There was a time when a SUV was not associated with high speed and high performance. It was a utility vehicle (that’s what the ‘U’ in SUV stands for) and it was intended more for slower off-road motoring than speeding around a racetrack. Then the Germans changed things – carmakers like Porsche and BMW wanted to offer SUVs as their customers wanted them but the performance DNA was too embedded. They could not bring themselves to offer a vehicle with their badge on it that did not have high performance.
BMW didn’t even want to use the term ‘SUV’ and has instead insisted on using SAV – for Sports Activity Vehicle – starting with its X5 in 1999. With its first SUV, the Cayenne, Porsche tried to play down the SUV character in initial communications, introducing the new model as ‘not another new SUV, but another new Porsche’. The company wanted to emphasise that even though it looked like a SUV, it was no less a sportscar like all other Porsches.
High-performance part of DNA
When the first Cayenne was launched, Porsche made sure to take it ‘for a drive’ around the famed (or infamous) Nurburgring Nordschleife. In that first run of a Porsche SUV, the Cayenne Turbo S achieved a lap time of less than 8 minutes. Over the years, Porsche has spent much time at the track nicknamed ‘Green Hell’ and as performance improved, times got quicker.
Recently, the new performance model of the Cayenne (to be launched soon) covered the full lap distance of 20.832 kilometres at Nurburgring in 7:38.925 minutes. The time was registered in the official rankings of Nurburgring GmbH, certified by a notary public and now stands as a new record in the ‘SUV, off-road vehicle, van, pick-up’ category.
“Over the first few metres of the Nordschleife in this Cayenne, you’re tempted to turn around to make sure that you’re really sitting in a spacious SUV. Its high steering precision and stoically stable rear axle gave me a lot of confidence in the Hatzenbach section,” said test driver Lars Kern, who accompanied long periods of the car’s development, of his record drive.
“It changed direction at lightning speed in the fast curves such as between Hohe Acht and Eiskurve, with no wobble and no tendency to understeer. Even in this technical stretch, the Cayenne is a real driver’s car that is easy to control,” according to the test and development driver. “The wheels normally leave the ground at both the Pflanzgarten I and II crests but these sections felt smooth and quiet in this Cayenne. There is a lot of wheel travel, and the body stays solid and controlled. The drivetrain makes a really strong impression. It delivers power in every situation as well as perfect gear changes.”
Cayenne-typical all-rounder
According to Stefan Weckbach, Vice-President Product Line Cayenne, this new Cayenne model promises to be a top performer. During its development, exceptional on-road performance was the focus, which would be expected. “Our record-breaking Cayenne is based on the Cayenne Turbo Coupe, though more systematically designed for maximum longitudinal and lateral dynamics,” he explained.
Kern recorded his fast lap of the Nordschleife with a camouflaged vehicle, equipped with a racing seat and roll-cage for safety reasons. The tyres fitted were 22-inch Pirelli P Zero Corsas that were specially developed for the new Cayenne model and will be fitted as standard.
2-time World Rally Champion and Porsche Brand Ambassador has also completed numerous test laps in the high-performance SUV on the Hockenheimring circuit. Like Kern, Rohrl was also impressed, saying: “The car remains incredibly stable even in fast corners, and its turn-in behaviour is extremely precise. More than ever, you have the feeling that you are sitting in a compact sportscar rather than in a large SUV.”
It is no secret that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is due for an upgrade very soon. The W205 generation C-Class has been around since 2014 and has been a sales success.
The class leading (till the F30 3-Series arrived) C-Class appealed to just about any age group while the AMG Series (C43 and C63) were in a class of their own, in Malaysia at least.
When wheel-to-wheel against the likes of the BMW F30 and the Audi B8, the C-Class stood out as the almost perfect convergence of all that was needed in an executive sedan. Of course, the BMW did ultimately prove to be the better car, but that’s a different story.
Enter the C300, the top of the line model in the none AMG line up.
Priced at RM291,800, it was perfect for those who did not want to dish out some crazy money for an AMG, and yet didn’t want the savings the Hybrid offered. Because you know, Mercedes hybrids haven’t been too well received despite their incredible specifications and fuel savings they offered.
The C300 sold well, it offered a spirited engine in the form of a 2.0-litre, turbocharged unit that puts out 258 hp and 350 Nm of torque.
Decent enough if you ask me, and it also makes a rather pleasing sound during acceleration. Almost sports car-ish.
It has quite a character and the slick shifting 9-speed gearbox too added to the sporting character of the car.
The interior has always been a decent place to be in though I cannot for the life of me accept the plastic feel of the ash wood trimming. It simply feels too cheap for a Mercedes-Benz, entry level sedan or not.
