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Fifth generation Kia Sportage revealed – to be locally-assembled in 2022?

Kia Corporation’s popular Sportage model enters its fifth generation with a new design philosophy called ‘Opposites United’. The first official images released show a departure from previous designs with the SUV gaining a more dynamic image.

According to Karim Habib, Kia’s Senior Vice-President and Head of Global Design Centre, the new Sportage isn’t just one step forward but instead moves on to a different level in the SUV class. It’s the result of a collaborative effort between Kia’s global design network which has studios in Korea, Germany, the USA, and China.

“When you see the all-new Sportage in person, with its sleek but powerfully dynamic stance, and when you sit inside the detailed-oriented cabin with its beautifully detailed interior and first-class materials, you’ll see we have achieved those goals and set new benchmarks. In the all-new Sportage, we believe you can see the future of our brand and our products,” he said.

New design philosophy
Revealed earlier this year, ‘Opposites United’ influenced every aspect of its appearance and character of the new Sportage., The principles of this new design philosophy will also guide all future Kia designs, giving them the same basic DNA, strengthening the connection with Kia’s new brand direction, ‘Movement that inspires’.

The front of the new SUV features a detailed-orientated black grille graphic stretching across the width. Like an intricate web, the technical graphic pulls together the main frontal, crafting an imposing front volume. The elongated grille links Kia’s modern signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille –the visual focal point of the car – to the distinctive futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped daytime running lamps adjacent to the headlamps.

The side profile shows clean and refined body surfaces that blend the contrasting volumes together. A first for the Sportage range is a black roof, contrasting to the body colour, to accentuate the sporting profile and highlight the architecturally dynamic C-pillar that encompasses a deconstructed look.

At the rear, broad shoulders give a strong road presence as the muscular swooping fastback flows into the rear lamps. They appear as if they cut into the body with fine precision, forming the outline of the rear lamp graphic and the main section of the tailgate.

Sculpted curved display
Inside, there is a sculpted integrated curved display with a slim touchscreen pad which sweeps almost across the cabin. Finely detailed 3-dimensonal air vents mimic the air flowing from them. Further enhancing passenger convenience, at the rear of the driver and front passenger seats are integrated hanger-type designs within the slim headrests, allowing clothing and handbags to be easily and conveniently hooked into place.

The high-tech touchscreen pad along with the advanced integrated controller act as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality and usability needs. Both systems have been created to be easy-to-use, highly intuitive and soft to touch while a shift-by-wire transmission dial makes operation easier.

To be assembled in Malaysia too?
The global market launch will take place later this year with progressive introductions in various markets. This new model could well be among those that the new representative of Kia in Malaysia – Bermaz Auto (BAuto) – will assemble locally next year. A subsidiary of BAuto, Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd (DMSB), will act as the sole distributor of the Korean vehicles. Newly-formed Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Kia Motors, will manage the assembly operations which will be at the Inokom plant in Kedah.

In the meantime, Kia owners are urged to provide their contact details to DMSB so that they can be contacted in future. This is especially important for those who have vehicles that still have warranties in effect (which will continue to be honoured). To register contact information, click here.

*First and second generation of Sportage (above), and the third and fourth generation (below).*

Kia introduces new corporate logo as part of bold transformation move

Toyota and Lexus owners assured of assistance and support during FMCO

Like many companies in various industries across the country, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) is abiding by the requirements of the full Movement Control Order (FMCO), which started on June 1, 2021, by temporarily suspending all its sales and manufacturing operations. However, while all non-essential services remain closed, Toyota and Lexus owners can still be assured of support for vehicle emergencies and breakdowns.

Assistance and support for owners
“The past few weeks have been challenging for all of us. During these difficult times, we at Toyota and Lexus stand with all of you in solidarity in our fight against the pandemic. We have temporarily shut down our non-essential services. At the same time, we understand that during this time of uncertainty, we can still be of assistance and support. This is why we continue to be here for vehicle emergencies and breakdown,’ said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

*Although Toyota and Lexus outlets are closed in compliance with the FMCO, owners can still get emergency assistance by calling the Hotline number below.*

Warranty will be extended
He added that all vehicles purchased from UMW Toyota Motor or its authorised dealers nationwide which have warranties that are expiring during this period will enjoy a 30-day extension calculated from the last day of the MCO.

“We are extremely grateful to the Government for taking numerous intervention measures to not only safeguard Malaysians from the threat of the pandemic, but in introducing financial and industrial policies to ensure that the pandemic does not have a too severe impact on the economy. This includes a further extension of the SST (Sales & Service Tax) exemption which we believe has, and will continue, to contribute significantly towards restoring consumer purchasing confidence,” added UMW Toyota Motor’s Deputy Chairman, Akio Takeyama.

