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First images of 5th generation Kia Sportage which will debut in July

Kia Motors will soon be launching a new generation of the Sportage, one of its older SUV models which dates back to the early 1990s. The new model will make its debut in South Korea in July, followed by launches in other markets in the months after that.

‘Opposites United’
The brand’s most popular SUV will use its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy with inspiration taken from nature and modernity. Revealed earlier this year, ‘Opposites United’ is Kia’s new design language. The images released today show an assertive and cutting-edge design paying homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity whilst connecting with the brand’s new design direction. This follows the carmaker’s recent rebrand that aims to create sustainable mobility solutions for customers by revamping all facets of its business.

“Taking inspiration from an ethos we created where nature meets technology, the all-new Sportage challenges the norm with an adventurous and contemporary exterior and a carefully conceived, beautifully detailed interior,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice-President and Head of Global Design Centre. “With the all-new Sportage, we were fully focused on challenging ourselves and pushing our fifth-generation SUV to a new level.”

*Current Sportage has been in the global market since 2016.*

Emotive front end
The all-new Sportage will have a muscular stance with a strong and refined silhouette. Notable details include crisp, taught character lines that ripple across the surfaces. Not shown but said to be emotive, the front has a detailed-orientated black grille graphic spanning the width of the face. At the rear, muscular shoulder lines drop gently to meet slim daytime-running lamps, which flank the new Kia logo and Sportage emblem.

The interior design sketch reveals a driver-oriented dashboard with an integrated curved display that occupies half the dashboard. It’s likely to be a fully digi-graphic panel, with the possibility of a Head-Up Display on some variants.

Technical details are not available yet, but it can be expected that the SUV will still be offered with petrol and diesel engines, along with a mild hybrid powertrain.

To be assembled in Malaysia?
Given its popularity in the Malaysian market, this could be one of the models that the new representative of Kia – Bermaz Auto (BAuto) – will have assembled locally next year. A subsidiary of BAuto, Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd (DMSB), will act as the sole distributor of the Korean vehicles. Newly-formed Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Kia Motors, will manage the assembly operations which will be at the Inokom plant in Kedah.

In the meantime, Kia owners are urged to provide their contact details to DMSB so that they can be contacted in future. This is especially important for those who have vehicles that still have warranties in effect (which will continue to be honoured). To register contact information, click here.

Bermaz Auto takes over Kia business in Malaysia, with local assembly to commence in 2022.

EXTREME E | ROUND 2 – Ocean X Prix in Dakar, Senegal

The Rosberg X Racing team was victorious again in the second round of the Extreme E series, this time held at Lac Rose on the coastline of Dakar, Senegal. The crew of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor faced intense pressure from rival teams during the two days of the event which was known as the Ocean X Prix.

While the Desert X Prix, the first event in April, was run in dry desert conditions in Saudi Arabia, this round was along the beach fronting the Atlantic Ocean. High drama in the Grand Final saw two of the four cars retiring at the first corner, which left Rosberg X Racing to extend their championship lead and Veloce Racing to snatch a surprise result, bouncing back from their disastrous Desert X Prix.

Sandy but very different from Saudi Arabia
The Extreme E drivers loved the tight and technical Ocean X Prix course which made for close racing and had several options for alternate routes as drivers made their way over sand dunes.

“The race format here has been a big step forward from Al-Ula in terms of development for race excitement – but it’s still early stages and there’s still a way to go. One needs to analyze again, and I think we keep on seeing more and more glimpses of such awesome motor racing and this will continue to evolve into a super spectacle the more we go on. Remember, nobody’s ever done this before, and you have to be open-minded and accept that you are going to learn and make it more and more exciting each time,” said Nico Rosberg, Founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing.

“I love this whole championship and being in the role of team principal – I’m still as competitive as hell even though I’m not actually driving. Anyway, we have the two best drivers in the car who are doing a much better job than I could – and I couldn’t be happier!” the former F1 driver added.

Races on the beach
A Shoot Out saw three top teams face off in spectacular fashion. Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti United Extreme E and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team had all endured mechanical gremlins plaguing their qualifying runs.

