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FORD RACING TEAM SET TO DEFEND TITLE

Shah Alam, March 2, 2005 – The Ford Racing team is all set to defend its title in the Malaysian Rally Championship this year after emerging 1st Overall Champions in the Non-Homologated Category Above 2001cc in the Malaysian Rally Championship last year.

The Ford Racing Team is owned by Ford Malaysia and has been actively involved in motor sports for the last two years. The team comprises driver, Ian Khong, who piloted the Ford Focus 4WD turbo to victory last year and his new co-driver, Desmond Ong.

“Last year was the debut year of the Ford Focus and we created history by being the first Ford Focus to win an Overall Malaysian Rally Championship Title.
We are proud of our driver, Ian Khong, and the Ford Racing Team and are fully behind them as they go all out to defend their title this year,” said Mike Pease, Managing Director of Ford Malaysia.

“It was really awesome to drive the Ford Focus to a successful championship season last year. The Focus is a great car to drive as it’s got great handling and is perfect for the tight and twisty stages. You can bet I’II be giving it all I have got this year,” said Khong.

There are hints that Khong will be doing some upgrades to his car to make it a little more competitive for this year’s stages. He is keeping mum about the details, but it is understood that parts are on the way.

Khong has been racing competitively since 1992 and some of his most notable racing accomplishments include: 2nd Overall Champion Tarmac Rally 2003, 1st Class B 2001 Tarmac Rally Round 2, 1st Overall 1997 Sprint Rally Round 7, 2nd Overall F150 Kart 1997, and Group N2 Champion 1996 Malaysia Rally.

The crew for the rally comprises of volunteers from various departments in Ford Malaysia as well as rally enthusiasts. The main technical team is from Y. S. Khong Motorsports and is responsible for all preparations for the rally. YS Khong Motorsports is headed by YS Khong, 5 time Malaysian Rally Champion, and he holds the distinction of being one of the very few Malaysians who have won the Rally of Malaysia outright. This year the entire crew is working hard to help Ian Khong retain the championship title.

The Ford Focus 4WD turbo was built from an original Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec model similar to the ones sold here in Malaysia in 2000. The build of the car follows very closely the engineering of the WRC Ford Focus and is based on the Global Ford Focus DNA which delivers a smooth, exciting driving experience and responsive handling that allows the driver to enjoy every twist and turn with its’ precision build.

The Ford Focus rally car is an all wheel drive, with pure power of 210 horsepower under its hood. The car was stripped down to the bone and built up again from scratch, removing all unnecessary interior panels and fittings and replacing them with lighter carbon fiber materials.

The 2004 Malaysian Rally Championship kicks off this Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Putrajaya (race calendar attached below).

Malaysian Rally Championship 2005 Calendar

Date Event Venue Status
5th – 6th March MRC Round 1 Putrajaya International
1st – 2nd April MRC Round 2 Kedah International
7th – 8th May MRC Round 3 Perlis International
25th – 26th June MRC Round 4 N. Sembilan International
19th – 21st August MRC Round 5 and Malaysian Rally 2005* Johor International
1st – 2nd October MRC Round 6 Perlis International
* Approved by the FIA.

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Mercedes Benz C180 Kompressor – Sporty Performance With Comfort & Elegance

Mention Mercedes, and images of quiet distinction, maturity and elegance come to mind. The fast and furious images belong to the other German makes like BMW and Audi. It is not the case with the new Mercedes C180 Kompressor.

The Mercedes C Class comes in two variants, the C180 K, which is the subject of our discussion today, and the higher placed C230 K. The ‘K’ denotes ‘Kompressor’, which in English would be spelled with a ‘C’ and means an air pump. The German spelling uses a ‘K’ and it means the same thing.

In the automotive context, the term ‘Kompressor’ refers to a supercharger. A supercharger works much the same way as a turbocharger, i.e. both ‘ram’ air into the combustion chamber under pressure to improve combustion, thus improving the maximum engine power by as much as 30 to 40 percent compared to a normally aspirated engine. Whereas a turbocharger is driven by exhaust gases through a combination stator/ impeller that is connected to the exhaust manifold, a supercharger gets its ‘drive’ by means of a belt that is driven off the main engine pulley. Supercharging is not a new development. As far back as the 1950s there were cars running around with them. Neither are turbochargers, but the problems faced by early engine builders who used them was the problem of heat build-up due to inaccurate fuel metering, resulting in frequent problems of overheating and of course, atrocious fuel consumption. The difference between modern day turbos and superchargers is that state-of-the-art electronics today allow for better control and more precise metering of fuel.

