This month is a good time if you’re shopping for a new car this month as some companies are offering special deals that can save money. One of them is Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) which is giving another RM1,000 off for all new Volkswagen models booked through authorised dealers from today till December 7, 2020.
This offer is valid for bookings made at all Volkswagen dealerships nationwide or if you prefer to do so from the comfort of your home, you can use the eShowoom. This online facility has a Vehicle Configurator so you can be more specific about your requirements with the vehicle you want to buy.
Passat R-Line – one of the models that you can get the discount for.
The Volkswagen range in Malaysia currently consists of the Vento, Golf, Passat, Tiguan and Arteon. Customers enjoy a 5-year warranty (unlimited mileage), 3 years of free scheduled maintenance and complimentary Roadside Assistance for the first 5 years.
Milestone number for mobile app
Two years after its launch, the Volkswagen Cares mobile app has reached the milestone achievement of 30,000 downloads and members. The app is part of the Volkswagen Cares aftersales initiative to provide the best for Volkswagen owners in the country.
A completely local initiative, the Volkswagen Cares app was developed and is managed locally for the Malaysian market. It is an essential tool for owners who can stay in touch with VPCM and its dealers easily.
Improving overall ownership experience
“The app was created to make our services more accessible to our customers, and further improve their overall ownership experience. The convenience of accessing the Volkswagen world via mobile app is offered in different Volkswagen markets around the world, and what we are also delighted to note is that our app has seen an unparalleled take-up rate compared to other markets managed by the Porsche Holdings Group,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, adding that a revamp in 2021 will see enhancements being made to the app.
Free vouchers for service and service package vouchers are offered through the app. Those with vehicles five years and older under the Volkswagen Care Plus programme may also view and access their benefits through the app. Roadside assistance is also available via the app.
Non-Volkswagen owners can also use the mobile app at no charge. They can find out about sales offers, view videos and receive sales and event updates. It is available for IOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Lewis Hamilton is under self-isolation due to a positive result in COVID-19 tests and will be unable to race at the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend. Taking his place is a fellow British driver, George Russell who has been released by Williams Racing, his current team.
“First and foremost, I wish to thank our loyal partners at Williams for their collaboration and open-mindedness in making it possible for George to race for Mercedes-AMG this weekend. The conversations with the team at Williams were positive and pragmatic, and those were the key factors in reaching an agreement,” said Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff.
“It will not be a straightforward task for George to make the transition from the Williams to the W11, but he is race-ready and has detailed understanding of the 2020 tyres and how they perform on this generation of cars. George has shown impressive form this year with Williams, playing an instrumental role in their climb up the grid, and I am optimistic that he will deliver a strong performance alongside Valtteri, who will be a demanding reference for him,” said Wolff.
‘63′ is George Russell’s racing number which will replace ’44’ on Lewis Hamilton’s car.
Mercedes-Benz Junior Programme driver
He will be the fifth driver to race for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team since 2010, and the third British driver to represent Mercedes-Benz in F1 after Sir Stirling Moss and Lewis Hamilton. He is not a stranger to Mercedes-Benz though, having been a member of the Mercedes-Benz Junior Programme since 2017, when he won the GP3 Series championship as a rookie, before repeating the feat in Formula 2 in 2018.
He has been a fully-fledged Formula 1 driver with Williams Racing since 2019, demonstrating impressive qualifying and race performances during the past two seasons. “This race will mark a small milestone for us, as we see a member of our Junior programme compete for the works Mercedes team for the first time,” Wolff noted.
In spite of the severe downturn that the car industry suffered earlier in the year due to suspension of business activities nationwide, it seems that sales are presently pretty good. In fact, up till November, Perodua has already delivered over195,000 vehicles and expects to meet its 210,000-unit registration target by the last day of 2020.
The strong momentum continued to be evident in November as the Malaysian carmaker reported sales of 23,119 units. On Monday, the last day of the month, its outlets registered a combined total of 5,027 units – the most ever in a single day.
