As Maserati heads towards a fully electric model range by the end of the decade, it is passing through a transitional stage of electrification where hybrid powertrains will be offered. The first hybrid model was the Ghibli saloon in 2020, followed by the Levante and then the Grecale GT Hybrid.
Following the launch of the Grecale in Malaysia last year, Naza Italia has now added the GT Hybrid version to the range with a price of RM598,000 (inclusive of duties but excluding insurance). The price includes 3 years warranty coverage with no mileage restriction.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has added to its range the Defender 90, the shorter version of the latest Defender model launched here two years ago. Two versions with different engines are imported from the UK – the P300 priced from RM838,800 and the P400 priced from RM1,098,800 (excluding insurance).
Both Defenders have petrol engines from the Ingenium family, with the P300 having a 2-litre 4-cylinder unit and the P400 being a 3-litre V6 Mild Hybrid (MHEV) powerplant. A key feature of the Defender’s MHEV is its 48V battery pack that can store up to 200 Wh of electricity.
The Maserati Grecale has finally been unveiled after a delay of about three months due to the global chip shortage. As the second SUV in the carmaker’s range, it is positioned below the Levante and take on rivals like the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan.
With an overall length of 4846 mm and width of 2163 mm, the shares the Giorgio platform with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, though this is an updated platform with the additional capability of accommodating a 400V electric powertrain as well. At launch, there will be three engine choices available – two 4-cylinder 48V mild hybrids (300 bhp/330 bhp) and the powerful Nettuno V6 which produces 530 bhp for the Trofeo version.
Like the Levante, the performance of the all-wheel drive Grecale’s can be optimised with drive modes. In fact, while the Levante has 4 modes, the Grecale has one more (for the Trofeo version) besides the Comfort, GT, Sport and Off-Road modes. To complement the drive modes is the Maserati Vehicle Dynamic Control Module system which gives full control of driving dynamics and comfort levels.
Fully electric Grecale Folgore will only be launched in 2023.
Details of the electrified version, Maserati’s first BEV (battery electric vehicle) SUV are not available yet as the model will only be introduced in 2023. For now, it is known that it will have 400V technology for its powertrain. It will be part of the Folgore range, the name referring to the company’s strategy to have a completely electric product range by 2030.
The Grecale’s design uses elements from the MC20 sportscar, with a more ‘vertical’ design language more appropriate for the SUV form that is 1670 mm tall. The body has meandering, visual forms and its technical components are highlighted by the use of carbonfibre. In the rear, the boomerang taillights are inspired by the Giugiaro 3200 GT and fit in with the trapezoidal line, made even more striking by the coupe effect of the profile.
The cabin, riding on a wheelbase of 2901 mm, has 2 rows of seating for 5 persons. Like many of the latest cars, the displays are greatly digitised, certainly more than any Maserati before. Everything is touch-based, giving clean aesthetics and even the traditional Maserati clockface has gone digital for the first time,
The dashboard has a large 12.3-inch display (the largest ever on a Maserati) with a classic cluster for the driver, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen running on Android Automotive software, which gives digital assistant services. There’s a second display for rear passengers as well to have more personalised control of the infotainment system.
For those who expect a luxury model to have superlative audio quality, Maserati has worked with Italian specialist Sonus Faber to provide an immersive 3D sound system. The Sonus faber system comes with a high-frequency amplifier and 14 or 21 speakers with specific functionalities that illustrates Sonus faber’s natural sound thorough the use of natural materials.
Production will start in mid-2022 with first deliveries commencing during the second half of the year. Official pricing has not been revealed although the entry-level Grecale GT is rumoured to start from around £50,000 (about RM280,000) in the UK.
Volvo’s flagship range in Malaysia has gained an additional variant – the XC90 B5 Inscription Plus, a mild hybrid under the B badge line. The B badge is used to signify the presence of a mild hybrid powertrain which is expected to help the carmaker move closer to its goal of having all its models electrified by the middle of the next decade.
The new 7-seater SUV variant, which joins the XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus, has an integrated electrified powertrain (similar to the one in the latest XC60). This combines an advanced kinetic energy recovery braking system with the petrol engine to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
The 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is coupled to an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. Together with an electric motor, it produces up to 249 ps/350 Nm which goes to all the wheels.
