English Archives

2021 Ford Rangers get 5-year warranty as standard

Over the years, many car companies have been extending the warranty period of coverage. In the old days, it used to be just a year and 20,000 kms and then it gradually got longer. Manufacturing processes got better so the parts were more reliable and durable, giving the manufacturers confidence to extend the period. For owners, it also meant more peace of mind with a longer period of coverage.

However, while the warranty periods for passenger cars extended fairly quickly, it was not the same for commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks. This was understandable as many of these vehicles are put to hard and rough use in extreme conditions.

Nevertheless, manufacturing processes have improved, as mentioned earlier, and many parts are more durable. Certainly, for Ford vehicles, which have always been ‘Built Ford Tough’, the rugged nature of the vehicles and their ability to withstand rough conditions has long been proven.

2 years more or another 60,000 kms
Now, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) is extending the warranty on its 2021 Ford Ranger models to 5 years or a maximum of 160,000 kms, which is 2 years longer (or 60,000 kms more going by mileage) than what has been offered.

“We understand that for our Ranger customers, their vehicles are not just point-to-point modes of transportation. They are an extension of their lifestyle – for work and play besides daily commutes for families and loved ones. With the new 5-year manufacturer’s warranty for our Ranger line-up, we aim to provide added value to customers as they go about their life’s adventures,” said Turse Zuhair, Head of Sales at SDAC.

2-year extension for existing owners
Meanwhile, those who already own a Ranger with a current 3-year warranty will have the option to purchase two Extended Warranty Plans – PremiumCARE and PowertrainCARE (terms and conditions apply). The PremiumCARE plan provides a 2-year comprehensive coverage on over 1,000 components, while the PowertrainCARE plan provides a 2-year extended warranty on the engine, transmission and drivetrain.

For more information on the new 5-year Warranty and Extended Warranty Plans, as well as information about Ford models available in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my .

Click here for more news and articles about Ford and SDAC.

Jaguar Classic adds 1953 C-Type to Continuation Programme

Jaguar Classic’s Continuation Programme has been gaining popularity since it was started with the D-Type, followed by the XKSS and Lightweight E-type. At the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works facility in the UK, very limited numbers of these iconic models have been handbuilt for customers.

Now, the C-Type is added to the collection on its 70^th anniversary. The C-type, which was originally made between 1951 and 1953, was famed for its exceptionally fluid shape by Jaguar Cars designer, aerodynamicist and artist, Malcolm Sayer.

Of the 53 Jaguar C-types built in the 1950s, 43 were sold to private owners, but the production C-type specification was limited to drum-braked cars with twin SU carburettors and 200 bhp, in the style of the 1951 works cars.

From 1952, the C-type pioneered the adoption of innovative disc brake technology in motorsport, with a revolutionary system developed by Jaguar and Dunlop scoring the first win for a disc-braked car with Stirling Moss at the Reims Grand Prix in France and contesting the 1000-mile Mille Miglia in Italy.

The C-type won the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours on its debut in 1951, scoring the first of Jaguar’s 7 outright wins at the famous French endurance race. The C-type won the Le Mans 24 Hours again in 1953, another first for disc brakes, and also enjoyed success in the hands of private owners, which contributed to Jaguar finishing vice-champion in the inaugural World Sportscar Championship.

Eight new C-type Continuation cars will be built ahead of a racing-inspired celebration event for their owners in 2022. Each car, with disc brakes, will reflect the 1953 Le Mans-winning works team car specification, including 3.4-litre straight-six engine producing 220 bhp with triple Weber 40DCO3 carburettors.

Building on the experience gained with previous Jaguar Classic Continuation programmes for the other three models, Jaguar Classic engineers have consulted Jaguar’s archives and cross-referenced scan data taken from an original C-type in conjunction with the latest computer-aided design technology to create the most authentic new C-type possible.

