Round 2 of the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) yesterday saw Indonesian driver Fitra Eri of Team Sakura Tedco Racing collected his third victory of the season after winning the one-hour endurance battle from pole position.

Fitra, who won both sprint races in Round 1 in May, showed his prowess in the endurance test as well, in his Honda FD2 machine despite a strong challenge from second-placed Lai Wee Sing and Abdul Kaathir Mohd Mustaffa of R Engineering, who were driving a similar race car.

The Indonesian stuttered in the beginning, dropping to fourth behind Lai Wee Sing. But by the end of Lap 1, Fitra managed to move up to second. “I decided to just shadow Lai, who was quick, and then I went in for the compulsory pit stop immediately after the pit window opened. I was seventh when I rejoined the race and did five quick qualifying laps to take over the leadership when Lai pitted for a driver change. My car was good and the team did a very good job this weekend,” Fitra said after the race.

Finishing third overall and third in the Touring Production class behind the partnership of Lai and Abdul Kaathir was the partnership of Boy Wong Yew Choong and Alvaro Mourato in another Honda FD2. The top three cars completed 23 laps around the 5.543km track along with eight other Touring Production class competitors.

With 15 points collected yesterday, Fitra takes his championship points haul to 45, opening a 13-point gap over Lai and Abdul Kaathir, who have 32 points.

In the Malaysian Touring Car (MTC) Championship, Kenny Lee took first place in his Suzuki Swift machine, upstaging the more celebrated Mark Darwin of Team Sakura Tedco Racing, who is also the current championship leader. Nick Mah completed the podium.

A poor start saw Kenny losing his pole position advantage as Darwin raced to the front to lead for the five opening laps. Having the faster machine all weekend, Kenny passed his rival in the sixth lap on Turn 9 and cruised to victory.

“We worked hard preparing this car and working on the tyres. We had the best setting and the car was simply superb all weekend. We hope to maintain and carry this performance to the Sepang 1000 Kilometer race. We are clearly on the right track,” said Kenny, who commended SIC on the appointment of Yokohama as the Official Tyre for the series this season.

Despite finishing second, Darwin continues to lead the MTC Championship with a total haul of 42 points. Kenny Lee now moves to second with 31 points, with Nick Mah filling third spot on the table with 26 points.

Malaysian lady driver, Geraldine Read, finished 23rd overall and seventh in the MTC Class while Singapore’s celebrity driver Claire Jedrek finished 11th in the Touring Production class.

Meanwhile, in the newly-introduced Formula 4 South East Asia championship, Singapore’s Danial Nielsen Frost came in first with a time of 17 minutes 50.088 seconds, followed by Australian Jordan Love and Indonesian Presley Martono with a time of 17 minutes 50.239 seconds and 17 minutes 50.683 seconds respectively. In the 8-lap race, Malaysians Nazim Azman and Isyraf Danish were 5th and 7th, with times of 18 minutes 2.481 seconds and 18 minutes 4.388 seconds respectively.

MALAYSIA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – ROUND 2

Top 5 Finishers – 1 hour Endurance

Touring Production Championship
1. Fitra Eri (Honda FD2) – 23 laps (1:02.17.530s)

2. Lai Wee Sing/Abdul Kaathir (Honda FD2) – 23 laps

3. Boy Wong Yew Choong/Alvaro Mourato (Honda FD2) – 23 laps

4. Mitchell Cheah (Honda FD2) – 23 laps

5. Martin Berry (Honda FD2) – 23 laps

Malaysia Touring Car Championship
1. Kenny Lee (Suzuki Swift) – 21 laps (1:02.29.101s)

2. Mark Darwin (Proton Prevé) – 21 laps

3. Nick Mah (Suzuki Swift) – 21 laps

4. Goh Lee Heng (Proton Satria Neo) – 21 laps

5. David McIntyre (Proton Satria Neo) – 21 laps

The post Malaysia Championship Series Round 2 Results appeared first on Autoworld.com.my.

Enjoy Cash Rebates up to RM 12,000

And Warranty Package up to 5-Years!

Kuala Lumpur, 8 August 2016 – Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, with immediate effect, announced a series of attractive offers on selected models of Mitsubishi vehicles in celebration of Merdeka. Buyers of these Mitsubishi models can enjoy cash rebates of up to RM 12,000 and warranty packages of up to five years.

From now until 31 August, customers who choose the all-new Triton Adventure would be eligible for cash rebates of up to RM9,000 and the new vehicle comes with a 3-Year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

Customers looking for even better bargains can also consider a limited number of Triton demo units offered at special discounted prices. Customers who are interested are encouraged to enquire further at their nearest Mitsubishi showroom. The Triton VGT Adventure is priced at RM116, 053.

Customers who choose the ASX Compact SUV get to enjoy cash rebates up to RM8, 000 and 5-Years warranty with unlimited mileage. The award-winning compact SUV is available for a starting price of RM 105,744.31 onwards for the ASX 2WD GL model. The ASX 2WD is priced at RM 115,468.71 while the ASX 4WD is priced at RM 129,010.43.

Mitsubishi Attrage eco sedan buyers will enjoy cash rebates of up to RM12, 000 and 3-Years warranty OR 100,000km warranty package (whichever comes first). The Mitsubishi Attrage sedan is priced at RM 75,250.

Editor’s Note:

The automotive market seems to have ‘softened’ a little, being pinched by increases in price due to GST on the one hand, and more stringent measures taken by financial institutions on applications for hire purchase loans. Increased living cost is also beginning to take its toll on affordability, pushing out the ‘marginal’ buyers. Some rumblings in the automotive industry indicate a drop in sales of up to 30 percent for some makes, although there are pockets of good news for some of the more popular brands which have managed to maintain their overall numbers. Car buyers can expect more offers to come their way real soon

Note: Prices are quoted on-the-road without insurance, GST inclusive for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia (not applicable in Langkawi).

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Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (MBM CV) together with authorised dealer, Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle, has launched the first full-fledged 3S Centre in the east coast region.

Located in Kuantan, Pahang, the Mercedes-Benz authorised commercial vehicles dealer, Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle 3S Centre (Kuantan) is the first in the east coast with the capability to facilitate sales and service, maintenance and repairs for both brands – Mercedes-Benz and FUSO commercial vehicles.

“Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles stand not only for reliability and economic efficiency, but also for first-class product and service quality. Today we are proud to unveil the latest full-fledged CV 3S centre in the east coast of Malaysia together with our authorised dealer Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle. This dedicated CV 3S facility for our line of commercial vehicles will further strengthen our position as we continue to expand our presence in Malaysia,” said it’s Vice President, Mr Albert Yee.

