These are difficult times for everyone and reducing expenses is even more important than ever before. To help those who own a Volkswagen vehicle, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has come up with a few initiatives that can save them money and give them some ‘breathing space’.
Extended payment plan with 0% interest plan
Vehicles need to be serviced periodically, even though their usage may have decreased considerably due to the restrictions of Movement Control Orders over the past year.
For those who send their vehicles to selected authorised Volkswagen dealers, there’s a flexible payment plan which allows them to spread out their bill over 6 or 12 months. Even better – no interest rate will be charged (terms and conditions apply). However, payments must be by a credit card.
20% service discount
Those who have registered for Volkswagen Care Plus (VCP) will enjoy more savings. These include three 20% rebate vouchers for maintenance service at authorised Volkswagen service centres. The vouchers can be used from the fifth year of service and the following two services during the period of 3 years. Additionally, customers will enjoy 2 years of free roadside assistance under VCP (terms and conditions apply).
30% discount for repairs
Every ringgit saved is a ringgit earned, and this is the basis of VPCM’s Repair Packages offerings. There’s a 30% discount on selected Repair Packages when they repair their cars at authorised Volkswagen service centres. This is applicable for Volkswagen models older than 5 years.
The Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP)
The Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP) has many benefits which will prove valuable if repair claims are necessary after an accident. If the vehicle is not more than 10 years old, there is no betterment cost for any replacement parts used. The comprehensive coverage includes various value-added services without any extra charges. Additionally, there is an agreed sum and insured value for vehicles up to 10 years old in the event of total loss.
Other VIP benefits include prioritised claim approval, windscreen replacement approval within 2 hours, roadside assistance with 24-hour emergency towing, and assurance that repair work conducted at authorised Volkswagen Body & Paint centres are in accordance with Volkswagen repair standards and only genuine parts are used.
Visit www.volkswagen.com.my for more information or to locate an authorised dealer and service facilities anywhere in Malaysia.
With the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora ending production this year, a single model takes over their places – the new Emira. Apart from being an truly all-new model in over a decade, the Emira also marks the end of an era – that of Lotus sportscars with internal combustion engines. The British carmaker has confirmed that moving forward, the next models appearing later in the decade will be powered only by electricity.
The Emira (which means in ‘commander’ or ‘leader’ in some languages) is the first all-new Lotus sportscar to be developed under Vision80, the company’s strategic plan guiding the transformation of Lotus as it moves towards its 80th anniversary in 2028. Acting as a catalyst to further enhance brand awareness globally, it’s spearheading the repositioning and expansion of the Lotus retail network ahead of the arrival of a family of new vehicles.
“The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus. It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand,” said Matt Windle, MD of Lotus Cars.
New design language
Bridging the transition from one era to a new one, the Emira has new design language, some of which has already been seen on the Evija hypercar. Sculpted surfaces and technical detailing, delivering exotic supercar appeal in the sportscar segment, are complemented by a new and more premium approach for Lotus in terms of forms and materials with higher build quality than ever before.
The influence of the Evija is evident in the fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines. The lineage is even more obvious on the prominent leading edge of the bonnet, with unique-in-class exit vents to guide airflow over the car and optimise aerodynamics. The bonnet houses the current version of the iconic Lotus roundel, its first appearance on a new Lotus sportscar and slightly larger than on previous models.
The fully electric Evija hypercar.
Active aerodynamics unnecessary with clever engineering
Aerodynamics have always been at the heart of the Lotus since the company was founded in 1948, with Colin Chapman coming up with many innovations. It is a philosophy inextricably linked to delivering outstanding performance whether a car is on the road or racetrack. And the approaches taken are kept simple – no active aerodynamics as clever engineering means they’re not needed.
The Emira is the only model in its class to create passive downforce that’s precisely balanced between the front and rear axles at all speeds, perfectly tuned to the weight distribution and suspension geometry of the car. It means as downforce increases with speed, generating exceptional grip through corners, the handling characteristics remain constant, precise and predictable.
Lotus Sports Car Architecture
The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, technology pioneered by Lotus and which remains part of the company’s sportscar DNA. Known as Lotus Sports Car Architecture, it debuted with the Elise. However, for the Emira, every dimension is different to any previous Lotus chassis and it is fabricated in an all-new facility as well.
The car, which has a target weight of 1,405 kgs, has two defined chassis and suspension settings. Tour is tuned for everyday road use, delivering the optimum blend of Lotus dynamic performance and handling with a more comfortable ride. Sports is available with the optional Lotus Drivers Pack and provides a slightly stiffer suspension set-up for enhanced dynamic capability and feel. Hydraulic steering provides excellent feedback for the driver.
