacles to digitalize the program mechanics to be online,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor. “This move is in line with our progressive approach that enables TEY to continuously develop the youth despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
Since its inception, UMW Toyota Motor has invested more than RM7 million on the program. It hopes that students benefiting from this program can become ambassadors in the future to advocate environmental sustainability and overcome mobility limitations.
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The Huracan Super Trofeo EVO that is run in Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s one-make race series is now replicated as a road-homologated super sportscar in the new Huracan STO. Priced from 249,412 euros (about RM1.21 million), first deliveries will start in early 2021.
“The Huracan STO is the purest incarnation of Lamborghini Squadra Corse heritage, directly transferring technologies from the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and drawing on the Huracan GT3 EVO’s unique accomplishment of winning three consecutive times in the Daytona 24 hours,” said Automobili Lamborghini’s new Chairman & CEO, Stefano Domenicali.
“The Huracan STO delivers all the excitement of a beautifully balanced, lightweight and aerodynamically superior super sportscar, mirroring the driving feeling and exhilaration of Super Trofeo, and perfectly set up for the world’s most demanding tracks but created for the road. The extensive technical solutions and intelligence gained from both our Super Trofeo and GT3 programs has been refined and embodied in the Huracán STO, allowing the pilot to experience the emotions of a racing driver, daily, in a road-legal Lamborghini super sportscar able to take lap records,” added Maurizio Reggiani, Chief Technical Officer.
Aerodynamic superiority
The Huracan STO has an entirely new exterior design, revising the familiar Lamborghini profile to optimize airflow. Inspired by the racing cars, the Huracan STO reflects the technology transfer in every aesthetic detail.
Every aspect of the design draws on the aerodynamic efficiency and lightweight technologies demanded in motorsports. While the Centro Stile department focussed on aesthetic excellence, Lamborghini’s R&D and Squadra Corse departments optimized the car to ensure the best driving performance.
The bonnet, fenders and the front bumper are a single unit referred to as the ‘cofango’ (a combination of the Italian words for bonnet and gender – cofano and parafango). Inspired by the Miura and more recent Sesto Elemento, it is not only lightweight but also a time-saving access feature in motorsports.
New air ducts on the front bonnet increase airflow through the central radiator to improve engine cooling as well as helping generate downforce. The cofango also incorporates a new front splitter, directing airflow to the newly designed underbody of the car and to the rear diffuser.
The cofango is shaped to push the airflow on top of the front fenders, which incorporate louvres to maximize airflow exiting from the wheelhouse, reducing pressure inside and increasing the front downforce. The side profile of the cofango directs airflow around the front wheels, reducing drag.
NACA air intake
A new rear fender derived from the Super Trofeo EVO achieves both reduction of the front area of the car and consequently the drag, while increasing rear downforce and the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency. A NACA air intake integrated into the STO’s rear fender serves as an engine air intake, with the shortened duct allowing a 30% decrease in static pressure losses.
The revised rear cover design features an integrated air scoop to improve air-cooling at the rear compartment. Dedicated air deflectors, integrated in the rear bonnet’s frame, manage the significant incoming airflow from the snorkel according to the temperature regulation needs of the engine and exhaust outlet.
An integrated ‘shark fin’ on the rear panel improves the dynamic abilities of the STO, particularly when cornering. In such conditions, the incoming airflow has a yaw angle, and the different pressure levels generated by the two sides of the fin create a positive effect on yaw stability. The fin also helps straighten airflow onto the wing, increasing wing efficiency during cornering.
Adjustable rear wing
A manual, easily adjusted aero set-up of the new rear wing optimizes aerodynamic balance and drag resistance according to track characteristics. A single slotted wing with double airfoil allows the front part of the airfoil to rotate into three positions to enhance rear downforce. The aero balance of the car can be varied by 13% to adapting to different driving styles and conditions.
The new front brake cooling ducts are dedicated to cooling the discs and calipers of the new CCM-R brakes, working in conjunction with the cofango air-louvres that extract hot air from the front wheelhouses. Additional air intakes including on the underbody, and optimized nolders, are located at the rear.
All the efforts have given the Huracan STO the highest level of downforce in its class. Overall airflow efficiency is improved by 37% and a significant downforce increase of 53% is reached over the Huracan Performante.
Lightweight approach
The Huracan STO uses carbonfibre in more than 75% of its exterior panels, benefiting from complex structures produced as a single component for increased integrity while also reducing weight via less fixing points.
The lightweight technologies include a carbonfibre ‘sandwich’ technique utilized in the aerospace industry. Thanks to this technology, 25% less carbonfibre material is used while maintaining the same structural rigidity. With a dry weight of 1,339 kgs, the Huracan STO’s weight is reduced by 43 kgs compared to the already lightweight Huracan Performante.
Contributing to the weight reductions are a windscreen 20% lighter than the Huracan Performante, and magnesium rims. The rims are fitted with bespoke Bridgestone Potenza tyres, available in two versions: one road-focused, the other more track-oriented.
Squadra Corse at its heart
The V10 naturally aspirated engine of the Huracán EVO and Super Trofeo produces 640 bhp/565 Nm. It has been calibrated for a very sporty and responsive racing feel, with a direct pedal-to-throttle feeling and improved engine sound sharpness at high revs. The gearchange speed has been further increased to provide a highly responsive and rapid gearshift.
With an increased wheel track, stiffer suspension bushing, specific anti-roll bars and Lamborghini’s MagneRide 2.0, rear-wheel steering, and a more direct and fixed steering ratio, this car has been designed for a race environment.
With a weight to power ratio of 2.09 kgs/bhp, claimed acceleration from 0 – 100km/h is 3 seconds with braking from 100 km/h – 0 in 30 metres. On a road where speed limits are non-existent, the driver will be able to take it up as high as 310 km/h, it is claimed.
Interior designed for purpose
The interior of the Huracan STO reflects the lightweight persona of the exterior, as evident in the extensive use of carbonfibre features throughout the cockpit, including the sport seats. Even the carpets are removed and replaced by floor mats in carbonfibre, and the fully carbonfibre lightweight door panels use the door latch as an opener.
New Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics feature on the touchscreen where the driver can easily manage the car’s functions. A fully connected telemetry system allows drivers on racetracks to monitor and record their performance and to analyze the data via the Lamborghini UNICA app.
As with every Lamborghini, customers can fully personalize both the exterior and interior via the Ad Personam personalization program. Virtually limitless paint and trim combinations as well as race-style vinyls allow for personalized livery. An example as shown in the pictures of the launch car has Blu Laufey and Arancio California which emphasises the Huracan STO’s young and sporty racing spirit.
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