Spending RM30 at a BHPetrol station could get you a brand new Proton X50, one of the most popular SUVs in Malaysia. Even if you don’t get the X50 which is one of the four Grand Prizes of the ‘Pam Dan Menang Lagi’ Contest, there are over 300 other prizes as well as almost 5,000 monthly and weekly prizes to be won.
Participating in the contest is easy. Just spend RM30 at any participating BHPetrol station – the purchase can be for fuels or items in the BHPetromart stores – and for each RM30 spent, the customer will be entitled to one entry.
BHPetrol eCard and eCard App members can enjoy the convenience of automatic submission of each entry if they swipe their valid eCard or scan with the eCard Mobile App. For those who are not having an eCard, each contest entry can be submitted via a physical purchase receipt (with contact details and IC number provided).
Since using the eCard is so much easier, why not apply for one? Get yourself an on-the-spot eCard at any eCard acceptance BHPetrol station and register to earn ePoints immediately. Or you can also download the eCard app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register.
Proton X50 and Yamaha Lagenda 115Z (below) are the top prizes in BHPetrol’s latest contest which runs until the end of October 2022.
Besides the 4 Proton X50s, there are also 28 Yamaha Lagenda motorcycles to be won. Other prizes include 50-inch TV set, smartphones, smart watches, ovens and steam irons. 40 lucky winners will also get 30,000 ePoints each which can be redeemed for a wide range of products listed in the BHPetrol eCard catalogue.
As for weekly prizes, there are 4,849 Limited Edition BHPetrol umbrellas to be given away, and at the end of each month, lucky motorists will receive high-quality BHPetrol Syngard lubricants.
Your purchases can also be in the BHPetromart, and you will be entitled to one entry for every RM30 spent.
The contest period runs from August 1 to October 31, 2022. It is open to all customers who are 18 years old and above. The contest winners will be announced through BHPetrol’s website as well as the brand’s official Instagram and Facebook pages.
So make it a point to drop by a BHPetrol station regularly when you need to refuel your car or even yourself. The BHPetromart has lots of items for all the family and you can easily spend RM30 (or more) and who knows, you might win an X50!
Mention ‘Prodrive’ and the first thing that will come to the minds of enthusiasts will be Subaru, rather than simulator The British motorsport and engineering company had a successful partnership with the Japanese carmaker and ran its team and developed the rallycars. Between 1990 and 2008, Prodrive helped the Subaru works team win three Drivers and three Manufacturers titles in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
With its 3 decades of motorsports involvement, Prodrive continues to provide its services to various carmakers and teams. It also offers engineering services to customers in the aerospace, marine and other sectors.
Now, the 38-year old company is also getting into e-sports (or digital motorsports, as the FIA refers to it), not as a competitor but providing hardware – a Racing Simulator. The new business came to the mind of David Richards, its Chairman, who saw more and more digital devices coming into homes.
“The last few years have seen an explosion in people taking up gaming and e-sports. But I wanted something that married technology with contemporary furniture, something you would be proud to have on display in your home like a grand piano, rather than tucked out of the way. I’m proud of the result, it’s something that would not look out of place in a gallery of contemporary art,” explained Richards.
Elaborating further, he said: “There was a very clear vision for this project – to create something technically stimulating and visually striking. Rather than taking the functional and well-trodden route of a car-like structure, we opted for something more abstract, contemporary and elegant. This design intrigues. You know it’s a simulator, but then you have to look again. The sweeping form and ‘piano black’ gloss finish take the Racing Simulator to a whole new place – it’s a piece of furniture that can elegantly sit in a living space.”
The racing simulator project began last year, when Richards approached design and engineering house CALLUM, which was closely involved with Prodrive, having helped design the company’s recent Hunter Dakar and Hypercar projects, to create some concepts.
CALLUM then designed what would be a ‘statement sculptural piece’, blending traditional and modern materials. The 3.3-metre long sculpted carbonfibre monocoque houses the seat, the screen, steering wheel, and pedal box. All the elements appear to float beneath a striking canopy of 16 layers of birch wood, encased in an elegant, lacquered gloss black finish.
The Prodrive Racing Simulator also has the performance to match, offering the driver a first-class simulator experience. Featuring a purpose-built system with a 12GB GeForce RTX graphics card and 16GB of memory at its heart, smooth graphics are rendered across the sweeping curved 49-inch high refresh rate display. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 wireless headphones are provided for a thoroughly immersive experience.
The Precision SIM steering wheel coupled with a Simcube steering motor allows for precise driving inputs, and the mechanical pedal box has been purposely selected to complete the realistic experience. Not only is this beautiful to look at from the outside but wraps around the driver to give such an immersive experience that it feels like being in the cockpit of a racing car. The Nogaro seat comes from Cobra Seats in the USA.