Taking that engineering CAD data a stage further, for the first time ever Jaguar Classic is also able to give customers the opportunity to visualise their C-type Continuation virtually using a specially designed online configurator. This new tool allows users to compare colour and trim options from the 12 authentic exterior colours and eight interior colours available, and apply optional racing roundels, steering wheel badge and bonnet badging.

Exclusive access to original engineering drawings and company records created by the original C-type development team also ensure the authentic 1953 specifications are accurately maintained.

Additional options available to C-type Continuation customers include an FIA-approved Harness Retention System or rollover protection. Not just for show, these authentic new C-types will be eligible for historic racing, track and closed-road use.

“Driven by some of the most-admired racing drivers in history, the C-type laid the foundations for Jaguar’s success in endurance racing and is synonymous with design and engineering innovation. Seventy years on, Jaguar Classic is proud to be able to utilise the latest innovations in manufacturing technology – alongside traditional skills and unrivalled expertise – to reintroduce this legendary car for a new generation of enthusiasts to enjoy,” said Dan Pink, Director, Jaguar Classic.

Original Jaguar E-Type toolkit now available from Jaguar Classic

Toyota returned to the top of the global sales chart in 2020

With motor vehicle production and sales so vast and widespread around the planet, getting an accurate tally of total numbers is not easy. However, it is generally agreed that the Volkswagen Group has been the leader since 2017. Last year, the company it displaced 5 years ago – Toyota Motor Corporation – overtook the German carmaker to regain its position as the world’s best-selling automaker.

According to the company, Toyota sold 9.5 million vehicles globally in 2020, and this total includes vehicles sold by the Lexus brand as well as subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors. The volume was, however, 10.5% lower than in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic conditions in virtually all markets, limiting sales activities.

Volkswagen declared that it sold 9.3 million vehicles, which include those of the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche and Skoda brands. That represented a 15.2% decline in volume from 2019.

The Toyota RAV4 was the company’s bestselling model with 994,000 units delivered worldwide. The company also saw its global ratio of electrified vehicle sales increasing, from approximately 20% in 2019 to around 23% in 2020.

Alongside the Tiguan, the latest Volkswagen Golf, with all 8 variants made available during 2020, was also among the bestselling cars in the world. It was once again the most popular model car in Europe with around 312,000 units delivered.

Further down, the Renault-Nissan Alliance reported 7.95 million units sold (a drop of 20.5%) to be ranked third, while the Hyundai Motor Group (which includes Kia) reported 6.62 million units to take fourth place. General Motors, once the world leader, saw sales plummet by 13.2% to 6.26 million units, putting it again in fifth place.

*General Motors, which was No.1 for nearly 8 decades, was overtaken by Toyota in 2008.*

Looking ahead, both Toyota and Volkswagen see things improving even though the pandemic continues. During the October to December quarter, Toyota’s global sales were up 6.8% compared to the volume for the same period in 2019.

Volkswagen plans to increase its global market share in 2021 and sees its e-offensive as being timely, in addition to the hybrid offensive which started last year. Its new ID range of all-electric vehicles is also entering the market and will provide a boost.

2020 new vehicle sales – the Top 5 brands in Malaysia

GMC and Chip Ganassi Racing to enter Extreme E Championship

GMC (a division of General Motors) will compete in the inaugural Extreme E championship which starts this April. The event will be an ideal showcase for the company which is embarking on electrification with its all-electric Hummer EV which was unveiled last October.

The Extreme E championship is for vehicles powered only by electricity and a specially-developed all-electric inspired by the Hummer EV will be used. Development of the vehicle and the racing team entering it is Chip Ganassi Racing, a team which has won in many iconic races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s HUMMER EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. Vice-President, Performance and Motorsports. “Both GMC HUMMER EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”

*Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price, the crew for the GMC-Chip Ganassi Racing entry.*

GMC association with Chip Ganassi racing will be for a number of years. This year, the team will have noted off-road racers Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price as drivers in the Extreme E event. The event regulations specify that there must be one male and one female member, and both must also perform driving duties.

