Toyota Motor Corporations has announced the “LQ”, a concept vehicle that has the advanced ability to build an ‘emotional bond’ between car and driver. That’s right, the next-generation Toyota “Concept-I” comes ready with automated driving capabilities and “Yui”, Toyota’s next-level AI that can learn from the driver and deliver a personalised mobility experience. (more…)
Aston Martin has confirmed that its first SUV – the DBX – will be launched in December this year. That’s just a little over 3 months away and the engineers are busy completing what is described as the most comprehensive test regime of any Aston Martin. Extensive everyday real-world driving and high-performance track evaluation has been taking place at locations worldwide to confirm the capabilities and durability of the most versatile product in the brand’s history.
The locations include two key engineering centres – at Silverstone in the UK and the Nurburgring in Germany. While conducting durability testing at the demanding Nurburgring, the DBX has delivered cornering speeds on par with the Vantage, while achieving braking figures greater than the Super GT, DBS Superleggera. This has already seen Aston Martin’s engineering team regularly achieve sub 8-minute lap times during their regular testing of the SUV.
550 ps V8, top speed over 290 km/h
The new DBX will be powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 similar to the one in the existing Vantage and DB11. However, for DBX application, the engine surpasses the performance credentials of these models, delivering 550 ps/700 Nm. High speed testing has already proven that the DBX can consistently exceed 290 km/h.
With a focus on creating a broader, more solid acoustic note, the SUV’s exhaust system has been tuned to reflect a deep bass with increasing mid-tones, creating true auditory exhilaration, particularly in more sporting drive modes.
Commenting on the test programme, Matt Becker, Aston Martin’s Chief Engineer, said: “We have concentrated our work to ensure that the calibration and tune of this 4-litre twin-turbo V8 delivers both the everyday usability and refinement expected by SUV owners. However, we have also focused heavily on matching that with the engaging driving dynamics that are commanded by our brand and inherent in every Aston Martin and early indications of the car’s overall performance have been incredibly promising.”
In 1974, Hyundai Motor launched a model called the Pony which was South Korea’s first mass-produced model. Regarded as a ‘national car’ in its domestic market, the Pony also spearheaded exports of Korean vehicles to many countries.
As homage to its heritage and reimagined for the future, the carmaker’s designers have come up with a study called the ‘45 EV Concept’. The progressive 45 puts a twist on the 45-year old icon to introduce an entirely new in-car experience for self-driving vehicles of tomorrow. It foreshadows a new era of Hyundai’s automotive design focused on electrification, autonomous technologies and intelligent design.
Inspired by a 1974 concept car
Taking a look to the past is essential for moving forward, and the dramatic exterior styling of the 45 draws inspiration from the car that first established Hyundai’s design DNA – the 1974 Pony Coupe Concept. The iconic character of 45 is defined by its monocoque-style body, aerodynamic and lightweight design inspired by aircraft from the 1920s.
The car’s name also comes, in part, from the 45-degree angles at the front and rear, forming a diamond-shaped silhouette that previews the design direction of future EV models. The new concept strips away complexity, celebrating the clean lines and minimalistic structure of the original coupe concept.
“As an icon of Hyundai, the 45 clearly reveals how Hyundai heads towards the future through heritage,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President and the Head of Hyundai Design Centre. “Through the 45 that is built upon our design language ‘Sensuous Sportiness‘, Hyundai wants to present our vision on how we want to reshape people’s in-car lifestyle in the era of electrification and autonomous driving.”
Style reimagined
The 45 reinterprets the concept’s distinctive lattice radiator grille with a ‘kinetic cube lamp’ design. The iconic front-end presence with the kinetic cube lamps evokes analogue emotions, while at the same time applying cutting-edge technologies. It also takes Hyundai’s lighting architecture to the next level, allowing people to instantly recognize the car at a distance.
By exhibiting a modernized fastback profile, the 45 epitomizes stability and dynamism, characteristics accentuated by the vehicle’s significant width and forward-oriented posture. The precise, yet energetic factors of the exterior are delivered throughout the cabin, which is structured by a dynamic daylight opening (DLO). The DLO terminates in the fast angle of the C-pillar, which generates a feeling of dynamic forward motion, even when standing still.
As a progressive EV, new technology is visible in the 45’s design. At the bottom of the door, a special garnish highlights its long-distance capability and, through active LED lights, drivers can intuitively know how much longer they can drive even before they get in the car. These thoughtful elements are designed for a user who is experiencing an EV for the first time.
