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After a year’s hiatus, Malaysian motorsports fans will be able to witness local motor racing with the start of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival. After some delay, Round 1 Season 4 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival will take place at the Sepang International Circuit from 27 – 28 March 2021.

The first Vios Challenge race of the season however, will be a closed-door event. The festival will be conforming to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will operate in a sports bubble as a health and safety precaution. Racing fans however, will be able to catch the live stream of this racing carnival.

Toyota Gazoo Racing_Vios_YarisThe Vios Challenge will consist of four classes of racing which includes the inaugural running of the Rookie Class featuring six new graduates of the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Program who are stepping up from karting and simulator to racing in a saloon car for their very first time. The Promotional Class will field local celebrities, three of whom are new faces; while the Sporting Class for charging amateur drivers; and the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers.

The two-day festival is being planned as the biggest live streaming racing carnival in Malaysia. As a meticulously-curated live streamed event, viewers will get front row seats at the Vios Challenge race weekend. The live stream will showcase three qualifying sessions, six exciting individual races, pit lane insights, interviews with racers, a celebrity-studded performance and other exciting content. There will also be opportunities to win attractive prizes.

“It’s exciting to be back racing, but as much as we would like to immediately open our doors to race fans for them to be on site, the threat of the pandemic has offered up a new and perhaps an even more promising way of enabling millions of race fans to catch the action on and off the track during the race weekend via live streaming and in the comfort and safety of their homes,” said UMW Toyota Deputy Chairman and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer Akio Takeyama.

Shukri Yahaya
Akio Takeyama with Shukri Yahaya

“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival has primarily been about bringing motorsports to the masses – this focus has not changed – and to a great extent, we have successfully accomplished this by bringing the races to so many different locations since 2017. The opportunity to live stream the carnival and an entire race weekend would mean reaching out to an even larger and wider audience, including racing fans outside of Malaysia. The challenge before us today is to bring the energy and atmosphere of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival online.”

In the Promotional Class, actor Shukri Yahaya will lead the star-studded line-up and will be joined by actress Janna Nick, presenter Nabil Ahmad and singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar. They will be joined by three newcomers, actor Zizan Razak, singer/song writer Talitha Tan and television personality Ahirene Ahirudin.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival_Vios Challenge_Promotional Class_Shawn LeeLast season’s Promotional Class champion Shawn Lee meanwhile, makes his fourth consecutive season appearance but this time rejoining as a privateer in the Sporting Class for amateur drivers after earning a class promotion. It will be Lee’s second stint in the competitive class having won the Promotional Class in Season 1, moving up to Sporting Class in Season 2 and returning to win his second Promotional Class title in Season 3.

Toyota Gazoo Racing_Vios Challenge_Penang_Tengku DjanNames to look out for include last season’s runner-up and Dream Chaser driver Bradley Benedict Anthony, Season 3’s second runner-up Haji Sutan Mustaffa, and a long list of race winners and podium contenders who include Kenneth Koh, Adam Khalid, Dato’ Dr Ken Foo, Lim Chun Beng, Tom Goh, Mirza Syahmi and Dannies Ng.

Meanwhile, the Sporting Class will field a total of 19 drivers gunning for the prospect of being crowned the new champion in Season 4. In the intensely competitive Super Sporting Class, two-time Vios Challenge champion and recently minted TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley returns to the grid to defend his title.

Toyota Gazoo Racing_Vios Challenge_Boy WongLast season’s Sporting Class champion and the youngest ever winner of the Vios Challenge, 16 year-old Hayden Haikal meanwhile, has also earned a promotion into the Super Sporting Class and the chance to prove himself worthy against a grid of 11 professional racers.

Other contenders in the class to look out for will be Season 2 champion Boy Wong, last season’s runner-up Mark Darwin, last season’s second runner-up Freddie Ang, and big names the likes of accomplished racers William Ho, Kenny Lee, Keifli Othman, Syafiq Ali and former Sporting Class champion Brendan Paul Anthony.

Also sharing the grid with the professionals but classified in a separate class of their own will be the six new young drivers in the Rookie Class. They are simulator racers Mika Hakimi, 17 and Naquib Azlan, 20; and karters Amer Harris, 17; Jwan Hii, 18; Putera Adam, 14; and Troy Eimann, 16.

UMW Toyota Motor_Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Program_Vios Challenge“This (the Rookie Class) is another exciting new element in Season 4, and something that all of us at Toyota are looking forward to seeing. It is the result of several months of training and you will be surprised at how well these young drivers have adapted to saloon car racing. This is another small way of giving back to the racing community in Malaysia, opening the door for talented drivers to progress up the racing ladder,” said Takeyama.

Overall, Season 4 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival will feature three unique racing series throughout the year, offering 11 spectacular races. The season ahead will be anchored by the three rounds and a total of six races in the Vios Challenge.

And for the first time, GAZOO Racing will also make its presence felt in the national racing series with the introduction of the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup which will see two rounds and a total of 4 races being held, and the GAZOO Racing Enduro Cup that will be run in conjunction with the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race.

