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At different periods, manufacturers have different strategies which require investments in different parts of the world. In the 1990s, Ford decided that it must ‘control its own destiny’ in the ASEAN region and was attracted by the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This would be a single trading region and those who made their products in any country in the region could export to another ASEAN country with no import duties imposed. For a mass producer like Ford (and the company was the one that introduced mass production to the auto industry), this was ideal as it meant that a mega-factory could be set up in one country to supply to other countries. Great for cost efficiencies which would also mean more competitive prices in the markets.

So Ford invested US$500 million (RM2.107 billion) to establish a brand new factory in Rayong, on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand. The factory, called Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT), was a joint-venture with Mazda, which was then an affiliate. Its main product would be the new Ford Ranger truck and Mazda equivalent, the BT-50, with the Everest SUV being added later. Besides supplying the Asian market, the factory also supplied to other global markets which was helpful during the regional downturn when the Asian Financial Crisis hit.

Auto Alliance Thailand, the factory set up in the mid-1990s as a joint-venture between Ford and Mazda. Its first product was the Ranger (below) which was exported around the ASEAN region as well as globally.

17 years after AAT began operations, Ford set up another factory in the same area with an investment of US$450 million (about RM1.9 billion) and it was wholly owned by the carmaker. Known as Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM), it was initially producing passenger car models like the Fiesta and Focus but when Ford decided to change strategies in the Asian region and focus on trucks, the factory switched to making only Rangers.

Ford built the second factory as demand for the Ranger grew. This was necessary as the 270,000-unit output from AAT was strictly fixed at 50:50 for each of the brands. This meant that Ford could get no more than 135,000 vehicles a year, even if Mazda did not use up its full allocation. Mazda too would have experienced the same frustration as the popularity of its models grew and one solution has been that its new BT-50 truck is now being produced at Isuzu’s factory (also in Thailand). In order to raise its output, Ford moved some production of the Ranger to FTM in 2016.

Next year will see the new generation of the Ranger entering the market and Ford expects demand to be even higher. Since its output from AAT remains capped, it is expanding FTM and is spending another US$900 million (about RM3.8 billion) on upgrading its manufacturing facilities and capabilities in Thailand, at both FTM and AAT. Over 44% of the investment is in the supply chain network to provide opportunities for local supply chain partners.

Ford Thailand Manufacturing, located 14 kms from AAT, began operations in 2012. It produced the Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport models but now only does the Ranger, and has been upgraded to produce the new Ranger (below) next year.

This is the largest-ever single investment in Ford’s 25-year history in Thailand and is recognition of the importance of the country as a global export production base for the company. “This is an important milestone to build on our quarter-century of commitment to producing vehicles in Thailand, enabling us to further modernize and upgrade our local operations, and support production for the exciting upcoming launch of the next-gen Ranger, one of Ford’s highest volume and most successful vehicles anywhere in the world, and the next-gen Everest SUV,” said Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin, President, Ford ASEAN and Asia Pacific Distributors Markets.

Besides adding a second shift at FTM which provides over 1,200 new jobs, the overall investment also brings Ford’s manufacturing facilities in Thailand in line with the latest global efficiency, flexibility, and quality processes through extensive upgrades and new state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies.

The company is almost doubling the number of robots at both FTM and AAT, with the addition of 356 robots at the body shop and paint shop. This brings the level of automation at the body shop at FTM and AAT from 34% to 80% and 69%, respectively.

Ford also has increased its production capability for multi-variant truck production in FTM. By increasing model flexibility, the plant can produce multiple cab styles – single cab, open cab and double cab – on the same production line. This allows more flexibility in planning and scheduling so the plant can react more quickly to customer demand and reduce customer waiting time for a new vehicle.

As part of the investment, Ford is the first auto manufacturer to implement ScanBox technology in Southeast Asia. This latest surface scan capability improves the time used to accurately measure the whole vehicle by 5 times during the assembly process, helping Ford to increase efficiency in problem solving for better quality control.