We are used to the numbers having some relationship with the engine capacity, i.e., 180 to denote 1.8 litre, 220 to denote 2.2 litre, 320 to denote 3.2 litre, as it has always been, not only with the Mercedes brand, but with many others as well, but ironically, this is not the case with the C Class. Both models have identical 1796 cc engine displacement, but the C180 develops 143 horsepower at 5200 rpm, while the C230 develops 192 horsepower at 5800 rpm. In terms of torque, the C180 has a maximum of 220 Nm between 2500 to 4200 rpm, while the C230 has a maximum torque of 260Nm, peaking between 3500 to 400 rpm. We thus have the unique situation of two seemingly identical engines of the same displacement, but with two totally different power outputs. The secret lies in the tuning of the engine control units (ECU) and the size of the supercharger attached to the respective engines.

After testing the C230 Kompressor some time ago, I seriously thought that the C180 Kompressor would not make an impression on me, but it did. Firstly, it was the excellent fuel consumption that surprised me. Driven at normal road speeds, with the occasional dash here and there, we could get between 9.0 to 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres. We even got it as low as 8.2 litres per 100 km. For a car this size and weight, this is really good. Push it hard, and you will get a figure of around 13.0 to 14.5 litres per 100 kilometres. An on-board computer gives live readings, and we saw numbers as low as 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres. My other car that has a naturally aspirated 1.8 litre DOHC engine, and weighs at least 400 kg less, drinks more petrol than the C180 Kompressor. Our test took us to Kuantan and back, and total fuel cost for the entire journey returned an average of 10.70 litres per 100 kilometres, and that included some very high speed driving on the newly opened highway.

Acceleration is a respectable 10.5 seconds for the zero to 100 kilometre per hour dash, (air conditioner on, and with a boot laden with travel stuff), while top speed recorded was 230 kilometres per hour on a slight downhill. (Maximum speed is claimed at 220 km/hr in the brochure. Handling was brilliant, as the car comes with stability control as standard. Additional help comes from the 4-wheel independent suspension, and the 205/55 R 16 tyres. (Inching up one size and going down to a lower profile would make for even better handling).

The 5-speed automatic gearbox features super smooth gear changes. The gear ratios are excellent, providing a good balance between good acceleration and a high top speed. In top gear, the speed per 1000 rpm is approximately 46 kilometres per hour, so at the regulation speed of 110 km/hr, the engine is still ticking over at a little over 2350 rpm. At 3000 rpm, we were cruising at 140 km/hr.

In terms of comfort, the Mercedes Benz C180 Kompressor is great. The seats are comfortable, with height and rake electrically controlled while the seat track control remains mechanical. The air-conditioning is excellent, with individual temperature controls for the driver and front passenger, while the rear passengers have a blower mounted on the centre console between the front seats. Testimony to the comfort of the car was the fact that I did not feel as fatigued after the drive up and back.

The audio system, to my untrained ears, was great too, and the difference between this set and the one on my car, other than the much improved clarity, was the fact that I did not have to retune the station at any time at all. A thoughtful feature is the cooler box incorporated in the centre console that allows one to keep drinks cold.

We had the car for a few days, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Many people would buy it no doubt as a statue symbol, but I would certainly consider it for its great overall performance, excellent ride and its pleasantly surprising fuel economy. Its size makes it easy to throw around corners should you feel the urge for a little excitement. What sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill cars, some of which are just as fast, is the superb stability and comfort at speed. You feel very confident, safe and secure behind the wheel. Perhaps one day, when the prices get down to more decent levels, I may be able to afford a used one.

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The honorable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today officially launched PROTON’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly facility in Tanjung Malim

The Prime Minister earlier attended a briefing before being taken on a tour of the RM1.8 billion plant, the most advanced manufacturing and assembly facility in the country and in the region outside Japan and Korea.

The plant, which came on line on year ago, currently produces the GEN.2 and is responsible for rolling out the next and new generation of Proton cars.