All the action of Round 1 will be broadcast live on the UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd websites: toyota.com.my and toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/ as well as on the Toyota Malaysia and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

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Peugeot, the world’s oldest surviving automotive brand, has unveiled a new brand identity with the launch of a new logo. This new logo is a coat of arms adorned with a lion’s head, and reaffirms its personality and character as well as represents a new page in its history.

PEUGEOT_NEW LOGO_BLACKCreated by the Peugeot Design Lab, the latest logo is the company’s 11th since 1850, all of which feature a lion. This is the first logo change since 2010 and signifies the brand’s intention to be more upmarket. Over the last 10 years, the entire product range had been moving upmarket. In the last few years, Peugeot had received awards for  “International Van of the year” (Peugeot e-Expert in 2021 and Partner in 2019), and “Car Of The Year” on the road (PEUGEOT 308 in 2014, PEUGEOT 3008 in 2017 and PEUGEOT 208, 2020).

Peugeot is now part of the larger Stellantis group which is the new entity containing brands from Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrsyler Automobiles. This move upmarket and in value is now being perfected by work on the design of the brand itself. The reinvention of the coat of arms is meant to show a more timeless, elegant and recognisable identity. It is a modern interpretation of its logo used in the 1960s, the first time only the head of the lion was used.

This new coat of arms opens the way to a brand ecosystem that is not limited to just its visual identity. It carries within it a deeper change i.e. a shift in stance; a new state of mind; a new lifestyle. Peugeot’s objective is to offer its current and future customers a quality brand that meets their requirements.

With this new change, vehicles, dealerships, associated products, websites, communications, signages, and all points of contact with the brand will be updated to become a more coherent and cross-functional system.

PEUGEOT_DEALERSHIP_DESIGN CONCEPTFor the dealership, it will be a place for an even more human, even more visual and even more educational experience. The objective is to experience the acceleration of the energy transition in concrete terms, to discover new mobility options and new technologies. As for the website, it is now part of an “online dealership” experience, becoming “selling online native”, to complement the dealerships.

Simple, effective, intuitive, immersive, highly visual, dynamic and business-oriented, it offers a perfectly fluid sales experience. Its features allow you to do everything that you would normally do at the point of sale, but online: discovery, configuration, sale, contracts, financing, trade-in, etc.

Furthermore, because the Peugeot brand experience is not limited to the dealership or website, the brand is launching a new lifestyle collection featuring simple, attractive and quality clothing, leather goods, fashion accessories, electronic accessories, tableware, stationery, packaging, and miniatures, among others.

PEUGEOT_LIONSOF OUR TIMEPeugeot will also embark on an international branding campaign – The Lions Of Our Time, to increase engagement with its current and future customers. The brand campaign aims to empower people to own their most valuable asset i.e. their time. The brand aims at turning time into quality time, an enriching experience. As an innovative high-end generalist brand, Peugeot proposes an un-boring experience both online, onboard vehicles and in its dealerships.

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PROTON’s market share in February 2021 has been the company’s highest ever since September 2013 – that’s almost eight years ago. Its February deliveries amounted to 11,873 units (a combination of domestic and export sales) and puts the brand at an estimated market share of 27.1%. Whether export sales should be included is up for debate, but nonetheless, these are still vehicles sold by the company.

Proton_ShowroomRegardless, its February achievement is still nearly double that of January 2021 (5,964 vehicles), despite it being a short month, and with a festive holiday to boot. Compared to the same month in 2020, volume has grown by 19.9%. However, total sales for the first two months of 2021 still lags slightly to last year, by 643 cars (3.5%).

From its vehicle portfolio, the Proton Saga still leads the sales charge. About 4,217 of this popular A-segment sedan was sold in February, mainly due to its practical form and pricing. The Saga is also the first Proton to be sold in Kenya, where it is assembled by PROTON’s partner, Simba Corporation.

Proton X50_1.5 TGDi FlagshipMeanwhile, the Proton X50, which was launched in October 2020, saw 3,345 units delivered to owners last month. Response thus far from Malaysians has been overwhelming with over 30,000 bookings collected before the end of 2020. However, deliveries were delayed subsequent to launch due to the production schedule as well as the focus on build quality. So far, PROTON has delivered 8,141 X50s.

Other models such as the Persona (1,818 units), Exora (361 units) and X70 (1,475 units) continue to lead their respective segments.

En Roslan Abdullah_CEO_Proton Edar“February continued to be a difficult month for Malaysia’s automotive industry but it turned out very well for PROTON. Thanks to the efforts of the government to ensure a continuation of economic activity during the MCO, we were able to produce more cars and in so doing started to clear our backlog of orders. This is important as we need to consistently deliver on the bookings made to avoid a rush before the PENJANA incentives expire at the end of June this year,” said Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.

“The automotive sector continues to be vibrant with exciting new model launches sure to spark consumer interest and create healthy competition amongst PROTON and other brands, but we will continue to be cautious even as we push forward to avoid infection rates flaring up again and disrupting operations,” he added.