The Prodrive Racing Simulator is priced at £39,000 (about RM212,425) ex-factory. Potential purchasers can visit the Prodrive headquarters to try out the simulator. The company will also deliver it to the customer’s home, but this is presumably only for customers in the UK.
After completing car ‘#000’ – the first Rimac Nevera EV hypercar – and running it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Rimac’s factory is now putting the finishing touches on the first batch of hypercars to go to customers worldwide. Each unit is hand-built and at maximum capacity, up to 50 cars can be produced each year.
The first 50 units of the Nevera already have customers waiting for them to be delivered by Rimac’s 25 official dealer partners in four regions. Each car takes at least 5 weeks at the final assembly line alone, while many of its parts and systems are being made months earlier at Rimac facilities.
It’s taken 5 years of development and testing to reach this stage, along with evolving 3 generations of powertrain technology, 18 prototypes, 45 physical crash tests and more than 1.6 million collective hours of research and development.
The world’s first all-electric hypercar was developed entirely from scratch, with most key systems developed and made in-house by Rimac, the 13-year old carmaker in Croatia. To achieve the extremely high-performance targets that the team has set for the Nevera, all major components had to be custom developed. An entirely new generation battery system, inverter, gearbox, motor, control systems, infotainment and many more, were developed specifically for the Nevera.
Throughout the development process, the Nevera powertrain was redesigned 3 times in a process lasting more than two years, with each version pushing the envelope of performance further than before.
The development and homologation process was also an extraordinary journey for the whole team. Starting with initial experimental prototypes, leading on to validation prototypes and then pre-series cars, no fewer than 18 prototype examples of Nevera were painstakingly tested in every conceivable environment and measurable aspect, from the freezing Arctic Circle to a high humidity 48oC climate chamber.
A rigorous 4-year crash testing program saw the destruction of 9 cars in 45 separate crash tests – all of which the Nevera passed with flying colours to ensure that owners will be well protected, should an accident occur.
The car’s name is taken from an unexpected Mediterranean summer storm off the coast of Croatia, and gives an idea of its character. It can be a comfortable grand tourer which can transform into a super-quick projectile in the next moment. Four electric motors generate a total of 1,914 ps, which can send the hypercar from standstill to 96 km/h in a claimed 1.85 seconds and to 160 km/h in just 4.3 seconds.
“The Nevera was developed with the intention to become the cutting-edge electric hypercar it is today, ready to thrill drivers and passengers in a way they have never experienced before. I’m very much looking forward to customers taking delivery of their brand-new, highly customized cars and hearing their stories of fun behind the wheel,” said Mate Rimac, CEO of the Rimac Group.
Customers have a variety of customization options available, with 36 different pre-defined paint colours and the option to go bespoke, a selection of in-house-designed liveries, 3 levels of exposed carbonfibre – including a full bare carbonfibre body – and an enormous selection of colourful leathers, Alcantara, contrasting accents and metal finishes for the interior. This will ensure that each of the 150 Neveras to be produced in total will not be the same. Incidentally, that first Nevera will remain in the possession of the company.
While the very first Nevera completed will remain with the company, the first unit delivered went to Nico Rosberg, the former F1 champion.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has added the new Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life to its locally-assembled SUV range. ‘Life’ seems to be a new designation the German carmaker is using to denote entry-level models as it also displayed a model called Life last year which is described as an entry-level EV.
Thus, the new Tiguan Allspace Life is positioned as the entry-level version of the range, priced from RM172,990 (excluding insurance). Compared to the Tiguan Allspace Elegance, which has the same engine size, the price difference is RM7,600 less, while the 2-litre Tiguan Allspace R-Line is RM53,083 more expensive.
Like the other two variants as well as the latest Golf 8, Passat and Arteon the Tiguan is assembled at the Volkswagen facility at the DRB-HICOM Automotive manufacturing complex in Pekan, Pahang. As an indication of its popularity, the SUV model has accounted for 55% of the Volkswagen vehicles assembled in the first 6 months of 2022.
The current Tiguan (which is the German brand’s global bestseller) has two body versions – 2 rows for 5 persons and 3 rows for 7 persons. Only the 3-row Allspace version is being assembled in Malaysia, with many parts coming from the global production hub in Mexico.
Although the Tiguan Allspace with its additional row is 242 mm longer than the 2-row body, it doesn’t have the stretched look that some extended wheelbase. And though the Life variant is at entry-level, its appearance is no different from the other two variants. It also comes with the signature Volkswagen illuminated light strip between full LED headlamps. The taillight cluster has a distinctive lighting signature with dynamic visualization when the brakes are applied.
