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PROTON – MSF Merdeka Race Carnival 2022 Is On At The Sepang International Circuit This Weekend

With the pandemic behind us and life almost normal (still have to observe some SOPs like wearing masks in crowded places), many public activities can take place again. And with National Day coming up, a number of companies and organisations are having special activities for Malaysians to celebrate in a big way.

One of them is our Malaysian carmaker, Proton, which has partnered with Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) to run the PROTON – MSF Merdeka Race Carnival 2022 this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). MSF is a national-level racing series which started in 2010 and offers affordable blue-collar motor racing which has helped develop as well as the grassroots-level racing in the country.

While this weekend’s carnival will appeal to motorsports fans in particular, there are also activities for all the family at SIC. The company will also have a special promotion for current Proton models, genuine spare parts and financing packages and merchandise.

Additionally, technicians will be on hand to inspect Proton vehicles to ensure that everything is in tip-top condition. For those who are thinking of trading-in their current vehicle for a new Proton, there’s also free evaluation of used cars.

Visitors can also learn more about Proton’s technologies in its various vehicles and pick up tips for tips for car maintenance and driving safety. There will also be demonstration runs of how Proton’s Advanced Driver Assist Systems actively help the driver avoid accidents and how the Auto Park Assist feature in the X50 works.

*Find out about the X50’s technologies and safety systems.*

Various Proton car clubs have been invited to gather at the event, with a mix of several clubs, while tomorrow will see at least original Proton Saga club members gathering in support of the MSF Saga Cup Merdeka Enduro race in the evening.

Owners of unique and interesting modified cars will also be displaying their specially crafted pride and joy in an event supported by Retro Havoc, Motor Maniac, and Biadap. Proton’s R3 performance division will also display its successful Preve and Satria Neo racing cars that pay homage to the brand’s success at the Sepang S1k races.

For the little ones who cannot go on test-drives or participate in certain activities, there’s still lots to keep them occupied and happy. Besides an inflatable Water Park and Bouncy Castle, they can have fun Hot Wheels, Giant Jenga and be entertained by a clown.

Besides racing simulators, adults can test (and show off to their friends and family) their skills in a challenging autocross course. Using a Proton model, they need to complete the course in the shortest time without any penalties and the top 3 fastest times today and tomorrow will win MSF & R3 merchandise. Those who are fans on Proton’s Facebook and Instagram pages will get privileged access.

If you’ve never experienced driving around the SIC, which has hosted Formula 1 races, Proton offers a sight-seeing lap for those who place a booking for a new Proton vehicle during this event or purchase a minimum RM200 of R3 merchandise. If the purchase is RM300 or more, an exciting experience of a ride in a Proton R3 racing cars with one of the skilled drivers is also offered.

Incidentally, there will be special appearances by veteran racers Karamjit Singh, Farique Hairuman, James Veerapen and Leona Chin who will be happy to talk about their experiences with fans.

*Malaysian rally legend Karamjit Singh will be at the event to meet fans.*

Besides stunt driving shows, MSF stunt driver Faidzal Alang will attempt to set a record at the SIC by driving around the full 5.52-km circuit on 2 wheels. This attempt will take place tonight and be observed by officials from the Malaysia Book of Records.

There will, of course, be racing activities as well today and tomorrow. The MSF Merdeka Race runs a series of 1.5-hour endurance races in a special round of the Malaysia Speed Festival Racing Series that takes place annually during Merdeka weekend. Over 150 cars take part in this race which sees various racing cars from original classic Saga to World Touring Car Series cars taking part.

There will also be a club-level Superbike racing series which sees budding clubman racers duel each other around the track at speeds of up to 280 km/h. Also in the programme is a Megalap Time Attack.

Finally, in conjunction with 65th National Day, 65 units of various Proton models will travel in convoy around the circuit.

Admission is free to the SIC Main Paddock but before going, you need to fill up a form to gain entry. To download the form, click here.

Have fun at the PROTON – MSF Merdeka Race Carnival 2022!