Occupying 1,280 acres, the Tanjung Malim plant is five times larger than PROTON’s existing facility in Shah Alam. It houses five main complexes; the engine shop, stamping shop, body shop, paint shop and trim and final shop.

The plant has a 60 per cent automation level operating with 180 precision robots with a skilled workforce of 2,000 personnel, allowing both man and machine to interact more efficiently, productively and safely.

This allowed PROTON to optimize the operational efficiency, up to a level of 95 per cent productivity and has a pass ratio of 85 per cent. (pass ratio = number of vehicles passing through the line)

Unlike the existing facility in Shah Alam, the Tanjung Malim plant is capable of producing multi-model products on a common line making it more flexible in terms of production. Each line is capable of assembling vehicles on three different platforms and produce op to nine different models at any one time.

In its first year, the plant is expected to produce 150,000 units. The plant is designed to be capable of producing up to one million vehicles per year. The current production capacity at Shah Alam is 230,000 units per year.

If you have any enquiries, please contact persons below:-

Yusri Yusuf
Head of Group Corporate Communications
Tel : 03-5195-3046
E.mail : yusriy@proton.com

Haris Iskandar Taib
Hit Communications
Tel : 016-3944-497
E.mail : hitcommunications@yahoo.com

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High efficiency and consistency of automation combined with the experience and finesse of manual practices is the foundation PROTON’s state of the art manufacturing and assembly facility in Tanjung Malim is built on.

The technologically sophisticated facility integrates a skilled workforce of 2,000 personnel with the 180 precision robots making it the most advanced and exemplary manufacturing and assembly facility in the country and in the region outside of Japan and Korea.

Costing RM1.8 billion and occupying 1,280 acres, the plant is five times larger than PROTON’s existing facility in Shah Alam, and houses five main complexes; the engine shop, stamping shop, body shop, paint shop, and trim and final shop.

This translates into optimizing operational costs by 20 per cent, and accelerating in reducing the man hours per unit by 30 per cent. PROTON Tanjung Malim operates on a 95 per cent productivity level and has a pass ratio of 85 per cent compared to the 65 per cent pass ratio at Shah Alam. (Pass ratio = number of vehicles passing through the line) The output per man has been increased to 100 cars.

In its first year, the plant is expected to produce 150,000 units. Fully operational, it is capable of producing up to one million vehicles per year, five times the capacity at Shah Alam that is limited to 230,000 units per year.

PROTON Tanjung Malim Plant

Construction of the new PROTON plant commenced in 1996, but was deferred in late 1997 as a result of the Asian economic crisis. In January 2001 work resumed.

Five times larger than PROTON’s existing plant in Shah Alam, the Tanjung Malim automotive manufacturing plant is capable of producing multi-model products on a common line, allowing flexibility in production change to meet the changing market demands.

At Phase 1, the installed capacity will be 150,000 units per year and commercial production has already started in the first quarter of 2004. The design allows for expansion to 250,000 units per year and the plant has a maximum capacity of one million cars per year.

The core production buildings are the Engine, Stamping, Body Assembly, Painting, Trim and Final Assembly. Ancillary facilities include a Production Test Track, Consolidation Centre, Motorpool, Administrative Office complex (Visitors’ Gallery, Customer Collection Centre, VVIP lounge, Theaterette) and a Sports Complex (with Indoor and Outdoor Stadium).
Total investment on these manufacturing facilities and its peripheral infrastructure cost RM1.8 billion (excluding investments in new models intended to be manufactured in the new plant as well as those development work within PROTON CITY for Housing, Schools, Town Center and amenities)

The Tanjung Malim plant is designed, at concept stage, to be one of the leading automotive plants in the region. Key features in the design of the manufacturing process are classified in five (5) main areas:

1) Lean Manufacturing Systems

Several Features have been incorporated in the assembly process to achieve a lean manufacturing environment.

Each individual line will be responsible for the quality of its output and will not pass rejects to the next process in the line. An inspection and repair station is installed at the end of each line to guarantee quality prior to transferring to the next line.

A door-less assembly concept – already used in the assembly of the Waja- is used, whereby all the doors of the car are detached from the main body after painting, conveyed to a door assembly sub-line for installation of the various door components. The completed doors will then be reassembled at the last portion of the assembly line matched to the original painted body.