Recovering consumer purchasing confidence
UMWT has seen clear signs of consumer purchasing confidence improving with the sales of its Toyota and Lexus vehicles rising for many months now. In May, 7,595 units of vehicles from the two brands were delivered. The volume was largely driven by models such as the Vios sedan which accounted for 32% of sales, followed by the Yaris hatchback (25%) and the Hilux pick-up truck which contributed 21% of the units sold in May.

*Vios was company’s bestselling model in May, accounting for about a third of total sales.*

Mr. Takeyama added that the impact of the pandemic has been both unpredictable and unprecedented, but the introduction of several new models throughout the year combined with the SST incentives for consumers has helped the local automotive industry to navigate the storm in a position of strength.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ravindran said the company will continue to extend service excellence to all customers and continue to introduce numerous sales and aftersales initiatives to assist with savings in these difficult times. “We are here for you. This is an effort that is not only solely on the shoulders of the government, but it involves everyone and all stakeholders. We thank our customers for their continued support and in return, rest assured that we will continue to support you through these challenging times,” he said.

Toyota Boshoku UMW — *Last year. a subsidiary of UMW Toyota Motor made Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontliners who needed them urgently.*

‘Thank you’ to frontliners
UMW Toyota Motor encourages everyone to stay home, stay safe and to take care of one another. It assures all customers that support, where necessary, will be provided during this period. “To all of our healthcare workers and those upholding peace and order in every way big and small, we owe each of you a profound debt of appreciation and gratitude for your selfless service. We would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ you to all of you,” said Mr. Ravindran.

War on COVID-19: Toyota Boshoku UMW makes PPE for frontliners

Nissan ‘Great Rewards’ campaign offers special deals besides savings on sales tax

With the exemption of sales tax extended till the end of 2021 (from its original date of June 30), car-buyers will be able to save money on their purchases. Besides enjoying these savings, they can also get special deals from Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) when purchasing new Nissan models.

The company’s latest Nissan ‘Great Rewards’ campaign offers sales tax savings, low monthly instalments with Flexi Financing program and accessories or maintenance packages.

For example, the latest Almera 1.0 Turbo now comes with an Urban accessories package worth up to RM5,500 and with the Flexi Financing offer, the instalment will be RM530 each month (terms and conditions apply).

There is also a new Special Civil Servants Promotion for the Almera 1.0 Turbo VL variant with a starting price from RM71,906.

2020 Nissan Almera Turbo — *Almera Turbo*

Those who have want a more versatile and tough off-road capable vehicle can consider the latest Navara. The 4×4 2.5-litre Turbo Double-Cab Pick-up comes with many best-in-class technologies, including an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility driver-assist features and safety systems. The monthly instalment for this model can be from RM960 using Flexi Financing.

Other Nissan models with special models are the X-Trail and Serena S-Hybrid. For the X-Trail, ETCM is offering an IMPUL or Aero Edition accessories package (worth up to RM5,600) and Flexi Financing that starts from RM1,020 monthly. The Serena S-Hybrid comes with 3 years of free scheduled maintenance and service with parts and labour included. Using Flexi Financing means the instalment can be RM1,080 monthly.

As showrooms are presently closed, interested customers can visit the Nissan Flagship Store at Lazada where they can not only find out about the many models available but also make bookings for just RM250 to initiate the purchase process.

Other channels for information on Nissan products and services in Malaysia are the Nissan Online Showroom as well as the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline 1800-88-3838.

How the new Nissan Almera Turbo is contributing to road safety

Track-only Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 with full carbon chassis meets FIA Hypercar safety standards

With 30 years of experience in using composite materials in the automotive field, it’s not surprising that Lamborghini is the first carmaker to have a car on the market with a carbonfibre roll-cage homologated according to the FIA Hypercar safety standards. The model is the Essenza SCV12 which was developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse and designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile as the direct descendant of cars such as the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR.

‘Laboratory of ideas’
“The Essenza SCV12 was born as a ‘laboratory of ideas’. This allowed us to use technical solutions usually found in racing prototypes, such as the suspension installed directly on the load-bearing gearbox, which is an innovative solution for a GT car. In addition, it features the new carbonfibre monocoque chassis without steel roll- cage, resulting from technical collaboration with the FIA, thanks to which we’ve started a process that will lead to an exponential improvement in safety for GT racing drivers in the future,” said Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport.