Bentley Residences In Miami To Have Car-lifts To Bring Your Car Up To Your Apartment

One thing about living in a high-rise apartment is that your car has to be parked some distance away. If you are very rich and live in a place like the Hamilton Scotts condo near Newton Circus in Singapore, then your car can be parked adjacent to your apartment unit as there is a ‘Sky Garage’ where the car is brought up by a lift.

Bentley Residences in Miami, USA, also has a similar idea and offers its residents a 4-car garage at whatever level their apartment is on. The ‘Dezervator’ lift, named after the development partner Dezer Development, will transport the car and passengers from road level to apartment.

There will be four ‘Dezervators’ which have a unique elevator design, conceived by Bentley’s partners. Each lift has a hydraulic system which pinches a car by its tyres to pull it on top of a robotic shuttle system which, in turn, transports a car up or down to the desired level.

The passengers need not get out and use a separate lift and can remain inside as it goes up to the apartment. On the way up, they will have a unique experience with the lower floors of the elevator shaft enclosed by glass offering a full panoramic view of the various areas of the building.

Each resident, right up to the 61^st floor, will have a personal 3 or 4-car garage within their apartment offering private, convenient and secure storage for their car collections. RFID tags on each car will identify the vehicle and once verified, a sophisticated lighting system will guide the driver to the correct Dezervator to reach their own floor. The garages will also have a wallbox for charging electric vehicles.

Bentley Motors and Dezer Development announced their partnership in 2021, detailing plans for the first ever Bentley-branded residences, which will be 61 storeys high and offer bay and ocean views from each luxury apartment. There will be 216 apartments in total with prices ranging from US$6.35 million to US$12.95 million.

*Bentley Residences in Miami, USA, will be completed by 2026.*

Visitors to the Bentley Residences will be able to make use of the additional parking facilities beneath the building. The garage will also include fast-charging stations for EVs and plug-in hybrids.

The Bentley design team collaborated with Dezer on the exterior and interior of the building, translating Bentley’s luxury design to the residential experience. The design of the Bentley Residences offers unique ocean and bayside views, thanks to the building’s cylindrical form and floor-to-ceiling windows. The tower is designed to inspire new ways to embrace space and connect to the stunning surrounding environment.

*Hamilton Scotts condominium in Singapore, opened in 2012, also has car elevators which takes owners’ cars up to their ‘Sky Garage’ in the apartment.*

Aston Martin can design an exclusive garage for you too

Audi To Race In Formula 1 From 2026

Audi has confirmed that it will race in the Formula 1 World Championship from the 2026 season, with Audi Sport being responsible for the activity. As a consequence, the high-performance division is discontinuing its LMDh project for endurance racing but will continue with the RS-Q e-tron project for the Dakar Rally. It will announce the team partner by the end of this year.

Audi recognizes Formula 1’s high popularity in its key markets as well as with young target groups. It has particular interest in the sport because it is seen as ‘a spectacular platform for the most demanding electrified racing cars in the world ‘and the brand will be able to show its ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in this highly competitive environment.

Formula 1 is watched globally and one of the sporting events with the highest reach in the world. In 2021, more than 1.5 billion TV viewers watched the races. On social media, Formula 1 is now experiencing the highest growth rates among the world’s most popular sports.

“Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” said Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG. “Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”

The key to getting involved is the world’s most popular racing series is the clear plan to become more sustainable and cost-efficient. The new technical rules, which will apply from 2026, focus on greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel, areas which Audi has been active in developing.

In addition to the existing cap on costs for teams, a cost cap for power unit manufacturers will be introduced in 2023. Formula 1 has also set itself the ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral racing series by 2030.

“In view of these major technological leaps that the series is making towards sustainability in 2026, we can speak of a new Formula 1. Formula 1 is transforming, and Audi wants to actively support this journey. A close link between our Formula 1 project and AUDI AG’s Technical Development department will enable synergies,” said Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development.

For 7 years (until 2021), Audi Sport was involved in the Formula E series with the ABT Schaeffler team. The team was the most successful in the all-electric single-seater series with 14 victories out of 84 races.

