Since the Dakar Rally began in 1979, MINI has won it 5 times, adding a sixth overall title this year. While not matching Mitsubishi’s 12 wins, XRAID MINI JCW driver Stephane Peterhansel has the record of 14 wins in the event with his latest this week. His total of 14 wins over 30 years of participation in the event, includes winning 6 times on a motorcycle.
Consistency was the secret of success
The event this year was held in the deserts of Saudi Arabia with 12 stages that took the participants from Jeddah on January 2 in a clockwise route of 7,646 kms to finish in the same city 13 days later. Driving a XRAID MINI JCW Buggy, Peterhansel, with Edouard Boulanger, successfully defended the title won in 2020.
While Peterhansel was fastest only on one stage, his consistency in remaining among the top runners throughout the event showed kept him within sight of victory, finishing with a lead of 14 minutes 51 seconds.
“The pressure was immense since we were leading the overall standings for much of the race. You can only lose in that situation. But I have to say, we drove almost a perfect Dakar without any major errors and once again that was the key to success. Things were perfect between Edouard and me, and I was delighted to have him sat next to me. He couldn’t have done anything better,” the French driver said.
Stephane Peterhansel, 55, has won the Dakar Rally 14 times, using motorcycles for the first 6 wins.
In addition to Peterhansel, a third MINI crew finished in the top 10. Vladimir Vasilyev and Dmitry Tsyro crossed the finish line in sixth place in a MINI JCW Rally. A total of eight MINI cars competed in Saudi Arabia this year, 6 of which reached the finish line.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, Toyota GAZOO Racing Hilux, finished second between Peterhansel and Sainz.
Toyota finishes between two MINIs
The MINI was in close competition with Qatari driver, Nasser Al-Attiyah, who won 5 stages. However, difficulties with finding the route and a few punctures lost him a lot of time and by the finish, he could manage only second place with his Toyota Hilux.
Reigning champion Carlos Sainz (the father of the F1 driver) – who last year won the event – was unable to repeat the achievement as mechanical issues dogged him. Putting in a strong effort and winning the final stage got him third overall position, but his total time was an hour behind Peterhansel and Al-Attiyah.
Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) will enter its ninth season in World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a brand new racing car – the GR010 HYBRID Le Mans Hypercar. The reigning World Champions and 3-time Le Mans winners will defend those titles in the 2021 championship against new manufacturer competitors using a racing version of the upcoming hypercar road car.
The GR010 HYBRID is a prototype racer developed over the last 18 months in partnership by engineers at TGR’s headquarters in Germany, and the electric hybrid powertrain experts at Higashi-Fuji in Japan. It confirmed to regulations that herald a new era in WEC competition.
The GR010 HYBRID incorporates a 4-wheel drive racing hybrid powertrain, with a 3.5-litre V6 twin turbocharged petrol engine. The electrified powertrain generates 680 ps to the rear wheels, together with a 272 ps motor generator unit on the front axle. Total output is capped at 500 kW (680 ps), meaning the sophisticated electronics reduce engine power according to the amount of hybrid boost deployed.
The GR Super Sport hypercar which made its public debut last year.
The appearance of the racing prototype has been inspired by the GR Super Sport hypercar which made its public debut during a demonstration run and ceremonial trophy return at the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours and is currently in development. To mark this new era for TGR, a new livery includes the iconic GR lettering to indicate the strong link between race and road cars.
As part of a cost-cutting initiative incorporated in the regulations, the new GR010 HYBRID is 162 kgs heavier and with 32% less power than its TS050 HYBRID predecessor. It also has bigger dimensions – 250 mm longer, 100 mm wider and 100 mm higher. The implication of this is that Le Mans lap times are expected to be around 10 seconds slower.
For the first time since the beginning of its WEC project, TGR will participate without a rear motor generator unit (MGU), with the single permitted MGU located on the front axle. This means a starter motor must be fitted on the GR010 HYBRID while fully hydraulic rear brakes are also required.
The racing car’s aerodynamics, optimized for efficiency, have been developed using powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics software and extensive wind tunnel testing. The new technical regulations permit only a single homologated bodywork package, with only one adjustable aerodynamic device. The GR010 HYBRID will therefore compete in the same specification at both low and high downforce circuits, with an adjustable rear wing modifying the aerodynamic characteristics.