“Our November sales represents a slight normalising from the previous two record months we had – 25,035 units in September and 26,852 units in October,” explained Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Perodua’s President & CEO.
“Yet the accomplishment is impressive, given the challenging economic climate and ‘new normal’ operating procedures brought about by COVID-19. And our 5,027-unit one-day record shows what resilience, persistence and adaptability can bring,” he added.
Top three models – Axia, Myvi and Bezza
Axia deliveries, totalling 6,318 units were the highest among the five Perodua models, followed by the Myvi with 6,295 units and the Bezza with 6,224 units. Deliveries of the Aruz and Alza totalled 2,617 units and 1,665 units, respectively.
In November, the model with the highest number of deliveries was the Axia.
“Perodua’s two main priorities at present are to ensure as many of our valued customers as possible can get their cars before year-end to enjoy the sales tax-exempt prices; and to further bolster the Malaysian automotive ecosystem with our economies of scale in these hard times,” Dato’ Zainal said.
Supporting the ecosystem
“Over 90% of our components are locally-sourced, and coupled with our sales volume, this generates significant business for Malaysian component suppliers and helps them sustain jobs,” he added. “The completed cars are then distributed through Malaysia’s largest car sales network, the majority of which constitute independent dealers that benefit greatly from the business, and even more if they do servicing and repairs as well.”
Dato’ Zainal said Perodua is proud of its national duty and will continue to serve all Malaysians’ mobility needs with quality vehicles that are safe, practical, efficient and offer the best value, while pushing the boundaries of technology for the masses in the future.
As widely rumoured, the Peugeot franchise is to change hands and this has finally taken place, with Berjaya Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd (BAASB) being appointed to the new role of distributor. BAASB is a joint venture between Berjaya Corporation and Bermaz Auto, with the former having a majority share of 51%.
The Naza Group, which has been handling the French brand, is believed to be giving up its involvement in some of its automotive brands and Peugeot appears to be the first one to go. Kia is also expected to be taken over by another party although the fate of the DS and Citroen brands is not known yet. Both are also part of Groupe PSA which has Peugeot as its main brand.
Commenting on the development, Datuk Sri Robin Tan Yeong Chin, CEO of Berjaya Corporation, said: “Berjaya is pleased to be given this opportunity to be part of the new collaboration (via BAASB) with Groupe PSA. This new collaboration will complement our group’s existing automotive business, namely HR Owen and Berjaya China Motor. We believe this collaboration between BerjayaCorp, Bermaz and Groupe PSA will bring positive synergistic benefits to all parties.”
Strong track record of Bermaz team
At this time, it’s not clear what role Bermaz (which is not a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation) will play although it is most likely to manage distribution and retail activities, having a strong track record with the Mazda brand for more than 10 years. The team at Bermaz had earlier also successfully established and grown the Hyundai brand in Malaysia before it was acquired by Sime Darby Motors.
On the Groupe PSA side, the track record of Bermaz is likely to be highly beneficial. The Group had already made a decision some years back to designate Malaysia as its production hub in ASEAN although it took a while to actually start production. To speed things up, it acquired the Naza plant in Kedah in 2018 rather than build its own, and today assembles the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 for the Malaysian market as well as for export.
Groupe PSA took over the Naza plant in Kedah and builds vehicles for the Malaysian market as well as for export (file picture)
“Groupe PSA has made Malaysia its export hub for the region. BerjayaCorp is a multi-national conglomerate group of companies whilst Bermaz is a renowned automotive company in Malaysia; both listed on the Malaysian stock exchange. Hence, Groupe PSA is indeed pleased and is confident that the business collaboration with BerjayaCorp and Bermaz (via BAASB) will accelerate growth and create a synergy of key strengths between Groupe PSA and BAASB, which will see us further consolidating and increasing our market presence here,” said Laurence Noel, Senior Vice President – South East Asia, Groupe PSA.
