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First SUV in Genesis range targeted at North American market

Genesis, Hyundai Motor’s luxury division, has unveiled its first SUV, targeting the North American where it will be in showrooms from mid-2020. The new model introduces a variety of firsts for the brand, including responsive electronic control suspension, active road noise cancellation, and an active motion driver’s seat.

“GV80 is our proof of concept that we infuse the spirit of youth and wonder into everything we do,” said Mark Del Rosso, CEO, Genesis Motor North America. “We developed GV80 by looking inward and asking ourselves how Genesis brand DNA could differentiate our very first SUV. I’m overwhelmed by the bench strength at Genesis and what the design, engineering and development teams have accomplished with the GV80.”

The production GV80 realizes the vision of the GV80 Concept first shown at the 2017 New York auto show. It joins the line-up of G70, G80 and G90 sedans with more than a common thread of design identity.

Signature Genesis design elements are immediately visible on the GV80 from every vantage point. The Crest Grille emphasizes gravitas consistent with the positioning of GV80. The Parabolic Line runs smoothly along the side with precise execution, accentuated by power lines above each wheel emphasizing stance and presence. The Quad Lamps, which flank the Crest Grille, are made possible with sophisticated lighting technology.

Unique signature of Genesis design
“The Quad Lamp graphic will become the most recognizable, unique signature of Genesis design, as the simplest of lines communicate a distinct identity,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice-President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “Two lines will come to define Genesis.”

The G-Matrix pattern that appears in light fixtures throughout the exterior is inspired by orchids seen when diamonds are illuminated by light. The pattern also appears on the available 22-inch wheels.

The body structure of GV80 is enhanced with hot-stamped, high-strength steel, as well as lightweight aluminium used on the doors, bonnet, and tailgate that allow it to achieve competitive curb weight.

Luxury in space
The interior focuses on ‘the beauty of white space’, characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural philosophy. The concept of ‘luxury in space’ defines the open feeling of the cabin of GV80, with the G-Matrix pattern as a motif.

“The concept of the ‘beauty of white space’ is a hallmark of Korean design. We were able to express a luxurious feel for the interior of GV80 through reductive design and channelling the Korean roots of the Genesis brand,” explained SangYup Lee, Senior Vice-President, Head of Genesis Design.

The width of the cabin has been emphasized through the design of sleek, thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment. A 14.5-inch, split-screen infotainment display sits front and centre atop the dashboard. The number of hard buttons and switches was intentionally kept to a minimum, both for aesthetic purposes and ease of use. In up-level variants, soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to the quilted knee pads that line the lower sides of the console.

The ornate centre control unit on the middle console covers an electronic, shift-by-wire transmission base with dial-style shift. Handwriting recognition through the Genesis Integrated Controller helps users set a destination or enter data without having to operate a keyboard on the navigation screen — simply by using handwritten letters on the writing recognition control system.

A mobile ‘oasis’
The GV80 features the world’s first application of Road Active Noise Cancellation (RANC) technology, which dramatically reduces road noise while driving. Based on the science of digital signal processing, RANC overcomes the limitations of existing noise control technologies that rely on physical technology, such as materials and body structures, to quiet the cabin. RANC generates sound waves of opposite phases in 0.002 second by analyzing road noise in real-time, dramatically reducing irregular, simultaneous road noise.

Another world-first technology is an active motion driver’s seat that contains 7 air cells. This feature is said to reduce fatigue during long hours of driving. One-touch comfort control, adjustable from the front row, allows for limousine-level relaxation in the second-row seats with heating and ventilation available in the first two rows.

RWD drivetrain
As an ‘authentic’ Genesis, the GV80 sits on a unique rear-wheel drive platform, with all-wheel drive an option. Two turbocharged petrol engines (2.5-litres and 3.5-litres) will be available for the North American market, each paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive models will be equipped with an electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential at the rear axle.

Electronically controlled suspension with road preview is another Genesis first. This contributes to optimal ride comfort by recognizing information on the road ahead in advance via the front camera.

Advanced safety with world firsts
The GV80’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) including several world-first technologies, starting with Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning (SCC-ML). SCC-ML advances the science and engineering behind smart cruise control. It is an artificial intelligence-based intelligent navigation technology that enables the car to independently learn the driving characteristics of its drivers and implement autonomous driving similar to that of human drivers.

Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II) is a system that assists the driver in a wider variety of situations than before, including lane-change when the turn signal is used, and helping to merge in congested situations.

There are no less than 10 airbags around the cabin. This includes a centre-mounted airbag between the front occupants to reduce injuries that may occur as the front occupants’ bodies are subjected to lateral forces during a collision at the side of the car.

Unfortunately, the potential volume in righthand drive markets is not as large as for lefthand drive regions and from a business perspective, it would not be cost-effective to develop and produce a RHD version. So Genesis will focus on LHD versions only.

Dewan Bandaraya KL offers special rates for compound fines for traffic offences if settled before March 3, 2020

In conjunction with Federal Territory Day this year, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) is offering special rates for summonses. Owners or operators of motorcycles, cars and heavy vehicles can pay a compound fine of RM15 if they settle by March 3, 2020.

The offer is intended to encourage settlement of overdue summonses so that blacklisting does not occur. The rate is only applicable for traffic offences and is not applicable to cases which are already undergoing court proceedings or blacklisted vehicles/owners.

Payments can be made at all DBKL and Pos Malaysia branches and counters. Payments online can also be done via DBKL’s app Mobis (available at Google Play Store or Apple App Store), or MyEG.

According to Khairul Azmir bin Ahmad, Director of DBKL’s Corporate Planning Department, of the total number of summonses that have not been settled, DBKL has brought 107,547 cases to court and as at December 31, 2019, 4,914 cases have been blacklisted by the JPJ.

Today (February 1) is also the last day of the offer by the Traffic Police to settle summonses with a 50% discount. You don’t have to rush to the police station as they accept payments online via MyEG and Rilek.com.my.

It’s discount time again! Pay 50% less if you settle your summons between January 18 and February 1.

Lower toll rates on PLUS highways start after midnight today

If you are travelling on a PLUS highway tonight, don’t forget that after midnight, toll rates will be 18% lower. So pull over at a R&R for a teh tarik and delay your exit till after midnight. If you’re coming from Juru in the north and exiting at Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur, you can save almost RM8. You might get a special welcome from the PLUS people too as they are gathered there tonight for a symbolic ceremony to mark the occasion.

The PLUS-operated highways which will have toll reductions are the North-South Expressway (NSE), the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE), the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing (LINKEDUA), the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH), the Butterworth – Kulim Expressway (BKE), the East-Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), and the Penang Bridge.

The 18% reduction follows an agreement with the Ministry of Finance in exchange for an extension of the concession another 20 years until 2058. The reduction applies to all Passenger Vehicles (Class 1), Taxis (Class 4) and Buses (Class 5) and will remain unchanged until the concession ends. Toll charges for lorries (Classes 2 & 3) will also remain unchanged until the end of the concession in 2058.

PLUS has agreed to make the reduction as well as maintain the highways without any compensation or further funding from the government. Thus, apart from savings for the average of 1.7 million highway users each day, taxpayers will also not be paying for the upkeep of PLUS highways. PLUS has given assurance that its services and operations will not stagnate and aims to provide improvements as the years go by, as well as enhance the travelling experience on its highways.

Lower toll rates on PLUS highways – but not in time for Chinese New Year travel

Fuel Prices For February 1 – 7, 2020

Kuala Lumpur fails to make it into Top 10 ranking in TomTom’s Traffic Index

Malaysia has a tendency to be top ranking in lists that are ‘negative’ but for a change, it does not appear among the Top 10 of TomTom’s latest Traffic Index of cities around the world. However you may feel about traffic jams in Kuala Lumpur, it’s not as bad as Bengaluru, a city in southern India where drivers can expect to spend an average of 71% extra travel time just stuck in traffic – the longest time in the world.

No. 2 in the location technology specialist’s report which covered the traffic situation of 416 cities (with populations of over 800,000) in 57 countries was the Philippine capital of Manila (also 71%). Other than Manila and Bogota in Colombia, three Indian cities are among the Top 5 cities in the world with the most congested roads.

Kuala Lumpur was ranked No. 13 in Asia (37%) and No. 46 globally, while Singapore was at No. 24 and globally, No. 96. Incidentally, the least congested city in the study was Abu Dhabi.

