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Hyundai Motor shows creative approach to recycling of automotive materials

Motor vehicles can last a long time but at some point, they will be scrapped and depending on what processes are available, the various parts that were assembled together to form the vehicle will be removed and can be recycled, typically, plastic and metal items as well as batteries and tyres.

With Re:Style 2020, Hyundai Motor Company (in the UK) announces the launch of a creative approach to sustainable fashion by upcycling discarded materials from the automotive manufacturing and scrapping process into marketable products in collaboration with leading artists in eco-friendly design.

Other materials can also be recycled
Re:Style 2020 stems from the recognition that although most of the materials, such as iron and non-ferrous metals, are currently recycled as part of the vehicle scrapping process, there are still some materials such as leather, glass and airbags that end up in landfill. For Re:Style 2020 as well as its past iteration in 2019, the company collected various leftover materials with the help of diverse partners and sent them to the collaborating designers.

Building on the success of its predecessor in 2019, the Re:Style 2020 capsule fashion collection has been created in partnership with renowned trendy fashion brands Alighieri, E.L.V. DENIM, Public School, pushBUTTON, Richard Quinn and Rosie Assoulin.

Sales on Selfridges online store
In view of the current global pandemic, the collection has been presented online this week via Hyundai’s social media channels, as well as those of Britain’s Selfridges and the participating brands. Featuring a variety of products such as jewelry, jumpsuits, working vests, bags and various other clothing made with discarded materials from the automobile production and scrapping process, the event will kick-start sales on the Selfridges online store.

L.V. Denim’s Jumpsuit from upcycled denim and leather scraps from the car manufacturing process (left), and Public School’s Fuji Technical Vest (right) created out of discarded seatbelt webbings and airbag materials.

pushBUTTON’s Work Vest (left) with pockets using airbag materials that keeps the airbag’s original details, and Rosie Assoulin’s Tote Bag made of seatbelt webbings, carpet fabrics and foam repurposed from discarded automotive materials.

“At Hyundai Motor, we understand that ethical consumption and caring for the environment are increasingly important considerations of our customers in the post COVID-19 world. Through Re:Style 2020 we want to offer another way Hyundai Motor can help customers enjoy the sustainable lifestyle they aspire to,” said Wonhong Cho, Executive Vice-President and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai Motor Company.

“By demonstrating that discarded resources can be reimagined into valuable products, Hyundai Motor encourages more industries to see waste as a recreative opportunity and to work collaboratively toward an environmentally accountable and economically efficient future.”

Under its Strategy 2025, Hyundai Motor aims to spearhead a global leadership in zero-emissions and clean mobility by becoming the world’s third-largest automaker of eco-friendly vehicles by 2025.

Click here for other news and articles about Hyundai.

Fuel Price Updates For October 10 – 16, 2020

McLaren’s High-Performance Hybrid supercar in final development phase for 2021 launch

McLaren is in the business of making supercars and even though its cars have all along been powered by internal combustion engines, it is now adapting to the age of electrification. And it intends to also produce cars with the same high performance even if they are electrified.

It has been developing a High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) supercar which has entered the final stages of its development and test programmes, which includes running on public roads. It is not a one-off product and will be launched in the first half of 2021, open a new era of electrification for McLaren following the end of production of its Sports Series range.

*The Sports Series, with models like the 620R, will no longer be produced after 2020.*

The Sports Series designation – introduced in 2015 with the launch of the 570S – ceases from the end of this year with the limited-run, GT4-inspired 620R that will be the last model produced.

New carbonfibre structure
The all-new, supercar will be the first McLaren built on a new carbonfibre structure, christened McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). Optimised for High-Performance Hybrid powertrains and latest-generation driver technologies, the architecture elevates McLaren’s pioneering lightweight chassis technologies to new heights.

Designed, developed and produced in the UK at the state-of-the-art McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC), the all-new flexible structure will underpin the next generation of McLaren hybrid supercars over the coming years.