Peugeot in Malaysia
Being one of the older brands in the auto industry, Peugeot has had a long presence in Malaysia, even in the pre-Merdeka days. The first major importer was Asia Motors which was selling the French cars back in the 1960s. In the 1970s, it even set up an assembly plant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and invited Peugeot and also Mazda (which it also represented) to make small investments as well. The plant, called Asia Automobile Industries, assembled models such as the 504, 305 and 505.
Peugeot advertisements by Asia Motors in the 1970s
Due to internal issues, Asia Motors ceased much of its automotive operations in Malaysia after the mid-1980s although it continued in SIngapore selling Mazda. For a few years, the brand was handled by a small company and then the MBf Group (through MBf-Peugeot) took it on. MBF’s founder, the late Tan Sri Loy Hean Hong, had taken on the franchise as the country was coming out of the economic recession of the mid-1980s and he saw that people were able to afford more expensive cars.
He himself had high regard for the French cars as he had serviced them in his younger days and knew they were durable. In having cars to sell, he also found that it benefited MBf’s other units that sold insurance and offered financing. The 405 was very popular and kept Peugeot among the top-selling European makes in the first half of the 1990s. However, the financial crisis of the late 1990s severely affected the MBf Group and it had to give up the Peugeot franchise.
C&C Bintang, strongly associated with Mercedes-Benz, was the next company to take on the franchise and handled it for 6 years (2002 – 2008). It also handled Mazda during that time, and passed it to Bermaz at the same time it ceased handling Peugeot.
A Peugeot outlet in Selangor.
The Naza Group, which was on the ascent as a strong player in the local auto industry, took on Peugeot (under its subsidiary, Nasim Sdn Bhd) and very quickly established a retail network as well as assembled models locally. It seemed to have a good future working with the French carmaker, with plans to even do business beyond Malaysian borders. However, that will not be happening as it gives up Peugeot after 12 years.
When Bermaz took over Mazda, it had also to take over stocks, the workforce involved with the Mazda business, and many of the outlets. The same scenario is likely with Peugeot and BAASB to ensure a smooth transition. In such situations, existing owners are usually assured of continued support, particularly with regards to warranty issues which Peugeot would take responsibility for.
Audi will return to the international rallying arena in 2022 when it competes in the Dakar Rally. The brand shot to prominence in the World Rally Championship in the 1980s with its superior all-wheel drive Quattro, winning a number of championships and revolutionizing the sport. Then it competed in other areas, a dominant force in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) endurance racing three years in a row. More recently, it has participated in Formula E, the all-electric single-seater series, which has served to highlight the brand’s pioneering technology in electrified vehicles.
In the 1980s, Audi was the dominant force in the World Rally Championship with its all-wheel drive Quattro.
“Formula E has accompanied the transformation phase at Audi. Now we are taking the next step in electrified motorsport by facing the most extreme conditions. The many technical freedoms offered by the Dakar Rally provide a perfect test laboratory for us in this respect,” said Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management and Board of Management Member for Technical Development and Product Lines at Audi AG.
First carmaker to commit alternative drive for rally
Audi is the first carmaker that has committed to develop a viable alternative drive concept for the Dakar Rally, making it a pioneer in motorsport once again. It has a prototype with the alternative drive concept that combines an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter for the first time.
With the use of an alternative drive concept in the Dakar Rally, the vehicle will be driven in the most extreme conditions. The aim is to permanently improve the performance of the electric drivetrain and the battery in the years to come. The experience gained in this process should then be incorporated into the further development of future electrified production models.
AudiSport has been involved in Formula E with the ABT Schaeffler team.
Exit from Formula E after 2021
The Dakar Rally will replace Audi’s factory involvement in Formula E, which will no longer be continued in the form of an AudiSport factory team after the 2021 season. The use of the newly developed Audi powertrain by customer teams like ABT Schaeffler will remain possible beyond next year.
