Back in the late 1990s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were up for sale and BMW eventually acquired the former while the Volkswagen Group got the latter. As Daimler-Benz did not have anything beyond the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that could be on par with those two ultra luxury British brands’ limousines, it decided to revive a brand it had acquired in 1960 – Maybach. This was a historically significant brand which produced elegant and desirable cars between 1921 and 1940.
In 2002, the carmaker launched the standalone Maybach brand with two very expensive models, designed with the same sort of superlative luxury that would rival the best in the world. There were great plans to have a strong presence at the summit of the car market but only 3,000 were ever sold in 9 years – when the target was 1,000 units each year. The old brand name made no impact either, and the pricetag was considered just too high. By 2013, the Maybach brand was once again retired.
Ultra-luxurious sub-brand
However, Mercedes-Benz did not stop trying to have an offering to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley and it instead decided to develop an ultra luxurious version of the S-Class, and giving it exclusivity by being branded as Mercedes-Maybach. Since 2018, there have been two models – Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC Sedan and the S 650 Sedan.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first mass-produced car which Maybach Motorenbau GmbH presented at a motorshow in Berlin. It was the W 3 model and was the first German production car with brakes on 4 wheels, an epicyclic gear system and an interior with the finest materials.
Only 200 units of Edition 100
To commemorate that historic model’s 100th anniversary, Mercedes-Maybach has come up with the ‘Edition 100’. This is a special edition of the current S-Class and GLS models, each limited to 100 units. Both models have the impressive radiator grille bearing the brand emblem. They are hand-painted in the same two tones – high-tech silver/nautical blue – and feature a special design of leather interior in designo crystal white/silver grey pearl.
The brand logo including the inscription ‘Edition 100’ adorns the C-pillar (S-Class) or D-pillar (GLS), various stowage compartments and the illuminated panels in the interior. The same lettering also adorns the hub caps on the forged wheels of the GLS and the grey wheels of the S-Class.
A car cover with the iconic double M as well as a fine handmade case made of soft crystal white or black leather in file size – made to store keys and papers – further underline the exclusivity of the edition.
Limited editions of lifestyle accessories
In keeping with the anniversary edition, Mercedes-Maybach’s long-standing partners are also designing strictly limited special series: Licensing partner Maybach Icons of Luxury, for example, offers a diamond-studded fountain pen from the Maybach the Peak collection; while the silver and yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking offers a champagne flute with a specially created engraving.
The top-class GLS SUV combines a sporty appearance with the luxury of a saloon. It is 33 cm higher than the classic saloon and offers a generous interior with 1.10 metres of legroom. Electrically extendable running boards make getting in and out easy, while the interior is soundproofed and upholstered with the finest leather. The engine is a V8 with 557 bhp output, and air suspension ensures a very smooth ride.
The S-Class luxury saloon comes with a V12 engine that produces 612 bhp. It is intended as a chauffeur-driven saloon and much of the focus is therefore given to the noise-insulated first-class rear compartment. Compared to the long-wheelbase version of the S-Class, this model has an 18-cm longer wheelbase and is equipped with all-wheel drive for the first time.
Besides an extensive range of personalisation options for the cars, owners can also have matching lifestyle accessories such as exclusive travel bags, leather goods, clothing, home and eyewear. Sustainably selected materials are used, such as natural horn, precious woods, titanium, cashmere or leather types that meet the highest environmental standards. The artfully staged understatement of the products conveys the fascination of the brand and fulfils the desire for personal expression.
Land Rovers have appeared in various James Bond movies and will again star in the latest one to have its world premiere later this month. A video released last year showed Defenders in action, flying through the air in ‘No Time to Die’, and for those who want a similar vehicle, Land Rover SV Bespoke has created the Defender V8 Bond Edition.
Only 300 units will be offered through Land Rover dealers worldwide and there will be a choice of the Defender 90 or 110 bodystyles. To have the same stealthy look, the Defender V8 Bond Edition gets an Extended Black Pack with 22-inch Gloss Black alloy wheels and signature Xenon Blue front brake calipers.