Proton Iriz R3_Quarter FrontAlso in February, PROTON launched four Special Edition models. The Proton Persona and Exora Black Edition as well as the Proton Saga and Iriz R3 Limited Edition were unveiled online and are available in limited numbers. As of 26 February 2021, about 1,169 bookings have been placed from a total production run of 3,500 units.

For 2021, PROTON will focus on improving its aftersales value chain in order to deliver a more premium brand experience to owners. PROTON’s 10-year strategy for success requires the company to completely overhaul several operational areas. One of its most immediate tasks was to improve product quality. PROTON thus far have been able to bring its quality scores to the point of almost matching that of its partner, Geely.

Concurrently, it also had to work on its distribution network. The company now has the most 3S / 4S facilities in the industry and has moved its focus to a wholesale rather than consumer driven business. These measures have been effective with PROTON posting some of the highest sales growth numbers for the industry over the last two years.

“PROTON admits that some aspects of our business have not been able to keep up with our recent successes. While we have dramatically moved forwards in product quality, brand image and the technology offered in our cars, our after sales service has not made the same leap. This situation was exacerbated in 2020 by firstly COVID-19 and then our decision to invest in a completely new back-end ordering and delivery system.

“As a result, we have experienced integration issues and customers requiring accident repairs as well as regular servicing have faced delays. We are working on these issues around the clock to overcome them in the shortest time possible but for now I urge all Proton owners facing delays to please contact our customer care hotline at 1-800-88-8398,” added Roslan Abdullah.

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The Petron ‘FuelSyok’ contest is on to reward lucky customers a year’s worth of free fuel. This contest is held by Petron in collaboration with its dealers to reward 180 lucky customers with free fuel for one year, equivalent to 150,000 Petron Miles points.

Each lucky winner will receive 150,000 Petron Miles points over a period of one year, while another 1,500 customers will win a monthly consolation prize of 3,000 Petron Miles points. Each of the participating Petron stations is guaranteed to have at least one winner from the 1,680 names that will be drawn.

Petron_Station_Fuel Pump_Payment Counter“We are constantly thinking of ways to ease some of the burdens of our customers given that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. We hope that through this promo, we can make life somewhat easier by giving them one less thing to worry about,” said Abdullah Adil Bin Mohd Akhir, dealer of Petron NKVE KL-bound station.

“This is also our way of saying thank you for their support and loyalty throughout the years,” added dealer, Noraini bt Daud from Petron Kuchai Lama.

Petron customers will earn an automatic entry with every cumulative fuel purchase of RM50 using their Petron Miles card. This campaign will end on 31 July 2021.

Petron Miles CardChoong Kum Choy, Petron Head of Retail and Commercial Business said this initiative is focused on helping the communities where Petron is part of. “We are proud to partner with our dealers on this initiative to help our customers during this time,” he said.

For more information, visit www.petronmiles.com.my or Petron’s social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is currently offering special deals on the Passat range as well as on Repair Packages for older vehicles. These sales and aftersales promotions are aimed to offer VW fans and owners greater savings.

The New Volkswagen Passat Elegance_Rear View_VWThe deals on the Volkswagen Passat Elegance and Passat R-Line have been extended; you will get to enjoy 1-year free insurance worth RM5,500 and 1-year free petrol rebate worth RM2,500. If you place a booking via the Volkswagen eShowroom, you will enjoy an additional RM3,500 online rebate, bringing the total savings to RM11,500.

The VW Passat Elegance and its sportier sibling, the Passat R-Line comes with a 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine paired with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) to produce 190 PS and 320 Nm of
torque.

Volkswagen Passat R-Line_LED Headlights_Front Grille_BumperThe top-of-the-range Passat R-Line also comes with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) and other hi-tech features for a dynamic driving experience. With the current sales tax exemption, the Passat Elegance is priced at RM181,856 and the Passat R-Line at RM203,411.

 

 

Volkswagen_Repair PackagesIn addition to that, those who own Volkswagen vehicles older than five years can continue to take advantage of the Repair Packages specials on parts such as front absorbers, rear absorbers, front and rear brake discs, and from this month onwards – front and rear wheel bearings, and timing belt as well. The parts and labour on selected models also come with a 30% discount and 2-year warranty for added peace of mind.

For more assurance, only 100% Volkswagen genuine parts are used. Further, other relevant components such as nuts and bolts are replaced as part of the cost to ensure better performance and safety. The repair works are carried out by trained Volkswagen technicians and in accordance to global standards with approved Volkswagen tools.

The list of total savings according to the parts are:

Volkswagen_Aftersales_Repair PackagesVolkswagen Cares AppFor aftersales care, Volkswagen owners are required to download the Volkswagen Cares mobile app to be eligible, and in order to receive their item e-vouchers to be presented at any Volkswagen authorised service centre.

You can book your service appointments online via desktop or mobile by selecting your preferred dealership, date and time and by providing your vehicle details. Free pick-up and delivery services are available upon request.