For the first time too, the top class of WEC and Le Mans will feature a balance of performance, meaning organisers will modify the performance of each car on a race-by-race basis, regulating energy usage and weight, targeting identical performance potential from each Le Mans Hypercar. That should ensure close racing between TGR and its hypercar competitors Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus and ByKolles Racing, as well as Alpine, which will present an additional challenge with its LMP1 car.
The TGR Team is reigning WEC Champion and 3-time Le Mans winner.
The championship will be fought over 6 races on three continents, beginning with the 1000 Miles of Sebring on March 19, followed by the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 1. The traditional season highlight – the Le Mans 24 Hours – will take place on 12-13 June. The first World Championship endurance race in Monza since 1992 takes place on July 18 before trips to Fuji Speedway (September 26) and Bahrain (November 20), all of which are 6-hour races.
Almost 5 years ago, Volkswagen AG moved its regional aftersales centre from Singapore to Malaysia, opening a new facility at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a free trade area in Johor. It was the second major carmaker after BMW AG to use PTP as a regional facility for Asian markets. However, BMW, which had moved its facility from Sembawang in Singapore to PTP in 2003, shifted to an industrial zone next to Senai Airport in 2017.
Parts for four brands
Volkswagen’s facility would eventually serve 21 markets in the Asia-Pacific region, storing tens of thousands of parts for the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen commercial vehicle brands of the German group. The idea of having a warehouse in Malaysia is to speed up deliveries of parts to distributors in Asia. By keeping parts in a strategic location, delivery times can be shortened compared to having them come all the way from Europe.
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor includes a Free Trade Zone (right) for companies using the strategic location as a regional hub to operate their warehouses.
Enlarged facility
With its business continuing to grow in Asia, Volkswagen must see a need to stock more parts and has set up a new Regional Parts Distribution Centre in PTP with a larger area of 50,000 square metres.
The new and larger facility, with direct port connectivity, offers up to 15% improved distribution and process efficiency. It is customised to Volkswagen Group’s requirements, where storage systems like semi-automated paternoster and vertical narrow aisle are built for better warehouse space and process optimisation.
Improving parts delivery in the region
“Our new Parts Distribution Centre in Malaysia undoubtedly strengthens Volkswagen Group’s global aftersales supply chain, a key milestone in providing improved genuine parts delivery to our customers in Asia Pacific,” said Roman Havlasek, Head of Volkswagen Group’s After Sales.
“Malaysia offers a central and well-connected location which perfectly suits our plans to expand our foothold in the region,” added Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, Dr Christian Dahlheim.
“Our electric product range already consists of very attractive models like the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 as well as the Audi e-tron that is fast growing. Besides vehicles, a strong aftersales performance is key for customer satisfaction,” he said.
Having a regional centre as well as a local hub means service centres can get parts faster.
Contrary to what some parties in Malaysia suggest, this is not a factory making automotive parts. It is only a storage facility for completed parts shipped from Europe and then despatched to various markets.
Parts from the Regional Parts Distribution Centre will be shipped to distributors in the various markets by air or sea, or in the case of Malaysia and Singapore, by road. For the Malaysian market, Volkswagen has a Parts Hub in Shah Alam, Selangor, to serve the market. It has been in operation since 2016, initially getting parts from the regional centre in Singapore and then PTP in Johor.
It is unlikely that the facility at PTP serves the assembly plant in Pahang which makes Volkswagens for the Malaysian market. That plant, within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. complex in Pekan, would receive the CKD (completely knocked-down) packs of parts from Port Klang. Genuine parts come from the master depot in Kassel while CKD packs are prepared at Wolfsburg in Germany.
Dacia, the Romanian carmaker that is part of the Renault Group, may not have a high profile in the global auto industry but it’s been pretty good at drawing from the technical pool of the group and the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance. As a result, it has produced competitive products which enjoy a following in 44 markets.
The company is now looking at new horizons in the C-segment and has developed a concept model to gauge response. It is likely that this will be positioned as a range-topper when it goes into production by 2025.