Timmy Hansen stole the advantage into the first corner with Sara Price and Carlos Sainz in hot pursuit. The Spanish rally driver patiently waited for his opportunity and wrestled the lead away from Hansen before entering the switch zone.

At the driver swap, Laia Sanz ran into trouble failing to successfully connect her communications cable. Nonetheless, Sanz re-joined in the lead and looked to have the edge but Kyle LeDuc had other ideas. The 39-year old fired out of the switch zone in third place but quickly set about closing the gap to the top two. LeDuc showed his mettle by slicing through the gap to Catie Munnings and claiming second place, followed quickly by a spectacular move on Sanz to claim victory in the Shoot Out.

Drama unfolded before the first corner in the Ocean X prix Grand Final as GridPlay winners Veloce Racing opted to start on the third grid slot, but the advantage was quickly lost as Stéphane Sarrazin was squeezed out at the first gate dropping back to last position.

JBXE’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky picked up rear-wheel damage before she even reached the first corner and inevitably was forced to retire the car, as was Cristina Gutierrez in the X44 car who came to blows with the Rosberg X Racing ODYSSEY 21 – in an incident reminiscent of the two Formula 1 World Champions on-track disputes in 2016 – at turn one and ended her day on the sidelines.

Molly Taylor and Sarrazin were therefore left to fight it out for the lead, with the Frenchman closing the gap throughout the lap and ending his stint hot on the heels of the 2016 Australian Rally Champion.

To ensure officials could safely clear the stricken X44 and JBXE cars, a brief red flag was deployed, as the intense battle for the lead was put on hold whilst the drivers made their way into the switch zone. A standing start restart was initiated as Jamie Chadwick and Johan Kristoffersson prepared for an all or nothing, one-lap showdown.

A close-fought drag race down to the first gate ended with light contact between the two ODYSSEY 21s handing Kristoffersson the advantage. Once he had reached the technical section of the course, the three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion began to stretch his legs opening up a 15-second advantage to win Rosberg X Racing’s second Extreme E X prix in succession.

“It’s so fantastic to have won today! Coming here, it felt like we had a lot of work to do over the weekend, and it certainly didn’t come easy. But with every session, we just kept our heads down and just saw where we needed to improve, and everything totally paid off in the end,” said Rosberg X Racing’s Taylor.

Sailing to Greenland
With the conclusion of the Ocean X Prix, the Extreme E fraternity and vehicles return to the championship’s floating paddock – the St Helena. This specially configured ship is being used to provide transport to each venue to reduce carbon emissions and also serve as a scientific laboratory for researchers accompanying the event. The next round will be the Arctic X Prix in Greenland on August 28/29.

The other side of EXTREME E

Apart from being an exciting motorsport series, Extreme E is using the power of sport, and the excitement of motor racing, to inspire fans to take practical steps on climate change. At each of the race locations, various environmental activities will be carried out to help local communities as well as create awareness.

In Dakar, Extreme E has teamed up with local NGO, Oceanium, to plant one million mangrove trees in Senegal. In addition, Extreme E will support the EcoZone Project, a living lab that addresses the Lac Rose community’s primary needs while preserving the environment through experiential learning, regenerative agriculture and a circular economy.

The Oceanium project, which Extreme E has identified in partnership with TO.org, will focus on five areas totalling 60 hectares – the equivalent of around 112 football fields – with the aim of reforesting mangroves, providing education to local populations and improving social cohesion.

Mangroves are one of the richest ecosystems in the world, providing essential goods and services and playing an important role in the life of coastal communities in countries like Senegal. In addition to being an excellent carbon store, they reduce flooding and erosion from storms, act as nurseries for fish and filter salt and pollutants from water.

Senegal has around 185,000 hectares of mangrove estuaries in the regions of Casamance and Sine Saloum but unfortunately, these are disappearing very quickly. Between 1980 and 2000, 25% of Senegal’s mangroves and 35% of the world’s mangroves were lost due to droughts and deforestation. The loss of mangroves is having a negative impact not only on the environment, but also on local communities that depend on them for their livelihood, making it so important to restore these degraded areas.