“We see great potential in the east coast region and our product portfolio is able to support all five key economic clusters in the region, namely manufacturing, oil, gas and petrochemicals, tourism, agriculture and human capital development. We look forward to providing customers in the east coast with trucks they can trust,” Yee added.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has been a strong contributor to the development of the nation’s automotive sector. The launch of the Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle 3S Centre (Kuantan) comes as another positive investment with the potential to benefit the East Coast Economic Region’s (ECER) goal of spearheading the region’s socio-economic development.

The Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle 3S Centre (Kuantan) is a 9,780 sq ft facility which accommodates display of up to 14 trucks and 3 work bays. It is operated by a dedicated administration and technical team capable of servicing up to 100 vehicles per month.

“Our passion for excellence has been a major driving force behind the success of the Mercedes-Benz and FUSO commercial vehicle brands. We are very happy to bring this brand confidence and reliability to our customers in the east coast. We understand the needs of our commercial vehicle customers whose businesses depend on the reliability of their vehicles. The Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle 3S Centre (Kuantan) is a testament to our dedication to bring our unparalleled offerings closer to customers,” said Hap Seng Star and Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle, Chief Operating Officer, Mr Wong Leh Seng.

“Our customer-oriented transport solutions paired with comprehensive expertise continue to prove why Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles reflect the vision of its parent company, Daimler AG, in being the benchmark of premium quality. We intend to continue building our dealership capacity with a series of additional CV 3S centres in the pipeline,” added Yee.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles, under the Daimler Commercial Vehicles stable, is known for its wide-ranging offerings that include Mercedes-Benz trucks such as the Actros, vans such as the Vito and
Sprinter used for ambulances as well as buses. In addition, MBM CV also caters to the medium-range commercial vehicle market segment through its FUSO trucks which includes the CANTER under its FE series.

In October 2015, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles launched three new models, the FM65FN, FM65FJ and the FN62FM, further enhancing the FUSO product portfolio in Malaysia.

Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle has invested a total of RM350,000 into after-sales equipment, parts and tools as well as upgrading the work bays of its service area.

The Mercedes-Benz Malaysia authorized commercial vehicles dealer – Hap Seng Commercial Vehicle 3S Centre (Kuantan) is located at JG 1/79A, Kawasan Perindustrian, Batu 3, Jalan Gambang, 25200, Kuantan, Pahang.

For more information, please visit www.hapseng.mercedes-benz.com.my or call +609 516 2268.

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PROTON Holdings Berhad has made available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store the MyProton app, a
mobile application that’s meant to provide convenience to Proton owners and prospective buyers alike. This is part of its ‘Customers First’ initiative.

Features of the MyProton app are:

• Appointment to test drive Proton cars
• Appointment for car service
• Connection to Mobile Assist call centre for assistance
• Information on all Proton models
• Update on current promotions and events
• Location of all PROTON sales and services outlets
• Connection to PROTON social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Youtube
• Loan calculator

“Leveraging on our customers increasing sophistication, we at PROTON can provide easy access for customers to retrieve information at their fingertips. We understand that in today’s highly connected environment, the best way to reach and update as well as to service our customers better would be through a Mobile App. It is a natural progression to connect with our customers more efficiently and effectively.” said Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON. “With MyProton Mobile App, our customers can now use their smart phones, amongst others, to make appointments to service their cars and to test drive Proton cars.” he added.

In the next phase of its development, MyProton will provide easy access for customers to check their car booking status, view their car service history, get reminders for their next car service as well as many other conveniences.

Visit www.proton.com or www.facebook.com/ProtonCarsOfficial for further details.

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TC Euro Cars (TCEC), the sole franchise holder of Renault cars in Malaysia, is accepting bookings for the all-new flagship Koleos SUV.

The Koleos is expected to be launched in September with an introductory price of RM 172,800 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM 116,800 in Langkawi (on-the-road without insurance and for private registration).

Key features of the Renault Koleos include:

– Powerful, muscular exterior lines
– Full LED Pure Vision headlights with dynamic C-shaped daytime running lights
– Premium 18″ alloy wheels
– Class-leading interior space with generous rear legroom
– Equipment shared with other high-end Renault models e.g. 8.7″ R-LINK 2 infotainment system
– Instrument display with 7″ TFT color screen and ambient lighting, both of which are customizable with a palette of lighting hues to suit the mood
– Blind spot warning
– Six airbags

The all-new Koleos is powered by a 2.5-liter petrol engine mated to a new X-Tronic automatic transmission for enhanced performance and optimized fuel consumption. The engine delivers 171 PS and peak torque of 226 Nm, with 200 Nm of torque available from as low as 1,800 rpm.

The Koleos is designed as a global vehicle to suit different climates and requirements and like all Renault vehicles, the Koleos comes with a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. This warranty is fully backed by Renault and not undertaken by any other insurance companies, which means terms and conditions as well as parts covered are consistent from the first year of ownership to the end of the warranty period.

If you’re interested to know more or get the latest updates, register at www.renault.com.my.

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It’s time to put your hands down again. The Subaru Palm Challenge Back has returned. Now in its 8th year, the Subaru Palm Challenge 2016 – Malaysia Face-Off organized by exclusive Subaru distributor, Motor Image Malaysia, will be held at Piazza, The Curve Mutiara Damansara this Saturday (13 August).

We will get to see the 80 participants, selected via prior online registration, battle it out for the top 10 spots to be eligible for the regional grand finale at the MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2016 – The Asian Face-Off on 5-8 November 2016.

This challenge will be test the mental and physical endurance as the participants have to keep their palm on a Subaru vehicle for the longest time possible with only a 10-minute break every 6 hours to grab a quick bite or visit the washroom.

The participants will also have to take part in a series of tough challenges as part of the elimination process. The challenges will be introduced to the participants at sporadic timings throughout the day to keep the participants on their toes at all time.

The 10 Malaysian finalists will move on to the next phase of the challenge, MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2016 – The Asian Face-Off in Singapore, where they will face 390 other hopeful participants from across the region, including Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam for a chance to win a brand new Subaru XV.

The 2015 winner, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Huynh from Vietnam clocked in 77 hours and 58 minutes for the final
challenge – which marks the first time a regional contestant has won the MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge. The best performing contestant from Malaysia, Mr. Tan Hong Sheng, came in second and was also awarded as Country Winner. Additionally, the Malaysian team snagged the title of Country Team Winner for achieving the longest combined standing time (cumulative time of all 10 representatives from the same country) of 518 hours and 45 minutes.

Shoppers and visitors at The Curve can also join the fun with the Mini Palm Challenge the following day (Sunday) offered by Subaru to win attractive prizes.

So do remember the dates below and make your way to The Curve.

