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First SUV in Genesis range targeted at North American market

Genesis, Hyundai Motor’s luxury division, has unveiled its first SUV, targeting the North American where it will be in showrooms from mid-2020. The new model introduces a variety of firsts for the brand, including responsive electronic control suspension, active road noise cancellation, and an active motion driver’s seat.

“GV80 is our proof of concept that we infuse the spirit of youth and wonder into everything we do,” said Mark Del Rosso, CEO, Genesis Motor North America. “We developed GV80 by looking inward and asking ourselves how Genesis brand DNA could differentiate our very first SUV. I’m overwhelmed by the bench strength at Genesis and what the design, engineering and development teams have accomplished with the GV80.”

The production GV80 realizes the vision of the GV80 Concept first shown at the 2017 New York auto show. It joins the line-up of G70, G80 and G90 sedans with more than a common thread of design identity.

Signature Genesis design elements are immediately visible on the GV80 from every vantage point. The Crest Grille emphasizes gravitas consistent with the positioning of GV80. The Parabolic Line runs smoothly along the side with precise execution, accentuated by power lines above each wheel emphasizing stance and presence. The Quad Lamps, which flank the Crest Grille, are made possible with sophisticated lighting technology.

Unique signature of Genesis design
“The Quad Lamp graphic will become the most recognizable, unique signature of Genesis design, as the simplest of lines communicate a distinct identity,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice-President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “Two lines will come to define Genesis.”

The G-Matrix pattern that appears in light fixtures throughout the exterior is inspired by orchids seen when diamonds are illuminated by light. The pattern also appears on the available 22-inch wheels.

The body structure of GV80 is enhanced with hot-stamped, high-strength steel, as well as lightweight aluminium used on the doors, bonnet, and tailgate that allow it to achieve competitive curb weight.

Luxury in space
The interior focuses on ‘the beauty of white space’, characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural philosophy. The concept of ‘luxury in space’ defines the open feeling of the cabin of GV80, with the G-Matrix pattern as a motif.

“The concept of the ‘beauty of white space’ is a hallmark of Korean design. We were able to express a luxurious feel for the interior of GV80 through reductive design and channelling the Korean roots of the Genesis brand,” explained SangYup Lee, Senior Vice-President, Head of Genesis Design.

The width of the cabin has been emphasized through the design of sleek, thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment. A 14.5-inch, split-screen infotainment display sits front and centre atop the dashboard. The number of hard buttons and switches was intentionally kept to a minimum, both for aesthetic purposes and ease of use. In up-level variants, soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to the quilted knee pads that line the lower sides of the console.

The ornate centre control unit on the middle console covers an electronic, shift-by-wire transmission base with dial-style shift. Handwriting recognition through the Genesis Integrated Controller helps users set a destination or enter data without having to operate a keyboard on the navigation screen — simply by using handwritten letters on the writing recognition control system.

A mobile ‘oasis’
The GV80 features the world’s first application of Road Active Noise Cancellation (RANC) technology, which dramatically reduces road noise while driving. Based on the science of digital signal processing, RANC overcomes the limitations of existing noise control technologies that rely on physical technology, such as materials and body structures, to quiet the cabin. RANC generates sound waves of opposite phases in 0.002 second by analyzing road noise in real-time, dramatically reducing irregular, simultaneous road noise.

Another world-first technology is an active motion driver’s seat that contains 7 air cells. This feature is said to reduce fatigue during long hours of driving. One-touch comfort control, adjustable from the front row, allows for limousine-level relaxation in the second-row seats with heating and ventilation available in the first two rows.

RWD drivetrain
As an ‘authentic’ Genesis, the GV80 sits on a unique rear-wheel drive platform, with all-wheel drive an option. Two turbocharged petrol engines (2.5-litres and 3.5-litres) will be available for the North American market, each paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive models will be equipped with an electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential at the rear axle.

Electronically controlled suspension with road preview is another Genesis first. This contributes to optimal ride comfort by recognizing information on the road ahead in advance via the front camera.

