The Volkswagen ID.4 becomes the third all-electric model to be chosen as World Car of the Year (WCOTY) in the 2021 edition of the awards. 93 international journalists from 28 countries that make up the World Car Awards jury panel chose the EV, giving the German carmaker its fifth WCOTY overall award since 2009 (the WCOTY started in 2005).
This year’s winner was chosen from an initial entry list of 24 vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of three finalists as announced on March 30, 2021. The Top Three in the World finalists for 2021 were the Honda e, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen ID.4.
Since the event began in 2005, Volkswagen models have so far won 5 overall World Car of the Year awards, the most of any carmaker.
Vehicles eligible for the World Car of the Year award must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year; must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets; and must be ‘on sale’ in at least two major markets, on at least two separate continents, between May 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021.
The Land Rover Defender, which won the World Car Design of the Year award, was also the 2021 Women’s Car of the Year winner.
New award for EVs in 2022
The 2022 awards season and the 18th edition of the Road to the World Car Awards journey will officially begin at the New York International Auto Show on August 19. A new highlight of the 2022 awards program will be the debut of the World Electric Vehicle of the Year award. This new award, which supersedes the World Green Car award, is intended to recognize, support and celebrate the global transition to electrically-powered vehicles that is now underway and the efforts of automakers around the world in developing these climate-conscious vehicles.
First generation of the Nissan LEAF was the first EV to win the World Car of the Year title in 2011.
Would you believe us if we told you that Isuzu now builds one of the coolest pick-up trucks in its segment? There’s a pretty good chance you may think we have lost it and would say anything just to get some advertising revenue from companies.
But the fact of the matter is, the new Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain (pronounced as ex-terrain) is among the coolest pick-up trucks in its segment right now. Notice that we used the term “among the coolest” instead of “the coolest”. That’s because the lifestyle pick-up truck is so hotly contested right now that all the trucks in the segment have their own value proposition.
The Ranger Wildtrak is the one that seemingly has it all in order, but reliability seems to be the only chink in Ford’s armor.
The Hilux Rouge too is quite a good balance of everything, but the ride quality is still very much utilitarian. And Toyota really needs to get its entertainment system to be more intuitive.
The Mitsubishi Triton too seems faultless but is still more of a workhorse than anything else. The new design too is very much love it or hate it. This writer still has a tough time digesting it. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it doesn’t.
Enter the new Isuzu D-Max V-Cross X-Terrain.
The new X-Terrain is the ultimatest Isuzu pick-up truck there has been. Not ultimatest in the sense that it is indestructible, but ultimatest in the sense that there has never been an Isuzu that has so finely balanced on-road and off-road needs.
The X-Terrain is basically Isuzu’s first salvo at the premium lifestyle segment for pick-up trucks. And it is a mighty fine effort by a brand that has been synonymous with dependability and as a workhorse, but never one that you would buy if all you ever wanted to do is to carry some bicycles, some work items and that’s it.
But now though, you could consider buying an Isuzu just for your lifestyle needs, because it seems to have it all. Almost.
Let’s begin from the outside. I do think that the overall design could be better. You won’t really believe your eyes when you first see the truck, but that is because you don’t expect Isuzu to build such a truck, so it makes you go, “wow, is that really an Isuzu?”
Its design cues were supposedly shaped by learnings from the same wind tunnel that shaped Japan’s iconic bullet train – the Shinkansen. It may be aerodynamic, but that doesn’t make it a great looking truck. Perhaps it is just something very un-Isuzu like. Don’t get us wrong though, it not not ugly and it still has presence, lots of it and most of that is because of the sheer size of the truck. Visually, it looks about the same size as the Ranger Wildtrak.
The rims are of a love it or hate it design, and we imagine that some buyers would swap those at the first chance they get.
The truck bed though has a unique ‘sliding cargo tray’ that rolls out and makes it easier to store heavier items. This is especially handy when you use anti-slip mats and want to store items towards the back of the bed. Isuzu even thought of drilling holes at all ends of the cargo tray so you can use a cargo net to hold your ‘barang-barang’ in place. This is the type of thoughtfulness you can expect from a brand that has been making work trucks for eons.
The interior is again un-Isuzu like. A 9-inch touch screen infotainment system dominates the dashboard and offers Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity.
The Apple Carplay connects wirelessly, though this feature is sadly not mentioned in the brochure but is one of the most useful technologies when trying to run a business while driving. Yes, Apple’s Siri is that good.
Entertainment and comfort has never really been the hallmarks of an Isuzu, but the company has hit it right in the nail.