The bespoke touches extend to the practical interior, with a specially developed start-up animation for the intuitive Pivi Pro infotainment system touchscreen that honours Land Rover’s long partnership with the James Bond franchise. At night, customers will also spot unique ‘007’ puddle lamp graphics flashed on ground outside the doors.
There are, of course, ‘Defender 007’ badges on various parts of the bodywork and inside, laser etching details that each unit is ‘one of 300’. Each vehicle is specially commissioned by the vehicle personalisation experts at SV Bespoke in the UK.
Based on the recently launched Defender V8, the Bond Edition is powered by a 5-litre 525 ps/625 Nm supercharged petrol engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This provides levels of performance that were never available in the original Defender and expertly developed suspension tuning allows the driver to make use of all that capability.
“The Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition is an exclusive take on the most powerful production Defender ever made, inspired by vehicles on screen in ‘No Time to Die’. It represents a meeting of two great British brands and is a unique celebration of Land Rover’s 38-year association with James Bond,” said Finbar McFall, Land Rover Brand Director.
Besides the Defender, there will also be two Range Rover Sport SVRs, a Range Rover Classic and Land Rover Series III in the film, which is the 25th one since 1962. ‘No Time to Die’ will be released progressively worldwide from the end of September, with the first screening taking place in the UK on September 30.
Going by some recent pictures of camouflaged Defenders on Malaysian roads last month, it is likely that Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia will be introducing the model in the near future. If you want to be alerted about the launch, you could let your interest be known at a Land Rover showroom.
The TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa this weekend is special for Mercedes-AMG. It was 50 years ago that the classic endurance race in Belgium saw the still young AMG brand scoring its first major success. Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz won their class and finished second overall with the AMG 300 SEL 6.8, a victory that brought AMG to the attention of the motorsports world. It was not a works racing car entered by Mercedes-Benz but a car developed by the engineering firm which was founded in 1967, hence the car’s entry as an ‘AMG’.
The ‘Red Pig’
The big W109 Mercedes-Benz sedan, painted in red and nicknamed ‘Red Pig’, weighed 1,635 kgs. AMG engineers got its 6835 cc engine to generate up to 428 ps and 620 Nm, giving a 0 to 100 km/h capability of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of more than 265 km/h. It suited the old course of Spa-Francorchamps – 14.863 kms long, with many straights that could be driven at full throttle.
3 ready-to-race cars
As homage to the legendary red car, Mercedes-AMG (the company became part of the Daimler Group in 2005) has developed a trio of cars in limited edition with the theme of ‘50 Years Legend of Spa’. For maximum exclusivity, the number has been limited to one of each. Next to the iconic red livery, the three unique pieces incorporate further exclusive characteristics and specifications. The limited edition consists of one SLS AMG GT3, one GT3 (2016 model year) and the current evolution version of the GT3.
All three racing cars are ready-to-race. Their livery recalls the iconic looks of the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG from 50 years ago. Next to the red basic colour, the surfaces for starting numbers and sponsors have been inspired by the race participation at Spa at the time.
The extras in the interior include a finish in Graphite Metallic Matt and a dashboard fascia in carbonfibre. On the dashboard, there is an anniversary plaque with the original signature of AMG founder Hans Werner Aufrecht.
Without FIA homologation
Technically, the special editions have a bit of differentiation too. The AMG 6.3 litre V8 engine, with a performance exhaust system, can develop its full power level without an air restrictor but as supplied ex-factory, it does not have FIA homologation.
The SLS AMG GT3 ‘50 Years Legend of Spa’ is a brand-new competition gullwing car classified as a 2021 model. Officially, production of this model ended in 2015 but for the anniversary edition, Mercedes-AMG took the final and only available bodyshell of the model from its warehouse to build the special version. Together with the other characteristics and specifications of the special version, the result is a car that can’t be exceeded in terms of uniqueness.
