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Yokohama revives production of classic tyres for old car models

Owners of classic cars will know that when it comes to getting replacement tyres, finding the right size can be difficult. Understandably, over time, tyremakers have stopped production of older tyre products as demand has fallen and technology has also advanced.

Now Yokohama is reviving some of the company’s iconic heritage brands, incorporating modern technology and performance but with the classic style and design from the 1960s and beyond. Referred to as ‘hobby tyres’, they are are specially designed for classic cars.

With this hobby tyre range for classic cars, owners will be able to fit tyres that offer modern levels of performance, giving great comfort, grip and longevity. However, with classic styling, the tyres will help owners retain that all-important period correct look.”

The first tyre in the range, the G.T Special Y350, goes back to 1967 when the original brand was launched and was the first within Yokohama’s range to feature radial tyre technology. Ideally suited for use on historic Japanese and European cars from the 1960s and 1970s, the tyre is available in 14-inch and 15-inch sizes.

Originally fitted by the factory on the 911 Carrera Turbo (930), the Yokohama ADVAN A008P is also available. The revived classic tyre is now available in classic sizes of 245/45ZR16 and 205/55ZR16 for rear and front fitments. Available in sizes from 10 inches to 15 inches, the legendary ADVAN HF Type-D 008 is the third classic tyre available in the Yokohama range. This is for more modern classics from the 1980s and 1990s.

Additionally, there’s also the classic A539 pattern which is available in sizes from 12 inches to 15 inches with popular fitments available to suit a wide range of classics.

Availability in Malaysia may require ordering through the Malaysian agent.

Sonet concept unveiled in India previews new compact SUV from Kia

The Indian market has long received the attention of Korean carmakers who have seen its potential in the longer term. As such, they have been willing to make investments in production facilities as well as develop models just for the market since there is sufficient volume.

At India’s Auto Expo 2020 this week, Kia Motors India is not only showing off new products but also unveiled, for the first time ever, a concept model of a future global compact SUV. The concept will be developed further ahead of a launch in the Indian market in the second half of 2020.

The concept model is called the Sonet and is a preview of the third product offering from Kia Motors in India. Targeted at a demographic that is ‘always connected to the world in more ways than one, the Sonet is designed to exceed customers’ lifestyle and technology expectations’.

The Sonet has several first-in-class features, most of which are likely to be available in the production model. The dynamic and bold design incorporates Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille, stepwell geometry within the grille mesh, ‘tiger-eyeline’ daytime running lights, and wide rear signature lighting.

The interior is designed to appeal to the young, social, connected, tech-savvy Indian customer. The cabin is fitted with a 10.25-inch infotainment and navigation system with UVO Connect and a Bose premium audio system Kia says the Sonet concept indicates best-in-class interior space.

From the pictures, the Sonet has compact dimensions so it would be taking on models like the Ford Ecosport. The engines would therefore be small, possible in the 1.0-litre to 1.5-litre range with both petrol and diesel options as well as turbocharging. An intelligent manual transmission will also be offered.

Global debut of all-new Kia Sorento next month with first hybrid in the model range

PETRONAS Setel smartphone fuel payment application available nationwide

Since July 2018, Setel – the PETRONAS payment application – has been available to motorists in the Klang Valley, providing a level of convenience that is unprecedented in Malaysia. Not surprisingly, it has been well received and used, with over 3 million transactions up till the end of January 2020. During the year and a half it’s been available, PETRONAS would have been fine-tuning the system and paying attention to feedback from customers with the aim of making it better.

Now Setel is ready to be enjoyed by more motorists and PETRONAS is making it available nationwide (including in East Malaysia) from today. The e-payment app can be installed on smartphones running on the iOS or Android systems, with the app distributed for free through the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Not ‘another e-wallet’
PETRONAS officials stress that it is not ‘another e-wallet’ although it does store monetary value that is used for payment of purchases of fuel. It is first and foremost a payment solution which enables a motorist to use the smartphone to make payment directly while parked next to the pump. However, until PETRONAS develops a system which can also automatically connect the fuel nozzle to the car, the driver will still have to get out and insert the nozzle.