A Human Error Proof (POKAYOKE) System in the assembly equipment is installed in critical and safety related torque devices (bolts, nut runners, wrenches, etc). Any operation missed by the operator will stop the line automatically and the operator will need to manually reset the torque.

A modular component supply and assembly is another highlight of the Tanjung Malim Plant. A total of 14 modular components are developed during the design phase of the new models, resulting in a simplified assembly operation, 25% less components to be installed, elimination of sub-assembly lines to integrate the components, lower logistics cost and direct delivery to line. In addition, a system integrator of 1st Tier vendor concept is also applied to allow only components for immediate use at the production lines.

2) Worker Friendly and Conducive Working Environment

Several ergonomically designed assembly processes are introduced to the plant, aimed at creating a worker friendly production line. They include features such as power-assisted equipment for heavy components (tyres, batteries, cockpit module, doors, seats etc) and automation systems for critical installations.

The plant operates on 60 per cent automation with a total of 180 robots, of which 138 units are employed in the Body Shop, 31 units in the Paint Shop and 11 units in the Trim & Final Assembly. Overall automation levels of each shop are body 60%, Painting 32% and final assembly 2%.

For enhanced working environment the building ceiling height has been raised to 10-12 meters high, with ventilation louvers in the jackroof and employing wind powered turbine ventilators. To induce more natural lighting into the building, there is extensive use of glass window panes on the perimeter walls and the central jackroof.

3) ALC – Automatic Line Control

The ALC is the heart of the Tanjung Malim plant operations, integrating the various process functions of each shop. An Ethernet network links the process equipment, data feedback terminals, vehicle tracking, production planning programs, parts demand forecast, production performance monitoring into an effective management tool for production.

The ALC system provides real time information on PC’s and strategically located Central Display Panels for quick action and response in the event of a line trouble. ALC can also broadcast information on production sequence and delivery information directly to the line side, therefore eliminating wrong specification build during assembly.

In critical assembly jigs in the body shop, ALC is linked to the jig controller and confirms that correct parts for the many variants of components are produced (a form of Pokayoke System). ALC also broadcast information to vendors for the confirmed sequence of cars on the line to facilitate parts supply arrangement.

4) Simplified Logistics

The Tanjung Malim Plant, being a Greenfield operation is an opportunity for the adoption of efficient logistics systems – JIT (Just-in-time), Kanban and Consolidation Centers – to realize up to 4 hours stocks of common parts. These concepts have been fully employed and proven even in Shah Alam operations, and further enhancements has been put in place.

For JIT parts, vendors are automatically notified via fax from the ALC system on the daily sequence of cars with adequate lead time to deliver the right parts (colour, specifications such as Right Hand or Left Hand drive, quantity and correct variant) directly to line side.

A Vendor Industrial Park, located within a 1.5 kilometer radius of the plant, is currently being developed to allow for big, bulky and sequenced parts component suppliers to be located in close proximity.

FAST FACTS ON PROTON TANJUNG MALIM / MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

1. The plant has a 60 per cent automation level, allowing man and machine to interact more efficiently, productively and safely.

2. The plant has an Automatic Line Control or error proof system to assist workers to enhance on quality and achieve better production efficiencies.

3. PROTON Tanjung Malim is capable of producing multi-model products on a common line, allowing greater flexibility in production. Each line can assemble vehicles on three different platforms and produce up to nine different models at one time

4. Currently producing 4,000 units of the GEN.2 per month since the factory began operations in February 2004. It has also started delivering orders of the GEN.2 to the United Kingdom and Australia. The plant is being readied for two shifts that will allow it to produce between 6,000 and 9,000 units of the car per month.

5. It is equipped with 4,600-tonne transfer press, the largest stamping equipment and the biggest of its kind in the Southeast Asian region.

6. PROTON Tanjung Malim sets new standards for a more conducive, comfortable and safe working environment. Among the worker friendly features include a high roof concept and utilizing natural aspirated ventilations that channels a cooling effect into the complex, bright coloured floors, good ergonomics and brightly lit complexes.

7. In July 2004, PROTON Tanjung Malim was awarded the Conformity Of Production (COP) certificate by the United Kingdom’s Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)*. The certificate is in recognition of the factory’s ability to produce cars in line with the specifications, performance and requirements set by the UK for cars exported to the country and to the rest of Europe.

