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First Rolls-Royce Phantom with Hawaiian Koa Wood

‘Bespoke’ is customisation taken to a higher level and at the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective, consisting of designers, engineers and craftspeople, the limits of Bespoke are very high. Virtually any request will be met – while ensuring that safety is not compromised. In a world often dominated by luxury commodities designed for mass consumption, a Bespoke Rolls-Royce exemplifies the notion of true luxury.

A recent example is the latest Phantom Extended created in a 3-year collaboration between the customer and the Bespoke Design team, resulting in the creation of a deeply personal legacy. For the ultimate car enthusiast, Jack Boyd Smith, Jnr., this personal legacy features an unusual example of a rare species of Koa Wood.

Future classic for the JBS Collection
The realisation of Mr. Smith’s vision reflects both his personality and his love and passion for unique vintage cars. The one-of-a-kind creation joins his personal collection of more than 60 unique cars in The JBS Collection Museum. This latest Phantom Extended will undoubtedly become a future classic.

Referred to as the Koa Phantom, it is the first Rolls-Royce Phantom that incorporates Koa Wood, a rare species of tree that grows only on Hawaiian soil. The inspiration derives from Mr. Smith and his wife Laura’s love for the warmth and character of Koa Wood, having spent significant amounts of time in Hawaii. His ongoing connection to the Koa species is rooted deep within his family, with a Koa Wood rocking chair (pictured below) that has been a centrepiece in their home for many years.

Non-negotiable requirement
Mr. Smith was determined to bring the warm, familiar atmosphere of the wood to the interior of his Rolls-Royce. As they embarked on the creation, Mr. Smith quickly learned that his non-negotiable design would require allowing the craftspeople time to perfect their art. The unique Koa tree grows only in Hawaii and is protected in Hawaiian State and National parks. Koa Wood can only be harvested from private agricultural land and owing to the very specific growing conditions required, to find such a unique log from this extremely limited resource, is truly rare.

A Rolls-Royce Wood Specialist described the find as a ‘one in a million chance’. Some aspirant brands use more commonly available Koa Wood specimens but, for Rolls-Royce, only the finest example of this extraordinary species would do. Mr. and Mrs. Smith patiently waited for 3 years for their perfect veneer, as the Rolls-Royce Wood Specialist negotiated with a supplier for a highly prized log from his own, personal collection.

The specimen acquired displayed a unique depth of character rarely seen, with a figure in the grain that creates the effect of velvet. The craftsmen and women of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Woodshop embraced the challenge of preserving this rich textural finish in the Phantom Extended.

Replicating an 80-year old finish
The Koa Phantom exterior shines a deep blue by day; by night, it is hidden in the darkness. The Bespoke ‘Packard Blue’ hue is colour-matched to Mr. Smith’s 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe, a rare motor car in his personal collection. Creating an exact match to an 80-year old finish was no small feat, and even included shipping parts from vintage cars to the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. After testing on more than 40 test panels, the formula was finally deemed a perfect match.

An elegant hand-painted coachline in Dove Grey runs the length of the deep, dark blue Phantom, matching the wheel centre pinstripes. The driver’s door bears the personalised initials ‘JBS Jr’ while the passenger door bears the initials of Mrs. Smith, ‘LAS’.

On opening the coach doors, a personalised treadplate reads, ‘Hand-built in Goodwood, England for Laura & Jack Boyd Smith, Jr.’ Across Phantom’s fascia lies the Gallery – an uninterrupted piece of glass behind which clients can commission unique works of art and design. For the Koa Phantom, the wood itself takes centre stage, preserved and exhibited at the heart of the car, showcasing its natural beauty.

Koa Wood embellishes the Dove Grey leather interior that is matched to the Packard Twelve and offset by Navy Blue highlights and piping. Above, a Bespoke handcrafted starlight headliner consisting of 1,420 fibreoptic lights on navy-blue leather, depicts the constellation of the night sky above Cleveland, Ohio, on Mr. Smith’s date of birth.

The Rolls-Royce monogram on the headrests is matched to the exterior finish while the rear compartment is adorned with a Champagne fridge, accompanied by a pair of crystal champagne flutes and decanter, engraved with the clients’ initials.

A Picnic Hamper too
A hand-crafted Koa Wood Picnic Hamper completes this unique project. Koa Wood, saddle leather and stainless steel are meticulously crafted in a process that takes more than 500 hours to complete. The saddle leather trim and interior leather is Dove Grey, matched to the interior of the one-of-a-kind Bespoke Phantom. Stainless steel features on both the exterior and interior of the hamper; with plaques that read, ‘Laura & Jack Boyd Smith, Jr.’

