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BMW Art Cars now available for viewing from anywhere in the world and with AR too

BMW’s famous Art Car Collection has been shown at exhibitions around the world (including Malaysia in 2006) and now it is also being presented in augmented reality (AR) for the first time, enabling people all over the world to digitally experience the rolling sculptures.

The move is in time for the 50^th anniversary of the BMW Group’s cultural commitment. The support for cultural institutions and artists around the world and, based on mutual appreciation and curiosity, BMW connects people all over the world.

To put the Art Cars in the digital universe, BMW teamed up with Acute Art which developed an app for the purpose. The Acute Art app uses cutting-edge technology that works best on high-end smartphones with the latest software. The supported devices are iPhone X or newer and Samsung Galaxy S8 or equivalent models. The app requires a phone with at least 4 GB of RAM and the Apple iOS 11 or Android 8.0 Oreo (API 24) operating system. It is free of charge for download from the App Store and Google Play.

Art Cars since 1975
On the initiative of the French racing driver and art lover Herve Poulain and in close collaboration with Jochen Neerpasch, then BMW Motorsport Director, the artist Alexander Calder was asked in 1975 to design Poulain’s BMW racing car. Since then, a total of 19 artists from all over the world have designed BMW automobiles of their time. They showed different artistic statements and reflected cultural and historical developments in art, design and technology.

The first BMW Art Cars will be accessible via the app are the ones done by Alexander Calder (BMW 3.0 CSL, 1975); Michael Jagamara Nelson (BMW M3, 1989); Ken Done (BMW M3, 1989); Matazo Kayama (BMW 535i, 1990); Esther Mahlangu (BMW 525i, 1991); Jeff Koons (BMW M3 GT2, 2010); and John Baldessari (BMW M6 GTLM, 2016). The other Art Cars will be integrated into the Acute Art App every two weeks from today.

The app can be used to place them individually or as a group. For this purpose, the real Art Cars were scanned from numerous angles using the photogrammetry method and every detail of the artistic work and the surface of the car were recorded. The vehicles were then digitally put together to create a realistic AR version of themselves.

Part of BMW’s cultural commitment
“The BMW Art Cars are an essential part of BMW’s 50 years of cultural commitment. They are finally entering the digital world and are accessible everywhere and for everyone. I am thrilled to work with Acute Art as we both strive for innovation and cutting-edge technology. I can hardly wait to place the Art Cars in my living room and get behind the wheel of these extraordinary masterpieces!” said Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for customers, brands and sales.

During this year’s Art Basel in Switzerland, the BMW Group will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its cultural commitment with this interactive exhibition of BMW Art Cars in the Acute Art App. On September 21, in addition to the presentation of the BMW Art Car by Alexander Calder, guests will be invited to experience the BMW Art Cars in a specially created augmented reality area.

Winning design of BMW M4 GT4 livery contest on show at Pavilion KL this Wednesday

Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and you may not show symptoms but spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.

Toyota Megaweb showroom in Tokyo to close at the end of 2021

Car enthusiasts, especially Toyota fans, who have been to Japan would probably have had a chance to visit Megaweb, a huge Toyota showroom in Tokyo. Opened in March 1999, Megaweb is part of a commercial complex known as Palette Town in the Odaiba area that fronts the Tokyo Bay. Although it is described as an amusement theme park, it also has big stores, restaurants, a digital art museum and even a large music space. Almost 127 million people have visited Megaweb to date.

The sad news is that Megaweb will be closing at the end of this year. While the pandemic may have reduced the number of visitors, the reason for closure is said to be related to a move by the owner of Palette Town which wants to redevelop the site as an arena.

‘Look’, ‘Ride’ and ‘Feel’ automobiles
While everyone refers to it as ‘Megaweb’, it is officially the Toyota City Showcase and it offers visitors a chance to ‘Look’, ‘Ride’ and ‘Feel’ automobiles. As a car showroom, the latest Toyota models are on display, with special exhibits related to some of the models. For instance, when the Mirai FCEV was launched, there were displays to provide insights into the hydrogen fuel cell system.