“A multifaceted commitment to motorsport is and will remain an integral part of Audi’s strategy,” said Duesmann. “We want to continue demonstrating the brand’s slogan ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in international top-level motorsport in the future and develop innovative technologies for our road cars.
The Audi R18 won three years in a row at Le Mans,
It is also learnt that Audi will return to endurance racing and take part in the new LMDh category. This is a cost-effective formula as the same car can be used in the WEC as well as the American IMSA series.
“We are intensively preparing to enter the new sports prototype category LMDh with its highlight races, the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours,” confirmed Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. “The most important message for our fans is that motorsport will continue to play an important role at Audi.”
Technology developed in competition, which has extreme conditions, will be used in the advancement of electrified production models like the Audi e-tron.
2022 Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally began in 1997 as a rally-raid event from Paris to Dakar, on the west coast of Africa. Traditionally held at the start of the new year, it came to be the most gruelling off-road event. It ran the same route up till 2007 and then security concerns forced the organisers to find a new and equally challenging route, which was in South America.
So from 2009 (the event had to be cancelled in 2008 when terrorist threats were too serious), it was held on the western side of South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The name was retained as it had become legendary.
Mitsubishi Motors, with the Pajero, has had the most number of wins (12) in the Dakar Rally.A MINI in the 2020 Dakar Rally, held for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
However, the teams have been uncomfortable with the logistical complexities and high cost of travelling to South America, while the host countries have been less willing to pay the organisers the extremely high fees for the event. This has led to the event moving to Saudi Arabia for 2020 as the Kingdom has been willing to sign a multi-year contract. The shorter distance from Europe is also more acceptable to the teams. So it is likely that when Audi returns in 2022, it will be competing in the desert sands of Saudi Arabia.
The date ’12.12’ only occurs once a year and to celebrate this last pairing of numbers for 2020, Honda Malaysia will be having a special sales campaign – the ‘12.12 Special Sales’ – with a rebate worth RM2,000 for the latest 5th Generation Honda City (S and E variants).
12-day promotion
The ‘All-New City 12.12 Special Sales’ will be on from today until December 12, 2020. Registration of the cars can take place anytime during this month of December. Customers will be entitled to the rebate once they fulfil the booking and registration requirements at any Honda authorised dealership nationwide.
“On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to convey my appreciation to all Malaysians for the unwavering support to the Honda brand. The All-New City have recorded significant sales performance since its launch with more than 9,000 bookings. We are pleased to offer customers the opportunity of owning their dream car and experiencing the ‘Joy of Buying’ with the ‘All-New City 12.12 Special Sales’ in conjunction with the year-end festive season by giving special rebate,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.
Extra savings with sales tax exemption
He also reminded customers that they can benefit from extra savings with the sales tax exemption which will be available until December 31, 2020.
All variants of the new City (except the RS which will be available in January 2021) come with a new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, coupled with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The powertrain produces up to 121 ps, which is the highest in its class, with maximum torque of up to 145 Nm.
Features on the City E variant included Paddle Shifters as well as a first-in-segment Remote Engine Start feature that allows running of the air-conditioner before entering the car to cool down the cabin. This variant also comes with an 8-inch display panel for the infotainment system which has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Comfort levels are higher as rear passenger legroom has been expanded and the rear occupants now have a cooler journey with Rear Air Conditioning Ventilation.
Extensive safety features
Though an entry-level model, the City has many safety systems to help the driver avoid an accident. These include ABS, Vehicle Stability Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist. Additionally, there is also an Emergency Stop Signal system and Hill Start Assist. ISOFIX childseat points are provided and a Rear Seatbelt Reminder helps to ensure that rear occupants have their seatbelt on so as to comply with traffic laws.
To locate any of the 102 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide to view, test-drive and purchase the new City, visit www.honda.com.my.
Lewis Hamilton will not be driving in the Sakhir Grand Prix, the second of two F1 races being held in Bahrain this year, this weekend as he has been tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with the strict rules and procedures of the health authorities, he has to be in quarantine which is at least 2 weeks for most countries.