All Volkswagen dealerships nationwide follow strict guidelines under the Volkswagen #SafeHands initiative, with stringent hygiene processes in place including the sanitising of premises and key touchpoints, proper safety screenings, contactless vehicle acceptance and sanitisation of all display and test drive units.

For more information, visit www.volkswagen.com.my

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All-New BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence_SideBMW Group Malaysia has introduced the locally assembled all-new BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence variant to stir up the the premium segment and reaffirm their investments in the local automotive landscape.

In the past year, the brand had introduced several high profile locally assembled vehicles including the BMW 218i Gran Coupé, BMW 330e M Sport, and BMW M340i xDrive. The move to localise the assembly of the largest model in the BMW X range is to reinforce the premium automaker’s longstanding confidence in Malaysia as a potential regional hub for the luxury automobile segment.

BMW Group Malaysia_X7_430i Coupe“The Story of Progressive Luxury is one of the many guiding pillars that continues to serve as an anchor in times of disruption and compass in times of uncertainty for the BMW brand. In 2020, we looked towards innovative local entrepreneurs as inspiration in redefining the meaning of luxury in such an unprecedented era. The All-New BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is testament to our continued support for the local automotive landscape, as we welcome the luxury Sports Activity Vehicle to our portfolio of locally assembled vehicles in Malaysia,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

The 7-seater BMW X7 Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) sits at the top of the premium executive hierarchy and thus cuts a very upscale feel. Its interior features the opulent “Crafted Clarity” handmade diamond-cut trim element, complemented by the expansive Panorama Roof Sky Lounge that further enhances cabin spaciousness.

The range of standard equipment includes a sport leather steering wheel, electrically adjustable comfort seats with active seat ventilation in front, BMW Head-Up Display, Welcome Light Carpet feature, electric roller blinds for side windows and five-zone air-conditioning.

Additionally, this locally assembled variant is fitted with the Rear Entertainment Professional system, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Operating System 7.0 combines the fully digital, user-configurable 12.3″ instrument cluster with an equally large central Control Display with touchscreen functionality. This variant also comes with the voice-controlled BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Gesture Control.

In terms of driving technology, the BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is equipped with the BMW Personal CoPilot that includes Parking Assistant Plus with automatic manoeuvring in and out of parallel parking spaces, and Reversing Assistant to assist in safely manoeuvring out of a tight parking space.

The Driving Assistant has been outfitted with a comprehensive range of functions, tailored to allow full ease of mind. Functions include Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning and Front Collision Warning with brake intervention. Additional functions include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Integral Active Steering. Other innovative standard features include the BMW Digital Key, wireless charging for mobile phones, as well as smartphone integration.

The BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence retains its iconic bold and immaculate design. The massive front end with the imposing kidney grille gives it exceptional road presence. Armed with slender BMW Laserlight headlights, illumination reaches up to 600 metres ahead. High beam assistant and LED fog lights are also standard for this SAV.

Its luggage compartment is accessed via a fully electric split tailgate with Comfort Access feature. The 325-litre cargo area can be expanded up to 2,120 litres with the backrests folded down, offering a versatile space. The X7’s stately looks is rounded out with soft-close function for its doors, 21″ light alloy wheels in Y-spoke style 753 Bicolour with run-flat tyres, and two large rectangular tailpipes.

At the opposite end of the tailpipes lies the powerful six-cylinder in-line petrol engine capable of producing 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque. This power is channelled to all four wheels via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and enables the X7 to do the century sprint in 6.1 seconds. The X7 is rated with an average combined fuel consumption of 9.5l/100km and a combined carbon emission of 218g/km.

The xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system of the luxury SAV maximises traction, agility and handling stability which links up with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) feature. Included in the sophisticated chassis design of the variant is a two-axle air suspension. With the DSC system, the vehicle load registered by the air suspension sensors can also be factored into braking modulation.

Just like the imported variant, the locally assembled X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is offered with the innovative Executive Drive Pro with active roll stabilisation. Ride comfort is further enhanced by the Dynamic Damper Control system, which is able to process data from the navigation system and front camera.

BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence_RearThe BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is offered in five exterior colours with selected interior theme combinations. The exterior colours of Black Sapphire and Sophisto Grey come in Cognac Leather Vernasca upholstery with Black design perforations; while Phytonic Blue and Manhattan Metallic exteriors come complete with an all-Black design-perforated Leather Vernasca interior. Lastly, Leather Vernasca in Coffee with Black design perforations comes exclusively with the Mineral White model.

The X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence does not yet have a confirmed price but it is estimated to be about RM708,000 (on the road, without insurance), with the current Sales Tax Exemption.

You can also opt for the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia. Financing plans are available from a monthly instalment of RM7,848, based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure.

Owners of the all-new BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence will receive the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:

  • BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
  • BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
  • The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card
  • BMW Service Online

The X7 is now also available at BMW Shop Online (https://shop.bmw.com.my/).