Future tech previewed
The 45 also highlights future technological developments that may influence forthcoming Hyundai models, such as a hidden Camera Monitoring System, leaving room for self-driving system applications, and other upcoming technologies to emphasize Hyundai’s open architecture for the future. The system utilizes side cameras instead of traditional door mirrors to overcome visibility challenges caused by dirt gathering on the mirror offering progressively less visibility. The 45 overcomes this challenge by using an embedded turntable module, which rotates the lens past a brush to ensure perfect visibility at all times.
The 45 embodies Hyundai’s ‘STYLE SET FREE’ strategy for future mobility that emphasizes personalization of design and function. As the new era of future mobility opens, Hyundai reimagines the in-car experience in a self-driven vehicle. The interior becomes a unique living space capable of transforming to accommodate a range of passenger lifestyle demands.
Inside, Hyundai’s design team takes the space beyond driving to focus on the car’s evolution into a living space. Inspired by furniture designs, the minimalist cabin is fitted with an inviting fusion of wood, fabric and leather, creating a warm atmosphere that is both relaxing and spacious. Daylight was also considered as a design element for the headlining to bring analogue emotions in a natural way.
For the occupants, the car delivers a comfortable and communal environment, with lounge chair-style rear seats and front seats that can rotate to face other passengers. Pushing design and technology further ahead, front-seat passengers can interact with the infotainment system via a projection-beam interface. This replaces a single central touchscreen with a series of displays and functions integrated into the dashboard itself.
Clean lines, ergonomic placement of controls and a ‘high-end electronics’ feel for the interior fixtures further enhance the feeling of space while reinforcing the simplistic modernity of the 45’s design. The car reimagines storage space in a range of novel ways, including refining the concept of door-mounted device pockets by introducing a horizontally elongated shape that allows books or tablet PCs to be stored. Furthermore, the storage space uses a transparent material, so it is easy to see the contents.
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Audi has completed its quartet of visionary vehicles with an electric off-roader for the future of road transport with the AI:TRAIL quattro. The 4-seater concept car, which combines automated driving capability with competent off-road capabilities, joins the Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE concepts shown earlier.
With the AI:TRAIL, Audi is now opening up the potential applications for its visionary vehicles to include off-road terrain. The car is equipped with 4 electric motors, systems for assisted and automated driving and, of course, quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
There’s more than just the concept of sustainable drive systems and a body line that will run far into the future. The car also embodies an entirely new mobility concept for Audi. Unlike the cars of the present, such vehicles will no longer have to compromise between a wide range of uses and scenarios. Instead, it will be possible to design tomorrow’s cars for much more specific use cases. In the future, customers will be able to order any of these specialist Audi models from an Audi on demand vehicle pool to suit their personal preferences and requirements and to lease them for a limited period.
Technology that’s plain to see
With an exterior length of 4.15 metres and a width of 2.15 metres, the AI:TRAIL’s potential away from paved roads is immediately apparent. The roof height of 1.67 metres and the enormous 22-inch wheels with 850 mm tyres already hint at its superior off-road capabilities. With a ground clearance of an impressive 340 mm, it can drive across water more than half a metre deep.
The cabin itself is an extensively glazed space surrounded by polygonal shapes, with room for up to 4 people. With the electric drive system arranged around the axles and the battery in the floor, there is no need for overhanging sections or separate attachments for the motor or batteries.
Light weight and maximum body stiffness are, of course, important technical objectives for off-roaders in particular. That is why the body of the AI:TRAIL is made of a mixture of high-tech steel, aluminium and carbonfibre. As a result, it weighs just 1,750 kgs despite carrying a high-capacity battery.
Helicopter-style all-round visibility
The windshield wraps around the front of the vehicle like the cockpit of a helicopter. Passengers have an unobstructed view of the road or trail both in front and to the sides. Nor is it just the front and sides that are transparent and covered in glass. Almost the entire roof, from the top of the windshield to the rear spoiler, allows a clear view of the sky and the landscape. Even the vertical Singleframe is glazed, with only the four rings of the badge sitting in their customary position in what is otherwise a glass octagon.
Mobility and multifunctionality are features of the AI:TRAIL’s light sources as well. Instead of conventional headlights, self-contained light sources sit below the A-pillars and can shine both outward and inward. These LED elements are dimmable and adjustable and can be used as interior lighting as well as for lighting the vehicle’s path.