The seats for example, are in brown combination leather, and feature something called the Anti Vibration Elastic Comfort foam. This means that none but the harshest of vibrations will be felt by your body. I am happy to report that the ride on the highway and at low speeds was comfortable and you don’t really feel it creeping up your spine.
The ambient sounds that protrude back into the cabin though is still very much like a 90s pick-up truck. But this is a typical character of a pick-up. In fact, the only pick-up that has successfully made the cabin sound like that of a premium sedan (nevermind feel like one) is the Ranger Wildtrak thanks to the clever usage of anti-noise cancellation technology.
On the topic of technology, if you are of the opinion that pick-up trucks don’t need all that luxurious finishing since it is going to be used for work and perhaps parked out in the sun most of the time, well, Isuzu has a trick up its sleeve. The windscreen in the X-Terrain features a layer of infrared absorbent material (the first of its kind in its class) that reduces the penetration of infra-red , UVA and UVB rays into the cabin and thus reduces premature damage.
The ride character though is also typical of a pick-up truck, but it feels sure footed thanks to a bigger than ever chassis that is also 20% stiffer. Which means more strength and road compliance. And to ensure the truck doesn’t hop and skip on the road with all that stiffness, Isuzu now uses three leaf springs instead of the previous four. To further ensure passenger comfort, the semi-elliptical leaf-springs are complemented by gas shocks. Not entirely new technology here, but one that has proven to be reliable, and somewhat comfortable.
At heart of the new X-Terrain is the same 3.0-litre engine (code: 4JJ3-TCX), but massaged and revitalized to produce 190PS and 450Nm of torque. This is lower than the power figures put out by the Ranger Wildtrak and the Hilux Rogue, but somehow the X-Terrain feels more eager to accelerate. Probably because of the lightweight aluminium propeller shaft that requires less effort to transfer power to the rear wheels, making the car feel more eager during acceleration.
For the curious among us, the aluminum propeller shaft saves 4kg’s in weight as compared to the regular steel shaft. Isuzu says this also helps to extend the lifespan of the drivetrain as the reduced weight requires less inertia, which in turn reduces the amount of torque needed to spin it, thus reducing wear and tear.
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross X-Terrain had proven itself to be a worthy entry into the world of premium pick-up trucks. Even when it comes to safety technologies, the new X-Terrain boasts two pages of safety systems in its brochure. It literally has everything you could want in a pick-up truck.
Adaptive cruise control? Check.
Pedal mis-application mitigation? Check.
Autonomous emergency braking? Of course.
Rear cross traffic alert? This truck may be the first to offer such a technology.
There is no denying the fact that the new D-Max V-Cross X-Terrain is a great pick-up truck. Anything the competition has, this Isuzu has too. And the one thing that Isuzu has that the rest don’t – a seven-year warranty! Isuzu has finally shown its hand, and it is a royal flush.
The only thing that Isuzu could have done better is to perhaps give it a shorter name.
The Isuzu D-Max V-Cross X-Terrain is now available in Malaysia for a little under RM142,000.
Polestar, the independent Swedish electric performance car brand founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holdings, has produced two models to date – the Polestar 1, a low-volume hybrid GT; and the Polestar 2 fastback which is the company’s first fully electric, high volume car.
The Polestar 1 made its debut in 2017 and since 2019, has been built a new factory in China. After 4 years, the model’s production will end later this year as the Polestar 3 SUV makes its entry. To commemorate the end of its production life, the company has revealed a special version which will be made in 25 copies only.
The special edition will feature a bespoke matte gold exterior paint job with matching calipers and black wheels. Inside, colour-matched gold stitching gives the interior an even more unique feel.
The halo car
“It’s hard to believe that our beautiful halo car comes to the end of its production life later this year,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO. “We pushed boundaries with this car, not only in terms of engineering but also in its design and execution. Polestar 1 set the tone for our brand and its genes are evident in Polestar 2 – as they will be in our future cars to come.”
Technical tour de force
A technical tour de force, the electric performance hybrid has a lightweight body made from carbonfibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), and is powered by twin rear electric motors with genuine torque vectoring. As a performance model, it is fitted with high-performance components like Akebono brakes and adjustable Ohlins dampers.
With a combined power output of 609 bhp and 1,000 Nm of torque, and a purely electric driving range claimed to be up to 124 kms – still the longest of any hybrid car in the world – the Polestar 1 is a performance car that can be driven as a full EV in daily use, doubling as a great long-distance GT at any moment.