This would likely mean that the British driver would not only miss the round this weekend but also the final round in Abu Dhabi which takes place on December 13 . It would end the 17-round season that had begun with 22 rounds but had to be modified and compressed as a result of activities being suspended in the first half of the year due to the pandemic.
Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain GP last Sunday.
Negative even on Sunday
It’s not known who Hamilton could have contracted the coronavirus from as three tests he had last week (including one on the day of the race) had negative results. However, yesterday, he had mild symptoms of the coronavirus which are typically fever, cough and shortness of breath. Upon testing, a positive result was reported and reconfirmed by a second test.
“Lewis is now isolating in accordance with COVID-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain. Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery,” said a statement from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team. A replacement driver will be announced soon.
In spite of the strict procedures the F1 community has followed this year, it has still been possible to be infected and Hamilton is the third driver to be tested positive. So don’t take the SOPs for granted.
Already the 2020 champion
In as far as the championship is concerned, Hamilton already has enough points to be the 2020 World Champion – his seventh title – even without racing in the final two rounds. Likewise, his team has also won the Constructors Championship again, its seventh consecutive title.
In 11 of the 15 races already completed, Hamilton grabbed the 25 points that the winner gets (along with a few for the fastest lap). Without him at the front, it presents an unexpected opportunity for other close contenders to improve their position during the final rounds.
This weekend’s race – the 2020 Formula 1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix – is at the same circuit as last Sunday’s will be a ‘filler’ for the 2020 calendar which was disrupted by postponements. It is one of three circuits this year to run two rounds back to back, the others being the Red Bull Ring in Austria and Silverstone in the UK.
The motor vehicle market in India is a highly competitive one and while there are a number of domestic brands, foreign brands also put up a strong fight for share. And the market volume is large enough to justify investing in developing country-specific models.
For Renault, India has been an attractive market which has been growing since it entered in 2005 and it has adapted models to the local market like the Duster as well as introduced original products such as Kwid and Triber.
Soon, another India-specific product will be introduced by the French carmaker and to give a preview, it has presented a showcar known as the Kiger. As would be expected, it is a SUV, the type of vehicle which is in hot demand today all over the world.
Eye-catching little SUV
The Kiger, which is under 4 metres in length, was created from the cooperation between Renault’s French and Indian design divisions. It has been given an adventurous look which blends well with the urban jungle as well as the natural jungle.
At first glance, the Kiger stands out with its sculpted bonnet, slender windscreen and a semi-floating roof with a roof rack. On both sides, the tapered mirrors have been designed like airplane wings. At the rear, the trailing edge is topped by a spoiler that is functional and also adds a sporty touch.
The lower section is more muscular and stockier, sitting on four 19-inch wheels framed by large square arches that give strength to the exterior styling. The 210-mm ground clearance with reinforced lower flaps and prominent shoulders will prove useful on rough terrain or bad roads.
The sporty side is accentuated by the dual centrally located exhaust tailpipes and the honeycomb patterns distributed around the vehicle.
For the showcar, double-stage LED spotlights, similar to those that appeared on the New Kwid last year, and green turn signals are fitted. At the rear, the double ‘C’ headlights signal Kiger’s place under the Renault brand and form a light signature that prefigures that of the production model.
‘Aurora Borealis’ colour
The showcar is finished in a green ‘Aurora Borealis’ colour which changes according to the light and the angle from which it is observed. It is adorned with ‘mysterious’ blue and purple reflections that make the car as intriguing as well as seductive.
Fluorescent touches highlight certain aluminium elements such as door handles, bumper inserts, strapping with inlaid decoration, logo contours and brake calipers.
“The creative association of French and Indian designers was the best way to meet the needs and expectations of a clientele increasingly fond of style, dynamism and novelty. As with the Triber, we are once again demonstrating our ability to innovate, by offering a new model with a dual personality, both urban and outdoor,” said Laurens van den Acker, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Design of Groupe Renault, confirming that the Kiger will become a production model.