Toyota Megaweb — *A special display showing the hydrogen fuel cell system of the first Mirai FCEV when it was launched 7 years ago.*

The History Garage
The 2-storey History Garage is the most popular area with many classic models of different makes. There are special themes and lots of historical items as well. Many of the displays are parked in front of vintage facades that give just the right atmosphere.

For the ‘Feel’ part, there is a small outdoor driving course where the public can try some of the latest models. Of course, there is also a shop at Megaweb where the usual souvenirs can be purchased as well as performance parts.

AMLUX Tokyo
Before Megaweb, Toyota also had another huge showroom in another part of Tokyo which was in existence from 1990 to 2013. This was called AMLUX and it was developed and owned by a subsidiary of the carmaker. It was conceived in the days before Japan’s ‘Bubble Economy’ burst so it had a certain extravagance. Toyota noted that a trend began to emerge that found consumers thoroughly examining products on their own before purchasing them. To improve recognition of Toyota vehicles in response to this trend, it began to work on creating non-sale showrooms based on a new concept, and AMLUX was a prime example.

AMLUX was intended as a showcase of Toyota vehicles and technology. It had four floors and each floor had a theme, with special displays of old models in the basement. There was even a small cinema with seats that moved and at times, certain smells were introduced if the scene was one of driving through a countryside! There were also restaurants and AMLUX was one of the first auto sector showrooms in Japan where visitors could also dine (Honda was the first to put a restaurant in a showroom).

With increased use of online channels for shopping, which even the auto industry has shifted to, lavish showrooms may not be justifiable. However, people may still want to see the real machines close up, and certainly experience them as well if possible. For the future generation of car enthusiasts, we certainly hope carmakers like Toyota will continue to provide such facilities.

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected and you may suffer for a long period after that. So do your best to avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others, and also get vaccinated.

The all-electric future of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade – but only where market conditions allow. The carmaker, like a few others, understands that there will be some markets where electrification may not be sufficiently wide and conventionally powered vehicles will still be in demand.

Mercedes-Benz began in journey to electrification some years back and by 2022, it will have battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all segments which the brand competes in. From 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures will be electric-only and customers will be able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes.

“The EV shift is picking up speed – especially in the luxury segment, where Mercedes-Benz belongs. The tipping point is getting closer and we will be ready as markets switch to electric-only by the end of this decade,” said Ola Kallenius, CEO of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG. “This step marks a profound reallocation of capital. By managing this faster transformation while safeguarding our profitability targets, we will ensure the enduring success of Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to our highly qualified and motivated workforce, I am convinced that we will be successful in this exciting new era.”

To facilitate this shift, Mercedes-Benz has a comprehensive plan which includes significantly accelerating R&D. In total, investments into battery electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030 will amount to over €40 billion. Accelerating and advancing the EV portfolio plan will bring forward the tipping point for EV adoption.

The Technology Plan
In 2025, Mercedes-Benz will launch three electric-only architectures – MB.EA, AMG.EA and VAN.EA. These will cover a broad spread of products, including those in the commercial vehicle sector. MB.EA will be for all medium to large size passenger cars, establishing a scalable modular system as the electric backbone for the future EV portfolio. AMG-EA, as the three letters hint, will be a dedicated performance electric vehicle platform, while VAN.EA will usher in a new era for purpose-made electric vans and Light Commercial Vehicles.

*The eATS is the engine unit of electric vehicles. The eATS consists essentially of the three subsystems: an electric motor, its power electronics and the transmission part for power-transmission.*

After reorganising its powertrain activities to put planning, development, purchasing and production under one roof, Mercedes-Benz will deepen the level of vertical integration in manufacturing and development, and insource electric drive technology. In-house electric motors, such as the eATS 2.0, are a key part of the strategy with a clear focus on efficiency and the overall cost of the entire system. China, the world’s largest new energy vehicle market, which is home to hundreds of companies and suppliers specialized in EV components and software technologies, is expected to play a key role in accelerating the Mercedes-Benz electrification strategy.