13 August 2016, Saturday – Subaru Palm Challenge 2016 – Malaysia Face-Off

14 August 2016, Sunday – Subaru Mini Palm Challenge

Time: 10am onwards

Venue: Piazza, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya

Orient is the Official Timekeeper of the Subaru Palm Challenge – Malaysia Face-Off.

The post The Subaru Palm Challenge Is Back appeared first on Autoworld.com.my.

Six PETRONAS stations in the Klang Valley now offer Euro 5-compliant PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel i.e. at PETRONAS Station Technology Park Malaysia 1; Mutiara Damansara (North-bound); NKVE (Damansara-bound), Solaris Putra; Solaris Serdang (South-bound) and Sprint Highway. The station locations can be found in this link.

The Euro 5-compliant PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel is a cleaner, greener fuel that delivers superior performance on and off the road, enhancing protection and efficiency of Euro 5 diesel engines.

Mohd Ibrahimnuddin Mohd Yunus, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) said, “Last year when we introduced the PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel Euro 5 in Johor, we promised our customers in the Klang Valley that we were working towards making it a reality and now it is available in our stations. Meanwhile, continuous engagement and feedback received from consumers aided in the development of improved chemistries to deliver optimum engine performance in today’s latest common rail injector systems.”

He added that the PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel Euro 5 is developed through PETRONAS’ Dakar Rally experience to deliver engine protection, power restoration and cleaner combustion for superior fuel economy and protection allowing drivers to experience maximum performance from their engines.

He also commented that PETRONAS’ new offering catered to the shift in consumer demand following the introduction of newer car models that would gain the most benefits from Euro 5 diesel. Further, PETRONAS has identified another 25 stations in the Klang Valley to carry the new diesel within this year. This is in addition to the two stations in Johor (at Pasir Gudang Highway 2 and Gelang Patah), which were among the first to introduce the fuel in December 2014.

“We thank our loyal diesel customers for their support and we hope that they will look forward to experiencing the PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel Euro 5,” said Ibrahimnuddin.

The benefits of PETRONAS Dynamic Diesel Euro 5 are:

Protects the engine: Cleans and prevents engine damage by protecting critical injector parts and exhaust after-treatment devices resulting in longer engine life.

Restores power: Regain engine performance, efficiency and reliability by cleaning modern diesel injectors.

Cleaner combustion: Easier starting, less engine noise and smoother acceleration through improved combustion resulting in improved drivability, less smoke and less fuel consumption.

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UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) is offering great deals on selected Toyota models in celebration of Merdeka. As part of its “Mari Sama-Sama Kita Enjoy” National Day promotion, these selected models are offered with cash rebates of up to RM8,000 and some even get additional accessories at no extra cost.

The cash rebates are for selected variants of the Toyota Vios, Corolla Altis, Camry Hybrid, Innova, Avanza and Hilux. This promotion ends 31 August.

The offers are:

These offers are available nationwide at all UMWT branches and authorised Toyota dealers.

The free accessories include upgraded DVD-Audio System with reverse camera, Daytime Running Lights, front footwell illumination, portable tyre pump, Toyota premium security & solar film and car digital video recorder. The accessories offered are dependent on car model so check with your Sales Advisor. All accessories have been tested and are installed by qualified personnel at UMWT’s Accessories Centre in its Integrated Quality Hub at Bukit Raja, Selangor.

The models on offer are manufactured in 2016 and come with a 5-year warranty/unlimited mileage (except for the Hilux which has a maximum mileage of 150,000 km) which is transferable to the next owner if it is still valid at the time of transfer of ownership.

For the Camry Hybrid, the battery pack for the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive has a warranty of up to 8 years.

As part of its National Day celebrations, UMWT will also organize a nationwide roadshow to bring the showroom to customers, so you can see and test-drive the latest Toyota models.

The roadshow venues and dates are:

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Toyota will soon launch the new Sienta compact MPV in Malaysia but if you’re too impatient to wait for one to show up in a Toyota showroom, you can catch the Toyota Sienta Mobile Truck for a preview. UMW Toyota has planned a host of activities from 13 – 25 August 2016 in the run-up to the launch, including information about the new model and a chance to receive priority test drive coupon to be used at Toyota showrooms after the launch. The test drive coupon also entitles the bearer to gifts at the showroom.

The venues and dates of the Sienta Mobile Truck are:

There will be opportunities for the public to participate in the “Catch The Sienta Photo Contest” and submit your most creative pictures with the all-new Sienta to the Toyota Malaysia Facebook page with #MySienta and stand a chance to win shopping vouchers.

On weekends, the Sienta Mobile Truck will join the Fun Truck at selected outlets that have Kids’ Fun Zone, where the kids can be entertained with games and other fun activities (as well as free cotton candy and popcorn) while the parents view the MPV.

Developed for urban families who seek premium value and style, the 7-seater Sienta is offered in two variants – Sienta 1.5G and Sienta 1.5V – with prices starting from RM92,900 with insurance, for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia.

Bookings can be made at any UMW Toyota Motor showrooms or authorized Toyota dealers nationwide.

Follow the Toyota Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ToyotaMalaysia) to get more details on the Sienta Mobile Truck.

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Sepang, August 11, 2016 – The Audi R8 LMS Cup is returning to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend (13 – 14 August 2016), with Rounds 5 and 6 in the championship. This promises to be an exciting weekend as local ace Alex Yoong, currently lying second in the championship, three points behind Alessio Picariello who leads with 65 points, and one point ahead of Martin Rump with 61 points, tries to close the gap or to take the outright lead.

As they say, the race doesn’t end till the race ends, and we all know that anything can happen in motor racing. To add to the competition, Audi sport driver Edoardo Mortara will join the fray under Audi Hong Kong colours.

Alessio Picariello of MGT Team by Absolute has pulled into an overall points lead with three second-place finishes from the first four races of the Cup, now in its fifth season. The gifted young Belgian will look for his first season win at the 5.54 kilometre long SIC circuit.

Former F1 driver and reigning Cup champion Alex Yoong (62 points) of Audi TEDA Racing Team is second overall after his Round 3 win in Thailand. The Malaysian can surely bet on strong support from the enthusiastic home crowd for this weekend, which is expected to be dry and scorching, but then, Malaysian weather can be unpredictable and afternoon downpours are not uncommon. If it rains, it will be a question of who is better in the wet.

Martin Rump (61 points) of Champion Racing Team is the only driver to have recorded two wins this year. The young Estonian and last year’s Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) champion appears to have managed the
transition from single-seater racing to GT3 cars remarkably well.

