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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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In its effort to expand its sales and after-sales coverage for Subaru vehicles, Motor Image Malaysia, the authorized distributor in Malaysia has launched its first 4S centre in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Motor Image hopes that the new Cheras 4S Centre will further enhance the Subaru ownership experience and expand its brand presence. 

Located at Lot PT 4523 (D) 4½, Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, the 3,417 square meter 4S centre is a nod to the Subaru brand’s growing appeal among Malaysians and affirms the distributor’s continued commitment and confidence in the Malaysian market.

The Cheras 4S Centre offers a full range of 4S facilities consisting of Sales Showroom, Service, Spare Parts, and Spray and Body Paint. Customers will not only be able to see the full range of Subaru line-up at the showroom but also experience extensive after-sales services at the workshop and a comfortable customer lounge.

Notably, the 4S centre houses the spare parts warehouse that carries a wide range of inventory for all Subaru vehicles to ensure sufficient supply to meet customers’ needs. With 12 service bays, up to 48 cars can be serviced daily.

This new 4S center replaces the existing 3S center in Cheras. There are currently 29 Subaru sales and service outlets nationwide.

For more information, please visit http://www.subaru.asia/my.

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The iconic Volvo showroom along the Federal Highway / Jalan Syed Putra has been replaced by a swanky new joint nearby. Located on the Ground floor of Menara MBMR at 1, Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, the new showroom speaks the Volvo Retail Experience language, with a strong hint of Scandinavia.

Owned by Federal Auto Cars Sdn Bhd, which began in the 1960s as Volvo’s first distributor of its passenger cars, the new showroom covers 16,685 sq ft and cost RM 10 million to build. As Volvo Car Malaysia, a subsidiary of Volvo Cars Corporation in charge of sales and marketing is continuously strengthening its local product portfolio with such models as the XC90, S60, XC60 & V40, etc, and with new models slated to be introduced, Federal Auto is preparing itself to provide improved after-sales service.

Lennart Stegland, MD Volvo Car Malaysia, Volvo KL Showroom“The Volvo Retail Experience is just one of our strategies to strengthen and close the gap with our competitors. As we continue to introduce products that are well-designed, luxurious and safe, we strive to extend the same feeling to our customers from the very moment they enter our retail environment. With this new showroom, we look forward to continually engage with our fans and win over new ones,” said Lennart Stegland, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia.

The new showroom boasts a large display area which covers about 60% of total space. The remaining 40% of the place is ‘transformed’ into a living room with Scandinavian styling and furnishings. WiFi, snacks and coffee come standard.

The old landmark showroom which sits nearby has been converted into a service area.

Aqil Ahmad Azizuddin, Chairman Federal Auto Holdings Bhd, Volvo KL Showroom“The former showroom was an icon and a landmark in its own right but the establishment of this new Volvo Retail Experience showroom is necessary to keep the brand competitive. Albeit, it will still maintain the same sense of familiarity that our customers are accustomed to,” said Encik Aqil Ahmad Azizuddin, Chairman of Federal Auto Holdings Bhd.

This Volvo showroom is open from 9 am – 7 pm, Mondays – Saturdays and 9:30 am – 5 pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. Contact is : (03) 2260 1411.

 

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BMW Group Malaysia is hosting the BMW Innovation Days Malaysia 2016 from 26 – 28 August at Desa Parkcity Waterfront Car Park 2 to celebrate the German premium automaker’s 100 years of innovation. Cars on display at the show include the classic BMW 2002 as well as the futuristic i8, as well as a collection of Motorrad motorcyles. Also available will be test drives of various BMW models.

The highlight at today’s gathering was the launch of the 330e, a plug-in hybrid version of the compact premium executive sedan. With the government’s EEV (energy efficient vehicle) incentive, BMW is offering the 330e at RM 248,800 (on the road without insurance). This places the car in between the 320i Sport (RM 228,800) and 330i M Sport (RM 268,800).

BMW 330e Tengku Ezan MalaysiaThe BMW 330e comes in Sport trim, with black kidney grilles, black chrome twin tailpipes and black trim on the B-pillar and window bar of rear doors as well as on the front and rear bumpers. The wheels are 18″ light alloy V-spoke with mixed size tires. Other than the eDrive and 330e badges and the charge port lid on the front passenger-side fender, it looks like any other F30 3 Series.

The 330e is powered by an eDrive synchronous electric motor which produces 65 kW and 250 Nm of torque from 0-2,500 rpm and a 2-liter, 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine which produces 187 PS and 290 Nm from 1,350-4,250 rpm. The two powerplants combine to produce 252 PS and 420 Nm, allowing the 330e to go from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and have a top speed of 225 km/h.

The electric motor is integrated with the 8-speed automatic transmission (with Steptronic) and obtains power from the lithium-ion battery. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 7.6kWh from the 80 cells collected in 5 modules at the rear of the car; this reduces the cargo space to 370 liters (from 480 liters). In full electric mode, the car can reach top speed of 120 km/h. Combined fuel consumption is claimed at 2.1 liters / 100 km.

As a plug-in hybrid, a home charger is included with the car which allows the battery to be charged via the domestic power socket in 5 hours. You can also opt for the BMW i Wallbox Pro which can charge the battery in 3.5 hours.

The hybrid eDrive system allows for 3 driving modes i.e. AUTO eDRIVE, MAX eDRIVE and SAVE BATTERY. In AUTO mode, the intelligent energy management system selects the optimal drive combination and ensures a balanced driving character which combines sportiness and efficiency. In MAX, the system prioritizes electric drive and the combustion engine starts working only when more power is needed. The electric motor also acts as a generator during braking and coasting to charge the battery. On full charge, the battery is capable of up to 37 km in full electric mode. Meanwhile, SAVE BATTERY mode aims to conserve or replenish the battery. In this mode, the petrol engine can also charge the battery up to 50% to enable all-electric driving at a later time.

Like the regular 3 Series, Driving Experience Control allows you to switch between COMFORT, SPORT and ECO PRO modes which change the steering, transmission and chassis functions.

“The launch of the new BMW 330e is a testament to both the legacy of the BMW brand and future oriented mobility. Since its inception, the BMW 3 Series sedan has been challenging boundaries and standards in its class without forsaking its identity as an iconic driving machine. Today, the BMW 330e continues to drive the future of mobility with pioneering hybrid technology and cutting-edge engineering,” said Mr. Han Sang Yun, MD & CEO of BMW Group Malaysia.

The BMW 330e is equipped with full LED headlights and fog lights, dynamic braking lights, run-flat tires and flat tire indicator, Dakota leather upholstery, Sport leather steering wheel, sunroof, keyless entry and start, 9-speaker audio system, iDrive Touch Controller, 8.8″ display and full-color head-up display. Other features also include Parking Assistant with automatic steering for parallel and perpendicular parking as well as BMW ConnectedDrive which includes the latest generation Navigation System Professional, Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices, Concierge Services and eDrive Services.

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