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Electrically-powered cars have been in the news more and more in recent years but they have actually been around since the 1800s. In fact, between 1900 and 1912, a third of all vehicles on US roads were powered by electricity, However, when the internal combustion engine (ICE) improved in reliability and performance, electric cars were pushed into extinction as their performance stagnated. After the 1930s, there was little interest in such cars.

It would not be until the 21st century began that pure electric cars would make a comeback, although the hybrid powertrain which used an electric motor with an ICE debuted just as the 20th century was ending. The electrification of cars got underway and this decade will see a surge of models appearing as a number of companies have them in final stages of development.

The early electric cars have had limited performance which raised the question of whether one of the elements of driving pleasure – high performance – would eventually be lost. Hybrid technology advanced a lot and showed that it was possible to have electrification and high performance – but that still included a ICE. What about a pure electric propulsion system?

Full electric but with Porsche DNA
With the new Taycan, launched today in Malaysia by Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) , Porsche shows that high performance need not be lost just because of electrification. Just as its engineers made sure that when the company introduced its first SUV, it would still have the dynamics of a sportscar and the character of a Porsche, they also made sure that the brand’s first all-electric car would do justice to the name ‘Porsche’.

Actually, an electrified car is not entirely new to Porsche and with much attention given to the pioneering Toyota Prius hybrid, and Nissan LEAF and Tesla electric cars, the company reminded the world that Dr. Ferdinand Porsche designed what can be considered the world’s first hybrid powerplant for a car back in the late 1890s. And it was even produced until 1915 although only a small number of cars were actually sold.

Advanced battery technology
100 years later, automotive technology has of course progressed greatly, along with the technologies more specific to electric cars, such as battery technology. Porsche has stayed at the forefront of the technological envelope and used the latest hardware for the Taycan which began as the Mission E concept 5 years ago.

For example, the Taycan is the first production electric vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts, instead of the usual 400 volts. This is a particular advantage for owners while on the move as full recharging of the lithium-ion battery pack can be done in just over 36 minutes. However, this requires a 175 kW direct current (DC) charger.

Recharging port is behind a flap on the front fender.

The overall capacity of the Performance Battery Plus is 93.4 kWh and can conduct higher currents, thus speeding up the charging process significantly. Taycan drivers can also charge their cars with up to 11 kW of alternating current (AC) at home using the Porsche Mobile Charger Plus kit. The car can also be recharged at public charging stations, some of which do have the DC facility.

Those who are close enough to a Porsche Centre in Malaysia can get free use of the DC chargers installed at each location. During the charging time of around half an hour, the owner can enjoy a cup of coffee at the lounge or even do some work.

Porsche performance levels
Energy from the battery pack, located under the middle of the car, powers the electric motors which can generate up to 560 kW (761 ps) overboost power in combination with Launch Control in the flagship Taycan Turbo S, and up to 500 kW (680 ps) in the Taycan Turbo. If you wonder why ‘Turbo’ is used when there is no turbocharger, it’s just Porsche’s way of providing a sort of reference point to the relative performance levels of the models.

There’s also a third model – the Taycan 4S – which has a standard Performance Battery. This gives a performance level of up to 390 kW (530 ps) via overboost power in conjunction with Launch Control. It can be increased to a maximum of 420 kW (571 ps) with the optional Performance Battery Plus.

2021 Porsche Taycan

As would be expected, the performance numbers reflect the high torque characteristic that electric motors generate from almost standstill. The Taycan Turbo S, with 1,050 Nm of torque will go from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.8 seconds while the Taycan Turbo, with 850 Nm, does the same run in 3.2 seconds. The Taycan 4S is no slowpoke either and will still do 0 to 100 km/h within 4 seconds and get up to 250 km/h.

The profile of the driving modes essentially follows the same philosophy as in other Porsche models. This is supplemented by special settings which enable optimum use of the electric drive. Sport Plus and Individual modes are part of the Sport Chrono Package, which comes as standard on the Taycan Turbo S.

So in as far as straightline performance is concerned, these Porsches can provide the same adrenalin rush as their ICE brothers. However, the feeling won’t be the same with the electric motors being smoother as there isn’t that distant reverberation from reciprocating pistons that can be discerned through the steering wheel and pedals.

Perhaps Porsche engineers are working on creating some sort of ‘classic feel’ but for now, there is the Porsche Electric Sport Sound. This is basically a sound clip that comes on during acceleration, adding a sense of ‘drama’ in spite of the electric whine. In some markets, it’s an optional feature but SDAP has specified it as standard for all the Taycan models.