The 2016 anniversary car has been a fascinating model from the first model generation. Next to the typical special colour schemes for the interior and the exterior as well as the numerous special features, the race car has another feature that makes it special: its chassis number. The spaceframe, made from aluminium, has the number 100.
The 2020 car, in special edition form, is the latest GT3. Apart from the exhaust system that enhances performance, its technology is identical to that of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars that have been racing around the track in this year’s 24-hour race.
During the 1970s, Japanese cars began to enter international motorsports events and their presence became increasingly noted as they won major events. One such event was the legendary East African Safari Rally, a tough dusty event that went around the Kenya countryside. As it was part of the World Rally Championship, major manufacturers took part and among them was Nissan, which used different models.
It was the iconic Datsun 240Z sportscar which won the 1971 event, driven by Edgar Herrmann with navigator Hans Schuller. To underline the superiority of the 240Z, two other cars finished in second and seventh positions. Furthermore, the victory represented the brand’s second consecutive victory in the rally. The sleek and low-slung 240Z was powered by a 2.4-litre straight-six engine, producing 210 ps.
The victorious car is on display today, having been fully restored in 2013. It is part of Nissan’s Heritage Collection which is housed in Zama, close to Nissan global headquarters in Japan.
Revealed on the first day of 2021 event
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nissan’s victory in the Safari Rally, the carmaker is preparing a Juke Rally Tribute Concept. These images are being released to coincide with the first day of the Safari Rally Kenya which sees the event once again being on the WRC calendar after an absence of 19 years.
The JUKE Rally Tribute Concept, as you can guess, is developed from a production Juke. It’s a very appropriate car to use with a raised stance, short front and rear overhangs strong potential off-road performance.
With enlarged wheels arches to accommodate the tailor-made off-road tyres, the vehicle’s stance is made more imposing, while the additional lights mounted on the bonnet and roof are reminiscent of the old rallycars. Back then, rallies were also run through the night so extra and powerful lighting was important. Two spare wheels are also visible at the back.
Colour themes reminiscent of 240Z rallycar
The JUKE Rally Tribute Concept’s black bonnet and black wheels are especially related to the 1971 240Z that competed in the RALLY. Those same cues also served as inspiration for the Gripz concept car which Nissan presented at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015 which, in turn, influenced the design of the production Juke that was introduced in 2019.
A major difference under the bonnet is the type of powertrain used. While the rallycars of the 1970s had petrol engines, the Juke Rally Tribute Concept will have an electric hybrid powertrain. This is in support of Nissan’s commitment to the electrification of its range, especially in Europe.
“The Juke Rally Tribute Concept celebrates an iconic moment in Nissan’s heritage, with the participation and victory of the legendary 240Z in the East African Rally in 1971. As well as celebrating that victory, it reflects Nissan’s pioneering history in crossovers, striking design and electrified powertrains. We’re delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the victory of that remarkable achievement with these striking images,” said Coralie Musy, Vice-President, Brand and Customer Experience, Nissan Automotive Europe.
The 2021 Safari Rally Kenya
The Safari Rally Kenya starts today as the sixth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship. It was to have been run last year but the pandemic forced its cancellation. Instead of the route of 6000 kms of open-road of yesteryear, the event will have 18 stages and a total of 320.19 competitive kilometres. But what remains unchanged is the dusty conditions (which could also be wet and muddy), rough terrain and high temperatures – and they will also see wildlife like the drivers in the 1970s. None of the WRC’s frontline drivers have experienced the Safari, which means ‘adventure’ in the Swahili language.
The American market was always a strong market for the Toyota Supra, to the extent that some generations were born at Calty, its advanced design centre in California. When it made its return after an absence of 17 years, it was the North American International Auto Show that was chosen for its global debut.
So the American market is special to Toyota, especially where the Supra is concerned, and to recognise that, Toyota USA has developed a limited edition of the GR Supra just for the market. It’s the most exclusive 5th generation Supra to date and only 600 units will be available.