From 2026, the electric power output for the power units, consisting of an electric motor, battery, control electronics, and a combustion engine, will increase sharply compared to today’s Formula 1 drive systems. The electric motor will then be nearly as powerful as the combustion engine, which has an output of about 544 bhp. The highly efficient 1.6-litre turbocharged engines run on advanced sustainable fuel – also a prerequisite for Audi’s entry into the series.

Audi Sport to develop power unit

The hybrid power unit will be built at Audi Sport’s Competence Centre Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, not far from Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. “For the development and manufacture of the Formula 1 powertrain, we will build on the valuable expertise of our motorsport employees, continue to invest in our motorsports center, and also recruit highly specialized professionals,” said Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebacht.

The facility already has test benches for F1 engine testing as well as for electric motor and battery testing. Additional necessary preparations are currently being made in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with everything essential to be in place by the end of the year. A separate company was recently established for the power unit project as a wholly owned subsidiary of Audi Sport.

Audi aims to be first carmaker to win Dakar Rally with fully electric rallycar

MAN Malaysia keen on offering electric buses as soon as possible

Buses in Malaysia used to have an image that was not environment-friendly with black smoke often coming from their exhausts. Over the years, as stricter regulations were introduced to reduce exhaust emissions, this changed significantly and these public transport vehicles today run much cleaner than before.

MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia), which has helped to put more environment-friendly buses on our roads, hopes to go further by offering its electric bus. The company hopes to start taking orders for the MAN e-chassis as soon as possible.

*The zero-emission electric MAN Lion’s City E.*

MAN, which has its headquarters in Germany, has been successful in developing electro-mobility solutions for the public transport sector such as the MAN Lion’s City E. Already in actual inner-city service in several European cities, the Lion’s City E has proven that it can be used for long-distance transport too.

In the Electrifying Europe Tour from April 29 to May 8, 2022, MAN’s electric bus covered some 2,500 kms from Munich in Germany to Limerick in Ireland, an impressive demonstration of its capabilities and reliability.

Challenges to electrification
However, MAN Malaysia Managing Director, Andrew O’Brooks, said the introduction of the e-chassis is also dependent on the development of the EV-charging infrastructure. Formidable challenges need to be overcome before the new e-chassis could become a viable offering in the Malaysian market. We hope this will be the primary focus of the Malaysian authorities,” he said.

Explaining the challenges, he said that in Malaysia, a petroleum-producing country with relatively low prices at the pumps, there are few incentives to go electric on a major scale. Secondly, despite the Malaysian government’s commitment to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2050 at the earliest, the actual steps and implementation process remain unclear with few incentives for consumers to invest in electric public service vehicles (PSVs).

He also noted that the investment and development of charging stations and relevant infrastructure are perhaps the biggest obstacles to bringing the e-chassis or import e-buses in completely built-up (CBU) form into Malaysia.

Euro 5 engines standard for full range
MAN Malaysia is among the companies that has helped to put more environment-friendly buses on our roads. It is the first vehicle manufacturer in Malaysia to offer Euro 5 turbodiesel engines as standard across its entire truck range, meaning that the engines run on fuel with exceptionally low sulphur content. [Click here to read more about Euro 5 diesel]

Speaking at MAN BAGUS, an annual gathering for key players from the bus industry at its Serendah local assembly plant, MAN Malaysia Managing Director, Andrew O’Brooks, announced that the company plans to introduce a low-emission Euro 5 engine as an option in 2023 to help bus operators reduce their carbon footprint.

Mr. O’Brooks expressed confidence that bus operators in Malaysia would have the foresight to join the sustainability journey like many of their counterparts in the transport and logistics sector that did not hesitate to add the New MAN Truck Generation with Euro 5 engines as standard to their fleet.

“I believe that many will see the benefits of investing in a more sustainable, fuel efficient and low-emission vehicle for their fleets. With road transportation being a major contributor of emissions, all of us must do our part in helping reduce the industry’s carbon footprint if Malaysia if it is to achieve carbon neutral status by 2050,” he said.

“These are ground-breaking moves by MAN Malaysia as we continue to offer environment-friendly options to the transport industry as we lead the drive towards carbon neutral status for Malaysia by 2050. The introduction of Euro 5 engines and e-chassis will certainly differentiate MAN Bus offerings, which are already renowned for their quality, reliability, versatility and flexibility,” he added.

