Home - Piston.my

Piston.my

Latest News

New Rolls-Royce Ghost stretched for those who want more space

Before developing the new Ghost, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars consulted its customers extensively to ensure that they would provide exactly the sort of limousine the new generation of buyers expect and would want to own. One of the expectations was for a chauffeur-driven ‘business tool’ during the week to be able to transform into a serenely comfortable and dynamic self-driven saloon for the weekend.

The new Ghost Extended is the answer, offering enhanced rear seating space with no compromise to driving dynamics. It is 170 mm longer than the standard Ghost and the wheelbase has been stretched by the same length to 3465 mm. All the extra space available goes to the rear to create more legroom than any 4-seat sedan.

Engineered, not cut
Unlike some other limousines which gain their extra length by a crude cutting and welding approach (usually done by independent customisation companies), the Ghost Extended’s bodywork is originally engineered as an extended model. Beam-melted metal components are welded to the body-in-white, while parts made by multi-jet fusion and selective laser sintering are individually fitted.

Customer centricity has informed every step of the development process, which led to the Ghost’s minimalist design. The designers worked to cloak the extra length by only extending the rear door and body around the rear door apertures, preserving the lines of the car.

A suite of enhancements to the rear of the cabin reflects Ghost Extended’s flexibility. For the first time, a reclining Serenity Seat can be specified, offering a new dimension of rear seat comfort akin to a business jet cabin environment.

The rear cabin can also alter its environment, transitioning from business to leisure. For celebrating another contract signed or a birthday, there’s a champagne fridge provided between the rear seats. Designed with the advice of a Master Sommelier, the refrigerator operates two cooling modes, chilling to 6 degrees and 11 degrees C., The optimum serving temperatures of non-vintage champagne is around 6 degrees and vintage champagnes is around 11 degrees.

Technology without distraction
Rolls-Royce claims the Ghost is the most technologically advanced car it has ever created for sale. However, technological functions have been deployed with care to reflect customer demand for a serene environment, free from unnecessary distractions. Standard in all Ghosts is the new Micro-Environment Purification System which was described in an earlier article.

[Click here to read more about the technologies in the new Ghost]

A suite of technologies enhances the driving experience in urban and country settings, as well as ensures safe motoring. This includes laser headlights with more than 600 metres of illuminated range and key safety enhancements such as a 7×3 high definition head-up display, vision assist with day and night-time wildlife and pedestrian warning, alertness assistant, active cruise control, collision warning, cross traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning.

A 4-camera imaging system creates a panoramic view with all round-visibility and there’s also a helicopter view (which Rolls-Royce was the first in the world to offer many years ago) to help with parking. However, the owner can also use the self-parking capability and have the car positioned precisely with little personal effort needed.

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost makes its world debut

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program

When UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) started the Toyota Vios Challenge One-Make series, one of the aims was to bring new blood into the racing scene, especially at grassroots level. Now, after three successful seasons, the company is introducing the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. This is aimed at identifying and nurturing young Malaysian racing talent transitioning from karting and sim-racing to saloon car racing.

“One of the principal achievements of the Toyota Vios Challenge has been its ability to not only attract young racers but giving them an equal opportunity to excel competing alongside more experienced racers,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, and Deputy Chairman of UMWT.

GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program — *The six recruits for the program with GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, A. Takeyama (right) and Ravindran K., President of UMWT (left)*.

Young newcomers joining racing series
“In three seasons of the Toyota Vios Challenge, we have noticed a stream of young drivers making their way into the series. Affordability and cost of participation has certainly played a significant part in this but its one-make race format has also provided young drivers as well as newcomers with a fair and level playing field in terms of racing as they compete against more experienced drivers. This and the combination of having to drive in a super competitive environment has resulted in an accelerated learning curve,” said Mr. Takeyama, who also participates in the series.

“The success of the series in nurturing young talent could not have been better validated than with the crowning of 16-year-old Hayden Haikal as the Sporting Class champion in Season 3 with another teenage driver, 18-year-old Bradley Benedict Anthony clinching second place overall in what was only his first year of saloon car racing, both of whom were karters making the transition up to saloon car racing,” he said.

Mr. Takeyama said the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program underlined Toyota’s continued investment and commitment towards the development of Malaysian motorsports.

