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TC Euro Cars offers a Renault Captur for a year’s ‘test-drive’

What happens in the future is never certain and today, more than ever, many people face great uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, a cautious approach is being taken and financial commitments must be carefully considered. This is particular so where car-buying is concerned as buying a car means a long-term commitment because of the hire-purchase loan. If things don’t go well, you can’t just stop paying the instalments, let alone return the car.

RM799 per month for 6 months
TC Euro Cars (TCEC) understands this and has come up with an offer which is only a year long – with no obligations after that. Available for the Renault Pre-Owned Captur Subscription – a one-year plan that is priced at RM1,299 per month – the promotion offers customers a reduced rate of RM799 per month for the first 6 months. Subsequently, from month seven to 12, the monthly rate of 1,299 will resume.

Monthly rates are inclusive of roadtax, insurance, regular servicing and an annual mileage cap of 20,000 kms, with an option to upgrade. A booking fee of RM200 applies when customers book via Renault Store on Shopee, which will be deducted from the first subscription month payment.

For more savings, TCEC is offering a 50% discount on the booking fee for 20 units of Captur available through the Shopee Malaysia ‘Shocking Sale’. This event will take place between 4 pm and 8 pm on September 9, 2020. Those who miss the online event can still secure a unit via the Renault E-Store.

Pre-owned units
It should be noted that the vehicles offered are not brand new units. They are pre-owned units already registered earlier (not more than 2 years old). They are thoroughly inspected and meet Renault’s quality and safety standards.

Customers can decide to buy, subscribe to a Renault Subscription Fixed or Switch Plan, or simply end with the Pre-Owned Captur offer after one year when the subscription term is over.

*Monthly rates are inclusive of regular servicing, roadtax and insurance.*

“We understand that many Malaysians have some reservations about buying or even trying out a Continental car. This latest promotion aims to help lower the barrier to entry, with no obligations and, at the same time, customers can have a real-life test-drive of the Captur for a whole year,” said Wong Hoe Mun, CEO of TC Euro Cars.

Click here for other news and articles about Renault.

New Mitsubishi XPANDER to be assembled locally

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) will soon launch an all-new model – the Mitsubishi XPANDER. To have competitive pricing, carmakers must assemble their products locally to get incentives that can lower their cost and enable them to have lower retail prices.

MMM is therefore assembling the 7-seater crossover model in Malaysia, its third model to be assembled locally after the ASX and Outlander (the Triton pick-up truck is still imported from Thailand in CBU form). However, unlike the Outlander and ASX, the XPANDER will not be assembled at the Tan Chong plant in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.

New production facility in Pahang
Instead, it will be assembled in Pekan, Pahang, where Mitsubishi Motors’ partner in MMM, DRB-HICOM, has a manufacturing complex also used by Volkswagen, Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz. According to MMM’s Chief Executive Officer, Tomoyuki Shinnishi, the new production facility for the XPANDER incorporates Japanese automotive technology.

The plant has an all-new body welding workshop including new welding equipment. Its paintshop utilises advanced painting technology including a 360-degree ED-coating and a robotic spray system. This will provide high quality finishes and extend corrosion resistance. The XPANDER, which will have a 1.5-litre MIVEC engine, will also go through an all-new tester line to check all safety functions including Active Stability Control (ASC) system.

“The XPANDER is localized to meet the demands of Malaysian customers. It will be priced competitively to cater for families and adventure-seekers who are looking for a more comfortable and practical 7-seater to make their journeys a more pleasant one. Malaysians can expect to place their bookings soon,” Mr. Shinnishi said.

*Locally-assembled version of the XPANDER.*

As a prelude to the launch, there’s a teaser display of the XPANDER at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur from today until September 13. Those interested to know more and want to receive updates on the new model’s launch can register their interest at www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.

Click here for other news and articles about Mitsubishi Motors.

Entry road to North-South Expressway near Kajang Toll Plaza to be closed for one month

Motorists travelling to the North-South Expressway from the Kajang, Bangi and Serdang areas will have to use an alternate route if they regularly use the Kajang Toll Plaza Access Road heading to Kuala Lumpur. This connection will be temporarily closed to all vehicles from Wednesday September 9 to Friday October 9 2020 between 10 pm and 5 am nightly.