*The GMC Hummer EV production model which has 1,000 horsepower.*

Global championship
The 5 rounds of the Extreme E championship will take place in some of the world’s most remote locations. Each round will take place within an area no larger than 10 square kms. Routes will be designed to incorporate existing obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps without the need to adapt the natural setting, thereby avoiding negative impact on the environment.

The opening Desert X Prix round takes place in AlUla in the northwest of Saudi Arabia on April 3 – 4. The calendar for the rest of the year is as follows:
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal – May 29-30
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland – August 28-29
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil – October 23-24
Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina – December 11-12

An interesting aspect of the event will be the way the vehicles are ‘refuelled’ as they require electricity. A special hydrogen fuel cell generator has been developed in collaboration with AFC Energy, and this technology will allow Extreme E vehicles to recharge using zero emission energy, with the only by-product being water for utilisation elsewhere after each round.

*Hydrogen fuel cell generator will provide electricity to recharge vehicles on-site during the event.*

Raising awareness of climate change
One of the main goals shared by Extreme E’s founders, partners and participants is to raise awareness among spectators of the challenges facing society as a whole, such as climate change, humankind’s interaction with the environment and the protection of threatened animal and plant species.

“This new racing format is an opportunity for us to show that our high-performance tyres keep delivering even under extreme conditions. But Extreme E is also a radical new initiative for raising awareness of the challenges facing the modern world. It is this unconventional mix of adrenaline, entertainment and sustainability that makes this series so exciting. That is why we became Founding Partners and sponsors of the series in January and why we are really looking forward to the test phase,” said Sandra Roslan, Extreme E project leader at Continental, one of the founding partners of the event.

Hispano Suiza team unveils all-electric off-roader for Extreme E

Driving licence renewal can be deferred during February and March

As in 2020 when the first Movement Control Order (MCO) restricted movements to the extent that even government offices had to shut down, the Ministry of Transport Malaysia has announced that renewal of driving licences need not be done if they expire between February 1 until March 31, 2021.

This is in view of the travel restrictions which presently limit people to a range of 10 kms from their homes, and also to reduce crowds at the JPJ offices. Unless another announcement is made, renewal will have to be done within 30 days from March 31, 2021.

This exemption is, however, not for those with commercial vehicle and vocational licences (GDL and PSV). They can still renew their licences as they are classified under Essential Services.

While renewal of the driving licence can be deferred, the vehicle must still have valid insurance. A copy of the insurance e-cover note must be available for inspection if requested by an authority. Valid coverage is important in the event of an accident.

Many insurance companies will be able to provide renewal services online, and companies like MyEG also handle renewals of driving licences and roadtax online. They can deliver the documents to an address provided for a small fee.

Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory to become the ‘Home of the ID’ all-electric model

Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory, located in Dresden (which used to be in the former East Germany), began operations in 2002 making the company’s Phaeton luxury sedan. At one point, it was also used for production of the Continental Flying Spur by Bentley, which is part of the Volkswagen Group. The unique factory, with glass walls, also assembled the e-Golf.

Now, it is making the ID, Volkswagen’s range of all-electric vehicles. It is the second production site for the ID.3 and already the fourth site in the world producing Volkswagen models based on the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit (MEB). Over the coming years, the former ‘Centre of Future Mobility’ will steadily transform into the ‘Home of the ID’.

Showcase for mobility of tomorrow
“The Transparent Factory plays an important role within the Volkswagen brand. Here, visitors, customers and guests come into direct contact with the mobility of tomorrow. We are a production plant, tourist attraction, event location, test lab and delivery centre – all in one. With the start of the production of the ID.3, we are giving the green light for our strategic realignment,” said Danny Auerswald, Site Manager of the Transparent Factory.

An additional focus of the strategic realignment is the development of a research and innovation site that drives innovative projects on a pilot scale for later use in large capacity sites at Volkswagen.

Holistic experience
As it was before, the Transparent Factory offers customers, visitors and guests a holistic experience of the ID. family – from initial advice and test drives, to production visits, co-constructing the ID.3 and modern event formats, up to the handover of the electric vehicles.