8. In September 2003, PROTON was awarded the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 certification by the VCA and SIRIM Berhad, the body to develop and maintain Malaysian Standards. This certification allows it to export cars worldwide.

9. PROTON’s In-Plant Built-Up quality of cars, as of August 2003, has improved 4 times better over the past 8 years. From an average of 25 defects per car, it has been reduced to 6 defects per car rectified before cars being delivered to the distributors. In the first 200 days of ownership of GEN.2 the recorded defect per car was 0.83.

10. PROTON as of October 2004, enlists the services of 247 local vendors and 3,000 sub-vendors who supply more than 5,000 individual components and parts. A total of 108 vendors are Bumiputra companies. A total of 179 vendors have been audited by the TUV (European Standards Authority).

Note*: The VCA is a leading European approval and quality/environmental management system certification body and the United Kingdom’s national approval authority for new road vehicles, agricultural tractors and off-road vehicles.

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Pekan – The official roll-out of the first Mercedes-Benz E-class at DRB-HICOM Berhad’s MTB plant in Pekan today, signals the start of a new phase for the country’s single largest integrated automotive company. The joint assembly operation agreement with DaimlerChrysler Malaysia will see both parties collectively assembling Mercedes-Benz E-Class, C-Class and S-Class vehicles for a 3-year period, with the option of renewing it twice for a period of 1 year each.

The agreement, which was officially finalized in October last year, is the culmination of a series of negotiations between both parties, paving the way for a strategic partnership that has resulted in both companies investing substantially to create a hub for the assembly of the highly sought after premium product. DRB-HICOM Berhad’s total investment in the project will amount to RM23 Million, while DaimlerChrysler Malaysia’s investment in assembly activities in Malaysia is more than RM100 Million since the company started operation in 2003, these investments cover all production facilities including logistics, welding, painting and assembly, as well as testing facilities, test track, CMM body layout measurement, engine plant and training academy.

Approximately 1,800 units of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 1,800 units of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 600 units of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be assembled annually. The current capacity utilisation for the MTB plant is 35%, which has the capacity to produce 40,000 units annually. The addition of the Mercedes-Benz models into MTB’s production line has improved its capacity utilisation significantly.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the roll-out of the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle from MTB plant, Group Chairman of DRB-HICOM Berhad Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (DR.) Mohd. Saleh Sulong said, “ we are proud and grateful to have been chosen as a partner by DaimlerChrysler, one of the world’s leading automakers, as it clearly reflects DaimlerChrysler’s confidence in DRB-HICOM’s ability to deliver the output according to the high and exacting quality which is synonymous to Mercedes-Benz.

“This newly-established relationship with DaimlerChrysler puts MTB on a higher platform in term of recognition for the quality of output. It is most encouraging and inspiring not only for the 1000-odd employees of MTB, but also for the entire 2,300 workforce at the DRB-HICOM Complex here. It is expected to give and impactful cultural transition effect on the workforce and the stringent work methodologies of DaimlerChrysler will set new benchmarks at MTB,” he said at a ceremony which was officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

“This relationship between MTB and DaimlerChrysler Malaysia is expected to go beyond the current scope of works. We hope to be entrusted by DaimlerChrysler to also assemble other models such as Mercedes A-Class, Actros Truck, Sprinter Van, Smart, Jeep Chrysler,” he added.

Representing DaimlerChrysler Malaysia was Mr. Frank Steinleitner, President & CEO, who said the Mercedes-Benz as the leader in the premium luxury car segment, recognize the importance of consolidating the production locations over and above investing in high standards assembly facility. The is one of the key factors in making Mercedes-Benz the most successful automotive premium car brand in the world. DRB-HICOM has been identified as a strong local partner with its years of experience in the automotive industry, its well equipped and up-to-date automotive assembly facilities, space capacity for future expansion, and ideal location.

“The investment amount on assembly related activities and equipments, which we have spent and will spend until the rest of the model ranges are relocated, is more than RM100 million. CKD is our core business with a significant 57% market share in the luxurious passenger car segment. With the relocation, we have the largest product range on passenger cars and a full range of commercial vehicles, we have once again set a new benchmark and emerged to be the number one assembly location here in Malaysia”.