“This car was not designed to fit into a ‘box’,” noted Ingenlath. “We didn’t design it to compete with other cars, and neither did we design it to suit a specific target customer. Polestar 1 was about pushing our own boundaries, exploring a new era for Polestar and launching the brand with a strong statement – and it’s done a great job of capturing the hearts and minds of fans, press and the lucky customers who own one.”
The journey continues with the Polestar 2
Until the Polestar 3 is launched, the Polestar 2 model (pictured below) will offer 3 variants with a combination of long- and standard range battery packs as large as 78 kWh, and dual-motor and single-motor powertrains with as much as 300 kW/408 hp and 660 Nm. It is produced at a Geely factory in China.
Besides the Polestar 3, the Precept (concept model shown above) will also go into production later on. The Precept highlights Polestar’s path for digital technology and the use of innovative sustainable materials, inside and out.
“‘Stunning. Spectacular. Cutting-edge. We’d like to see it on the road!’ – this is what the press wrote about Precept and the public said, ‘We want it’, so we decided to build it,” explained Ingenlath.
Expanding market footprint
Polestar, which is recognised as a car manufacturer, will expand its market footprint further this year with the addition of 5 new markets in the Asia-Pacific region. These markets will join 3 new and previously announced European markets, bringing Polestar’s global footprint to 18 markets by the end of the year. The new markets include South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
For this year’s Auto Shanghai motorshow, Lamborghini had three models on display, with the Essenza SCV12 hypercar making it global debut. The Essenza was accompanied by the road-homologated track car Huracan STO which makes its China debut along with the Huracan Fluo Capsule, the latest collection of the vibrant colours for V10 super sports cars (showcased in Asia Pacific for the first time on a Huracán EVO).
Stephan Winkelmann, who returned to the helm of the Italian sportscar company Lamborghini after being away for 5 years, was on hand to speak proudly of the past’s year’s achievement. “Automobili Lamborghini closed 2020 with its highest-ever profitability and its second highest-ever in terms of turnover and sales despite a factory closure of about two months due to COVID-19. This growing momentum has continued into 2021: the year opened with a very positive outlook, with deliveries in the first 3 months reaching the highest level on record. Orders placed thus far already cover 9 months of production,” he said.
“At this pivotal point in the company’s history, we are working very hard and preparing Lamborghini for a new era. The new development plans to be announced soon will outline how Lamborghini is going to become an even stronger brand, both here in China and around the world,” he said, adding that volumes in the Chinese market are expected to rise to second place in terms of sales, remaining one of the most significant markets for Lamborghini globally.
The Essenza SCV12
Following its virtual launch in 2020, the display at in Shanghai this week is the first public one of the Essenza SCV12. This track-only hypercar is finished in the exclusive Verde Selvans, Grigio Linx, Nero Aldebaran Gloss and Arancio California launch livery.
The limited-edition car – only 40 units will be available – was inspired by the Squadra Corse’s years of experience in competition. The innovative solutions found in this unique car create the new ultimate experience for the driver, with a futuristic design that fully inherits brand’s iconic elements, while balancing lightweight construction, functionality and design aesthetics.
The Essenza SCV12 is a direct descendant of cars such as the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR, with the most powerful V12 naturally-aspirated engine ever developed by Lamborghini. The 830 bhp engine receives a significant power boost from the RAM effect at high speeds. This high output is transferred to the wheels by a new X-trac sequential 6-speed gearbox designed as a structural element mounted within the chassis, combined with a rear-wheel drive system.
The large rear wing, side fins and front splitter are elements inspired by the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and GT3 EVO. They promise greater efficiency and create higher downforce levels than a GT3 car, with up to 1,200 kgs on the rear end at 250 km/h.
As the first GT car developed to stringent FIA prototype safety standards, the Essenza SCV12 features an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 1.66 bhp/kg. This is made possible by its new-generation carbonfibre monocoque chassis without an internal rollcage.
Born for life on the track and to race, there is the promise of the purest track experience that Lamborghini can offer. Every Essenza SCV12 customer will become a member of an exclusive club with access to special programs to drive their hypercar on the most prestigious circuits in the world. In addition to premium track facilities, the program also gives access to exclusive training programmes similar to those followed by the official racers.
China debut for Huracan STO
The Huracan STO is a street-homologated super sportscar with the soul and characteristics of a real racing car. It is considered to be the purest incarnation of Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s motorsports prowess and heritage, possessing the technologies derived from the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and GT3 EVO racing cars. These cars have scored many victories, including the 24 Hours of Daytona on three occasions and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice.
With a powerful V10 naturally-aspirated engine delivering 640 bhp/565 Nm, the rear-wheel Huracan STO can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.0 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in 9.0 seconds, and reach a top speed of 310 km/h, it is claimed.