After Formula E, Extreme E will take electric cars into off-road competition

‘Dakar Rally’ of a different kind is on again with Extreme E event this weekend

Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.

Extreme E – the unique off-road series for electric SUVs – will run its second round this weekend, this time in Lac Rose on the Senegalese coast of West Africa. Known as the Ocean X Prix, the event will be run along the shores of Lac Rose. It is situated 37 kms from the capital, Dakar, a name that was the finish of the world’s most famous cross-country rally – the Paris-Dakar – on numerous occasions between 1979 and 2007 (the Dakar Rally is still running, except that it is now in Saudi Arabia).

Out on the course, the drivers will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though a very different challenge and location to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Here the race will take to the existing tracks surrounding the lake, named after, and renowned for its striking pink colour, caused by algae that thrives within its highly-saline waters.

9 teams with dual-gender crews
Once again, 9 teams and 18 drivers – each comprising one male and one female – will compete but in a slight change to the Saudi Arabia race format, the Final will be a 4-car battle, with two teams from each of the two Semi-Finals progressing to the concluding race of the weekend.

Like the Desert X Prix, Qualifying consists of two rounds of time trials. The team starting order is decided by a draw for Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. All races feature two laps with the incorporated driver ‘Switch’ feature.

No clear leader yet
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took victory in the inaugural X Prix last month but doesn’t have a clear lead as the top three teams are within 7 points of each other. So there should be a thrilling racing action as each team tries to score as many points as possible.

Teams can benefit from a ‘HyperDrive boost’ available to each driver on each lap of the race. Activated when the driver presses a button on the steering wheel, they will enjoy an extra push of continuous power for a few seconds.

New for the Ocean X Prix is the ‘Super Sector’ – a part of the course where the fastest driver in that section over the weekend will earn 5 points for their team. This ensures that whatever position the teams find themselves in, there is always an incentive to push to the limit as points are up for grabs.

*Each year, the famous Paris-Dakar Rally ended in Dakar until security concerns forced the organizers to stop travelling through the region.*

“I am delighted to be back in Dakar, a place with a vast motorsport heritage, and I can’t wait to see our world-class line-up of drivers compete on this latest course we have devised. The Desert X Prix delivered some truly thrilling racing with a stunning backdrop and I’m sure Senegal will provide the same,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.

“In Lac Rose, we find an area suffering at the hands of the climate crisis, which is the true reason we are here. It doesn’t take long upon arrival to see one of the biggest issues, plastic pollution, which is affecting the local community and its marine life. Through our Legacy Programmes, we are supporting the local community to make change, and I can’t wait to see it for myself and help where I can,” he added.

*To reduce the carbon footprint of the event, a ship is used to transport the vehicles and event equipment to each location. The ship also serves as a floating laboratory for scientists.*

Why Senegal?
Extreme X, while being a motorsport event, is unique in that it also uses its global coverage to create awareness of environmental issues. Senegal was chosen as one of the venues to support the fight against the climate crisis and the local communities suffering due to the many issues it brings.

In addition, plastic pollution is another major issue affecting Senegal, with the mountain of single-use plastic washing up on the shores growing day-by-day and threatening marine species and human health. This is something that not only impacts Senegal but also globally and if left unchecked, it’s estimated that 4 billion tonnes of plastic pollution will enter our land and oceans by 2050 under a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario.

Extreme E will be supporting two projects in Senegal. For the first, the championship has teamed up with a local NGO to plant one million mangrove trees in the country across 60 hectares with the aim of reforesting mangroves, providing education to local populations and improving social cohesion.

The second project is the EcoZone Project, a living lab that addresses the Lac Rose community’s primary needs while preserving the environment through experiential learning, regenerative agriculture and a circular economy. As part of this, the EcoBrique Challenge was launched which tasked the community to create bricks for construction from plastic waste.

Shakedown and qualifications will be aired through Extreme E’s official website (www.extreme-e.com and social channels and the Finals will be shown in more than 180 countries by 75 broadcasters.