“The E-Class assembly line with the high-tech equipments is currently the best assembly facility in Malaysia to produce vehicles of the highest quality. This clearly differentiates us from our competitors. Our joint efforts also cover extensive training programs and up-to-date facility for production staff, include the set-up of this special training academy aimed at constantly supplying skilled workforce to the Mercedes-Benz production line, and to ensure every vehicle assembled are of the highest quality for greatest customer satisfaction,” he added.

DRB-HICOM Berhad, the single largest integrated automotive company in Malaysia, currently has partnerships with leading automotive brands which include General Motors, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Honda, Iveco, Citreon, Audi, Volkswagon and Tata. DRB-HICOM is involved in three core business i.e. Automotive, Property & Infrastructure and Services (includes Financial, Solid Waste Management, Computerised Vehicles Inspection and Insurance) with a total workforce of 32,000.

With a paid up capital of RM100 million, MTB is owned by DRB-HICOM Berhad (80 per cent) and Isuzu Motors Ltd (20 Per Cent). Established in 1994, MTB is entrusted to spearhead the manufacturing and assembly of commercial vehicles in Malaysia and in July 1997 the plant produced the first Malaysian National Commercial vehicle, the HICOM Perkasa.

The MTB plant in Pekan, Pahang, is equipped with up to date automotive manufacturing and assembly equipment and facilities, with a production capacity of 40,000 units per year. The plant undertakes contract assembly for various other international marques including Isuzu, Citreon, Mitsubishi, SsangYong, TATA, Iveco and BMC; with some 16 different model variants currently being assembled at the MTB plant.

DaimlerChrysler is one of the world’s leading automotive, transportation and services companies. Its passenger car brands include Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Smart, Chrysler, Dodge and jeep. Commercial vehicles are produced under the brands Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi FUSO, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, Orion, and American LaFrance. It offers related financial services through DaimlerChrysler Services. With 365,000 employees worldwide, DaimlerChrysler achieved revenues of EURO 142 Billion (approx. RM710 Billion) in 2004 with a total of 4.7 Million vehicles sold worldwide.

DaimlerChrysler Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. manages the wholesale distribution of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Smart passenger cars, Maybach passenger cars, Mitsubishi Fuso Commercial Vehicles and spare parts for all four brands in Malaysia, as well as additional services in the field of software development for global sales solutions and automotive apprentice training since January 2003.

Mercedes-Benz’s leadership position has been further strengthened with an increased market share from 43% in 2003 to 45% in 2004 despite challenging market environment and aggressive competition.


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    RANGE ROVER SPORT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS REVEALED
    Land Rover Headquarters, Gaydon, 22 February 2005 – Land Rover today releases full technical information on the Range Rover Sport, the fifth nameplate in the company’s stable.

    The Range Rover Sport is the best-performing and best-handling vehicle that Land Rover has ever built. Designed to complement the renowned Range Rover – which continues as the company’s flagship – the Range Rover Sport is a completely new vehicle, a more compact, more agile and more performance-oriented SUV.

    It combines invigorating dynamic ability with outstanding comfort and refinement. Land Rover calls it a ‘sports tourer’. This reflects its ability effortlessly to cover long journeys quickly and comfortably, and yet also to deliver sharp handling and exhilarating performance. Its on-road prowess is complemented by class-leading off-road capability.

    The top-line version uses a 287 kW (390 bhp SAE) Jaguar-derived supercharged V8 engine and has a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph), electronically limited. It is the fastest and best-accelerating vehicle that Land Rover has ever made. A normally aspirated V8 and advanced turbodiesel V6 are also available (diesel not available in North America and some other markets).

    “The Range Rover Sport competes in the growing performance SUV market, but is different from all rivals,” says managing director Matthew Taylor.

    “It is a sports tourer that offers the excitement of a performance car but with the versatility and go-anywhere ability of a Land Rover. Unlike rivals, its high performance doesn’t stop when the road gets rough – or runs out. It is an outstanding four-wheel drive off-roader, as you’d expect from Land Rover. And on road, compared with its rivals, we believe it is less frenetic, more refined and more comfortable. It all adds up to the broadest range of capability in its class. It also perfectly complements the existing Range Rover – the most complete luxury SUV.”

