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50 years ago – launch of the Lamborghini Countach

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

Although the North American International Auto Show has typically been held in January, it is the Geneva International Motor Show in March which has traditionally been considered the first major international motorshow for the year. The event often sees exotic and futuristic models being displayed and 50 years ago, the undisputed highlight was the Countach LP 500 by Lamborghini. However, the bright yellow sportscar was unveiled at Bertone’s stand so as not to distract attention from the new Miura SV that was making its debut.

Strong, positive response
Response to the Countach was so positive that Lamborghini was convinced it could be a successful production model and quickly set its engineering team to work. The Countach project, internally coded as ‘LP112’, where LP indicated the rear longitudinal position (‘Longitudinale Posteriore’ in Italian) of the 12-cylinder engine, stemmed from Ferruccio Lamborghini’s desire to maintain the image of a company at the forefront of style and technology following the Miura.

How the name was chosen
The origin of the car’s name lies in the dialect of the Piedmont region of Italy. In its final stages of assembly, the car was hidden in a shed for agricultural machinery on a farm near Grugliasco (a province of Turin) to avoid possible work stoppages related to labour unrest, and was ‘discovered’ by a farmer who exclaimed in amazement and enthusiasm, ‘Countach!’ (a word in Piedmontese dialect expressing ‘wonderment’). When Piedmont-born Marcello Gandini became aware of the fact, he thought that this word had a particularly strong communicative force and also convinced Nuccio Bertone, Ferruccio Lamborghini and his engineer colleague, Paolo Stanzani of this.

While the original car that was displayed was eventually destroyed during a crash test in England, the second prototype that was close to the production model was unveiled at the 1973 motorshow in Geneva and also displayed at the Paris Motor Show the same year.

The beautiful, clean, futuristic lines of the Countach were styled by Marcello Gandini, Design Director of Carrozzeria Bertone. Gandini was also responsible for the decision to use the scissor doors, which since that time have characterized the production of Lamborghini’s 12-cylinder models.

The third prototype shown at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show was virtually a pre-production unit of what would come to be the LP400 Countach that went on sale the same year. The LP500, with a more powerful 4.8-litre engine (the LP400 had a 3.9-litre engine) was introduced 8 years later.

LP500 gets bigger engine
The LP 500 was a substantially different car for the LP400, which had a dry weight of around 1,100 kgs. It had a platform frame rather than a tubular one, and on the 12-cylinder engine were air intakes with a shark gill design. Some of the body panels were of kevlar (a high-strength material used for bulletproof vests) and inside, it featured sophisticated electronic instrumentation.

In 1988, Pagani created a restyled version of the Countach which became its 25th Anniversary Edition (shown above). It was regarded as the most refined and possibly the fastest variant of the Countach, able to go from 0 – 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 295 km/h. Between 1980 and 1983, the Countach was also used as the Safety Car during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix.

Lamborghini Countach — *The Countach that was used in ‘The Cannonball Run’ movie.*

A legend in automobile history
From 1974 to 1990, 1,999 Countachs in 5 different series were produced, representing a model that, in addition to ending up displayed on the bedroom walls of an entire generation and being used in dozens of films, allowed Lamborghini to survive the most difficult years of its history and to enter permanently into the halls of legend.

The last front-engined Lamborghini sportscar

FEATURE – The German engine that was born on a Japanese bullet-train

The most common engine layout is the in-line arrangement with the cylinders next to each other in a row. Many people would also be familiar with the vee layout, and Subaru owners would know their engine has a horizontally-opposed arrangement of cylinders. But most motorists would not be familiar with the ‘W’ which is prominently featured in Bugatti and Bentley models.

The initial W engine was conceived in 1997 in an unlikely place far from Germany – a Shinkansen bullet-train running between Tokyo and Nagoya in Japan. Then-Volkswagen CEO, Ferdinand Piech, had been having a conversation with Karl-Heinz Neumann, then head of powertrain development at Volkswagen, and sketched out an idea on an envelope on the fold-out table behind each train seat.