*The racers will undergo intensive training at the GAZOO Racing School using the race-prepared Toyota Vios model.*

Transition from sim racing and karting
The programme, for those between the ages of 14 and 20, has identified 6 young racers, based on their karting and sim-racing accomplishments, overall performance and level of commitment. They will be coached before being provided with the opportunity to compete in Season 4 of the Toyota Vios Challenge series.

They are sim racers Mika Hakimi (17) and Naquib Azlan (20), and karters Amer Harris (17), Jwan Hii (18), Putera Adam (14) and Troy Eimann (16).

The racers will undergo intensive training both on and off the track under the close guidance of instructors at the GAZOO Racing School beginning this month. They must satisfy a number of criteria before being certified competent to race. As with all racing drivers, they must also fulfil all conditions for the issuance of a national competition license (for circuit racing) by Malaysia’s motorsports-governing body, the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM).

Toyota GR Velocity Championship — *UMWT has been supporting eSports with a championship series that is in its third season this year.*

*The Vios Challenge, which has completed three seasons, has seen a stream of young new racers coming into motorsport.*

Toyota’s growing presence in motorsports
GAZOO Racing and Toyota’s growing presence in Malaysian motorsports has collaboratively helped to develop both the sport and brand as more dynamic, vibrant, emotive and exhilarating entities.

“The commitment from the onset had been to establish an even bigger footprint in Malaysian motorsports and to be in the position to give Malaysian motorsports a further boost. In 3 seasons, we have been able to make an impactful difference by establishing a series that ran on purpose-built street tracks instead of at traditional racing circuits. That successfully attracted not only first-time competitors but also amateur and professional racers to the series. With Season 4, we intend to take this one step further by providing young racers with a gateway into the higher levels of motor racing,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

Season 3 of Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship to run throughout September

First details of new 6th generation BMW M3, to go on sale in early 2021

(more…)

Flux Business Class offers a more cost-effective way of having a vehicle fleet

After going through the COVID-19 pandemic (which has not ended yet), the road ahead for businesses is going to be a challenging one. Virtually all companies have been impacted in various ways, some even having to cease operations. Those that are continuing their business have to optimise financial resources and review their expenses.

For companies which require a fleet of vehicles, there are issues of not just the long-term loan or lease but also maintenance and repair costs. The aim would be to minimise impact on cashflow and also reduce operating costs.

All-inclusive subscription fee
Flux, a 2-year old mobility provider, offers a solution it calls the ‘Flux Business Class’. This is an all-inclusive monthly car subscription service, with the added benefit of being able to enjoy additional tax savings on Flux expenses.

Companies can subscribe to a fleet of cars for just a year or up to three years, so if things don’t go so well, they are not tied to a long-term loan to be repaid or a lease of a few years. Insurance premiums, roadtax, maintenance and wear and tear parts replacement are included in a single monthly price.

Besides not having interest fees, no downpayment is required either. So all the company really has to pay for in monthly operating expenses are fuel purchases, parking charges – and traffic offence fines, of course.

Approved tax deduction
Being an off-balance sheet expense, it is possible to claim a greater amount back as an approved tax deduction compared with capitalising cars as assets. Flux will refresh the fleet so tax deductibility can be enjoyed throughout the subscription tenure.

*All maintenance costs are covered by Flux and if necessary, a courtesy car will be provided.*

The company will never be without a car even when it is being serviced or repaired for a longer period than expected. Flux Business Class benefits include a courtesy car so customers stay mobile.

Customers can choose from a wide range of new and pre-owned models from Japanese, European, Korean and Malaysian brands. SUVs, MPVs and pick-up trucks are also available, and subscriptions start from RM1,805.

13 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line Art Cars for auction in Malaysia

In conjunction with the recent launch of the new Volkswagen Arteon R-Line, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is collaborating with Wei-Ling Gallery to feature the talents of 13 Malaysian artists. The collaboration offers collectors and art enthusiasts the unique opportunity to own scale models of the Arteon that have been transformed by the artists into unique sculptures.

13 Arteon sculptures to be auctioned
The art pieces will be sold via auction, and proceeds from the auction will be channelled to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA). All 13 Arteon sculptures will be available for online viewing and bidding at www.arteonartcar.com or at Wei-Ling Contemporary at The Gardens Mall via appointment by calling 03-2282 8323. Bidding closes on October 1, 2020 at 5 pm.