The hamper includes hand-made wine glasses and decanters from the Ajka Crystal factory in Hungary, famed for its traditional techniques. The stainless-steel cutlery is hand-made in England. The 12-piece set is produced to the highest standards by expert craftspeople using traditional polishing and grinding techniques – a tribute to British steel heritage. Wedgwood porcelain plates add a final flourish to the hamper.

‘Perodua Smart Build’ launched as carmaker’s first sustainable blueprint

‘Perodua Smart Build’ is officially launched today as the Malaysian carmaker’s first sustainable blueprint. It encompasses nearly the entire Malaysian automotive supplier and dealer ecosystem, with the aim of moving the industry towards greater globalisation in the future.

Explaining the blueprint, Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin, said, “Perodua Smart Build is an evolution of what Perodua and the Malaysian automotive industry were originally set up to do: to create a sustainable and robust automotive ecosystem.”

He said that Perodua Smart Build is also Perodua’s ‘Transformation 3.0’. It builds upon its previous milestones which began with the first transformation phase in 2011. At that time, the company worked towards building the Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) ecosystem, stop defect outflow, set up Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, and change Perodua’s mindset to be quality conscious.

Transformation 2.0, which followed, was focussed on customer satisfaction, organisational development and the fostering of unity within the entire Perodua Group of Companies.

“Now, we are at the third phase of transformation to ‘build’ a sustainable future for both Perodua and its partners to a point where we will be able to find our own niche in the automotive industry,” Dato’ Zainal said.

He said that under ‘Transformation 3.0’, Perodua is working together with its business partners to rationalise the gap in quality, cost and delivery within the automotive ecosystem and get the industry to be in ‘the right size’.

Dato’ Zainal also said that Perodua is also working with all its partners to see where existing expertise can be utilised beyond Malaysia. He gave the example of how Perodua staff are now working to design Daihatsu models in Japan as part of Perodua’s effort to export local expertise abroad.

*Malaysian designers from Perodua are working with Daihatsu on the designs of future models.*

Dato’ Zainal said Perodua will continue to leverage on its close partnership with Daihatsu to realise Perodua Smart Build’s objective. “Perodua Smart Build will be accomplished with the help of our shareholder, technology and technical partner Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan; and the Malaysian government who had the foresight to create this ecosystem for the benefit of the country,” he said.

According to Dato’ Zainal, Perodua Smart Build is designed to help Perodua and the automotive ecosystem reap the benefits of the National Automotive Policy by making the industry more competitive and progressive.

Chief among the components of Perodua Smart Build are full product development by Perodua and its suppliers, the establishment of a first-class working culture and first-class thinking that will be able to contribute to the nation.

“Perodua Smart Build’s launch does not mean that we have reached the full potential of these components; rather, it marks the start of Perodua and its partners’ journey towards a higher level of competitiveness. We are grateful to Daihatsu for this opportunity and for their continuous support of Perodua since the very beginning. It is now time for us to fully extend this cooperation to our Malaysian business partners,” Dato’ Zainal said.

*Perodua has been committed to supporting Malaysian suppliers and keeps increasing the value of local sourcing each year.*

He added that a number of Malaysian suppliers are already part of Daihatsu’s global supply chain, and Perodua is working with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to prepare more local suppliers to follow suit. “We are also focusing more on developing our dealers, including strengthening their operations and guiding them towards the adoption of global best practices to further improve customer satisfaction,” he added.

He explained that Perodua’s goal is to ensure its dealers’ business sustainability by providing guidance of best practices and the latest technology for growth. “We consider our dealers business partners in the same way Daihatsu is our business partner, and we are committed towards their prosperity as long as they, too, are committed to our goals.”

“Where products are concerned, our future offerings will better reflect contemporary trends without compromising our fundamentals – space, practicality, quality, dependability, fuel efficiency and unparalleled value,” said Dato’ Zainal.

Perodua aims for 9% increase in sales volume to 240,000 units in 2021

Shop for a new Volkswagen this weekend – without having to leave home

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my to know more about promotions at BHPetromart.*

This weekend, on February 20 and 21, Volkswagen dealerships throughout Malaysia will be hosting a virtual Open House from 11 am to 5 pm. During these sessions, there will be sales and aftersales offers to celebrate the Year of the Metal Ox.

Throughout the weekend event, detailed introductions and walkthroughs of various models will be presented online. From the comfort of their homes, viewers can send in their questions and Sales Consultants and Service Advisors will respond via Facebook Live.

Those who confirm the purchase a new Volkswagen using the Volkswagen eShowroom will enjoy ang pao rebates of RM1,000 (selected models), additional 1-year insurance at no extra cost or RM5,500 savings – on top of exclusive online deals.