Advanced safety with world firsts
The GV80’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) including several world-first technologies, starting with Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning (SCC-ML). SCC-ML advances the science and engineering behind smart cruise control. It is an artificial intelligence-based intelligent navigation technology that enables the car to independently learn the driving characteristics of its drivers and implement autonomous driving similar to that of human drivers.

Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II) is a system that assists the driver in a wider variety of situations than before, including lane-change when the turn signal is used, and helping to merge in congested situations.

There are no less than 10 airbags around the cabin. This includes a centre-mounted airbag between the front occupants to reduce injuries that may occur as the front occupants’ bodies are subjected to lateral forces during a collision at the side of the car.

Unfortunately, the potential volume in righthand drive markets is not as large as for lefthand drive regions and from a business perspective, it would not be cost-effective to develop and produce a RHD version. So Genesis will focus on LHD versions only.

Record-breaking results in 2019 for Volvo, thanks to its SUV models

Volvo Cars was rather late in adding a SUV to its range, with its first model – the XC90 – launched only in 2002. The reason given for the delay was that it wanted to offer a SUV only when it could address known safety issues (like the effect on a tall body on handling) and resolve them. It had a strong reputation for safety, on which the brand’s strength grew, and it was not going to lose that. The XC90 certainly proved to be a SUV with innovative safety features like Roll-Over Protection which worked to counteract the risk of tipping over during hard cornering.

Volvo XC90 2002 — Volvo’s first SUV – the XC90 – was launched in 2002 after the carmaker addressed safety issues with innovations like Roll-Over Protection that reduced the risk of the tall SUV tipping over during hard cornering.

Like the other carmakers, Volvo Cars gave increasing attention to SUVs, expanding its range as the segment grew. 17 years later, its SUVs have helped the company gain market share in China, the USA and Europe amid stagnating car markets.

More significantly, in 2019, the Swedish carmaker set a new, sixth consecutive global sales record, breaking the 700,000-unit level for the first time in its 93-year history. 705,452 Volvo vehicles were delivered worldwide last year, an increase of 9.8% compared to 2018, solidly outgrowing the overall market across all regions.

During the past few years, Volvo has also been moving towards electrification of its range. It aims for plug-in hybrid models to make up 20% of total sales this year. Overall, Volvo sold 45,933 plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2019, an increase of 22.9% compared to 2018 and more than double the number in 2017.

Illustrating the strength of its portfolio and its sales performance in 2019, Volvo surpassed the previous full-year sales record of 642,253 cars, set in 2018, nearly a full month before the end of the year. December was the company’s best ever sales month, with a 23.4% year-on-year increase to 74,239 cars sold.

Sales by markets
In China, home of Volvo’s parent company, the brand sold 154,961 cars in 2019, an increase of 18.7% compared to 2018 and comfortably outperforming the overall market. The result was an all-time record for Volvo in China and the highest sales number it has ever reached in a single market.

*Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in China*

In the USA, a market that has usually been Volvo’s strongest customer, the 100,000-unit threshold was crossed for the first time since 2007 when 108,234 vehicles were registered by December 31. Compared to 2018, the sales increase was 10.1%.

European sales were particularly strong in Germany, where the company sold more than 50,000 vehicles for the first time in its history, while it achieved its best sales result since 1990 in the UK. Other markets that recorded their best ever sales performance in the company’s history included Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea, Poland and Portugal.

Sales by models
The XC60 SUV continued to be the best-selling model for the company globally, followed by the XC40 and XC90 SUVs. Sedans and stationwagons remained popular, adding to volume growth in China and Europe, respectively.

Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 — *The first Recharge model shares styling with the XC40 but is powered only by an electric motor.*

The company will introduce its Recharge line-up in markets around the globe. Recharge will be the umbrella name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Recharge car line aims to further boost sales of Volvo Cars’ chargeable cars and encourage plug-in hybrid drivers via incentives to use Pure mode as much as possible.