The Arteon project is an extension of the recent ‘18@8 Turning Points’ exhibition by Wei-Ling Gallery. The exhibition was curated with this idea in mind and explores the 13 artists’ pasts through different philosophical, technical and aesthetic approaches, in the form of thought-provoking art pieces that reflected on this ideology.

Prominent Malaysian artists who participated in this project includes Anurendra Jegadeva and Ivan Lam who recently represented Malaysia at the 58th Venice Art Biennale, Hamidi Hadi, Yau Bee Ling and Choy Chun Wei.

Jegadeva’s Arteon was inspired by ‘A Garland for My Father’, presented as a portrait of his father surrounded by light boxes, featuring archival photos of family members and their Volkswagen Beetle. Wong Chee Meng’s ‘The Yearning Realm’, with a unique painting approach in which layers of images are juxtaposed to form an illusion, reflected onto an Arteon through the same use of red and blue lenses.

Promoting arts and culture
“As a group, Volkswagen continues to promote worldwide support for arts and culture, and we have had collaborations in the past with local talents. Wei-Ling is a household name in the art fraternity here and abroad, and we are thrilled not only to be supporting this effort to deepen people’s understanding to the influence of art in our lives with our latest product, but to also be doing our part for a good cause in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Erik Winter, the Managing Director of VPCM, adding that the all-new Arteon R-Line and the collaboration presented the opportunity for the brand to engage with art fans.

The Arteon
The name of Volkswagen’s flagship model is derived from ‘Art’ – which describes the fastback’s harmonious lines and emotionality – and ‘eon’ which identifies’ it as a premium Volkswagen model.

The Arteon is considered a turning point for the brand as the first of a new generation of Volkswagen models that are more evocative in design and emotionally appealing. The regular retail price is from RM225,490 but with the sales tax exemption, the price is lowered to RM220,043.28 (until December 31, 2020).

Each new Arteon R-Line, powered by a 2.0 TSI 190 ps turbocharged engine, comes with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance, a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years of complimentary roadside assistance. Visit www.volkswagen.com.my to locate an authorised dealership for viewing and test-drives.

Volkswagen R-Line in Malaysia expanded to four models

AMR-C01 – the ultimate racing simulator from Aston Martin

Simulator racing has been growing over the years, both in terms of technological advances that increase realism as well as popularity globally. Companies making the hardware and software for simulators are pushing the envelope further and further, and with the AMR-C01 Racing Simulator, those who want to compete in the virtual or the real world can have the ultimate luxury home simulator.

Designed by Aston Martin and engineered by Curv, the AMR-C01 has a lightweight carbonfibre monocoque structure and utilises the latest technology to provide a fully immersive driving experience for the home user. The seating position mirrors that of the Aston Martin Valkyrie, adding a futuristic hypercar feel to the simulator.

Carbonfibre bodywork
Hand-assembled by Curv Racing Simulators, using the highest quality components and latest Assetto Corsa software, the AMR-C01 has a unique look, thanks to the work of the Aston Martin Design team. Crafted in carbonfibre, the front of bodywork is shaped to invoke the signature Aston Martin Racing grille.

The all-carbonfibre monocoque provides a rigid structure, the design of which also adds to the sporting look of the simulator. As what customers would expect of any Aston Martin car, there is a high level of refinement and surface quality as well as finish.

“This was a challenge for the design team as, although the simulator isn’t a car, it is inspired by our racing cars. It needed to exude the same elegance, boasting the same dynamic lines and balance of proportions as any Aston Martin with a racing lineage. I can picture the AMR-C01 in the most beautiful of residences as a sculptural work of art in its own right,” said Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.

For the love of racing
Curv Racing Simulators is led by Aston Martin works driver, Darren Turner, who is a simulator specialist with over 20 years’ experience in cutting edge Formula 1 simulation. “The AMR-C01 is all about the love of racing. We’ve created a home simulator with incredible immersion that offers users the opportunity to have a great time racing in the virtual world, from the comfort of their own home,” said Turner.

Hypercar experience
“We modelled the driving position on the Aston Martin Valkyrie so users of AMR-C01 can get the full hypercar experience. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve, with design and engineering creating what I believe to be the most beautiful home simulator available,” he added.

Only 150 of these state-of-the-art simulators will be available, each priced from £57,500 (about RM304,000) in the UK. The first units can be delivered during the fourth quarter of this year.