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Renault Mega Parts Clearance campaign offers up to 90% discount

Owners of various Renault models needing replacement parts can save money this month and next month as TC Euro Cars (TCEC) is offering up to 90% off on selected items with its Mega Parts Clearance campaign.

The parts are for models such as the Kangoo, Scenic, Espace, Clio, Megane (including the R.S.), Fluence and others which TCEC has sold in the past. They are available while stocks last and first come-first served basis, with the discount offered until December 31, 2020.

*Selected parts are available for older models such as the Kangoo and Clio.*

Available at Renault service centres
The parts can be purchased at authorised Renault Service Centres nationwide or the Renault Store on Shopee. Interested customers can first visit the Renault website to browse through the parts lists by model and submit a request for the parts to check on availability before finalising the purchase.

Customers who are Maybank credit cardholders can enjoy a 0% instalment plan via the Ezy Payment Scheme but must make a purchase of at least RM500. This offer is only available at the service centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

*If parts purchased are installed at the service centre, there’s a 50% discount on labour.*

50% discount on labour
If the customer chooses to replace or install the purchased parts at the Renault authorised service centres, there is a 50% discount on labour charges. There is also a complimentary vehicle inspection and car wash after the work is completed.

Click here for other news and articles about Renault.

All-new Volkswagen Golf R revealed

It used to be that the Golf GTI was the most powerful variant of the Golf range but these days, it is the R version that is eagerly awaited by enthusiasts, and Volkswagen has now revealed the one for the latest 8^th generation Golf. As with its predecessor, there is again a boost in output from the engine which is the 2-litre turbocharged TSI unit.

The new figures are 315 bhp, about 9% higher than before, with torque increasing to 420 Nm. This gives a claimed 0 to 100 km/h capability of 4.7 seconds and a top speed that is over 250 km/h but restricted to that speed. Customers can choose from a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed DSG, depending on the market.

As before, there is Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system to get all the power to the road through all four wheels. This is a newly developed torque vectoring system with selective wheel torque control on the rear axle, significantly increasing the car’s agility, particularly when cornering.

As a world first, the all-wheel drive system is also networked via a Vehicle Dynamics Manager with other running gear systems such the electronic differential locks and the DCC adaptive damping system. Thanks to this close integration of the different systems, the new Golf R offers optimal traction and neutral handling with precision.

Drift profile available
Among the choice of profiles to customise driving characteristics, there is also a Drift profile meant for track use (or private roads) only. When selected, the parameters for the ESC stability control (change to ESC Sport) and the distribution of power via the all-wheel drive system enable the Golf R to drift.

The car features a strut-type front and a multi-link rear suspension. Compared with its predecessor, the spring rates and anti-roll bar rates have both been increased by 10%. A new aluminium subframe helped to reduce the weight of the front suspension. The transverse link mounts and hub carriers on the rear suspension of the Golf R have also been modified.

Customized body design
Like all 8^th generation Golf models, the R is a five-door model and has its own customized design and exclusive and sporty equipment. The new front bumper features a motorsport-style splitter and R-specific air intake grilles, with high-gloss black elements. At the top of the radiator grille is a blue crossbar which lights up as an LED strip as soon as the engine starts and stretches all the way into the fenders to act as the daytime running lights.

The distinctive features of the Golf R’s side design include 19-inch aluminium-alloy wheels (with blue brake calipers), exclusive side skirts, matte chrome exterior mirror caps that project the R logo onto the road when the doors are opened and closed, and lowered bodywork.

The rear bumper is also a unique design element which now incorporates a newly designed high-gloss black diffuser. It is framed at the sides by chrome-plated twin tailpipes for the standard sport exhaust system. A roof spoiler is included to generate downforce for stability at high speeds.

Digitalized interior layout
With the Mk 8 Golf, Volkswagen has digitalized many of the displays and controls. This has given more options for the driver to customise the instrument panel, along with the graphics on the 10-inch Discover Pro touchscreen display.

For better support and body restraint, the driver and front passenger sit in sport seats, with Nappa leather seating surfaces that feature carbon-look elements with blue accents in the side sections, as well as a blue R logo in the backrest.

The multifunction leather-wrapped sport steering wheel has also been given a specific design, with ergonomically shaped DSG paddles, blue contrast stitching, and an R button for direct selection of the various driving profiles. Like the other latest Golf variants, the Golf R has ‘touch’ controls on the steering wheel with haptic feedback to the driver.

Other standard equipment for this sportiest and more powerful Golf includes carbon look dash panel décor, R-specific door trim, brushed stainless-steel pedal caps and driver footrest, and 30-colour ambient lighting for the dash panel and doors that is synchronized with the display.