Rosberg X Racing team wins first round of the new Extreme E electric off-road series (w/VIDEO)

XPANDER MPV keeps Mitsubishi Motors among top 3 in non-national segment

While official industry sales data for April 2021 has not been released by the Malaysia Automotive Association, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) believes that its strong sales performance during the month would put it among the top 3 positions in the non-national brand rankings for the fourth consecutive month.

The brand’s sales have been on an upward trajectory since the year began and April saw a historical high with 1,872 vehicles sold. The major contributor was the XPANDER MPV which accounted for 52% of the total sales volume. Since being launched in the Malaysian market, MMM has collected more than 10,000 bookings for the model which is assembled in Pekan, Pahang.

Increased XPANDER production
“We are very pleased that the Mitsubishi XPANDER sales remain healthy and its demand is ahead of the number of units supplied. Despite the challenges we are facing with the recently announced Movement Control Order (MCO) or even with the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) prior to MCO, we are continuing our best efforts to meet with the strong demand for the XPANDER by increasing our production capacity while maintaining a high level of product quality,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.

Triton maintains strong position
The Triton pick-up truck is the other strong seller in the range locally, maintaining a market share close to 20%. The company delivered 680 units in April. including 142 units of the new Triton Athlete.

The Triton Athlete was launched in early April as the flagship of the pick-up range, taking over from the Adventure X variant. It is powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine which produces 181 ps/430 Nm. Priced from RM141,500 (without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia), it comes with a factory warranty of 5 years, or maximum of 200,000 kms after registration.

“Although there was a decline in many economic sectors and the environmental sentiments starts to take a toll on people caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are relieved to see our sales remain optimistic and constantly moving towards a positive direction. We are aware that a large number of our customers aim to purchase their cars before the SST exemption expires by end of June. Despite the challenges of supply constraints, Mitsubishi Motors is working our best to meet the expectation of our customers on the delivery preference,” Mr. Shinnishi added.

Besides the XPANDER and Triton, MMM also sells the Outlander SUV which is also assembled locally at the Tan Chong plant in Kuala Lumpur. It is available in two variants with a choice of 2-litre of 2.5-litre engines.

Visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my to know more about Xpander and other Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia.

All-electric Porsche Macan begins real-world testing, launch in 2023

After the Taycan, the next all-electric sportscar from Porsche will be the Macan. Developed with the usual secrecy, prototypes have been running around the proving grounds of the Porsche Development Centre and the next step is to take them into the outside world for road-testing.

Real-world testing on public roads and in a real-life environment are important stages in the development of a new model. In the case of the electric Macan, due to be launched in 2023, the testing will cover at least 3 million kms worldwide in varying conditions. This will add on to the experience gained from countless previous test kilometres – driven in a virtual space.

Digital development preserves resources
Digital development and testing not only saves time and costs but also preserves resources, so it enhances sustainability. Instead of real vehicles, the engineers use digital prototypes – computational models that replicate the properties, systems and power units of a vehicle to a high degree of accuracy.

There are 20 digital prototypes for the purpose of simulation in a number of development categories, such as aerodynamics, energy management, operation and acoustics. “We regularly collate the data from the various departments and use it to build up a complete, virtual vehicle that is as detailed as possible,” explained Andreas Huber, manager for digital prototypes at Porsche. This allows previously undiscovered design conflicts to be swiftly identified and resolved.

The aerodynamics specialists are among the first engineers to work with a digital prototype. “We started with a flow-around model when the project first started about 4 years ago,” explained Thomas Wiegand, Director of aerodynamics development.

Low aerodynamic drag is fundamental to the all-electric Macan with a view to ensuring a long range. Even minor flow enhancements can make a huge difference. The engineers are currently using simulations to fine-tune details such as the cooling air ducts. The calculations not only take into account different arrangements of the components, but they also reflect real-life temperature differences.

*Advanced and powerful simulation software allows almost all aspects of a new model to be viewed and tested before physical prototypes are built, saving time and money.*

Virtual testing
New methods now allow very precise simulation of both aerodynamics and thermodynamics. “The digital world is indispensable to the development of the all-electric Macan,” said Wiegand. ”The electric drive system – from the battery through to the motor – requires a completely separate cooling and temperature control concept, one that is very different from that of a conventionally powered vehicle.”