C-segment SUV, B-segment price
Known as the Bigster, the 4.5 metre SUV proposal is a roomy and robust vehicle with a target cost of the B-segment. It will use the modular CMF-B platform which was unveiled to the public at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. The platform is designed to be used for a wide range of models and embodies the Drive the Future plan, featuring electric engines, advanced driving aids approaching self-driving technology and advanced connectivity technologies.
The CMF-B platform (already used for the new Sandero) will replace the three platforms previously used by Renault and Nissan (including the Micra and Clio IV platforms) and 85% of its components are new (compared with the Clio IV platform).
New design language
The Y-shaped lighting signature highlights the SUV’s bold and assertive style. This is an element in the brand’s new design language which appears to still be evolving. There is no chrome trim or imitation-aluminium, and the Bigster Concept uses only raw recycled plastics for all exterior protective panels.
The generous outside dimensions suggest a very spacious interior. The dark green coat underpins ‘the adventurous explorer’ within.
Powertrains for the Bigster concept will be advanced and electrified, with hybrids and what the company refers to as ‘alternative energy’ (probably pure EV).
Although inter-state and inter-district travel has been stopped with the new Movement Control Order(MCO) in selected states (from January 13 until January 26 2021), PLUS Malaysia Berhad is maintaining its services and facilities as before, while adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
“The PLUS highways are critical linkages of the nation and PLUS is highly cognizant of its preparedness to serve and provide the highest level of safety to all who urgently have to use our highways either to transport essential goods or for business during these times,” said the Managing Director of PLUS, Datuk Azman Ismail.
According to Datuk Azman, PLUS is also assisting the police in setting up roadblocks at major toll plazas in MCO affected states as inter-district travel is currently restricted to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Facilities open but no dine-in
During the first MCO last March, facilities at the Rest & Service (R&R) areas were shut down, except for petrol stations, but this time round, they will remain open. Those which are located under MCO states (Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka and Johor) will be open from 6 am to 8 pm daily but sitting down for meals is not permitted. Customers will have to take their food away and consume them in the car or elsewhere. It is advisable to use the pre-order function in the PLUS App, which enables ordering of meals from selected R&Rs for takeaways.
The operating hours for R&Rs and lay-bys in CMCO states (Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Terengganu) will be from 6 am to 12 midnight and dine-in is allowed. However, strict physical distancing and other SOPs must be observed.
Suraus at all PLUS R&Rs, lay-bys and toll plaza lay-bys will be open. However, the surau operation is subject to further direction by the Islamic Religion Department under the respective states or districts.
Have enough balance for toll
“We urge highway users who have to travel on urgent matters to plan their journey properly and ensure that their Touch ‘n Go card and e-Wallets are sufficiently reloaded to minimize disruptions and need for physical interactions at the toll plazas,” said Datuk Azman. Those who have insufficient card balance at the toll lane are advised to press the intercom button for assistance.
Under the new normal practised by many organisations that manages premises which are open to public, customers are denied entry or transactions if face masks are not worn. As such, PLUS asks the same of its customers to wear a face mask and comply with the SOPs when interacting with its frontliners who serve them.
“This will ensure the safety of both our customers and our frontliners in line with the #KitaJagaKita objective,” he said.
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If there is a breakdown along the highway, PLUSRonda patrol units will come and help at any time of the day or night. To contact PLUS, call 1800-88-0000.
Over the past 15 years, a number of new companies have announced intentions to make cars, mainly electric vehicles. The notion was that cars of the future are largely packages of electronics so it was more like putting a computer package on wheels with people inside. Obviously, it’s not that simple as there are quality and safety issues to consider but there have been many companies which have already started up and begun making hybrid or electric cars.
Joining them could be Sony – yes, the Sony we all know from the consumer electronics sector – which actually indicated its intentions a year ago at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in America. At that time, it displayed what seemed to be a concept car to show off various technologies, which is also done by other electronics companies.
Vision-S concept first shown at CES in 2020.
From concept to running prototype
However, it appears that the company has decided to go further with the concept car and has been quietly developing it into a running prototype. In fact, for the CES this year, Sony even showed a short video showing the car – known as Vision-S – being tested on public roads and on a test track in Austria.