Rigorous testing to meet standards
The carbonfibre chassis has been subjected to the testing required by the FIA for chassis homologation. This testing is extremely rigorous, involving both static and dynamic tests, and required Lamborghini Squadra Corse technicians to extensively modify the structure of the production chassis from which the Essenza SCV12 chassis is derived.

The carbonfibre monocoque was reinforced in several points, having to withstand forces of over 12 tons during the FIA homologation tests without presenting significant deformations. There are more than 20 static tests which, in addition to the chassis, involve the pedals, seatbelts and fuel tank. The dynamic crash tests, on the other hand, involve impacts at speeds of up to 14 metres/second. In this type of test, the chassis must not be subjected to any intrusion of external elements that could come into contact with the driver, and the fuel tank must not leak.

Saving weight and space
The decision of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse technicians to maintain the carbonfibre structure, ie not mounting a steel roll-cage, was a benefit in terms of overall weight, along with the use of innovative laminated foams inside the chassis (ROHACELL 71 XT). This also provided a significant increase in cockpit space for optimal driving comfort.

In the Essenza SCV12, the driver sits on an OMP FIA 8862 homologated seat, mounted on carbonfibre cradles designed by Squadra Corse and produced in Lamborghini’s CFK laboratories. The seat has been lowered compared to the road models and the driver and passenger are protected on the door side by two side impact guards, also made of composite material, which replace the classic steel tubes found in racing cars.

Another new solution is the cradle situated in the rear part of the monocoque, which houses the engine perfectly positioned on the longitudinal axis, while the gearbox has a load-bearing and structural function. This characteristic also made it possible to achieve torsional stiffness values 20% higher than those of the Huracan GT3 EVO.

“Along with the aerodynamic load of over 1,200 kgs at top speed, the torsional stiffness of the car contributes to ensuring extraordinary driving precision,” explained Marco Mapelli. “This makes it possible for the driver to tackle curves at speed without any appreciable correction of the steering angle. Essenza SCV12 is a very fast car, thanks to the extraordinary thrust of the 830 bhp engine, and it’s relatively easy to drive.”

Only for track use
The track-only hypercar, limited to 40 units, has the most powerful V12 naturally-aspirated engine ever developed by Lamborghini, combined with aerodynamics inspired by racing prototypes and new technical solutions designed for the ultimate driving experience.

The first units of Essenza SCV12 were delivered to customers about 2 months ago and the dedicated program of track events will start at the end of this month. Essenza SCV12 owners will become part of an exclusive club that will give them access to special programs to drive their hypercar on the most prestigious circuits in the world. The program includes storage service in a new hangar built in Sant’Agata Bolognese for the Essenza SCV12 club. Each car will have a personalized garage and dedicated services, including webcams to allow customers to monitor their cars 24 hours a day using an app.

Are you good enough to be a Lamborghini Official Sim driver?

2021 Rimac Nevera – the 412 km/h hypercar from Croatia

Croatia, a country across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, is not a particularly large country. Its population of 4.13 million is less than Singapore’s 5 million+ and annual sales volume has been around 63,000 units (apart from last year when new vehicle sales contracted worldwide due to the pandemic). It has a fairly active auto industry with many factories producing autoparts for export as well as a few domestic carmakers.

Notable among these is 11-year old Rimac Automobil, an ambitious carmaker which specialises in high-performance electric cars. Its earlier Concept One gained global exposure as an official track car during the first season of the all-electric Formula E championship in 2014. Since then, the company has continued to develop models with new technology and its latest is the Nevera hypercar. The Nevera is the production-ready iteration of the Rimac C_Two concept car, which was revealed at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2018. Since then, Rimac’s engineers have refined their new flagship through an extensive development program.

A 10-year ‘impossible’ journey
“This is it. This is the car I had in mind when I embarked on the ‘impossible’ journey ten years ago. All our hard work has resulted in the Nevera – our record-breaking hypercar. This car was born to outperform, and to raise the bar, redefining the norm for performance cars. And not only in performance – but as an all-around package,” said Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of the company.

“The Nevera proves what is possible when there are no restraints placed on technology, development, or ambition. We have now unveiled a car that pushes the hypercar market to a higher level, we have utilized the full potential of the electric powertrain today, proving what we’ve always been saying – that electric hypercar, in the form of the Nevera, is beyond exciting, and that is as thrilling on the track, as it is crossing continents,” he said.

Signature ‘cravat’ feature
Rimac favours lean and effective engineering at every stage, and that philosophy is exemplified in the form-follows-function nature of the Nevera’s design. It is applied to every single detail, including the car’s signature ‘cravat’ feature, which is incorporated into its flanks. It is functional too, serving as an air intake for the rear cooling systems.