In addition, FTM and AAT are making significant efforts to support environmentally friendly initiatives, including using renewable energy, reducing CO2 emissions, and practicing zero waste to landfill.

Exporting vehicles is a significant part of Ford’s manufacturing business in Thailand, with the Ranger going to over 180 markets around the world. AAT will be the lead production hub for the upcoming next-gen Everest SUV which would almost certainly be based on the new Ranger.

The Porsche World Road Show is a unique event that takes place the world over.

It is held at circuits that allow a driver to fully exploit a Porsche’s potential.

And when it comes to the Cayenne, rather than on-circuit driving, the now iconic SUV is driven on dirt tracks to show off its off-roading capabilities.

The PWRS in short, was recently held at the Sepang International Circuit.

And the entire circuit was booked, because half-track driving in a Porsche is borderline nonsense.

The cars were pretty amazing too – we got to spend time behind the wheel of the Cayenne, Macan GTS, Macan Turbo, Taycan Turbo and the Taycan Turbo S.

The star of the show though was the new 992 Porsche GT3. A car so brilliant that it deserved an article of its own, which you can read here.

Our day started in the Taycan Turbo S – a car deemed as the hardest accelerating electric car ever built.

It does the 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 260km/h.

The electric motors that power the car are also some of, if not the best in the industry.

The motors give the car 622hp and 1050Nm of torque.

But with the overboost function selected, the car puts out a staggering 750hp!

Of course, such amazing capabilities doesn’t come cheap – the Taycan Turbo S costs an eye watering RM1.15 million!

Then we hopped into the Taycan Turbo.

I do wish we would have done it the other way around though.

Because after the brutality of the Turbo S – the Taycan felt subdued. Like a hungover horse being asked to gallop.

But despite that, it too puts out some unworldly numbers.

It too offers 622hp but torque stands lower at 850Nm.

However, unlike the Turbo S, the Turbo puts out 670hp when you select the overboost function.

The Turbo though is slightly more affordable than the Turbo S, with prices starting from a little over RM963,000.

This was the first time I got to drive both Taycans.

There was a similar drive event held at SIC when Porsche introduced the Taycan to the Malaysian market earlier this year.

But back then, we had passed our seat to legendary Malaysian rally driver Karamjit Singh to get his thoughts on a car the world was raving about.

You can watch that video below.

As a first timer behind the wheel of the Taycan, it was the acceleration that really blew me away, especially in the Turbo S.

Handling too was sharp but that is to be expected of a Porsche.

But you really do feel the weight of the car because the Taycan weighs over two tons.

You feel this going into corners, but then the acceleration more than makes up for it.

The brakes too felt spongy, but that is a typical character of electric and hybrid cars as the brake pedal also regenerates the batteries.

So you don’t really feel the initial bite of the brakes, and if you get caught out by it, you could end up with an expensive repair bill.

But once you learn to trust the brakes though, you realise that behind all that sponginess is the same iconic Porsche anchors that the German marque is so well known for.

We later jumped into the Cayenne for a spot of off-roading.

The off-road section was a purpose built course on the outskirt of the SIC.

The course was initially designed for dirt bikes.

But it was also a perfect place to display the Cayenne’s off-roading abilities.

In just about 300-500 metres, we found out that the Cayenne could hold its own in gravel, some loose mud, and some very uneven surfaces.

This involved some dabbing on the massive touch screen at the centre to raise the ride height of the Cayenne.

And some further dabbing was needed to tell the Cayenne that you were about to take it off-road.

And then you drive.

The off-road section is where the Cayenne truly put on a show as it sent power to wheels that were planted on the ground.

And sent zero power to wheels that were hanging in the air.

Intelligent is an understatement.

But I wasn’t too surprised here, because the Cayenne has already been proven to be a very capable off-roader plenty of times before.