Fourth overall is Marchy Lee (49 points) of team Audi Hong Kong. Joining his team for the weekend will be Mortara, who returns to the Audi R8 LMS Cup as the current third-placed driver in the 2016 German Touring Car Championship (DTM). During his previous appearance with the Cup, Mortara won the first race of the triple-header in Taiwan in 2015. The Italian is known in motorsport as “Mr. Macau” for winning the Macau GP Formula 3 race twice, before securing an Audi R8 LMS Cup race win and a hat trick (2011-2013) of GT Cup victories on the demanding street circuit.

“The Audi R8 LMS Cup has had three different winners out of the four races so far this season, proving the competitiveness of the series,” said Bernd Goeres, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “It’s a pleasure to be back at the Sepang International Circuit for our fourth year in a row.”

After sweeping back-to- back wins in Thailand, Jeffrey Lee of Team Audi Volkswagen leads the Amateur Cup classification ahead of Sun Jingzu and Johnson Huang, both of Absolute Racing.

Qualifying will begin at 16:30 on Saturday August 13 with Round 5 at 11:10 on Sunday August 14, and Round 6 later that day at 16:00 (all times UTC+8). Fans around the world can watch both races live at www.audir8lmscup.com, www.audi-motorsport.com (English) and on series partners’ video portals, LeSports, PPTV and Youku (Chinese).

The Audi R8 LMS Cup is operated by Audi China and is part of the Audi Sport customer racing Asia programme. The championship is run in cooperation with FAW-Volkswagen Audi, Audi Hong Kong, Audi Korea, Audi Taiwan and Audi Malaysia.

The series is supported by Castrol Edge, Michelin, MasterCard, CTVS and auto motor und sport.

2016 Audi R8 LMS Cup
Provisional entry list – Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia

1/Alex YOONG/Malaysia/Audi TEDA Racing Team
6/Alessio PICARIELLO/Belgium/MGT Team by Absolute
7/Jeffrey LEE/Chinese Taipei/Am/Team Audi Volkswagen Taiwan
8/Aditya PATEL/India/Team Audi R8 LMS Cup
11/Kyong-Ouk YOU/South Korea/Team Audi Korea
13/SUN Jing Zu/China/Am/Absolute Racing
18/Martin RUMP/Estonia/Champion Racing Team
29/Akash NANDY/Malaysia/KCMG
43/Jan KISIEL/Poland/KCMG
48/Edoardo MORTARA/Italy/Audi Hong Kong
51/Johnson HUANG/Chinese Taipei/Absolute Racing
55/Vincent FLOIRENDO/Philippines/Am/EN Sport by Absolute
66/Rahel Frey/Switzerland/Castrol Racing Team
88/Marchy Lee/Hong Kong/Audi Hong Kong
99/CHENG Congfu (Franky)/China/FAW-VW Audi Racing Team

Am = Amateur Cup Competitor (New R8)

Overall classification after Round 4 – Top 10

1.    Alessio PICARIELLO – 65
2.    Alex YOONG – 62
3.    Martin RUMP – 61
4.    Marchy LEE – 49
5.    Rahel FREY – 45
6.    Jan KISIEL – 32
7.    CHENG Congfu (Franky) – 30
8.    Aditya PATEL – 20
9.    Ryo OGAWA – 20
10.  Yuichi NAKAYAMA – 7

Am Cup classification after Round 4 – Top 3

1.    Jeffrey LEE – 90
2.    SUN Jing Zu – 60
3.    Johnson HUANG – 44

Masters Cup classification after Round 4 – Top 3

1.    Daniel BILSKI – 51
2.    Chun Hua CHEN (Kevin) – 50
3.    YOON Sanghwi (Rick) – 36

Team Cup classification after Round 4 – Top 3

1.    MGT Team by Absolute – 65
2.    Audi TEDA Racing Team – 62
3.    Champion Racing Team – 61

Race success ballast for Round 5:

1.    Martin RUMP: 50 kg
2.    Alessio PICARIELLO: 35 kg
3.    Jan KISIEL: 20 kg

The post Exciting Weekend Expected at Audi R8 LMS Cup, Sepang Circuit This Weekend appeared first on Autoworld.com.my.

What’s This?

The Range Rover Evoque compact luxury crossover might have been launched half a decade ago in 2011, but it is still making its presence felt in the market as a best-seller for Jaguar Land Rover.

What About It?

The Evoque’s looks has kept up with the times, looking contemporary and showing hardly any hint of ageing. The 2016 model has been given a mild refresh with a revised front bumper, air intakes and grille, updated LED foglamps, a reworked tailgate spoiler with integrated 3^rd brake light and redesigned rear lamps that mirror the LED daytime running lights.

The body is left untouched, maintaining its strong shoulder lines and sleek, rugged stance.

What’s Inside?

The Evoque looks to have some bulk, likely due to the large (optional) 20″ alloy wheels; it is in fact smaller than the BMW X1. Still, the cabin’s rear isn’t short on legroom and fits 2 normal-sized adults seated at a comfortable angle. But while the 2 rear seats are comfortably recessed, the middle seat is a hump so it’s a more ideal spot to place slim or small-sized passengers. The middle is also interrupted by the transmission tunneI, but before you judge it, it physically acts to increase rigidity. 

The sloping roofline might give the Evoque a sleek profile but also cuts down on rear headroom and window real estate. If you are claustrophobic, you can always go for the panoramic glassroof option which gives the cabin a more spacious feel.

The driver’s seat provides a commanding front view thanks to the raised height of the vehicle and driving position is customizable thanks to the 12-way powered seats (for front passenger as well, and with memory settings). The essential physical buttons are housed conveniently nearby on the sloped center console and steering wheel. And just like all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, the conventional gear lever has turned into a dial which hides itself when the engine is turned off. It’s a cool gimmick and not necessarily unnecessary. If I were to complain about the interior, it would be the brushed metal trim on dashboard which is wide enough to reflect the sun at the wrong time.

The side view to the driver’s left is interrupted by the thick passenger seat headrest and B-pillar; a feature not native to just the Evoque. The rear view too, is limited by the sloped roofline which reduces the size of the rear glass. Thankfully, the reverse camera view on the 8” HD touchscreen display helps with parking. The touchscreen is part of the InControl Touch entertainment suite which features navigation, Bluetooth, voice command and driving information. The cabin is dressed in premium-feel materials and leather.

Cargo space measures 575 liters and expands to 1,445 with the rear seats folded down so a weekend getaway or shopping for flat-packed furniture doesn’t really challenge the Evoque.

What’s Underneath?

The Evoque is powered by a Si4 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine sourced from Ford (an EcoBoost engine, in other words). The engine produces 240 PS and 340 Nm of torque and is paired with a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Evoque to go from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.

The last 2 gears in the ‘box are for cruising and aids fuel efficiency (more on this in the next section). The steering-mounted paddle shifters are great for aggressive driving but daily commutes are well taken care off by the automatic transmission.