Two engine options
Customers will have a choice of two engines, with the familiar Toyota-source, Lotus-engineered supercharged 3.5-litre V6 being available initially. This will produce 360 – 400 bhp and 430 Nm, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time claimed to be less than 4.5 seconds with a top speed of up to 290 km/h.
Mercedes-AMG M139 engine to be offered with the Emira.
The second option will be a Mercedes-AMG 2-litre turbocharged unit, the M139. This is currently the world’s most powerful production 4-cylinder unit. Depending on the state of tune done by Lotus engineers, the German engine could provide up to 416 bhp and will come with AMG’s 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Interior design – a huge leap ahead
Within the 4412 mm long and 1895 mm wide body, the cabin follows traditional Lotus principles of putting the driver at the very centre of the experience. The cockpit environment, with minimum distractions, has essential controls easily reached and efficient ergonomics.
There’s a huge leap forward in all aspects of the cabin, from the contemporary design and quality of materials to the increase in storage space, fit and finish, attention to detail and abundant advanced technology now integrated. The modern technical finishes create a premium experience for the driver – ‘technology with soul’ – and some details added pay tribute to the heritage and sporting success of Lotus.
Examples include the positioning of the gearstick on manual cars, which echoes that of the iconic Esprit, and the semi-exposed gear linkage visible at the base of the centre console on V6 manual cars, as on the Elise and Exige. Adding to the sense of theatre is the protective red cover over the start/stop button.
The early Lotus cars had the bare minimum of equipment in the cabin. It was the trade-off for the exhilarating drive that could be experienced. However, this singlemindedness gradually changed over the decades and comfort and convenience features found their way into the cabin. In the Emira, the two seats have 4-way electric adjustment, with the option to upgrade to a premium sports seat with 12-way electric adjustment.
Besides the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, features available include keyless go, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, electric folding door mirrors, parking sensors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, curtain airbags, launch control, and even a stolen vehicle tracker.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are also provided, such as adaptive cruise control, anti-collision system, fatigue alert, road sign information, vehicle speed limiter, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and lane change assist. Purists may be unhappy about this ‘overload’ of technology but these systems are generally non-intrusive, activating only when needed to prevent an accident.
The first public display of the Emira will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England which starts tomorrow. Orders are now being taken worldwide for the car which has a starting price of 72,000 euros (about RM354,000). The first customers will get their cars from March next year.
Here’s what Jenson Button, former F1 World Champion, says about the Emira: “You always expect a Lotus to have good mechanical grip through the low-speed corners but there was plenty of downforce in the high-speed corners too. That means the feeling of great balance is the same no matter how you’re driving it. It’s exceptional and I’m a big fan. I’m still in shock at the price. Starting at under £60,000, it’s fantastic and means so many people are going to have the opportunity to experience it first-hand. It’s being called a ‘junior supercar’ but it would give a lot of supercars a run for their money… and it’s more comfortable than most of them!”
Shell Malaysia and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Malaysia today hosted a virtual forum in conjunction with the launch of Shell Malaysia’s “The Tree, The Sky, The Sun: A Pathway towards Malaysia’s Carbon Neutral Future”.
The Tree, The Sky, The Sun tells the story of how Malaysia could reach for the sky – becoming carbon-neutral by 2065 – with its unique advantages of tree and sun. Shell’s story illustrates a technically possible yet challenging pathway for this country to meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to keep the rise in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a stretch goal of 1.5°C.
Developed by Shell in consultation with key local stakeholders, Shell’s pathway forum gathered more than 1,500 participants and stakeholders from the government, private sector, media, academia, non-governmental organisations, and energy consumers. The launch also saw a roundtable discussion by the CEO Action Network, featuring energy leaders and representatives from Shell, The Ministry of Environment and Water, Climate Governance Malaysia, and Boston Consulting Group.
Becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050
“It is exciting to see Malaysia having open and more transparent discussions on the true scale of the climate challenge and the actions needed for achieving carbon-neutrality. By publishing The Tree, The Sky, The Sun, Shell hopes to contribute to the national conversation about Malaysia’s energy transition and to the framing of the nation’s priorities in the run-up to COP26 and beyond. This is in line with the global ambition embodied in Shell’s Powering Progress strategy to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050,” said Ivan Tan, Chairman of Shell Malaysia.