 

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BMW Group Malaysia has launched the sleek all-new BMW 430i Coupe M Sport, featuring the kidney grille that got conversations going. This, however, isn’t the first time BMW had a grille this prominent. The kidney grille on the BMW 430i Coupe is actually a homage to historic icons such as the BMW 328, but reinterpreted for a sporty, contemporary coupe form.

BMW 430i Coupe M Sport_Harald Hoelzl“The introduction of the All-New BMW 4 Series Coupé to the Malaysian market further expands and diversifies our local portfolio. This is in line with our mission to empower our customers to exercise their power of choice, to take pride in choosing a BMW that best embodies their individuality. By diversifying our offerings, we are confident that there will be a right BMW for every one of our loyal customers and fans out there,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

He added, “The reimagination of the ‘4’ also presents exciting new grounds in the realm of design on which to thread upon. By revisiting and taking inspiration from iconic BMW designs in the past, we are exploring possibilities of how design elements and styles could be given a new lease of life in a contemporary BMW vehicle. The All-New BMW 4 Series is the manifestation of that inquisitiveness that has helped spur us ever-forward in the field of design.”

The BMW 430i Coupe M Sport has a low nose dominated by the more vertical kidney grilles. Angled forward, the kidney grilles extend down almost to the lower edge of the front apron. The kidney grilles, in high gloss chrome, feature a mesh design with floating horizontal nuggets in matte aluminium that form a honeycomb pattern. Together with the large air intake curtains, the grilles accentuate the width of the front.

Compared to its predecessor, the all-new BMW 430i Coupe M Sport’s dimensions measure slightly larger i.e. 4,768 mm in length (+130), 1,852 mm in width (+27), 1,383 mm in height (+6), and 2,851 mm in wheelbase (+41).

The design language of the 430i Coupe utilises techniques in proportions and minimal number of lines to accentuate its athletic stature, combining it with the aerodynamics and sporting elegance typical of a BMW coupe.

Its dynamic and elongated side profile is expressed by the short overhangs and the longest coupe doors to be found on any BMW. The coupe rides on 19″ M light alloy wheels in Double-spoke style 797 M Bicolour with mixed sized runflat tyres, complemented by M Sport brakes with blue painted brake callipers.

Further, the BMW 430i Coupe M Sport wears the M Aerodynamics Package, BMW Laserlights with High-beam Assistant, LED fog lights, and the BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line.

On the inside, the 430i Coupe cockpit is designed with the sporty driver in mind. Standard equipment includes sport seats for the driver and passenger, M leather steering wheel, M-specific pedals, Leather Vernasca upholstery, and BMW Individual Anthracite headliner, complete with Aluminium Tetragon interior trim finisher and Pearl Chrome highlight trim finisher. M-specific stripes adorn the safety belts for both front and rear seats for an extra touch of sportiness.

Amplifying the sporty ambience is a high centre console to create separate zones for the driver and front passenger. The dashboard features a sharp and clean design. The driver benefits from the seamless integration of the instrument cluster and Control Display that form a large workspace, displaying essential information in an easily accessible manner. Additionally, the instrument panel is complete in Sensatec. Multi-function buttons for the steering wheel, additional storage compartment with the front armrest, and electric seat adjustment with memory function for the driver provide functional touches that complete the driving experience.

The controls in the 430i Coupe M Sport are arranged in clearly defined functional clusters, allowing for ample room to showcase lavish surfaces and exclusive materials. The 430i Coupe M Sport features BMW Live Cockpit Professional with a fully digital 12.3” instrument display along with BMW Navigation System Professional with a 10.25” touch sensitive display. In-car entertainment features a 16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and extended functionality for Bluetooth and USB devices with wireless charging.

Coming standard with the car is BMW’s Connected Package Professional which includes Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices, and Intelligent Personal Assistant. The BMW Operating System 7 has customisable widgets for the control display, with real-time display of desired information. Further, Remote Software Upgrade ensures timely software updates, enabling drivers to access new vehicle functions that can be retrofitted seamlessly via over-the-air updates.

To ensure unhindered clarity on the road at all times, the exterior mirrors on the driver’s side are equipped with automatic anti-dazzle function and include fold-in functionality. The interior rear-view mirror too is fitted with an automatic anti-dazzle function. Visibility in the rain is aided by a rain sensor that automates  control for the windscreen wipers and driving lights.

Visually enhancing the interior ambience are the welcome light carpet and ambient light with 11 predefined lighting designs. The automatic 3-zone air conditioning emphasises the luxury-focus of this coupe. The rear seats provide passengers with the sporty seating experience of a coupe, while still providing ample headspace. The 40:20:40 split folding of the rear backrests allow for a convenient through-loading, further expanding and providing access to the 440-litre luggage compartment.

The BMW 430i Coupe M Sport is powered by the 2.0L BMW TwinTurbo 4-cylinder petrol engine, which combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with Valvetronic, Double VANOS and High-Precision Injection. Its maximum output of 258 hp and 400 Nm of torque enables the car to do the 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

Engine power is transmitted to the wheels via an upgraded 8-speed Steptronic Sport Transmission. The updated gearbox features improved efficiency, providing an average fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 km, and CO2 emissions of 151 grams per kilometre. Optimised dynamics is achieved through enhanced ride and shift comfort, along with shorter shift times.