If you didn’t already know, a couple of years ago, a few rally teams had contested the Cayenne in the gruesome Trans-Siberian rally that takes place in Russia, Siberia and Mongolia every spring.

It is a hardcore 4,400km rally where only road-legal cars with a few modifications are allowed.

The Porsche Cayenne won that race three years in a row.

There’s even a special edition Cayenne to commemorate that feat.

So there really is no better testament to the Cayenne’s off-roading capabilities than that.

But the Cayenne is unlikely to be used in such a manner, but just in case you needed to drive your Cayenne to the end of the world, know that you could.

After spending time with the Cayenne, we jumped into the Macan – a baby-SUV named after a Tiger.

This is another SUV that does not need any introduction, but it was a refreshment of sorts to show what it is really capable of doing when the road opens up.

First the Macan GTS.

I love Porsche’s GTS models because it’s a nod to what cars were like in the past.

Fun beasts that make you miss the old times when men drank their whisky (or whiskey if you’re so inclined) without worrying about it being fake, and chased girls without their antics being posted on social media.

There was a time when the GTS models were pure naturally-aspirated models.

But times have changed and the Macan GTS is now a twin-turbo’d V6 model with a 2.9-litre engine putting out 437hp and 550Nm of torque.

It’s still capable of some brutal numbers though with the 0-100km/h sprint seen off in a little over four seconds with a top speed rated at 272km/h.

These are numbers that were once associated with the top of the line Macan Turbo.

Of course, we were not given a chance to fully exploit its potential.

Just enough to tell you that acceleration was fantastic, and that it makes some encouraging sounds along the way, and that for an SUV that weighs a little under two tons, it actually handles quite well.

I was quite surprised by the brakes though because they lacked that initial bite.

Porsche didn’t give us the spec sheet of all the cars we drove but I suspect the Macan GTS had regular brakes fitted rather than the optional Porsche Surface Coated Brakes or the Ceramic Brakes. Both optional of course.

The Macan Turbo though was a whole different ball game, and that’s the car we got to drive next.

The Macan Turbo is the big dog of the Macan line-up. The Macan you want to have.

It offers the same performance figures as the Macan GTS, and that’s because the updated Turbo model is yet to be introduced.

Despite that, the driving experience between the two is vastly different.

Both cars have twin-turbo engines.

But the engine note in the Turbo is deeper while the GTS has a screaming engine note that mimics a naturally-aspirated engine.

It almost sounds like the sound has been artificially induced and piped into the cabin through the speakers, similar to what Porsche has done with the Taycan.

Artificially induced sounds are not new to the industry, but it is a bit of a let down because there’s nothing better than a raw engine note. Not what a car maker thinks an engine should sound like.

But it is what it is.

And that is quickly overlooked as you put your foot down and the car lurches forward before your brain even registers what is going on.

Jumping from the GTS into the Turbo, we really didn’t think the difference will be all that big. But it is truly vast.

Perhaps it is the way that power is delivered, or how the sound is generated. But the performance in the Macan Turbo is how a Porsche should ideally perform.

Brakes too are much more confidence inspiring in the Turbo model we drove.

We found ourselves braking later and turning in deeper into a corner. A true performance machine the Macan Turbo definitely was.

And that is no surprise considering the Turbo is the flagship model of the Macan line up.

Our experience at the Porsche World Road Show at SIC ended with the Macans.

And though it was similar to the one we attended in 2018/2019, it was still perfectly laid out for us to experience Porsches at their finest.

And if there is one thing we can say about modern Porsches, it is that they are a complete paradox.

On one side you have a race car for the road with the GT3.

And on another side you have a tree-hugging electric supercar in the Taycan Turbo S.

Then you have the ultra-capable go anywhere Cayenne.

And the Macans are the cute in betweens if you don’t want something too big but with fun performance.

If there is one car maker that is completely future-proof to whatever may come in the next 10 years, it would be Porsche.