Ensuring supply of batteries
To ensure that there will be an assured supply of batteries, Mercedes-Benz will need a battery capacity of more than 200 Gigawatt hours. This calls for setting up 8 Gigafactories for producing battery cells, and is in addition to the already planned network of 9 plants dedicated to building battery systems.

Battery production is a very important part of electrification since batteries are needed in every vehicle. Mercedes-Benz has already established a network of battery production sites around the world, with the one in Thailand (below) having started operations in 2019.

Next-generation batteries will be highly standardized and suitable for use in more than 90% of all Mercedes-Benz cars and vans while being flexible enough to offer individual solutions to all customers. Cell production will give Mercedes-Benz the opportunity to transform its established powertrain production network. By continuously integrating the most advanced battery cell technology in cars and vans, Mercedes-Benz aims to increase range during the production lifecycle of a model.

The recharging network
For EV owners, the issue of recharging is an important one and unless they can be assured of a convenient and widespread network, switching to an EV will not be readily considered. In this area, Mercedes-Benz is also working on setting new standards in charging that will allow customers to plug-in, charge and unplug without extra steps needed for authentication and payment processing.

As for networks, Mercedes me Charge is already one of the world’s largest charging networks and currently has more than 530,000 AC and DC charging points worldwide. Mercedes-Benz is also working with Shell on expanding the charging network which will have over 30.000 charge points by 2025 in Europe, China, and North America.

Mercedes-EQ EQS – the first luxury EV limousine

Hyundai Grand Starex now equipped with eCall as part of standard Telematics System

Almost everyone has a handphone nowadays so if you are unfortunate to have an accident, you can call for help from anywhere. But what if you are injured and cannot make the call? If you have a Hyundai Grand Starex from Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM), the vehicle will make that emergency call for you, thanks to the Telematics System which HSDM has installed as standard in every Grand Starex sold after May 1, 2021. The Telematics System comes with 6 services – Automatic eCall, Manual eCall, Breakdown Assistance, Service Assist, Connected Security Features/Stolen Vehicle Tracking.

eCall will bring emergency assistance
The Automatic eCall system, which has been required in all vehicles sold in Europe since 2018, is activated when a severe impact is detected by sensors, indicating that the vehicle has been involved in an accident. A SOS call goes on to the Secure Operating Centre (SOC) which will then attempt to contact the owner of the vehicle to check on the situation. Should there be no response, rescue services and the police will be notified to go to the location shown on the tracking device in the vehicle.

If the driver is not hurt, he or she can use the Manual eCall by just pressing the SOS button mounted on the console of the Grand Starex. Once this done, there will be a call from the SOC to find out the nature of the emergency and what sort of assistance is required.

Hyundai Grand Starex with Telematics — *How an eCall system works (image courtesy of Bosch).*

The bCall service will bring breakdown support to where the vehicle is located and if the vehicle is stolen or lost, its location can be identified with the tracking system. Once the location is known, the SOC will coordinate with police and other personnel to recover the vehicle.

Vehicle location and tracking
The Telematics System also comes with a Mobile App that can activate a smart alarm to locate the vehicle with the sound of the horn and signal indicators. This is useful if you are in a large carpark and forgot where you parked the vehicle. If you do not have such a feature, here’s a tip: use your phone to take a picture of a sign nearby which shows the location. This will help you to find the spot or the carpark people will be able to take you there.

The Service Assist feature tracks the vehicle’s mileage via GPS and then sends a note to an authorised Hyundai service centre which will then offer an appointment to the vehicle owner (if a scheduled service is due). The concierge service also includes reminders for the renewal of insurance and roadtax.

Complimentary for 3 years
The Telematics System service is complimentary for the first 3 years. After this period ends, vehicle owners can opt to renew the service for RM380 per year. “Existing Grand Starex owners who are keen to have this system installed in their vehicles can approach any authorised Hyundai service centre to get the Telematics System installed at RM1,998,” said Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM.

The 11-seater Grand Starex MPV is available in two variants, both with 2.5-litre turbodiesel engines and 5-speed automatic transmission. Prices start from RM165,888.00 (excluding insurance) in Peninsula Malaysia) and financing plans offered by HSDM have monthly instalments that start from RM1,348 (terms and conditions apply).