While a temperature window of 90 to 120 degrees is the target for combustion engines, the electric motor, powertrain electronics and high-voltage battery require a range of between 20 and 70 degrees, depending on the component. The critical scenarios don’t occur on the road but can occur during fast high-power charging at high outside temperatures. However, the Porsche developers are able to precisely calculate and digitally optimise position, flow and temperature.

Virtual prototypes can be combined with real-world scenarios at an early stage. The best example here is the development of a completely new display and operating concept for the next generation of Macan. Using what is known as a seat box to recreate the driver’s environment, the display and operating concept can be brought to life in an early development phase in conjunction with the digital prototype.

“Simulation allows us to assess displays, operating procedures and the changing influences during a journey from the driver’s point of view,” explained Fabian Klausmann of the Driver Experience development department. “Here, the ‘test drivers’ are not just the specialists themselves but also non-experts. This allows all interaction between driver and vehicle to be studied down to the last detail, enabling selective optimisation even before the first physical cockpit has been built.”

To be the sportiest model in the segment
The first physical prototypes of the electric Macan were built using data obtained from the simulations – in some cases elaborately by hand or using special tools. These are then regularly adapted based on the virtual refinement process. By the same token, the findings from road testing are fed directly into digital development.

“Endurance testing on closed-off testing facilities and public roads in real-life conditions is still indispensable to ensure that the vehicle structure, operational stability and reliability of hardware, software and all functions meet our high quality standards,” said Member of the Executive Board Michael Steiner.

*Prototype of all-electric Macan being tested at Porsche’s test track. Some cars, with camouflage over their bodies, are now being tested on public roads in different parts of the world.*

The demanding test programme for the electric Macan, carried out under the extremes of climatic and topographical conditions, includes disciplines such as the charging and conditioning of the high-voltage battery, which has to meet very rigorous standards.

“Like the Taycan, the all-electric Macan, with its 800-volt architecture, will offer typical Porsche E-Performance,” promised Steiner, citing development goals such as long-distance range, high-performance fast charging and reproducible best-in-class performance figures.

Combustion engine will still be offered
While Europe is accelerating into the era of pure electromobility with all-electric vehicles, Porsche understands that the pace of change will vary considerably across the world. In some regions, there will still be demand for vehicles with conventional combustion engines. Therefore, the next Macan will continue to have a variant with a combustion engine for markets which want it.

Entry-level Porsche Taycan available from March, priced from RM605,000

2021 Perodua Aruz gets updates without any Price increases

Every Perodua model is selling well, with models like the Ativa having a long waiting list of customers. The carmaker could probably get away with not making changes or improving the products and the demand would still be there. However, adhering to the Japanese philosophy of kaizen passed on from their partner, Daihatsu Motor, Perodua constantly improves its products.

So, for the Aruz, Malaysia’s best-selling 7-seater SUV, updating has taken place – but without any price changes. The Aruz X is still RM68,526, while the Aruz AV remains at RM73,226, excluding insurance and with full sales tax exemption (until June 30, 2021).

Making products incrementally better
“With well over 60,000 units sold since its 2019 birth, the Perodua Aruz was already the nation’s best-selling SUV in 2019 and 2020, but, true to the principles of kaizen, we believe there are always ways we can make our products incrementally better,” said Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President & CEO of Perodua.

“This incremental adaptation of the Aruz is in line with the Perodua Smart Build blueprint; another example of our symbiotic collaboration with our suppliers to customise our products to better suit Malaysian needs and wants, and through this, developing further the capabilities of our suppliers towards true self-reliance,” he said.

The improvements are in the form of additional features such as side steps below the door sills. With the extra ground clearance of the Aruz, the sill is a bit higher than in a passenger car so for some people, especially elderly folks or little ones, getting in and out may not be easy. The side steps will therefore help and make movement safer and more convenient.