To further reduce weight, over 75% of the exterior panels are of carbonfibre. Extensive applications of lightweight technology give the Huracan STO a weight-to-power ratio of 2.09 kgs/bhp with a dry weight of only 1,339 kgs.
Three new driving modes are available to the driver – STO, Trofeo and Pioggia. The default STO mode is for road driving and fun on curvy roads while the Trofeo and Pioggia (rain) modes optimise all systems for dry and wet surfaces, respectively.
The new Brembo CCM-R braking units use materials and expertise derived from F1 applications, ensuring superior heat resistance, performance and consistency.
Lamborghini Huracan EVO Fluo Capsule
In the exclusive Ad Personam room at the Lamborghini stand, visitors can view the Huracan EVO Fluo Capsule. Launched in November 2020, this is its first appearance in the Asia Pacific region, bringing to the super sportscar a daring yet elegant collection of bright and bold colours in a matte paint exterior with complementary interior colour and trim options.
The display unit is being presented in matte Verde Shock (green) colour with another four exterior and interior configurations – Arancio Livrea (orange), Celeste Fedra (blue), Arancio Dac (orange) and Giallo Clarus (yellow), combined with matte black details and coloured accent lines. The Capsule offers an additional layer of variety and personalization to the already near-infinite possibilities that the Ad Personam program offers.
‘PPE’ to most people today would refer to ‘Personal Protective Equipment’, the necessary items like gloves, facemask, overalls, etc that healthcare workers have to wear daily while attending to patients with COVID-19 infections. But for Audi, ‘PPE’ also means Premium Platform Electric, a completely new architecture which will serve as the technology platform for its high-end models.
The PPE is an essential element of the carmaker’s ‘e-volution’ towards electric mobility which will see, in late 2022, the launch of the first production models in the C-segment and then the B-segment. As a preview to this future range of fully electric models, Audi is displaying the 4-door A6 e-tron concept at Auto Shanghai this week.
Sporting the A6 emblem, the concept car underscores its place in the brand’s luxury-class model series. This model (earlier known as the Audi 100) has represented the brand in the segment since 1968. Different bodystyles have been added over the years, including the Sportback, which was introduced as the A7.
An electrified drive system was offered with the A6 Hybrid in 2011, while the current A6 TFSIe made its debut in 2019 with a plug-in hybrid drive (PHEV) that could give a claimed electric range of up to 91 kms.
Fully electric propulsion
Unlike the latter, however, the A6 e-tron concept relies exclusively on electric power, based on the future PPE platform. At the same time, it also represents an entirely new design concept; the only thing it has in common with the current A6 are its dimensions. The 4.96-metre long, 1.96-metre wide, and 1.44-metre high body is designed as a Sportback, its lines are an obvious reflection of the systematic advancement of Audi’s current design language. This design language and the form of the A6 e-tron concept will be applied to Audi’s future production models.
For its part, the PPE technology will ensure that what the car’s lines imply translate into dynamic driving performance and everyday suitability befitting use as a primary vehicle. Specifically, this means that, depending on the selected drive system and model version, an A6 e-tron should be able to travel more than 700 kms on a fully charged battery pack, with the most powerful variants able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.
Excellence in aerodynamics
Aerodynamics has always played a key role in Audi’s long history. In the early 1980s, the Audi 100 with a Cd of 0.30 was the more aerodynamically efficient production car available. The A6 e-tron concept continues that achievement with a Cd of 0.22, unprecedented in the electrified C-segment. The significantly low aerodynamic drag means lower energy consumption and therefore extended range. At the same time, fine-tuning in the wind tunnel has resulted in an organic design with elegance and harmony – instead of an ugly teardrop or bubble shape. The form appears monolithic, as if from a single mold, particularly when viewed from the side.
The wheel arches are connected by the specially sculpted battery area above the rocker panel, which is highlighted with a black inlay – a design element that is now a hallmark of the Audi brand’s fleet of EVs. Also typical of e-tron models are the sleek, camera-based virtual exterior mirrors at the base of the A-pillar.
Looking at the front, it is immediately apparent that the A6 e-tron concept is electrically-powered. A characteristic feature is the large enclosed Singleframe grille, which is bordered at the bottom by deep air intakes for cooling the drivetrain, battery, and brakes. The flat headlight bezels extend far into the sides of the laterally sweeping front end, underscoring the horizontally aligned architecture of the vehicle body.