How far can you go?
What about range? This is something that is on the minds of most people who consider an electric car because you can’t just pull into a station to get extra volts when you need them. The recharging network is growing but nowhere close in coverage to the petrol station network which is the product of over 100 years.

Just like the ICE Porsches, the more powerful the car, the less range it will have (and how the car is driven is still a factor). In this case, the range is dependent on the capacity of the battery pack. The 79.2-kWh battery pack of the Taycan 4S can last for a claimed range of 408 kms and if the owner installs the Performance Battery Plus upgrade with about 18% more capacity, the range can be extended another 55 kms. The more expensive Taycan Turbo and Turbo S come with the 93.4-kWh battery pack and for the former, the range is claimed to be up to 452 kms while for the latter, it’s between 390 and 416 kms.

While the ICE is non-existent, there are still many elements of the Taycan which are still ‘conventional’ and familiar. Around the chassis, there’s still adaptive air suspension with 3-chamber air springs and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). The double wishbone front axle and multi-link rear axle are of aluminium and at each wheel are Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake discs.

Futuristic look but still familiar
While Toyota sought to make an impact with a ‘futuristic look’ for the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, Porsche’s designers have given their first all-electric model a blend of a familiar form with some advanced styling elements. We were already given a preview with the Mission E concept in 2015 and many of the ideas of designer Mitja Borkert have been retained.

The traditional Porsche form (with a Cd of 0.25) is evident, with the Panamera coming to mind. The LED matrix headlights which form a visual unit with the air curtains, provide a futuristic touch. The 4-point daytime running lights that are typical of the brand are flatter and wider than any other Porsche.

The lighting technology includes PDLS Plus where the matrix deactivates segments of the permanent high beam cone in a targeted way. 84 individually controlled LEDs can be adjusted as required by switching off or being dimmed so specific areas ahead can be fully illuminated.

Look of 1963 – as well as tomorrow
As with the exterior, the designers also gave the interior a familiar look and feel. They even looked to the original 911 from 1963 for inspiration when designing the dashboard. The freestanding 16.9-inch curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard while a central, 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look and provides the ‘look of tomorrow’.

All user interfaces have been completely re-designed for the Taycan. The number of traditional hardware controls, such as switches and buttons, have been greatly reduced. Instead, control is intelligent and intuitive – via touch operation or voice control.

Sustainability is a big thing in manufacturing today and the sustainable concept of the electric sports car is promoted by offering an entire leather-free interior standard for the Taycan Turbo S and Taycan Turbo (option for the Taycan 4S). The upholstery uses Race-Tex microfibre, a textile partly made from recycled polyester fibres while the flooring is of Econyl recycled fibre, made from recycled fishing nets.

As safe as any Porsche
Needless to say, all the active safety systems are provided and there are up to 8 airbags around the cabin to cushion the occupants from serious injuries. The Taycan has already been tested by EuroNCAP which gave it a maximum score of 5 stars. While the lightweight bodywork structure is conventional in one sense, it has also had to take into consideration the presence of the high-voltage battery pack which is cleverly integrated into the bodyshell structure.

The crash sensors of the Taycan were developed to meet the specific requirements of electric vehicles. Additional sensors are therefore used to reliably disconnect high-voltage equipment in the event of a crash. Also in the event of an accident where the airbag is deployed, the battery connection to the vehicle is disconnected as a precaution so that no voltage is live.

First deliveries in 2021
Prices for the Taycan start from RM725,000 for the Taycan 4S, RM999,000 for the Taycan Turbo, and RM1,195,000 for the Taycan Turbo S – all with applicable taxes but without insurance. Unfortunately, you will have to pay the full sales tax as the first deliveries can only start from the first quarter of 2021, after the expiry of the exemption period.

Click here to find out more about Porsche’s first all-electric sportscar.

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The new McLaren 765LT has landed in Malaysia, making its local debut today at the McLaren Kuala Lumpur showroom in Glenmarie.

It is undoubtedly a very special car because for a car enthusiast, it represents everything a hypercar should be – dramatic, powerful and very clever.

Lets get one thing out of the way first before going further – the LT in its name stands for Longtail. McLaren has a long history of creating Longtails that goes back all the way to 1995 when the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was introduced to race in the FIA GT Championship.

Over the next decade, the F1 GTR Longtail competed in about 120 races and won 38 of those races. Race fans will also know that the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail also competed in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

But here’s the curve ball – McLaren now says that the LT now means a step up in performance and does not simply mean that it has a longer tail. It is the same as Ferrari introducing a Speciale or Lamborghini introducing a Performante. It is basically the more hardcore version of the car it is based on.

