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Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has officially launched the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix 2016 (Malaysia MotoGP), which will happen at Sepang from 28 to 30 October. The penultimate race of the 18-leg 2016 MotoGP World Championship is also the 26th edition of the Malaysia MotoGP.

Shell Malaysia MotoGP 2016 Launch Nu SentralThe event launch at Nu Sentral (venue sponsor for the launch) was officiated by YBhg Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, accompanied by YBhg Dato’ Razlan Razali, Chief Executive Officer of SIC and Shairan Huzani Husain, Shell Malaysia’s Local Senior Downstream Representative.

“Following a record-breaking sellout event last year – with over 150,000 spectators attending the three-day race weekend, we are again looking forward to another high turnout this year. The excitement and anticipation generated by the promising performance of our Malaysian riders in Moto3 and Moto2 as well as the fierce rivalry between the riders in the premier class has been a boon for us. We’re anticipating a surge in local fan interest and well as a healthy percentage of international fans attending the race. A mutual passion for motorsports makes brothers from strangers, thus inspiring our theme for this year – semangat brotherhood. Certainly, this event would not have achieved its level of success without the passionate support of fans, so come over in your numbers and make your voices heard,” said Dato’ Razlan.

“With the Malaysia MotoGP being the penultimate round of the championship, stars such as Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will be the centre of attention, not to mention the Ducati riders who may spring more surprises. This will certainly boost international exposure for the race. We’re also hoping that the home circuit adva2016 Shell Malaysia MotoGP Ducati at Nu Sentralntage will help our boys onto the podium. I’m sure we’re all aware of the exploits of Khairul Idham Pawi, the two-time champion in Moto3 in Argentina and Germany this year, our very own DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team in Moto3 with Adam Norrodin and Jakub Kornfeil and also Hafizh Syahrin in Moto2. We’re hoping for a good race from all of them, not forgetting Ahmad Idham Khairuddin and Izam Ikmal in the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup support race. I urge all Malaysians to make your way to Sepang during race weekend to cheer on our boys in the spirit of patriotism and brotherhood,” he added.

Dato’ Razlan said the Malaysian talent development pipeline has seen promising results with the rise of riders such as Khairul Idham Pawi, Hafizh Syahrin and the formation of the SIC Racing Team, but there was still much work to be done to one day have Malaysian champions riding in the MotoGP class. He also thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their unflagging support for talent development in motorsports.

The MotoGP weekend will be filled with programs such as the Riders’ Autograph Session, Bike Stunt Show, Safety Car Ride, Public Pit Lane Walk and the Mega MotoGP Carnival. New to the program line-up are a riders’ cycling activity, sports match between the top MotoGP riders against Malaysia’s top athletes, Riders’ Fan Forum, a special Watch the Race from the Sky activity, and a two-day Rockaway Malaysia MotoGP Weekend concert featuring bands like Scorpions, Wings and Wolfmother.

Tickets for choice seats are selling out fast (F Grandstand and Club Suite passes are already sold out). Still available are tickets ranging from RM 318 for a Premier Roving pass to RM 42.40 for a C2 Covered Hillstand ticket. Tickets for the Main Grandstand and K1 Grandstand are priced at RM 212 and RM 116.60 respectively.

You can also support your favorite rider with fellow fans at the special tribune areas. Tickets for the Marc Marquez Tribune and VR46 Tribune are selling for RM 265 and RM 169.60 respectively, while tickets for SIC’s very own DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team Tribune are selling for RM 74.20.

For fans preferring more luxurious settings, there are MotoGP VIP Village passes available. This year, fans can also have the option of purchasing F&B as well as transportation packages together with their race tickets. For those wanting to secure a parking spot in their preferred parking zone, parking tickets are currently available for purchase online at a reduced price, starting from only RM 10. There is also a 50% discount for disabled* spectators at accessible seating zones.

Leading up to race week, SIC will be organising fun activities including live viewing sessions of MotoGP races complete with contests and prize giveaways. This will be held at The Podium by Daun in Sri Hartamas.

The Grand Prix launch also saw the introduction of Shell Advance motorcycle engine oil Limited Edition packs.

To find out more about ticket prices and activities lined up for 2016, visit Sepang International Circuit’s website at www.sepangcircuit.com. Follow SIC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sepanginternationalcircuit to get the latest updates.

