Earlier this month from June7th to June 13th 2018, and under the leadership of Italian car brand Maserati and the Maserati West Europe offices, this race, the 5th Edition of the Paris-Modena “Kilometres For Charity” took place. Besides the personal challenge to participants, each kilometer covered during the race (around 100km per day) raised money for the association “Rêves” which aims to realize the dreams of ill children.
Once again Paris-Modena attracted a large number of VIP participants, including F1 former driver and actor Paul Belmondo, Italian national cycling team coach Davide Cassani, former professional cyclists such as Alessandro Ballan, Marco Velo and Paolo Fornaciari. Also attending were José Miguel Antúnez, former Spanish national basketball captain, Italian alpine skier Manuela Moelgg, the Michelin starred chef Andrea Sarri, and Matteo Panini, owner of the Panini Museum, which houses one of the world’s most important collection of historical Maserati cars.
This beautiful adventure was reserved to 35 cyclists, who travelled through France and Italy to reach Modena in five days! The start of the race was on Friday, June 8th2018 at Vienne near Lyon, France, and the route took the cyclists to Mens and the famous climb of Alpe d’Huez.
On Saturday June 9ththey continued their journey towards Galibier pass, till Modane where the city welcomed them for lunch. They eventually reached Turin for the night. On Sunday June 10th the cyclists started the stage from Grugliasco “Avvocato Giovanni Agnelli Plant” where Maserati produces the Quattroporte and Ghibli. The athletes also stopped at the Mirafiori plant where the Maserari Levante is produced. They managed to take a ride on the well-known test track.The route continued through Langhe region.
The fourth day, the participants went to Lido Di Camaiore having a lunch there at Bagno Ariston Mare before a ride to Montecatini Terme. They will pass by Lucca, Collodi and reach the thermal city in the afternoon.
The last leg of the race will lead them from Montecatini Alto through Abetone and then to Modena where the cyclists will benefit of an exclusive visit of the private Panini collection, which includes some of the most beautiful historic Maserati’s cars. The final destination will be the head office of Maserati. Pirelli provided the P Zero Velo tires for the bicycles and the new colored tires for the Maserati cars.
The following was received in its entirety, unedited, from Proton recently, a message special from Abdul Rashid Musa, CEO of Proton Edar on the topic of…
WHAT HAPPENS TO CAR PRICE WHEN SST IS IMPLEMENTED?
According to the market trend in the past, the two months starting from Hari Raya will be a low season for the car market. Therefore, looking at the trend, the Malaysia car market is expected to revive in August.
From now to August 2018 is a good time to buy a car…
However, the recent declaration on the abolishment of the GST to 0% is foreseen to change the situation and we believe that now is the best time for consumers to purchase a new car as the implementation of SST will likely take effect in September. According to various sources, vehicle prices could go up following the return of SST, as mentioned by the President of Malaysia Automotive Association, Datuk Aishah Ahmad in her interview with the media in May, “Car prices will increase when 10% SST is in place.”
New cars provide more convenient loan application and better rates…
In the used car market, due to the stiff competition, sellers generally absorb the GST, therefore, the pricing won’t be affected by the zerorised GST. For consumers with a tight budget, the used car market may be more appealing as the cost comparison seems more reasonable and practical. However, the processes of buying a used car can take a little bit more cumbersome compared to the experience of buying a new car since loan approvals might be easier to obtain and interest rates are lower as a new car poses lower risks, hence, resulting in higher loan amount.
Most popular choice…
Under such circumstances, most car manufacturers come up with various promotional activities. Consumers with limited budget will have a hard time deciding which model to purchase. Take a 1.3cc car for example, consumers are spoilt for choice in the market, when making comparisons on the maintenance, space, safety and stability, and particularly the pricing.
We feel that Proton Saga is the clear winner in all those comparisons – it is spacious, equipped with ESC and TC for the premium model and offers great ride and handling, a key characteristic of a Proton car. The excellent ride and handling, provide a remarkable driving experience, making the drive on highways so stable, comfortable and swift, compared to its direct competitors. Its low maintenance, however, is the key factor for consumers in choosing the Proton Saga over its close competitors.
PROTON is currently offering SAGA from below RM30,000 for its nett selling price*. It is the lowest in its segment and is the best price offered in the last 10 years (well, 12 years, actually!).