First locally-assembled Euro 5 MAN trucks now in operation on Malaysian roads

The Fastest Volkswagen R To Lap Nurburgring-Nordschleife (w/VIDEO)

The Volkswagen Golf R celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year and to mark this milestone, a Golf R “20 Years” became the fastest R model of all time on the famous Nurburgring-Nordschleife racetrack in Germany. The anniversary model bettered the previous lap record of a Golf R on the 20.832-km long course more by 4 seconds with its official lap time of 7:47.31 minutes.

From 241 ps to 333 ps
The achievement reflects how the Golf R’s performance – particularly engine output – has risen from the first model in 2002 which had 241 ps/320 Nm. It was known as the Golf R32 then and used a 3.2-litre 6-cylinder engine.

The Golf R “20 Years” delivers 333 ps/420 Nm from its 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, 13.6 ps more than the latest Golf R. With this increase output, the Golf R “20 Years” is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and can go faster than 270 km/h but is electronically limited to that top speed.

But it is not just the power of the turbocharged engine that makes the special-edition model the most dynamic Volkswagen R of all time on the Nordschleife. The clear increase in performance is also the result of the extensive standard equipment with technical highlights such as the R-Performance package, Driving Dynamics Manager and R-Performance Torque Vectoring.

The record was set by touring car racing driver and Volkswagen R development driver, Benjamin Leuchter, who actively involved in the development of the R-Performance package for the Golf R “20 Years”.

Custom driving profile
Alongside the regular ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ driving profiles, the special-edition model also comes as standard with the additional ‘Special’ and ‘Drift’ profiles. For racing around the Nordschleife, the driver chose the ‘Special’ profile which was developed specially for the track.

This profile gives the Golf R a set-up that meets the unique requirements of what is probably the most demanding racetrack in the world. This includes adjusting the shock absorbers to a more soft and comfortable setting due to the enormous loads at the maximum performance level when driving on such tracks.

As one of the 15 possible settings of the controlled shock absorbers, this guarantees optimum road contact on tracks with a large number of bumps, just like the Nurburgring. Together with the adapted steering wheel and drive settings, this makes it possible to take the large number of fast and medium-fast bends on the Nordschleife in an ideal way.

The modified shift characteristics of the 7-speed gearbox allow gear changes with more intensive. The optimised exhaust system sound in the low engine speed range and the rougher engine sound in the cabin underlined the car’s increased dynamic performance.

Enhanced engine tuning
The step forward in development compared with the predecessor model is also shown by the enhanced engine tuning of the Volkswagen Golf R anniversary vehicle. The preloaded turbocharger is also kept at a constant speed in overrun mode so that the engine can develop its power more quickly in subsequent acceleration. This process is supported by the continuously open throttle valve. When the driver takes his foot off the accelerator and then accelerates again, this allows faster build-up of the torque and noticeably improves the engine’s responsiveness.

“With this car, I can drive here on the Nurburgring and the next stop is then the baker’s shop or the DIY store. The car is really an all-rounder that can do everything,” said a visibly impressed Leuchter. That’s exactly the concept pursued by Volkswagen R which has developed models as Volkswagen’s premium performance brand since 2002.

All-new Volkswagen Golf R revealed

Customer-Focused Connectivity and Technology Pushes Boundaries Of Next-Gen Ford Ranger

After conducting more than 5,000 interviews and dozens of customer workshops around the planet, Ford designers had a good idea of what was required and expected from the next-gen Ranger. Customers and owners told them that they wanted a flexible, modern cockpit that would cater to both work and family duties, with smart and connected features and a high level of well-integrated technology.

The result is the smartest Ranger ever, with an enhanced user experience that means owners can transition seamlessly from home or work to their vehicle. With customer focussed technology, the next-gen Ranger pushes the boundaries of what a smart pick-up should be.

Key Technology Features

Digital Display
The physical instrument panel that used to house things like the speedometer and tachometer was always limiting in the amount of information it could provide the driver. With the next-gen Ranger, that’s replaced by an 8-inch digital instrument panel that can be customised.