Congestion up globally
Traffic congestion has increased globally during the last decade, and the 239 cities (57%) TomTom included in the new Traffic Index report had increased congestion levels between 2018 and 2019, with only 63 cities showing measurable decreases. This global increase in congestion, despite being an indicator of a strong economy, is understood to cost economies billions.

“Globally, there’s a long road to travel until congestion levels are brought under control. In time, the rise of autonomous vehicles and car-sharing services will help alleviate congestion, but planners and policymakers can’t afford to sit and wait. They need to use all the tools available to them to analyze traffic levels and impacts, so they can make critical infrastructure decisions. And drivers have a role to play too. Small changes in driving behaviours can make a huge difference,” said Ralf-Peter Schafer, TomTom’s VP of Traffic Information.

Analyzing real-time incidents and congestion to predict traffic before it happens, TomTom’s Real-Time Traffic is claimed to make its navigation software more accurate with enhanced route calculations and accurate estimated times of arrival.

The company also works on the future of driving – from high definition maps for autonomous vehicles, to efficient electric vehicle routing and charging – so that carmakers, technology companies, road authorities and governments already have the tools to make the roads less congested.

How do you beat traffic congestion?
Next time you are heading out in your car, consider these tips from TomTom.

Plan before you go. Taking a few moments before heading out the door to inform yourself on the road conditions on the way to your destination will help you consider your alternatives and decide on the best course of action.
Trust technology to help you. It may be uncomfortable to take a road you may not be familiar with because your satnav suggests it’s the fastest one. Often, if you cannot see that a road is indeed congested, it is hard to believe it. Dare to take the alternative route offered by up-to-date navigation, because it is basing its recommendation on real-time traffic conditions on the route you are taking. You will likely be surprised!
Change your driving habits. Most often, traffic will peak at certain times of the day, depending on location. This is clear in TomTom’s studies and its report provides the average congestion level for each hour of each day of the week. Use the information available to adjust your departure time accordingly. Leaving early or late from a location might mean avoiding time spent in traffic on the road.

The Hummer is returning but you’ll hardly hear it coming… (w/VIDEO)

It’s been almost 10 years since the last Hummer was produced and for a while, it seemed that a company in China would take over the brand which started in 1992. However, that never happened and General Motors, the brand owner, stopped production and marketing after 2010. Although sold mainly in America, the Hummer was an iconic vehicle globally because of its looks and size and perhaps the fact that it was a civilian version of a military vehicle.

In May 2020, GM will revive the Hummer with the unveiling of an all-new model although statements by senior GM executives indicate that it will be a model name rather than a brand as it used to be. The vehicle will be sold under the GMC brand and it will be a totally different type of Hummer because it will have an all-electric powerplant instead of the 6.2-litre engine (the Hummer H3 had a smaller 3.5-litre powerplant).

It will be GMC’s first all-electric truck, a rival to Tesla’s Cybertruck which Elon Musk says already has 250,000 orders from people who paid refundable US$100 deposit. Starting off with the theme of ‘Quiet Revolution’ in advertising spots starting on May 20, the HUMMER EV, as it will be known, will have 1,000 bhp, 15,592 Nm of torque and a claimed 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of 3 seconds. And without the noise and unhealthy emissions Hummers of the past generated but expected to still have superior capabilities off-road.

The HUMMER EV will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant which has received a US$2.2 billion investment to make it the company’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly factory. GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pick-up with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco last week. Somewhere in the production schedule would also be the HUMMER EV which GMC informs will be initially available during the fourth quarter of 2021.

GMC Terrain — *GMC has been around for almost 120 years as a truck manufacturer. Its current range includes SUVs like the Terrain (above).*

GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing US$2.3 billion to manufacture battery packs – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck. It will be interesting what size of battery packs the HUMMER EV will have – would it guzzle electricity the way the original Hummer consumed fuel at a rate of around 4 kms/litre (even the ‘lighter’ H3 did 7 kms/litre at best). That consumption figure was one of the reasons why Hummer sales died quickly as fuel prices rose, taking the company down with it.