Passat Elegance and R-Line
The weekend highlights include the Passat Elegance and Passat R-Line. These models come with a 2.0TSI turbocharged 109 ps/320 Nm petrol engine paired with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG).

Additionally, the Passat R-Line also comes with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), with up to 15 selectable increments to suit adjust the driving dynamics to personal preference.

The Passat Elegance is priced from RM181,856 while the Passat R-Line is priced from RM203,411 (with sales tax exemption) and is available with up to RM10,000 in savings.

Tiguan Allspace Highline
As for the Tiguan Allspace Highline, this SUV is priced from RM164,430 with the sales tax exemption), and for the 2020 models, there are up to RM8,000 in rebates.

This model comes with a 1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine which may seem like a small displacement but produces an impressive 150 ps/250 Nm. The small displacement makes it more fuel efficient, with performance enhanced by a 6-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG).

The long wheelbase provides versatility with multiple seat configurations and a massive boot space of 1,775 litres – the best in its segment. The Tiguan Allspace Highline is priced at, and with up to RM8,000 savings on 2020 models.

For owners too
There are also aftersales specials for those who already own a Volkswagen. The following are the offers on parts replacements and genuine engine oil:

Additionally, authorised Volkswagen service centres are offering a complimentary 5-Star Service Check, and up to 20% discount on batteries and tyres. To make a service appointment, click here.

Click here for other news and articles about Volkswagen.

BMW continues to be the largest exporter of vehicles from the USA

BMW first began selling its cars in America in the mid-1950s and as their popularity grew, the carmaker began to consider making some of them there. The decision was finally made in the early 1990s, and Spartanburg County in the state of South Carolina was chosen for the factory site. It would be the first full production factory outside Germany and was intended to be a global production hub.

The first car – a 3-Series sedan – rolled out in September 1994, and was followed by the Z3 and Z4 models in the years that followed. The output was not only sent to distributors around North America but also worldwide, shipped out of the Port of Charleston which is nearby and one reason why BMW chose Spartanburg.

*BMW’s first and still only factory in the USA began by making the 3-Series in 1994, followed by the Z3 and Z4 (below).*

*In 1999, the plant was designated as the global production hub for the new SAVs, starting with the X5. Today, it is the global centre of competence for X models.*

Global centre of competence for X models
The Spartanburg factory began making the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAVs) in 1999, with the X5, and today produces five X models (X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7). These include plug-in hybrid electric variants which accounted for 13 percent of the factory’s total production last year. BMW has assembled batteries for electrified vehicles since 2015, making the BMW Group a pioneer of electromobility in the USA.

In over 25 years, BMW Plant Spartanburg’s employment level has risen to more than 11,000 people who build 1,500 BMWs every day. The current facility represents a total investment of US$10.6 billion that includes two massive body shops, two paint shops, two assembly halls and an elaborate logistics operation.

Exporting more than two-thirds of its product, the BMW factory makes a considerable impact on US economic growth. A 2018 study by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina estimated the annual economic impact of BMW Manufacturing on the US economy, measured in terms of overall output, was US$38.5 billion.

Seventh consecutive year as top exporter
Last year, for the seventh consecutive year, BMW Plant Spartanburg again topped the chart for automotive exports from the USA by value, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The factory exported 218,820 SAVs and Coupes during 2020 with an export value of more than US$8.9 billion.

While 86% of the vehicles were exported through the Port of Charleston, other ports along the east coast of the country were also used, as well as rail transport. The exports go to more than125 countries around the world. The top 5 export countries were China (23.3% of export volume), Germany (12.9%), South Korea (7.8%), Canada (6%), and Russia (5.3%).

*BMW Spartanburg exports vehicles by sea as well as by rail (below).*

Like all automotive manufacturers, BMW experienced a production interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a 5-week non-production period, activity in the factory resumed for one shift daily from May 4. With new health guidelines and procedures in place, production slowly ramped up as the supply chain stabilized and demand rose. During the second half of the year, the factory produced nearly 218,000 BMWs, a record for any 6-month period in its history. By year’s end, the total output was 361,365 vehicles for the whole of 2020.

Click here for other BMW news and articles or visit www.bmw.com.my to know more about models and services available in Malaysia.

Limited units of customised Aston Martin DB11 V8 available in Malaysia

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has imported a limited number of customized units of the Aston Martin DB11 V8 Coupe. These exclusive cars have a number of DB11 Option Packs such as the Exterior Black Pack and Technology Pack. There is also a Luxury Pack which consists of Nexus Quilting with Celestial Perforation.