BMW 430i Coupe M Sport_FrontThe car’s agile handling is aided by advanced control systems. The ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation) enables significantly faster and more sensitive wheel slip control. Further supplementing the sporty driving dynamics are the M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and Variable Sport Steering.

Additionally, the car comes standard with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist.

In addition to Speed Limit Assist, Cross-traffic Warning, Rear Collision Prevention, and Approach Control Warning, the 430i Coupe M Sport is equipped with the Driving Assistant Package which includes features such as Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, and Front Collision Warning with brake intervention.

There is also the helpful Parking Assistant with rear-view camera and Reversing Assistant, which continuously records the last 50 metres of driving (when driven slowly, at speeds of up to 35 km/h) and automatically reverses back the exact same way if requested, allowing for effortless navigation out of parking spots or tight spaces.

The BMW 430i Coupe M Sport has a retail price of RM454,800. And you can book it online at https://shop.bmw.com.my/ for just RM1,000.

You can also opt for the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia that will allow you to own the BMW 430i Coupe M Sport with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM5,048 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

The BMW 430i Coupe M Sport is available in Arctic Race Blue Metallic, Portimao Blue, Alpine White, and Black Sapphire. Leather Vernasca upholstery with black décor stitching decorates the interior and comes in either Black, Tacora Red or Cognac.

Owners of the all-new BMW 430i Coupe M Sport will receive the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:

  • BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
  • BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
  • The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card
  • BMW Service Online

 

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In 2019, Honda Malaysia celebrated its 900,000th unit sales record. And now in 2021, it is set to reach its 1 millionth sales milestone. To show its appreciation to Malaysians for their support, Honda has launched its “1 Million Dreams Campaign”, and will be giving away seven special edition cars to commemorate this.

The seven Honda Special Edition models to be given away in the “1 Million Dreams Campaign” are specially designed with unique features, making it a one-of-a-kind model in Malaysia. The cars feature a Dual Tone Exterior, Front Fascia with Red Highlights, Sporty Red Line Side Mirrors, Black Painted Alloy Wheels with Red Highlights as well as the 1 Million Dreams Signature Emblem on both front fenders of the cars. On the inside, the Special Edition cars are fitted with 1 Million Dreams Embossed Leather Headrest for both driver and front passenger seats, as well as Leather Steering Wheel with Red Stitching and Center Mark. Each 1 Million Dreams Special Edition model also comes with a Special Edition Leather Key Pouch.

“Over the last 20 years, Honda Malaysia continuously embrace the ‘Challenging Spirit’. This led to the introduction of many models that suit the different lifestyles of customers as well as advanced technologies for Malaysians. The “1 Million Dreams Campaign” is an initiative for us to say thank you to our customers as it is their strong support that has enabled us to come a long way and experience this inspiring journey. As our heartfelt appreciation, we are giving away seven Special Edition models, namely the Jazz, All-New City, BR-V, HR-V, Civic, New CR-V and Accord. The campaign runs from 25th February to 24th March 2021, with a variety of exciting activities in store for Malaysians. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to members of the media for their ongoing support and honest reviews of Honda products as well as our dealer partners for their strong commitment to uphold the Honda brand. We would also like to thank the Malaysian government for their continuous support throughout the years as well as introducing the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) during the pandemic, this provides substantial support to the automotive industry,” said Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Toichi Ishiyama.

Meanwhile, Honda Malaysia President and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sarly Adle Sarkum said, “Honda Malaysia has arranged numerous exciting activities in this “1 Million Dreams Campaign” such as nationwide showroom activities and a 1 Million Dreams Exhibition. We are also delighted to have special collaborations with our brand partners – CUCKOO, Shopee and Watsons. In addition, we want to express our appreciation to all the frontliners for their hard work and dedication. Hence, we allocated one of the seven Special Edition cars specially for them to win through this campaign. On top of the seven Special Edition cars, we have prizes worth 1 Million Shopee coins to be given out to 150 lucky winners on a weekly basis, and throughout the campaign we have prizes worth 5 Million Shopee coins.”

Honda 1 Million Dreams Campaign_ContestMalaysians stand a chance to win these seven Special Edition models by completing a few easy steps to participate in the contest. Participants can take part in any of the six activities prepared by Honda Malaysia to earn as many entries as they can and submit the entries at Honda authorised dealers or via Honda Malaysia’s official website.

You can collect the entries by downloading and signing up for the HondaTouch application, playing the 1 Million Dreams Quiz Game1 in Honda Malaysia’s official website, test driving a Honda car, booking a new Honda car, servicing or repairing a Honda car, or registering a new Honda car within the “1 Million Dreams Campaign” period. The more entries collected, the higher the chance of winning one of the Special Edition cars.

