Following the signing of its General Distributorship Agreement (GDA) with smart last month, Proton has established a new subsidiary company to handle sales and distributorship for the smart vehicles which are available only with battery electric powertrains.
The new company, known as Proton New Energy Technology Sdn. Bhd. (PRO-NET), will also be responsible for Proton’s own future new energy vehicle (NEV) offerings. ‘NEV’ is a term which originated in China around 2010 and refers to vehicles which are electrified (including plug-in hybrids). The category was created to facilitate the provision of incentives to boost development and sales of electrified vehicles.
The new smart #1 battery electric vehicle that will go on sale in Malaysia next year.(more…)
The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) recently received a Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM). The donation by MMM, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice, will help in providing NCSM’s services to rural communities around Malaysia.
NCSM, a non-profit organization (NGO) established in 1966, will use it to provide an extensive range of cancer services and support to people affected by cancer. With the Triton’s off-road capabilities, it will be able to travel further into the countryside to reach rural communities that have little or no access to cancer screening facilities.
With the Triton, NCSM personnel will be able to travel more easily in the countryside to reach rural communities to provide cancer screening servicesand support to people affected by cancer.(more…)
Different people will buy a pick-up truck for different reasons but some basic expectations will be good performance, refinement and economical operation. With the next-gen Ford Ranger, these expectations are met in the best way with powertrains for work, family and play.
Two 4-cylinder 2-litre turbodiesel engines are available with the next-gen Ranger – the Single-Turbo and the Bi-Turbo, both well proven and updated as well as compatible with biodiesel.
The Bi-Turbo engine has a clever bypass system that determines the optimum operating mode. Depending on the conditions, the turbochargers can operate in series (at lower engine speeds for enhanced torque and responsiveness) or the smaller turbocharger can be bypassed to allow the larger turbocharger to push more air into the combustion chambers.
The Single Turbo offers 170 ps at 3,500 rpm, with 405 Nm of torque available between from 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. With the more powerful Bi-Turbo, there’s up to 210 ps of power at 3,750 rpm and an impressive 500 Nm of torque generated between 1,750 and 2,000 rpm.
Two 4-wheel drive systems To get all that power to the ground, the next-gen Ranger comes with a choice of two types of 4-wheel drive systems. There’s a conventional ‘part-time’ system with a 2-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case offering 2H, 4H and 4L modes. Also available is an on-demand 4-wheel drive system (2H, 4A, 4H, and 4L) which allows the truck to be driven in 4-wheel drive on high-traction surfaces like highways via its 4A (automatic) mode. The system intelligently distributes power between the front and rear axles for optimum performance in all on-road conditions.
For additional stability in slippery or rough terrain, the next-gen Ranger continues to be offered with rear differential lock (Ranger WildTrak and XLT Plus). This lock creates a connection between the left and right rear wheels so they rotate at the same speed, helping to get out of a difficult situation off-road. Activation of the rear differential lock is easily done on the SYNC screen in the cabin.
Selectable Drive Modes Making greater use of the computing power on board the next-gen Ranger, there are up to 6 drive modes (depending on the variant) which can make driving over difficult terrain easier. For example, the Slippery mode is for on-road surfaces while the Mud/Ruts and Sand mode is for use off-road.
As in the Ranger Raptor before, the drive modes alter various operating parameters to optimise performance in specific conditions. These cover gearchanges, throttle response, traction and stability controls and the brake system.
In addition to the selectable drive modes, the next-gen Ranger has a special off-road screen on the SYNC4A infotainment system. At the press of a button, the display appears and driveline and diff lock settings, steering angle, vehicle pitch and roll angles, as well as a front camera view with predictive overlay guidelines. With such information, the driver can travel more confidently over challenging terrain.
Tough and protected Going off-road can be punishing for any vehicle with all sorts of obstacles and hazards. This has been kept in mind by the engineers who have designed various protective underbody shields for the next-gen Ranger. These shields protect the steering, sump, transmission and transfer case – critical components that cannot be damaged.