The body colour
Heliosilver is the name of the technoid-looking body colour which accentuates the shapes of the body with a three-dimensional depth effect (particularly visible in the area around the quattro wheel arches). The Singleframe grille, also in Heliosilver, forms a striking contrast to the deep matte black of the frame.
Additionally, the paint offers tangible technical benefits that reduce energy consumption. This is because it can reflect a significant percentage of thermal radiation in sunlight, thus reducing the amount of energy that enters the car’s body and its cabin. The result is that the occupants do not need to use the air conditioning as much, a factor that has an impact on energy consumption and can enhance range.
Advanced lighting technology
The flat headlights and taillights are slim and flush with the overall composition of the lines. Digital Matrix LED and digital OLED technology makes it possible to achieve maximum brightness and a wide range of features even with a minimal surface area, while at the same time offering customizable light signatures. The small, high-resolution projectors can display warning symbols on the ground to warn a bike rider that the car door is about to open, for example.
Another four high-resolution LED projectors – inconspicuously integrated into the corners of the vehicle – generate turn signal projections. The design of these projections can be modified to address regulations in different markets and regions.
The rear end of the concept car features a new generation of digital OLED elements that, as a continuous strip of lights, act like a display. They can also be used to create almost unlimited customizable variations of digital light signatures and dynamic lighting displays that can be adapted to the customer’s personal taste.
High ground clearance, low ride height
The PPE is designed specifically for battery-electric drive systems and can therefore take full advantage of all the benefits of this technology. The key element is a battery module between the axles that holds around 100 kWh of energy in the A6 e-tron concept. The use of the entire vehicle base makes it possible to achieve a relatively flat layout for the battery. This means that for the first time, it will be possible to use this single platform for both vehicles with a high ground clearance and vehicles with a decidedly dynamic, flat architecture without any changes to the basic architecture.
Fast charging, high range
800V charging technology allows the battery pack to be charged with up to 270 kW, making recharging time very short time – provided the relevant fast-charging system is available. This technology makes charging times possible that come close to a stop to refuel a car powered by a combustion engine. Just 10 minutes would be enough to recharge the battery to a level sufficient to power the vehicle for more than 300 kms. In less than 25 minutes, the 100-kWh battery pack can be charged from 5% to 80%.
The battery size and wheelbase of PPE vehicles are scalable, making them suitable for use in different market segments. The ratio of a fairly long wheelbase and very short overhangs is something they will all have in common. The occupants will benefit from the long wheelbase which allows a longer interior and more legroom.
Quattro all-wheel drive
The absence of the traditional a transmission tunnel (because of the EV architecture) also contributes to the spaciousness but it does not mean that the quattro all-wheel drive system is omitted. It can be included as there can be one electric motor each mounted to the front and rear axles that use electronic coordination to deliver all-wheel drive on demand and achieve a perfect balance between driving dynamics and energy efficiency. The 2 electric motors are capable of delivering a total output of 350 kW/800 Nm.
In addition, the e-tron family will also include basic versions optimized for minimum consumption and maximum range – in this case, propulsion will come from a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle.
Electrification is unavoidable for carmakers as regulations tighten on exhaust emissions and even the reluctant ones have to at least go the hybrid route, if not full electric. Maserati, with its small range, has chosen the hybrid route which started with the mild hybrid Ghibli saloon last year and now extends to include its first hybrid SUV, the Levante Hybrid.
Unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show (and online for the rest of the world) the Italian brand’s first electrified SUV offers new performance characteristics that are ‘Faster. Greener. Unique’, as its advertising tagline goes.
48V mild hybrid system
Like the Ghibli Hybrid, the Levante Hybrid combines the 4-cylinder, 2-litre turbocharged engine with a 48-volt hybrid system to recover energy during deceleration and braking. The SUV weighs less than the 6-cylinder engine equivalent (both diesel and petrol) and, above all, has an even better weight distribution since the heavy battery pack is placed in the rear to optimally balance the masses of the vehicle.
Maximum power output of the powertrain is 330 ps, with maximum torque of 450 Nm that is available from 2250 rpm. Factory data on the performance, which is available only with all-wheel drive, shows a top speed of 240 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds.
Blue shade for hybrids
In terms of appearance, the Levante Hybrid launch version is characterised by a new metallic tri-coat colour called Azzurro Astro, available as part of the brand’s customisation programme, Maserati Fuoriserie. Other exterior and interior details contribute to this car’s immediately recognisable design; some are in blue, the shade chosen to identify hybrid cars, already used by Maserati on Ghibli Hybrid.
On the exterior, blue characterises the three iconic side air ducts, the brake calipers and the C-pillar logo. The same blue shade reappears inside the car, specifically on the embroidered seams of the seats.
