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McLaren celebrates 1995 Le Mans victory with special edition of 720S

In 1995, McLaren made its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with seven McLaren F1 GTR cars entered in the endurance classic. It was the first time the McLaren F1 GTR had competed in a race of greater than 4 hours’ duration and the first time the production-based machine had competed against sports-prototype cars.

Leading from the second hour of a race held in treacherously-wet conditions, the McLarens dominated from then on with the Ueno Clinic-sponsored car driven by JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya emerging victorious. The trio completed 298 laps – one more than its closest rival. The win headlined a McLaren 1-3-4-5 finish and Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win Le Mans.

This month, the company is celebrating that impressive achievement – victory on its first attempt in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – with a special edition 720S coupe. The 720S Le Mans takes the 720S supercar to a new level of exclusivity.

Each of the Le Mans edition cars carries a dedication plate featuring a ‘McLaren 25 Anniversary Le Mans’ logo. The VIN of each car will begin with 298, in recognition of the number of laps completed by the race-winning F1 GTR.

Powering the 720S Le Mans is the mid-mounted, 720 ps M840T 4.0-litre McLaren engine. The twin-turbocharged V8 propels the car from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 7.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 341 km/h.

A carbonfibre Monocage II central structure and Proactive Chassis Control II suspension system help to ensure that the 720S is the lightest car in its class, with an unparalleled breadth of dynamic ability.

The fully-functional roof scoop channels air to provide additional cooling for the powertrain and helps to drive heat evacuation – ideal for the additional demands of circuit driving. The carbonfibre louvred front fenders reduce aerodynamic lift generated by the rotation of the front wheels, as well as reducing vehicle weight.

Customers have a choice of exterior and interior colour combinations, with all cars featuring a portfolio of unique features as standard. Unique 5-spoke LM wheels echo the design of the #59 F1 GTR wheels and also feature ‘Le Mans’ etching with gold-coloured brake calipers behind them.

The interior has a choice of two bespoke black Alcantara themes with accents in McLaren Orange or Dove Grey. The carbonfibre racing seats have embroidered headrests with ‘McLaren 25 anniversary Le Mans’ logo.

To further enhance the motorsport connection and for track use, a titanium harness bar and 6-point harnesses from the MSO Defined range can be added. Satin finish visual carbonfibre air vents, extended shift paddles and extended sill trim with McLaren branding from the same range are also available, and two option packs of satin finish visual carbonfibre interior components can be specified.

Just 50 units of this Le Mans edition will be available for sale worldwide with a base price starting at £254,500 (about RM1.341 million).

Exclusive McLaren Senna XP cars pay tribute to one of the greatest F1 drivers

Selangor MB visits Toyota assembly plant to see Standard Operating Procedures

Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB), the wholly-owned subsidiary of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) involved in the local assembly of Toyota vehicles, was recently visited by the Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Bin Shari, who was there to personally view the facility’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Accompanied by the top management of UMWT and ASSB, the Menteri Besar was briefed on the best practices and procedures put in place in accordance with the government’s SOPs. During his tour of the plant, which currently assembles the Toyota Yaris and Vios models, he saw various areas such as the motorcycle parking section, staff locker rooms and canteen where changes have been made to meet social distancing requirements.

The ‘new normal’
In accordance with the SOPs, body temperature checks are conducted daily, with hand sanitization and utilization of face masks are made part of the ‘new normal’. In the canteen, the seating has been rearranged to provide distancing and the menu now consists of pre-packed food. Besides staggering working times, new procedures aimed at minimizing interaction so as to reduce the risks of coronavirus spread have also been adopted.

ASSB has also adopted measures from Toyota plants in other countries in response to the pandemic. One example shown was the installation of an additional partition at the Door Assembly Process.

While at the plant, Dato’ Seri Amirudin also visited Toyota Boshoku UMW Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between Toyota Boshoku and UMW Toyota Motor which makes seat sets, door trims, headlinings, package trays for use in many models assembled locally.

PPE production for frontliners
As it has suitable equipment, Toyota Boshoku UMW set up production lines to produce Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which is required by medical staff treating COVID-19 patients. More than 10,000 PPE items consisting of Boot Covers, Head Covers and Gowns were provided by UMWT to the Ministry of Health for distribution to hospitals around the country.

A small ceremony was held for ASSB and Toyota Boshoku UMW to hand over PPE kits to the Menteri Besar as a gesture of goodwill to the Selangor state government. The kits consisted of 100 pieces each of gowns, head covers and boot covers.

“We are grateful to the Selangor State Government for its approval and guidance which enabled ASSB to resume operations after a lengthy shutdown due to the Movement Control Order earlier. Our plant has implemented all the necessary requirements of the Standard Operating Procedures and additionally, we have also adopted some best practices developed by Toyota factories in other countries,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

“Toyota Motor Corporation is also very serious about providing safe and healthy conditions for all employees. As a member of the global Toyota family, ASSB can therefore draw on healthcare advice and best practices from TMC regarding additional measures that can be taken here in Selangor,” added Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

Toyota vehicle assembly in Malaysia resumes, starting with Vios and Yaris models

Update on fuel prices – June 20 to June 26, 2020

Two days left for a chance to win RM100,000 when you spend just RM30!

The exceptional and exclusive Twin Turbo Furious 300+ from Jacob & Co.