*The sketch by Ferdinand Piech on the back of an envelope which gave birth to the W engine.*

The idea had been in his head for some time and was something like a modular concept. The 6-cylinder VR6 engine was in wide use by Volkswagen by the mid-1990s; its uniquely offset cylinder banks made it compact enough to fit transversely even in small cars like the Golf. By marrying two of the relatively narrow engines in a further vee, a compact 12-cylinder could be made. The offset cylinders of the merged VR6 engines formed a ‘W’.

But what also emerged during the train ride was even more emblematic of the person who drew it: a massive 18-cylinder engine comprising three VR6 engines, configured in a tilted double-W shape. Springing from the back-of-the-envelope sketch into the real world, the W18 was a naturally aspirated 555 bhp, 6.25-litre powerhouse.

Piech was spearheading a growth movement as CEO of Volkswagen AG in the 1990s. As part of that movement, he was seeking a high-end, luxury brand to bring into the fold. Enter Bugatti which Piech’s son had recently insisted his father purchase a model of a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic for him, so the company was on his mind… and it also happened to be for sale. “An amusing stroke of fate,” he would write later in his autobiography.

In 1998. Volkswagen acquired the French car company which had been founded 89 years earlier. Piech immediately set about his goal of restoring Bugatti’s standing as producer of elite, state-of-the-art cars, and the new W18 engine found just the right place to make its debut.

With the aid of automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, the Bugatti EB 118 design prototype was developed within a few short months. With its W18 engine mounted up front, the EB 118 debuted at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. Other concepts followed and by 2000, Piech announced that Bugatti would be launching a car that would be ‘the most exciting, innovative, and unprecedented of all time’. It would have 1,000 metric horsepower, break 250 miles per hour (400 km/h), and accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds.

*Bugatti Veyron showcased the production W engine to the world.*

The Veyron, as the supercar would be known, would need to go through some revisions and refinement on the way to becoming a production model. The most dramatic of these was to its engine; a 2001 concept model, the EB 16:4 Veyron, had a W16 engine—essentially, two V8s joined at a 90-degree angle. Thanks to the W16 cylinder banks being separated at a 15-degree angle, the engine was compact enough to allow for the use of 4 turbochargers (the ‘4’ in ‘16:4’). The stats for the production Veyron were as staggering as promised: 8 litres, quad-turbocharged W16 engine with 987 bhp and 1,250 Nm of torque, 0 – 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, and a top speed of more than 400 km/h. Succeeding Veyron models would eclipse even those numbers.

*W12 engine in the Bentley Continental GT (above) and Audi A8 (below).*

Of course, the W18 and W16 engines weren’t the only Volkswagen efforts to bring W engines to the road. Back in 1997, as Piech was sketching out what would become the W18, he and Giugiaro were also talking about a concept that Piech hoped would become a Volkswagen supercar, featuring a W12 engine. The W12 Syncro debuted the W engine to the world at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, with a W12 Roadster appearing at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show.

The best known W12 concept, however, was the Nardo. Revealed in 2001, the W12 Nardo had a 6-speed manual transmission that sent the 591 bhp from the 6-litre W12 engine to the rear wheels. However, this Volkswagen supercar never materialized in production form although the W engines did appear in some models.

*2001 Volkswagen Nardo prototype with W12 engine.*

2002 Volkswagen W8 Passat — *The rare Volkswagen Passat with a W8 engine which was sold in the early 2000s.*

From 2001 to 2004, a W8 engine was available as an option in the Passat and this particular variant is rare today, sought after by enthusiasts. The W12 saw production in the Phaeton and Touareg, as well as the Audi A8 and in a new generation of Bentley models from 2003 onwards. Spyker also bought a batch of W engines for use in some of its sportscars.

No replacement for displacement? Isuzu destroys that perception!

Honda Jazz ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition

When the Honda Fit – the name for the Jazz in Japan – was launched in 2001, it arrived at a time when consumer tastes were changing. Traditional sedans were no longer appealing and motorists in Japan wanted compact and eco-friendly cars. The Fit proved to be just the sort of car they preferred and not surprisingly, the model outsold the Corolla which had been the bestselling car in Japan year after year since it was launched in 1966. It even became ‘Japan Car of the Year’ for 2001, strong validation of the product concept being right for the times.