* To purchase disabled tickets, fans will need to show their disabled person (OKU) card to get the discount.

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Shell Malaysia has introduced the specially designed, limited edition packs for four variants of its best-selling Shell Advance motorcycle engine oils – Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology 10W-40 (1L) and 15W-50 (1L), Shell Advance AX7 10W-40 (1L) and Shell Advance AX5 Scooter 15W-40 (0.8L).

Shairan Huzani Husain, Shell Malaysia’s Local Senior Downstream Representative“This Shell Advance limited edition series is a timely reminder of Shell’s continuous innovation as a market leader as we celebrate our 125th year of fueling Malaysia’s progress this year.  The designs of our flagship Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology 10W-40 and 15W-50, in particular, pay tribute to our 18-year partnership with Ducati on the racing tracks. Owners of motorcycles, regardless of type and model, can enjoy every ride as some of the world’s most advanced lubricant technology goes into each bottle of Shell Advance,” said Shell Malaysia Local Senior Downstream Representative Shairan Huzani Husain.

The fully synthetic Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology is the only motorcycle engine oil in the market today with an ultra-clean base oil made from natural gas.

Shell’s patented PurePlus Technology is a revolutionary gas-to-liquid (GTL) process that converts natural gas into crystal-clear base oil. GTL base oil combined with the unique Active Cleansing Agent delivers higher levels of cleansing and superior wear and corrosion protection.

In conjunction with the upcoming 2016 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix in late October, every purchase of any of the Shell Advance products stated above (Limited Edition or normal pack), including Shell Advance AX5 15W40 (1L) from now until 15 October 2016, will give you a chance to win 2 Main Grandstand tickets to the race in Sepang. To be among the 500 lucky winners, just complete the entry form by answering a simple question, attach your purchase receipt and submit it by hard copy at participating outlets. You can also submit your entry online at www.shell.com.my/motogp along with a photograph of your receipt.

The upcoming 2016 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix will see Shell Malaysia as the title sponsor for the second consecutive year, further cementing the company’s long-standing involvement at the forefront of world motorcycle racing.

The title sponsorship of the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix is especially important. It provides Shell with a global stage to showcase innovative products including Shell Advance Ultra (lubricant) and Shell V-Power (fuel). It also provides the ideal platform to engage with motorcyclists within the Asia region and the world over.

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Mr Yang Won-Chul & Ms Leona Chin at the Triton launch

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has launched the Triton pick-up truck updated with a newly designed 2.4L turbo diesel engine; the superceded engine was a 2.5L. This is the first pick-up truck to offer an aluminum  diesel engine.

The 2.4L MIVEC turbo diesel engine with VGT (variable geometry turbo) intercooler is now more powerful and fuel efficient. By using aluminum instead of cast iron for the engine block, Mitsubishi shaved off 30 kg while still maintaining reliability. The new engine has lower compression and produces 181 PS and 430 Nm of torque and thanks to the lighter weight, is up to 15 percent more fuel efficient.

The new Mitsubishi Triton was tested on local highways and roads and recorded an average economy of about 16 km per liter. According to MMM, the Triton works with both Euro 2M and Euro 5 diesel. It also uses a timing chain rather than a belt to reduce maintenance cost and lengthen service lifespan.

Mr Yang Won-Chul, CEO of MMM said “About 15 years ago, the Mitsubishi L200 was the first pick-up truck in Malaysia to be offered with an automatic transmission. In 2008, the Mitsubishi Triton raised the bar by being the first to offer a 3.2-liter engine, and in 2012 the Triton VGT became the first truck in Malaysia to use Variable Geometry Turbo.”

The new Triton comes in 6 variants. The flagship Triton Adventure X variant priced at RM 125,005 (on the road without insurance) comes with rugged accessories like the shield extender for the front bumper, new Sports bar with fullbox and dual tone 17″ alloy wheels. It also has 2 new colors – Impulse Blue and Titanium Grey.

The current Triton VGT AT (RM 109,446) & VGT MT (RM 102,619) variants have also been upgraded with the new engine and improved NVH (noise, vibration & harshness). Additionally, there are automatic bi-Xenon HID headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights and rear fog lamps. The VGT MT also gets an upgraded 6-speed manual transmission. Another variant, Triton VGT Adventure (automatic) is priced at RM 118,198. Other features such as keyless operation, push start button, tilt and telescopic steering and paddle shifters remain.