Carbonfibre treatment
The highlight of the GR Supra A91-CF Edition, as it is known, is a carbonfibre front splitter and larger canards, with carbonfibre side rockers define the lower edge along the sides. The carbonfibre treatment (hence ‘CF Edition’) continues at the rear end, with a duckbill spoiler catching the air up top and lower canards doing so down below.
Wind tunnel-tested
The aerodynamic features are not just for looks. Extensive testing has been done in a wind tunnel to shape them to improve downforce and stability, especially when on the racetrack. The performance should be almost similar to the other GR Supra as it uses the same 3-litre 6-cylinder engine.
Additionally, unique 19-inch wheels sport a matte-black texture that complements A91-CF Edition’s available matte-gray Phantom paint colour. The other technical specs are the same too, with an 8-speed Z-F8 transmission, Adaptive Variable Sport suspension and active rear sport differential. The front brakes are from Brembo, with red calipers.
Exclusive interior trim
The interior, with a red-and-black theme, also has some exclusive features that include carbonfibre interior trim. The Alcantara-and-leather-trimmed cabin includes red stitching details with a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel and sport pedals.
In Malaysia, the model is officially available through selected authorised dealers with the GR Garage. It is priced from RM589,987 (with sales tax exemption, without insurance). Visit toyota.com.my for more information or to locate a GR Garage showroom in Malaysia.
Recently, Rolls-Royce announced that it has re-established its Coachbuild department which will offer customers a totally exclusive car of their own, well beyond the personalisation available from its Bespoke services. The Coachbuild department brings back a lost art and science of making cars which goes back to the earliest years of the motorcar, before mass production began in factories.
The carmaker must have been talking to some customers about this new development for some time as they already have a coachbuilt model to show. It has been commissioned by a customer and is known as the ‘Boat Tail’.
“Today marks a seminal moment for the House of Rolls-Royce. We are proud to unveil Rolls-Royce Boat Tail to the world, and with it, the confirmation of coachbuilding as a permanent fixture within our future portfolio. Historically, coachbuilding had been an integral part of the Rolls-Royce story. In the contemporary Rolls-Royce narrative, it has informed our guiding philosophy of Bespoke. But it is so much more. Rolls-Royce Coachbuild is a return to the very roots of our brand. It represents an opportunity for the select few to participate in the creation of utterly unique and truly personal commissions of future historical significance. This is authentic luxury. This is contemporary patronage in its truest form. This is Rolls-Royce Coachbuild,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, at the presentation this afternoon in England.
Sweptail demonstrated coachbuilding expertise
The Sweptail, presented in 2017 as a demonstration of the coachbuilding expertise of Rolls-Royce attracted the attention of a number of customers. They approached the company to discover if they too could collaborate on a unique commission. The company was agreeable and this was the genesis of a permanent contemporary Coachbuild department at Rolls-Royce.
2017 Rolls-Royce Sweptail
Within this group, it emerged that three potential customers shared a deep appreciation of contemporary nautical design. J-Class yachts were often referenced as points of inspiration, both for their purity of form and their requirement for hand-craftsmanship at the highest level to bring them into existence.
Customer-led creative expression
This customer-led creative expression established the contemporary expression of the Boat Tail typology, where coachbuilders would graft the hull forms of sailing boats onto the rolling chassis of a Rolls-Royce. When the idea of this design direction was proposed, the three customers made a single demand: “Show me something that I have never seen before.”
In consultation with the customers concerned, an agreement was reached whereby three cars would share a common body, but each would then be individually, highly personalised, reflecting the confluence between vision, capability and ambition of the marque and each of the individual commissioning patrons.
New realms of design opportunity
The manual techniques of coachbuilding offer new realms of design opportunity. Once the preliminary design proposal is penned by hand, the discovery of the form is enabled with a full-sized sculpture in clay, allowing hand-crafted manipulation of the expansive surfaces to perfect its shape.
Employing age-old individual hand skills and craft, a living canvas is created from metal–honing and optimising the aluminium body, creating a clarity of surface and continuation of line that is unable to be achieved by machine alone. The process is akin to yacht building with the process of hand-refinement repeated almost endlessly, without the pressure of time.