Partners supporting this campaign include CUCKOO, Shopee, and Watsons. “Sharing our passion as a Healthy Home Creator to constantly bring value and enhancing the lives of all Malaysians, we are proud to be partnering with Honda Malaysia through their “1 Million Dreams Campaign”. Through this collaboration, we will be offering our customers and fans who purchase any of our selected Beyond Standards CUCKOO, or our newly launched and astoundingly comfortable A-Series Mattresses in March, a chance to drive home a Honda car. We welcome all our CUCKOO customers and fans to grab this opportunity to complete their dream homes with us,” said CUCKOO International Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hoe Kian Choon.

Honda 1 Million Dreams Campaign_MalaysiaShopee’s Regional Managing Director, Mr. Ian Ho said, “We are honoured to be partnering Honda Malaysia for their “1 Million Dreams Campaign” – a celebration of having sold one million units of their vehicles here in Malaysia. Apart from Honda Malaysia showing its appreciation to its customers for their trust in the brand, this partnership speaks volumes of Honda’s digitalisation journey whilst giving us the chance to help it gain further success through e-commerce. Needless to say, we are excited to be giving away a special edition Honda HR-V on Shopee and be part of making a dream come true for that one lucky user. To be eligible, play the Shopee Lucky Prize on the App – it is that easy. Here’s to many more milestones to come and we look forward to driving meaningful experiences with Honda Malaysia.”

While Ms. Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons Malaysia said, “Congratulations to Honda Malaysia for the remarkable achievement! We are glad to be part of the “1 Million Dreams Campaign” to commemorate this milestone with Honda Malaysia. In this campaign, we have put together an exclusive contest for our loyalty members to stand a chance of winning the special edition models – the all-rounder BR-V. Watsons members can participate in the contest by spending more than RM50 in a single receipt at any Watsons store or online. I encourage all our members to grab this opportunity to join this contest.”

Honda Malaysia will announce the lucky winners of the Special Edition cars at the Grand Finale scheduled for March 2021.

HondaTouch App_Malaysia“This year, Honda Malaysia is set to excite the Malaysian market. In the era of digitalisation where its development and uptake are further accelerated by the new normal, Honda Malaysia strives to provide a comprehensive digital platform for its customers by enhancing its HondaTouch application and digital pre-booking platform,” added Mr. Ishiyama. Honda Malaysia also believes that the extension of the vehicle sales tax exemption period until 30 June 2021 will give a much-needed boost to the nation’s economic recovery.

In 2020, Honda Malaysia launched five new models i.e. Civic, Accord, BR-V and City, and the CR-V. We got to witness the world premiere of the City RS e:HEV variant as well. The new models made important contributions to Honda Malaysia’s sales record last year, helping the company to maintain its strong sales momentum with more than 60,460 units sold even in a challenging economic climate. The best-selling model in 2020 is the City, making up 34% of the total sales. 2020’s sales record is also attributed to the Civic and HR-V at 20% and 17% respectively. The encouraging sales performance has enabled Honda Malaysia to maintain its position as the No. 1 car brand in the Non-National segment for the sixth consecutive year.

For more information on the “1 Million Dreams Campaign”, you can visit the campaign’s website: www.honda.com.my/1milliondreams/ or any of the 102 Honda authorised dealerships nationwide. You can also call Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or visit www.honda.com.my.

1 The 1 Million Dreams Quiz Game will be released soon. Stay tuned to Honda Malaysia’s Facebook page or official website for more information.

“1 Million Dreams Campaign” Activities – Terms and Conditions Apply

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The locally assembled Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 R-Design has been launched in Malaysia, and now completes the Swedish brand’s offering here of a full range of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. With the introduction of the Volvo XC40 Recharge, Volvo has become the first and only automotive brand in Malaysia to offer a full range of CKD (completely knocked down) plug-in hybrids. This brings it a step closer to its ambition of reducing carbon emissions per car by 40%.Volvo XC40_Crossover_Side View

The Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 sits on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, and is powered by Volvo’s first-ever 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder Drive-E engine. This is essentially the same engine as that used by the Proton X50 SUV, but with the addition of an electric motor mounted to its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to drive the front wheels.

The combined output of this hybrid system is 262 hp and 425 Nm, with 160 Nm of torque and a maximum power of 82 hp generated by the electric motor to give a boost of instant acceleration. The XC40 Recharge T5 is capable of a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds and top speed is capped at 180km/h following the company’s announcement in March 2020.

Volvo_PHEV_Drive Mode Menu_TouchscreenFor the eco-conscious, the twin engine setup also promises a more sustainable drive, with CO2 emissions of just 50 grams per kilometre, without sacrificing the luxury and performance of a Volvo. The driving set-up offers five different drive modes for a more tailored driving experience i.e. Hybrid (default), Pure, Off-road, Power and Individual.

Some of the technology included in the XC40 Recharge T5 are safety and driver assistance features such as the Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road Protection and Mitigation, and Cross Traffic Alert with brake support. These features combine to increase driving confidence and safety.