Motorists travelling from Kajang to Kuala Lumpur are advised to utilize an alternative route by entering the SILK and Besraya Highways. They can utilize SILK and Besraya Highways to enter the PLUS highway via the UPM Toll Plaza during the period.

How motorists can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Aston Martin Rapide AMR available in Malaysia

Although production of the Rapide ceased two years ago, the model continues in the Aston Martin range as the Rapide AMR. First revealed in 2018 as a concept, the production version was displayed at last year’s Geneva Auto Show where the company announced that it will make 210 cars.

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has brought in two of those units, priced from RM1.1 million, excluding duties and taxes. These are the last two units still available in Southeast Asia.

Link to racing team
AMR stands for Aston Martin Racing, the official motorsport operation for the British brand. ‘AMR’ is used for special editions, drawing a direct engineering and aesthetic link between the company’s successful racing team and its roadgoing cars.

At the heart of the Rapide AMR is a naturally aspirated drivetrain that draws much of its technology and character from the potent Vantage GT12. Larger inlet manifolds with tuned length dual inlet runners enhance the airflow into the 6-litre V12 engine.

Combined with new engine and gearbox calibration, increases in output take maximum power to 603 ps and 630 Nm. Claimed acceleration is 4.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a maximum speed as high as 330 km/h.

Standard carbon ceramic brakes
As standard, the Rapide AMR comes fitted with carbon ceramic brakes. Measuring 400 mm at the front with 6-piston calipers and 360 mm at the rear with 4-piston calipers, this is the first time that a Rapide has been fitted with such strong stopping power.

The carbon ceramic discs are also part of AMR’s ethos to use lightweight components whilst reducing unsprung mass they have a noticeably beneficial effect on the driving experience. Much of this development work has been completed at the newly opened AMR Performance Centre at the Nurburgring.

Alongside the new tyres, brakes and aerodynamics, the Rapide’s suspension has also received considerable attention. The new Rapide AMR rides 10 mm lower than a Rapide S and although the three stage adaptive dampers remain, they have been thoroughly reengineered to create a car that is more focused, agile and dynamic.

The 4-seat Rapide AMR is available in Standard and Signature schemes. Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has one of each scheme. The car with the Signature scheme is finished in Stirling Green paint with Lime accents and a Lime stripe for the definitive AMR look. The Standard scheme is Onyx Black, with adding AMR Lime accents to the splitter, sills and rear diffuser.

More information is available at www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com and to get a quotation, you can write to astonmartinkl.enquiries@wearnes.com.

James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 in ‘Goldfinger’ reborn – complete with the gadgets!

250 SWB Revival – legendary Sixties Ferrari modernised

The team at GTO Engineering has created what they believe to be the ultimate interpretation of a legendary Sixties Ferrari. Named the 250 SWB Revival, it is based on the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, one of the most successful Ferrari race cars of the period.

Enhanced, improved or rebuilt
GTO Engineering has revived the legend with its modern experience and given it ultimate road and track customisation opportunities. From the chassis to the cockpit, every element of the 250 SWB Revival has been strictly enhanced, improved or rebuilt at the company’s facility in the UK.

Pricing starts at around £850,000 (about RM4.65 million) and each 250 SWB Revival takes between 12 – 18 months to complete, depending on specification.

Drawing on extensive knowledge, know-how, historical technical drawings, industry insight and with 200 years’ combined experience working on the Italian sportscars, , the GTO Engineering team has developed the 250 SWB Revival as a more usable, customisable and bespoke variant of the highly collectable original Competition car.

‘The greatest GT car in the world’
Driven in period by the likes of Sir Stirling Moss who hailed it as ‘the greatest GT car in the world’ as it took wins at Le Mans (1960 class win), Tourist Trophy (1960) and Spa GP (1960), it’s today regarded one of the most notable, collectable and appreciating cars of its type. Thus it is rarely seen on the road and only occasionally at historic race meetings.

“The 1960 Competition car is the one to have – not only is it the shorter chassis, improving drivability and handling, but it has disc brakes (the 250 SWB was the first to have them on a Ferrari GT car), and an aluminium body rather than steel,” said GTO Engineering Managing Director Mark Lyon.