“The Tree, The Sky, The Sun combines policy-making with science-based targets to help us all see the benefits and opportunities of a sustainable future more clearly. The support of everyone – from energy producers to energy consumers – will be critical for achieving the milestones described by Shell’s aspirational pathway. We hope today’s gathering will spur more informed conversations about how we can all contribute towards building a carbon-neutral energy system for Malaysia and the world,” explained Marco Winter, Executive Director of MDBC.
5 significant influences to moderate emissions
The pathway described by The Tree, The Sky, The Sun highlights 5 critical ‘increase levers’ that are likely to have the greatest influence on moderating carbon emissions in Malaysia. These levers are: 1) the increase in forest acreage and density; 2) the introduction and gradual increase in the carbon price; 3) the emphasis on energy efficiency; 4) the greater push for electrification; and 5) a more widespread use of renewables, especially solar energy.
Solar has become the country’s single largest source of energy, as coal has been phased out. Factories like this one in Selangor make substantial use of solar energy which is available in abundance with our tropical sunshine.
Shell’s aspirational pathway reveals that the Malaysian energy system of 2065 will look significantly different from today. The economy-wide transformation required to achieve a carbon-neutral state will be underpinned by carbon pricing, or the external cost of carbon, which is phased in starting from 2026, the commencement year of the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026 – 2030). This drives reallocation of capital and resources toward low-carbon and energy-efficient choices.
Renewable energy sources to dominate by 2065
By 2065, renewable sources of energy will dominate a deeply electrified energy system. Solar has become the country’s single largest source of energy, coal has been phased out, while the remaining natural gas in the energy mix acts primarily as a means of supporting the use of renewable energy sources. Biofuel has displaced oil as the preferred liquid fuel for transportation and is used increasingly to meet the demand of difficult-to-electrify sectors such as aviation and shipping.
Reforestation of Malaysia’s land mass can capture up to 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Gains in energy efficiency lead to a marginal increase in the country’s final energy demand, despite healthy economic growth during this period. Any remaining emissions from the energy system are removed by nature or technology – reforestation of an additional 5.8% of Malaysia’s land mass can capture up to 29 million tonnes of CO2 each year, effectively bringing forward Malaysia’s carbon-neutral date by 15 years to 2065.
Major shift required
Ultimately, the point at which Malaysia achieves carbon-neutrality depends on how aggressively these levers discussed are pursued in steering the economy towards a more sustainable post-pandemic recovery. Other pathways are possible and depend on societal and policy preferences, but a major shift in how society produces and consumes energy is required to limit the rise in global temperature and address the risks of climate change.
Crucially, it will take robust policy frameworks and more open public engagement to create societal support for action and enable the development of lower-carbon solutions and green technologies. Strong collaboration across government, business, and society will be crucial to make progress at the pace required for Malaysia’s energy system to be carbon-neutral by 2065.
While the Volkswagen Group is unwilling to sell off Lamborghini (which is in the group via Audi), it has divested its stake in Bugatti and Croatian carmaker Rimac Automobili is taking a controlling stake in the French supercar company. However, rather than referring to it as an acquisition, it is described as ‘combining forces’ since the move will see the creation of a new company known as Bugatti Rimac.
Porsche and Hyundai shareholders as well
As part of the deal, the restructured Rimac Group will be the major shareholder with a 55% stake. Mate Rimac, the founder, will retain his original 37% shareholding in the Rimac Group with Porsche holding 24%, the Hyundai Motor Group having 12% and the remainder of 27% held by other investors.
Rimac’s business of development, production and supply of battery systems, drivetrains and other electric vehicle (EV) components will be handled by Rimac Technology, a newly formed company which will be fully owned by the Rimac Group. Rimac Technology will remain an independent company working with other global carmakers.
Some of Rimac’s clients which draw on its expertise in electric vehicle technology and component production.
Founded in 2009 as one-man garage
Rimac Automobili is a rather young company in the industry, having started in 2009 from a one-man garage. In that short period, his company has grown at ever-increasing speed, specializing in EVs and becoming a consultant for some companies wanting to develop such vehicles but preferring to let a more focussed outfit handle the work.
Bugatti was established in 1909, a hundred years earlier than Rimac.
As CEO of the Rimac Group, 33-year old Mate Rimac will lead the new company and run both Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Technology. Bugatti and Rimac will both continue as separate respective brands, retaining existing production facilities and distribution channels. Bugatti Rimac will develop the future of both Bugatti and Rimac vehicles by joining resources and expertise in R&D, production and other areas.