Every Volvo model already includes a Recharge option, from the XC40 SUV via the 60-Series cars to the large XC90 SUV flagship. Volvo is the only carmaker to offer a plug-in variant on every model in its line-up, with a fully-electric model – the XC40 Recharge P8 – to appear in showrooms in due course.

Volvo Cars and Geely to merge engine operations to create stand-alone business

All-new Peugeot 2008 sales have started in Europe

Following the global debut of the new Peugeot 2008 SUV in in Guangzhou, China, last November, sales of the model began yesterday in Europe, starting in France. After delivering nearly 1.2 million units of the previous generation worldwide, this new generation of the 2008 uses a new design language that has a more powerful and distinctive style.

From launch, Peugeot has made the new model available with three powerplants – electric, petrol and diesel. This not only gives customers more freedom of choice but also cater to the conditions in different markets. For example, some may not be suited for the electric variant yet so the focus will be on the petrol or diesel variants.

New all-electric e-2008
The new e-2008, which runs 100% on electric power, does not have a specific silhouette but will be identifiable by a few details. Forstly, there is a sparkling dichroic Lion, whose reflections alternate between green and blue depending on the angle of view. A discrete ‘e’ monogram on the front wings and tailgate identify this as a zero emissions car while the grille is body-coloured with horizontal lamp pods

Inside, exclusive Alcantara ‘Greval Grey’ seat upholstery is offered with the e-2008 GT. The on-board experience is completed by a display specific to the electric version in the 3D handset as well as in the touchscreen.

The new e-2008 is the first Peugeot all-electric SUV and is expected to provide a new experience for owners with silence and absence of vibrations. Because of the emission-free nature of the vehicle, it can be driven around town even in Green Zones (ecological zones) with restricted traffic.

Peugeot 4×4 Boxer Concept departs from traditional camper vans

First pictures of new Genesis GV80 SUV released, launching in Korea this month

Genesis, Hyundai Motor’s luxury division, used the first day of the new year to share the first official images of the GV80, its first SUV. It will become the fourth model in the Genesis line-up, joining the G70, G80 and G90 sedans. Sales will commence in South Korea this month and progressive launched will take place in other markets during 2020.

Like its sedan siblings, the 3-row GV80 will have a rear-wheel drive platform unique to the Genesis brand; all-wheel drive will be optional. The ‘V’ in the GV80 designation will appear on SUV models, denoting ‘versatility’.

“Over the last 4 years, Genesis has established itself as a respected luxury brand with superior vehicle quality and a line-up of class-leading sedans with charismatic and discriminating style,” said William Lee, Executive Vice-President and Global Head of the Genesis Brand. “With the launch of GV80, Genesis will elevate expectations for excellence within the luxury SUV market.”

The first images of long-rumoured GV80 provide a complete picture of the first SUV created by Genesis Design. The interior and exterior styling are based on the GV80 Concept displayed at the 2017 New York Auto Show, which was a collaboration between Genesis Design studios located in South Korea, the USA and Germany.

2017 Genesis GV80 Concept — *The GV80 Concept displayed at the 2017 New York Auto Show.*

“GV80 allows us to expand our definition of Athletic Elegance design language to a new typology, while retaining sublime proportionality and sophistication of form,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice-President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group.

Signature Genesis design elements
Signature Genesis design elements are immediately visible on the GV80. Surrounded by the high-tech Quad Lamps, the Crest Grille emphasizes gravitas consistent with the positioning of model. The Parabolic Line runs smoothly along the side with precise execution, accentuated by ‘power lines’ above each wheel emphasizing stance and presence.

“The Quad Lamp, our design signature, introduces an unmistakable visual impression completely unique to Genesis,” explained Sang Yup Lee, Senior Vice-President, Head of Genesis Design. He added that the G-Matrix pattern that appears in light fixtures throughout the exterior, as well the design of the wheels, is inspired by beautiful orchids seen when diamonds are illuminated by light.