The shields are made from pressed and folded laser-cut steel. The mounting bolts are recessed so they won’t get damaged but can still be easily removed at the service centre. Because the shields are bolted directly to the chassis, they also to the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Small changes, big benefits Although virtually similar in overall size as the previous Ranger, the next-gen Ranger has 50 mm increases in the tracks and wheelbase. These may seem like small changes but they improve stability on as well as off the road.
Drivers will find that they can take on steep slopes more easily with the improved front approach angle increased to 30 degrees (from 28.5 degrees) in the, Likewise, the rear departure angle has also increased by 2 degrees to 23 degrees.
For those worried about climate change bringing more floods, owning the next-gen Ranger could be one way of preparing for such conditions. With a maximum water wading depth of 800 mm (travelling at 7 km/h), the next-gen Ranger will be able to get across many flooded areas easily.
Taking more load Widening the track also allows the designers to widen the cargo bed and offer a more versatile load space. The rear dampers were also moved outboard of the springs which makes for a more controlled ride whether the vehicle is carrying a lot or empty. Depending on the variant and market, the payload capacity is up to 1,000 kgs (1 tonne).
If more stowage space is needed, the next-gen Ranger’s roof can also take up loads of up to 350 kgs static and 85 kgs dynamic. Ford dealers have a range of versatile cargo management solutions to meet different customer needs. These range from adjustable cleats on each side to tray-mounted tie-downs and styled box rails. There are also tailgate clamp pockets and box capping with 6 structural mounting points for after-market accessories.
See the Next-Gen Ranger in East Malaysia The next-gen Ranger will be in showrooms in coming months but before it has its official showroom launch, it will be on display in East Malaysia. Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) will hold previews at Vivacity Megamall in Kuching, on September 7 – 11, and at Suria Sabah Shopping Centre in Kota Kinabalu on October 5 – 9, 2022.
These events will enable you to learn more about the next-gen Ranger (and also book one). If you would like to attend either of these two events, sign up here for an exclusive invitation. Alternatively, you can visit www.sdacford.com.my for more information about the next-gen Ranger, or follow the Ford Malaysia Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channels.
As supply improves, the car companies are able to deliver more vehicles to waiting customers and many have seen significant increases each month. These include UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), which reported a total of 9,091 units comprising 8,961 units of Toyota vehicles and 130 units of Lexus vehicles. The total volume was 37% higher than what was achieved in July (6,637 units).
Cumulative deliveries for the first 8 months of the year reached 61,639 units (Toyota and Lexus combined), 62% higher than for the same period in 2021 when the cumulative volume was 38,085 units.
The company is looking forward to even better numbers in coming months as it will soon launch the new Toyota Veloz MPV. Since bookings opened in June, some 5,200 orders have been collected for the 7-seater MPV which will take over from the Avanza.
Before finally appearing in showrooms and being delivered to customers, one of the final stages in the development of a new model is extensive testing in all kinds of conditions representative of the real world. The testing will identify areas that need to be improved or changed and also validate many operating parameters.
Every manufacturer has a similar process and at Kia, the new EV9 is going through this final phase. As the model designation indicates, this is an electric vehicle (EV) and will be the second dedicated EV from the Korean carmaker after the EV6. Its launch date is set for the first quarter of 2023 so there’s about 6 months left to complete testing.
After making its competitive debut in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the new Peugeot 9X8 at the Monza round in Italy two months ago, the Team Peugeot TotalEnergies is in Japan this week for a second 6-hour showdown. Two units of the new Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) will race at the Fuji Speedway this weekend to collect more information in racing conditions.
Commenting on the first race in Italy, Peugeot Sport Technical Director Olivier Jansonnie, said: “We needed that first race. We had achieved as much as we could in testing so, in order to ramp up our preparations and development, it was time to pitch ourselves directly against our opposition in a true race-weekend environment.”