Standard equipment includes a Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound audio system, while for active safety, there is a 360° surround view camera and IntelliSafe systems such as City Safety with Autobrake, Lane Keeping Aid, and Cross Traffic Alert.
Excluding insurance and sales tax, the XC90 B5 Inscription Plus is priced from RM386,842.12. Customers can choose from 4 exterior colours (Crystal White, Onyx Black, Denim Blue and Pebble Grey) and enjoy a full 5-year warranty as there is no limit on mileage after registration.
With its low volumes, Alfa Romeo has struggled for many years and relied on the loyalty of the alfisti to keep it around. Heritage can only go so far in modern business, but Alfa Romeo has usually survived to continue its business. Now under the Stellantis Group, it will have some more breathing space with access to considerable shared resources that will allow one new model to be launched every year during this decade.
It’s been a while since we saw a really new model from Alfa Romeo and the new Tonale is something that has taken almost 3 years to go into production. A concept was shown at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show with a plan to put it in showrooms in a few years. By the time Stellantis came into the picture, the development would have been too far ahead to stop or change, so in 2022, it has its global debut although many markets may only get it in 2023.
The Tonale has compact dimensions which means it will do battle in the most competitive area of the SUV segment. While said to remain true to its DNA of Italian sportiness, it also marks the metamorphosis of the brand as it starts a new era of connectivity and electrification.
2019 Alfa Romeo Tonale Concept
Concept car inspiration
Much of the design draws on the concept car shown in Geneva which contained many classic Alfa Romeo stylistic features, reinterpreted in the name of modernity. The sides are notable for their extended curve below the waistrail, known as the ‘GT Line’, which runs from the rear to the headlights, giving definition to the car’s body and its profile. In terms of the modelling, its full volumes and sensuality are reminiscent of models such as the 8C Competizione.
At the front, the new floating ‘Scudetto’ shield is no longer a part of the bumper but a distinctive element on its own. The lower part includes two main side air intakes which together with the shield create what is known as the ‘Trilobo’.
The eye-catching ‘3+3’ headlights are inspired by the SZ Zagato and the Proteo concept car. These lights adopt a new full-LED adaptive matrix and provide daylight, dynamic turn signals and a ‘welcome and goodbye’ feature. They also have adaptive capabilities to maximize illumination without dazzling other drivers, with a third module automatically activated when turning corners to expand the lighting laterally.
At the rear too, the light units are strong elements that for a visual signature for the Tonale. The roundness and, now classic, fold in the lower centerline shape of the rear window characterizes the SUV’s upper rear volume in a sporty yet elegant way evoking iconic cars like the 8C Competizione where the daylight opening, the edges of the side windows and the top of the rear window meet.
The ‘teledial’ alloy wheels that were received positive feedback when shown on the concept car have also been adopted on the production model. This is the reworking of the perforated telephone dial theme, the result of an evolution that began in the 1960s with the 33 Stradale. Over time, the perforations have gradually been increased in size and becoming more closely related to needs for brake cooling, lightness and resistance.
Driver-centric cabin
As would be expected, this is an SUV but the racing heritage of Alfa Romeo is not ignored. Everything is driver-centric, with the diagonal tunnel, slightly undulating dashboards and instruments facing the driver. The characteristic elements of the new model include the telescopic instrument panel, with its clear Alfa Romeo stylistic matrix, and the compact steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles.
The new D.N.A. driving mode selector, slim central air conditioning vents and external turbine shaped vents, the central tunnel and handles are embellished with a diamond texture inspired by precision mechanical processing with laser engraving. The dashboard also includes an insert with a backlight effect so when the panel is off, a graphic appears. The same 3D features can be seen in the seat fabrics, from the basic versions all the way to the gradient effect with contrasting background colour.
Powertrain choices
Depending on the market, electrified powertrains or combustion engines (or both) will be offered. The front-wheel drive hybrid powertrain has a new 4-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol engine with a Variable-Geometry Turbocharger, and a 48V 15-kW electric motor. Besides two output levels – 130 ps and 160 ps – there’s also a 275 ps plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Q4 version with all-wheel drive that will have a claimed electric range of up to 80 kms.