I do however love the Burmester sound system, not only looks great but sounds fantastic as well, and truly makes the interior a nice place to be in.
The C300 has generally done well and towards the end of 2020, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced an update that took away the adaptive suspensions and replaced it with regular coil overs.
The level headed amongst us wouldn’t mind that as adaptive suspensions can be extremely expensive to maintain over the long run. There are instances where owners simply prefer to have the air suspension replaced with coil overs instead of opting for the original.
But the techies who like every possible feature a car can offer will undoubtedly cry foul.
So this then begs the question, is that really a problem?
The short answer is, no. And the long answer: it is not a problem because it is already good enough to begin with.
The suspension is identical to the one in the C200, which in the past has been criticised for being too stiff and too uncomfortable for an executive sedan.
As such, a sporty nature is already well-ingrained into this C300, it feels steady in corners though there is some hefty body roll when pushed a little further. The powertrain and suspension pairing is great, but not quite as spot on as the previous model.
But that also means there is a compromise on comfort. And there is no place where this is most evident than on uneven roads, badly patched surfaces and of course, speed humps that appear out of no where. And our Malaysian roads are full of such surprises, so in reality, the Mercedes-Benz C300 is not a very comfortable car.
And that is what the adaptive suspension has helped to iron that out at the push of a button to select Comfort mode – which would then do as its namesake and absorb bad roads.
But even then, the previous C300 never really did a phenomenal job at that, it was just marginally more comfortable than now.
So which means, that the tradeoff is worth it, and the omission of that suspension saves you about RM15,000.
Yes, there is no doubt that a new C-Class is just around the corner, but if you are not the type that needs to have the latest, then this C300 is undoubtedly a great buy if you can look past the suspension. It’s saving grace is its engine and all that power it produces – it’s no AMG, but it’s still a lot of fun.
Malaysians would remember SsangYong, the Korean brand which was marketed during the 2000s. Like the other Korean carmakers, SsangYong Motor had been in existence for some time before it appeared in Malaysia. SsangYong’s management saw how the other carmakers in their country had already established themselves globally, so SsangYong decided it would move a bit more upmarket than them. In the 1990s, it got Mercedes-Benz technology to use under licence from Daimler-Benz and developed a SUV as well as a large sedan and adapted a Mercedes-Benz van to sell under its own brand.
SsangYong in Malaysia
The model that did well was the Rexton SUV, which was competitively priced and well equipped. Competitive Supreme, the importers and distributors, even had the second generation Rexton II assembled locally as it showed much potential. The company also offered other models in the SsangYong range, but market conditions changed and after a run of some 17 years, sales of SsangYong ceased and the brand faded away from the local market.
During the 2000s, Competitive Supreme, the SsangYong importers and distributors, were very active in building the Korean brand. They were encouraged by the response to the Rexton and decided to have the Rexton II assembled locally (below) at the DRB-HICOM manufacturing complex in Pahang.
From Chinese to Indian owners
SsangYong itself went through difficult times too, and ownership changed hands a few times. China’s SAIC had it for a while and then India’s Mahindra & Mahindra acquired it for US$463.6 million in 2011. It seemed to make steady progress under Mahindra & Mahindra but in December 2020, it was revealed that the company’s debts had accumulated to US$285 million, which it could not repay and therefore had to file for bankruptcy.
SsangYong applied for the court receivership procedure which saw a private rehabilitation program that allows the company to restructure the business while it works with creditors. It is allowed to remain fully operational, business as usual. The company aims to quickly end the rehabilitation procedures and create an environment that leads to a successful M&A (merger & acquisition) by looking for a new investor that will commit to continuous future investment.
Accelerating new vehicle development
Central to its self-rescue plan is a full-scale move towards meeting the future demands of the international automotive market. This involves accelerating new vehicle development in preparation for its future (and also to show potential investors what products can be available). This will also include cost-reduction and system efficiencies achieved through production and human resources management.
The first tangible result is the announcement of SsangYong’s first electric vehicle; developed under the project name of ‘E100’, the Korando e-Motion (shown above) went into full-scale production last Monday, June 14. This is the first mid-sized electric SUV in Korea and its name was the result of a competition run within the company. Brand experts who were consulted expect the name to work well in overseas markets.
Due to restricted supplies of semi-conductors, affecting all manufacturers, the Korando e-Motion is scheduled to be shipped in August for sale in Europe and the UK later in the year. Launch plans for the domestic market will be announced as soon as the availability of semi-conductors becomes clearer.