And there are rumours that Porsche may make an entry into the wonderful world of Formula 1.

Either as an engine supplier or as a works team remains to be seen.

Whatever comes, it is an awesome time to be a Porsche owner.

Toyota and Lexus sales in Malaysia mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV. However, demand for the two brands distributed by UMW Toyota Motor remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.

The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups). For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.

Toyota Vios and Hilux bestsellers
Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the bestselling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.

Toyota’s bestselling models in Malaysia – the Vios and Hilux.

“The continued growth of the market is a sign that we are steadily progressing towards recovery. The New Normal means that some things have to be done differently and we have to be conscious of SOPs, and at Toyota, we have adapted our processes accordingly. Customers can visit our showrooms or send their vehicles to authorized service centres with peace of mind that they are protected health-wise,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models. Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.

Countdown to hybrid launch
Preparations are being finalized for the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle in the near future. This will be the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

“Since we opened for bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid, response has been good and we are happy to see that many Malaysians are keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology. Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

ASSB Bukit Raja, Selangor
The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor is now assembling the first Toyota hybrid model in Malaysia, alongside the Vios and Yaris.

“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect. And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Mr. Takeyama added.

The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty. Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit. Customers can also extend their warranty for a further 2 years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.

With Ford having revealed their next generation of the Ranger pick-up truck, Volkswagen is also releasing more details and images of its new Amarok. Why, you may wonder, is Volkswagen associated with Ford’s model reveal? It’s because the two carmakers have been working together on their new pick-up trucks. Ford had previously been collaborating with Mazda for its earlier Rangers, with Mazda’s version known as the BT-50. However, the two companies decided to end that collaboration and Mazda has teamed up with Isuzu, while Ford teamed up with Volkswagen.

Like the Ford-Mazda collaboration, a similar arrangement is now with the German carmaker’s Commercial Vehicles subsidiary. Just how much each party contributes is not known, just as it was never known with Ford and Mazda which had worked together since the first Ranger in the mid-1990s. However, Ford probably brings much truck expertise to the collaboration since it has been making such vehicles for more than 100 years, and it also makes the bestselling truck on the planet (albeit largely in North America).

Volkswagen has not had a strong presence in the truck market and even back in the 1990s, it was taking the Toyota Hilux and rebadging it to sell as a Volkswagen Taro. It developed its own model, the Amarok, ten years ago but that has not made a big impact in the time it has been in the market (over 800,000 sold globally). Now, with the new model to be adapted from the new Ranger, Volkswagen will have a more capable truck to sell. The carmaker is certainly expecting it to impress with numerous innovations.

New Amarok to be built at Ford plant
The Ranger was mainly developed in Australia and Volkswagen adds that there were also project teams in Europe. The Ford models will be built at two production hubs – in Thailand and in South Africa – and Volkswagen says its product will be built in South Africa (at Ford’s plant) as well in Pacheco, Argentina, where the current generation is built. Volkswagen has plant in South Africa as Uitenhage but it is not set up as a truck plant (it makes only the Polo and Cross Polo). Incidentally, Mazda’s new BT-50 is also made at the Isuzu plant in Thailand rather than the original facility which is jointly owned with Ford.

This is considered as the third generation and unless Volkswagen plans on entering more markets with the new Amarok, it will be sold in considerably less than the 180 markets the Ranger is in. It is mainly on sale in South America, Europe, South Africa, Mongolia and  there are plans to sell it in North America.

The new Amarok will be built at Ford’s factory in South Africa (above) which was upgraded this year for the new Ranger. Another production site will be at Volkswagen’s factory in Argentina (below) which builds the current Amarok.

Premium truck
To go on sale in late 2022, the new Amarok is presented as a premium truck and will have ‘clear Volkswagen DNA’, the company stresses. This probably refers largely to aesthetics and perhaps some specific equipment or features. The new vehicle has significantly more driver assistance systems and connectivity than before, which the Ranger is already well known for.