South Korean architectural aesthetic interior
The interior focuses on the beauty of open space, characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural aesthetic. Minimalism is in the details, with a commanding driving position surrounded by high mounted control surfaces. The slim air vents stretch across the front to highlight the width of the cabin featuring minimal physical buttons with the new touch screen climate control. The centre console is equipped with a jewel-like, rotating electronic gear selector, providing an exquisite balance of simplicity and glamour.

The Genesis name was originally used for a flagship Hyundai model between 2007 and 2016. It was then used as the name for a division which would focus on luxury models, just as Toyota has Lexus and Nissan has Infiniti. As the company has indicated that South Korea, the Middle East, USA, China, and Europe are its target markets, it would unlikely have right-hand drive variants.

The carmaker recruited a number of experienced designers from European companies who work with Peter Schreyer, a company President responsible for design management of all brands in the group.

Genesis recognized for its designs

All-electric Extreme E off-road championship will include Himalayas in first season

Off-road races have been held all over the world as organisers have searched for new and tougher challenges for participants. One region which has not seen such events has been the Himalayas, although there have been rallies in the foothills of the area.

In 2021, a round of the Extreme E series for all-electric SUVs will be held in the Himalayas. It will be the fourth round of the pioneering off-road race series. The Mountain Round, as it will be known, will take place in Nepal’s Mustang District in the mountain range.

“Once again, we’re breaking the mold in motorsport as Extreme E will become the first race to ever be staged in the Himalayas…[it] will provide the sternest of tests to the world’s leading drivers, engineers and teams, supporting our aim to promote electric vehicles in the fight against climate change,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder & CEO of Extreme E.

The championship will be held in the deepest gorge in the world in the Kali Gandaki Valley. Located 2,750 metres above sea level, the Mustang District will challenge drivers with elevation changes, course gravel, rocky obstacles and turbulent rivers.

The Himalayas are what is often referred to as the ‘pulse of the planet’ and in need of protection. According to the UN, Nepal ranks as the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change. With the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar caps, Nepal risks losing 66% of its ice due to climate variability and with it, the lifeline of river basins and ecosystems across Asia.

Besides the Mountain Round, Extreme E’s first championship will have 5 rounds – in the Amazon Rainforest (Para, Brazil), Greenland (Kangerlussuaq), and Saudi Arabia which will be the Desert Round. A fifth round will be an Ocean Round but the location has not been confirmed although it is believed to likely be an island in the Indian Ocean

Of the Desert Round which will take place in the world’s largest single continuous sand desert, Agag said: “One of the major cornerstones of this revolutionary championship is that we will race across terrain and environments that will push the world’s top drivers, teams and engineers to their absolute limits,” said Agag. “The Kingdom’s terrain is stunning and unforgiving, while the heat and conditions will be intense. So there is no question that the winning combination of driver and machine will be a deserving one.”

Each Extreme E round will take place over 3 days, within an area no larger than 10 square kms. Routes will be designed to incorporate existing obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps without the need to adapt the natural setting, thereby avoiding negative impact on the environment.

Continental is a Founding Partner of Extreme E and will be a Premium Partner of the series in 2021. The company will supply all the participating vehicles with extra robust tyres suited for the diverse and extremely demanding conditions that they will encounter.

Promoters Formula E Holdings Ltd. expect at least 10 teams to take part in the first season. Initial tests are currently being conducted for the series which is due to launch in February 2021. “With very exciting and completely different locations, we are looking forward to testing the performance of our tyres on various terrain and surfaces,” said Sandra Roslan, Continental’s Head of Content Marketing and Project Manager for Extreme E.

Proton to explore e-commerce platforms to expand reach

As consumer purchase patterns change and shopping online becomes more popular, some car companies have strived to meet these new developments by offering their products online. Their initial efforts have not been in a big way nor long-term as they want to see the effectiveness first. Proton is among those companies and recently collaborated with Shopee to explore new avenues to connect with its customers.