Talking about cars to be based on – the new 765LT is based on the 720S.

It is both longer and lighter than the base car, and it also uses advanced electronics to create 25% more downforce than the 720S. And as the name suggests, it puts out a staggering 765 horsepower.

The 765LT weighs 80kg’s less than the 720S, and if you want ultimate performance, you can tell McLaren to throw out the air-conditioning, rip out the carpet, and ditch the audio system. In completely dry form the LT weighs just 1229kg.

At the heart of it all is a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine that is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that catapults the car to 100km/h in just 2.7 seconds. 200km/h takes just 7.2 seconds.

With great acceleration comes great stopping power, and so the 765LT borrows its braking power from the other incredible car it created not too long ago – the McLaren Senna. The brakes from the Senna feature Formula-One style cooling ducts to keep the roots from overheating, and so you can rest assured that the brakes will never fail on you after a heavy track day.

Mclaren is a bespoke hypercar manufacturer, and with that comes a level of customisation not seen in other supercars. So you can basically have your Mclaren any way you want it, the only limitation being the depths of your pocket.

Only 765 units of the 765LT will be built and 10 have been made it to Malaysia – and all have already been sold. Price is at RM1,488,000 before taxes and options. We estimate price with taxes and options to be at over RM3,000,000.

Car dealerships used to start off just as small showrooms selling just new cars, while the aftersales aspect was elsewhere or left to another party also involved in the same brand which had a service centre. However, as the profit from just selling cars alone is not significant, dealerships have expanded their scope of services to include aftersales service, preferably at one location for customer convenience.

Unitedstar Corporation Sdn Bhd, an authorised Toyota dealership located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has evolved in such a manner since beginning its business with the brand 15 years ago. Today, its outlet in the Taman Mayang area has been upgraded and offers both sales and aftersales services.

Toyota dealer for 15 years
“Unitedstar Corporation has been an authorised Toyota dealership since 2005, with just a showroom for sales at Aman Suria, Damansara followed by new 3S centre at Taman Nilai Perdana, Seremban in 2019. UMW Toyota Motor is pleased to see that the success and growth of the business has led to this upgrading. Broadening their scope of services to customers is in line with our “Customer First” philosophy,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

The upgraded outlet is located in close proximity to large local communities and commercial growth areas. Its fully equipped service centre has 10 bays to provide efficient and speedy servicing daily. There are around 20 personnel who have received specific training to maintain Toyota vehicles and keep them in tip-top condition.

“This modern and inviting dealership reflects Toyota’s high standards in  customer care. Throughout the world, Toyota dealers give priority to providing the best possible experience, including the highest standard of aftersales services,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman, UMW Toyota Motor.

To locate Toyota showrooms or service centre in Malaysia, visit toyota.com.my.

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BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

After releasing the facelifted i30 model at the beginning of this year, Hyundai is now ready to follow up with an updated i30N, the high-performance version described as being ‘focused on dynamic performance, emotion and statement’.

In a series of official images being distributed worldwide, the refreshed looks show a new front end with aggressive-looking front and rear bumpers. The wide centre grille is flanked by new LED headlamps with DRLs having v-shaped light signatures.

2020 Hyundai i30 N

2020 Hyundai i30 N

The wheels on the car are said to be newly-developed and 19 inches in diameter. Of forged alloy, they are lighter than those of the previous i30 N, contributing to weight reduction in the car.

8-speed N-DCT
While the car will continue to use a 2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, possibly tuned to generate additional output, the transmission will be available the company’s 8-speed dual clutch unit (N DCT). This will be Hyundai’s first car model in Europe to have the 8-speed DCT and for the i30N, it will have dedicated N performance shifting functions.

2020 Hyundai i30 N

N DCT, which was installed in the Veloster N in April,  is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the double clutch. Unlike a dry double-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, which is typical of higher torque applications, while avoiding reliability issues.

Adding more fun to driving
The N DCT comes with video game-like features that add fun to driving. N Grin Shift increases torque by 7% by allowing turbocharger overboost and maximizes transmission response for 20 seconds – performance that Hyundai N engineers are certain will induce ‘driver grin’.

2020 Hyundai i30 N

Additionally, N Power Shift engages when the car accelerates with more than 90% of throttle, thereby mitigating any reduction in torque by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting.

The N DCT also comes with N Track Sense Shift that discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing just like a professional racing car driver to provide optimal performance.