Other elements include the ‘Allspace’ trim, silver-painted side mirrors, ‘Tiguan’ lettering on the rear, and 18-inch Frankfurt alloy wheels.
The Tiguan Life is powered by the same 1.4TSI engine with power going to only the front wheels via a 6-speed DSG. Turbocharged, the engine produces 150 ps/250 Nm for spirited performance but can still do a claimed 13 kms/litre. With the 60-litre fuel tank, that should be good for almost 800 kms on an outstation journey.
The interior is also well equipped, as Volkswagens usually are, and VPCM has provided useful and functional features that would be expected of a SUV. Standard for the Tiguan Life are the 9.2” Discover Pro infotainment system with wireless app connect; built-in GPS navigation system; voice-control; 3-zone Climatronic air conditioner; and a leather-wrapped multifunction sports steering wheel.
Some may feel that they do not need a third row so it’s a waste but with the flexible layout, the unwanted row can be kept out of sight by being folded down. This gives a large cargo area that can be up to 1,775 litres – which anyone would appreciate. And perhaps there will be that one occasion in the year when you’ll be glad you have a 7-seater when having to fetch a large group of friends from the airport.
European carmakers are very serious about safety and often standardise safety equipment and systems globally. With the Tiguan Allspace Life, besides 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control, ABS and Brake Assist , there’s also a Multi-collision brake system, Intelligent Crash Response System, and Electronic Parking Brake. Lane Assist and Driver Alert systems are available as well to help the driver while on the move.
Owners do not have to pay for scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years, and there is no mileage limit on the 5-year warranty. There’s also complimentary roadside during the first 5 years of ownership.
“The Tiguan Allspace plays a key role in our portfolio, so we are pleased to be able to bring its full range to Malaysia. With the Life, we are offering a high-performing SUV that gives our customers excellent value for money. It is also ideal option for a young family’s first choice of vehicle,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.
To find out more about the new Tiguan Allspace Life or to locate a showroom to test-drive Volkswagen models in malaysia, visit volkswagen.com.my.
Lucas di Grassi took his maiden win for ROKiT Venturi Racing in the Formula E London E-Prix Round 14, after overcoming Julius Baer Polesitter Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) over a hard-fought, strategic 38-lap battle in the UK capital. Di Grassi emerged through his last of 3 mandatory ATTACK MODE activations with enough in-hand to ensure he’d make it by Dennis when the Brit jumped for his last 30kW boost. The Brazilian then stretched his advantage over the final few laps and into TAG Heuer Added Time to take the chequered flag first.
Nyck de Vries came home third, while his Mercedes-EQ teammate – standings leader Stoffel Vandoorne – clambered to fourth from 13th on the grid. His closest title rival Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) had made his way as high as fourth himself from 14th at the start of the race, but a late technical problem ended his Lond E-Prix and dealt a hammer blow to his title chances.
Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) did his utmost to get his hands on some points from 17th at lights out, but a scrappy, combative performance yielded only 13th position. Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) retired early on, seemingly in contact, all but ending his championship charge.
Antonio Felix da Costa fought to fifth in the sister DS, with Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) producing his second-best result of Season 8 in sixth, Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) seventh and Sam Bird eighth for Jaguar TCS Racing on home soil.
Sergio Sette Camara got his hands on his and DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT’s first points of the campaign after he ran out of usable energy at the death in Round 13 having hassled the top four throughout. Pascal Wehrlein rounded out the top 10 for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.
Londom E-Prix as it happened The pack emerged from the darkness indoors to the light of the Docklands with Dennis ahead of di Grassi and Giovinazzi clear of da Costa in third. Some contact between Mahindra’s Oliver Rowland and Oliver Askew in the Avalanche Andretti left the former damaged and out, while Vandoorne clipped Wehrlein’s Porsche into the complex on the way to taking 12th. The top nine stood as you were on the grid.
Just 5 minutes after starting, Jean-Eric Vergne’s title challenge looked to have all but ended after contact – the DS TECHEETAH coming to a halt out on-track. This of course brought out the Porsche Taycan Safety Car, electrically powered like the racing cars.
The 5-minute neutralisation period came to an end on Lap 5 and de Vries took the opportunity to dive for ATTACK MODE – the first driver to do so. Three 4-minute doses of ATTACK MODE were on the menu for Race 2.
Giovinazzi had the elbows out on Lap 7 to fend of da Costa at Turn 2. The DRAGON driver was holding on for everything he’s worth to that third place, with da Costa losing out to de Vries in the scramble.
The first round of ATTACK MODE saw Giovinazzi shuffled to fifth before the Italian was given a drive-through penalty for overpower – frustrating driver and team. The net beneficiary looked to be Evans, who’d worked hard through the field to as high as fifth from 13th. Frustratingly for him, Vandoorne had also made ground to seventh.