Other optional items include red-painted brake calipers, seatbelts in a Spice Red colour, headrests with embroidered Aston Martin Wings, Jewellery Dark Chrome, 20-inch Y Spoke Forged Gloss Black Diamond –Turned wheels and 2×2 Carbonfibre Twill trim Inlay.

503 bhp V8 engine
The DB11 V8 is powered by a 503 bhp/675 Nm V8 engine which can take the car from 0 to 100 km/h within a claimed time of 4 seconds and on to a top speed of 301 km/h. Needless to say the V8 is a lighter and more compact unit than having a V12, with savings of 115 kgs to keep the kerb weight to 1760 kgs.

Instantly recognisable, the DB11’s design with classic proportions has a form that develops organically from nose to tail. The specifications are inspired by the iconic and timeless design from Aston Martin’s heritage. Marrying beautiful materials and exquisite craftsmanship, this specification showcases traditional techniques such as ornate brogued leather.

With the iconic exterior paint finish – Magnetic Silver – the car expresses Aston Martin’s renowned quality and timeless style. The use of carbonfibre trim inlay and exterior black pack enhances the sporting character of the DB11.

Full factory warranty and aftersales support
The DB11 V8 Coupe comes with a 3-year factory warranty with 24 months complimentary Aston Martin Extended Warranty and 5-year scheduled servicing with labour costs covered. Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has a dedicated service centre to provide full aftersales support for owners.

The DB11 V8 is priced from RM778,000, while DB11 V8 with Magnetic Silver costs another RM71,200, both prices excluding duties and taxes. If you buy before June 30, 2021, you will be able to save some money with the exemption of 50% of sales tax for CBU models.

Intrepid Aura – for those who want a more exclusive Aston Martin DBX

Ford Bronco 4600 leads all-new outdoor brand of Built Wild 4x4s

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my to find out more about other promotions at BHPetromart.*

When Ford brought back the Bronco SUV, it created many new marketing opportunities for the product. Ford Performance also had some ideas and one of them which has been revealed is the Bronco 4600 race vehicle. Representing the all-new outdoor brand of Built Wild 4x4s, the Bronco 4600 demonstrates how the latest Bronco can be prepped by customers for off-road racing, especially in the ULTRA4 series.

2021 Ford Bronco and 1965 Ford Bronco — *The modern Bronco launched in 2020 and the original which was introduced in 1965*

Built Wild off-road racing
With the first-generation Bronco having won the 1969 Baja 1000 race outright, the modern Bronco 4600 builds on a winning tradition. This starts with a Bronco 2-door SUV with stock powertrain running on a competition-tuned High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) System.

Testing of the Bronco 4600 begins later this month, with the race vehicles going on to run this year in the ULTRA4 alongside factory-backed Bronco 4400 series race vehicles. The model uses a 2021 Bronco 2-door with a Sasquatch Package, and is powered by a race-tested production 2.7-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 powertrain with SelectShift 10-speed automatic and second-generation T-6 chassis.

It serves as a test bed for a growing list of Ford Licensed Accessories and Ford Performance parts alongside the independent performance aftermarket. Taking learnings from the Bronco R Race Prototype that ran the 2019 and 2020 Baja 1000, the Bronco 4600’s competition-tuned high-performance off-road stability suspension features Fox coil-over shocks with remote reservoirs and Fox pneumatic bump stops at all four corners.

It also features Wilwood Engineering brakes and 35-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain T/A KM3 tyres mounted to Method Race Wheels 202 Forged Beadlock wheels.

Inspired ‘war paint’
All the Bronco 4600 race vehicles will feature a new livery leveraging factory 2021 Bronco colours – Race Red, Oxford White and Velocity Blue. The front design takes inspiration from the 1969 Baja 1000-winning Bronco, with matte black bonnet, plus white upper and red lower body lines that transitions into a more modern Bronco design scheme extending rearward.

“Our new ‘war paint’ scheme tells the Bronco race story – up front is chapter one that traces back to the victorious 1969 Bronco, then, as you travel along the side, the lines get more diagonal, more futuristic, signaling the future of the brand,” said Scott Guan, Bronco designer. Like the Bronco R Race Prototype and Bronco Sport Rebelle Rally SUVs, the Bronco 4600’s “R” in the grille is distinctly red.

Continuing the Bronco heritage

“Innovating the off-road landscape and competing with Bronco’s higher-speed off-road abilities have always been at the core of Bronco brand’s heritage,” added Dave Rivers, Ford SUV Marketing Manager.

“Our new Bronco 4600 racers underscore our motorsports heritage and how the all-new 2021 Bronco can be tuned from the showroom floor to compete in the gruelling ULTRA4 stock class series,” he said.

The Bronco is now available in Malaysia but Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has the powerful, very rugged, very capable Ranger Raptor. Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more.