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In its time, many variations of the Mini were created, providing simple and affordable transport. One variation, though not promoted as part of the Mini range, was the MOKE. Designed in the 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis, the father of the original Mini, it shared components (suspension and chassis) with the Mini.

Perhaps it was not promoted commercially initially because it was first intended for military use. So it was engineered to be robust enough for deployment behind enemy lines after being transported by aeroplane. However, the armed forces found the small wheels and low ground clearance to be unsuitable in the sort of terrain they would operate in. Although its exceptionally light weight may have been advantageous on soft ground, it didn’t even have 4×4 to help it in more difficult areas.

The original Mini Moke was intended for military use but its small wheels and low clearance made it unsuitable.
Instead of military use by soldiers, the Moke found popularity in resort areas and became a cult car like the dune buggy of the 1960s, used by the rich and beautiful.

A cult car of the 1960s
Instead, the MOKE, as it came to be known, was then promoted as a civilian vehicle and it became a cult car like the dune buggy of the 1960s. It was popular transport for the inhabitants of the most exclusive coastal resorts in Europe, the Caribbean, USA and Asia. Many are still in use up till today at seaside resort and recreational facilities.

Some 50,000 units were produced at factories in the UK (1964 – 1968), Australia (1966 – 1981) and Portugal (1980 – 1993). The final production in Portugal was done by Cagiva, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, which had acquired the ‘MOKE’ name.

The Moke has been sold all over the world, even in Malaysia, where this owner customised it with the ‘local look’.

Bringing back the MOKE
Now a company known as MOKE International Limited, which has owned the original ‘MOKE’ trademark since 2015, is offering – only to the UK market – a strictly limited run of 56 cars. The number has significance: it refers to the number of years since the original Mini MOKE was launched.

Customers have a choice of 14 body colours and the Limited Edition ‘MOKE 56’ comes with the front grille and windscreen rails in chrome, a discrete Union Jack badge on the front wings, and a numbered plaque on the bonnet. Indicative ex-factory pricing starts at £20,000 (about RM107,000) and the company says that interest is high from resorts and private buyers.

Modernised version
MOKE International will also be making the vehicles for the Caribbean market and will launch additional models across Europe, the USA and other markets in 2021. All MOKE bodies will be engineered and sub-assembled in  Britain and then shipped to a factory in France for final assembly.

Naturally, the engineering has been updated to meet regulations that never existed in the 1960s. Besides a new 4-cylinder, EFI DOHC 1083 cc engine, there is uprated suspension, an updated brake system and the option for either automatic or manual transmission.

The modern MOKE is also slightly larger to provide more cabin space. Features previously viewed as a luxury like power steering and heated windscreen will come as standard.

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Although there have been signs of the COVID-19 pandemic easing, the authorities warn that we are still not safe yet and precautions must still be taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For that reason, the RMCO will continue till the end of the year.

Perodua has been doing its part to help in providing protection to the public, especially schoolchildren, and it has earlier been distributing thousands of face shields. It has also donated other much-needed items for use by frontliners.

The Malaysian carmaker is continuing with its public protection initiative and recently contributed over 7,700 face shields to 66 primary schools in the Putrajaya and Hulu Selangor vicinities lately. These are for the use of academic and support staff.

Extending goodwill to primary schools
“Having contributed some 11,000 face shields to secondary schools in Putrajaya and Hulu Selangor in June, Perodua now extends the same goodwill to primary schools in those areas,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“We do this firstly for the protection, health and well-being of our beloved schoolchildren, teachers and support staff; secondly, as a token of appreciation to the Federal government for all their efforts in dealing with COVID-19; and thirdly, to give back to the local community we have called home for the past 27 years.”

Over 30,000 face shields distributed
Perodua has to date distributed over 30,000 face shields in total. Recipients have included the Putrajaya Federal Territory Education Department, the Hulu Selangor District Council, District Education Office and clinics, the Selayang Municipal Council and various morning and night market hawkers in Hulu Selangor and Selayang.

The face shields, manufactured by an associate of Perodua’s, feature a fog-resistant visor made of polyethylene terephthalate for optimal visibility, sponge cushioning that hugs the forehead to act as a barrier against airborne droplets, and an adjustable elastic band for a snug and comfortable fit.

“This Malaysia Day, Perodua, as a caring and responsible People First company, asks all Malaysians not to let their guard down. Please continue to be cautious and comply with all government health and safety guidelines, and we will defeat COVID-19 together as one nation,” Dato’ Zainal urged.

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