Older Hyundai models can now be covered under HSDM’s Extended Warranty programme

Proton adds 2,000 units of X70 Special Edition to the range

While the market remains in a depressed mood, Proton has introduced a new variant of its popular X70 SUV to cheer things up a bit. The new variant is the X70 Special Edition (SE) and only 2,000 units will be available from the plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

It is priced from RM123,800 (without insurance) and until the end of the year, sales tax is also exempted in full. At this time, as visits to showrooms are not allowed by the government, bookings have to be done online and this can be done with as little as RM99. Customers gets a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage, 5 free labour services and a 5-year data package (T&C applicable).

The exclusiveness starts with the two-tone exterior colour scheme, with a choice of either Ocean Blue (a new addition to the colour palette) or Ruby Red. The roof, rear spoiler and door mirror covers are finished in black, while the 19-inch lightweight sports rims have a new design.

Mechanically, the X70 SE has similar specifications to the 2WD variant with the 1.8-litre TGDi petrol engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission as the powertrain. The engine produces ps/300 Nm, which can take the SUV up to almost 200 km/h while using fuel at a rate of up to 13.2 kms/litre, it is claimed.

Inside, there’s black Nappa leather for the upholstery and for extra comfort, the front seats have internal ventilation. In these times when we are all concerned about air quality and cleanliness, the standard fitment of the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System (P-IAPS) will certainly be appreciated. This system combines the benefits of an N95 cabin filter and air purifier system, offering protection against airborne pollutants and contaminants to improve cabin air quality.

The X70 has the maximum 5-star rating from ASEAN NCAP so the occupants will be well protected in the event of an accident, with the comprehensive list of safety features including 6 SRS airbags around the cabin. Advanced Driver Assistance System help the driver avoid an accident while a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System can alert him or her of potential tyre deflation.

“By adding the Proton X70 Special Edition to our model range, Proton has expanded the upper tier of our target market. While it is a limited production model, we feel strongly that it will appeal to buyers accustomed to vehicles with luxury features who are looking for a new SUV at a great price,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

Proton constructing additional stamping facility at Tanjung Malim factory

McLaren GT Ride-On… the affordable model in the sportscar maker’s range

If you’ve long been thinking of having a McLaren sportscar in your home, it’s easier than you think. Perhaps you’ve never known about the carmaker’s junior Ride-On range which models such as the P1, 720S and Senna. And now comes the latest addition – the McLaren GT.

Based on the lightest and quickest accelerating vehicle in its class, the McLaren GT Ride-On is ahead of the other larger models the carmaker offers today as it is fully electric. Suitable for supercar enthusiasts aged 3 to 6, the GT Ride-On comes with McLaren’s iconic dihedral doors, functional storage compartment and brake pedal with working LED lights

Many options to add
Like all McLarens, the new Ride-On model has an impressive list of standard options including authentic McLaren design detailing. Working dihedral doors make for the ultimate entrance and getaway and a functional storage compartment is ideal for stowing any junior driving essentials.

There’s also a workable dashboard controls with key start that activates McLaren engine sounds. Journeys can also be accompanied by music, played through an infotainment system that can access files from a USB device or SD card with optional MP4 display screen.

The little drivers will get a thrill from the working accelerator with revving sound and brake pedal with brake light function as they speed off on their adventures.

To inspire future enthusiasts
‘’At McLaren Automotive, we aim to inspire the future generation of supercar enthusiasts. The new GT Ride-On allows even the smallest of fans to discover the magic of our pioneering supercars. We’re proud to develop and encourage younger minds and seek to create the next generation of drivers, engineers, and automotive designers,’’ said Hayley Robinson, Merchandise, Licensing & Partnerships Manager at McLaren Automotive.

Available in 6 authentic McLaren colours – Burnished Copper, Silica White, Onyx Black, McLaren Orange, Amaranth Red and Burton Blue – it is priced from £163.00 to £234.00 (around RM840 – RM1,350).