New Maserati Connect program
The SUV remains connected at all times, enabling monitoring of the vehicle’s ‘health’. The new Maserati Connect system will alert the driver when a scheduled service is due, adding convenience to the ownership experience. With a Smartphone or Smartwatch, the driver can stay in contact with their vehicle via the Maserati Connect App (also possible via their virtual personal assistant with Amazon Alexa or Google Assist).
Bentley is no stranger to the famous Pike Peak International Hill Climb event in the USA, have set records in previous years – the Production SUV record in 2018 with a Bentayga W12, and the outright Production Car record scored in 2019 with a Continental GT.
For this year’s event, to be run in late June, the carmaker will again compete in the ‘Race to the Clouds’ and the car it will enter will be the first competition Bentley to run on renewable fuel, ahead of a goal to offer sustainable fuels to Bentley’s customers around the world. It is related to a major new sustainability initiative with a renewable fuels research and development programme spearheaded by the most extreme roadcar-based Bentley in its 101-year history.
The modified Continental GT3 racer, based on Bentley’s race and championship-winning car, will power its way up the 19.99 km course running on a biofuel-based petrol. Various blends of fuels are currently being tested and evaluated, with possible Greenhouse Gas reductions of up to 85% over standard fossil fuel.
All-electric range by 2030
This first step marks the start of a longer programme that will investigate both biofuels and e-fuels for their potential to power the Bentleys of past and present in a sustainable way. Bentley’s ambitious and transformational Beyond100 programme aims to make the brand the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company, with the entire Bentley model range offered with hybrid variants by 2023 ahead of its entire range running only on electricity by 2030.
Combustion-engine Bentley models will still be produced for the next 9 years – and Bentley’s new project aims to make those cars as sustainable as possible through the use of innovative fuel technologies. With more than 80% of all the cars it has ever built still on the road, a genuinely sustainable and customer-facing renewable fuel offering will also allow customers to enjoy their current and classic Bentleys responsibly for years to come.
At the 2018 Pikes Peak Hillclimb, Millen claimed the outright record for a production SUV with a Bentayga.
“We are delighted to be returning to Pikes Peak for a third time – now powered by renewable fuel, as the launch project for another new element of our Beyond100 programme. Our powertrain engineers are already researching both biofuels and e-fuels for use by our customers alongside our electrification programme – with intermediate steps of adopting renewable fuels at the factory in Crewe and for our company fleet. In the meantime, the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak will show that renewable fuels can allow motorsport to continue in a responsible way, and hopefully it will capture the third and final record in our triple crown,” said Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering, Dr. Matthias Rabe.
Partnered by Fastr and M-Sport
The project is being run together with British Continental GT3 customer team Fastr, who have successfully campaigned their Bentley racing car in time attack competitions across the country. Technical teams from Bentley and Fastr are working together with specialists from M-Sport to extract the maximum possible performance from the Continental GT3 package.
156 corners at average speed of 125 km/h
To break the record, the car will have to complete the climb, which includes 156 corners, at an average speed of more than 125 km/h to cross the finish line in less than 9 minutes and 36 seconds. To help achieve this target will be 3-time Pikes Peak champion and former ‘King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen who holds individual class records and who set Bentley’s two existing Pikes Peak records.
With the start line at 2,835 metres, the course climbs to almost 4,300 metres – where the air is 1/3 less dense than at sea level. The reduced air density will have implications on engine performance and the high speed the car must run at will also require a good aerodynamics package. It will have biggest rear wing ever fitted to a Bentley, sitting above a highly efficient rear diffuser that surrounds the transaxle gearbox. This rear aerodynamic package is balanced by a two-plane splitter at the front, flanked by separate dive planes.
The dashboard of the Limited Edition Pikes Peak Bentley Continental GT has a diagram of the mountain course with 156 corners.
The engine is Bentley’s proven racing power unit, developed from the 4-litre turbo V8 fitted to the Continental GT V8. For the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, engine modifications together with the use of carefully selected biofuel will ensure the engine develops significant horsepower despite the rarefied conditions it will operate in. Short side-exit exhausts will ensure the car sounds as dramatic as it looks.
Further modifications include cooling airscoops in place of the rear windows, and the obligatory stopwatch mounted to the roll cage next to the steering wheel to allow Millen to keep track of his progress up the mountain.
Toyota is known to be cautious in venturing into new segments, watching competition start first and seeing the shortcomings – and then coming in with products that are often better. With electrification, the company has had dominance in the hybrid segment but seemed to be slow to get into full electrification. This is not to say that it was not developing models, but commercialising them was something that was slower.