As is the case with shared models, the designers can only individualise areas like the lights and grille, and perhaps some of the bodywork as many of the structural ‘hard points’ are fixed. To alter them means additional engineering work and cost, defeating the benefit of joint development.

The new Amarok will get Volkswagen DNA at the front end and looks a lot more muscular than the model it will replace (below).

‘X design’ and Volkswagen DNA
In the case of the Amarok, Volkswagen is giving it a striking front end with defining ‘X design’, according to Albert-Johann Kirzinger, Head of Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “We’ve given the strength and power of the new Amarok an unambiguous expression – with clear Volkswagen DNA, inside and out.”

“The Amarok makes possible what in many places appears impossible at first sight: it makes things easier for its users by assisting them in their work and everyday lives,” said Dr. Lars Krause, Brand Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “That’s because the Amarok provides solutions that enable our customers to achieve their goals – especially when things get difficult.”

To know more about Volkswagen models available in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is a well-equipped, value-for-money version of the popular pick-up truck sold by Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), Now, there’s an even better Wildtrak and only a limited number of units have been imported from the factory in Thailand.

Known as the Ranger WildTrak Sport, this special edition is priced from RM158,388 (excluding insurance, Peninsular Malaysia private registration). Each new unit is backed by Ford’s manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or 160,000 kms (whichever comes first). Customers will also get an 18-month free service package if they purchase the vehicle before December 31, 2021.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Sport 2021

Exclusive features inside and outside
As a special edition, the Ranger Wildtrak Sport has exclusive features on the exterior as well as inside the double cab. On the outside, the two available colours of Saber and Absolute Black identify the Wildtrak Sport. The dominant grille area has a new design while the door mirrors are finished in Ebony Black. The door handles and rear lift handle also follow the black theme, and likewise for the alloy wheels which are 18 inches in diameter.

The passenger car-like cabin gets illuminated front scuff plates with a logo and the seats have embossed leather upholstery, along with the steering wheel which has stitching.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Sport 2021

Same technical specifications
The technical aspects are the same as the regular Ranger Wildtrak so under the bonnet is the proven 2-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The output of 213 ps/500 Nm means the vehicle can go anywhere easily, especially with its robust and capable 4×4 system.

Besides its performance, the Ranger WildTrak Sport also has smart safety technologies that make it safer when driving. Active safety systems include Autonomous Emergency Braking with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning and Assist. Airbags are installed on the front and sides of the cabin to provide additional protection during collisions.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Sport 2021
Test-drives are also available at the event in 1Utama as well as at showrooms of authorised Ford dealerships nationwide.

“As the country transitions to normalcy, we see the introduction of our New Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition timely, being a perfect addition to our already renowned Ranger portfolio where customers use it for work, family or play,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

Take part in the challenge
The Ranger Wildtrak Sport Special Edition is being introduced to the public at Ford’s first ‘new normal’ roadshow from today until December 12 at the Ground Floor of the Luxe Wing in the 1Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Activities will be broadcast from the event daily so those who cannot be there can still ‘participate’ and stand a chance to win Ford exclusive merchandise. The broadcast is on Facebook Live on Ford Malaysia’s Facebook page.

The public can also participate in the #FORDeverysecondcount social challenge to win Ford exclusive merchandise. This challenge aims to inspire people by asking them to make a montage of 1-second footages expressing the type of life they want to live from now on as we progress towards normalcy, and to include the #FORDeverysecondcount and #fordmalaysia hashtags.

Special offers
Normally, special offers are only available to those who visit events, but authorised Ford dealerships nationwide will also be giving the same offers as the roadshow during the 5-day period. Customers who buy the Ranger WildTrak Sport during this period stand a chance to win with a local Getaway package.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Sport 2021

To know more about the Ranger WildTrak Sport and other versions available, WhatsApp Chat a Ford Ranger Specialist or visit www.sdacford.com.my.

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