“We made a fairly grand announcement [at CES 2020], so I often get asked why Sony moved into car development. As a matter of fact, the move wasn’t triggered by any dramatic decision. Rather, it was more like the time had finally come. At the time, the 2010s—the decade of smartphones—were drawing to a close, and we knew the next decade would belong to mobility” said Izumi Kawanishi, a senior Vice-President in the company.
Full technical details are still not revealed but it has a fully electric powertrain. It obviously has much experience in electronics, even in automotive-related areas, but as it has not made cars before, it has commissioned Magna Steyr to provide engineering services for chassis development.
Other partners include familiar names such as Bosch, Continental, ZF, Vodafone Nvidia and Qualcomm as well as other companies which may not be as readily known to the public. Just as specialist suppliers work with carmakers on specific systems, Sony would be getting its own group of specialists although they may not be in traditional automotive fields.
In-house design
The design was developed in-house by Sony’s own team. Commenting on the appearance of the Vision-S, Daisuke Ishii, Creative Director at the Sony’s Creative Centre, said they aimed for a style that would be clearly distinct from the bold, aggressive designs with a focus on on-road performance that are common these days.
“At the same time, a nondescript or impersonal design wouldn’t work either, so it was a tough process. One of the things we tried to realize with this car was the concept of ‘wrapping’ people. So you could say the design was the stylistic embodiment of the idea of mobility that protects people through sensing. A blacked-out glass cabin wrapped in a sensor-packed case that gleams with a metallic light. The interior was also designed to encircle the rider, almost like a capsule holding people,” he explained.
Camera-based rearview mirrors
The prototype has some of the technologies which were showcased last year such as camera-based rearview ‘mirrors’ – which carmakers like Lexus and Audi have already begun offering as options in countries where their use is permitted. Of course, Honda has also been offering this idea for a few years now in its LaneWatch system for blinsspot monitoring.
Autonomous capability would certainly be available as the car, if it goes into production, would be entering the market when autonomous cars become available. Up to 40 sensors are installed on the car to fully cover 360 degrees and collect data and imagery to be processed by the computer.
Occupant recognition
Sony interior designers also propose the use of camera imagery of occupants in the car for managing things like air-conditioning and other personal preferences. Facial recognition could identify the occupant and from data input, preferences relating to temperature or even music can be applied automatically.
From the video, the dashboard layout can be seen to be fully occupied by digital panel displays. This is only to be expected and given Sony’s expertise in displays, we will probably see high-definition images and advanced interfaces for audio-visual systems and navigation.
No production schedule has been mentioned yet so Sony is probably not in a hurry to launch is first car. It will certainly be interesting to see which of the ‘big names’ in the electronics industry will be the first to do so, signalling the beginning of a change in the auto industry’s status quo.
Hyundai Motor has confirmed that the next model to have the high-performance N badge will be from its Kona range. The compact model will be the first high-performance SUV from the Korean carmaker.
2-litre turbo engine, 8-speed N DCT
The Kona N will be available with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, known as N DCT. Combined with its 2-litre turbocharged engine, it can be expected to deliver impressive performance. Besides an ‘emotional sound experience’, there will be Launch Control to enable the driver to exploit the high output.
“The all-new Kona N is the first ‘hot SUV’ from the N brand,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice-President and Head of N Brand Management and Motorsport Sub-division at Hyundai Motor Company. “As a ‘hot SUV’, it will have plenty of versatility as well as the driving pleasure like any other N vehicle. Enthusiasts will enjoy taking this car anywhere; from road to the track.”
Hyundai’s high-performance brand N, which ventured into the high-performance field with its i30 N, is planning to expand its line-up in 2021. Especially with more diversified segments in its line-up, like the i20 N and the upcoming Kona N, the brand will provide enthusiasts with fun-to-drive vehicles.
How Hyundai N started
The first association of ‘N’ with Hyundai was when the carmaker presented its N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car for PlayStation’s Gran Turismo videogame series in 2015. In that same year, Hyundai brought in Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW’s M division, to spearhead the development of the N sub-brand and create a line of high-performance production cars.
The N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept carThe N brand has gained prominence with the many successes of the Hyundai N team in the World Rally Championship.