The Fit was also right for other markets where small was increasingly preferred as urban conditions became more and more congested. Honda exported the car to many countries, including the big US market. In Malaysia, where it was introduced as the Jazz, its entry was modest as it was an imported CBU model but it still attracted interest due to its practical and innovative features.

Eventually, Honda Malaysia began assembling the model as strong demand was evident, and it has remained a popular hatchback in the local line-up. The current generation in the Malaysian market is the third generation which was launched in 2017. From the line-up of four variants, Honda Malaysia has chosen the Jazz 1.5V for the ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition that will be given away at the end of this month.

Specially for frontliners
In the past year, the heroes in the fight against COVID-19 have been the frontliners, especially those in the healthcare areas. As a way of saying ‘Thank You‘ to these Malaysians for their dedication to protect us and save lives, the Jazz ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition is reserved for a winner from this group that includes those in the Health, Defence, Public Service and Education sectors. They are invited to submit entries and select the ‘FRONTLINERS’ category to identify themselves when filling out their details.

Like the other six Special Edition models, this exclusive Jazz comes in a dual-tone finish with a white body and black roof. At the front, the black grille has a red highlight line running across it and there are also similar red lines on each door mirror. At the rear end too, a red highlight has been added below the bumper. The alloy wheels, finished in black, also have the red highlights.

The Jazz has a spacious platform which provides a roomy interior. Exclusive features within are the ‘1 Million Dreams’ wording embossed on the half-leather front seats, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel has red stitching and a centre mark to indicate to the driver where the front wheels are pointed (which may not always be where the nose is pointed!).

Innovative ULTRA Seats
Right from the start, the Jazz has had ULTRA Seats in the rear and the concept for these seats came about after the leader of the development team and his members spent long hours observing how people use their cars, especially when out shopping. And by simply making it possible to fold the rear seats upwards against the backrests, a taller space was created which would be useful when carrying tall items like plants.

At the same time, the seating layout was also made more versatile with additional variations, including one that allowed stretching out to relax. The interior designers also thoughtfully added grocery hooks to the underside of the ULTRA Seats.

Premium features
With the Jazz 1.5V variant, there are a number of premium features such as paddle shifters, touch controls for the air-conditioning system, engine pushstart button and keyless entry, and cruise control.

The occupants are well protected not just by the tough G-CON structure but also airbags on the front and sides. Active safety systems such as ABS, Vehicle Stability Assist, Brake Assist and Hillstart Assist are provided to ensure that the driver can avoid accidents or maintain control in slippery conditions.

The engine is the familiar SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder unit which produces 120 ps/145 Nm, output that will enable spirited performance as the Jazz has a kerb weight of 1,099 kgs. The Jazz was the first Honda model to introduce the CVT in the Malaysian market and this transmission type remains in use as it promotes fuel efficiency.

While you can’t buy the Jazz Special Edition, there are three variants of the model that you can choose from, with prices starting from RM72,511 (excluding insurance). A MUGEN package is also available, along with optional packages to enhance functionality or looks.

Additional giveaways
Additionally, as part of the ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign, there is the Shopee Coins Giveaway for those who participate in any of the ‘1 Million Dreams’ activities on honda.com.my or at an authorised Honda dealer! Up to 1,000,000 Shopee Coins are being given out to 150 weekly winners.

The lucky winners will be announced at a Grand Finale scheduled to be held by the end of this month.

Visit any authorised Honda dealership nationwide to participate. Locations of dealerships can be found at www.honda.com.my.

The Jazz, also known as the Fit in Japan, was marketed in its home market with the theme of ‘Small is the New Big’, and appealed to a new generation of consumers. It was Japan Car of the Year for 2001 and its successor again won the title in 2007. It appeared in Malaysia in April 2003 as a CBU model imported from Thailand.

*ULTRA Seat concept in the Jazz was one of the clever ideas it had which created more room for carrying tall items like plants.*

The Jazz grew in popularity after the second generation was launched in 2008, offering the nippiness of the hatchback and versatility for many usage requirements. In 2012, local assembly of the Jazz Hybrid (shown above) began at Honda Malaysia’s plant in Melaka and it was the first hybrid model ever assembled in the country. The sporty side of the Jazz was also demonstrated when it was used by the Honda Malaysia team in local races.