On Lap 14, Dennis led di Grassi with da Costa able to slip beyond de Vries for third with Evans fifth, Buemi sixth, Vandoorne seventh, Wehrlein eighth, Bird ninth and Mortara rounding out the points-paying positions in 10th.
The race leader made the jump for his second 30 kW boost, ceding the lead to di Grassi in the process but the Brit clung on to the back of the Venturi Silver Arrow 02. The lead pair had pulled a 2-second gap on de Vries who’d retaken third from da Costa in the interim.
Lap 20 saw Evans by da Costa and into fourth, though again, Vandoorne wasn’t far behind in his shadow – the Mercedes driver now sixth. Meanwhile, di Grassi went for his final jump through the ATTACK MODE loop with Dennis holding one in hand. A fascinating tactical battle lay ahead…
The Brazilian tried to pile on the pressure but Dennis defended hard and held the Venturi driver at bay and di Grassi wasn’t quite able to get within range of a move. An overambitious move from Mortara sent his title chances spinning as he tried to make it by Bird for ninth. Vandoorne, meanwhile, was busy consolidating his advantage with a move on da Costa for fifth. Evans now being just a position ahead ensured he wouldn’t eat into the Belgian’s standings margin too significantly.
With 8 minutes plus one lap to go, di Grassi had done enough to keep in touch with and make it by Dennis’ Andretti when the Brit made his final run through the ATTACK MODE activation loop. That would mean the home favourite would have to pass the wily Brazilian on-track. No easy task.
He’d have to get there first though, as the Venturi man put the hammer down to drive to a 1.5-second lead with FANBOOST employed perfectly. Into TAG Heuer Added time, and Evans’ title hopes took a huge hit – the Kiwi lost himself down the escape road at Customs House with a technical problem and into retirement.
Di Grassi’s late-race pace saw him take the chequered flag with Dennis unable to hold on to him as the time ticked away. De Vries came home third, ahead of Vandoorne, da Costa and Buemi. Frijns, Bird, Sette Camara and Wehrlein rounded out the top 10.
Evans vs Vandoorne in Seoul In all reality, it now looks to be a head-to-head between Evans and Vandoorne for the title with 58 points available in a fortnight’s time at the inaugural Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix double-header weekend. The Belgian now holds a commanding 36-point margin over the Jaguar driver in the points table.
As reported earlier, the Audi business in Malaysia has come under PHS Automotive Malaysia (PHSAM), a subsidiary of Porsche Holding Salzburg (PHS) which is also involved in Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia. PHS is one of the largest and most successful automotive distributors in Europe with a 75-year history.
For the Audi business in Malaysia, its dealer partner Goh Brothers Motor Sdn Bhd has reopened the Audi Centre Setia Alam. Strategically located in the heart of the Setia Alam in Selangor, Audi Centre Setia Alam will serve the community within the township and surrounding areas, including Shah Alam and Klang.
Based on the Audi Terminal architectural concept, the 4-storey outlet is a 4S facility, meaning it offers sales, vehicle maintenance, sales of spare parts, and also body and paint services. Customer facilities include a comfortable lounge with complimentary wifi service and a refreshed sales delivery area (for a personalised experience).
The 60,000 sq. ft. Audi Centre Setia Alam has a warm and inviting ambience. The finishes, furniture, and lighting add a modern touch to provide a timeless interior design. The showroom can accommodate 12 vehicles for viewing from all angles.
The Service Centre, situated on two upper floors, has 17 bays capable of servicing up to 34 vehicles cars a day. All personnel are experienced and trained to look after Audi vehicles. Audi owners can also request for the pick-up and delivery service if they require it.
“Customer satisfaction is at the forefront of everything we do, and this makes delivering an unforgettable ownership experience a priority for us. For this, it is important to work together with our dealer partners to ensure constant improvements in retail and aftersales for Audi owners. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Goh Brothers Motor on this expansion, and I wish them the very best,” said the Managing Director of PHSAM, Erik Winter.
To celebrate the occasion of reopening, Audi Centre Setia Alam invites owners who have not visited the service centre in the past 6 months to bring their vehicles in for a complimentary 20-point safety diagnostic and health check. This service is valued at RM300 and will be complimentary until August 31, 2022.
With a number of its units selling different brands of electric vehicles (EVs), it is in Sime Darby Motors Malaysia’s interest to support the development of an EV charging network This will benefit its growing customer base as well as help in promoting the adoption of EVs in Malaysia. Brands handled by Sime Darby Motors units which offer EVs are BMW and MINI, Porsche and Volvo.