What’s It Like?

Power to the wheels brings the Evoque up to speed fairly quickly, especially in S mode; the turbocharger allows for peak torque from 1,750 rpm. On the road, the Evoque gives a stable, confident ride. Features like the 4-wheel drive system, dynamic stability control and torque vectoring by braking also help particularly when you carry the Evoque into a corner at speed.

The steering wheel feels nice in the hands but felt a bit numb for my liking, perhaps due to the large wheels. These wheels too have a bearing on overall passenger comfort and fuel economy. My most frugal run read 8 liters of petrol for 100 km a lonely stretch. But once it’s in heavy urban traffic, it used 15 liters per 100 km. But quite honestly, fuel economy won’t be a top priority for Evoque buyers.

The Evoque’s off-road capabilities too will not feature heavily on a typical buyer’s ‘Need’ list; the most comfort they’ll take from this is that it can wade in 500 mm deep water – perfect for Kuala Lumpur.

Any Interesting Features?

The Evoque is built with the Terrain Response system which adjusts the engine, transmission and suspension for grass, gravel, snow, mud and sand so it can technically go off-road. Whether any Evoque owner will do that in the real world remains to be seen as this will most likely remain a concrete jungle chariot. Hill Descent Control is also another off-roading feature which is found in the Evoque and can be used on steep roads (just let the Evoque control the descent speed and individual brakes as it deems fit).

The powered tailgate has a hands-free feature – just wave your foot under the rear bumper (either directly behind or from the sides) to open, which is great when you have your hands full. Another creature-comfort feature is Park Assist which helps you parallel park and unpark. It wasn’t a feature I fully utilized because it was faster for me to park it myself but that’s just me.

The review unit is also equipped with the (optional) Meridian Surround Sound System which packs 16 speakers and a subwoofer in the cabin for an aural experience.

Who Is It For?

Let’s be honest, this is a poser off-roader meant for the fashionista or the urban warrior. It’s got features you’ll likely never use but is always nice to have in case a zombie apocalypse happens and you need to head for the jungle. And you’ll be doing it in a stylish vehicle.

How Much?

The Evoque’s price starts at RM 430,000 (review unit cost RM 493,460 with the options) and includes 5 years (or 150,000 km) warranty, 5 years (or 80,000 km) free scheduled maintenance and 3 years of roadside assistance.

Gallery:

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Sepang, Malaysia. (August 14, 2016) – Local boy Afiq Yazid thrilled fans last weekend as he and his Japanese teammate, Toshiyuki Ochiai took top spot in both races of Round Four of the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia series.

The race is run at Sepang International Circuit for the fifth time in as many years and Afiq has been competing in this series for four years, being a graduate of Lamborghini’s Young Driver Program and performing well in the past two seasons.

The Sepang circuit is a favorite with drivers, teams and fans, having hosted the championship’s Asia debut in 2012 and the global World Final in 2014.

Under sunny skies and with temperature in the 30s, Race One saw Sri Lankan driver Dilantha Malagamuwa and Indian teammate Armaan Ebrahim qualify for pole followed by Zen Low and Italian teammate Max Wiser. Afiq and Ochiai placed third with a gap of over 1.5 seconds behind the lead car.

Among the AM racers, Vincent Wong from Hong Kong along with Korean teammate Sanghwi Yoon were the fastest, followed by Andrew Haryanto from Indonesia, Keong Wee Lim from Singapore, then George Chou from Taiwan and teammate Samson Chan from Hong Kong.

In the Lamborghini Cup Class, Sam Lok from Hong Kong placed ahead of Supachai Weeraborwornpong.

In the race however, Afiq and Ochiai managed to take first spot, demoting Malagamuwa and Ebrahim to second. Meanwhile Yudai Uchida from Japan and teammate Jono Lester from New Zealand, who started tenth on the grid, climbed to third with a sterling performance.

Elsewhere on the track, Haryanto managed to make his way to the head of the AM pack, while Chou and Chan squeezed past Wong and Yoon into second in their class. Meanwhile in the Lamborghini Cup class, Weeraborwornpong moved past Lok to take first.

In Race Two, Afiq and Ochiai qualified first on the grid, followed by Malagamuwa and Ebrahim in second, with Haryanto in third. Fourth was Lim, followed by Chou and Chan.

While Afiq and Ochiai managed to hold off challengers to take their second win of the day, down the grid, Uchida and Lester who started sixth managed to move up and finish second; Malagamuwa and Ebrahim slipped to third spot. Low and Wiser who started seventh came in fourth.

Meanwhile, Wong and Yoon, starting in eighth, put in a remarkable performance, pushing past all other drivers in the AM class, hounding Haryanto and eventually finishing the race in fifth overall and first in their class. Haryanto, the likely favorite for the AM pole did not finish due to an unforced error. Lim took second in the AM class, followed by Chou and Chan in third, finishing ahead of Chinese duo Hu Nan and He Xiao Le.

In the Lamborghini Cup class, Lok managed a better run this time around, taking first and leaving Weerabornpong in second.

The next thrilling race will be at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan, the fifth and final stop in Asia before the World Final in Valencia, Spain in December.

The remaining races on the 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo – Asia are:

Fuji (JPN) 17-18 September

Valencia (SP) 1-2 December

World Final

Valencia (SP) 3-4 December

The post Results – 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia @ Sepang appeared first on Autoworld.com.my.

Sepang, August 14, 2016 – Local hero Alex Yoong briefly took the lead in the Audi R8 LMS Cup championship at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) over the weekend when he won Round 5 in the morning, but running with a 50 kg ballast (additional weights added onto the car) as a result of his win, managed a poor 6 th position in Round 6 held later in the afternoon.

However, as a result of the championship points scored in these two races, Yoong of Audi TEDA Racing Team now shares the lead with Alessio Picariello of MGT Team, both on 95 championship points. Technically, Yoong is in the overall lead because he has two outright victories.

Yoong pulled off a stunning start from 4 th position on the starting grid, drawing parallel with the leaders within 300 metres after the start line on a rolling start and was first into Turn One. He pulled away to approximately a one-second lead and thereafter paced the rest, leading all the way to the end.

After the race, a jubilant Yoong said, “It’s a real relief. Discussing with my engineers to use new tyres for race one was risky but we had to make use of it. We chose a very aggressive setup. After a great start I had a perfect four laps and was able to settle into the lead. It’s been great winning on my home turf in front of my family, friends and supporters.”