The advantages of this approach of using the smartphone and app to make payment is that there is no need to go to the station counter to make payment (if paying by cash), nor is there a need to go through a few steps using a credit/debit card. It’s pretty much a seamless process which will please those with kids on board as they don’t have to leave the kids in the car while they go and make payment.

MESRA card can be integrated
Besides this convenience, Setel also integrates the MESRA loyalty card program so points for purchases are electronically stored right away. Redemption using Setel is also possible as part of the integration. Reloading of the stored balance is done like e-wallets with either an authorized link to a credit card/debit card or bank account.

There’s also a ‘family feature’ whereby a parent can allow his or her Setel account to be used by the children. This not only tracks expenditures but Setel will also provide a monthly statement and for those who require receipts to make claims, these will also be available.

“The current features of Setel are just the beginning,” said Azrul Osman Rani, Managing Director & CEO of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad. “Anchored on seamless and frictionless experience, we will be providing the right solutions and partnerships to enrich the customer journey beyond refueling.”

Special ‘Pit Stop’ offers at stations
One new feature being introduced is the Setel Pit Stop which will have special offers for snacks and drinks that will be broadcast through the app. Motorists who are pumping petrol can be made aware of these offers at the station and make purchases using Setel. They can then collect the items from Pit Stop areas on the way out. According to a PETRONAS executive, this will not be available at every station for now as they want to see response and get feedback.

To welcome those who install Setel for the first time, PETRONAS is offering a 10% cashback on fuel purchases (Klang Valley only). The user must purchase PRIMAX fuel using Setel 3 times within 30 days of account registration and the first 3 fuel transactions have to total to a minimum of RM90. The maximum 1-time cashback and cashback value of RM15 per user.

More information available at setel.my.

Dream Car Performance Garage is the latest member of the PETRONAS AutoExpert network

Goodyear chosen as supplier for WEC LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) and European Le Mans Series

Goodyear continues to gain increasing preference in the motorsports world as it is chosen as Official Tyre Supplier. Following its appointment by the FIA as tyre-supplier for the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) and British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the international governing body has now also made Goodyear the official tyre supplier to the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and European Le Mans Series (ELMS).

A multi-season contract between the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the FIA World Endurance Championship and Goodyear was agreed following ACO’s decision to appoint a single tyre supplier for this highly competitive Le Mans Prototype class.

The contract, to supply all the WEC teams in the LMP2 class, begins with the 8-round 2020/2021 season which starts at Silverstone in September, before continuing across four continents around the world. its climax will be the 24 hours of Le Mans in June 2021, a race which Goodyear-equipped cars have won outright on 14 occasions.

“Goodyear has a long and remarkable history in motorsport. In addition to our unbeaten record in Formula One with 368 Grand Prix wins, we have 14 overall wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This partnership allows us to showcase our technology, durability and performance in the most famous endurance race in the world. We are proud to have been chosen for this challenge,” said Mike Rytokoski, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Consumer EMEA at Goodyear.

The LMP2 official tyre partnership with ELMS, the world’s leading continental endurance racing series, will begin in April 2021. In ELMS, the LMP2 category is the top tier of a multi-class championship that races at six of Europe’s top circuits.

The partnership means that all LMP2 entrants in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, including cars from outside of WEC and ELMS, will benefit from the latest developments in Goodyear Racing tyres. In addition, Goodyear will also increase its brand visibility on and off the track to support its launch of the latest range of Eagle F1 SuperSport tyres, featuring motorsport-derived technology.

Goodyear returns to international sportscar racing

TC Euro Cars offers full online purchasing process for Renault vehicles

TC Euro Cars (TCEC) has scored a first in the local auto industry with its move to e-commerce. The company, which represents Renault in Malaysia, has launched the new Renault E-Store on its website at www.renault.com.my .