The High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, which has an all-new V6 internal combustion engine, will sit between the GT and the 720S in the McLaren range.

New kind of McLaren for a new era
“This all-new McLaren supercar is the distillation of everything we have done to date; all that we have learned and achieved,” said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive. “This is a new kind of McLaren for a new era, an extraordinary driver’s car that offers blistering performance as well as an all-electric range capable of covering most urban journeys. We see this new McLaren as a true ‘next generation’ supercar and cannot wait to show it to customers.”

“For us, light-weighting and high-performance hybrid technology go hand-in-hand to achieve better performance as well as more efficient vehicles,” he explained. “Our expertise in lightweight composites and carbonfibre manufacturing, combined with our experience in cutting-edge battery technologies and high-performance hybrid propulsion systems, makes us ideally placed to deliver uncompromised levels of electrified high-performance driving that until now have simply been unattainable.”

Mclaren 765LT introduced to Malaysian market – Priced at RM1,488,000

Sim racers from 5 countries to compete in GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020 this month

With a President who is a racing driver himself, it’s not surprising that Toyota is getting more involved in different forms of motorsport, including the fast-growing digital motor racing or e-motorsports. E-motorsport is one of the key pillars of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) to bring thrill to car enthusiasts and engage those looking to pursue new challenges in the virtual world. Furthermore, the key learnings and real-time experiences gained from the TGR’s motorsport activities remains eminent to the development of Toyota vehicles.

Later this month, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) will bring 15 top e-motorsport players in Asia together for its first virtual motorsport showdown – the GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020.

The regional round on October 25 will see three top challengers from each of the five participating countries – Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and India – will compete online. The winner will be the regional champion who will then go on to participate in the final of the global GR Supra GT Cup 2020 to be held this December.

The GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020, a one-make race championship in Gran Turismo Sport, began in June 2020 with national-level qualifying races hosted by Toyota affiliates in each of the five participating countries.

In Malaysia, hosted by UMW Toyota Motor, the event was known as the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship and the final round was held last month. The top three finalists were Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, Mior Muhammad Hafiz and Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad Suji, who will represent Malaysia in the GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020.

Commenting on the GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020 Regional Round, David Nordstrom, Vice-President of TMAP said: “The GR Supra GT Cup ASIA challenge is all about the power of passion, cars and limitless possibilities and we are excited to engage with the aspiring players in the region. It is a great feeling to race on-line. Indeed, my racing moments on simulator captures some of the exhilaration I have experienced on real racetracks around the world.”

“It’s a feat to have these incredible players competing in the legendary sportscar, THE GR Supra, and we look forward to having fans join us to experience virtual racing with Toyota, by watching the regional finale,” he added.

Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship Grand Final

2021 Porsche Cayenne enhanced with new Premium Package

Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has enhanced its Porsche Cayenne offering with a new Premium Package which provides additional options as standard. These include options that enhance performance and also comfort and motoring enjoyment.

On the technical side is air suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management for dynamic handling and driving comfort as well as 21-inch RS Spyder wheels. The driver will also be able to get the car into a parking bay more easily with ParkAssist with Surround View.

The powertrain available for the Malaysian market is the 3-litre turbocharged V6 engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger. The 340 ps/450 Nm output is delivered to the wheels through an 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission.

Inside, the enhancements now include 4-zone climate control and a BOSE Surround Sound System. The high-powered 710W audio system comes with 14 speakers, including a separate subwoofer, and uses BOSE SoundTrue Enhancement Technology to enhance the quality of sound reproduction.

“There’s nothing quite like a ride in a sportscar, be it for the driver or the passenger, and it’s our goal to share ‘that sportscar feeling’ with more Porsche enthusiasts in Malaysia. The introduction of the new Cayenne Premium Package has enabled us to do that, and we stay committed to finding new ways of bringing fans closer to realising their dreams of owning a Porsche,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.