Who are the customers?
The first Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, unveiled today, is a curation of exceptional thoughts, concepts and items, which culminate to form the customer’s perfect experience. The commissioning customers of this unit are a globally successful couple and their desire was to create a response to a life of hard work, success achieved, and celebration required.
Their fascination of the Boat Tail form was furthered by a motorcar in their private collection – a 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, lovingly restored by them, in time for their modern Boat Tail’s completion. Thus this creation tells the romantic tale of Rolls-Royce’s history, echoing a Boat Tail design but not explicitly mimicking it, fusing an historical body type with a thoroughly contemporary design.
The visual connection to boats
While much of the car, almost 5.9 metres long, has all the elements of a modern Rolls-Royce, it is at the rear where the nautical references are apparent. The ‘aft deck’, a modern interpretation of the wooden rear decks of historical Boat Tails, incorporates large swathes of wood. Caleidolegno veneer is applied in a feat of Rolls-Royce engineering; the grey and black material which is typically housed in the interior, has been specially adapted to be used on the exterior, with no compromise to the aesthetic.
From the rear, one perceives a strong graphical composition marked by further horizontal emphasis, accentuating Boat Tail’s great width. An explicit architectural influence is discovered in the Boat Tail’s unconventional fixed-canopy roof. Adding to the sculptural form, the sweeping roofline concludes in delicate structural elements that touch down on the rear, redolent of flying buttresses. Of course, if rainy weather is encountered while the roof is removed, a temporary tonneau is stowed for static transitory shelter.
Blue bodywork and elements
The exterior of Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is swathed in a rich and complex tone of the customers’ favourite colour – blue. The hue, with an overt nautical connotation, is subtle when in shadows but in sunlight, embedded metallic and crystal flakes bring a vibrant and energetic aura to the finish. To ensure the smoothest possible application when rendering the exterior, a finger was run over the definitive body line before the paint had fully dried to soften its edges.
The wheels are also finished in bright blue, highly polished and clear coated to add to the Boat Tail’s celebratory character. A hand-painted, gradated bonnet, a first for Rolls-Royce, rises from a comparatively subdued deeper blue which cascades onto the grille, providing a progressive but informal aesthetic and a solidity of overall volume when viewed from the front.
The interior leather reflects the bonnet’s colour tone transition with the front seats swathed in the darker blue hue, recognising the Boat Tail’s driver focused intent, while the rear seats are finished in the lighter tone. A soft metallic sheen is applied to the leather to accentuate its pairing with the painted exterior while detailed stitching and piping is applied in a more intense blue inspired by the hands of the car’s timepieces.
The fascia is distilled in its appearance, purposefully reduced to provide a modern aesthetic. This minimalist canvas accentuates the jewel like features of the completely unique BOVET 1822 timepieces specifically commissioned by the customer for the Boat Tail. As collecting pens is another of the customers’ great passions, a particularly cherished Montblanc pen will reside in a discretely placed, hand-crafted, case of aluminium and leather, in the glovebox.
“This car should mark a sense of occasion and serve that occasion like nothing else”. Such was the brief of the customers. In response and in reflection of their character, the rear deck inconspicuously houses a highly ambitious concept never seen before in the automotive world. At the press of a button, the deck opens in a sweeping butterfly gesture, to reveal an intricate and generous hosting suite. Its complex movement was inspired by cantilever concepts explored by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.
Unique rear compartment
The chest contains all that is required for a true Rolls-Royce al fresco dining experience – one side dedicated to aperitifs, the other, cuisine, complete with cutlery engraved with the name ‘Boat Tail’. A double refrigerator has been developed to house the customers’ favourite champagne, with elegant cradles created to stow the specific bottle size within the refrigerator, the surrounds are highly polished and colour matched to the bottle.