*Custom-designed side-steps have been added below the door sills. They are thoughtfully designed with no gap that could trap feet, and two areas moulded with studs to make the surface less slippery.*

Added safety feature + new colour
An added safety feature for 2021 is automatic door-locking; when the vehicle’s speed exceeds 20 km/h, the doors will lock automatically. This is a safety precaution, especially for those who may forget to do so. In the event of a severe collision that sensors will detect, the locking system will automatically unlock all doors so that the occupants can get out or rescuers can open the doors to help extract them.

Those who like red cars will be happy to know that Perodua now offers this colour, known as Passion Red, exclusively for the Aruz AV. Other colours choices are Granite Grey, Electric Blue, Glittering Silver and Ivory White.

“Perodua expresses our gratitude to all our valued customers, whose feedback helped us tweak the Aruz to better satisfy the real needs and wants of the majority of Malaysians,” added Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Technical specs remain the same
Other specifications and features remain the same, with the continued use of the all-aluminium 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i engine and an electronically-controlled automatic transmission. With Eco Idle activated, the fuel consumption can be as good as 15.6 kms/litre, it is claimed.

The Aruz is also tops in safety as it has the maximum 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating. Six airbags and Vehicle Stability Control are standard, and the AV variant has Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 to help the driver avoid accidents.

To locate a showroom to check out the Aruz and other Perodua models, visit www.perodua.com.my.

Lower-priced childseat now offered by Perodua

Production-based Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV completes desert race

The EXTREME X series is the ‘Dakar Rally for electric vehicles’ but the small number of SUV EVs taking part are very special models, developed for the purpose of the unique competition. They are not what would be available from showrooms, just as F1 cars are not sold to the public.

Volkswagen, however, has shown that even production EVs can take the very rough conditions of off-road racing with a specially prepared Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV having completed the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) Mexican 1000 race recently.

Standard electric powertrain
The ID.4 was driven by professional racer and Volkswagen brand ambassador, Tanner Foust, and Rhys Millen Racing partially modified a rear-wheel-drive version of the E-SUV model. However, it used a standard powertrain with an 82-kWh battery pack. The radiator was raised several centimetres to improve approach angles and cooling capacity, and additional skid plates of thick steel were added to the undercarriage.

To cope with the demanding conditions and terrain, the suspension was also modified with more travel and ground clearance. Rally-style coil-over struts were fitted to all four wheels along with tubular lower control arms in the front and boxed lower rear links.

Inside the cabin was a roll cage for safety, racing seats and supplemental screens for key data like battery temperature, crucial information to know with the high desert temperatures and constant high speeds.

Biofuel-powered generator for recharging
The ID.4 was one of the 64 vehicles that finished the entirety of the NORRA 1000, out of 90 cars and trucks entered. Stages measured between 53 kms and up to 270 kms over the 1.600-km route. The ID.4 was able to recharge mostly using a portable biofuel-powered generator connected to a 50 kW flat charger. In a couple of instances where the ID.4 was scheduled to be transited to the next stage but the charger was not available, the team towed it behind a chase vehicle for a short distance, using the regenerative braking to add range.

Despite the brutal nature of the Baja wilderness, the only damage suffered by the e-SUV was some cosmetic injury to the rear bumper. All of the vehicle’s key power, battery and control systems performed as expected. The ID.4 was raced mostly in ‘B’ level battery regeneration mode with the standard traction control turned on.

“This was an exciting test of ID.4 technology because no other production-based EV had ever entered this event, let alone completed it,” said Scott Keogh, President & CEO of Volkswagen of America.

The ID.4 is the second model in Volkswagen’s all-electric ID range. First deliveries in Europe started at the end of 2020 and it is also being sold in North America and China. Last month, it was announced as the 2021 World Car of the Year.

Volkswagen ID.4 is the third EV to win World Car of the Year title

Ativa SUV accounts for 22% of all new Peroduas sold

After the first four months of 2021, Perodua’s total sales volume has passed the 78,000 mark, with April contributing 20,399 units to the number. A big contributor has been the Ativa SUV which accounted for over 22% of the figure (4,624 units). Since its launch in March this year, the carmaker has delivered almost 9,000 units of the Ativa, with around 290 new customers placing bookings daily. The strong demand has stretched the waiting period for customers which, as always, Perodua tries to shorten.