During the 2015 season of the all-electric single-seater Formula E series, Rimac provided its Concept One prototype (right) for use as the Race Director’s Car.
Going to a new level
Commenting on the development, Rimac said: “This is a truly exciting moment in the short, yet rapidly expanding history of Rimac Automobili. We have gone through so much in such a short space of time, but this new venture takes things to a completely new level. Rimac and Bugatti are a perfect match in terms of what we each bring to the table. As a young, agile and fast-paced automotive and technology company, we have established ourselves as an industry pioneer in electric technologies.”
“We have just launched our latest hypercar – the Nevera – to universal global acclaim. So I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am by the potential of these two incredible brands combining knowledge, technologies and values to create some truly special projects in the future,” he added.
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has announced plans to assemble Toyota hybrid models in Malaysia, joining the still-small group of companies that are doing so. The move is driven by Toyota Motor Corporation’s (TMC) global commitment to deliver ‘mobility for all’ and produce ‘happiness for all’ through its commitment towards a ‘Clean, Safe and Secure Society’.
On a larger scale, TMC is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 in all its processes. Carbon neutrality means almost zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) which is a ‘greenhouse gas’ that is known to have a significant effect on global warming, causing climate change.
TMC’s reduction of CO2 emissions will encompass the lifecycle of manufacturing, transporting, operating, fuel and/or charging, and recycling and disposal of vehicles. This is in line with the global approach towards lifecycle assessments of the potential environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle.
The Prius – one of the many models in Toyota’s range of hybrid electric vehicles.
Full line of Low Emission Vehicles
As part of this strategic initiative, the carmaker will produce a full line-up of Low-Emission Vehicles which will have electrified powertrains. There will be various powertrains to meet diversified mobility demands all over the world as well as the different rates of vehicle electrification.
“Toyota’s global direction is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This is also in line with the Malaysian government’s aspirations to position the country as a progressive nation that promotes more green technology and environmental sustainability,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s Deputy Chairman, Akio Takeyama.
“This is indeed an exciting time for the Malaysian automotive industry and UMW Toyota Motor is fully charged and ready to champion this Malaysian dream. In order to achieve this, the most realistic, practical and immediate solution is Toyota Hybrid Electric technology and vehicles,” he added.
Toyota is among the pioneers of mass-produced hybrid electric vehicles, having started selling them in the late 1990s. The hybrid technology has also been used in Lexus models like the CT-200h (shown below).
A pioneer in hybrid technology
Toyota has long experience in electrification and was a pioneer in the production and marketing of hybrid vehicles. Since the late 1990s, the company has sold more than 17 million hybrid electric vehicles as well as Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) worldwide.
This number of vehicles with low emissions has made Toyota’s cumulative contribution to CO2 reduction amounting to 140 million tonnes of CO2, or approximately 1.5 million conventional passenger vehicles per year over the past 20 years.
The CO2 reduction will continue and even increase as TMC aims to sell 8 million electrified vehicles annually by 2030. In April this year, the company announced an electric vehicle strategy that will see 15 new Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs) introduced by 2025. Including FCEVs, the total number of electrified vehicle models will be 70 by 2025.
Located in Bukit Raja, Selangor, Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of UMW Toyota Motor) currently assembles the Yaris and Vios models. It began operations in January 2019.
RM270 million additional investment
Toyota’s operations in Malaysia, via the 39-year old joint-venture UMWT, will support the ‘big picture’ in achieving carbon neutrality by investing RM270 million in its manufacturing operations. This amount includes, amongst others, the introduction of a new and technologically-advanced generation of hybrid models.
“We are ready [with the introduction of Hybrid Electric Vehicles], and the technology; service support; current infrastructure; global and domestic policies; the level of affordability and cost effectiveness; and, consumer awareness and demand, particularly in Malaysia, are now at its most ideal conditions to pursue a new and exciting journey towards achieving carbon neutrality,” said Mr. Takeyama.
While neighbouring countries are encouraging the introduction full electric vehicles, Mr. Takeyama said that research has shown that the reduction in CO2 emission levels between fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles are almost similar when considering electricity source, and from production and throughout ownership.
For Malaysian consumers, the local assembly of Toyota hybrid vehicles will mean they are offered at a price point that is practical and accessible to the greater masses. “While time is still needed for full electrification, the hybrid electric technology is ready today and the current infrastructure permits it to be rolled out on a greater scale in Malaysia,” added Mr. Takeyama.
The locally-assembled Camry Hybrid introduced in 2015.
