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

Hiroshi Kayukawa, Chief Engineer of the Toyota Sienta briefing the media
Hiroshi Kayukawa, Chief Engineer of the Toyota Sienta briefing the media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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L-R: ORS Technologies Sdn Bhd MD, Khairulnizam Bin Ruslan; MAI COO, Nizmar Mohd Nazar; Altair Inc COO, Brett Chouinard; and Altair Engineering Sdn Bhd MD for ASEAN, Srirangam Srirangarajan at the launch of MITS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Renault Fluence_Black Metallic 1

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

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

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

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

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

Renault Fluence_White Pearl

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

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

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

Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Vehicle with Velodyne PUCK LiDAR

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

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

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

Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Vehicle 3D MappingFord is also chipping in US$ 75 million to Velodyne LiDAR, Inc., a firm it has been working with on self-driving technology for some time; Chinese Internet behemoth, Baidu is putting in the same amount in Velodyne. Additionally, Ford has invested in Civil Maps, a company which utilizes artificial intelligence in digital map making; bought SAIPS, a computer vision company and entered into an exclusive agreement with Nirenberg Neuroscience to use its machine vision technology, which is claimed to have restored sight in the visually impaired.

 

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

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

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

2016 Proton Persona HeadlampThe all-new Proton Persona sports a stylish look with eye-catching design from every vantage point such as its bold and attractive face, stylish headlamp with smart lighting as well as rear spoilers, all-round sensors, 15” alloy wheels as well as electric headlamp levelling. All these make the new car more refined, smooth and better value for money.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New EEV prices 12-8-16The revised retail pricing came into effect on 12 August 2016.

XC60 SVNDKIST SOMMAR SIDE - CopyIncentivising EEVs is an important part of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) which aims to encourage the establishment of Malaysia as a regional automotive hub for EEVs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audi R8 LMS Cup MalaysiaYoong pulled off a stunning start from 4 th position on the starting grid, drawing parallel with the leaders within 300 metres after the start line on a rolling start and was first into Turn One. He pulled away to approximately a one-second lead and thereafter paced the rest, leading all the way to the end.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2016 Audi R8 LMS Cup
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia

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

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

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

Am = Amateur Cup Competitor (New R8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Winners at Sepang
The 2016 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Winners at Sepang

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

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

Zen Low tailing Afiq Yazid
Zen Low tailing Afiq Yazid

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fuji (JPN) 17-18 September

Valencia (SP) 1-2 December

World Final

Valencia (SP) 3-4 December

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What’s This?

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

What About It?

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

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

What’s Inside?

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

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

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

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

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

What’s Underneath?

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

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

What’s It Like?

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

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

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

Any Interesting Features?

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

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

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

Who Is It For?

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

How Much?

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

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