Now, however, the company is starting its big push into full electrification, which is part of its commitment to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. To achieve this. Toyota is establishing a full line-up of electrified vehicles which will reach around 70 by 2025; at least 15 models will be launched by 2025.
Starting with SUV BEV
At Auto Shanghai, which is on this week, the Japanese carmaker has announced its new BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) series to start off and is displaying a concept car, the Toyota bZ4X, as a preview of the first model of this series. To be made in China and Japan, worldwide sales of the production version of the new SUV BEV is expected to start by the middle of 2022.
Development of the bZ series (‘bZ’ stands for ‘beyond Zero’) is based on BEV-dedicated platforms that can be used with multiple variations in terms of size and design. Since it is difficult for Toyota to prepare such a wide range of choices by itself, it is jointly developing the series with partners who have the appropriate expertise in various fields. In the case of the bZ4X, Subaru is involved as a partner.
e-TNGA platform
The new vehicle will adopt the e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies. It takes advantage of the strength of Toyota, which boasts expertise in vehicle electrification, and Subaru, which possesses AWD technologies. The bZ4X combines a long wheelbase with a short overhang which allows both a distinctive design and interior space comparable to a D-segment sedan.
The bZ series BEVs will have a human-centered approach aimed at widespread use in regions such as China, the USA and Europe, where there is significant demand for BEVs, and where there is a large supply of renewable electricity.
A uniquely shaped steering wheel eliminates the need to change grip when steering, and also contributes to a spacious interior. The vehicle will have a steer-by-wire system that provides a smooth driving feel aligned with the driver’s intentions. The low position of the instrument panel and the location of the meters above the steering wheel serve not only to enhance the vehicle’s sense of space, but also improve visibility and contribute to safe and secure driving.
The bZ4X has a new AWD system jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru. In addition to the use of regenerative energy systems, the vehicle also adopts a solar recharging system that recharges the battery while stationary.
♦ The day started with rain that continued to the start of the race, and some drivers had incidents even while preparing to get to the starting grid. Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin had brakes on fire while Sebastian Vettel had brake issues without a fire, and Carlos Sainz slid off and damaged part of the front wing which needed to be quickly replaced. Charles Leclerc also spun during the formation lap, showing how slippery conditions were.
♦ Not surprisingly, the start of the race saw a mess in the first corner. Verstappen was quick off the line and then got in contact with Lewis Hamilton. with the latter heading into the grass. Nicholas Latifi was less lucky though, colliding with Nikita Mazepin and ending up heading into a barrier, triggering deployment of the Safety Car.
♦ Yuki Tsunoda, who had broken his gearbox in an accident during qualifying, had to start from the back of the grid but was able to speed through the pack to 15th place in the first lap. The wet conditions also saw Mick Schumacher crashing at the pit lane exit, and he had to go with a damaged front end for a couple of laps. Fortunately the Safety Car was still out but it didn’t help that he could not get into the pit lane again due to the debris – from his own car earlier.
♦ Racing resumed when the Safety Car pulled in on the 6th lap, and Max Verstappen shot off again, pursued by Hamilton. The wet conditions were slowing tyre-warm-up so the drivers had to adjust accordingly. Only Pierre Gasly and Mazepin had chosen to start off with wet tyres.
♦ By lap 13, Sergio Perez was in fourth but was informed that he was given a 10-second penalty (stop/go) for overtaking while the Safety Car was leading the convoy earlier. He would have to work hard to stay well ahead of Daniel Ricciardo who was tailing him.
♦ The track was slowly drying by lap 15 but still slick in some parts, and Carlos Sainz was caught on wet patches twice. While Latifi’s race ended early, his Williams team mate George Russell was up in tenth place and holding on well.
♦ With one-third of the 63-lap race completed and the track conditions slowly drying, the teams were watching each other to see who would come in to change from the intermediates. It was Vettel who would be the first but he was also hit with a 10-second penalty (stop/go) for not having wheels fitted at the 5 minutes signal (before the race started). He came back in on lap 24, while in 17th place, to serve his penalty.
♦ Verstappen came in on lap, and Hamilton slipped into the lead, still with the damaged front wing. When the Red Bull driver rejoined, he was in third place but quickly got Hamilton in his sights and started the chase. He didn’t have to work hard as the Mercedes-AMG driver also came in to change tyres. By lap 28, every car had come into the pits at least once.
♦ On lap 31, Hamilton slid off into the gravel and touched the barrier, coming to a stop for a short while. But he managed to reverse out and rejoined the race, though down in seventh.