2 – 4 months waiting period
“The waiting period for the Ativa is currently between 2 and 4 months, depending on the desired colour and variant. We advise our valued customers to speak to our authorised sales advisors for accurate and up-to-date delivery times of the various variant-colour combinations of the Ativa,” advised Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“Perodua remains committed towards timely deliveries, aided by our economies of scale. We thank our valued customers very much for their patience. We are doing all we can to deliver as many cars as possible before the expected expiry of the government’s sales tax exemption at the end of June,” he said.

Semiconductor chip shortage
On a month-to-month comparison, sales dipped by 16.5% to 20,399 units from 24,431 units, mainly due to the semiconductor chip shortage, which is affecting multiple industries globally.

“The chip shortage is our top priority at present and we are deploying all our resources to deal with it, including working closely with the government and our business partners for viable solutions,” Dato’ Zainal said. “Despite the global semiconductor chip shortage, Perodua managed to produce 20,278 vehicles in April 2021, pushing our year-to-date production to 80,661 units,”

*In 2021, Perodua will purchase up to RM6.5 billion worth of parts from suppliers in Malaysia. These include transmissions made at a factory in Negeri Sembilan.*

Perodua is maintaining its 2021 sales target at 240,000 units for now. The target represents a 9% increase from the 220,163 units sold last year. The increased volume will also see Perodua making a record purchase of RM6.5 billion worth of locally-sourced components this year. Production is also set to be increased to 272,000 units, 23% more than the output in 2020.

Visit www.perodua.com.my to know more about the models available and where to view, test-drive or purchase them.

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

World premiere of Honda N7X Concept in Indonesia previews next BR-V 7-seater

Honda today gave the world its first look at the next generation of the BR-V, presented as the N7X Concept. The original BR-V had its world debut in Indonesia in August 2015, and now, for the first time, Honda is unveiling a concept car in the country. The reason is that the BR-V is a model that was developed primarily with the Indonesia market in mind, although it is also sold in some other countries, including Malaysia.

For the second generation, the 7-seater cabin is maintained, this being an important point for customers in Indonesia. Honda understands that a car is ‘not just a car’, and considering how much time people spend in it, the vehicle is also a ‘second home’. This led the design team at Honda Asia Pacific to combine the best features of a MPV and the advantages of a SUV for the N7X Concept that will be the basis for the forthcoming new BR-V.

Designed with Gen X in mind
The exterior design is sleeker than the current BR-V and the overall size appears larger. There are some styling elements from other models, such as the CR-V, with the high ground clearance being a necessity in Indonesia and also other parts of ASEAN.

Honda product planners conducted extensive studies, primarily in Indonesia, to find out what customers expect and aimed to exceed the expectations. They focussed especially on the Generation X family, which has a lifestyle that is balanced between personal activities and family togetherness.

Details of the interior are not available other than from brief views during the presentation. With words like ‘premium’ being used, it is likely that Honda will offer the new BR-V with a higher quality than before, the same way that the City evolved upwards. Of course, with the emphasis on safety, we may see better safety systems installed, probably including an autonomous braking capability.

Honda’s idea of a 7-seater
“The N7X is our concept of what a 7-seater car should be, which not only offers pleasant driving performance but also the serenity and comfort of a premium car for all occupants. We are very proud to make Indonesia the first in the world to introduce the N7X Concept, a concept that will redefine the categories of cars and driving pleasure,” said Takehiro Watanabe, President Director of PT Honda Prospect Motor, during the world premiere online.

The current BR-V was launched at the Indonesia International Auto Show in 2015 but given the current pandemic, the future of such public events remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Honda Indonesia is displaying the N7X Concept at a shopping mall in Jakarta this week, and will probably do an online launch of the production model sometime during the second half of this year.

2021 Honda N7X Concept — *2019 BR-V (the model received some updates last year). Prices start from RM86,726.*

The BR-V arrived in Malaysia about 2 years after its debut in Indonesia, though this second generation might not take as long. Anyway, if you prefer the current one and want to get one before it runs out, visit any authorized Honda dealer and their locations can be found at www.honda.com.my.