The company has identified locations for EV charging stations at every 200 to 300 kilometres along highways across Peninsular Malaysia to ensure all high-density areas are in range of such facilities. The initiative includes ensuring the availability of support services for all existing and new customers who have purchased an EV from a Sime Darby Motors company.
Taking the lead in this project is Auto Bavaria, the longest-serving and largest BMW authorised dealership group in Malaysia, in operation since the late 1980s. Leveraging on its extensive network of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) fast chargers, a total of 33 charging facilities are already operational across the Klang Valley, Penang, and Johor.
Sime Darby Motors’ network of chargers will be available for booking via the GO TO-U digital experience platform for e-mobility application by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, TNBX Sdn Bhd. The GO TO-U application affords Sime Darby Motors EV owners the convenience of pre-booking EV charging stations, connecting with local businesses within walking distance, and enjoying added services such as battery health checks, scheduled maintenance and customer support.
Members of the public or non-Sime Darby Motors EV owners are also able to use the GO TO-U application to book EV charging stations in Sime Darby Motors’ network.
As part of the company’s drive to continuously enhance services for customers, Sime Darby Motors EV owners are eligible to receive a 10-year waiver on membership fees via the GO TO-U app worth RM2,400. In addition, special DC charging rates and free charging at AC chargers will be available until December 31, 2022.
For those who did not purchase an EV from a Sime Darby Motors unit, there will be a membership fee waiver, special DC charging rates and free charging at AC charging points, until December 31, 2022.
Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director, Retail & Distribution, Sime Darby Motors Malaysia (right) with Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director of Auto Bavaria at one of the DC charging stations for electric vehicles (EV) at Auto Bavaria in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
“Sime Darby Motors remains focused on our energy-efficient drive as a leading automotive player in Malaysia. We are on track with our plans to populate our roads and highways with EV charging stations to help accelerate the adoption of EVs. We are also pleased to offer a uniquely Sime Darby Motors’ customer experience for Sime Darby Motors EV owners, which promises an enriching EV experience across all Sime Darby Motors brands,” said Sime Darby Motors Malaysia Retail & Distribution Managing Director, Jeffrey Gan.
“This will be a game-changer for our EV customers and for us as well, with data analytics that will be made available. We are excited to bring innovative automotive experiences to our customers as we play our part in furthering the country’s aspirations for a low carbon mobility future,” added Mr. Gan.
Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has officially opened an upgraded Nissan 3S (sales, service and spare parts) outlet in Rawang, Selangor, to better serve customers and owners in the surrounding areas. The outlet, a branch of ETCM, was originally a sales outlet only but has now been enlarged to offer the full range of services required by customers.
Besides being upgraded, the new 3S outlet incorporates the Nissan Corporate Identity with the new Nissan logo, in accordance with NRC-NEXT (the global Nissan Retail Concept). This follows Nissan’s enhanced global plan to innovate Nissan showrooms and provide customers with an elevated brand experience.
Visitors to the showroom will experience a new and comforting environment with a modern interior layout and furniture design. Customers can view all Nissan models, with a Nissan Star Car as the highlight. Presently, the Star Car is the recently launched new Serena S-HYBRID. Information and test-drives are available at any time.
The latest Nissan Serena S-HYBRID.
There’s also a comfortable customer lounge with refreshments, and a private room is available for discussions between customers and sales consultants.
As a mini 3S outlet, ETCM Nissan Rawang also has a fully equipped service centre on the same site. Nissan owners can obtain aftersales support provided by skilled technicians as well as Nissan Genuine Parts. The service centre has 2 service bays for Quick service and maintenance jobs as well as it is also supported by the existing Rawang service centre which has 4 service bays.
The ETCM Nissan Rawang outlet’s showroom is open 7 days a week while the service centre operates from Mondays to Saturdays.
New Nissan dealerships Besides the Rawang outlet, ETCM also has news dealerships in the Northern, Southern and East Malaysia regions. These are operated by Lofty World Sdn Bhd (Taiping, Perak), Da Kim Auto Sdn Bhd (Kluang, Johor), and Ngu Brothers Motor Service Sdn Bhd (Sibu, Sarawak).
Other authorised Nissan outlets in Malaysia can be located at the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my.
A new name was on pole position for F1 Round 13 – George Russell – and in his mirrors were two red Ferraris ready to outrun him to the first corner. But the young Mercedes-AMG F1 driver was ready and although Carlos Sainz was able to come up alongside as the cars moved off, Russell held on to his slight lead.
