Opel has set another milestone by being the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer an electric rally car for customer rally sport. Based on the Opel Corsa-e which will make its world premiere next month at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show, the rally-based version will be used in the 2020 ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup in the world for electric cars. (more…)
The beginning of the Malaysian car industry can be considered to have started in the mid-1960s when the government introduced its first policy for the automotive industry. The policy set a strategic direction with the implementation of preferential tariffs for carmakers that assembled their vehicles locally, as well as used parts obtained in Malaysia. It was one of the moves to take the country’s economy from being agriculture-based to industry-based.
Response was good from the carmakers and by the end of the 1960s, a number of assembly plants were operating and producing a variety of models. However, the majority of these plants were in Peninsular Malaysia – clustered in the Klang Valley and in Johor. This was because vehicle demand in Peninsular Malaysia was growing rapidly.
The East Malaysian states, on the other hand, were still largely lacking a proper road network and potential sales were also not high back then. Commercial vehicles and 4×4 vehicles like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux were more popular than cars.
So while the development of the sales and service network was more active in Peninsular Malaysia, it was slow in Sabah and Sarawak. This is not to say that the states were neglected by the car companies, but it was a matter of the number of vehicles sold and the number of supporting outlets needed.
Today, however, the East Malaysian market has grown substantially as the economies of the two states have advanced. This has been helped by the better roads and road network and rather than travel in bumpy light commercial vehicles, many East Malaysians now prefer passenger cars with more comfort.
Sabah gets Proton’s first flagship 4S centre
Perhaps in recognition of this progress, Proton chose the state of Sabah for its first flagship 4S centre in Malaysia. The brand new outlet is operated by Fook Loi Corporation (Sabah) Sdn Bhd and has a distinctive Corporate Identity that is associated with the new Proton which has come about following the partnership with Geely.
Setting up a dealership requires millions of ringgit in investment and as Proton has shown that the brand is on the ascendancy with rapidly growing sales, businessmen now see being a Proton dealership it as a viable investment.
“Deciding to become a Proton dealer was not difficult because we see the potential for Proton in Sabah. The current range of Proton models is highly competitive and technologically advanced with features that appeal to the new generation of car buyers,” said Thomas Chiu Kui Yin, Group Executive Director of Fook Loi.
Additional Body & Paint services
Seeing much potential in the aftersales business, Fook Loi chose to go all the way and be a 4S outlet. This means it offers customers an added Body & Paint service for the repainting and restoration of vehicles to Proton’s standards when they have been damaged.
Every aspect of the outlet adheres to Proton’s objective of giving customers a great experience and is spacious, comfortable as well as pleasing to the eye. It offers free wifi, a kids’ corner, ample parking space and a coffee area. Equally important, the outlet has well trained sales and service staff who can provide a high quality customer experience.
“These may seem like simple requirements, but they are critical ones. When customers walk into our showroom or service centre, they would like to be greeted by smiling faces and a beautifully lit area. This will then set the tone for more meaningful conversations and customers will feel welcomed and appreciated. Since outlets are our first point of contact, numerous steps have been taken to ensure that a wholesome experience starts here. These efforts have paid off. Our sales have been on an increasing trend and with our new products, we are confident that we are on track for the company’s return to profitability,” said Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
Cyan Racing (formerly known as Polestar), has achieved their biggest milestone yet by breaking not one but two lap records at the infamous Nürburgring circuit. It was done as part of the development of their 528hp Lynk & Co 03 Cyan Concept, which now holds the title of the fastest four-door car and the fastest front-wheel driven car in the world at the legendary track. (more…)
The Taycan represents a new era in the history of Porsche cars as it is brand’s first all-electric sportscar. Unlike its entry into the SUV segment, Porsche has not been slow to develop a fully-electric production sportscar model and not surprisingly, offering pioneering technology to go with the high performance the brand is expected to deliver.
Both inside and out, the Taycan will be truly a car of the electric age and Porsche is now letting the public take a peek at the interior before the sportscar makes it world debut next month. Commenting on the interior design, Ivo van Hulten, Director Interior Design Style Porsche at Porsche AG, said: “The Taycan interior combines design elements typical for the brand with a new type of user experience, and impresses with its simple elegance. Less is more applies here too.”
Typical Porsche cabin
The original 911’s cleanly styled dashboard from 1963 was the inspiration. The stated goal was to bring it into the present day. The cockpit signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and a completely new construction. It is clearly driver-focused, the instrument panel clean and minimalist with an ultra-modern design. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. It is clearly focused towards the driver and ensures that everything that’s needed for driving fast and safely is in view.
The innovative instrument cluster consists of a curved 16.8-inch screen with the rounded look that’s typical of Porsche. A cowl has been omitted, which ensures a slim and modern appearance in the style of high-quality smartphones and tablets. Real glass and a vapour-deposited, polarising filter give anti-reflective properties.