A classic design element of contemporary Rolls-Royce motor cars is the stowage of Rolls-Royce umbrellas in the doors, in anticipation of possible bad weather. In a delightful twist and to heighten the languid experience of the Boat Tail, a unique parasol is housed beneath the rear centreline in anticipation of fine weather. A telescopic movement opens this beautiful and whimsical canopy inversely, ensuring effortless deployment.
Cocktail tables, which elegantly rotate to mimic the offering of an attendant, open on either side of the hosting suite providing access to two highly contemporary minimalist stools, which are discretely stowed below. Designed by Rolls-Royce and created by Italian furniture-maker Promemoria, the slim-line interlocking stools are formed from the same technical fibre found on the exterior of the car.
“Boat Tail is the culmination of collaboration, ambition, endeavour, and time. It was born from a desire to celebrate success and create a lasting legacy. In its remarkable realisation, Rolls-Royce Boat Tail forges a pivotal moment in our marque’s history and in the contemporary luxury landscape,” said Muller-Otvos.
Polestar, the independent Swedish electric performance car brand founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holdings, has produced two models to date – the Polestar 1, a low-volume hybrid GT; and the Polestar 2 fastback which is the company’s first fully electric, high volume car.
The Polestar 1 made its debut in 2017 and since 2019, has been built a new factory in China. After 4 years, the model’s production will end later this year as the Polestar 3 SUV makes its entry. To commemorate the end of its production life, the company has revealed a special version which will be made in 25 copies only.
The special edition will feature a bespoke matte gold exterior paint job with matching calipers and black wheels. Inside, colour-matched gold stitching gives the interior an even more unique feel.
The halo car
“It’s hard to believe that our beautiful halo car comes to the end of its production life later this year,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO. “We pushed boundaries with this car, not only in terms of engineering but also in its design and execution. Polestar 1 set the tone for our brand and its genes are evident in Polestar 2 – as they will be in our future cars to come.”
Technical tour de force
A technical tour de force, the electric performance hybrid has a lightweight body made from carbonfibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), and is powered by twin rear electric motors with genuine torque vectoring. As a performance model, it is fitted with high-performance components like Akebono brakes and adjustable Ohlins dampers.
With a combined power output of 609 bhp and 1,000 Nm of torque, and a purely electric driving range claimed to be up to 124 kms – still the longest of any hybrid car in the world – the Polestar 1 is a performance car that can be driven as a full EV in daily use, doubling as a great long-distance GT at any moment.
“This car was not designed to fit into a ‘box’,” noted Ingenlath. “We didn’t design it to compete with other cars, and neither did we design it to suit a specific target customer. Polestar 1 was about pushing our own boundaries, exploring a new era for Polestar and launching the brand with a strong statement – and it’s done a great job of capturing the hearts and minds of fans, press and the lucky customers who own one.”
The journey continues with the Polestar 2
Until the Polestar 3 is launched, the Polestar 2 model (pictured below) will offer 3 variants with a combination of long- and standard range battery packs as large as 78 kWh, and dual-motor and single-motor powertrains with as much as 300 kW/408 hp and 660 Nm. It is produced at a Geely factory in China.
Besides the Polestar 3, the Precept (concept model shown above) will also go into production later on. The Precept highlights Polestar’s path for digital technology and the use of innovative sustainable materials, inside and out.
“‘Stunning. Spectacular. Cutting-edge. We’d like to see it on the road!’ – this is what the press wrote about Precept and the public said, ‘We want it’, so we decided to build it,” explained Ingenlath.
Expanding market footprint
Polestar, which is recognised as a car manufacturer, will expand its market footprint further this year with the addition of 5 new markets in the Asia-Pacific region. These markets will join 3 new and previously announced European markets, bringing Polestar’s global footprint to 18 markets by the end of the year. The new markets include South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
The Honda City has been Honda Malaysia’s bestselling model for many years and certainly deserves to be one of the very exclusive ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition models. Originally conceived as Honda’s ‘Asian Car’ to provide a new entry-level model when the Civic had risen aware from that position, the City had the right formula in both price and design to win more and more customers.