Toyota MegaCruiser and Dongfeng HUV — *The Toyota MegaCruiser (left) and Dongfeng HUV were almost certainly inspired by the original Hummer.*

Mazda starts 100th anniversary celebrations in Hiroshima

Mazda today celebrated its 100th anniversary with a ceremony at its Hiroshima headquarters that starts a year of events during which the company will remember its past and look to the future. 100 years ago, Mazda was not a car-producer but was a producer of cork in Hiroshima. It was when Jujiro Matsuda, an industrialist, took charge of Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd. in 1921 that the business transformed first into a machine tool producer and then a manufacturer of motor vehicles.

Evolution of the Mazda logo from the original one used by the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd. 100 years ago (top left) and then changed during the 1940s to follow the emblem of Hiroshima (centre) and again in the 1960s (there were also other emblems used for short periods). Today’s logo, adopted in 1998, symbolizes the brand’s flight toward the future. The “V” in the centre represents creativity, vitality, flexibility and passion. The dynamic circle symbolises readiness to spread its wings as the company begins the 21st century.

The first model was a 3-wheeled truck – the Mazda-Go – that went on sale in 1931. It proved popular and underwent continual improvement with innovations such as a 4-speed transmission in 1938 that reduced fuel consumption by 20%. Hiroshima was targeted by an atomic bomb during World War II and Mazda, like virtually every business in the city, suffered greatly. But a strong spirit persevered and truck manufacturing resumed only a few months after the destruction.

First Mazda vehicle — *Mazda’s first motorised vehicle was a 3-wheeler introduced in 1931 (above), and it produced its first car – the R360 – in 1960 (below)*

Commercial vehicles remained in the focus after the war and the first passenger car arrived in 1960 with the Mazda R360. The car was a hit in Japan’s popular kei-car segment, contributing to the motorisation of Japan and starting the path to the successful line-up of Mazda models that we see today.

Mazda is closely associated with the rotary engine, having successfully commercialised it when others thought it was not feasible. In 1961, the company signed a licensing deal with German carmaker NSU to develop and produce its new compact, lightweight Wankel rotary engines. The determined Japanese engineers finally came out with the futuristic Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S in 1967, the world’s first production model with a rotary engine.

Mazda Cosmo Rotary — *The Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S had the world’s first production rotary engine.*

*Mazda RX-7 was among the almost 2 million rotary engine-powered cars sold by Mazda.*

It was the start of a remarkable success story that would see the brand launch numerous models with the unique engine including the RX-7 and over time, almost two million rotary-powered cars were sold. The 4-rotor Mazda 787B won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991, the first Asian manufacturer to do so – and the only victorious car with a non-piston engine – and proving Mazda’s technological prowess on the track.

Mazda 787B — *In 1991, Mazda was the first Asian manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hour race with the 787B that had a 4-rotor rotary engine.*

The courage to question common practices and forge new paths in engineering and design that others considered unfeasible has driven the team at Mazda since the beginning. Besides the rotary engine, Mazda also created the world’s best-selling 2-seat roadster – the Mazda MX-5 – which has sold over one million cars since its launch in 1989. Its SKYACTIV Technology has optimised vehicle design and engineering while Jinba Ittai provides the strong connection between car and driver in all Mazda models today.

The next 100 years
Mazda’s superior engineering is complemented by its design excellence that currently uses the KODO – Soul of Motion design language. The emphasis on design is so strong at the company that the designers have the fullest support from the manufacturing side which sees it as a challenge to reproduce the design features that may be omitted in other companies due to production constraints.

“Mazda originated as a company producing cork and then took the path to manufacturing automobiles. Now, our cars have found friends with many customers from over 130 countries and regions. As we look ahead to the next 100 years, we will continue to put people first and cherish our ‘uniqueness of co-creating with others.’ As we strengthen co-creation and cooperation with all those connected with the company, we will continue to challenge ourselves to create unique products, technologies, and experiences that our customers love,” said President & CEO, Akira Marumoto.

Click here for other news and articles about Mazda at PISTON.MY.

Visit www.mazda.com.my to find out more about the wide range of models available in Malaysia.