Audi Light Pathfinders
Instead of conventional low beams and high beams, the Audi AI:TRAIL is equipped with a total of five rotorless, triangular, electrically operated drones with integrated matrix LED elements. They are capable of landing on a roof rack or directly on the roof of the vehicle and docking onto the inductive charging elements.
The flying objects are Audi Light Pathfinders, which generate their lift in the same way as bladeless fans produce their air flow. Thanks to their markedly lightweight design, they can fly ahead of the AI:TRAIL, consuming comparably little energy in the process, and illuminate the path ahead, thereby replacing headlights entirely. If desired, the on-board cameras generate a video image that can be transmitted to the display in front of the driver via wifi, turning the Pathfinders into eyes in the sky.
“With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing an off-road concept with an emissions-free electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand,” said Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design.
Even though the new Mercedes-Benz EQ brand is in its infancy and the first models are just making their appearance, the carmaker is already showing what’s ahead in mobility, progress and sustainable luxury. This is because Mercedes-Benz understands that two things are timeless: the need for transport and the desire for the very special. In a sustainable future too, customers will want a saloon that meets their wishes in terms of comfort, design and technology.
Future design for EQ models
The VISION EQS shows how future EQ models will be shaped. The generous spaciousness and new control concept of this showcar provide a physical preview of the intuitive and digital interior and Advanced MBUX of future luxury saloons. A clear, flowing design idiom makes the individual parts of the entire dashboard blend into an integrated interior sculpture.
The showcar already meets these aspirations today and provides an outlook on future large, electric luxury saloons. At the same time, it illustrates a vision of purpose-built electro-design. With the VISION EQS, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future.
With its innovative, stretched ‘one bow’ proportion, the VISION EQS takes the Progressive Luxury design philosophy of the EQ models into a new dimension. The flowing yet powerful sculptured effect of the exterior design gives the showcar its majestic appearance – luxurious generosity and aerodynamic elegance in ideal harmony.
The prominent, continuous ‘lightbelt’ structures the exterior in a new way. The resulting colour division at shoulder level creates the impression of a ‘black panel’ glass landscape floating on the silver vehicle body – a seamlessly connected vehicle surface from the striking EQ front grille to the rear.
Precision in detail
Technologically futuristic features include the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, each with two holographic lens modules, integrated into the continuous 360-degree exterior lightbelt. These allow an almost unlimited number of light variations that provide an outlook on future light configurations for future models.
The brand logo also has new tasks: 229 illuminated, individual stars form the seamlessly integrated lightbelt at the rear, causing the brand’s trademark to shine out in a previously unknown way. Interaction between the vehicle and its environment is not just limited to the lights in the VISION EQS. The digital front grille, which realises a light matrix consisting of 188 individual LEDs as a world first, provides a new level in precise signalling. Once the black panel comes to life, the seemingly free-floating stars and pixels create a fascinating, three-dimensional effect.
Atmospheric generosity within
Inside, the VISION EQS takes its inspiration from the world of luxury yachts. The clear, flowing design idiom creates a new level of serenity – and with it the vision of modern luxury interpreted into the future. For the first time, the entire dashboard blends with the body of the front trim section to form an interior sculpture. With its deep and open spatial architecture, the cockpit of the VISION EQS envelops the occupants like the deck of a boat. The fully integrated, embracing overall sculpture consisting of the combined dashboard, centre console and armrests floats above the generous interior and, for the first time, gives an outlook on the interiors of future luxury saloons by the brand.
The choice of materials for the interior of the showcar also ensures a special ambience. Mercedes-Benz has systematically developed the use of sustainable materials further and uses both traditional and technologically advanced materials. High-quality DINAMICA microfibre in crystal white is used alongside native figured maple trim. This is made from recycled PET bottles.
Also used is artificial leather, with a finely structured surface similar to nappa leather. The material used for the roofliner comes from a special project: a high-quality textile was created by adding a quantity of recycled ‘ocean waste’ plastic, putting the use of sustainable materials on a wholly new level.
Advanced MBUX
The VISION EQS presents a large interior sculpture as a stage for the future: digital content can be experienced by immersion over the entire surface, creating an all-embracing atmosphere. The blending of materials and information illustrates a possible intuitive interaction in the future.
The organically emerging displays and projection surfaces provide display space, as does the intelligent CONNECTED LIGHT that surrounds the occupants. Haptic highlights such as the air vents integrated into the trim element like inlays, the sophisticated speaker covers in rose gold and the fragrance flask encased in a decorative holder like a jewel round off the trendsetting interior of the VISION EQS and show exquisite craftsmanship.