The first ID.3 rolled off the assembly line recently, and as with the start-up of the e-Golf in 2017, the production of the ID.3 will also start with one shift and 35 vehicles from Monday to Friday. Visitors can tour the factory from Mondays to Sundays.

*The Transparent Factory, located in the former East Germany, also offers tours to the public and customers can collect their vehicles there as well.*

In future, significantly more vehicles will be handed over to customers in the Transparent Factory. To that end, a second delivery point was recently set up in the factory – which is unique in the automobile industry. The number of vehicle handovers to customers is expected to increase from 1,301 in 2019 and 3,296 in 2020, to more than 5,000 vehicles in 2021. The goal is around 9,700 deliveries a year by 2022.

Conversion of the factory
At the beginning of 2021, the production area of the Transparent Factory was converted to meet the requirements of the MEB. The first conversions for the ID.3 already took place in summer 2020. As one of seven stations, the ‘marriage’, where the body and chassis are bolted together, was adapted. The conversion measures include, for example, the installation of a system on which the panoramic roof is fitted and for the adaptation of the gripping devices for installing the cockpit and seat system.

*The factory produced the Phaeton as well as Bentley Continental Flying Spur (above) and e-Golf (below).*

Fourth MEB factory
The Transparent Factory is already the fourth site in the world producing Volkswagen electric cars based on the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit. At the end of 2020, the Chinese sites in Anting and Foshan also started production of MEB vehicles. Together, the two plants in Germany and two plants in China have a maximum production capacity of more than 900,000 vehicles a year. Two more sites in Germany and one in the USA are also preparing for MEB production.

The topic of Production 4.0 will also be driven forward in the Transparent Factory. The guiding principle is the automation and digitalization of complex operations within assembly and logistics. Specifically, the factory will act as a planned pilot plant in the company for the development and application of new technologies in volume production processes.

To know about Volkswagen models available in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

2020 Volkswagen ID.3 makes global debut

Fuel Price Updates For January 30 – February 5, 2021

Latest Speedback GT by David Brown Automotive

David Brown Automotive (DBA) started off in 2013 to offer exclusive cars that took the classic, timeless, elegant looks of previous decades combined with modern, state-of-the-art engineering, production methods, technology and performance. Using predominantly British-sourced premium materials and traditional artisan craftsmanship, each of the company’s vehicles is uniquely produced by hand in Great Britain.

It recently completed a striking Speedback GT for a customer in Germany. Described as ‘a true example of personal expression’, the grand tourer showcases of DBA’s ability to offer bespoke solutions for any style, with this car custom-built with a number of exclusive accessories and bespoke options. Every customer obviously pays considerably more than the base price which, in the UK, is over £600,000 (about RM3.3 million).

This particular Speedback GT model has a bespoke brilliant ‘Blue Moon’ hand-painted finish. It is the mainstay of the company’s range of products and took some 8,000 hours to build. This latest Speedback GT order was entirely bespoke, with a completely unique combination of handcrafted leathers, wood veneers, bespoke brightware plating and unique picnic seat feature.

Every Speedback GT is a unique masterpiece, with this newest car distinguished not only by its blue hue but also with its bespoke build extras. A black mesh satin grille is fitted, complete with inset auxiliary LED lighting.

The car is fitted with 19-inch polished stainless steel wire wheels for use in the summer, surrounded by David Brown-branded tyres, developed specially for this wheel option by Avon Tyres. The owner also receives a set of bespoke Union Flag-inspired alloy wheels for the winter months.

Inside the Speedback GT, the car has a one-of-a-kind look and feel with hand-crafted Elm Burr satin lacquered wood veneers and a ‘Tabak’ tan leather interior that gives light colour shades to complement the tint of the extensive wood materials used throughout. All of the brightware has been milled from solid billets of aluminium and then plated in nickel chrome to give additional warmth to the cabin.