Adding on from never having to visit a physical showroom with the Renault 3-hour test drive offering via GoCar, customers can now enjoy ultimate convenience and a hassle-free way to buy or take a subscription plan for a Renault. This fully digital process eliminates the time-consuming and tedious process that car-buyers have had to go through for decades.

Now, with the Renault E-Store, they can shop from the comfort of their home or office – just as they do shopping for other good online which is a growing trend nowadays. They don’t have to feel pressured by over-attentive salespersons and they can learn more about the model they are interested in at their convenience. They can also arrange for a test-drive and TCEC says that the process extends right to delivery of the registered vehicle.

To celebrate the launch of the new Renault E-Store, TCEC is extending a ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ offer to the first 50 customers who make their purchase online. Each of these early bird online customers will receive a free 6-month subscription (transferable among family members) for the Captur crossover.

Renault Koleos and Megane R.S. — *Besides the Captur, the Koleos and Megane R.S. are also available for purchase at the Renault E-Store.*

“We are proud to be an e-commerce first automotive brand. With the new Renault E-Store and more new offerings to come, we believe that we are leading the charge in digitalising the customer journey and, at the same time, disrupting the industry,” said Nicholas Tan, Chairman of TCEC.

Renault Subscription scheme available for latest Renault Megane R.S. 280 Cup

2020 Toyota Vellfire and Alphard on sale soon and you can book one now

The upgraded 2020 Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire models will be in Toyota showrooms in Malaysia soon and pre-launch orders are now being accepted. UMW Toyota Motor, the importer and distributor of the vehicles from Japan, is pricing the latest premium MPV models from RM383,000 for the Vellfire (one variant) and RM465,000 for the Alphard (two variants).

The latest Alphard and Vellfire have been upgraded with advanced systems being added in two areas – Safety and Connectivity. This is in line with UMWT’s 360-T New Brand Experience Strategy that emphasizes Safe-T and Connectivi-T.

The new or enhanced systems are Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), Parking Support Brake System, 9-inch AVX Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-Ready Connectivity, Front & Rear Digital Video Recorder, Vehicle Telematics System (VTS), and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

TSS is a suite of advanced systems that provide driver assistance to avoid accidents or reduce their severity if they occur. These include Pre-collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Tracing Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control – All Speed. The latter is more advanced than normal cruise control systems as it can vary the cruising speed when necessary for safety.

With Parking Support Brake System added in the 2020 models, drivers have the support of an intelligent parking system to detect objects in the surrounding areas of the vehicle during the parking process. Should any object be detected, the brakes will be automatically applied and the engine power cut back so that collisions can be avoided. Even if a collision does occur, the early action of the system can reduce damage.

Besides the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) that enables the driver to view all round the vehicle, the front and rear DVRs constantly record the views ahead and behind. Apart from recording the scenery on a holiday journey, in the event of an incident and dispute, the recordings would be useful evidence for the vehicle owner.

The Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) for the Vellfire and Alphard is a connectivity feature that uses GPS/GSM to track the location of the car at all times. This can aid recovery by the police if the vehicle is stolen. VTS can also monitor and record vehicle speeds and other operating conditions that the vehicle has been subjected to, with data sent by email to a designated user.

No design changes are mentioned to the two models for the new model year but there are 4 exterior colours to choose from – Luxury White Pearl CS GF (only for Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge and Alphard 3.5L); Burning Black CS GF (only for Vellfire 2.5L); and White Pearl C, Graphite Metallic and Black (available for both Alphard and Vellfire).

Toyota Alphard and Vellfire engines — *The Alphard has a 3.5-litre V6 engine while the Vellfire uses a 2.5-litre engine.*

As with all other models imported by UMWT, owners of the Vellfire and Alphard will enjoy a full factory warranty, with availability of genuine replacement parts when required. Aftersales support is also assured with personnel trained to service the models using the necessary special tools and equipment.

Customers can locate the nearest showroom by visiting toyota.com.my or calling the Toyota freephone line 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).

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