“But it has one major drawback,” he revealed. “Because it was made in so few numbers, it’s not really a car you can take to the shops or drive on the lock-stops without fearing damaging the body or destroying originality. The 250 SWB Revival is a ‘best of’, based on original drawings and knowledge, with an added usability, driveability and the option to make it as road or race-focused as you’d like.”

Based on 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
Utilising original drawings, measurements and knowledge, the GTO Engineering 250 SWB Revival uses a hand-built tubular frame underneath a hand-beaten aluminium body. It’s based on the shorter format of the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione specifications, which is about 20 cm shorter than the 250 GT.

Built in house, each Columbo V12 engine in the car takes over 300-man hours to produce. The GTO Engineering team can build to 3.0-litre, 3.5-litre and 4.0-litre specification and can offer bespoke displacements according to customer requirements. Each engine is paired with triple carburettors.

The 4-speed or optional 5-speed gearbox was also created with their own internal design package. Designed to be a precise gearchange that works in traffic and at high-speed, for enhanced usability.

Incorporating the disc brake design from period, of which the 250 SWB was the first Ferrari GT car to include disc brakes, there are traditional disc brakes, with optional lighter and more heat-efficient aluminium brake calipers.

Road-legal or for racing
Customers can choose to have a road-legal car or in a racing specification. If the latter, then the car will have a full roll-cage, with the option of a competition-inspired gearbox as well as bug screens. Bug screens were used heavily in period at endurance races and rallies to stop bugs smearing on the windscreen and decreasing visibility.

LOOKING BACK: Alfa Romeo’s long history with the Italian police force

Isuzu Elf range enhanced with extra safety features, B20 compatibility and longer warranty

Isuzu Malaysia’s latest ELF light-duty truck range has been enhanced with safety upgrades as well as additional warranty benefits for operators. The enhancements are available in 18 variants of the ELF, which range from 4-wheeler to 6-wheeler versions. With the newly enhanced trucks, truck operators will have safer, more productive and sustainable business.

In the area of safety, there is the new Isuzu Safety Plus platform which consists primarily of four main safety features – ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Anti-slip Regulator (ASR) and Supplemental Restraint System Airbag.

ABS, EBD and ASR are active safety systems which will be valuable in helping drivers avoid accidents, especially in slippery conditions. EBD automatically distributes brake force distribution according to the load on board, road condition and speed. With optimised brake force distribution, the driver will be able to have better control of the vehicle.

The ASR function, which can be deactivated when not needed, can prevent the wheels from spinning on slippery surfaces, improving grip. This is helpful during cornering especially and can contribute to increasing the lifespan of the tyres.

Besides the airbag, the seatbelt system in the Elf also has extra functions to maximise the restraint of the driver. A Pre-Tensioner retracts the seatbelt instantly, removing the slack so the driver’s body is firmly secured on the seat. Secondly, a Load-Limiter releases the webbing force gradually so as to not exert too much pressure on the driver’s chest, thus minimizing injury to the body during a frontal collision.

“The enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus truly represents a thorough evolution to delivering more superior levels of safety and performance that many truck operators seek in order for them to effectively navigate their business in today’s market environment,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia.

This enhanced ELF range incorporates Isuzu’s S.E.E Technology which signifies the three core aspects of Safety, Economy and Environment. “With Isuzu’s S.E.E Technology at its core, the enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus corresponds to today’s truck operators’ need for efficiency, safety, cost savings and lower carbon footprint – everything delivered in a dynamic, versatile and reliable light-duty vehicle,” explained Mr. Nakamura.

In support of the government’s promotion of cleaner fuel to increase Malaysia’s energy security, improve air quality and the environment, Isuzu has ensured that its truck engines are readily compatible with B20 biodiesel.

Customers who purchase the enhanced ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus will enjoy extended warranty coverage of 5 years or a maximum of 200,000 kms. This extensive warranty coverage is said to be one of the best in the market, assuring customers of long-term support with peace of mind and lower costs.

The ELF, assembled at Isuzu Malaysia’s plant in Pahang, has been the top-selling light-duty truck for the past 10 years in Malaysia. “The introduction of this new range is expected to perpetuate its market-leading position. At Isuzu, we believe we have raised the bar once again and we are confident that this enhanced range is poised to propel us to achieving another notable milestone as the most preferred and most sellable light-duty truck in Malaysia this year and beyond,” Mr. Nakamura said.