The new 7-speed TCT dual-clutch transmission enables start-up and travel in only electric mode at low speeds and when parking and cruising, subject to battery levels. A full battery recharge is said to take 2.5 hours when using a 7.4kW fast charger.
Some markets will still be able to get good old powertrains with just combustion engines. There will be Tonale variants with a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as well as a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine.
The driving dynamics of Alfa Romeos have always been much appreciated and respected, and even with an SUV, these cannot be compromised. One element that contributed to ensuring this is the optimally balanced weight distribution between the two axles. This required special management of mass and materials, which was done both by working on the car’s layout and by placing all the heavier components as centrally as possible.
The Tonale has an Integrated Brake System (IBS), an innovative electromechanical system that combines stability control with conventional servo brakes. Said to be an industry first, the integration between electronics and mechanics, significant weight optimization, optimal feeling and the total absence of pedal vibrations can guarantee the system instantaneous brake response. The fixed calipers are from Brembo, with four pistons and self-ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear.
The Dual Stage Valve electronic suspension provides a choice between performance and comfort. Developed in conjunction with Alfa Romeo’s long-standing technology partner Marelli, the electronic shock absorbers feature a special electro-actuated valve within the shock absorber that provides independent damping curves for 2 modes (Comfort and Sport).
New ADAS systems
The Tonale is equipped with new Alfa Romeo Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Level 2 autonomous driving, which means that the vehicle can automatically handle acceleration, braking and staying within a lane while maintaining driving safety. However, the driver still needs to be alert and involved, though to a lesser degree which can reduce fatigue on long journeys.
In the event that the driver loses concentration or even falls asleep, there are features like Autonomous Emergency Braking which will activate the brakes if the driver does not react to alerts. The Drowsy Driver Detection system constantly analyses the vehicle’s movements to detect any characteristics which indicate driver fatigue. Once a certain threshold has been exceeded, the system emits beeps and/or visual warnings, recommending the driver stop for a break.
Connectivity with Amazon
Connectivity in a car today is more than just being able to connect a smartphone to the infotainment system. It now encompasses being able to connect to the rest of the world and a major new feature in the Tonale is the built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant. Where it is available, Secure Delivery Service can set the vehicle as the place to deliver Amazon packages. The doors can be unlocked, and the courier can leave them inside the vehicle. Updates on vehicle status can also be received at home so it will be possible to know the battery charge level and other information. Alexa can also be used to search for nearby restaurants or even adjust lights or heating connected to the home automation system.
NFT for a car
In a world exclusive, the Tonale debuts non-fungible token (NFT) technology. Alfa Romeo is the first automaker to link a car with an NFT digital certificate. The technology is based on the ‘blockchain card’ concept, a confidential and non-modifiable record of the main stages in the life of an individual vehicle. Upon the customer’s consent, the NFT will record vehicle data, generating a certificate that can be used as a guarantee of the car’s overall status, with a positive impact on its residual value. On the pre-owned car market, NFT certification represents an additional source of credibility for owners or dealers to count on.
Jaguar’s XE, one of the older models in the range, soldiers on in 2020 with updates to the powertrain that include a diesel powertrain with Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology. This is the first time that the Ingenium diesel range has MHEV technology, providing increased performance and better fuel efficiency while reducing toxic exhaust emission levels.
The 2-litre 4-cylinder engine has a selection of advanced features for added refinement and performance, including variable vane geometry turbocharger technology. At low engine speeds, the turbocharger vanes rotate to narrow the opening between them, increasing exhaust gas velocity and boosting pressure, which provides rapid torque response and enhanced acceleration. At high engine speeds, the vanes open, ensuring maximum exhaust gas flow to deliver peak power while maintaining optimum efficiency.
The engine now features steel pistons, with the higher strength material allowing for a more compact, lower friction design as well as increased capability to withstand higher peak pressures. Their stronger construction enables more intricate and thorough integration of cooling channels for improved thermal management.
At the same time, the thermal expansion rate is closer to that of the iron cylinder liners for improved clearance control, both enhancing cooling and reducing friction for better efficiency. The new 2,500 bar piezo common-rail injection system delivers even finer control of fuel delivered into the cylinders.
Belt-integrated Starter Generator
The MHEV system uses a Belt-integrated Starter Generator situated in the engine bay to harvest energy usually lost when slowing and braking, which is then stored in a 48V lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the rear end. It is able to redeploy the stored energy to assist the engine when accelerating away while also delivering a more refined and responsive stop/start system.