The Audi R8 LMS Cup cars are basically GT3 specification cars bought off the shelf – technically they are identical, so it is very much like a ‘Series Production’ type of race. This means that every car has the same horsepower and share the same transmission and suspension. Teams can set up their own suspension settings, and have to run on a fixed number of tyres, so basically it is a test of driving skills to determine the winner. To make it fairer to all, the top three winners of each race are required to carry additional weights of 50kg, 35 kg, and 20 kg respectively. The additional weights affect overall acceleration, lengthen braking distances, and overall handling – lap times, depending on circuits, may vary up to 2.0 seconds.

In the afternoon Round 6 race, the battle between Mortara and Picariello was the highlight of the day. It was close racing, bumper to tail lights most of the time as Picariello now free of the 35 kilograms of ballast that weighed him down in the morning’s race repeatedly knocked at the door of Mortara, who was now the one to carry 35 extra kilograms for his P2 finish in Round 5. Frey was always in close pursuit, waiting to capitalise on any mistakes from the front two.

Credit must be given to Mortara, as he cleverly defended his lead from pole position as a result of garnering the fastest lap in the morning race, to win Round 6, just half a second ahead of Picariello. Crossing the line just behind them both was Frey, whose double-podium over the weekend was enough to bounce her above Martin Rump of Champion Racing Team into third in the overall championship. Rump scored the fastest lap time in Round 6, but was not able to capitalize on his pace after an early contact with another car set him back.

In the Amateur Cup, Jeffrey Lee of Team Audi Volkswagen Taiwan showed his dominance yet again scoring two wins. Vincent Floirendo of EN Sport by Absolute came second ahead of Johnson Huang of Absolute Racing in Round 5, with their roles reversed in Round 6.

“The weekend was another enthralling one for the Audi R8 LMS Cup at Sepang with everyone entertained by the edge-of- the-seat battles,” said Bernd Goeres, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “The race for the championship is wide open moving into the second-half of the season.”

Rounds 7 and 8 of the Audi R8 LMS Cup will take place on September 24 and 25 at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, Korea.

The Audi R8 LMS Cup is operated by Audi China and is part of the Audi Sport customer racing Asia programme. The championship is run in cooperation with FAW-Volkswagen Audi, Audi Hong Kong, Audi Korea, Audi Taiwan and Audi Malaysia.

The series is supported by Castrol Edge, Michelin, MasterCard, CTVS and auto motor und sport. You can watch all the races live at: www.audir8lmscup.com or www.audi-motorsport.com.

2016 Audi R8 LMS Cup
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia

Round 5 – Results
1. 1/Alex YOONG/Audi TEDA Racing Team/26:48.092
2. 48/Edoardo MORTARA/Phoenix Racing Asia/+0.586
3. 66/Rahel FREY/Castrol Racing Team/+2.713
4. 6/Alessio PICARIELLO/MGT Team by Absolute/+6.305
5. 99/CHENG Congfu (Franky)/FAW-VW Audi Racing Team/+9.792
6. 88/Marchy LEE/Audi Hong Kong/+13.258
7. 8/Aditya PATEL/Team Audi R8 LMS Cup/+14.311
8. 18/Martin RUMP/Champion Racing Team/+15.432
9. 29/Akash NANDY/KCMG/+17.192
10. 43/Jan KISIEL/KCMG/+24.908
11. 11/Kyong-Ouk YOU/Team Audi Korea/+25.676
12. 7/Jeffrey LEE/Am/Team Audi Volkswagen Taiwan/+53.320
13. 55/Vincent FLOIRENDO/Am/EN Sport by Absolute/+1:07.931
14. 51/Johnson HUANG/Am/Absolute Racing/+1:08.336
15. 13/SUN Jing Zu/Am/Absolute Racing/+1:40.121

Round 6 – Results
1. 48/Edoardo MORTARA/Phoenix Racing Asia/26:59.948
2. 6/Alessio PICARIELLO/MGT Team by Absolute/+0.594
3. 66/Rahel FREY/Castrol Racing Team/+1.059
4. 88/Marchy LEE/Audi Hong Kong/+3.762
5. 99/CHENG Congfu (Franky)/FAW-VW Audi Racing Team/+4.539
6. 1/Alex YOONG/Audi TEDA Racing Team/+6.848

7. 18/Martin RUMP/Champion Racing Team/+7.113
8. 43/Jan KISIEL/KCMG/+11.200
9. 29/Akash NANDY/KCMG/+11.908
10. 11/Kyong-Ouk YOU/Team Audi Korea/+14.756
11. 7/Jeffrey LEE/Am/Team Audi Volkswagen Taiwan/+29.555
12. 8/Aditya PATEL/Team Audi R8 LMS Cup/+32.143
13. 51/Johnson HUANG/Am/Absolute Racing/+43.559
14. 55/Vincent FLOIRENDO/Am/EN Sport by Absolute/+1:02.117
15. 13/SUN Jing Zu/Am/Absolute Racing/+1:09.540

Am = Amateur Cup Competitor (New R8)

Overall classification after Round 6 – Top 10
1. Alex YOONG – 95
2. Alessio PICARIELLO – 95
3. Rahel FREY – 75
4. Martin RUMP – 71
5. Marchy LEE – 69
6. CHENG Congfu (Franky) – 50
7. Edoardo MORTARA – 44
8. Jan KISIEL – 37
9. Aditya PATEL – 26
10. Ryo OGAWA – 20

Am Cup classification after Round 6 – Top 3
1. Jeffrey LEE – 140
2. SUN Jing Zu – 85
3. Johnson HUANG – 77

Masters Cup classification after Round 6 – Top 3
1. Daniel BILSKI – 51
2. Chun Hua CHEN (Kevin) – 50
3. YOON Sanghwi (Rick) – 36

Team Cup classification after Round 6 – Top 3
1. Audi TEDA Racing Team – 95
2. MGT Team by Absolute – 95
3. Castrol Racing Team – 78

Race success ballast for Round 7:
1. Edoardo MORTARA: 50 kg
2. Alessio PICARIELLO: 35 kg
3. Rahel FREY: 20 kg

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Volvo Car Malaysia has announced that the Volvo V40 T5 Drive-E, XC60 T5 and XC60 T6 have received Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) status leading to a reduction in retail prices due to the accorded government incentives.

Below is a comparison of retail prices before and after the incentives:

The revised retail pricing came into effect on 12 August 2016.

Incentivising EEVs is an important part of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) which aims to encourage the establishment of Malaysia as a regional automotive hub for EEVs.

Volvo believes that the utilisation of a highly efficient internal combustion engine, producing more power output per cylinder whilst emitting lower emissions and consuming lesser fuel, will be the industry’s benchmark for achieving increasingly tougher global emissions target.