In 2019, Bugatti and Jacob & Co. signed a partnership to create unique timepieces. To inaugurate this partnership led by performance, two timepieces were created. These watches, based on the Twin Turbo Furious and the Epic X Chrono, were directly inspired by the unique design and spirit of Bugatti hypercars.

This year, new watches in the Twin Turbo Furious collection are being introduced, as well as now the Bugatti Chiron, a completely new line. After the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, the watchmaker has created the Twin Turbo Furious 300+ – inspired by the fastest hypercar ever created.

Last year, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ made Bugatti the first carmaker to break through the mythical 300 mph (480 km/h) barrier. Behind the steering wheel of the car was Le Mans winner Andy Wallace who set the world speed record at 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h).

Only 3 pieces for sale
In order to celebrate the world’s fastest series production hyper sportscar, Jacob & Co. captured the essence of the Super Sport 300+ in the design as well as the sophisticated technology of their new creation. Only three pieces will be made for sale.

The Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ features a black titanium twin triple-axis tourbillon movement, that includes a decimal minute repeater and a mono-pusher chronograph with reference time. It is housed in a forged carbon and black DLC titanium case, to echo the exposed carbonfibre bodywork of the record-breaking hyper sports car.

Exclusive technology
The presence of a tourbillon in a watch’s movement already places a timepiece among the elite of the watchmaking world. Jacob & Co.’s Twin Turbo Furious goes one step further incorporating two accelerated triple axis tourbillons into its striking design. The tourbillons work together to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement.

Another very rare component is the Twin Turbo Furious 300+’ decimal minute repeater. In order to simplify the audible indication of time, the Twin Turbo Furious chimes on demand the ten minutes intervals after the hours and before the minutes.

“In Jacob & Co., we have found a partner who understands the way we see exclusivity and how every object carrying the Bugatti name has to combine extreme power and the most sophisticated technology with pure luxury and the unmistakable Bugatti aesthetics and elegance. The Twin Turbo Furious is another product created in the spirit of this partnership,” said Bugatti President, Stephan Winkelmann.

A lap in the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport hyper sportscar (w/VIDEO)

Nissan LEAF beats fire and wind in 1-kilometre challenge (w/VIDEO)

In a first-of-its-kind driving contest, Nissan pitched its LEAF – the world’s first mass-market fully-electric vehicle (EV) – against the speed of nature’s powerful elements – fire and wind. The idea of having the challenge was to change the perception that electric vehicles are not dynamic or exciting.

On an enclosed area at Samroiyod Beach along the western side of the Gulf of Thailand, Nissan set up a one kilometre long course. A pyrotechnician’s ‘fire-line’ and a champion kite surfer raced against the LEAF to cross the finish line in the shortest time.

The Nissan LEAF, with its ability to go from standing still to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, raced ahead of its elemental rivals. The quick performance of the EV was made possible by its e-Powertrain. Power from the powerful electric motor goes straight to the wheels to give instant and strong acceleration. Additionally, the LEAF was able to beat both fire and wind in this race due to its light weight.

“Without doubt, electric vehicles are the most environmentally responsible cars of the future. And with this challenge, we aim to show that the Nissan LEAF is simply amazing, not only because of zero-emission, but also being a cool car with mind-blowing acceleration and driving dynamics that can handle any challenge,” said Nirmal Nair, Vice President Marketing, Nissan Asia & Oceania.

The latest Nissan LEAF is available in Malaysia from Edaran Tan Chong Motor. Visit www.nissan.com.my to know more and locate a showroom.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Nissan Leaf – “Simply Electrifying”

Two days left for a chance to win RM100,000 when you spend just RM30!

Tomorrow is the last day for a chance to win up to RM100,000.00 and 200,000 ePoints in the BHPetrol Kaya Raya Contest 2020. The contest, which began on March 15, 2020, requires just a minimum purchase of RM30 (in a single receipt) at participating BHPetrol service stations.

The main prizes are as follow:
1x Grand Prize of RM100,000.00 and 200,000 ePoints
2x First Prizes of RM50,000.00 and 100,000 ePoints
3x Second Prizes of RM20,000.00 and 40,000 ePoints
6x Third Prizes of RM15,000.00 and 30,000 ePoints

Additionally, since the contest began, there have also been 10 weekly prizes of 100,000 ePoints each. BHPetrol ePoints are instantly redeemable for an extensive range of exclusive items and gifts, as well as BHPetrol fuel (RM5 for every 550 ePoints or RM10 for every 950 ePoints). The points can also be accumulated to redeem items features in BHPetrol’s Annual Rewards Catalogue or redeemed via BHPetrol eCard Rewards online.

*Purchases made in the BHPetromart convenience store also qualify for participation Iexcept reloads for Touch’nGo and ePay).*

Participants may submit as many entries as they wish but each entry must be attached with an original BHPetrol sales receipt issued within the Contest Period. Touch’nGo reloads, ePay reloads and car wash payments do not qualify for participation.

To participate, customers have to answer questions on a contest form provided and deposit the form, together with the receipt, in boxes provided at the stations before midnight on June 20, 2020.

Winners for the main prizes will be selected based on a manual draw by BHPetrol. Contest winners will be notified by July 15, 2020 via the contact number or email address they provide on the Contest Entry Form. The results will also be published at www.bhpetrol.com.my.

Weekly prize winners will be notified via the BHPetrol eCard App and/or SMS. The results will also be published at www.bhpetrol.com.my.