It was assembled in Malaysia right from the first generation in the closing years of the 1990s. The early generation was assembled in Johor at the Oriental Assemblers factory and then assembly was transferred to Melaka when the Honda Malaysia plant began operations in 2003.
Commenting on the success of the model, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama, said: “The City has proven to be an important model for Honda Malaysia, a favourite among many Malaysians for its spaciousness, practicality and safety features.”
Although the City was already being sold before 2001, Honda Malaysia records sales of the City from that year and according to the company’s data, cumulative sales have been 351,000 units. Of that number, the 4th Generation City launched in 2014 accounted for more than 205,000 units and kept the model in a leadership position in its segment.
The fifth generation was launched last October and as with previous generations, there was a long list of people waiting for it. Some 5,000 people put their money down to book a unit; although they knew what it looked like, they did not have a chance to try it first. But as with other Honda models, the brand has become so trusted that it was not a matter of waiting to hear if there were any negative experiences by new owners, as can be the case with some brands. Those who liked what they saw and read about were confident enough to pay the deposit to be among the first to own one.
For the ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition, one unit of the latest City 1.5V variant has been given additional features. The features are identical for all the Special Edition models: on the exterior are a Dual-Tone finish (white bodywork with black roof), red highlight line running across the black grille, red highlight line on each door mirror, red highlights on wheels with a black finish and of course, ‘1 Million Dreams’ emblems on either side of the bodywork.
Exclusive interior fittings
Inside the cabin which has been noted for its spaciousness, the leather upholstered front seats have an embossed ‘1 Million Dreams’ signature as well as a plaque on the dashboard. The steering wheel is also leather-wrapped and has sporty red stitching as well as a red mark at the 12 o’clock position. This little detail is usually found on sportscars or drivers put it so that there is a visual indicator to where the front wheels are pointing. Every owner of a Special Edition model will also receive an exclusive Honda Leather Pouch.
The City 1.5V uses a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine with a DOHC and 16-valve cylinder head and a PGM-FI fuel delivery system. Output from this proven engine, the most powerful in its class, is 121 ps/145 Nm which goes through a CVT to the front wheels. While offering zippy performance, the engine also runs economically, with factory tests indicating that it will go almost 19 kms a litre. Drivers can stretch the litre further by using the ECON mode which prioritises fuel-saving.
Features from more expensive models
Though it is priced from RM86,561.45 (without insurance), the City has many features that are usually enjoyed by those who buy more expensive cars. For instance, the engine and air-conditioner can be started remotely and unlocking the doors is keyless along with starting/stopping the engine. The 1.5V variant also comes with cruise control and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
With its strong G-FORCE CONTROL (G-CON) body structure, the latest City has been awarded the maximum of 5 stars from ASEAN NCAP. It comes with a comprehensive range of active and passive safety systems and features that will help the driver to avoid an accident and reduce injuries if the accident does occur. ISOFIX points are provided at the rear seat so owners can install compatible childseats which are now required by law.
Being aware of the surroundings is important for safe driving and besides a Multi-Angle Reverse Cameras, the new City 1.5V has Honda LaneWatch. This is an innovative camera-based system which provides the driver with a real-time view of the blind spot along the left side of the car. The advantage of this system is that the driver does not need to turn the head so much to see the traffic situation (unlike having to turn a lot to see the door mirror). The LaneWatch display automatically comes on whenever the signal indicator is activated.
Being feature-packed, Honda Malaysia believes the new City is a game-changer in its class. While you cannot buy the ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition which will be given free to one lucky Malaysian, you can choose from 4 variants to purchase, including the recently-launched City RS with the e:HEV hybrid powertrain. Prices start from RM74,191 and go up to RM105,950 (without insurance). There are also Modulo accessories available which are specially designed for the new City.
How to own this exclusive car
To own the City ‘1 Million Dreams’ Special Edition, you need to submit as many entries as possible. The entries can be obtained by participating in various activities during the campaign period which ends on March 24, 2021. If you have the Honda Touch app, you can get 5x entries.