We await the arrival of the new Golf generation in Malaysia which should be sometime next year. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has been offering a mixture of variants in the current range which has included the Golf R, so it should also be available in due course.

Volkswagen R-Line in Malaysia expanded to four models

Proton sales keep trending upwards with boost by sales tax exemption

With the government providing the incentive of exempting sales tax (10% for locally-assembled models, 5% for CBU models), it seems that there is strong interest in buying new cars despite the gloomy situation we are experiencing.

Companies selling new as well as used cars are reporting strong sales and for Proton, the volume in October was reported to be 11,392 units (including exports), which it estimates to be a 21.3% share of the market’s Total Industry Volume (TIV).

The volume was a 20% increase over the same month in 2019 although it was 4.6% lower than September’s. However, according to Proton, three of its models were leaders in their respective market segment – in the B-segment with the Persona (2,360 units); SUV segment with the X70 (2,216 units); and the Exora which retains its customary position as the best-selling C-segment MPV.

*The Exora remains the most popular model in its segment despite being around for many years now.*

Strong H2 performance overall
“The recovery of Malaysia’s automotive market is continuing to gather pace judging by the number of new model launches and total sales in October. We estimate the Total Industry Volume to be the second highest in 2020 with over 57,000 units sold, proof that the car industry is rebounding strongly,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar, adding that the numbers could have been better for Proton.

“Looking at the numbers, we noticed a significant drop in East Malaysia sales while the Central region was static compared to September. Part of this was due to the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) to limit the movement of people, thus affecting retailers. But there was also a sense of customers holding back before the launch of our newest model, the Proton X50. Regardless, PROTON is confident of ending the year well and using the results as a base to aim even higher in 2021,” he explained.

*The X50 has made a strong impact on the market which has responded with over 27,400 bookings to date.*

Bookings for Proton X50
The long-awaited X50 SUV was officially launched towards the end of October and over 27,400 bookings have already been received nationwide. The first 447 units have already been delivered to customers and further deliveries are ongoing.

We are pushing to ensure fulfilment over the last three months of 2020, while continuing to emphasise product quality,” Encik Roslan assured.

How fast & powerful is the 2020 Proton X50?

More MyTukar branches opened around the country under expansion plan

Two years into its business, myTukar Sdn Bhd is accelerating its growth with the opening of three new branches in Peninsular Malaysia. The ambitious growth plan is supported by CARRO, a Singapore-based Southeast Asian technology-enabled automotive marketplace.

To date, myTukar’s 2,000-strong dealership network has transacted over 23,000 vehicles with an estimated value of RM750 million. Digitalisation of the purchasing process has enabled it to serve the used car industry efficiently.

Fong Hon Sum, CEO of myTukar said: “The opening of multiple new branches is the most significant milestone for myTukar since we began operations in 2018. We are driven by our mission to digitalise and transform the traditional way of selling used cars. And I am proud to say that myTukar was built by the people in the used car industry, to empower and support other used car dealers using technology.”

Mr. Fong, who has over 20 years of experience in the used car industry, is keen to bring positive changes, technological improvements and transparency to the industry. His deep knowledge of the inner workings within the industry brought together over 2,000 dealerships in which myTukar works in partnership to support their needs.

Four more branches before year-end
After the three new ones in Malacca, Penang and Ipoh, another four more branches will soon open, bringing the total branches nationwide to sixteen. The additional four branches include a second Johor Bahru branch which will also be myTukar’s Southern Logistics hub and a major hub for car inspection. Mr. Fong said that more branches will open in 2021 to cover more cities around the country.

Each new branch can accommodate up to 3 cars at any given time and are equipped with basic amenities in a waiting lounge. There are qualified and professional inspectors to provide a comprehensive 158-point inspection and evaluation within 30 minutes or less. When in full operation, the 16 branches will be able to handle up to 300 vehicles per day.

“This nationwide expansion strategy is aligned to and complements CARRO Group’s strategy to continuously expand and digitalise car trading for the South East Asia Region. CARRO Group is SouthEast Asia’s largest car marketplace and currently has a presence in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia,” he said.

Collaboration with Sime Darby Auto Selection
The latest collaboration for myTukar is a platform integration with Sime Darby Auto Selection to enable the company’s efficient inventory management of trade-in cars as well as the transfer of knowledge by myTukar to integrate Sime Darby Auto Selection’s inspectors into the process of strengthening used car trade-in services.