The ‘N’ in Hyundai N stands for Namyang, home to Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre in Korea since 1995, and also for Nurburgring, where N models are tested and developed further. The close connection between Namyang and the Nurburgring created the foundation for N, aiming to build on the company’s motorsport experience to bring winding road fun to customers who love cars. The ‘N’ logo itself embodies this idea, as it symbolises a chicane.
Lexus Malaysia’s range consists of 9 models from sedan to SUV to MPV, with the lowest-priced model being the UX. This compact SUV is available in 3 variants – Urban, Luxury and F SPORT – with prices starting from RM236,444 (excluding insurance and sales tax exemption of 5%).
For those who have had their eye on owning a UX, Lexus Capital Services (a division of Toyota Capital Malaysia Sdn. Bhd) offers a financing scheme that starts off with a much lower monthly instalment rate. It’s called Lexus Next Step Financing and can provide up to 90% financing for the purchase.
Lexus Next Step Financing is a simple 3-tier scheme spread over a 9-year period. During the first 3 years, the owner would pay RM1,938 a month for the UX Urban variant, or up to RM2,381 for the sharper-looking F-SPORT version.
From the fourth year until the sixth year, the instalment amount will be 37.6% higher, and then from the seventh year to the end of the term, the instalment will be 27.4% higher.
Based on 9-year repayment term. Terms & conditions apply.
Besides a warranty of 5 years (unlimited mileage), the UX will come with all the benefits of Lexus ownership and the well known hospitality of the brand. Buying from an authorised Lexus dealership also means having the full range of aftersales support available at 6 locations nationwide as well as availability of replacement parts.
Additionally, all owners can have peace of mind with Lexus Assist, which is available 24 hours a day, every day. Whether it’s a flat tyre or an empty tank, a call to the nearest Lexus Centre will bring assistance anywhere in Malaysia and up to 25 kms from the borders with Thailand, Brunei and Singapore.
To know more about Lexus Next Step Financing and Lexus products in Malaysia, visit www.lexus.com.my.
The Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD is being enhanced for 2021 with a new feature and exterior upgrades. While not announcing the price, Honda Malaysia said that customers can make a pre-booking at any authorised Honda dealership or by using the online pre-booking platform.
The refreshed appearance encompasses the LED Headlights, LED Guide Taillights and LED Front foglights, with new chrome door handles and a 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel. A new Platinum White Pearl colour replaces the existing White Orchid Pearl finish.
Petrol engine or hybrid choices
The HR-V Sport Hybrid is one of four variants in the HR-V range, the others being the RS, V and E (priced from RM104,000.21). While the other variants have a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine and CVT, the HR-V Sport Hybrid uses a powertrain consisting of a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine (with direct fuel injection) and Integrated high-power electric motor. Coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, its output is comparable to that of a conventional 2-litre engine.
i-DCD Sport Hybrid powertrain
Besides the exterior changes, all variants also come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as 2 new USB ports. There is also a new 7-inch display panel for the infotainment system in the dashboard.
Other standard features of the enhanced HR-V include (depending on variant) a multi-angle rearview camera, cruise control, paddle shifters, 8-way powered driver’s seat, leather upholstery.
Comprehensive safety systems
The occupants are well protected with Passive Safety systems such as 6 SRS airbags and a computer-engineered ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) structural design by Honda which effectively dissipates collision forces.
Active Safety systems to help the driver avoid accidents include Honda LaneWatch to monitor blind spots, Emergency Stop Signal, Automatic Brake Hold, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist.
“Honda Malaysia is excited to introduce the enhanced HR-V to Malaysians. Being one of the top three best-selling Honda models, the HR-V has contributed greatly to our achievement as No.1 in the Non-National segment in 2020. This enhanced model is a result of customers’ feedback as we continuously strive to introduce products that meet the needs of customers,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.
Third bestselling Honda model in Malaysia
The HR-V was first introduced in Malaysia in 2015 and there are currently over 98,600 units on Malaysian roads. The facelifted model was launched in January 2019 and was expanded with the RS and Sport Hybrid variants. Last year, the HR-V was Honda Malaysia’s third bestselling model, contributing 17% to its total sales volume.
For more information or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.