As the design evolved, many changes were made to the Nevera’s bodywork; for example, the redesigned air diffusers and intakes deliver a 34% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency over the early prototypes. The profile of the bonnet, the shape of the pillars and the design of the diffusers, splitters and radiators have all been intensively analysed and refined to improve airflow and downforce. Inlets and cooling channels have been painstakingly developed to increase the cooling efficiency of both the brake and powertrain systems, resulting in a 30% improvement at low speeds and a 7% enhancement at high speeds.

Rimac has also created many new innovative active aerodynamic elements for better cooling, performance, stability, and efficiency. The front bonnet profile, underbody flap, rear diffuser and rear wing can each move independently, driven by complex algorithms that provided the optimum aerodynamic configuration for every driving situation. Switching from ‘high downforce’ to ‘low drag’ mode reduces aerodynamic drag by 17.5% to create a drag value of 0.3 Cd. Changing back into ‘high downforce’ mode increases downforce by 326%.

World’s most advanced monocoque construction
The hypercar’s groundbreaking monocoque incorporates a bonded carbonfibre roof, integrated structural battery pack and rear carbonfibre subframe. This is believed to be the largest single carbonfibre piece in the entire automotive industry. Weighing less than 200 kgs and utilising 2,200 carbon fibre plies with 222 aluminium inserts, the monocoque encases the car’s battery to form a compact yet incredibly strong structure.

Powertrain developed in-house
The key to the Nevera’s high performance is Rimac’s pioneering electric powertrain. The unique H-shaped, liquid-cooled, 120kWh, 6960-cell battery pack was designed from scratch by. Capable of producing 1.4MW of power, the lithium-manganese-nickel battery pack also forms an integral part of the car’s core, adding 37% structural stiffness to the carbonfibre monocoque.

The battery pack’s optimum positioning low and central within the car’s floor contributes to an ultra-low centre of gravity. This helps create an excellent 48:52 front/rear weight distribution and the best possible handling balance. High-power recharging can ‘refuel’ an empty battery pack to 80% in 19 minutes, it is claimed, and the range is 550 kms.

Four bespoke surface-mounted permanent magnet motors drive the four wheels individually. Together, they generate 1,914 hp and 2,360Nm of torque, which is triple the output of a ‘conventional–engined’ supercar. The front and rear wheels are each connected to a pair of single-speed gearboxes. The electric motors are 97% efficient and completely maintenance-free throughout their operating life. The Nevera is claimed to take 1.85 seconds from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) and if there is a road which is long enough – and no speedtraps – it should be able to reach a maximum speed of 412 km/h.

An experienced person will find the available driving modes useful for a more engaging drive. The SPORT mode sharpens the response of the throttle, brakes, suspension and steering, while DRIFT mode sends more torque to the rear wheels to accentuate oversteer and help hold the car in a controlled power slide on the track. In expert hands, TRACK mode sets the Nevera to full, unrestrained configuration to allow drivers to exploit the car’s full potential.

Minimalist design cabin
The Nevera is as much a capable grand tourer as it is a performance hypercar with space for two occupants and their luggage. Configured for both track driving and comfort, the layout of the cockpit is divided into two zones. Digital screens eliminate switchgear, with only essential tactile controls present, thereby freeing up space.

The cockpit features a trio of high-definition TFT screens, which present as much, or as little, information as the user requires. The focus of the top segment is entirely placed on driving pleasure and performance, while the lower part houses the infotainment system, comfort controls and driving data. From the cockpit, the driver can monitor every aspect of the car’s performance with real-time telemetry – downloadable to a laptop or smartphone for later review.

World’s first AI Driving Coach
To enable drivers to extract maximum performance and help them further develop their track driving skills, Rimac has developed the world’s first AI (Artificial Intelligence) Driver Coach. Using 12 ultrasonic sensors, 13 cameras, 6 radars, and the very latest NVIDIA Pegasus operating system, the Rimac Driving Coach adds an additional, immersive experience behind the wheel. The system overlays selected race circuits in real-time, offering clear and precise audio and visual guidance, to enable drivers to perfect their racing lines, braking and acceleration points and steering inputs.

Only 150 units will be available and no two Neveras will leave the factory looking the same or bearing the same specification. The customer will have the ability to choose from a comprehensive range of bespoke trims and material options. In addition to the company’s premium individual personalisation program, Rimac will offer its flagship in various editions: GT, Signature, Timeless or Bespoke. The price of a Nevera starts at 2 million euros (around RM10 million) but after all the personalisation, the final amount will obviously be more.