    Prices start at £34,995 for the entry-level Range Rover Sport 2.7-litre TDV6 S diesel and rise to £58,995 for the top-of-the-range petrol 4.2-litre V8 Supercharged ‘First Edition’.

    Comparison:

    PERFORMANCE

    Max speed
    V6 DIESEL : 120 mph/193 km/h
    V8 PETROL : 130 mph/209 km/h
    V8 SUPERCHARGED : 140 mph/225 km/h

    0-60 mph (96 km/h)
    V6 DIESEL : 11.9 sec
    V8 PETROL : 8.2 sec
    V8 SUPERCHARGED :7.2 sec

    0-100 km/h
    V6 DIESEL : 12.7 sec
    V8 PETROL : 8.9 sec
    V8 SUPERCHARGED : 7.6 sec

    FUEL ECONOMY

    Combined mpg (l/100 km)
    V6 DIESEL : 27.6 (10.2)
    V8 PETROL : 18.9 (14.9)
    V8 SUPERCHARGED : 17.8 (15.9)

    CO2 emissions
    V6 DIESEL : 271 g/km
    V8 PETROL : 352 g/km
    V8 SUPERCHARGED : 374 g/km


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    BMW525i – Medium Sized Sedan for the Family

    The addition of the BMW 525i makes it a total of five variants available for the buyer who wants not a 3 Series nor a 7 Series, but rather something in between. The 2.5 litre straight six slots neatly in between the 2.0 litre 520i, and the 3.0 litre 530i. The other models available are of course the very awesome 530d (diesel turbo), and the very powerful 545i, with a monster V8 hiding under the hood.

    The BMW 525i is a well positioned model that has been designed to appeal to the young executive who is upgrading from the 3-Series or other similarly sized cars of competitive makes.

    “The new 5 Series has proven to be a great success. With its combination of dynamic driving and luxury, it has won over many new customers and built a strong presence in its segment,” said Wolfgang Schlimme, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia. He added, “We have been adding model variants and the feedback has been positive. Starting with the BMW 530d (diesel), we found our customers liked to have more choice and hence we are continuing to increase our model offering.”

    The new BMW 525i will be the third variant to be assembled locally in the new BMW assembly line in Shah Alam.

    Powered by the same six cylinder, aluminum 192 bhp Bi-VANOS (read variable valve and ignition timing) engine as the 325i, the 5-Series, being a little heavier, offers a marginally lower level of performance as the 325i, but makes up for this with a more comfortable environment inside, and a more refined ride. Handling is as good as ever, with dynamic traction control, independent suspension all round, huge brakes with the usual ABS, EBD, etc, etc. Looking under the car, you will notice heavy usage of aluminum parts in the suspension to reduce unsprung weight.

    Power is transferred to the ground via a 6-speed automatic gearbox, a move that allows better spread of gear ratios to give balance between good acceleration and high top speed. We achieved a top speed of a little over 220 kph before we ran out of safe road. I would venture to say that the BMW 525i makes a great high-speed cruiser. You would have no problem cruising the whole day at between 160 km/hr to 200 km/hour. If you want to, it will deliver, but will do so in a slightly muted fashion.

    Aggressive styling makes the BMW525i stand out from the crowd, and the familiar BMW kidneys make sure it is not mistaken for anything other than a BMW. Something about its front profile seems to encourage other road users to smartly pull over whenever we appear in their rear view mirrors. Size wise, the 5-Series is large without being clumsy, and although you cannot throw it around as you could a 3-Series, it will give a good account of itself through the twisty bits if need be. Getting through corners at high speed was never an issue; the suspension, whilst being compliant, and the body would roll a little, will deliver when push gets to shove. A little ‘understeer’ is built into the suspension geometry to make it an easy car to control in extreme conditions. A key feature of the 5 Series is its ‘active’ steering, that varies the steering ratio to allow higher gearing at low speeds and lowers it as speed increases. The effect is more steering for less turns of the steering wheel at low speeds for improved drivability, and vice versa at higher speeds for better stability.

    Inside, seats large enough for over-sized adults are bound in leather; front seats are electrically controlled, with memory for the driver’s seat. Traces of wood trim give the interior a touch of class, while the usual cubby holes and storage spaces abound. Driver aids other than the safety features include Park Distance Control to make sure you don’t hit any obstacles while parking your car, and for night driving, Xenon lights are standard issue.