A fully-electric future
With electric motors at the front and rear axles and the battery integrated into the floor, the VISION EQS represents a very well-balanced vehicle concept. The basis for dynamic high-level performance and safety comes courtesy of the electric all-wheel drive with axle-variable torque distribution and a battery installed deep in the vehicle floor between the axles. Thanks to more than 350 kW of output and immediately available torque of around 760 Nm, the VISION EQS has a projected acceleration time from 0 – 100 km/h of under 4.5 seconds.
As a result of an intelligent operating strategy, the prototype can have a comfortable operating range of up to 700 kms. Assuming a charging performance of 350 kW, recharging the battery to 80% capacity should take less than 20 minutes.
The VISION EQS also makes a clear statement for the continuation of driver-controlled vehicles. To this end, the showcar demonstrates the bandwidth of the platform with its clear focus on the driver. Mercedes-Benz will also be in a position to fulfil the desire for individual mobility and thrilling handling characteristics in the future. At the same time the Vision EQS showcar supports the driver with highly-automated driving at Level 3, eg on longer motorway journeys. Thanks to the modular sensor systems, the level of autonomy can be extended up to fully-automated driving in the future.
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Flanked by classic Pininfarina-designed cars and inspired by Pininfarina’s purity of design and engineering elegance, Automobili Pininfarina recently presented the Battista hypercar and the company’s future vision for luxury electric cars at the Monterey Car Week in California.
Besides the presentation by CEO Michael Perschke of the Battista with its enhanced front design and his strategy for the brand moving forward, Design Director Luca Borgogno also treated guests to a preview of the PURA Vision design model. It was an inspirational view of the aesthetics of a future pure-electric Luxury Utility Vehicle from the Italian marque.
PURA Vision shows the future
“PURA Vision blends design themes which Battista Pininfarina himself made famous in creating some of the most revered and beautiful sportscars in history. Yet it is absolutely an insight into our future; a luxury vehicle like no other and once again designed to deliver thrilling EV performance,” said Borgogno.
“89 years of Pininfarina designs and creation of some of the world’s most beautiful cars will inspire everything Automobili Pininfarina offers to clients in the future.”
Luca Borgogno, Design Director, Automobile Pininfarina
The Battista joined a parade of iconic Pininfarina-designed cars in a display of automotive beauty unique even to the rarefied atmosphere of Monterey Car Week. Designed and to be hand-built at Pininfarina’s headquarters in Italy, the Battista took its place amongst past classics from the famous carrozzeria during a 4-hour drive from Pebble Beach.
Battista gets refinements
Displaying a new enhanced front end for the first time in North America, recently sculpted following wind tunnel testing and final design refinements, the Battista represented Automobili Pininfarina’s exciting future. Cars led by the legendary Lancia Rally 037 reminded the audience of what Pininfarina has established since 1930: a reputation for designing many of the world’s most desirable and beautiful cars.
The Automobili Pininfarina team now returns to Italy to continue testing and development of the 1,900 ps Battista under the management of Development Driver Nick Heidfeld and Sportscars Director Rene Wollmann. Meanwhile, the Battista show cars head to the UK for the Salon Prive event and to Hong Kong to begin the launch programme for the Asia-Pacific region.
Acura, Honda’s premium luxury brand, will unveil a brand new concept car that sets the stage for re-introducing Type S performance variants to the brand’s line-up after a decade. The Type S Concept which will debut this Friday in California represents a fundamental step toward fulfilling Acura’s return to Precision Crafted Performance, which started with the debut of the second-generation NSX.
Building on the foundational beauty and style of the Acura Precision Concept, the Type S Concept’s powerful form is characterized by a wide track and low stance, with an expansive bonnet that stretches forward from the A-pillars.
Conceived at Acura’s design studio in California, the Type S Concept showcases new elements of the brand’s design including next-generation, four-lamp Jewel Eye LED headlights, an open-surface Diamond Pentagon grille, and ‘Chicane’ daytime running lights and taillights, both drawing inspiration from the Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype racing car.
Refined style, raw emotion
Building off its powerful stance, the Type S Concept’s front end reflects both form and function. Large centre and side intakes are capable of supplying required airflow to a high-performance engine and brake package, with detailing evolved from the NSX and Acura Precision Concept.
The headlights are underscored, literally, by translucent white ‘Chicane’ LEDs that serve double duty as running lights and turn signals. The front section transitions to a side profile that communicates both power and elegance.