The company has also announced that it is accelerating the development of its next EV, a medium-sized SUV under the project name ‘J100’, This model (shown in concept for in the sketches above) will be launched in 2022. SsangYong has long been associated with SUVs and it promises to offer a ‘modern, authentic SUV’.
Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected and you will still suffer for a long period after that. Avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others – and get vaccinated.
The current ‘full lockdown’ imposed by the stricter Movement Control Order is expected to affect the retail operations of many businesses. In the auto sector, showrooms must remain closed although aftersales services at service centres are allowed to operate. This will certainly have an effect on the Total Industry Volume (TIV) again, as it did a year ago when sales plummeted to nearly zero.
Best export performance since 2013
Proton cannot escape such effects but it is counting on export sales to help offset the downturn. Its International Sales Division has been recording increased numbers, with May 2021 being the best export sales month since March 2013. A total of 669 vehicles was sent overseas and up to the end of May, the export volume is 174% of the target set and only 6% behind what was achieved for the whole of 2020.
Proton’s growth in export sales is due to growing demand in several key markets, some new and some having sold Protons for decades. For example, Pakistan is a new market for the company and in the first 5 months of 2021, it was by far the best performer.
New Proton models draw crowds at a showroom in Pakistan.
Brunei, which started selling Proton vehicles as far back as 1987, was the third biggest export market by volume this year and in May, importers PAD Motors had the best sales month in the company’s history. In Egypt too, Alpha Ezz El-Arab, the importer and distributor for Proton cars, ordered and received 350 units this year, making it Proton’s second largest export market.
More exports in 2021
“At the beginning of the year, our plan for 2021 was to aggressively grow Proton’s export sales volume. Despite international restrictions and the rising cost of shipping caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we were confident of being able to meet our goals due to the sales plans of our importers and the appeal of our products. After 5 months, however, we are close to doubling the volume target set, which hopefully is a sign for more success in 2021,” said Steven Xu, Director of International Sales.
Although the present situation has slowed down new orders in the domestic market, demand has been high, and Proton’s factory is ready to meet this demand. For export markets, its longer term goals will be met by having some models assembled in certain countries. It has begun local assembly for the Saga in Kenya, and the next market to assemble cars locally will be Pakistan.
X70 SUV will be assembled in Pakistan as well.
“If everything goes to plan our partner in Pakistan, Al-Haj Automotive will begin assembly operations with the Proton Saga by the end of July or early August at its new plant in Karachi. The Proton X70 will be added to their production line later, and we have high hopes this development will spur sales growth in the South Asian region,” said Mr. Xu.
ASEAN sales vital for future growth
While growing sales in export markets is a reassuring sign of wider acceptance of the Proton brand and its products, the key to achieving the company’s long-term goals remains sales growth in ASEAN. The region is hotly contested with many global brands having invested in production facilities that supply local and export markets as well as competition from local manufacturers.
Proton aims to be third bestselling brand in ASEAN and has plans to return to Indonesia and Thailand.
Currently, Proton’s presence in ASEAN is limited to Brunei but the company has plans to return to the two biggest markets in the region – Thailand and Indonesia, in the very near future. “For Proton to be the third best-selling brand in ASEAN, we need to have a major presence in Thailand and Indonesia. As the biggest automotive markets in the region, they offer enormous volume potential, but the level of competition is also very high. For both countries, we have been busy recruiting partners to build a network that ensures a viable business model and in the short term, our target is to return to Thailand in 2022,” Mr. Xu added.
Electrically-powered cars are not new to Volvo but the new C40 Recharge will be the first such vehicle that the public can buy. It’s the first Volvo model in history designed as pure electric only, spearheading the future of the Swedish brand. Its SUV elements and benefits combined with a lower profile means that Volvo Cars also enters a new segment – and it does so with cutting-edge design and features not previously seen on Volvo cars.
“The C40 is a car that symbolises electrification and delivers on it,” said Robin Page, head of design at Volvo Cars. “It has the personality of the XC40, which proved to be attractive to many, but it’s dialled up even more through its dynamic expression and sleek profile. It’s a really attractive product for people who are looking for the easy-to-live-with aspects of an SUV with more of a modern statement.”
Though it seems like a variation of the XC40, it is actually much more that than (apart from the fact that it has an electric powertrain), adopting only the fundamental building blocks of the XC40. Similar to the birth of the XC40, the C40 started as a spontaneous sketch by one of the designers in the team. It was Yury Zamkavenka’s sketch which ‘hit the ground running from the initial idea’, according to T. Jon Mayer, Head of Exterior Design.