His team mate, Lewis Hamilton, starting from was able to slip past both on the first lap to move from seventh to fifth. The two Red Bulls also moved up two positions before the first turn. However, further back, there was an incident between Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Williams Racing’s Alex Albon which brought out the F1 Virtual Safety Car (VSC) for a while. The moment the VSC was deactivated, Russell was able to take advantage of the lull to open up a gap with Sainz.
Haas F1’s Kevin Magnussen had contact with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and the former’s car sustained damage to the front wing. It was severe enough that Magnussen got the black and orange flag which required him to return to the pits to fix the damage.
By lap 11, Verstappen was up to fifth and taking on Hamilton for the position. McLaren’s Lando Norris was just ahead but both drivers were able to get past him and continued their duel for the fourth place Norris was displaced from. However, Verstappen was heard to be asking questions about an issue with his car which was alarming him. 8 seconds ahead, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was shadowing his team mate who was looking for a way past leader Russell.
Cars were being called in and on lap 17, Russell came in for mediums but Sainz, though called in, did not do so right away and stayed in the lead that the Mercedes-AMG driver had given up. But on the next lap, Sainz came in and Leclerc took over the lead with Hamilton in second and Russell in third, both not within striking distance. Hamilton too would come in on lap 20 for a change of tyres. The forecast for rain was 60% at that point.
On lap 22, Leclerc finally came in, and Russell was back in the lead. When the Ferrari driver rejoined, he managed to slot in ahead of his team mate, which can’t have been a happy moment for Sainz. Leclerc was around 2 seconds behind Russell, while Sainz was 5 seconds and having to watch out for a hard-charging Verstappen. At the back of the top 10, Ricciardo had passed two cars to get back into the points.
On lap 28, Leclerc was close enough to challenge Russell in each corner but the British driver remained calm and held his lines. It took 3 laps for the Ferrari to pass and take the lead but Russell did not give that up easily either.
Leclerc didn’t waste time pulling away and left Russell to be dealt with by Sainz, who was getting closer. Verstappen was still a threat to Sainz but the Dutchman did not have to worry about Hamilton who was some distance behind.
As the 70-lap F1 race passed the halfway mark, all 20 cars were still running which was not always the case. Rain was also coming down lightly and could change things dramatically for the remainder of the race.
Scuderia Alphatauri’s Yuki Tsunoda spun at the chicane on lap 36, bringing out the yellow flags. But he was not immobilized and continued going but was in last place. Pirelli was expecting who went from medium to hard to probably do a one-stopper while everyone else would have to stop again.
Although he was within reach of Russell, Sainz had to go from attack to defence as Verstappen came up behind him. The second position would have to wait first while he held on to his third place. And then Sainz got a break when the Red Bull team called Verstappen in to put on mediums. When he rejoined, he was down to sixth behind his team mate, Sergio Perez. It was still drizzling and heavier rain was forecast by lap 62.
Leclerc gave up his lead on lap 40 to pit, and Russell followed him off the track as well, giving Sainz the lead. With the fresh tyres seemingly warmed up, Verstappen thought he was ready to fight and went flat out – and spun. He was able to recover quickly before Russell could take advantage and held on to his fourth place as he headed in pursuit of Leclerc, whom he passed on lap 45.
Hamilton took over the lead on lap 48 when Sainz came in to switch to soft tyres. It remained to be seen if that was the right move for Ferrari. With Red Bull pitting so early, they should have stayed out and put the soft tyres on later.
It was now Verstappen going after Hamilton in the lead, trying to close the gap of 6 seconds. Leclerc was 3 seconds behind the Dutchman with Russell in fourth and Sainz in fifth. On lap 51, it was Russell’s turn to try to displace Leclerc but the Ferrari driver was making it very difficult.
Hamilton rushed into the pits on lap 52 to get onto softs, rejoining in fifth between Sainz and Perez. Verstappen was now in his more familiar position at the front with a 6-second lead over Leclerc.
The F1 Stewards had finally decided on the Ricciardo – Stroll incident and it was deemed that the Aussie driver was at fault and he received a 5-second penalty.
Leclerc finally had to give way to Russell on lap 53 and the Mercedes-AMG driver took over second, with the 6-second gap behind Verstappen that wasn’t going to be easy to close. Having lost his position, Leclerc came in on lap 54 to get rid of the hard tyres and run on softs for the rest of the race. At that point, the top 5 were spaced many seconds apart and the order was likely to stay till the end. Barring unexpected incidents, the only battle for positions was likely to be between Russell and Sainz.
As 10 laps remained of the 13th F1 round, Verstappen looked comfortable in the lead and if rain came down, he could even benefit from it. It was an achievement coming into the lead from tenth at the start, and he did not have to worry about Russell being an immediate threat.