DBA is especially proud of the custom drinks set that holds the owner’s preferred gin and tonic and two crystal highball glasses, along with a bespoke woollen picnic blanket, situated underneath the picnic seat that extends out of the boot of the car, a feature made famous by Speedback GT.

This bespoke addition can be specially designed for customers who want to serve passengers drinks, or to park up for the night and enjoy a G&T. This customer spent a day at DBA’s headquarters to refine their bespoke specification, settling on the drinks set as a ‘quintessentially British’ signature of the car.

“We’re very proud of our entire product range and while much of our volume comes from Mini Remastered models, enquiries and sales of Speedback GT have remained consistent since its launch. Thanks to its timeless styling and superb build quality, the model remains a mainstay of our portfolio,” said Michelle Gay, Sales and Marketing Director at David Brown Automotive.

*MINI REMASTERED is the other model in the David Brown Automotive range.*

Renault Kiger debuts in India, to go on sale from March 2021

*To know about other promotions, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.*

In spite of the hugely challenging conditions last year, Renault continued to improve its business in India, giving it confidence to accelerate expansion plans and double our annual sales volumes over the next couple of years. The market has remained strong in the French carmaker’s Africa-Middle-East-India-Pacific market, accounting for about 20% of sales.

The push forward today gained an additional offering for the Renault range for the sub-continent with the unveiling of the new Kiger SUV. The concept model was shown late last year and the production version looks very similar; in fact, Renault already said that around 80% of what was in the concept would be retained in the production model.

2020 Renault Kiger concept — *Renault Kiger concept shown last year, and the production model (below)*

Follows concept model styling
The designers have given the Kiger several features to add sportiness. The front grille’s 3D graphic finish with honeycomb-shaped chromed effects is an example, while the aluminium finish skidplate is a highlight at the rear, along with the LED double C-shaped lighting signature.

The Kiger that will be in showrooms in India has the same overall silhouette of the concept SUV. It has an overall length of 3991 mm and overall width of 1750 mm and sits on the same CMFA+ platform as the Triber and the Nissan Magnite.

Best-in-segment roominess
The Kiger is said to provide ‘record levels of roominess’ and a couple distance of 710 mm between the front seats – the best in its segment. At the rear, there is also claimed to be the best-in-segment second row legroom and elbow room. Cargo volume is also the biggest in class with 405 litres (expandable to 879 litres) with a floor length of up to 1565 mm.

The ‘smart cockpit’ was designed to give a practical onboard experience without detracting from style. It has a high, wide dashboard centre console focused around a large 8-inch floating touchscreen that features wireless smart phone replication for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

1-litre engine, turbo and non-turbo
The powerplant available at launch is only a 1-litre 3-cylinder engine, with and without a turbocharging. The naturally-aspirated engine develops 72 ps/96 Nm while the turbocharged one has an output of 100 ps/160 Nm.

The more powerful engine will be available with a 5-speed manual transmission or X-TRONIC CVT. For the other variant, there is also a manual transmission or the option of an EASY-R robotised gearbox.

Pricing is expected to start from Rs 6 lakh (about RM34,000) with sales to start by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

2021 Renault 5 Prototype

80,000 Bentley Continentals delivered in 18 years

The Continental model line has a special place in Bentley’s history, having begun in 1952 with the R-Type Continental. This was a Mulliner-bodied coupe with a top speed of just under 195 km/h. It was the fastest 4-seater car in the world during that period of the 1950s, and very quickly earned a reputation as the ultimate in high-speed luxury.

In 2003, the Continental GT was launched – the first car of the modern Bentley era. Inspired by the R-Type, the first Continental GT established an entirely new market segment – the modern luxury Grand Tourer. Ever since, an average of nearly 5,000 examples have been delivered to customers around the world each year.

This year, after 18 years, the Bentley factory in England produced the 80,000th Continental GT. It should be noted that every Continental GT has been customised, meaning there are 80,000 very individual examples of the car. The 80,000^th unit was a right-hand drive Continental GT V8 in Orange Flame and it was completed earlier this week.