‘Green Wave’ with Audi Traffic Light Information makes city driving more efficient (w/VIDEO)

During the 1960s, as traffic volumes began to increase, it became necessary for their movement to be managed so that jams did not form at junctions. Policemen did the job initially but eventually, traffic lights took over the task and provided management for 24 hours, rain or shine. However, along some roads like Jalan Mountbatten (Jalan Tun Perak today) in Kuala Lumpur, there were a number of junctions so traffic would move forward and then have to stop after a short distance. Then someone did some calculations and synchronised the green lights to occur at specific intervals so that if a car travelled along at a moderate speed, the driver would not have to stop as the lights would be green. Thus was born the ‘Green Wave’ system which was used on some Malaysia roads.

That system was a very simple one of just synchronising the traffic lights and today, with the availability of networked communications, a ‘Green Wave’ is possible on certain roads in two German cities. At Ingolstadt and Dusseldorf, Audi’s Traffic Light Information enables Audi drivers to see information from around 150 traffic lights in their cockpit, thus increasing their chance of catching a “green wave”.

By the middle of this year, most of the intersections in Dusseldorf – approximately 450 out of a total of some 600 installations – will be networked. Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) services like Audi Traffic Light Information will help increase efficiency, convenience and safety on the roads.

Audi Traffic Light Information consists of two functions: Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory (GLOSA) and Time-to-Green. GLOSA calculates the ideal speed for getting a ‘green wave’. For example, if the function indicates the applicable speed limit, the next traffic light will be reached when it is at green.

Drivers do not have to accelerate unnecessarily, they are not stressed, and they drive more safely. GLOSA can also suggest reducing speed gradually about 250 metres ahead of the traffic lights so that the driver and the cars behind reach the intersection when the lights turn to green. This reduces uneconomical stop-and-go traffic.

If stopping at a red light is unavoidable, a countdown displays the seconds remaining until the next green phase begins (Time-to-Green). Drivers can relax, take their foot off the pedal and save fuel. A number of studies conclude that drivers will be able to move through cities more efficiently with networked traffic lights. In a pilot project, Audi vehicles had reduced fuel consumption by 15%.

“With Audi Traffic Light Information, we wish to improve convenience for drivers, increase traffic safety and encourage an economical style of driving that looks ahead,” said Andre Hainzlmaier, Head of Development for Apps, Connected Services and Smart City at Audi.

“To do this, we have to predict precisely how traffic lights will behave in the next two minutes. At the same time, exact forecasts are the biggest challenge. Most signals react variably to traffic volume and continuously adapt the intervals at which they switch between red and green,” he said.

Audi and its project partner, Traffic Technology Services, have developed a complex analytical algorithm that calculates exact predictions from three sources: from the control program of the traffic signals; from the real-time data of the traffic computer, a combination of road-occupation cameras, detector strips in the road surface, data on approaching buses and trams, and buttons that pedestrians press; as well as from historical data. The forecast algorithm improves itself continuously and learns how, for example, the traffic volume changes in morning commuter traffic or at midday when children leave nurseries and schools.

The Audi fleet plays a decisive part in optimizing the traffic light forecasts. “The cars send anonymized data when traffic lights are crossed to an Audi backend, which checks whether the actual crossings of traffic lights correspond to the forecast data. Only after this are the traffic lights cleared for the display in the car,” Hainzlmaier explained.

Audi Traffic Light Information premiered in 2016 in Las Vegas. Today, this V2I service is available at more than 10,000 intersections in North America. The carmaker is also the world’s first automotive manufacturer to network its series-production models with city traffic lights. Its system, available only in a few countries at this time, operates in all Audi e-tron, A4, A6, A7, A8, Q3, Q7 and Q8 models produced since mid-July 2019.

Click here for other news and articles about Audi on PISTON.MY.

All-new SEAT Leon designed to continue as Spain’s bestselling car

SEAT, the Spanish carmaker that is part of the Volkswagen Group, has unveiled the all-new Leon which will have its public launching in Geneva in March. Over 2.2 million units have been sold since it was added to the SEAT range in 1999 and, like the latest Volkswagen Golf 8 and Skoda Octavia 4, it sits on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB Evo platform.

“The SEAT Leon has been improving generation after generation being able to conquer new customers. In 2019, the Leon was the best-selling car for SEAT with more than 150,900 vehicles delivered, as well as being the best-selling car in Spain during the past 5 years,” said SEAT’s Executive Vice-President for Sales & Marketing and CUPRA CEO, Wayne Griffiths. “We have now created the best Leon ever. The new Leon has been designed keeping the ‘created in Barcelona’ spirit and at the same time being the safest, most connected and with the widest range of engines the brand has ever seen. We believe we have all the ingredients to make of the new Leon a great choice not only for private customers but also for corporate fleets.”