These displays show a start-up and farewell animation and a digital speedometer and tachometer, while the graphics feature realistic body-style avatars. Depending on the variant, the driver can switch between layouts to show additional information like the driver-assist technologies. And for those times when he or she wants to focus on driving, there’s also a ‘calm view’ which minimises the information shown to the minimum necessary for safety.

The panel is also matched to the various on-road and off-road driving models, showing a different theme so the driver knows at a glance what’s been selected. The mode changes also have animations as the driver scrolls from one to the other.

Smarter, Intuitive Connectivity
At the heart of the next-gen Ranger’s technology story is the SYNC 4A communications and entertainment system. SYNC 4 brings new levels of connectivity and voice recognition seamless for a personalized driving experience while delivering easy smartphone integration. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enables favourite apps (eg Waze and Spotify) from compatible smartphones to be transferred onto the display where they can be used.

Big Screen
The centrally located infotainment screen is mounted portrait style, with a 10.1-inch or a best-in-class 12-inch size (depending on the variant). The design team chose a large-format tablet screen because it allowed for a good depiction of navigation with room to spare lower down.

Its extra height allows a customisable split-screen set-up with an information-on-demand panel always visible at the bottom of the screen. This displays key information, the user’s connected smartphone and more.

Fewer Buttons, More Capability
In line with the digital instrument panel, many of the traditional driving mode controls have been moved from the dashboard and centre console to a dedicated display on the SYNC screen. Depending on the variant, for example, with one button press, the driver can go to Ranger’s dedicated off-road screen where he can monitor the driveline, steering angle, vehicle pitch, roll angles and other controls.

The cabin temperature and ventilation as well as entertainment can be controlled via the SYNC screen too. Additional physical controls mounted just below the screen allow for quick and easy adjustments.

Look All Around
The next-gen Ranger is long and large but that’s no issue as a 360-degree camera allows the driver to see all round and even from above with a simulated view. This makes parking easy in tight spots or even when moving over tricky terrain while travelling off-road.

Electric Parking Brake
Along with other mechanical elements, the traditional handbrake lever is also gone in the next-gen Ranger Wildtrak. In its place is a first-in-class electric parking brake for a more high-tech feel. Not only does it free up space on the centre console but it also requires very little effort to use (just one finger).

Charged And Ready Always
The next-gen Ranger comes with power sockets to charge or supply electricity to many different devices. Compatible smartphones with wireless charging capability can be placed on a charging pad at the base of the centre console, or connected via a cable to a USB port. There are also 12V/240V sockets and a 150W inverter to provide power for laptops and other devices. Depending on the variant, located at the side of the cargo deck, there are 400W and 12V sockets to power camping gear.

With more and more drivers using dashcams to keep a record of their journeys, the designers thoughtfully installed a USB port at the top of the windscreen. It’s located adjacent to the rearview mirror so there’s no cable dangling down. This Type-A USB outlet converts 12V power into 5V USB output suitable for an external GPS or dash camera. It also can be used to charge a smartphone (but isn’t connected to the SYNC 4A system).

Let There Be Light
The segment-first Matrix LED headlights (on the Ranger Wildtrak) not only have the high-tech look but also many clever features. These include auto dynamic levelling and speed-dependent lighting that can adjust the intensity of the beam in front of the vehicle depending on the speed at which you’re travelling.

The headlights also offer both static and dynamic bending capability as well as glare-free high-beams, which help block light that could otherwise temporarily blind other drivers and cyclists. That means maximum illumination is provided whenever it is possible without disturbing other road-users.

Join the Debut Tour
The next-generation Ranger has been making a debut tour since its first public appearance last month. Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, is offering previews at a series of events around the country over 5 weekends. These include events in Kuching on September 7 -11 at Vivacity Megamall, and at the Suria Sabah Shopping Centre, Kota Kinabalu on October 5 – 9.

Don’t miss out on the upcoming preview events of the next-generation Ranger debut tour. Sign up here to get an exclusive invitation to a venue close to you. Or if you want more information about the next-generation Ranger, follow the Ford Malaysia Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channel or visit www.sdacford.com.my.

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