“At its launch in 2003, Bentley redefined the modern grand tourer with the revolutionary Continental GT. Now in 2021, the GT continues to be the ultimate luxury grand tourer, encompassing the latest technology, performance and style. This success is a testament to the skills of our designers, engineers and craftspeople here in Crewe,” said Bentley’s Chairman & CEO, Adrian Hallmark.

Many of the skilled craftspeople will have worked on the very first example of the Continental GT (still owned by Bentley). Over this period, the style, technology and engineering beneath the car has evolved significantly, seeing an increase of up to 27% in peak power, whilst models within the range have also achieved a reduction over the original Continental GT of 48% in CO₂ emissions.

The platform beneath the car was upgraded to a Bentley design for the third generation, allowing a totally new stance, proportions and levels of dynamic ability that raised the bar again. Wrapped in a totally new bodywork design, with sharper lines and more flowing surfaces, the Continental GT remains a stylish and thoroughly contemporary grand tourer.

With a choice of powertrains, one of the most extensive colour palettes in the world and with almost limitless interior options, unique configurations can run into billions of variations. Bentley suggests that there are currently a total of 17 billion ways in which a customer can personalise his or her Continental GT.

Beyond that there are also the services of Bentley Mulliner – the company’s in-house bespoke division – which will make the requirements of each customer a reality. Apart from safety aspects, there are no limitations to what can be done for the customer.

To mark the production milestone, Bentley drew on its heritage fleet to show the evolution and achievements of the Continental GT since 2003. These included the very first production unit, still a taxed-and-tested car on Bentley’s fleet, a Continental Supersports coupe, considered by many to be the pinnacle of the first-generation GT family as well as second generation Continental GT V8 S coupe, finished in Jetstream.

*A Continental GT setting the Production Class record at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.*

The Continental GT has also supported Bentley’s long tradition of racing and record-breaking that started in the 1920s when the Bentley Boys set the pace at European circuits. Some recent achievements: the first Ice Speed Record GT, driven by 4-times World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen; and the 2019 Pikes Peak GT, which still holds the Production Class record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Only electric power for Bentley vehicles by the end of this decade

Piston.my

English

2021 Ford Rangers get 5-year warranty as standard

Jaguar Classic adds 1953 C-Type to Continuation Programme

Toyota returned to the top of the global sales chart in 2020

GMC and Chip Ganassi Racing to enter Extreme E Championship

Driving licence renewal can be deferred during February and March

Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory to become the ‘Home of the ID’ all-electric model

Fuel Price Updates For January 30 – February 5, 2021

Latest Speedback GT by David Brown Automotive

Renault Kiger debuts in India, to go on sale from March 2021

80,000 Bentley Continentals delivered in 18 years

Toyota Malaysia Launches 2025 GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and Corolla GR Sport

Chery Holding Achieves Record Sales and Revenue in 2024

Volvo Car Malaysia Opens Bookings for Locally Assembled EX30 Electric SUV

Mazda Breaks U.S. Sales Record While Taking a Cautious Approach to Electrification

BYD Reports Record Sales in 2024 Amid Global Trade Tensions

Volkswagen Malaysia Adjusts Touareg R-Line Pricing to Boost Appeal

Four Puspakom Staff Under Investigation Following Ops Gempur Surprise Checks

JPJ Cracks Down on Traffic Offences Nationwide in New Year’s Eve Operations

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

Archive

Police Nab Human Smuggling Suspect, Discover 15 Illegal Immigrants in Luxury Vehicle

Mk1 Ford Escort Makes a Modern Comeback – 296bhp and Revs up to 10,000rpm!

Malaysia Introduces High-Speed Weigh-In-Motion System to Curb Overloaded Vehicles

Authorities Urged to Adhere to SOPs for Timely Road Repairs

Jaecoo Helps Drivers Make Informed Decisions With PHEV, HEV Education

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube

The Piston Show