4 display modes
The Classic mode (power meter) evokes the rounded instruments typical of Porsche. This display delivers information that’s clearly arranged, allowing for fast readability. A power meter replaces the rev counter in the middle instrument.
Next is the Map mode which replaces the central power meter with a map layout. Full Map mode, when chosen, intentionally omits the round instruments in favour of a navigation map displayed across the full display. The Pure mode displays only essential driving information such as speed, traffic signs and navigation using a minimalist arrow.
There are also small, touch-control fields at the edges of the screen for operating the light and chassis functions. The instrument cluster is therefore wider than the steering wheel and reminiscent of the iconic original 911.
The steering wheel has a light appearance, with two models to choose from. In addition to the basic version, which can be customised with coloured inserts as part of the accent package, Porsche also offers a GT sports steering wheel option. It has a distinctive design with visible screw heads and features a typical Porsche round mode switch which can be used to select the various driving modes.
The upper and lower sections of the dashboard stretch across the entire width of the vehicle in the shape of a wing. 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, thereby blending in visually with the interior.
All-new user interfaces
All user interfaces have been completely re-designed for the Taycan, possible since it is an entirely new car from the ground up. 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 a voice control function that responds to the command “Hey Porsche”.
The elevated centre console intensifies the feeling of a low seating position, as you would expect from a Porsche. It features a large 8.4-inch touch panel with haptic feedback. This allows the air-conditioning settings to be altered directly. Integrated handwriting recognition also allows quick address inputs.
Every detail has been reduced to the essentials. Like the 918, the Taycan has a compact direction selector switch in the instrument panel instead of the classic selector lever. This gives the centre console a tidy look and creates storage space.
A reduction to the essentials and a clear approach are also evident for the air vents. These have been fully modernised and can be operated intuitively. Traditional, mechanically-operated louvres belong to the past, as airflows are now controlled both digitally and fully automatically (Virtual Airflow Control).
An optional 4-zone automatic climate control system installs an additional 5.9-inch touch control panel with haptic feedback allows the system to be operated from the rear seats.
Innovative material concepts
The Taycan’s colour and material design allows for individualised equipment, from traditional through to sustainable and modern. A new feature is the fully leather-free interior with state-of-the-art surface textures. ‘Race-Tex’ material is used, a high-quality microfibre material partially consisting of recycled polyester fibres. Its production has 80% less carbon dioxide than traditional materials. The floor covering uses the recycled fibre ‘Econyl’, which is made from, among other things, recycled fishing nets.
Related story: Porsche Taycan Completed 3,425-km Endurance Run In 24 Hours
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Visit www.porsche.com.my for information on new and pre-owned models sold in Malaysia
Team Proton R3 (R3), Proton’s racing and rallying division, has announced a lady racers search and mentorship programme for teams competing in the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) series. The programmes are in partnership with MSF, the largest grassroots motorsports event in the country. Both programmes aim to develop motorsports at grassroots level by leveraging on R3’s experience built up over many years of competition.
“At Proton, we value our competition heritage and acknowledge our cars remain a popular choice at all levels of racing and rallying. We invest to compete in local and international events because we believe motorsports is a fertile environment to develop the best engineers. The lady drivers search and mentor programmes are just the starting point and we hope our efforts will spur more involvement from other automotive companies to develop the local racing scene,” added Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
Giving back to Malaysia’s racing community
R3 is the only manufacturer-supported racing team in Malaysia and in over 15 years of experience, Proton’s performance arm has collected a string of accolades to its name. Their resume is highlighted by wins in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and class victories at the World Rally Championship (WRC) level.
Domestically, the team has two overall Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) wins to its name as well as four Sepang 1000km (S1K) victories, a record unmatched by any other automotive brand.
Sharing wealth of experience
With such a long list of accolades, R3 now aims to share its wealth of experience via the MSF-R3 Lady Racers Search and MSF-R3 Mentor Programme. This will allow Malaysian racing drivers and teams access to information, team management and car development techniques that will help to elevate their performance and lead them to success at national level events.
It is also an opportunity to discover talented lady racers and nurture their careers, giving them a good head start in a male dominated arena. Putting women behind the wheel and mentoring racing teams. While many Malaysian racing drivers have competed in regional and international events, almost all of them have been male-dominated. Proton and R3 would like to change the narrative and give lady drivers a chance to shine in motorsports.
Starting off with three
From an initial pool of participants, three will be offered an opportunity to develop as racing drivers and participate in the 2019 edition of the S1K race, driving a Team Proton R3-prepared car. Selections will be based on how contestants perform in a series of on and off-track activities and will include being judged on criteria such as discipline, teamwork and commitment aside from their skill behind the wheel.
As for the mentor programme, selected drivers and teams competing in the MSF SuperTurismo races using Proton vehicles will be supported by Team Proton R3 personnel for the remaining 3 events this year. Though each team will be independently managed, R3 will provide technical and set-up know-how before and during the race, with the specific aim to improve their performance and inculcate best industry practices.