Financial services programme to support 1,900 used car dealers

Perodua sets a monthly sales record again with 26,852 units sold in October

In spite of what is a very bad year for virtually all industries, Perodua reported that its total vehicles sales last month were its highest-ever. 26,852 vehicles were delivered in October 2020, and this came after the all-time monthly sales record of 25,035 units just a month earlier.

“In September, we sold more vehicles in a month than in our entire 27-year history and now, we have gone even further,” said a delighted Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“This milestone is important to us in many ways; it underscores our commitment towards delivering our vehicles to their rightful owners as fast as possible while at the same time doing our part to rejuvenate the automotive eco-system,” he added.

Supporting automotive eco-system
He also mentioned that, in October alone, the carmaker purchased some RM600 million worth of parts from local suppliers, creating an enormous economic multiplier effect on the local auto eco-system which has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The automotive eco-system includes direct and indirect sectors, such as automotive component suppliers, authorised dealers, stockists, agencies and contractors. Indirect, yet crucial partners include financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies.

“In terms of production capacity, we are on average at 98% in October 2020 with 26,362 vehicles – which is also our highest-ever monthly production figure,” Dato’ Zainal revealed. “These achievements were accomplished under the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) followed by Perodua and our partners. These include working from home and mandatory testing for those in red zones – on top of the original SOPs introduced in May.

“With the commitment of the suppliers, our authorised dealers were able to sell more vehicles and more importantly, ensure our customers’ happiness as their Perodua vehicles were delivered in the best possible time,” he added.

*The Myvi is still the most popular car in the country.*

Three bestsellers
During October, Perodua sold 8,052 Myvis, 6,738 Axias, 6,895 Bezzas, 3,193 Aruz and 1,974 Alzas. The top three models remain Malaysia’s best-selling cars so far this year, according to Perodua.

Dato’ Zainal also gave assurance to owners that they need not worry about replacement parts for their vehicles. “We have sufficient parts to every need as most of them were made locally,” he said.

November promotions
For this month, Perodua has a promotion whereby customers can receive a cash redemption of up to RM1,500 for the Aruz on top of the current tax exemption amount (terms and conditions apply). In addition, Perodua is also offering cash rebates of up to RM2,000 for its pre-owned vehicles until 31 December 2020 (only available at the Perodua KL sales outlet located on Jalan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur).

*Perodua Pre Owned Vehicle (POV) outlet in KL*

Visit www.perodua.com.my to know more about the models available and ongoing promotions as well as the locations of showrooms nationwide.

Malaysia’s three bestselling models help Perodua achieve 42% market share

Volvo Cars to develop electric motors in-house

As carmakers make the transition to electrically-powered cars, demand for electric motors is rising. In most cases, the motors come from other companies that have specialised in such powertrains. While this arrangement is cost-effective in some ways. It does not necessarily fully optimise performance in the way the carmaker may want it.

Therefore, in order to have electric motors that are perfectly suited to its own vehicles, Volvo Cars is making significant investments that will allow for in-house design and development of such powertrains. These will be for the next generation of Volvo models as the company continues to move towards becoming a fully electric carmaker.

*The new electric motor lab in Shanghai, China.*

Addition to global network
The first step is the recent opening company of a brand new electric motor lab in Shanghai, China. This joins the global network of facilities for the development and testing of electric car components. The lab comes in addition to ongoing e-motor development in Sweden and state-of-the-art battery labs in China and Sweden.

Taking over the role of the internal combustion engine in car engineering, e-motors are a fundamental building block of electric cars, together with the battery and power electronics. The interplay between these three component areas is crucial in developing premium electric cars.

Bringing the development of electric motors in-house will allow Volvo Cars engineers to further optimise electric motors and the entire electric driveline in new Volvos. This approach will allow engineers to make further gains in terms of energy efficiency and overall performance.

Fine-tuning e-motors
“Through in-house design and development, we can fine-tune our e-motors to ever better levels,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Cars. “By constantly improving their overall performance levels in terms of energy efficiency and comfort, we create an electric driving experience that is unique to Volvo.”

E-motors enable features that electric cars are known for, such as instant acceleration and so-called One Pedal Driving, whereby drivers use the accelerator pedal both for acceleration and deceleration, depending on whether they push in or lift their foot off the pedal.

*The XC40 Recharge P8 is the first of many all-electric models that will be coming.*

The newly opened electric motor lab in Shanghai became operational last month. It will mainly focus on electric motor development for use in fully electric and hybrid cars based on Volvo Cars’ forthcoming SPA 2 modular vehicle architecture.

The investments in e-motor design and development represent yet another step towards Volvo Cars’ climate ambitions and electrification strategy. It aims for 50% of its sales to be fully electric vehicles by 2025, with the rest hybrids.