Customers of Rolls-Royce can personalise their car to almost any extent (as long as it’s legal) and most do, with the help of the company’s Bespoke division. And for those who just don’t know how they want something exclusive to look, the Bespoke division can also come up with many ideas which can be adapted further to the customer’s tastes.
One of the recent ideas presented is ‘Neon Nights’, a vibrant trilogy of cars. Inspired by nature, they are finishing in a newly developed Bespoke paint applied to the Black Badge variants of Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan.
Inspired by the natural world
Taking cues from the natural world – an Australian green tree frog, a Hawaiian tree flower and an exotic butterfly – these limited hues show a Black Badge model bolder in colour, appealing to patrons around the world who want to be different.
“Any pre-conceived notion that Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge variants all have to be black is comprehensively laid to rest by the super-solid Neon Nights colours,” said Sami Coultas, Bespoke Designer Colour & Trim.
Only three of each colour
Created initially for clients in the USA, three further iterations of each colour are available for commission worldwide, making a limited run of just four of each colour.
The Wraith Black Badge (above) is finished in Lime Rock Green, a near-luminous hue naturally bestowed on the Australian green tree frog, which Rolls-Royce Bespoke Paint Specialist Sami Coultas first encountered on a trip Down Under. The interior (below) is swathed in Scivaro Grey leather, with Lime Rock Green accents in the form of stitching and piping.
The striking Eagle Rock Red created for this Dawn Black Badge (above) mimics the flowers of ‘Ōhi‘a lehua, an evergreen tree native to Hawaii. The interior is finished in Selby Grey leather with Koi Red stitching and piping details.
For the Cullinan (below), the Bespoke Collective looked to an exotic butterfly, Rhetus periander for inspiration. Known as the Periander metalmark, this species is found across Central and South America; the vibrancy of its wings is faithfully captured on the Cullinan’s Mirabeau Blue finish. The Arctic White leather interior detailed in Lime Rock Green provides a dramatic contrast.
In all three cars, the Technical Fibre fascia is embellished with a spectacular graphic. The paint effect provides an intense neon glow and depicts the distortion of artificial light with speed.
The Neon Nights cars follow a suite of Black Badges that grabbed headlines at the 2019 Pebble Beach event. There, the Ghost, Wraith and Dawn were presented in Bespoke pastel colours. Such was the demand for these cars that the colour palette was embraced and developed, inspiring a new and dynamic colour palette for Black Badge.
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, which has been helping Malaysians purchase BMW and MINI vehicles since 2007, has extended its services with the introduction of i-Renewal. This is a digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme that simplifies renewal processes for BMW and MINI owners insured by the programme.
The BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme is designed to give customers complete peace of mind and total protection for their vehicle. With the i-Renewal digital service – provided in collaboration with Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad, customers are now able to easily request for an instant quotation by providing some basic information, or renew their insurance policies with only a few clicks.
Tobias Eismann, MD of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, said: “The BMW Group is committed to innovating and further improving the premium mobility experience for all our customers while digitalising our existing touchpoints and services. By introducing the new i-Renewal digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme, we are expediting this essential part of the premium mobility experience to keep it as hassle-free and seamless as possible.”
Complimentary service
Every owner who successfully renews their BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme online by December 31, 2020 will be entitled to a complimentary Enhanced Road Warrior coverage for one year.
In addition to providing Personal Accident Cover and other insurance benefits, the Enhanced Road Warrior service also includes a comprehensive Car Assistance Programme with a range of around-the-clock services. These include 24-Hour Emergency Towing, Minor Roadside Repair, Taxi Assistance and Arrangement for Emergency Evacuation
Owners can access the i-Renewal digital service via BMW Engage at https://www.bmwfs.my/ or through BMW Group Loyalty+ app.