“Our long history of competing means there is a wealth of knowledge at Team Proton R3’s disposal. At the same time, we want to get more involved at the grassroots level as we feel Proton and R3 should play a bigger role in the development of motorsports in Malaysia. These two separate programmes will allow us to be involved on two fronts simultaneously while also showcasing the ability of Proton cars to compete in races” said Gary Lee, Head of Team Proton R3.
Drivers and teams for MSF-R3 Racers Mentor Programme:
Mohd Hafiz Saad #248
Nik Shahrul Fadli Nik Mansor #141
Alban Raymond De Sauza #16
Muhammad Faishal Othman #180
Md. Shah Hashim #387
Contestants for the MSF-R3 Lady Drivers Search:
Ng Aik Sha
Samanda Lee
Nurul Husna Nasharuddin
Nursharina Nor Ramlle
Dayangku Faratiwan Adnil
Rozana Rahmat
Umi Nasirah Sulaiman
Zaidah Mohd Ishak
Nor Azirah Mohd Azhar
Click here to know more about Proton’s motorsports activities
The Toyota Eco Youth Program 2019 was launched earlier today by UMW Toyota Motor with the purpose of educating students on the importance of preserving the environment as well as training them to become eco ambassadors for improved quality on life. (more…)
The all-new 2019 Subaru Forester has arrived here in Malaysia and it comes with some very interesting upgrades that makes it more dynamic and comfortable than ever before. The fifth generation Forester was launched earlier today at the revamped Subaru showroom in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. (more…)
Bentley has released a set of very dynamic imageries of their Bentley EXP 100 GT Concept vehicle to celebrate its stunning presence at the recent Monterey Car Week 2019. It looked so good that it took home the ‘Best of Show’ prize at the pinnacle Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. (more…)
Mercedes-Benz is wasting no time building up its EQ range of fully-electric models. Following the launch of the EQC SUV at the 2018 Paris Motorshow, it will unveil its first fully-electric premium MPV at the Frankfurt Motorshow next month. The new EQV is based on the Concept EQV that was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year.
“Our MPVs meet the highest standards in terms of functionality and variability. The EQV also does not compromise in this respect. It offers comfortable handling, dynamic electro-aesthetics, intuitive operation and generous space – and all locally emissions-free. This means that it offers all of the typical qualities of the brand and segment that our customers expect, whether as a family car or a shuttle vehicle with a lounge-like character”, says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
150 kW drivetrain, 405 kms range
The electric drivetrain (eATS) of the EQV is situated on the front axle under the front end with a charging connection in the bumper. It has a peak output of 150 kW which can take the MPV up to a claimed maximum speed of 160 km/h. It has a claimed range of 405 kms and with rapid charging, the high-voltage battery pack can be ‘refuelled’ from 10% to 80% within less than an hour.
The electric motor, the transmission with a fixed gear ratio, the cooling system and the power electronics constitute a highly integrated, compact unit. Power is provided by a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor of the vehicle. Its low, central location also has a positive effect on the handling characteristics of the EQV.
Battery pack is constantly recharged
As standard, the EQV will be equipped with a water-cooled on-board charger with a capacity of 11 kW, making it suitable for AC charging at home or at public charging stations. To ensure that the technical operating range is used to the maximum, the EQV also charges its batteries when on the move. When accelerating or braking, the mechanical rotation is converted into electrical energy and used to charge the high-voltage battery (recuperation).
The driver has a major influence on recuperation. He or she is also able to influence the recuperation level using paddles behind the steering wheel. The paddle on the left increases the level of recuperation, the paddle on the right reduces it. At the weakest level, the vehicle ‘coasts’ while at the strongest level, it is possible to drive using a single pedal. This is because, in most situations, the slowing effect of recuperation is sufficient to make the brake pedal redundant.
The recuperation level D Auto reflects the intelligence of the EQV. The automatically activated ECO Assistant helps the driver to achieve the best possible efficiency. It combines navigation data, road traffic sign recognition and information provided by the intelligent safety assistance systems (radar and camera) and adjusts the level of recuperation itself.
In combination with EQ-optimised navigation, active range monitoring ensures that the driver reaches the destination safely even if a charging stop is missed. It is also assisted by the E+ driving mode, which optimises the vehicle’s parameters to maximise the range.
Flexible seating for 6 to 8 persons
For flexibility, the EQV will be offered with two different wheelbase dimensions. It can be configured as a 6-seater with individual seats for high-quality transportation, or converted into a 7 or even an 8-seater to serve as a shuttle.
The refinement of MBUX (the Mercedes-Benz user interface) specifically for EQ is a particular highlight. In the high-resolution, 10-inch media display, the EQ tile in the main menu serves as a central point of access to the specific displays and settings. These include the charging current, departure time, energy flow and consumption histogram. EQV drivers can plan their destinations from the home or office, enter a departure time and bring the interior to the desired temperature.
The EQV will be produced at a factory in northern Spain where the V-Class and Vito models are also made. This facilitates flexible and synergetic production in direct correlation with customer demand globally.
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