2020 SEAT LEON — *The new Leon is available in 5-door hatchback and estate (below) bodystyles.*

Evolutionary approach to design
The exterior design takes an evolutionary approach that enhances the volume and proportions of the vehicle, with the increased wheelbase which translates to 49 mm extra legroom for rear occupants, and length for both the 5-door and the Estate. The form was specifically developed to enhance overall efficiency with improved aerodynamics that have the drag coefficient (Cd) lowered by around 8% compared to the previous generation.

Typical of Spanish design philosophy, the car’s appearance has a lot of personality, with a stronger three-dimensional connection between the grille and headlights together. The headlights are set back, giving it deeper focus while making it instantly recognisable. The body surfaces have evolved, with stronger shapes creating more shift in the light and colour tone across the body, which together create a more elegant design.

The new Leon gets the latest in lighting technology, with the cold white light colour of the LEDs provide superior luminosity of up to 900 lumens, (standard LEDS provide up to 550 lumens), thanks to the packing of 22 LEDs per module. There is integration of all the dipped beam, high beam and daytime running lights. Dynamic indicators more clearly show car’s intended direction of travel when turning, apart from being eye-catching features.

Functionality, minimalism and sleekness
Inside, the evolutionary theme continues with a clear emphasis on functionality, minimalism and sleekness. The smooth-surfaced, slim yet wide dashboard gives the appearance of lightness and appears to float. The effect is created with the help of the decorative mouldings that surround the dashboard and continue through into the front doors.

The cabin has been ergonomically designed to increase comfort, with everything within decluttered, reducing the number of physical buttons to a minimum, with a focus on the main infotainment screen, which includes gesture recognition, providing all key interaction and commands from the occupants.

Interior light is an important feature of the all-new Leon. It includes a wraparound dashboard light that covers its entire width and continues through the doors. It’s not only an ambient decorative light, but it also provides a number of key functions including blind spot detection.

A fully connected car
The Leon is declared as the brand’s first fully connected car, interfacing extensively with the more digitalised world. At the heart of the interior is the SEAT Digital Cockpit which brings together a high-resolution 10.25-inch configurable driver instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment system. Its ‘diagonal’ graphic design positioning gets inspiration from the Diagonal avenue of Barcelona, the home city of the company. It’s also the first time that the design interface has been created at the new SEAT Digital Lab.

A new voice recognition system enables a natural understanding of language to allow the user to interact with the infotainment system using natural commands, making corrections and referencing previous commands. With the Full Link system, the occupants can connect their smartphones and access their digital data no matter what device they use – either wireless Apple CarPlay (based on Bluetooth or WLAN) or Android Auto using a cabled connection.

The built-in eSIM delivers the eCall service which has been required on all new cars since April 2018. This service directly contacts emergency services should an incident occur. At the same time, the system transmits vital data to the emergency services such as the car’s location (based on GPS data), engine type, and number of passengers.

Car2X connectivity is a cloud-based technology that enables drivers to receive advanced warning on the status of upcoming traffic lights or an incident on a motorway further up the road, with traffic information appearing in real-time on the screen.

Wide range of powertrains
Besides petrol (TSI) and diesel (TDI) engines, customers can also have mild-hybrid (eTSI) and plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) powertrains. Transmissions available are both 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) transmission. The DSG automatic transmission now benefits from shift-by-wire technology. The system is designed so that the gear selector is no longer mechanically connected to the gearbox, instead using electronic signals to indicate a shift.

The petrol engines are all direct-injection, turbocharged units with outputs between 110 ps and 190 ps. These include a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder unit as well as a 1.5-litre TSI 4-cylinder unit. Both engines use a Miller-cycle combustion process and variable geometry turbocharger to ensure performance and efficiency, as does the integrated Active Cylinder Management.

There are 2 diesel powertrain options, both 2.0 litre TDI units, with outputs of 115 ps and 150 ps. The turbodiesel engines introduce a new Selective Catalytic Reduction system that includes dual AdBlue injectors to significantly reduce NOx emissions compared to previous generation diesel engines.