Aspark Owl – first Japanese electric hypercar – claims acceleration record

Ferrari SF90 Spider hybrid supercar now in Malaysia

Ferrari had prototypes of hybrid powertrains over 10 years ago and last year finally put a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) into production as the SF90 Stradale – the Italian carmaker’s first hybrid supercar. Together with the Stradale came the SF90 Spider, its first hybrid supercar with a retractable hard top (RHT) and this new model is now available in Malaysia from RM2,088,000 (excluding duties, taxes and insurance).

Simple and light RHT
The RHT is simple in design and can open or close within 14 seconds, with operation possible even when the car is on the move. The use of aluminium in its construction also means that it is around 40 kgs lighter than a conventional retractable hardtop while taking up less storage space. Its compactness requires just 100 litres of space, rather than the 150 – 200 litres required by a traditional system.

Ferrari guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when the RHT is raised, and it will not deform at high speeds. An adjustable electric rear window also enhances occupant comfort, even when the RHT is lowered at higher speeds.

Hybrid architecture
In a first for a Ferrari production spider, the SF90 Spider has plug-in hybrid architecture in which the internal combustion engine is integrated with two electric motors at the front and one at the rear derived from and named after the MGUK (Motor Generator Unit, Kinetic) used in Ferrari’s F1 cars. The synergy between the turbocharged V8 petrol engine and the electric motors generates a maximum of 1,000 ps/900 Nm, more than any other V8 turbo engine ever built by Ferrari.

The hybrid architecture proved a challenge in terms of weight management. While the extra 270 kgs of the hybrid system was amply compensated for by the extra power delivered, extensive optimisation and weight reduction work was also required on the rest of the car to keep overall weight down to 1,670 kgs.

Just as the SF90 Stradale redefined the aerodynamic performance levels of the Ferrari range, the SF90 Spider is pushing the limits of the results delivered still further. The goals that drove the aerodynamic development of the car from the very earliest stages were maintaining the SF90 Stradale’s performance levels with the RHT deployed, minimising aerodynamic turbulence and noise with the RHT retracted, and optimising power flows. Up to 390 kgs of downforce can generated in cornering at 250 km/h (with the special Assetto Fiorano specification).

1,000 ps/900 Nm V8
The synergy between the turbocharged V8 petrol engine and the electric motors generates a maximum of 1,000 ps/900 Nm – 60 ps more than any other V8 turbo engine ever built by Ferrari. To deliver this output, Ferrari’s engineers completely redesigned the intake and exhaust systems. To improve internal fluid dynamics, the ducts are now all horizontally lined up at engine head height, the turbo charger assembly has been lowered, and the exhaust line is higher.

This rationalisation also produced both a lower centre of gravity and a reduction in overall weight thanks to the use of Inconel instead of steel for the exhaust manifold.

The 8-speed, oil-bath, dual-clutch gearbox used in the SF90 Stradale has been redesigned for the spider version. Despite the addition of an eighth gear and the need to transmit a maximum torque of 900 Nm (an increase of more than 20% on the current 7-speed), the gearbox’s overall weight is actually 10 kgs lower than its predecessor. The clutch’s performance is 35% higher than the 7-speed, transmitting up to 1,200 Nm in dynamic torque during gear shifts.

Much attention was given to sound quality when redesigning the exhaust system as the soundtrack is one of the pivotal factors in the exhilarating pleasure of driving a Ferrari. The introduction of a ‘hot tube system’, which transfers sound more directly to the cockpit, has produced fuller, richer harmonics across the entire frequency range, improving both in-car sound quality and intensity as revs rise compared to previous Ferrari V8s.

To make full use of the powertrain’s output, the engineers improved the vehicle dynamics systems to allow the driver to enjoy the maximum potential, and not just in terms of pure performance and lap times.

Digital instrumentation with HUD
The look and feel of the cabin was driven in large part by the complete redesign of the HMI (Human-Machine Interface). The instrumentation is now predominantly digital with all the screens going completely black when the car is not running. The central instrument cluster comprises a single 16-inch HD screen, complemented by a head-up display (HUD).

The steering wheel completes that transfer process from the competition world and also ushers in a new era by introducing a series of touch commands that allow the driver to control virtually every aspect of the car without ever taking the hands off the wheel.

The F1 bridge, a signature on the previous models, has now disappeared from the central tunnel and been replaced by a modern take on the gearshift gate, an iconic feature of Ferrari’s manual gearboxes. In the new gate, however, the gearshift grille is digital as befits an automatic transmission.

Assetto Fiorano upgrades
As with the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider is also available with an additional specification option for owners that want to push its track car capability to the extreme. The Assetto Fiorano pack includes a list of exclusive upgrades that include Multimatic shock absorbers derived from the Ferrari’s GT racing experience and optimised for track use.