“That doesn’t happen very frequently. When it does, it’s always some of the more characterful ideas that flourish, because it’s such a pure statement from that first sketch,” Mayer explained, adding that the uniqueness of the car – its commanding seating position combined with a streamlined form – becomes very clear when it’s on the road next to other cars.
“One of my favourite views of the car is the rear seven-eighths, which gives you a view of the side and the coupé line profile,” he said. “You see the SUV elements as it sits on these really big wheels, and it’s this tough little character but with a very sleek approach to the roof. It’s built upon the solidity of the XC40, but in a more dynamic way. These combinations give it a totally different expression, while still carrying on our DNA.”
Breaking new ground
The idea of breaking new ground with something familiar is mirrored in individual details. For example, the signature Thor’s Hammer headlights are augmented with new pixel LEDs, which automatically adjust to light conditions and switch on and off independently to optimise the light pattern. The equally emblematic vertical rear lights are segmented, providing a testament to the engineering challenge of extending one big lamp along the roofline, while also creating a modern take on a classic design.
The DNA is distinguished by a Scandinavian approach in the form language: sections are shaved and carved out of the solid form, creating a sense of purity and refinement; an understated confidence. “It communicates a solidity, which can also link to a feeling of safety,” Mayer said. “Subconsciously, this is a powerful beast that’s protective, yet we sculpt it in a way to make it as lightweight and efficient as possible.”
Rear ends of C40 Recharge (blue car) and XC40 (silver car).
Nature and light
Using these design principles – as well as inspiration from the Scandinavian landscapes with their quiet atmospheres, light and freedom of space – the confidence of the exterior design is tied together with an interior design characterised by the calming effects of nature. There’s the large, panoramic glass roof that enhances the airiness of the cabin, making the most out of short winter days, while blurring the line between outside and inside during bright summer nights.
“In Sweden, it’s dark and grey most of the year – but when the sun shines, the colours come to life much more vibrantly than anywhere else,” said Lisa Reeves, Head of Interior Design. “The grass looks greener, the sea looks bluer. You see this reflected in the architecture here: houses have a lot of glass, designed to really let in the light and the open floor plans spread the light within the house. Light and nature are strong parts of the culture and are important themes for the C40 interior.”
The Fjord Blue colour, inspired by the deep inlets on the Scandinavian west coast, flows from the exterior and creates a continuation inside by colouring the large swathes of carpet that extends up from the floor to the sides of the tunnel console and the front doors. This provides a foundation for the backlit translucent graphics on the dashboard and front door panels, which are a nod to the dramatic, yet serene mountain sceneries in Sweden’s Abisko national park.
“We traced the topography of the park and used the contours to create an abstract digitalised design with a layered pattern,” explained Rekha Meena, Senior Design Manager, colour and material. “When the light from LED lamps comes through across the surface, it creates this really nice, atmospheric three-dimensional effect.”
Sustainable materials
Hand-in-hand with nature as a source of inspiration is the high amount of sustainable materials used for the interior. The topography trim panels are partly made of recycled plastic, while the carpet is made of 100 per cent recycled PET plastic bottles. The C40 offers Volvo Cars’ first leather-free interior, with one upholstery option containing naturally renewable wool fibres, and a second option using a combination of suede textile (also made of recycled plastic) and micro-tech material.
The layout of the interior gives a sense of organisation and thoughtfulness, where functionality is key. The C40 repeats the XC40’s ‘uncluttering’ approach, providing smart and thoughtful ways to store all important belongings within arm’s length. Minimalism is an overarching theme, which becomes even more evident when looking at the instrument panel.
Symbolism and function
Using renewable and recycled material is one part of the sustainability equation, and the car being fully electric is another. But to really get the message of electrification across, the C40 needs to look the part as well, and it does so with features that blend symbolism and function together.
The new wheel design, influenced by the Volvo 360c concept car from 2018, helps with aerodynamics while creating a dynamic look fitting the driveline; the rear spoiler both characterises and supports downforce on the car; and the roofline boosts aerodynamic efficiency, giving it a functional as well as a visual relationship to range. And then there are the elements where messaging slightly takes the upper hand, like the closed grill and the contrast roof.
“To symbolise the electric car, the face is really important,” said Page. “Part of our design language is about honesty, and the reality is that we don’t need a large air intake for an electric car. This car originates from the XC40 – which does have a grill – so it’s not a case where we can just ignore that and do a super low, fully moulded front. And we wouldn’t want to do that on this car anyway, because the C40 has a characterful face. We achieved a good solution, with strong, pure graphical lines. Together with the contrast roof, which we’ll use to distinguish our 40 cluster electric cars, it’s one of the ingredients that communicates our journey towards full electrification.”