No more distractions for Hamilton as he pushed forward past Sainz and moved into third and a place on the podium right behind Russell. Now the question was whether Russell would let his team mate past but it did not seem to be so, although it would be Hamilton eventually finishing second. With two Mercedes-AMGs chasing him, Verstappen could not afford to make any mistakes – and also pray his car would not fail.
As 5 laps remained, rain slowly started coming down. At the end of the top 10, Vettel had managed to take over the last points-paying position from his team mate, Lancer Stroll.
And then on lap 68, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas went off on Turn 11 as his car lost all power. The yellow flags came out, followed by the VSC. It was active for just 1½ laps and then it was a rush to the finish. The rain was heavier and Verstappen was doing his best not to lose it. And he didn’t, taking the eighth chequered flag of the F1 season at Hungaroring.
The new locally-assembled Kia Carnival shows how Korean design has come a long way in 50 years, having started with adapting foreign models (under licence) and then trying to design their own cars. They tried to be different, seemingly for the sake of being different and there were strange forms and shapes which were unnecessary. After realizing there was no need to ‘reinvent the wheel’, they began to get experienced foreign designers – the best known being Peter Schreyer who gave Kia a recognizable identity.
From having foreign designers, they also opened design studios in Europe and America where their designers could be immersed in the markets that they were developing products for. As a result, the designs today are original and appealing, without the oddities of trying to be different.
New design approach In the case of the new Carnival, the design originated from Kia’s studio in California which has been in existence since 2008. It’s therefore not surprising that the design is polished, of high quality and has a unique combination of MPV and SUV. In fact, Kia designers have coined the term ‘GUV’ – for Grand Utility Vehicle – to reflect a slightly different class of MPV.
While it has the long monoform of a people-carrier, it doesn’t have the bulkiness and has styling elements that make it look like a long SUV. Besides the lifted front top of the bonnet to give the feel of a large SUV, a skidplate on the bottom edge of the front and rear bumpers are elements which give the SUV-like impression.
The headlamps don’t have conventional covers, with each of the DRLs and lighting elements being separate. The appearance is a bit futuristic, which also gives originality to the Carnival’s design. The grille, sized proportionately to the vehicle, is quite a simple execution which looks like the ‘Tiger Nose’ has finally evolved away from its familiar look.
Most MPVs have a pretty dull side view but the Kia designers have given the Carnival a more eye-catching and sporty appearance here. Apart from the ‘floating roof’, the tapered and angled C-pillar provides a unique look, and the texture garnish adds a touch of class too. The texture is also found on the dashboard trim, contributing to the premium image that Kia is aiming for.
2.2-litre Smartstream turbodiesel Like the imported version we drove earlier, the locally assembled Carnival also has a turbodiesel engine and it is the same all-aluminium 2.2-litre Smartstream 4-cylinder unit. With high-pressure commonrail fuel delivery (Euro5 B7 biodiesel), it develops 199 bhp/440 Nm, with the strong torque available from 1,750 rpm.
The engine is mated to a conventional torque converter automatic transmission with 8 speeds. There’s no conventional lever for selecting transmission positions; instead, a large E-Shift knob (with a high quality finish) on the centre console is rotated to select the R, N and D positions. Manual selection of gear can still be done using paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The PARK position is easily selected by just pressing the button in the middle of the knob. It’s probably the way transmission control will be in future but for now, some might still miss a lever.
There are also drive modes for quicker acceleration or better economy as well as a SMART mode which is adaptive. It learns the behaviour of the driver and gradually adjusts the characteristics to suit the driving style. Over time, the driver will find the transmission operating smoothly and almost predictably. However, a different driver who takes over may not necessarily like that character and if this new driver uses the vehicle for a long period, then it will gradually change to his or her style. Perhaps then there should be a ‘memory’ function to store preferred characteristics, just like seat positions.
Spaceship-inspired interior The interior is where the new Carnival impresses, and not just with spaciousness that would be expected from its exterior dimensions. The designers have created a more premium image and feel to the cabin with convenience features for everyone on the three rows. The interior designers were inspired by the minimalist yet elegant spaceship interior in the classic 1968 movie ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ so their initial idea was a family vehicle for going on space travels! Even the dashboard panoramic display that stretches across the driver’s side is intended to give the feeling of being in the cockpit of a high-tech spaceship.
The spaciousness is enhanced by the large windows, especially on both sides of the second row. There’s a panoramic view of the world passing by and with the High version, there are also dual sunroofs overhead to make things feel even more airy.
Versatile seating a strong point By far, it was the seating that attracted a lot of attention with its variability. As mentioned before, the locally-assembled model is available as a 7-seater or 8-seater, whereas the CBU version we tested in February was an 11-seater. The layout, with maximum people capacity, would be 2-2-3 or 2-3-3. In both versions, the third row folds flat into the floor but for the second row, the seats are fixed in the 7-seater due to the many electrical systems in them. For the 8-seater, they can be adjusted in various ways, turned around the face backwards and even removed completely.