*The current Jazz, when launched in 2017, came with Honda’s new advanced Sport Hybrid i-DCD system and Malaysia was the only country outside Japan to introduce this powertrain.*

Summary of New Vehicle Sales & Production – February 2021

After a slow start to the new year, new vehicle sales jumped 30% in February as the buying mood returned, pushing the Total Industry Volume (TIV) to 42,784 units. Of this number, 4,861 units were commercial vehicles )including pick-up trucks). The segment volume was 30% higher than last year, possibly because a year ago, concerns about the pandemic were growing and businesses would have suspended purchases as a precaution.

The higher TIV was also attributed to the easing of the Movement Control Order in some states, making it possible for customers to go to showrooms if they wished. However, many companies have made a big push towards online marketing and have many processes which replace traditional practices where the customers had to personally come to the showroom.

2021 Proton Iriz R3 Limited Edition — *Launch of the Iriz R3 Limited Edition (pictured) and Saga R3 Limited Edition, as well as Special Editions of the Persona and Exora generated excitement in the market in February.*

The backlog of orders for some models also contributed to the increase in new vehicles registered in February. Late last year, sales were brisk and popular models were in short supply and just as when there was the GST-free period some years back, the plants could not ramp up production quickly to meet the sudden rise in demand.

The response from the production side seems to have gained momentum as February output of 45,199 vehicles was a 14% increase compared to January output. And compared to the same month in 2020, the output this year was 12% higher, with commercial vehicles registering a jump of 57%.

For the month of March, it is likely that the TIV will still be climbing, especially if the pandemic situation keeps diminishing in severity and public confidence becomes stronger. March is also the final month for some companies to make the final push to get the best business results for their financial year which ends on March 31.

The appeal of new models being launched will also bring more sales to companies like Perodua which began deliveries of its new Ativa SUV in early March. At the time of writing, we are aware of a couple of other models that will be launched this month too so there should be higher consumer interest which will continue up to the Hari Raya festive period.

Munich Precision Sdn Bhd opens for business, with focus on Continental brands

While owners of new vehicles which are under warranty should (in fact, they are required to) visit authorised service centres of the brand of their vehicle while it is under warranty, there are those who may prefer to have independent workshops look after their vehicle in later years. They may feel that some of these workshops have more personalised services and may also have the perception that the charges are different.

In the old days, before the increased presence of electronic systems in cars, most workshops could service almost any car. The mechanical operation was essentially the same and what counted more was experience than the hardware used. Often, the older the mechanic, the better he seemed to be, probably because he had come across thousands of different problems and found solutions to them in his own way!

Today, however, cars are more complex with computerised systems and advanced engine technology. Diagnostic equipment is needed to properly service the car and a higher level of skill is needed. The days of the young apprentice ‘learning on the job’ and then going on to start his own workshop are gone because of the need for greater technical proficiency and investments in equipment too.

New generation of service centres
This has led to a new generation of service centres which have high level of competence and one of the new ones is Munich Precision Sdn. Bhd. which is located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. As the name suggests, the company’s focus is on Germany brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with ability and equipment to support Porsche, Audi and other continental cars.

Claiming to be ‘uniquely positioned as Malaysia’s most qualified independent operation’, the background of the team members is from the premium automotive industry, with graduate level engineering competence. They offer well over 50 years of combined expertise and considerable practical experience.

Good value services
Munich Precision believes the automotive services industry must be professionally run to ensure the safety and reliability of vehicles, to provide a credible, trustworthy and good value service to customers. It aims to uphold this belief by how it operates and, at the same time, contribute positively and significantly to upgrading the reputation of the independent automotive service industry.

“We believe Malaysian premium car owners are looking for credible service centres where they rightly expect good advice, complete honesty, excellent work quality and competitive pricing,” said Owen Riley, MD of Munich Precision. “Both directors of Munich Precision are already well known in the premium automotive sector in Malaysia and our commitment to authentic customer relations is on record. Now, with Munich Precision we promise to work hard every day to support our customers to the fullest and win their trust.”

Differentiating factors
With an increasing number of electrified vehicles being sold, the time has come for service centres to also be suitable qualified to handle such vehicle. Munich Precision says it is ‘e-Drive Ready’ and is ‘Malaysia’s first true competence centre’ for premium hybrid and electric drive vehicles.