“Our award-winning Drive-E powertrains offer customers a world-class blend of outstanding power and lower fuel consumption which promises to bring efficient driving pleasure to a whole new level,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Volvo is working to advance its future vehicles as zero emission vehicles, starting with the development of its modular Drive-E engine and scalable platform architecture (SPA), both of which is ready for future electrification.

Stegland adds, “We fully support the government’s initiative under the NAP to encourage the use of EEVs in Malaysia as it will spur investments and development of green technologies from global automotive players into Malaysia.”

In its statement, Volvo Car Malaysia acknowledges the strong cooperation between the relevant government agencies such as the Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI), Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to ensure that all the requisites for the certification and incentives are met.

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It’s been barely a month since the launch of the Perodua Bezza sedan and the company has announced that bookings for the Bezza has reached 19,000 units. As of last Friday (12 August), Perodua had already delivered 6,000 of its first sedan to customers.

“We are very thankful to the Malaysian public for their support and for choosing us as their automotive brand of choice. We are now focusing our efforts on timely delivery of the Perodua Bezza to our valued customers,” Perodua President and CEO, Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

Thus far, the demand for the Perodua Bezza 1.3L Advance and Bezza 1.3L Premium variants are almost equal at 42% and 43% respectively, and just 15% for the 1.0L variants. This is expected as the Bezza is targeted at young/small families looking for an entry-level sedan; young singles have the option of the Axia or Myvi hatchbacks.

However, Datuk (Dr) Aminar also urged prospective buyers to try out the 1.0L variants as it presents good value-for-money yet isn’t deficient in power. The new 3-cylinder 1.0L engine produces 67 hp and 91 Nm and in a test drive on Perodua’s test track which mimics typical local road conditions i.e. slopes, high-speed stretches, tight corners, etc, the 1.0L variant did not feel underpowered (unless you are expecting sports-car performance) and drove at the highway speed limit with little issue. This is likely due to the lower overall weight (the 1.0L manual weighs in at just 865 kg). The company also claims the 1.0-litre engine can travel 22.8 km per liter of petrol with the manual transmission and 21.3 km/l for the automatic.

The Perodua Bezza is priced from RM37,300 for the 1.0L standard G (manual) to RM50,800 for 1.3L Advanced variant (automatic) and comes in 6 different colors, which include Sugar Brown and Ocean Blue for 1.3L variants, which are new metallic colors for Perodua. Perodua uses eco-friendly water based paint which also provides a better finish.

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SUBANG JAYA, 16 August 2016 – Place your booking now for the all-new Proton Persona and get the special offer of 3 years free service together with service parts. The all-new Proton Persona is due to be unveiled on 23 August 2016, but bookings are open as of today at all Proton Sales outlets.

The All-new Proton Persona is the second generation Persona, and replaces the Gen2-derived Persona sedan, and is reported to have a 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating across all variants – standard equipment will include active and passive safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System, Hill-hold Assist, ISOFIX and top tether, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as well as 6 airbags for the Premium variant to ensure optimal protection for both the driver and passengers.

The all-new Proton Persona is powered by a 1.6L VVT engine for better fuel economy and the first Proton car to have an ECO Drive Assist indicator. The interior is said to be spacious, with ergonomically designed seats and console layout, providing a comfortable ride for the driver and passengers. The all-new Persona also comes with 510 litres of luggage space without compromising cabin comfort.

The all-new Proton Persona sports a stylish look with eye-catching design from every vantage point such as its bold and attractive face, stylish headlamp with smart lighting as well as rear spoilers, all-round sensors, 15” alloy wheels as well as electric headlamp levelling. All these make the new car more refined, smooth and better value for money.

The indicative price for the all-new Proton Persona is from RM47,000 to RM61,000 in Peninsular Malaysia and from RM49,000 to RM63,000 in East Malaysia. Available in 3 variants – Standard, Executive and Premium (with and without body kit), the new Persona is available in six colours – Cotton White, Fire Red, Sterling Silver, Graphite Grey, Quartz Black and a new colour, Carnelian Brown.

“To make the launching of this all new Proton Persona more memorable to Persona customers and in tandem with our Independence and Malaysia months, we are offering a 3-year free service (parts and labour included) as the introductory offer for bookings made by 30 September 2016,”  said Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON.

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Ford Motor Co is really making the push for driverless cars, announcing that it aims to make fully autonomous cars available for sale by 2021. But if you’re a ‘first adopter’, don’t get your hopes up too high yet. According to Ford Chief Executive Officer, Mark Fields, the first autonomous cars will be used for ride hailing and ride sharing. Consumer versions will only be available after that; no timeline was revealed.

This move comes on the heels of General Motors’ purchase of Cruise Automation and its US$ 500 million investment in Lyft, a ride-hailing business earlier this year, as well as Volkswagen’s stake in Gett, a similar business in Europe.

This also comes after a fatal accident in May involving Tesla’s beta version of Autopilot. Despite this, the US Department of Transportation is expected to issue new guidelines for autonomous vehicles soon.

Though there is now pressure to deliver on its word, Ford is confident it can achieve its target of putting autonomous cars on the road. In its bid to meet the deadline, Ford is planning to double its staff strength to 300 and will be expanding its labs in Palo Alto, California.

Ford is also chipping in US$ 75 million to Velodyne LiDAR, Inc., a firm it has been working with on self-driving technology for some time; Chinese Internet behemoth, Baidu is putting in the same amount in Velodyne. Additionally, Ford has invested in Civil Maps, a company which utilizes artificial intelligence in digital map making; bought SAIPS, a computer vision company and entered into an exclusive agreement with Nirenberg Neuroscience to use its machine vision technology, which is claimed to have restored sight in the visually impaired.

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Now you can really get a big car (C-segment) for a small car (B-segment) price. TC Euro Cars, the local franchisee for Renault cars is offering a special price for the Renualt Fluence.

The promotional price of RM79,888 on the Renault Fluence (on-the-road inclusive of GST, without insurance, for Peninsular Malaysia and private registration), is applicable to limited units of 2016 year make display models and selected variants registered during the campaign period.  It appears that these units are showroom display units, but they are nevertheless new.

The Renault Fluence is a four-door sedan, and has big dimensions for a C-segment car, with a host of innovative features that make it a worthwhile buy even without any offers.

In case you missed it, the Renault Fluence’s 2.0L petrol engine that is mated to a CVT X-Tronic automatic is part of a well-proven power train that is also used in the Nissan Sylphy, bearing in mind that Nissan and Renault are from the same group of companies – in short, the Renault Fluence is actually a Renault with Nissan mechanicals.

In terms of performance, the Renault Fluence delivers maximum power of 143 PS at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 195Nm at 3,750 rpm.