“We are excited that we can finally offer one of our most successful SUVs as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and thus completing our full line-up of PHEVs. The launch of the XC40 Recharge T5 is a sign of greener times ahead as we continue to strive towards a more sustainable future and do our part to not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also help our customers reduce theirs as well,” said Nalin Jain, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.

The Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 variant wears the stylish R-Design trim, and is near identical to the petrol driven XC40 variant. The storage areas in the cabin have been designed to provide drivers with more functional storage space in the doors, including retractable hooks for hanging items (like teh ais ikat tepi).

“The fundamentals surrounding safety, design and performance are the same for this model as with any other Volvo. Through the dedication of our team, we are confident that this car checks all the right boxes to provide an enjoyable driving experience. At the same time, we hope that the launch of XC40 Recharge T5 will provide a more sustainable choice for Malaysians and spur everyone to think about taking active steps in sustainability together, so we can recharge our environment and the future,” added Nalin.

Made by Sweden, and assembled in Malaysia’s first automotive assembly plant, the XC40 Recharge T5 has a retail price of RM255,888. However, with the current sales tax exemption until 30 June 2021, the price has reduced to RM241,997.04 (on the road without insurance). Body colour choices include Blackstone, Crystal White Pearl, Bursting Blue Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic and Coral Red Metallic.

The new XC40 Recharge T5 is available for viewing at any authorised Volvo showroom. Or if you prefer not to leave your home, you can visit www.volvocars.com/my.

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Michelin VISION_Tyre ConceptRiding on its VISION concept tyre that it introduced in 2017, the Michelin Group has made a commitment to a future where its tyres are 100% sustainable. The VISION is an integrated wheel and tyre concept that is airless, connected, rechargeable and sustainable.

Michelin aims to achieve this sustainability goal by 2050. Currently, about 28% of the materials used in the manufacture of tyres produced by the Michelin Group are made from natural, recycled or sustainable raw materials.

Michelin Agilis 3_Tyre_Cross SectionA Michelin tyre is made from more than 200 ingredients, with the main one being natural rubber. Other ingredients include synthetic rubber, metal, fibers and components that strengthen a tyre’s structure, such as carbon black, silica and plasticizers (resins, etc). The combination of these materials provide an optimal balance of performance, driveability and safety, while steadily reducing the tyre’s environmental impact.

Michelin Vision_MaterialsMichelin’s expertise in materials technology stems from the strength of its R&D capabilities, which are supported by a staff strength of 6,000, working in seven research and development centres around the world and mastering 350 areas of expertise. The work of these engineers, researchers, chemists and developers has resulted in the filing of 10,000 patents related to tyre design and manufacturing. These teams are constantly working to find recipes that will improve tyre safety, durability, ride and other performance features, while helping to make them 100% sustainable by 2050.

Michelin_Sustainability_4RMichelin has also forged partnerships with innovative start-ups due to the speed and nature of innovation which requires new forms of cooperation. The developed technologies go well beyond the world of tyres and could be used in other industries, enabling them to benefit as well from recovered raw materials that are infinitely reusable. These technologies will also make it possible to recycle polystyrene and recover carbon black or pyrolysis oil from used tyres.

Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles, the two companies that are spearheading the BioButterfly project, have been working with Michelin since 2019 on producing bio-sourced butadiene to replace petroleum-based butadiene. Butadiene is one of the components in synthetic rubber. Further, using the biomass from wood, rice husks, leaves, corn stalks and other plant waste, 4.2 million tonnes of wood chips could be incorporated into Michelin tyres every year.

Also, a partnership between Michelin and Canada-based Pyrowave was signed in November 2020. This partnership can produce recycled styrene from plastics found in packaging, such as yogurt pots and food trays, or in insulating panels. Styrene is an important monomer used to manufacture not only polystyrene but also synthetic rubber for tyres and a wide variety of consumer goods. Eventually, the equivalent of 42 billion yogurt pots could be recycled into Michelin tyres every year.

The revolutionary process developed by French startup Carbios, which will be based on a Michelin site from Autumn 2021, uses enzymes to deconstruct PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic waste into its original pure monomers, which can be infinitely recovered and reused to make new PET plastics. One of these recovered plastics just happens to be the polyester yarn used in tyre manufacturing. Some four billion plastic bottles could potentially be recycled into Michelin tyres every year.

Lastly, Michelin announced in February 2021 that it will launch the construction of its first tyre recycling plant in the world with Enviro. This Swedish company has developed a patented technology to recover carbon black, pyrolysis oil, steel, gas and other new, high-quality reusable materials from end-of-life tyres. It will enable everything in these tyres to be recovered and reused in several types of rubber-based production processes.

A slim Bibendum posing with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyreMichelin also supports the circular economy, as attested by its participation in the European BlackCycle consortium. This project, which is coordinated by the Group and financed by the European Union, brings together 13 public and private-sector partners to design processes to produce new tyres from end-of-life tyres.

To learn more about the Michelin Group’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.michelin.com.my/michelin-durable-materials.

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