Mitsubishi Triton MIVEC Easy Select 4WD Control KnobNaturally all Triton 4×4 variants use Mitsubishi’s Easy Select 4WD system which optimizes torque distribution between the front and rear axles. The 4WD selector allows for switching from 2WD to 4WD-Hi at speeds up to 100 km/h.

The non-VGT Tritons are priced at RM 88,997 (4×4 manual) and RM 73,438 (Triton Quest 4×2 manual).

The Mitsubishi Triton is fully imported from Thailand and comes with 2 years’ free maintenance and 3 years’ / 100,000 km factory warranty.

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Last Saturday night saw the Proton Suprima S driven by Malaysia’s Drift King, Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel and a combination team of professional and celebrity drivers win the 2016 Sepang 1000 Kilometres Endurance Race at Sepang International Circuit (SIC). This is Tengku Djan’s second overall crown.

Sharing driving duties with Malaysia’s top racer Keifli Othman and celebrities Zizan Razak and lady driver Faye Kusairi, the quartet from Mayhem-FX Tune Racing completed the 181-lap battle around the 5.543km Formula 1 track in 8 hours 31 minutes 35.819 seconds.

It was a race till the end between the two leading teams with Mayhem-FX Tune Racing, which had Proton R3 Motorsports as its Technical Partner, finishing a lap ahead of the defending champion Honda Malaysia Racing Team (HMRT)’s partnership of former Malaysian A1GP driver Aaron Lim and Farriz Fauzy in a Honda Jazz.

In winning the 2016 race, Tengku Djan Ley, who won the title with Syafiq Ali and Proton R3 Motorsports in 2014, denied HMRT’s quest for a hat-trick. HMRT had won the title in 2015 and 2013. The seasoned partnership of Desmond Yee and Winson Eu in a Proton Satria Neo took third place for N1 Racing Team, completing four laps behind the winner.

FX Tune Racing Team - 2016 Sepang 1000 KM Endurance RaceCommenting on their victory, Keifli said it was a bonus as the team did not expect to be on top of the podium. “We are very happy. We actually did not expect to win. It was a bonus, and sincerely, I am   speechless. Today, the car simply was perfect and I would like to congratulate and thank each and every member of the crew for preparing a superb race car. We did not have any problems at all and everything just went smoothly,” said Keifli, who won the crown for the first time.

Meanwhile, Aaron said he was happy to finish second behind Tengku Djan Ley and team. “We are happy as we did what we could do. We pushed all the way and tried to get as close as possible. But Djan and his team were just out of reach. We hope to come back stronger next year,” said Aaron, who also hopes to compete in the Sepang 12-Hours in December.

Echoing his teammate’s sentiments, Farriz said they had both pushed the machine to limit. “I would like to congratulate Djan and his team for their awesome performance. We tried to get close, but they managed to continue to stay ahead. We just did not have the speed today and were always a few seconds behind,” said Farriz.

Independent Cup winners 2016 - CopyTeam Dream Chaser, which won last year’s Independent Cup – took a commendable fourth place with the partnership of Frenchman Jean Charles Dahout, Ong Chee Yong and Lim Yeh Siang, completing 173 laps in their Proton Satria Neo.

This year’s Independent Cup was won by an all-Singaporean team of Gerald Tan, Hong Tsui and Shawn Peh, which finished fifth overall with 171 laps in their Suzuki Swift machine.

Flagged off by Malaysian Motorsports Commission chairman Tan Sri Mohammed Azman Yahya at 100pm, the pre-race favorite Sakura Tedco Racing was seen maximizing its pole position to take charge in the early stages.

The Indo-Malaysian partnership of Fitra Eri and Mark Darwin, however, effectively lost any chance of winning their first ever S1K crown after their Proton Prevé machine encountered problems with its power steering system and wheel alignment on Lap 25, forcing an early pit stop which lasted more than 45 minutes to  repair the damage.

That handed the advantage to Honda Malaysia Racing Team and Mayhem-FX Tune Racing Team, which had started from second and third on the grid respectively, allowing them to take control of the battle as they exchanged leads to continue the race down to its exciting finish.

Spurred by their motto #RefuseToLose, the Sakura Tedco Racing partnership bounced back from their setback in spirited style to finish 12th overall with 121 laps completed – 20 laps fewer than the victorious Mayhem-FX Tune Racing team.