Packed with innovations for added connectivity, convenience and ease-of-driving, the Fluence comes standard with the Renault R-LINK multimedia system and a 7-inch touch screen display with in-built navigation, USB connectivity and hands-free Bluetooth kit with music playback. For convenience, the Fluence also has hands-free entry and engine start, with automatic ‘walk away’ door locking.

Comprehensive all-round safety features include ABS with EBD and EBA, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) with ASR (traction control), six airbags (front, side and curtain), ISOFIX child seat anchors on the rear side seats, cruise control with speed limiter, as well as height adjustable 3-point front seatbelts with pretensioners. For security, the Fluence also has automatic door locking which operates at 10km/h and above.

The Renault Fluence also offers a premium interior and exceptional in-cabin spaciousness. The automatic climate control is complemented by rear air vents. Its boot space of 530 litres is one of the biggest in its class, which can be expanded with foldable rear seats that split 60:40.

As with all Renault mainstream vehicles, the Fluence comes with a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. This warranty is fully backed by Renault and not undertaken by any other insurance companies, which means terms and conditions as well as parts covered are consistent from the first year of ownership to the end of the warranty period.

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The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), an agency of the Ministry of International Trade & Industry serving to advance the local automotive industry, has launched a new advanced automotive technology center – the MAI Intelligent Technology Systems (MITS).

This first-of-its kind center in Malaysia aims to boost product design capabilities and innovation within the domestic automotive components and parts supply chain by filling the technological gap in the domestic automotive sector with software, hardware and technical consulting support for parts design and development.

MITS is designed to serve the entire domestic automotive parts and components supply chain targeting mainly Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies. It plays a key role in facilitating and helping these companies in their product design and development initiatives without the need to invest in expensive software, hardware and technical consulting services.

The system’s main hub is based in MAI’s headquarters in Cyberjaya. Altair Engineering Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altair Inc., a US-based simulation technology and engineering services company, is collaborating with MAI as the ‘simulation’ technology partner for MITS.

“In line with strategies laid out in the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014, it is important that the industry’s technological edge is strengthened, particularly in the key areas of engineering design, prototyping, product validation and process development. It is against this backdrop that MAI embarked on this innovative MITS lab project,” said MAI Chief Executive Office Dato’ Madani Sahari.

“This is a breakthrough project for local automotive parts suppliers and manufacturers to move up the product value chain, by adding local design and engineering into their present manufacturing base. This is vital in creating a competitive and sustainable intellectual property and talent pool eco-system to position Malaysia as an automotive hub for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs) in the region,” he added.

Altair, an MSC-status company, is the number one in engineering simulation in Southeast Asia region, providing both software and engineering consulting services. Altair has served the Malaysian market since 2012, providing a rich portfolio of advanced engineering software and on-demand computing technologies to industry and government clients.

As Altair Inc. Chief Operating Officer, Brett Chouinard, explains, “The Malaysian automotive sector is a growth engine for the nation’s economy. The next immediate challenge for automotive suppliers and companies in Malaysia is to move forward to emphasise product design and engineering works, not just manufacturing. Altair is delighted that MAI has chosen to implement our market-leading simulation solution in its inaugural MITS.”

“For the past 25 years, Altair has been working with auto OEMs and suppliers around the world to support them in their journey towards simulation-driven design. We look forward to sharing our expertise and experiences with the local auto parts players and help them to jump- start their innovation-driven design journey,” said Chouinard.

By applying simulation technologies upfront in the product design process, automotive design engineers will be able to develop innovative, weight-optimized products with better performance. It also allows them to validate design and optimize safety and durability parameters, while reducing design cycle times, bringing new products to the market quicker.

Altair’s HyperWorks Unlimited (HWUL) solution which is installed at MITS will form the backbone of the facility. Users will be able to undertake different simulation tests to validate their product design and engineering processes, including crash, electromagnetic, Noise-Vibration-Harshness (NVH) and manufacturing simulation, while working closely with Altair’s experts in light-weight engineering and composite.

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The all-new Toyota Sienta 7-seater compact MPV has been launched by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT). Placed between the Toyota Avanza and Toyota Innova, the Sienta comes in 2 variants – 1.5G and 1.5V, priced at RM 92,900 and RM 99,900 (on the road with insurance) respectively.

The youthfully styled MPV is aimed at urban families who seek a more premium and trendy looking car-based people carrier. Imported CBU from Indonesia, the Toyota Sienta is powered by a 1.5-liter DOHC petrol engine with Dual VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence). The engine is designed for fuel efficiency and is paired to a 7-ratio CVT (continuously variable transmission) with torque converter. The CVT includes a Sport Sequential Shiftmatic mode for manual gear selection. Maximum power output to the front wheels is 107 PS at 6,000 rpm, with 140 Nm of torque available at 4,200 rpm.

The Sienta uses rear sliding doors for easy entry to the 2nd and 3rd rows in tight spaces; the 1.5G has just 1 powered sliding door on the left. The powered sliding doors are anti-pinch and can be opened and closed from either the door handles, key fob or a button on the dashboard. Additionally, the left sliding door will not open when the fuel lid is open. Both rear rows are configured as 50:50 folding seats to increase seating and cargo flexibility. Air blower vents mounted on the roof serve to cool the rear.

Naturally, the higher priced 1.5V comes with more premium features and this includes acoustic windshield, Bi-LED headlamps with V-shaped positioning lamps that matches the rear V-shaped LED light guide (the headlamps have an automatic activation feature), 16″ alloy wheels with two-tone finish, leather-wrapped steering, Smart Entry & Start system, Optitron meters, climate control, digital video recorder, 4.2″ full color multi-information display, PUSPAKOM-certified premium security and solar film, DVD-AVX entertainment system which includes a 6.8″ touchscreen display, DVD player, Bluetooth, voice recognition and reverse camera.

On the other hand, the 1.5G is kitted with halogen projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, 15″ wheels, backlit meters and 2-DIN CD player with USB and Bluetooth. There is an option to upgrade both variants’ entertainment unit to a 7″ DVD-AVN system that comes with a 7″ capacitive touchscreen display with WiFi capability, internet browser, GPS navigation and smartphone connectivity to access apps.

While both variants carry different levels of equipment, they offer the same levels of safety equipment i.e. 3 airbags (2 front + driver’s knees), Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Hill-Start Assist Control and 4 disc brakes. There is also a rear fog lamp mounted low on the bumper.

There are 6 colors to pick – Orange Metallic, Super White II, Silver Metallic, Grey Metallic, Attitude Black Mica and Quartz Brown Metallic. Warranty is 5 years with no limit to mileage, subject to terms and conditions.

The Sienta will be available in Toyota showrooms by 26 August (Pen. Malaysia) and 2 September (East Malaysia). UMWT is currently running a road tour with the Sienta.

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