“Commerce today has changed drastically from what it was even as recently as just 5 to 10 years ago. Proton has to keep up with these changes to remain relevant and while we are pursuing our strategy to increase customer touchpoints via the growth of 3S/4S outlets, we must also utilise technology to drive mobility for the business. Our campaign with Shopee is a good example as it offers ease and convenience for consumers but also puts them in contact with our network of outlets for aftersales services,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

Over 200 units booked online
Over 200 units of the X70 SUV were booked in the first few days of the ecommerce platform’s 12.12 Birthday Sale, and as a special incentive, customers using Shopee are able to place a booking for just RM99 instead of the usual RM1,000 booking fee.

The first 50 Proton X70 customers who successfully register their vehicle before December 31, 2019 will also receive RM2,000 of Shopee vouchers and enjoy additional ongoing promotions for the month by Proton.

This isn’t the first time Proton is using the internet to allow customers to book its cars. Prior to its launch on December 12, 2018, the X70 SUV could be booked online from October, contributing to the pre-launch booking of over 10,000 units.

An alternative sales platform in future
A similar campaign was also utilised for the launch of other models in 2019 with the success experienced pointing to the increased importance of the channel. “We started to enable online bookings of our cars since late 2018 and over the next few years, we could expand the use of this as a sales platform. With improved online security and transaction platforms becoming widely accepted, there could be a time when financing could be applied for and approved online so Proton aims to be at the forefront of adopting these new technologies,” added Dr Li Chunrong.

Click here for other news and articles on Proton.

First Made-in-Malaysia Proton X70 officially rolls out at Tg. Malim factory

At long last, locally-made versions of the Proton X70 are now being released, one year and one day after it was launched in Malaysia as the first joint product of the DRB-HICOM partnership in the Malaysian carmaker.

Until today, Proton has been making the X70 in China and bringing the SUV in as a completely built-up (CBU) vehicle, just like some models of other makes from Europe and Japan. However, even though the vehicles were made in China, many parts were sent from Malaysian suppliers so even before today, Malaysian-made parts have been incorporated.

One of the reasons for using parts from Malaysia was that the X70 is a righthand drive model and the factory in China doesn’t make such a variant, so parts have not been made there. The other reason could be that the volume required was ‘small’ by the standards of vendors in China and as their supply would not be needed after a year, it was probably not worthwhile for them.

The plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, has been in existence since 2004 but when Geely became involved, a major renovation was undertaken and a new RM1.2 billion extension was added. New manufacturing processes and equipment were also installed to raise efficiency and productivity along with quality.

Developing the vendor eco system
At the same time, Proton worked together with local and overseas vendors to establish a supply chain for parts required to build its first SUV, would be in place when production activities began. During the preparatory phase prior to start of production some months ago, Proton worked closely with its local vendors to match them with other companies who were already supplying components for the SUV.

These efforts resulted in 7 new joint-ventures being formed as both local and foreign companies started partnerships based in Malaysia to share competencies and production resources.

Other business relationships established include technical agreements and foreign direct investments, resulting in a total investment of RM263 million and the creation of 1,084 jobs as the vendor community gears up to create a pipeline of high technology components for the X70 and future models.

Production hub for RHD vehicles
“Today marks a historical milestone for Proton as we take another step towards being a global automotive brand. By producing the Proton X70 in Tanjung Malim, we have taken a quantum leap in our abilities as this is by far our most ambitious undertaking to date. This new plant will not only produce future products jointly developed with Geely but it will also be a centre for right-hand-drive production as we begin exports to countries all over world,” said Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Proton’s Chairman, at the exclusive and private roll-out ceremony held earlier today,

An Conghui, President & CEO of Geely Auto Group, confirmed that Proton’s position within the Geely Auto Group is to be a valuable partner to grow sales in ASEAN markets.

“PROTON has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past 2 years. This experience has worked out very well for us at Geely Auto as we are happy to help Proton realize its global aspirations. We will continue to support Proton as it grows in the Malaysian market and in the wider ASEAN region and beyond,” he added.