Sheer surfaces and continually shifting angles are balanced by sharp, intersecting lines that create the impression that every surface is changing shape as it flows front to rear. Sheer side surfaces gradually open-up to muscular rear wheel arches, emphasizing the concept car’s wide track.
A sharp and distinctive tail features an upswept decklid with a sharply creased centerline (drawn from the bonnet) and integrated forged carbon spoiler. There are also ‘Chicane’ LED taillights, a large rear diffuser and quad chrome exhaust outlets complete the look.
Forged carbonfibre
In addition to the rear decklid spoiler, forged carbonfibre – created by bonding layers of carbon on top of one another to exceed the strength of traditional interwoven carbon – is applied to the front and rear splitters, side sills, rear decklid spoiler and multi-spoke 21-inch wheels.
A ‘square’ 285-series tyre set-up ensures high levels of grip in the most dynamic of driving situations. All four corners feature drilled Brembo high-performance brakes with 4-piston calipers, providing ample stopping power and an aggressive appearance.
The Concept’s bespoke Double Apex Blue Pearl paint reflects a liquid and electric hue that pays homage to blue Type S heritage models. This unique finish employs nano pigments and a colour-infused clear coat that impart a sense of fluidity and motion and enhance the paint’s lustre and brilliance.
Karma Automotive, the company created from the previous Fisker Automotive purchased by a Chinese autoparts supplier Wanxiang Group, will reveal its design and technological direction with the North American debut of its SC1 Vision Concept car.
“The SC1 is a signpost to Karma’s future,” said Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou. “Designed and engineered in less than 12 months, SC1 is a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) that explores the brand’s striking design language and the innovative technology integration possible through our collaborative Open Platform strategy.”
Humanized communication system
The SC1 Vision Concept seamlessly integrates a new infotainment architecture with 5G connectivity and a humanized communication system with touch, voice, eye and graphical interfaces. Artificial Intelligence understands conventional language and commands, while a camera-based eye tracking system is capable of biometric identification, allowing for the multi-modal authentication of occupants. The eye-tracking system monitors a driver’s irises, eyelids and gaze – should the driver become distracted or fatigued, AI safely takes control of the vehicle.
With the use of 8 radar systems, 6 Lidar sensors, and half a dozen external cameras, the SC1 Vision Concept is fully equipped for autonomous motoring in the future. It will store information on cityscape and points of interest which are displayed in augmented reality.
Both driver and passenger can immerse themselves in comfort with an all-new surround audio system with dedicated sound environments for each of them. Karma says it will soon offer audio capabilities similar to the SC1 Vision Concept’s system through the company’s guided customization program.
New definition of luxury and style
“The SC1 Vision Concept draws its inspiration from Karma’s pioneering spirit,” said Andreas Thurner, Karma’s VP of Global Design and Architecture. “It is thought-provoking — it conjures a new definition of luxury and style with distinct Karma DNA.”
The SC1 Vision Concept features a one-off fluorescent orange paint scheme with flakes of violet mica capturing stunning sunset colours, juxtaposed by a darker palleted interior fading from black to deep indigo. A bold body design is reminiscent of an H-1 racing aircraft of the 1930s, with impressive length stretching from the car’s front axle to windscreen.
Striking patented articulating hinge doors open in a winged motion, gently rising up and forward, rotating around front wheels. The SC1 Vision Concept’s interior prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, eliminating excess to reveal a stratified design with a multi-dimensional in-cabin experience. The car’s battery is housed in a centre tunnel cascading down from dashboard into seats, before gliding upward to the decklid.
The all-new Land Rover Defender will have its world premiere later this year. In the past, when Land Rover was developing its new models, it would do most of the real-world testing on its own, using its own experienced personnel. Perhaps that was partly to keep details of the new model under wraps till launch.
These days, however, the carmaker must find it also useful to let outside parties check out prototypes. This is especially so if the outside parties operate in extreme conditions and have specific requirements for the transport vehicles.
One such organisation is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) which was visited by the team carrying out the latest stage of its global testing programme of the new Defender.
IFRC fleet experts put new Defender to the test
A prototype vehicle visited the IFRC global fleet base in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Land Rover engineers demonstrated the vehicle’s breadth of capability to their IFRC counterparts both on and off road. Then the IFRC fleet experts took to the wheel to test the vehicle for themselves on the region’s desert sand dunes and the twisty tarmac of Jebel Jais highway in temperatures over 40 degrees C. The Defender also climbed the tallest mounting in the UAE and reached an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres.