Here are the results of the 2016 SEPANG 1000 KILOMETRES ENDURANCE RACE

TOP FIVE FINISHERS

1. Tengku Djan Ley/Keifli Othman/Faye Kusairi/Zizan Razak (Proton Prima S) – 181 laps (8:31:35.819s)
2. Aaron Lim/Farriz Fauzy (Honda Jazz) – 180 laps
3. Desmond Yee/Winson Eu (Proton Satria Neo) – 177 laps
4. Lim Yeh Siang/Jean Charles Dahout/Ong Chee Yong (Proton Satria Neo) – 173 laps
5. Gerald Tan/Hong Tsui/Shawn Peh (Suzuki Swift) – 171 laps

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Honda Malaysia has introduced the limited edition models for the City and Jazz known as City X and Jazz X. Both models carry the X emblem to showcase the ‘eXclusivity’ of these X Edition models and are fitted with Half-Leather Seats that carry the X emblem. The X Edition models also come with Trunk Tray for storage convenience. Additional features such as Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are also available.

Honda Malaysia hopes to create ‘eXcitement’ with these value-added offerings for the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certified models and to continue to ‘eXcel’ by being the best-selling models in their respective segments.

The City and Jazz are popular Honda models in Malaysia contributing 50% of total sales for Honda Malaysia in 2016. Since its launch in 2014, close to 87,000 units of City and more than 34,000 units of Jazz has been sold as at July 2016. Both models continue to maintain a lead in their respective segments as of July 2016.

The City X and Jazz X are powered by 1.5L SOHC i-VTEC engine paired with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) that was developed under Honda’s proprietary Earth Dreams Technology for smooth acceleration and better fuel efficiency.

The Jazz X features the signature Ultra Seats which can be flipped into four different versatile modes to meet the varying needs of the owner’s lifestyle while the City X boasts a 536L Trunk Space which is the biggest in its segment. Both the X Edition models maintain all the other features offered in the City and Jazz such as Smart Entry and Push Start Button for convenience as well as safety features such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) for a peace of mind and USB Ports and power sockets.

The City X and Jazz X are priced at RM 86,100 and RM 82,500 respectively (on the road with insurance). Waiting period for the X Edition models is one month and there are only 400 units of City X and 300 of Jazz X available. The City X is available in Modern Steel Metallic and Dark Ruby Red Pearl while Jazz X comes in Modern Steel Metallic and Carnival Red.

Both models get 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage, extended service interval to every 10,000 km and 6 Free Labour Services alternating with paid service till 100,000 km.

The X Edition models can be viewed at any of the 88 Honda authorized showrooms nationwide.

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TC Euro Cars, the sole franchise holder of Renault cars in Malaysia, just showed off the fully imported Koleos SUV which comes at an attractive price of RM 172,800.

Renault Koleos Malaysia Launch SideThe Koleos has a length of 4,672 mm sitting atop a 2,705 mm wheelbase and is a D-segment-sized 5-seater SUV designed for multiple markets across the globe and hence its equipment are adapted to suit different climates. As a product of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the Koleos shares its underpinnings with the well-known Nissan X-Trail but has been tweaked to Renault’s own standards. It is manufactured in the group’s plant in Busan, South Korea. The 2.5L engine (170 PS & 226 Nm) and X-Tronic CVT are also shared; 200 Nm of the engine’s torque is available from as low as 1,800 rpm for better response at low and mid-range engine speeds.

The Koleos is touted to have a comfortable cabin, with dimensions claimed to be the best amongst its rivals. Its body is built out to maximize shoulder room, head room and leg room; knee room is 289 mm. Variable density foam is used for added comfort and insulation. The boot boasts 550 liters of volume and the rear seats fold 60:40 to accommodate larger items. The ‘Easy Break’ handles in the boot allow you to fold the rear seats without needing to open the rear doors. Other storage areas include a 7-liter cubby in the center console and an 11-liter glove box.

Elsewhere in the cabin, there is wide use of scratch-resistant, soft-touch materials and satin-finish chrome trim for a more upmarket look. The seats are leather and the driver’s seat is powered with 6-way and lumbar adjustments. The LED ambient lighting allows for different colors to suit your mood.