Abdul Rashid Musa Chief Executive Officer, PROTON Edar
Yes read you that right. But not that. What are we on about? Well it’s that time of year again and Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is inviting everyone to their Raya Open House, this Saturday June 30th from 11am to 5pm, happening at all VPCM showrooms nationwide!
“As the event falls on the final day of Volkswagen’s Raya Promotion, this festive occasion is the perfect time to take advantage of rebates of up to RM15,000, low interest rates from as low as 0.88% (per annum), and a free petrol card worth RM1,188. Combined with the current tax holiday of 0% GST, visitors are ensured the best of what Volkswagen has to offer. Additionally, there is also a 20% discount offered on all official Volkswagen merchandise sold at the dealerships during the Open House” – VPCM.
And of course, no #VW Blue Durian Raya Open House is complete without a feast of Hari Raya delicacies for everyone. For more information, visit any authorized VW dealership or visit www.volkswagen.com.my
Perodua has secured its first ever ride-hailing and ride-sharing service fleet purchase of 1,000 Perodua Bezza and Axia units. “We are pleased to announce that a ride-hailing and a ride-sharing service provider operating in Malaysia have purchased a combined 1,000 Axias and Bezzas,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director YBhg Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin. He said that the fleet sale to these service providers was significant to Perodua as it opens up yet another market for the compact carmaker.
“This is an important endorsement by companies that rely on good quality and safe cars which are also economical to maintain,” he added. “The proliferation of ride-hailing and ride-sharing services in Malaysia has revolutionised the way we get around, and Perodua is proud to be a part of this revolution towards more efficient and sustainable transport for all. We thank them for their support,” Dato’ Dr Zahari said.
All in all, over 300,000 Axias and 100,000 Bezzas have been sold since their launches in 2014 and 2016 respectively. They are both government-certified Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEV) and have led their respective vehicle segments since their inception. Perodua recently launched a new Bezza variant (below) at the 2018 Malaysia Autoshow, held 26-29 April at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
Replacing the 1.0 Standard G in the range, the Bezza GXtra offers a trim specification comparable to the 1.3 Premium X with no increase in price, giving buyers even more value for money.
Rekod baru di Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2018 telah dicatat oleh kereta elektrik Volkswagen.
Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak mampu menjana 670hp dengan hanya berat 1,099kg.
Gabungan dengan pemandu Perancis Romain Dumas berjaya menjadi kereta lumba pertama untuk mencatat masa dibawah 8 minit.
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2018 baru sahaja selesai berlangsung di Colorado Springs, Amerika Syarikat. Perlumbaan ikonik yang lebih dikenali dengan ‘Race to the Clouds’ sejauh 20km dan setinggi 4,302 meter berakhir dengan keputusan yang sangat menarik, lebih-lebih lagi dari Volkswagen. (more…)
Hyundai Motor has elaborated on a step forward in its design philosophy with providing a more detailed blueprint for ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ by unveiling the HDC-2 ‘Grandmaster’ SUV concept and presented a new N Brand Global Strategy with line-up expansion at the 2018 Busan International Motor Show.
Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and head of the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division
Having first introduced the ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ direction with the HDC-1 ‘Le Fil Rouge’ concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, Hyundai further explored and elaborated on the philosophy with its latest SUV concept vehicle, the HDC-2 Grandmaster concept (below). The Le Fil Rouge sedan provided a clear direction for Hyundai’s design philosophy, while the new SUV concept vehicle further proved the versatility of this design language that will be portrayed in future Hyundai vehicles, opening up new possibilities for an even wider spectrum of attractive designs.
Hyundai also introduced the Veloster N (below) at the Busan International Motor Show, laying out the blueprint for its High Performance N Brand. Hyundai will further diversify its N Brand Product Portfolio including High Performance N models, N Line Vehicles with new design and performance enhancing elements and N Option, customization parts by N, which is available for the entire Hyundai line-up. In addition, Hyundai showcased the enhanced Tucson with refined design and enhanced active safety features including a standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA).
Exemplifying the theme of ‘Future Mobility Life’, Hyundai divided its booth into five distinct spaces – Garage N, Hyundai Veloster Street, Design Gallery, Hydrogen Electricity House and the Life Square – all of which aim to highlight Hyundai’s design philosophy and mobility life, as well as to provide valued customer experience.
Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and head of the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division, said “I am thrilled to share our vision for the Brand today with you. We will continue to diversify our products and tailor them to the unique needs and experiences of each customer, so that every Hyundai vehicle provides a fun-to-drive experience throughout everyday life.”
“Today we showcased two concept vehicles as a blueprint for our evolved design strategy,” said SangYup Lee, Vice President and head of Hyundai styling. “Making a big step forward in terms of design with the Hyundai Look strategy, we will move towards becoming a brand that customers can really relate to emotionally. Moving on from being a brand that provides a great value, we will aspire to also become a brand that is widely beloved by our customers”
More…
Veloster N and N Brand Global Strategy…
First introduced at the North American International Auto Show in January 2018, the Veloster N is Hyundai’s second N model, following the ‘i30 N’ launched in Europe last year, and the first model to be showcased to Korean customers.
As part of Hyundai’s High Performance N Business, the Veloster N offers differentiated exterior and interior designs, focusing on fun-to-drive characteristics and providing the best driving performance to drivers, as well as passengers.
Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged high performance engine and 6-speed manual transmission, Veloster N boasts maximum power output of 275hp and torque output of 36.0 kgf·m.
With launch control function for spontaneous start and rev matching function for dynamic gear change, Veloster N is also a true ‘Cornering Rascal’ ready to take on any difficult corners.
Hyundai’s N Vehicles demonstrate that the thrill of driving should be measured by the driver’s heartbeats per minute (BPM), rather than revs per minute (RPM), emphasizing exhilarating sensations experienced behind the wheel.
Veloster N is a part of Hyundai’s N brand Global Strategy, which aimed to provide a ground-breaking experience for drivers. Hyundai’s N line-up is based on the company’s philosophy of providing high performance driving technology and an exciting driving experience reminiscent of motorsports, granting dynamic feeling and sensation to everyday drivers.
The market response to the first N Model, ‘the i30 N’, has been so positive that the company is even considering increasing the production volume.
Elaborating on the high performance division, Schemera said “Our motorsports vehicles will spearhead the N Brand at the apex of the brand’s hierarchy. Not to mention that the valuable experience and technology derived from our success in motorsports will cascade down to all the future N products.”
HDC-1 Le Fil Rouge and HDC-2 Grandmaster concept: A step forward with the Hyundai Look…
During the 2018 Busan International Motor Show, Hyundai showcased the first SUV concept featuring the Hyundai Look, a demonstration of evolving Hyundai design philosophy.
Debuted at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Le Fil Rouge concept car highlights Hyundai’s evolved design direction under the theme of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’. Following the concept, the HDC-2 Grandmaster model reinterprets Hyundai’s design DNA, and is designed through harmonization of four key elements – proportion, architecture, styling and technology – thereby bringing emotional value and desirability.
The concept name of Grandmaster is derived from the game of chess. While the world’s finest chess champion is called the grandmaster, the concept vehicle is named to indicate that just as the sum of all chess pieces completes the game of chess, all forthcoming Hyundai vehicles will come to form a harmonious vehicle line-up demonstrating the Hyundai Look while each maintains distinctive character and role.
The beauty is further enhanced by the architecture and styling. The new approach of this ‘Light Architecture’ creates a perfect silhouette to the front and the rear, not to mention its technological innovation, which couples spectacular design with a comfortable experience for drivers and passengers. The design elements of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ will be applied to Hyundai’s upcoming sedan and SUV models.
Tucson SUV…
The redesigned and enhanced 2019 Tucson features changes inside and out and is an attention-grabbing SUV. Its bold cascading grille and new headlight/DRL design create dramatic impressions.
Also, Hyundai applied an 8-speed automatic transmission and HTRAC all-wheel drive system for improved driving performance as well as better fuel economy.
Incorporating the latest technologies and safety features, the 2019 Tucson meets modern consumers’ daily needs and provides peace of mind with enhanced safety.
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Driver Attention Warning (DAW) are equipped on all 2019 Tucson models to further enhance safety. Hyundai’s extra efforts to make the 2019 Tucson safer were recently recognized by top industry experts and consumers alike – J.D. Power named Tucson the Most Dependable Small SUV and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) selected the vehicle as a Top Safety Pick.
＊Above mentioned features and specification may vary by market.
The enhanced Tucson goes on sale in the Korean market in the third quarter of 2018.