The dunes around Dubai were the perfect place to confirm that this is the most capable Land Rover ever made. It sits on tyres with an overall diameter of up to 815 mm, resulting in a very large contact patch. Coupled with a bespoke traction control system, which monitors and adjusts for a large variety of terrain, this makes the new Defender highly capable on sand and incredibly smooth on road as well.
Global partnership since 1954
The test in Dubai coincides with the renewal of Land Rover’s global partnership with the IFRC – a relationship that dates back 65 years, to 1954, when the first specially adapted Land Rover entered service in the region as a mobile dispensary.
This year marks the humanitarian organisation’s centenary as it celebrates ‘100 Years of Hope’. Over the next three years, Land Rover will support disaster preparedness and response initiatives in locations including India, Mexico and Australia.
“The Red Cross supports millions of people in crisis every year, working in almost every country in the world. We operate in some of the most hard-to-reach places on earth, often working in very difficult terrain, so our teams have to be able to cope with anything. That’s why we’re proud to have partnered with Land Rover since 1954, and to be putting their new Defender to the test, as together they help us reach vulnerable communities in crisis, whoever and wherever in the world they are,” said Ilir Caushaj, the IFRC’s Team Lead For Global Fleets And Logistics.
The session with the IFRC fleet experts complements the global testing programme which has seen prototypes covering more than 1.2 million kilometres in all kinds of conditions. Various activities have also been arranged to give the public a sneak preview of the vehicle, including a dynamic appearance at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
Recent news reports have mentioned that our Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, has been having discussions with Turkey on providing expertise for automobile production. This offer could tie in well with the plan of the country’s President Erdogan to produce its first domestic car within the next few years.
To most Malaysians, this may seem like the first time that Malaysia is connecting with Turkey with regard to auto industry business. However, there was already a connection over 20 years ago when Proton was exporting its cars there. From official information available up to May 2001, Proton exported almost 6,000 cars to that country. The cars were well received and owners even formed a Turkey Proton Club.
Proton continues to be represented by Ulu Motor which took on the distributorship in 2004. It sells models like the Exora, Preve, Saga FLX and Persona.
Plan for a Turkish car in late 1990s
But what’s more interesting is the plan for a Turkish car, as mentioned earlier. Back in 1999, a Turkish businessman by the name of M. Fadil Akgunduz, Chairman of Jet Otomobil Pazarlama (JetPa) Holdings, was already planning to produce a domestic Turkish model by 2002. I happened to meet Mr. Akgunduz at a European motorshow in 1999 and got to know about his ambitions.
One of the companies owned by Mr. Akgunduz was the first Proton distributor in Turkey, having started importing the Malaysian cars in 1997. He saw much potential for the Malaysian cars, especially as they came from a fellow Muslim nation, and was inspired to come out with a Turkish car in due course.
He believed that a Turkish domestic model could sell well in Europe as he could count on the 400 million Turks (at that time) living in European countries, especially in Germany, to give their support. These future customers could buy up to 250,000 cars and he expected that up to 70% of his factory’s production could be for exports.
The IMZA 700
The Turkish car was called the IMZA 700 (the number referring to the 700th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire’s founding) and a prototype had been unveiled in October 1998. The prototype was developed by CMAK Ltd (a British company then owned by Malaysia’s EP Manufacturing Bhd.) and the Orbital Engine Corporation Ltd of Australia.
The orbital engine (which had inherent issues that prevented it from being commercialized) was only for the prototypes. Production models were to have 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines.
US$2.7 billion project
The whole project, including the factory, was expected to cost as much as US$2.7 billion and this was back in the late 1990s. Mr. Akgunduz knew about Proton’s huge factory being built in Tg. Malim and wanted to do the same thing in Turkey. He envisioned a production capacity of up to a million units annually by 2012 (from two factories).
He said he had been in discussions with Proton to see if they would want to assemble some of their models at his new factory in Siirt and reciprocally, he would consider assembling the IMZA 700 at their new factory for sale in Malaysia and the neighbouring countries.
I had forgotten about the IMZA 700 and the ambitious plan of Mr. Akgunduz until the recent news about our PM offering automotive expertise to Turkey brought back memories of that meeting. So what happened to the Turkish car? From various reports in the early 2000s, there were investigations into the way funding was being obtained and German and Turkish government agencies took action against JetPa and its owner, which eventually killed the project.
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