As for the Mild Hybrid (eTSI) powertrains, these employ the 1.0 TSI and 1.5 litre TSI petrol engines which are mated to a 48V starter-generator, with energy from a lithium-ion battery pack. The car can coast (no pedal input from the driver) with the engine switched off (while retaining all key electric functions, such as power steering), harvest energy under deceleration and provide electrical torque assistance during acceleration.

The eHybrid variant is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and this uses a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with the electric motor, a 13-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 6-speed DSG transmission. The system output is 204 ps and recharging a totally empty battery pack to 100% is said to take less than 3.5 hours. The PHEV Leon can run on electric power only with a claimed range of 60 kms.

Highly-developed assistance systems
The latest Leon is the safest vehicle the brand has ever developed, the carmaker declares. The safety systems see more of its surroundings and react to obstacles on the road or sudden movements by other drivers, thanks to the integration of a suite of updated and completely new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The new technologies continually sense the environment to offer the optimum protection whatever the scenario.

Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (PACC) and Emergency Assist 3.0 protect the vehicle and its occupants while driving or stationary. PACC uses feeds from GPS data delivered from the navigation system and input from the front-mounted camera and Traffic Sign Recognition, allowing it to proactively adjust the cruising speed depending on the road layout ahead (bends, roundabouts, junctions, changes in speed limits and built-up areas). This reduces the requirement for driver input and also sudden speed changes and manoeuvres.

Production of the new model has started at the SEAT factory but prices are unlikely to be announced till March. However, like Skoda, SEAT products would be slightly cheaper than equivalent Volkswagen models.

Modernism-inspired camouflage used to disguise new SEAT model

Lower-priced Lotus Evora GT410 joins GT410 Sport

It’s been a while since we heard from Lotus after all the excitement about the Evija electric hypercar. But Lotus isn’t just about the Evija and today, the company has launched a new version of the Evora – the GT410. As a second model in the range, it sells alongside the Evora GT410 Sport, which also benefits from a revised specification.

At £82,900 (about RM440,000) in the UK, the GT410 is £3,000 (around RM16,000) less than the GT410 Sport. It features an enhanced standard spec over the GT410 Sport, providing owners with improved usability and a new level of driving comfort. Numerous features have moved from the Evora options list to become part of its standard specification. Exterior paint colour choices have been revised to include new options, including some historic shades from Lotus’ past.

A more usable ‘daily car’
The product planners set out to make the GT410 a more usable ‘daily car’. Sparco sport seats are installed with air-conditioning creating a more comfortable environment for occupants, while a camera at the back improves reversing safety. This is complemented by a new rear tailgate with a large glass section for improved rear visibility.

A premium infotainment system with sat-nav and Apple CarPlay is now standard and includes Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio is available for the first time. This conforms to the digital radio standard for broadcasting digital audio radio services. It gives the driver a wider range of choices of stations, compared to FM radio.

The occupants will be able to enjoy the entertainment system more with the increased cabin sound insulation. The GT410’s door trims now feature integrated armrests and storage bins for greater comfort and practicality.

The new car has a revised damper rate compared with the GT410 Sport. While it still delivers an impressive performance-oriented experience, the revision creates a more compliant ride for improved real-world comfort. The use of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S all-weather tyres also means better all-year usability.

While the upgrades mentioned enhance value for money, the Evora has already had high level of standard equipment. These include a body-coloured roof, side sills, tailgate, front access panel and mirror backs, red AP Racing brake callipers and silver or gloss black V-spoke cast alloy wheels, 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear. Interior equipment includes cruise control, heated seats, rear parking sensors.

Power continues to be supplied by a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 which develops 416 ps/410 Nm, with a choice of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is the same at 4.2 second for both transmissions but those who opt for the manual transmission can hit a claimed 298 km/h, 20 km/h faster than with the automatic transmission.

New options for Elise and Exige owners
Lotus has also announced new ways for customers to enhance the specifications of the Elise and Exige, including the reintroduction of the optional Touring and Sport packs. Touring enables the customer to add in comfort and convenience options to create a more desirable ‘road spec’ car, while Sport is based on the more driver-focused features that appeal to those who want to drive in a more spirited way, such as at track days.

Lotus Evija prototypes complete high-speed testing as electric hypercar debuts in China (w/VIDEO)

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