The conventional analog meters has been replaced by a 7-inch color display to show driving data. The layout and colors are configurable via another highlight of the interior – the 8.7″ touchscreen display that’s part of the R-LINK 2 multimedia system. The size of a tablet computer, this touchscreen offers the same tactile functions as one i.e. page scrolling, 2-finger zoom, drag and drop, etc. There is built-in navigation, customizable homepages, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, 3.5 mm jack and SD card slot. Voice recognition is also available for phone and navigation use; it also reads out your emails so you don’t have to. Instead of a key fob, the Koleos comes with a key card.

The Renault Koleos gets its styling from the Renault’s large family saloon, the Talisman. The sides of the Koleos has relatively clean lines as most of the design elements are at the front and rear. The front gets a prominent chrome grille flanked by the full LED Pure Vision headlamps and daytime running lights while the rear gets the wide horizontal ‘Edge Light’ tail lamps to accentuate the width of the SUV. Chrome inserts at the bottom of the rear bumper mimic twin exhaust openings.

Safety equipment includes electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, blind spot warning system, rear camera and front and rear parking sensors. It also has 6 airbags – 2 adaptive front airbags that inflate according to the type of impact and the occupant’s position, 2 lateral thorax / shoulder airbags for front occupants and 2 curtain airbags. Other safety features include anti-submarining front seats, anti-whiplash front and rear headrests, seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters as well as rear ISOFIX anchors for i-Size child seats.

There are 4 body colors to choose from i.e. Universal White, Grey Metallic, Black Metallic and Meissen Blue. The Koleos is covered by a 5-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage and is expected to arrive in showrooms in October. In the meantime, a unit will be on display at the Mid Valley Megamall Centre Court from 7 – 11 September.

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Yes, you read it right. The ten thousandth Bezza. To be precise, there are 10,200 units of the new Bezza sedan sold as of the morning of 30th August 2016. This impressive figure comes just a little over a month after since the Bezza’s official launch, on the back of an expected soft market.

Perodua Bezza Gear Up AccessoriesToday, Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Dr Zahari Husin presented a mock key to the 10,000th Bezza buyer, Puan Zetty Aswani Fazwin at a simple ceremony at Perodua Sentral in Petaling Jaya. “We thank Puan Zetty for choosing Perodua as your brand of choice and Bezza as your car of choice. We are currently working to ensure timely delivery of all our models to our valued customers,” Dr Zaharin said.

Puan Zetty accepting delivery of her Perodua Bezza
Puan Zetty accepting delivery of her Perodua Bezza

Puan Zetty is part of the 44% of Bezza buyers who picked the 1.3L Advance variant. The other popular model is the 1.3L Premium X automatic (43%). According to Perodua, over 25,000 bookings for the Bezza have been received since it started accepting bookings on 16 July. Yet despite the overwhelming response to the Bezza, Perodua reported that it only has a minor impact on the sales of their other models like the Axia and Myvi.

“For the month of July, we delivered over 2,600 Bezza in the 10-day period it was launched. So far in August, we have delivered 7,400 units and we will maximize delivery for the convenience of our customers,” added Dr Zahari.

In the first seven months of 2016, Perodua sold 112,500 vehicles, accounting for 35.4% of the total industry volume (TIV) of 317,900 vehicles.

At the presentation ceremony, Perodua also took the opportunity to wish all Malaysians ‘Selamat Hari Merdeka’.

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The four Lexus owners who were winners of the recent Lexus Golf Invitational 2016, which saw about 200 Lexus owners tee off, will be sent by Lexus Malaysia to participate in the regional Lexus Cup 2016 in Vietnam.

The tournament in the northern region was held at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort, Penang on 20th July 2016 while the southern region was at the Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, Nusajaya, Johor on 2nd August. The central region game was held in Tournament Players Club, Kuala Lumpur last week, on 25th August.

The champions of each region were Mr. Tham Kim Seng (North), Tan Yeow Kwang (South) and Mr. Moh Chee Leong (Central). This year, Lexus Malaysia also acknowledge the best runner-up for stableford points for the central region who is Mr. Chai Khoon Khow.

Source: colinmontgomerie.com
Source: colinmontgomerie.com

The four will join Lexus owners from other Asian countries at the famous Montgomerie Links in Da Nang, Vietnam on 10th September for a friendly practice game, before proceeding to the Lexus Cup Tournament the following day. They will also have the opportunity to play and mingle with line-up of stellar female LGPA golfers, namely Alison Lee, Jessica Korda, Azahara Munoz, and Beatriz Recari.