Turning the seats to face backwards requires a bit of work as the left and right side seats have to exchange positions. They are not that difficult to remove and there are security features to ensure that they are locked in place when installed. Most people should be able to handle the task but it’s not something that might be done frequently either.
For the ultimate in comfort, the 7-seater comes with two Premium Relaxion (not a spelling error) seats for the second row. These are wide and when reclined, there is an additional pad that extends forward and up to provide support for the lower part of the legs. Pivoting armrests on the outer side of each seat provide a place to rest the arm while being out of the way when getting in and out.
The seats (which are made locally) have heating and ventilation within and for keeping the entire cabin cool, there are air-conditioning vents on the ceiling over the middle and rear sections. The fan speed and temperature can be controlled separately from the front system but because the panel is situated just behind the driver’s seat (on the ceiling), it can be difficult to reach for most passengers.
The third row, for 3 persons, is quite comfortable, as we found from sitting in the section for about a third of the journey to Penang. You can’t say that of all MPVs but with the Carnival, there won’t be reluctance to go to the back. Legroom is also pretty good and more importantly, even though the seats are over the rear end, there’s no bumpiness.
The powered sliding doors on both sides are a nice luxury feature but to be expected considering the price. Getting into the third row is easy as the second row seats tumble forward, but when getting out, the passenger in the third row might need help as the release handle is right at the B-pillar. Presumably, there will be a driver to help, or someone in the second row will also be getting out.
Enough cargo space for moving house The standard boot space when the third row is in use is limited but there’s a deep compartment below it for storing items. This, however, means that only a temporary spare wheel can be carried. This is the skinny tyre for emergencies which is lighter and saves space too.
The cargo volume is variable so it depends on what you want to carry. For maximum volume, the third row can be folded into the floor and the second row seats removed. This gives a space that would rival a pick-up truck – and it’s enclosed. So that adds another dimension to the term ‘multi purpose’ as you could probably do house-moving with just the Carnival alone.
Most features are common to all three versions and the extras that the High versions have are the dual sunroof, memory function for the front seats, larger digital instrument panel and a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. There won’t be fighting for USB recharging ports as up to 7 are provided plus a wireless charging pad. The sound system is from Bose and has 12 speakers placed around the cabin. The only thing missing for a family-type vehicle would be a cooler box but that’s something that can be purchased as an accessory anyway.
Driving impressions At 5 metres long and almost 2 metres wide, the Carnival is an imposing vehicle and for some, it may be intimidating. It would fit right into the landscape in America but in Malaysia, with our narrower roads and tighter congestion, a large vehicle might seem impractical. However, as we discovered back in January when we drove the 11-seater, the size does not mean it is difficult to drive. In fact, when on the move, it doesn’t feel much different from a smaller MPV and there is the added stability of being 2,100+ kgs.
Where you become aware of its bulk is in tight situations, like parking, but even then, it is not as cumbersome as a pick-up truck. The Surround View Monitor is a great help here and we found that parking was a ‘no-sweat’ exercise and the vehicle could be positioned properly within a bay.
Even more surprising is the way the vehicle behaves on winding roads. Apart from the competent chassis design, the low ride height also helps keep the Carnival stable and hardly any lean could be felt. With motor-assisted power steering these days, big vehicles like the Carnival are no harder to drive than small sedans. The feedback is good and assistance is progressive. The body control is certainly light years from what we remember of the original Carnival (the one that was also sold as a Naza Ria) which wallowed when pushed too hard in turns.
The 2.2-litre Smartstream engine provided enough power for brisk motoring but it has also to be said that our two drives did not have the maximum number of passengers aboard and the load was fairly light. With all 7 or 8 seats occupied, perhaps the performance might feel different but as we kept hearing from our convoy leader ‘Enjoy the drive’, and unless you are in a rush, the engine should be able to provide decent performance.
The weight also helps with ride comfort although the pressures were on the high side as the vehicles had come straight from the plant with pressures meant for maximum load. It’s not super quiet in the cabin but the ambient noise level seemed to be consistent. Conversations with people next to you are fine but because the seat rows are far apart, you sometimes have to raise your voice to talk to the drive (certainly if the person right at the back is talking).
Priced (excluding insurance) from RM231,228 – RM261,228, the Carnival is a breath of fresh air in the MPV segment, with smart styling and it has not just a premium image but also the feel to go with it. We would go as far as to say it sets a new benchmark for the MPV class and even those who have not had a liking for MPVs will find the Carnival appealing.