Each owner of a Special Edition model will also receive this exclusive Honda Leather Pouch.
Additional giveaways
Additionally, as part of the ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign, there is the Shopee Coins Giveaway for those who participate in any of the ‘1 Million Dreams’ activities on honda.com.my or at an authorised Honda dealer! Up to 1,000,000 Shopee Coins are being given out to 150 weekly winners.
The lucky winners will be announced at a Grand Finale scheduled to be held by the end of this month.
Visit any authorised Honda dealership nationwide to participate. Locations of dealerships can be found at www.honda.com.my.
The City was originally a compact hatchback Honda model in the 1980s which was only produced between 1981 and 1994 in two generations. The City which people know today was a new sedan launched in 1996. It was Honda’s ‘Asian Car’, developed to offer a more affordable Honda model to developing markets where the Civic’s price had moved it beyond being an ‘entry-level’ model. The hub for City production has been Thailand, although it is also assembled in some other countries like Malaysia where a high level of localization helps to make the price more attractive.
With each generation, the City has gained more and more features and more advanced technologies, including hybrid technologies. The latest City RS e:HEV sold in Malaysia (below) now has Honda SENSING and a new advanced 2-motor hybrid system using an intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD). This is the first time in the Asia & Oceania region that Honda is introducing its e:HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle).
The Toyota GR Supra’s fundamental appeal is being a sportscar in its purest form, and a sportscar is at home on a racetrack. Thus it’s only appropriate that the company has developed an exclusive version which it calls the Jarama Racetrack Edition.
Only for Europe
Only 90 units of this version will be available, all for sale only in Europe. The ‘90’ is s subtle reference to the coupe’s model code which is ‘A90’ and the name is, of course, that of a well known racing circuit in Spain. In fact, that is where many of the world’s media had their first experience of the GR Supra two years ago.
The Jarama Racetrack Edition is visually distinguished by its unique Horizon Blue paintwork, contrasting with a matt black finish for its 19-inch forged alloy wheels and visible red-painted brake calipers.
Tuned by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing
Under the long bonnet is the original, 340 bhp/500 Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six unit, tuned by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, the company’s high-performance unit. The engine output flows through a rapid-shift 8-speed sports automatic transmission. When using the car’s launch control system, 0 -100 km/h acceleration times is claimed to be 4.3 seconds.
‘Golden ratio’
The sports performance and handling are said to be every bit as rewarding as the regular GR Supra, founded on the car’s finely balanced chassis and the ideal ‘golden ratio’ between the wide track and short wheelbase.
A low centre of gravity, a lightweight and highly rigid body and aerodynamically efficient add to the car’s agility and stability. These qualities are optimised by performance-enhancing features including adaptive variable suspension (with NORMAL and SPORT settings), active differential, sports-tuned steering and powerful Brembo sports brakes with four-pot aluminium front callipers and 348 mm vented front discs.
Exclusive interior fittings
In the cabin the car’s special status is signified by a carbonfibre dashboard insert specifying its number in the production run and featuring an outline map of the Jarama circuit, plus the Toyota GR Supra logo. The interior is upholstered in black Alcantara with blue stitching and the seats are power-adjustable and have a memory setting and integrated heating.
Standard equipment which customers will get includes satellite navigation with 3D-mapping, smartphone integration (via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Supra Connect access to connected services and a 10-speaker audio system. Multimedia functions are controlled using an 8.8-inch TFT touchscreen, or (for certain functions) voice recognition.
The Supra Safety + Package provides a comprehensive range of active safety features, including a Pre-Collision System with a pedestrian detection function and the ability to recognise cyclists during daytime driving; Lane Departure Alert with steering assist; Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go function; Adaptive High-beam System; Adaptive Front-light System, which adjust the headlight illumination in line with the car’s steering angle; and Road Sign Assist.
In Malaysia, the GR Supra is available through dealerships with the GR Garage (currently 5 outlets in Peninsular Malaysia). Prices start from RM589,987 (without insurance) and each unit comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