♦ His team mate, Valtteri Bottas was not so lucky – he had a collision with Russell which got debris all over and the Safety Car was called into action. Hamilton took the opportunity to get back and have the damaged wing changed. There was some much debris that the Stewards decided to stop the race on lap 34 for clean-up work. All cars were required to return to the pits and wait. For Hamilton, it may have been a small blessing as his team could work on the repairs with less pressure.
♦ At the time the race was stopped. Leclerc was 15 seconds behind race leader Verstappen but things would be different when racing resumed. 17 cars were still in the running and there would be 29 laps left to run.
♦ The race was restarted after 23 minutes with a rolling start after the cars circulated for one lap with the Safety Car at the front. And though track conditions were drier, Kimi Raikkonen slid off into the gravel! Verstappen shot off (and almost crashed), while Leclerc was quickly passed by a determined Lando Norris. Tsunoda was in tenth but a spin dropped him all the way to the back.
♦ Hamilton was ninth when the race restarted and within 2 laps, he had passed Stroll and Raikkonen to move into 6th, and was working hard to get to the front. In the process, he set the fastest lap which would get him one extra point if no one else was quicker in the race.
♦ With 10 laps remaining, Verstappen was still in the lead and 17 seconds ahead of Hamilton who was in 4th and trying to get past Leclerc. Norris was closest to the leader and even he was about 16 seconds away.
♦ Hamilton got past Leclerc on lap 55 but Verstappen had been pushing harder and the gap to third place (Hamilton) had extended to 18 seconds – and would extend to more than 20 seconds with 4 laps remaining.
♦ With 3 laps remaining, Hamilton pushed past Norris but the gap was just too big to reach Verstappen, and unless the Dutchman had very bad luck, he would take the chequered flag. He had beat Hamilton’s fastest time but in the effort to pass Norris, Hamilton had set an even faster time so he would still claim that 1 extra point even though he would not win the race.
♦ Further back, while Vettel had to pull out with gearbox issues Alpine and Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen could celebrate with the first points of the season as their cars finished in the top ten.
The Tiguan, Volkswagen’s bestselling model, has received feature upgrades for the 2021 Allspace R-Line version. The upgrades provide additional convenience to occupants with respect to using personal devices and smartphones.
While most cars have USB ports nowadays – for recharging devices or accessing data and content – it’s still the transitional stage when the latest smartphones come with the larger, more efficient USB-C ports but the ports in the cars are the older USB ports which are smaller and of a different shape too.
Now the latest Tiguan Allspace R-Line comes with USB-C ports which can handle higher power, so recharging is faster and data transfer speeds are also faster. The good thing about a USB-C port is that you can insert the cable either way, instead of having to look for the right side up.
Connectivity is also improved with wireless App-Connect for Apple Car Play. This allows mirroring apps from the iPhone onto the infotainment system and accessing them using the touchscreen. So instead of having to look at a Waze map on the small phone screen, you can view it on the larger 9.2-inch colour display on the dashboard.
Priced from RM209,637 (excluding insurance), the Tiguan Allspace R-Line has a powerful 2.0TSI turbocharged direct injection petrol engine with an efficient and slick 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG). The engine’s 220 ps/350 Nm goes to all four wheels with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system distributing power flows front and rear intelligently.
Besides a 20% discount on Volkswagen engine oil, customers will also receive a car-care kit if they spend a minimum of RM1,200 when they send their vehicle for servicing at an authorised dealership.
Aftersales Raya Campaign
Until June 13, 2021, Volkswagen owners who send their vehicles for servicing at authorized Volkswagen dealerships can get a 20% discount on Volkswagen Genuine Oil. Those who spend a minimum of RM1,200 during the visit will receive a complimentary car care kit and free Raya packets (while stocks last).
Volkswagen at ACE
The latest Tiguan Allspace R-Line and other Volkswagen models are on display at the Auto Car Expo (ACE) at Setia City Convention Centre in Selangor this weekend. Besides ongoing promotions, there’s also an additional RM1,000 cash rebate for purchases made at the event. If you’re not ready to buy a brand new Volkswagen, there are also quality pre-owned units at the event from Das WeltAuto.
Those who book a Passat Elegance and R-Line will receive a complimentary all-expenses paid trip to the Pangkor Laut Resort in Perak. Additionally, the Passat Elegance comes with 1-year of free insurance coverage worth up to RM5,500, while the Passat R-Line comes with free petrol for a year (worth RM2,500).
Volkswagen models are available for viewing and test-drives at all authorized dealerships nationwide. To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.