The Cayenne comes with a 4-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as 4 years of free scheduled service and maintenance. SDAP is now accepting orders for the model which has a base price of RM680,000. Deliveries will begin in 2021.

Click here for more information.

Sime Darby Auto Performance opens largest 3S Porsche Centre in Asia-Pacific

Locally-assembled BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport launched at RM211,367

There was a time when coupes came only with two doors but these days, the same sleek profile can be maintained even with four doors, and the new 218i Gran Coupe M Sport is a fine example of this. The compact model in the 2-Series family was launched today with a pricetag of RM211,367.00 (excluding insurance) and because it is assembled locally, there is full exemption of the 10% sales tax till the end of the year.

The 218i Gran Coupe M Sport has a newly-designed 3-dimensional mesh single-unit kidney grille that is complemented by slim, slanted LED headlights and LED foglights. Its sits low to the road with flared wheelarches and 18-inch M light alloy wheels in double-spoke style 819 M Bicolour within them.

At the rear end are slim wraparound LED taillights connected by a high-gloss black band. The new Gran Coupe also comes equipped with the M Aerodynamics package as a standard, along with the BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line.

In conjunction with the new model’s launch, BMW Group Malaysia also displayed the 218i Gran Coupe M Sport alongside a **fleet of cars camouflaged in unique designs** by local businesses, volunteer groups and Non-Governmental Organisations Komuniti Tukang Jahit, Changgih Designs, INKAA and Kanoe.

1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine
Under the bonnet is a transversely-mounted 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine produces 140 bhp/220 Nm. Its small displacement offers the best of both worlds – a claimed 8.7-second acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 213 km/h, with fuel consumption said to be up to almost 17 kms per litre. A 7-speed Steptronic double-clutch transmission is standard, delivering power to the front wheels.

Drawing on its decades of expertise in driving dynamics, the BMW engineers have ensured that the Gran Coupe offers the sort of performance expected of BMWs. A key contributor is the ARB technology (near-actuator wheel slip limitation) which allows significantly faster and more sensitive control interventions, while minimising understeer usually experienced with FWD vehicles.

The ARB technology features a slip control system positioned directly in the engine control unit which results in shorter signal paths, with reduced engine output as soon as there is a threat of wheel slip on the front wheels.

Modern sporty cockpit
In keeping with the exterior appearance, the cockpit is sportily themed and appointed. There’s a multifunction M leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport seats with Leather Dakota upholstery, and two-zone automatic air conditioning system. Illuminated trim finishers in Illuminated Boston and LED light sources via the Lights Package enhance cabin ambience.

BMW Live Cockpit Plus is composed of an analogue speedometer and tachometer which provides the driver with clear and immediate awareness of road speed and engine speed. The other operating information is displayed on a 5.1-inch, 4:3 portrait-format screen which displays information such as the status of the driver assistance systems and navigation instructions. This is complemented by an 8.8-inch touchscreen control display which can also be managed by the iDrive controller.

The compact dimensions of the Gran Coupe limit boot volume and a maximum of 430 litres is available (but 40 litres more than the 2-Series Coupe). Long items can be stowed if the rear backrests are folded down.

BMW Driving Assistants
The Gran Coupe has three assistance systems – Driving Assistant, Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant. The Driving Assistant includes Lane Change Warning, Crossing Traffic Warning at the rear, Rear Collision Warning, and Speed Limit Assist. It also includes Lane Departure Warning with active steering intervention, as well as the Forward Collision Warning with brake intervention function. The Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant are standard, along with the Active Park Distance Control and a lateral parking aid.

There are five colour choices – Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Snapper Rock Blue, Storm Bay, and Melbourne Red – but the interior is only available in black Leather Dakota upholstery with blue and black highlights.

As with other new BMWs sold through authorised dealers, the 218i Gran Coupe M Sport comes with BMW Group Malaysia’s Premium Ownership benefits such as a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme, Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card and BMW Service Online.