New Honda City RS e:HEV officially on sale, priced at RM105,950.45

Volkswagen ID.4 GTX high-performance model added to all-electric ID range

Just as motorcars from the time of Gottlieb Daimler evolved over the decades to be varied in purpose, design and performance, electric vehicles have also a variety of types. Initially, constrained by technology, ‘performance’, as enthusiasts know it, was not highlighted much even though an electric motor provides a lot of torque right from moving off for brisk acceleration. But with EV technology pushing the edge of the envelope more and more, ‘high performance’ can also be used with electrically-powered vehicles.

Volkswagen is now heading into the new segment with the ID.4 GTX unveiled at a digital world premier recently. A member of the brand’s electric range, it is the first fully electric high-performance model that is said to add a new dimension to sportiness and dynamics. Just as ‘GTI’ has been used to identify Volkswagen’s performance models, ‘GTX’ will do likewise with the electric vehicles.

“The most emotional member of the ID. family to date shows that electric mobility and top sporty performance are not mutually exclusive. The full torque of the electric powertrain is immediately available and you can feel the excellent vehicle handling in every bend,” said Thomas Ulbrich, member of the Board of Management for Development.

Two motors for all-wheel drive
The ID.4 GTX is the first model based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) to feature dual-motor all-wheel drive. There is one electric motor installed on the front and the rear axle. Together, both motors can generate maximum electrical output of 220 kW (299 hp) and can work together to give all-wheel drive.

Putting one motor at the front and one at the back to get all-wheel drive is actually an idea that goes back to the 1980s. Volkswagen engineers put two 1.8-litre engines in a Golf (Mark 2) that was entered in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb event in America. The prototype completed the course in 1985 and 1986 but suspension failure prevented it from finishing in 1987 and after that, the project did not continue after that.

The AWD system in the ID.4 GTX operates with greater efficiency as the motors are managed by computer, so optimum output will be generated on each axle according to conditions. Volkswagen claims that acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h can be done in 3.2 seconds, with 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. Not exceptionally quick but can be considered high performance for an e-SUV. The top speed will be limited to 180 km/h.

Sportier character emphasised
The ID.4 is the 2021 World Car of the Year and the GTX shares the overall design with the other versions but gets differentiation to emphasise its sportier character. The familiar light strip has been combined with dynamic elements, in particular, the three honeycomb elements that form the daytime running lights. Besides conveying the sporty character, this styling element establishes a connection to the Golf GTI. Alongside the different bumpers are distinctive elements at the rear include the 3D LED tail light cluster with brake lights that form an X.

Visual connection to Golf GTI
The body colour is more dominant than on rear-wheel drive versions. The roof and rear spoiler are black, while the roof frame bar is a high-gloss anthracite. The interior also has a different colour scheme with the upper section of the dashboard and leatherette inserts in the doors in a dark shade called ‘X-Blue’. Red contrasting seams – a classic symbol for sportiness and strength – add accents to the seats. The GTX logo appears on the steering wheel, sill panel trims and – in perforated form – at the top of the front seat backrests.

The ID.4 line has been available in Europe, North America and China since last year, and the GTX will go on sale in Europe after June this year. The lowest priced ID.4 GTX will be 50,415 euros (about RM249,000) but buyers can apply for an EV grant of 7,500 euros (about RM37,000) to offset the cost.

2020 Volkswagen ID.4 — *The standard ID.4 which is now on sales in Europe, North America and China.*

Will we see such EVs in Malaysia?
As more and more EVs are launched, Malaysians must wonder if we will see them in the showrooms. In neighbouring countries, government policies are already in place to give a big push to switching to EVs but Malaysia seems to show little initiative. There is a plan which will allow 10,000 EVs to be imported tax-free but unless there are assured long-term incentives to make it worthwhile for companies, we will see the same thing happening as before when there was tax exemption for a few years for hybrids and EVs. When the exemption ended and prices went back up, sales died altogether except for a few companies that decided to include electrified models in their locally-assembled line-up.