Proton sales doubled in November

Locally-assembled Mercedes-Benz GLC range updated for 2020

Some years back, when Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) made the decision to invest in local assembly of SUVs, it was certainly a good move. The SUV segment was booming and even customers in the premium luxury segment were gravitating towards SUVs. The model chosen was the GLC and being assembled locally (at the plant in Pekan, Pahang), it could have an attractive pricetag.

This year, over the period from January to October, almost 1,900 units of the GLC have been assembled and in recent months, the units assembled have been the updated versions which were launched today. The line-up consists of the GLC 200, GLC 300 4MATIC as well as the GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe.

“With the new generation Mercedes-Benz SUV line-up, we are redefining the standards of luxury SUV segment in Malaysia by combining a different level of mobility and innovation. As part of our product offensive strategy, the line-up offers our customers comfort and luxury beyond what you would expect from an SUV, in addition to the spaciousness, practicality as well as the performance,” said Michael Jopp, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

GLC 200 & GLC 300 4MATIC (RM299,888 & RM350,000 est)
Powered by the 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged M264 petrol engine, the GLC 200 and GLC 300 4MATIC have outputs of 197 bhp/320 Nm of torque and 258 bhp/370 Nm, respectively. Both SUVs have the 9-stage 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission as standard, with the GLC 300 having 4MATIC which delivers power to all four wheels.

The frontal appearance of the GLC 200 continues with muscularly sculpted surfaces and distinctive details with a heavily contoured grille. The chrome elements now run from the front to the rear end while the bright LED headlamps have been restyled. These are included in the Optical Off-road package, along with the 20-inch 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels.

The GLC 300 4MATIC comes equipped with the Night Package based on the AMG Line exterior that features striking, black design elements to give a sporty and expressive character while enhancing the exclusivity and high-quality details of the exterior.

It comes with the 20-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps which respond to traffic situations with individually controllable LEDs. There is always optimum illumination of the road ahead without dazzling oncoming drivers.

A further highlight is the panoramic sliding sunroof which lets plenty of light into the cabin with its large glass area. Of course, in our strong tropical sunshine, having too much light coming in may not necessarily be good for comfort and the sunroof can be closed off at the touch of a button.

On the inside, the GLC 200 and GLC 300 4MATIC have the Exclusive Line and AMG Line packages, respectively. Both SUVs come with the illuminated door sills with the brand name illuminated in brilliant white and set in an elegantly machined stainless steel panel on the door sill. ARTICO Leather upholstery is standard in both the SUVs.

The MBUX (the interface known as the Mercedes-Benz User Experience) is complemented by a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster with Classic, Progressive and Sporty display styles. The touch-operated media display is 10.25-inches in size, with the resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels.

The GLC 200’s suspension has generous ground clearance with damping controlled individually for each wheel according to the driving situation, vehicle speed and the condition of the surface. The more advanced AGILITY CONTROL suspension with selective damping system in the GLC 300 4MATIC combines balanced ride comfort and high driving stability. Thanks to the passive damping system, the driver will benefit from superior ride comfort on every road surface. Ride characteristics, damping effects and stabilisation are continuously and automatically adapted to the condition of the road surface.

GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe (RM419,888)
For those who want the advantages of a SUV but still can’t give up sportiness, Mercedes-Benz offers the GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe as the best of both worlds. This model is powered by the 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged M264 petrol engine (258 bhp/370 Nm) that enables a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 6.3 seconds.

Like the GLC 300, the Coupe is also equipped with a Night Package based on the AMG Line exterior. The AMG Line includes sport aprons and 20-inch AMG 5 twin-spoke light-alloy wheels. It also comes with the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps.

The exterior has an even sportier look with the imposing diamond radiator grille that catches the eyes, just like the striking air intakes in the bumper. At the back, the GLC 300 Coup has an intriguing tailpipe trim integrated into the bumper and the streamlined LED rear tail lamps with their contemporary lighting design.

Inside, there are intelligent comfort functions, a new operating system and digital displays. With MBUX and Mercedes me connect, the driver of the GLC 300 Coupe now has a new and intuitive form of control – using either the intuitive touch control buttons or simple voice output.