With 204 ps/430 Nm generated by the new turbodiesel MHEV engine, the rear-wheel drive XE is claimed to have a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds, while fuel consumption is extended to 23.2 kms/litre.
For those who prefer a petrol engine, Jaguar still offers the 250 ps and 300 ps Ingenium engines with the latest engine technologies. These include a twin scroll turbocharger and Continuous Variable Valve Lift. The 300 ps variant comes with all-wheel drive and has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds.
Change in infotainment system
The Touch Pro Duo infotainment system has been replaced by the Pivi Pro system. This comes with a 12.3-inch HD Interactive Driver Display with enhanced graphics and a configurable layout. Working in conjunction with the latest Head-up Display technology, XE gives drivers all the information they need without distraction.
The intuitive new infotainment system has Apple CarPlay as standard and allows customers to connect two phones simultaneously via Bluetooth. Android Auto and Baidu CarLife are also available, depending on market applicability.
Pivi Pro connectivity is provided by embedded dual-sim capability, with two LTE modems enabling the system to carry out multiple functions at the same time, such as streaming media and downloading updates over the air, without compromising performance. This level of connectivity also ensures minimal interruptions caused by coverage blackspots as it roams across network providers for the strongest signal.
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Although Maserati, being at the upper end of the market, has a niche for itself where the character of its cars (and also a SUV) have long been appreciated, it cannot ignore the fact that the automotive world is electrifying. As with SUVs, virtually every brand has or is developing electrically-powered or hybrid models that are the future and Maserati too has an electrification plan for its products.
With the new Ghibli Hybrid, the Italian brand with the Trident as its emblem begins its journey of electrification. It represents one of the most ambitious projects for Maserati, another step forward in its new era following the announcement of the new engine for the MC20 super sportscar.
The choice of the Ghibli to receive a hybrid powertrain is no coincidence. This model, with over 100,000 units produced since its launch in 2013, is said to perfectly embody the manufacturer’s DNA.
Just as BMW, Porsche and Volvo could not release a SUV into the market until it had the brand DNA, it is the same for Maserati which has faced the challenge of entering the world of electrification without altering the brand’s core philosophy and values.
The result? The best possible hybrid sedan the engineers can develop – with the character of a Maserati and that includes the unmistakeable sound (thanks to special resonators). The arrival of the new Ghibli Hybrid thus expands the Maserati range with future-oriented technology.
Hybrid-exclusive styling
The Ghibli Hybrid is immediately recognisable with different styling for the hybrid that features a different grille, with bars redesigned to represent a tuning fork (a musical device that emits a sound of extreme purity). At the rear of the car, the lighting units have their unique style, with a boomerang-like profile inspired by the 3200 GT and Alfieri concept car.
On the exterior, the blue colour characterises the three iconic side air ducts, the brake calipers and the thunderbolt in the oval that encloses the Trident on the rear pillar. The same colour is used as the theme inside, in particular on the embroidered seams of the seats.
One of the two variants comes with natural silk upholstery by Ermenegildo Zegna
Mild Hybrid solution
Maserati has chosen a hybrid solution focused primarily on improving performance, while also reducing fuel consumption and cutting exhaust emissions. The hybrid technology exploits kinetic energy the car accumulates when in motion, recovering it and transforming it into electricity during deceleration and braking, and storing it in a battery pack at the rear.
The powertrain is the outcome of in-depth engineering development work by the Maserati Innovation Lab. It combines an internal combustion 2-litre petrol engine (4 cylinders with a turbocharger) with a 48-volt alternator and an additional electric supercharger (e-Booster).
This solution, claimed to be unique in its segment, is the first in a new generation of Maserati powertrains which balance performance, efficiency and driving pleasure. Incidentally, the Ghibli Hybrid weighs about 80 kgs less than the diesel variant.
Maximum power output is 330 ps, with peak torque of 450 Nm delivered from just 1500 rpm. That enables the Ghibli Hybrid to go from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 255 km/h.