The time-frame for the introduction of locally-assembled hybrid models is not known yet, but this will not be the first time that UMWT is selling and assembling hybrid models for the Malaysian market. During the period when the government provided full duty exemption on hybrid and electric vehicles, UMWT imported models such as the Prius, Prius c and Lexus CT-200h. Later on, it assembled the Camry Hybrid which could be sold at a competitive price due to incentives offered by the government.
The investment will be additional to the RM2 billion that was made the construction and commissioning of a second assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor, which began operations in January 2019. The original assembly plant, which continues to operate in Shah Alam, was among the earliest assembly plants in Malaysia and was one of the largest as well.
Other environment-related initiatives
“As a manufacturer, the immediate steps we can take to prevent global warming are to address our vehicles and manufacturing processes. But the initiatives do not and cannot stop here. It involves a conscientious change in mindset in society, educating the young of the importance of protecting the environment and requiring the active participation of all stakeholders,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor
He added that that the interests of both Toyota and UMWT have gone beyond the automotive realm to offset the effects the CO2 emissions. For example, UMWT continues to be at the helm of numerous environmental initiatives. For 20 years, it has organised the Toyota Eco Youth program to cultivating environment consciousness and innovation amongst the youth of the nation involving schools, secondary school students and teachers.
“The ultimate goal will not rest solely on vehicle electrification, but to achieve carbon neutrality and zero emissions on all fronts – from putting cleaner vehicles on the road and addressing manufacturing processes, to helping to create greater awareness for the protection of the environment,” said Mr. Ravindran.
Mr. Ravindran believes the introduction of Hybrid Electric technology will quickly transform the automotive landscape in Malaysia for Malaysians. “We hope that our endeavours to popularise tomorrow’s technology today through the mass introduction of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) will receive due support from the government in the pursuit of a full-scale realisation of vehicle electrification. We hope that the government will also consider UMW Toyota Motor’s efforts to be included in the National Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint alongside Battery Electric Vehicles which is in line with the government’s plans,” he added.
Genesis, the Hyundai Motor Group’s premium luxury brand, is adding a sportier model to its G80 range. To be known as the G80 Sport, it will be launched in the third quarter of this year. No doubt, this model will be an important one for the European market which the Korean brand has just begun entering.
Genesis design identity
The G80 range was launched last March and the G80 Sport uses the same Genesis’ design identity of ‘Athletic Elegance’ but has its own front end design. Additionally, the radiator grille has a dark glossy chrome, and a 3-dimensional wing-shaped front bumper accents the intake grille. Black bezels around the LED headlamps also contribute to the bold and sporty look.
Lower down, the G80 Sport will have exclusive 20-inch dark sputtering alloy wheels with their G-Matrix Pattern and two additional caliper colours offered in black and red.
There is also a unique bumper design at the rear to give a powerful and aggressive appearance. The Genesis designers adjusted the colour of the bootlid molding too, while adding a new diffuser design to the bumper.
The G80 Sport will be available in Cavendish Red, an exclusive new colour. The name is inspired by a cliffside on the north coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada, while the colour was drawn from the area’s famous red cliffs.
Sport-specific equipment
Inside, the G80 Sport receives the Sport model-specific 3-spoke steering wheel, and the dashboard garnish comes in 3 different designs including Sport-exclusive real aluminium, real carbonfibre, and a diamond-patterned hybrid weaving pattern, which will debut for the first time ever in the G80 Sport.
Customers will also be able to choose exclusive seat quilting designs based on their choice of a diamond or V pattern. They have a choice of three interior colour themes, including black monotone with a choice between grey or red stitching, and Sevilla red.
Technical details are likely to be similar to the G80 sedan with additional emphasis on driving dynamics. The G80 Sport will also have Rear Wheel Steering to enhance cornering capabilities. The petrol powertrains available for the sedan are a 304 ps 2.5-litre turbocharged Inline-4 and 380 ps 3.5-litre turbocharged V6, as well as a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 210 ps.
The Genesis story
Genesis initially began as a model name, used for high-end luxury sedan under the Hyundai brand. However, in 2015, the carmaker decided that it should become a standalone brand. This followed the same sort of approach taken by Honda (Acura), Toyota (Lexus) and Nissan (Infiniti) when they wanted to move higher up in the market.
Until this year, Genesis has focussed on the Korean, North American and Russian markets. This year, it has entered China and since last month, it started its entry into Europe. The first European markets are the UK, Germany and Switzerland. Since 2015, Genesis has sold more than 500,000 vehicles, with the G80 accounting for more than half of that number.