The fully-digital cockpit with two displays makes it possible to provide more information to the driver. There is a 10.25-inch media display with touch functionality and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster which includes navigation display. The inside is now more contemporary than ever, with leather upholstery and the light longitudinal-grain aluminium trim.

With the latest update, the GLC 300 Coupe has a Sports suspension package which delivers a firmer set-up for the damper characteristics. It also comes with the PRE-SAFE system – a system that works to prepare and protect the passengers in an accident, before it even happens. The system is able to sense when a collision is unavoidable, thanks for the sensors placed throughout the vehicle, which function with multiple safety systems. Once a collision is detected, the system prepares the passengers by tightening the front seatbelts, adjusting front head restraints and will even close the windows and sunroof.

Mercedes-Benz owners in Malaysia can now enjoy Mercedes me connect

New Land Rover Defender to star in next James Bond movie (w/VIDEO)

James Bond, undeniably the world’s best-known secret agent, has driven a great variety of cars in the past 57 years since he first appeared in Dr. No. Many were sportscars and thanks to Q branch, some of them had fancy accessories like rocket launchers, ejection seats, machine guns and tyre-shredders. Being an agent of the British government, Bond often drove the latest British models with Aston Martins featuring prominently in the last few adventures.

James Bond Cars — *A display of the cars used in ‘Die Another Day’, the 2002 James Bond movie.*

In April 2020, No Time To Die, the 25th official James Bond film (and the fifth one starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007), will premiere and as with the previous films, there will be exciting car action. Seeming to reflect trends in the market, there will be more SUVs and in fact, the New Defender from Land Rover will appear prominently on the big screen. This will be the first movie to feature the New Defender which was launched in September this year.

Other Land Rover models you will see at different points in the movie will be the Range Rover Sport SVR, Land Rover Series III and Range Rover Classic. The British 4×4 manufacturer has had a long-standing partnership with EON Productions on the Bond films which goes back to 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in Octopussy.

Land Rover’s design team worked closely with Special Effects and Action Vehicles Supervisor Chris Corbould on the specification of the Defenders in the film. Based on the Defender X model in Santorini Black, with darkened skidpans, 20-inch dark finish wheels and professional off-road tyres, they were the first Defenders to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new production facility in Slovakia.

Stunt coordinator Lee Morrison (shown below) and stunt driver Jess Hawkins pushed the vehicle to extremes, making maximum use of pioneering off-road tech, 900 mm wading ability and 291 mm ground clearance for No Time To Die’s spectacular car chase action.

“Designing and co-ordinating the action sequences for the Bond franchise requires a non-compromising mindset. We needed an unstoppable vehicle to help us battle against the elements, steep descents and river crossings so we chose the new Defender. I’m beyond impressed that the Defender is not only back but much, much better!” said Morrison.

All-new Land Rover Defender makes global debut in Frankfurt

Mercedes-Maybach chooses China to launch its first SUV – the GLS 600 4MATIC

The Maybach brand is 110 years old and although acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 1960, it remained dormant till the late 1990s when the carmaker decided to use it for an ultra luxury brand in its portfolio. It was an attempt to offer something comparable at the Rolls-Royce level but somehow, the strategy didn’t work and after poor response, Mercedes-Benz removed Maybach as a standalone brand after 2012.

Then in 2014, the company took a new approach, still aiming at the Bentley and Rolls-Royce, and created the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand. It enlarged the S-Class (W222) considerably and gave it all the luxury that its rivals could offer. Interestingly, besides Germany, Mercedes-Benz has also been assembling Mercedes-Maybach models in India since 2015. To date, more than 45,000 units have been sold worldwide.

Why Mercedes-Maybach chose China for the launch
New SUV models have usually made their global debut at American motorshows since the SUV market is huge. However, Mercedes-Benz did not do so this time. Why? In 2018, more Mercedes-Maybach saloons were sold than in any previous year (+21.8%) and more than two-thirds of these cars are travelling on roads in China. This year, demand for the cars in the world’s largest car market has been averaging 600 units a month. So it’s not surprising that the company chose the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition on this week to introduce its first SUV model – the GLS 600 4MATIC.