Encouraged by the potential of a car whose homologation is now fixed (meaning that any further modifications will be strictly limited and regulated), the two driving crews were able to acclimatise to racing in traffic and compare the 9X8 to the championship’s other hypercars.
“We collected a great deal of information about the car and team. We also ran into a few problems that we hadn’t previously encountered in testing, some of which we were able to rectify on-site, others that we have been continuing to work on since Monza. This is a tried-and-tested process in motorsport,” Jansonnie explained.
“At this early stage, it should be noted that we are concentrating more on reliability and performance than on refining race strategies. That is perfectly normal for such a new project, up against rivals with – in some cases – more than 10 years of experience in the sport. We are all fiercely competitive here at Team Peugeot TotalEnergies and we recognise that both the car and team have scope for significant improvement, but we have yet to come across any issues that we cannot resolve, so that’s very positive,” he said.
Disappointed that the team was not able to take full advantage of the 10-minute qualifying session in Italy to properly demonstrate the 9X8’s potential, Jansonnie has since gone into even greater detail with his team in order to optimise its work on the car with the clock ticking down. It focused particularly hard on this aspect during two private tests carried out between Monza and Fuji.
“In Japan, we will be discovering the circuit for the first time, so we need to make sure we maximise every on-track session from Friday morning through to Sunday afternoon,” he stressed.
Preparing for Fuji’s challenges The 6 Hours of Fuji – Round 5 of the 2022 WEC – poses an altogether different challenge to Monza in a number of ways. Jansonnie and his team realise this, particularly as it is held halfway around the world. “For long-haul events like this, we need to adapt our procedures because we do not have the same regular facilities at our disposal – like motorhomes and trucks – as we do when we race in Europe,” he said.
The circuit and region’s unpredictable weather – with heavy and prolonged downpours likely – represent further unknowns for the team, although not for the whole team. Its drivers like Jean-Eric Vergne and Gustavo Menezes have raced at Fuji in the past, while Loic Duval and James Rossiter spent a part of their career based in Japan. The benefits of that experience will complement the data already acquired by the crews and their engineers from their work in the 9X8 simulator as they endeavour to prepare as well as possible for the unique demands of this iconic Japanese track.
The 4.563-km Fuji Speedway where the fifth round of the 2022 World Endurance Championship will be held. It was opened in December 1965 and has been owned by Toyota Motor Corporation since 2000.
“Monza could have gone better for us, but that was entirely to be expected at such an early stage of an ambitious project like this. Our car [#93] ran into problems in the race that led to our retirement. During the run that I completed in free practice, though, we were close to the Toyota in terms of pure pace, which proves that we are in the right ballpark with this non-conventional car. I’m completely convinced about that. Our first race was another significant milestone on this exciting journey and now, for Fuji, the goalposts shift again. But that’s what keeps the adrenalin flowing!” said Vergne who will share the racing car with Paul di Resta and Mikkel Jensen.
New era in endurance racing The 9X8 starts a new era for Peugeot in endurance racing, the motorsport category where it was previously victorious with the 905 and 908 in the 1990s and in 2009. Conforming to the regulations that govern the ACO and FIA’s new Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) category, the 4 wheel-drive racing prototype has a 2.6-litre bi-turbo V6 engine powering the rear wheels and a 200 kW electric motor driving the front wheels.
Inside the Peugeot 9X8.
The racing car, without a rear wing, measures 4.995 metres in length, has a width of 2 metres and is just 1.145 metres tall. With lots of lightweight materials in its bodywork, it weighs 1,030 kgs and its tank holds up to 90 litres of TotalEnergies’ 100% renewable Excellium Racing 100 fuel.
The completion of vital development and testing phases, necessary to achieving reliability and performance for the 9X8, led to its competitive debut being delayed until after the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours. Its first entry in the WEC was thus at the 6 Hours of Monza on July 10 and this weekend, it will be at the Fuji Speedway.