Maserati Connect debuts
Besides electrification, the Ghibli Hybrid also marks the debut of the new Maserati Connect program. This enables a constant connection with the car; the information exchange continues when on the move, to improve the services offered to the driver. As well as the capability of updating the software on board, the system also performs checks on the car and monitors the Safety and Security services in emergencies.
What comes next?
The first cars should leave the factory in late September 2020, with Asian markets likely to see them during the first quarter of next year. Prices will only be announced at a later date, but it is known that there will be at least two variants.
The new Ghibli Hybrid represents the first step in a plan that will lead to the electrification of all new Maserati models. The brand’s first all-electric models will be the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio, scheduled for launch in 2021.
Henry Ford II didn’t like the Ford Fiesta when he was first told about the project to develop a supermini in the early 1970s. Apart from a company view (in Dearborn at least) that small cars were not cost-effective, the grandson of the company’s founder grumbled that ‘I would have to sell millions of these little cars to make a decent profit’. He favoured the large cars still loved by Americans then as they provided good margins.
But the Fiesta was a Ford of Europe proposal and that regional subsidiary was doing pretty well with a popular range. What they needed was an entry-level model that could compete against the Italian and French superminis. In the end, Ford allowed the project to go ahead and the first Fiesta was launched in 1976.
First generation of the Fiesta
The Fiesta was a very successful model for Ford in Europe but in spite of its compact size, it was not sold in the Far East. Its cost base was European so it cost more than Japanese rivals, and Ford instead teamed up with Mazda to offer a badge-engineered range of sedans and hatchbacks (the Laser and Telstar) which could be more competitively priced than models from Europe.
It wasn’t until the sixth generation that the Fiesta became a global model as then-CEO Alan Mulally pushed his ‘One Ford’ strategy of having more products with shared engineering and parts to cut costs. It was produced in regions outside Europe, with Thailand being a hub for ASEAN markets. By the end of the 2000s, it was even made and sold in the US market.
The model is currently in its seventh generation but a change in strategies by a new top management team at Ford has seen diminished interest in competing in Asian markets (apart from China) with passenger cars and the focus is on pick-up trucks.
After 44 years of having been powered by only internal combustion engines, the Fiesta is now electrified as well. As a supermini, fuel efficiency has always been high for the model but Ford, like other carmakers wanting to sell in Europe, has to go in the direction of electrification of its models and this week, the company has announced the first ever Fiesta Hybrid.
The carmaker’s best-selling model in Europe gets a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain which complements EcoBoost Technology to give more powerful and responsive performance with better fuel efficiency claimed to be up to 18.3 kms/litre. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine also has cylinder deactivation to further save fuel.
“Adding EcoBoost Hybrid technology to Fiesta’s best-in-class driving dynamics means customers can have even more power and still go further on a tank of fuel,” said Roelant de Waard, Vice-President, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “The Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid will help Ford bring the benefits of electrification to more drivers than ever before.”
The difference between a Mild Hybrid and Full Hybrid powertrain
Available in 125 ps and 155 ps power outputs, Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid models feature a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) in place of the standard alternator, enabling recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48V lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack.
The BISG also acts as a motor, integrating with the engine and using the stored energy to provide torque assistance during normal driving and acceleration, as well as running the vehicle’s electrical ancillaries.
The intelligent, self-regulating mild-hybrid system continuously monitors how the powertrain is being used to determine when and how intensively to charge the battery for optimal benefit, and when to utilize the stored battery charge.
Torque substitution, which deploys the electric motor functionality of the BISG to provide up to 24 Nm of torque – reducing the amount of work required from the petrol engine and contributing to lowering carbon dioxide emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency.
Torque supplementation can also deploy the electric motor functionality of the BISG to increase the peak torque available from the powertrain by up to 20 Nm above the level available from the petrol engine alone. This means up to 240 Nm for the 155 ps powertrain and up to 50% more torque at lower rpm.
The BISG also has enabled Ford engineers to lower the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine’s compression ratio and add a larger turbocharger for more power, by mitigating turbo lag using torque supplementation that also rotates the engine faster for maintained turbocharger boost response.
“With electrification fast becoming the mainstream, we are substantially increasing the number of electrified models and powertrain options for our customers to choose from to suit their needs,” said Stuart Rowley, President, Ford of Europe. “By making it easier than ever to seamlessly shift into an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.”
To know more about Ford models available in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my.