For the convenience of busy customers, the company has a Mobility Service where two of its own cars are available for customers to use in the event their vehicle has to be in the workshop for a while. There are also extended hours up to 8 pm on weekdays for collecting vehicles.

Munich Precision will use genuine parts or OEM parts and provide a warranty after installation – 18 months for genuine parts, 12 months for OEM parts. “We can offer cost options for customers with Original, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or sometimes even carefully selected refurbished parts. We can do diagnosis, recoding and other advanced work,” said Operations Director, Weng Ho.

Don’t overlook brake fluid when servicing your vehicle!

3rd Generation Peugeot 308 makes global debut

As mentioned earlier, the new badge for the Peugeot brand will make its first appearance on the new Peugeot 308, which now enters its third generation. Revealed today, the new hatchback continues to share its appearance with other recent models but has significant change under the skin.

It is a larger car than before, with a wheelbase that is 55 mm longer and the body over it extended a further 110 mm. The beneficiaries are the occupants, especially those in the rear, who have more space. The overall height has also been lowered by up to 20 mm in the interests of aerodynamic efficiency so from being rather bulbous before, it has a sleeker profile.

*The second generation of the 308 which was launched in Malaysia in 2015.*

Further evolution of i-Cockpit
In terms of technology, the new 308 has the latest-generation driving aids and a further evolution of the i-Cockpit with 3D technology. It also comes with i-Connect Advanced, an infotainment system that is said to be intuitive to use and always connected.

Depending on the market, there will be combustion engines – petrol as well as diesel – and also plug-in hybrid powertrains. This is another step towards Peugeot’s aim of offering an electrified variant across its entire model line-up by 2025. It will be interesting to see if we get the hybrid powertrain as a way for Berjaya Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd (BAASB), the new distributor, to discard the legacy of the previous engine. The combustion engines will be a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol unit (108 bhp or 128 bhp), and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel with 128 bhp.

Hot hatch variant with 300 bhp and AWD
Like many new models from the French Group, the new 308 sits on the EMP2 platform – shared with the Citroen C5 Aircross, Vauxhall Grandland and DS 7 Crossback. The hybrid variants are front-wheel drive but there will also be a PSE (Peugeot Sport Engineered) 4-wheel-drive hot hybrid hatch with around 300 bhp.

A late-life update for the outgoing 308 introduced elements of Peugeot’s current i-Cockpit interior layout but the latest generation gains an updated set-up that mirrors the predominantly digital and angular design of other Peugeot interiors.

A key development is the small steering wheel, which features sensors to detect the driver’s grip levels when using driving aids. This downsized, performance-inspired steering wheel houses certain controls for the infotainment system and driver aids. However, the centrally mounted 10-inch touchscreen – angled slightly towards the driver – replaces the majority of physical buttons and switches. A row of so-called ‘i-toggle’ switches below this screen can be individually configured to control separate functions, according to the driver’s preference.

Innovative ‘high-vent’ architecture places the air vents in the optimum position for efficiency and comfort. This layout also ensures that the standard 10-inch central touchscreen, located slightly lower than the digital cluster, is closer to the driver’s hand and eye line for easier and safer operation.

The air conditioning system also benefits from the addition of the AQS (Air Quality System) which constantly monitors the quality of the air entering the vehicle and is capable of activating air recycling on its own. Some variants of the new 308 feature Clean Cabin technology, an air treatment system that automatically filters out polluting gases and particles. The prevailing outside air quality is displayed on the central touchscreen.

The driver gets a new compact control for impulse selection of the modes (Reverse, Neutral, Drive) and two buttons (Parking and Manual) of the 8-speed automatic gearbox. There’s also a Driving Style Selector to choose different driving modes (Electric, Hybrid, Eco, Normal and Sport), depending on the powertrain and driver’s preference.

First model for BAASB?
It’s likely that BAASB will be starting off with this new model, given that it is the first with the new brand identity. Whether it will be assembled locally is the question; Peugeot already has an assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah, and the 308, being a high-volume model, would certainly be a good candidate for adding to the line. That would help to moderate the price and stay competitive.

Peugeot owners in Malaysia asked to update information with new company handling the brand

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