    In the final analysis, the BMW 525i is a car that is built for the upper echelons of society, targeted at the slightly more mature user who wants good performance levels, but wants some comfort and luxury as well. At RM398k a pop, (on-the-road without insurance) it will only be affordable to people who have incomes in excess of five figures, with the first number possibly more than one.

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    Toyota Young Drivers Programme Ready for 2005

    Toyota has today announced that its European young drivers programme will be consolidated with three youngsters continuing with the scheme in 2005.

    The successful initiative will be renamed ‘Toyota Young Drivers Programme’
    (TDP) in 2005, replacing the Toyota Drivers Academy (TDA) banner that has been in place since 2003. The TDP will continue to operate from Toyota Motorsport’s base in Cologne, Germany by a team headed up by Noritoshi Arai.

    F3 Euro series Rookie champion, Frenchman Franck Perera, will participate for a second year in the series, looking to challenge for the outright title in 2005. He will be joined in the series by rising Japanese star Kohei Hirate, who was runner-up in the 2004 Italian Formula Renault championship.

    Perera will continue with Prema Powerteam, whilst Hirate will join forces with Team Rosberg, run by former F1 world champion Keke Rosberg.

    “We have always had a good relationship with Prema Powerteam in both F3 and Formula Renault and we are pleased to continue our co-operation into 2005,” explains Toyota Motorsport’s Executive Vice-President, Yoshiaki Kinoshita. “We are still learning about the F3 series, so we have developed an additional contract with Team Rosberg. They are an F3 team with a top quality in engineering talent and one with whom we hope to be successful with in the future.”

    The third driver of the programme will be Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi, who will take part in a second successive season in Italian Formula Renualt with Prema Powerteam, as well as racing in the Eurocup championship.

    “Looking at our overall driver line-up from 2004, we wanted to select who we believe are the best all-round drivers,” Kinoshita explains. “Kamui was second best of the rookies last season, but he won two races and we believe he will be a real challenger for the title in 2005.”

    “We have also delighted that Ryan Briscoe, who has developed himself in our young driver programme since 2001 has stepped forward to race for a Toyota-powered team in the US IRL series. He has already proved his speed among the top US open wheel drivers in the open tests and his immediate future looks extremely promising.” Kinoshita adds.

    Although the TDP is a European-based driver programme, the scheme will be totally united with Toyota’s successful Japanese programme: the Formula Toyota Racing School (FTRS), which will also adopt the TDP name from 2005.

    Kinoshita concludes: “At Toyota, we always operate on a global scale, so it is logical that we bring our young driver programmes closer together. With the merge of FTRS and TDA, we are now looking to find and develop Toyota’s racing talent of the future in the top racing categories of the world. And both of these projects will enjoy the benefits of a unified management team.”

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    AAM Malaysian Autocross Championship 2005 to kick off this Sunday, 27th February 2005

    Round 1 of the AAM Malaysian Autocross Championship 2005 will be run this Sunday 27th February 2005 at the Shah Alam Stadium.
    This Championship will be run over three rounds, all at Shah Alam Stadium, with the next two rounds on the 22nd May and 27th November.
    For those unfamiliar with Autocrossing, the version that is being run in this championship is similar to the US version called SOLO. In this competition, drivers drive alone over a set course laid out on a car park or flat area and are timed electronically, with the winner being the one with the fastest time. Penalties are awarded for hitting cones and going the wrong direction and driving skill and vehicle control are two pre-requisites for a good time.
    Cars are divided into 8 classes with the lowest class being below 1000 c.c. and Class 8 open to anything with four wheels, excluding karts.
    In 2004 the winners of the Malaysian Championship represented Malaysia at the Asian Autocross Championships in December and although the championship was won by the competitors from Thailand, the experience has made the Malaysian competitors more eager to improve their skills and be better prepared for the 2005 Championship which is scheduled to be held in Malaysia again.
    This year’s championship is co-sponsored by Lotus Cars and there will be at least six Lotus entries spearheaded by Maznah Zolkifli of TV fame. Also among the Lotus entries will be Dominic Ang who will be putting the skills from his kart racing into driving a Lotus in competition for the first time. There will be competitors who will be coming from as far as Penang and Practice starts at 9.30 a.m. and the event should end at about 5.00 p.m.

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