Montgomerie Links, designed by 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain and 8-time European Tour Order of Merit winner, Colin Montgomerie, is rated as one of the best golf courses in Vietnam.

Da Nang is Vietnam’s third largest city and is located on the Eastern Sea coast. The city itself has its fair share of sights and is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Imperial City of Hue making it one of the most popular vacation spots in the world.

The winners of the Lexus Golf Cup 2016 will get to stay in one of the world’s leading luxury resorts, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, while indulging in the luxurious Lexus experience. This resort was acknowledged by World Travel Awards in 2015 with their French Restaurant having been awarded 3 Michelin Stars, which is a hallmark of fine dining quality around the world.

This will be the 6th year of the Lexus Cup since its inaugural tournament in 2012. It is hosted by the Asia Pacific Division of Lexus in partnership with its regional distributors. In 2015, participants from Malaysia were the country champions at the event held in Bali.

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Bermaz Motor will be holding the Mazda Mega Sale Carnival at Mazda Glenmarie Showroom next weekend (3-4 September 2016) from 10 am – 5 pm.

At the Mazda Mega Sale Carnival, customers will stand a chance to win Mazda Bonanza Vouchers worth up to RM10,000. Any Mazda model sign-up will entitle customers to receive an instant gift.

Bermaz Motor - Mazda Mega Sale Carnival 2016 2There will be games and activities for all including the Mazda Paper Craft Challenge (Winners will receive Mazda merchandise + Starbucks gift card worth RM 200), face painting, photo booth and clown performances; refreshments will be served.

Also participating in this carnival is the Mazda Anshin Pre-Owned Car Centre which will offer pre-owned Mazda vehicles from as low as RM 55,000.

All new Mazdas enjoy an absolute 3-year or 60,000 km (whichever comes first) free scheduled maintenance according to manufacturer’s standards, which means you will not need to pay for anything, not even for labour, parts and lubricants (except the BT-50 pick-up).

The Mazda Glenmarie Showroom is located at 7 Jalan Pelukis U1/46, Temasya Industrial Park, Section U1 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor.

Waze: https://waze.to/lr/hw281x6hrp

Contact: 03-7626 8888

 

 

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Like its literal meaning, Uber is going over and beyond its conventional ride-sharing service. Firstly, it is working with Swedish carmaker, Volvo Cars, to develop next-generation autonomous driving cars. Both companies are chipping in US$ 300 million each to this effort which will see Volvo manufacture the base vehicle and Uber add its own autonomous driving system to the vehicle. The Volvo vehicles will be purchased by Uber for use in its fleet; Volvo will also use the same base vehicle in its autonomous car strategy.

The new base vehicle will be based on Volvo Cars’ modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform which is one of the most advanced car architectures in the world. It is currently used on Volvo Cars’ top-of-the-line, multiple-award-winning XC90 SUV, as well as the S90 premium sedan and V90 premium estate.

Volvo_Cars_and_Uber_join_forces_to_develop_autonomous_driving_cars - CopySPA was developed as part of Volvo Cars’ US$ 11 billion global industrial transformation program, which started in 2010, and has been prepared from the outset for autonomous drive technologies as well as hybridization and electrification.

The development work will be conducted by both Volvo Cars and Uber engineersand will further add to the scalability of the SPA platform to include all needed safety, redundancy and new features required to have autonomous vehicles on the road.

Travis Kalanick, Uber’s chief executive, said: “Over one million people die in car accidents every year. These are tragedies that self-driving technology can help solve, but we can’t do this alone. That’s why our partnership with a great manufacturer like Volvo is so important. Volvo is a leader in vehicle development and best-in-class when it comes to safety. By combining the capabilities of Uber and Volvo we will get to the future faster, together.”

In addition to its collaboration with Volvo, Uber has also acquired Otto, a technology start-up that is changing the delivery and trucking business. Otto is like the haulage version of Uber, matching truck drivers with the right loads. It is also creating self-driving trucks to help increase driver and road safety i.e. truck drivers can rest while their trucks are moving; this cuts delivery time while still maintaining safety.

Anthony Levandowski, Otto’s co-founder and creator of Ghostrider, the autonomous motorcycle, will join Uber’s management team and lead all Uber / Otto’s self-driving efforts across passenger transportation, delivery and trucking in Pittsburgh, Palo Alto and San Francisco.

 

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