With the exception of Land Rover and its Range Rover which was in a different era, Mercedes-Benz was the second carmaker to introduce a premium SUV with the M-Class in 1997 and has been selling lots of such vehicles since then. It has built up a lot of experience in developing SUVs which would have gone into the GLS 600 to offer ‘a new form of luxury in the SUV segment’. Pricing has not been revealed but the new model will appear in some markets during the second half of 2020.

It extends the portfolio of the Mercedes-Maybach brand by combining the body design and technical basis of the GLS with the luxury of a top-class saloon. Power comes from a V8 engine with a displacement of 4 litres which can develop 558 bhp/730 Nm and has been specially tuned for the Mercedes-Maybach. It is combined with the EQ Boost 48V system that contributes up to 22 bhp and 260 Nm.

Dignity and elegance
The Mercedes-Benz star sits on the bonnet in the classic way with fine, vertical chrome struts of the Maybach radiator grille creating a pinstripe effect. Effective chrome highlights around the side windows, and the chrome inserts in the side sill panels, lend dignity and elegance to the profile.

The 22-inch or 23-inch wheels were developed exclusively for this model, with the 23-inch version echoing the pinstripe theme. The tailpipe trim elements with a small cross rib emphasise the model’s identity as a Mercedes-Maybach. The same applies to the brand emblem, which is positioned at various points such as on the D-pillar. As a special, Maybach-specific feature, two-tone paintwork is available in 8 different, elegant colour combinations.

Retractable side steps
An interesting and classy feature which is not commonplace in SUVs are the electrically extending running boards (you would know them as side steps). They make accessing and leaving the higher seating position both convenient and safe. With surfaces of anodised aluminium laced with black rubber strips, illuminated in the dark and particularly wide in the area of the rear doors, they ensure a very special visual appeal. When in their retracted state, the running boards are concealed behind the side sill panels. If a rear door is opened, the running board on the side concerned automatically swings into position in around one second.

Getting in and out are made more convenient: when the doors are opened, the vehicle is lowered slightly. Not that this is unique as the Range Rover had it back in the mid-1990s and air suspension has made it easy to incorporate. The AIRMATIC suspension is standard and there is also an optional, fully-active suspension with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL that effectively keep the road bumps at bay. There is a dedicated drive program for the suspension and powertrain with settings that can prioritise rear seat passengers’ comfort.

The best available for occupants
Technical information on the GLS 600 is limited at this time but there is a lot of emphasis on interior comfort and appointments. As would be expected, the highest-grade materials are used and the extremely effective noise insulation creates a stylish, cocoon-like feel-good atmosphere. With the standard MBUX Rear Tablet in the centre console or the armrest between the rear seats, the extensive comfort and entertainment functions can also be intuitively controlled from the rear seats.

From their elevated seating position, thanks to electrically operated roller sun blinds on the two rear side windows, the passengers can decide for themselves how much of their surroundings they want to see. Overhead is an electrically opening panoramic sliding/tilting sunroof with an opaque roller blind as standard equipment.

Rear passengers’ comfort prioritised
The two outer rear seats can be electrically converted into reclining seats. Padded areas and the dashboard are finished in fine nappa leather as standard, with a range of further cushions and leather interior linings available on request., as are climatised massage seats. Obtainable on special request, the fixed centre console transforms the car into a spacious 4-seater whose rear is just as suitable for working as for relaxing. This console is available with extending, folding tables, even a refrigerator with space for champagne bottles. Suitable silver champagne flutes for this are available from the accessories range.

A dedicated fragrance was developed for the GLS for active fragrancing as part of the optional AIR BALANCE package: a white osmanthus blossom, floral and light, is rounded off by a gentle leather note and spicy tea. A separate air conditioner for the rear seats is standard and features additional outlets and heater boosters with which temperature control is even faster and draught-free.