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Hyundai Motor Group begins selling first model with solar roof charging system

The Hyundai Motor Group has launched its first car with a solar roof charging system. It is one of three types of solar roof charging systems the carmaker is developing. This technology will provide vehicles with additional electrical power that can increase fuel efficiency and driving range in hybrids.

The system debuts on the New Sonata Hybrid which is the first mid-sized hybrid sedan in the Korean market with fuel consumption officially rated at over 20 kms/litre. To date, other models in the same segment have achieved 18 kms/litre at best.

The new model also equipped with the world’s first Active Shift Control technology as well as a Smartstream G2.0 GDi HEV engine and 6-speed hybrid transmission. Hyundai’s new model also supports a ‘Digital Key’ function via a dedicated smartphone app.

“Solar roof technology is a good example of how Hyundai Motor is moving towards becoming a clean mobility provider. The technology allows our customers to actively tackle emissions issue,” said Heui Won Yang, Senior Vice-President and head of Body Tech Unit of Hyundai Motor Group.

Adding an extra 1,300 kms annually
The solar roof charging system includes a structure of silicon solar panels that are mounted on the car’s roof. Being able to charge even while driving, the solar roof system can charge 30% to 60% of the battery per day. With 6 hours of daily charging (which can take place while the vehicle is parked), it is expected to increase vehicle travel distance by an extra 1,300 kms annually.

The system is composed of a solar panel and a controller. Electricity is produced when solar energy activates the solar panel’s surface, which converts this energy by using photons of light from the sun. This creates the electron-hole pairs in silicon cells, which generate solar electricity. The electricity from this process is converted to the standard voltage by the controller, then stored in the battery.

Hyundai Motor took not only efficiency but also design into account while developing the charging system. While the solar roof system currently plays a supporting role, it opens up perspectives for vehicles that no longer need fossil fuel to operate, ie pure electric vehicles.

The New Sonata Hybrid has just gone on sale in Korea and will also be available in North America. However, the company says it has no plans to offer it in other markets in the immediate future.

Click here to read other news about Hyundai Motor on PISTON.MY

F1 (Round 12) – Highlights Of The 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix And Results

♦ As expected, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had a thrilling battle throughout the 70-lap race. A tactical decision by the Mercedes-AMG team gave Hamilton a tyre advantage which allowed him to pass Verstappen in the final 3 laps and take the chequered flag. This year’s win is Hamilton’s seventh in the Hungarian GP.

♦ Although he was on the podium with Hamilton and Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel was not happy with the fact that he had finished over 1 minute behind the winner.

♦ Valtteri Bottas had a bad day; after having dropped to last when he had to pit to replace a damaged nose, he had to work very hard to move back up and managed 8^th place by the end of the race, one lap behind his team mate.

♦ McLaren has been improving steadily and collected points in each of the last 5 rounds. Carlos Sainz Jr now has a total of 58 points, 5 points behind Red Bull Racing’s Pierre Gasly so expect him to push harder and also extend the team’s lead over Toro Rosso.

♦ With 250 points after 12 races and 9 remaining on the calendar, it looks like Lewis Hamilton can look forward to another title.

Next rounds:

Belgian Grand Prix – September 1

Italian Grand Prix – September 8

Singapore Grand Prix – September 22

Russian Grand Prix – September 29

More savings with Volkswagen Merdeka Voucher

In conjunction with the upcoming 62^nd year of our country’s independence, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is offering more savings for your next booking in the form of the RM1,000 Volkswagen Merdeka Voucher.

Applicable to all VW models available here in Malaysia, the voucher offers more rebates for booking made until the end of the month of August on top of the current ongoing promotion. The current promotion already offer savings up to RM15,000 and with the added Merdeka voucher, VW owners will indeed get more for less. (more…)

The BMW M1 Art Car presented in a new perspective 40 years later

“I love this car. It’s more successful than the artwork,” was the opinion of Andy Warhol after his sweeping brush strokes had transformed the BMW M1. It took him less than half an hour to create the fourth exhibit in the BMW Art Car Collection which was beginning to capture attention globally. That was 40 years ago.

In 2019, enthusiasm for the mid-engined sportscar originally designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro remains. Already world-famous at that time, the US icon of Pop Art shared the same passion with many automobile fans of that bygone era. And the fascination of the unique special created by Warhol has indeed increased.

Highlight of the BMW Art Car Collection
Many fans regard his Art Car as the highlight of the entire collection which now numbers 19. It’s therefore hardly surprising that Munich-based automobile photographer Stephan Bauer spontaneously opted for the model when he was selecting his dream subject on four wheels.

Last year, Bauer emerged as the victor in the Social Media Contest ‘Shootout 2018’ organised by BMW Group Classic. He was given the opportunity for an exclusive photo shoot with BMW Art Car Number Four. His series of images to mark the 40th birthday of the M1 provide a completely new perspective on one of the most legendary vehicles from the history of BMW.

A completely new perspective
Against the backdrop of an old factory building in Cologne, Bauer choreographed a spectacular contrast between the brightly coloured Art Car and the dull grey of the abandoned industrial structure. At a subsequent outdoor session, laser lights shrouded the BMW in a positively mystical atmosphere. In both settings, the Art Car kept emerging from a completely new perspective – and always to perfection.

Andy Warhol BMW M1 Art Car — *Andy Warhol painting the BMW M1 Group 4 sportscar in 1979. It took him less than half an hour to create the fourth exhibit in the BMW Art Car Collection which has captured attention globally.*

40 years ago, the cameras had hardly been set up when Warhol had already finished painting the bodywork in all the colours of the rainbow. As the artist explained later, his speed was a reflection of the statement made by his work of art: “I attempted to show speed as a visual image. When an automobile is really travelling fast, all the lines and colours are transformed into a blur.”

Click here for other BMW news and articles on PISTON.MY.

F1 (Round 12) – 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Grid

Race starts at 3:10 pm in Hungary/9:10 pm in Malaysia

♦ Max Verstappen will start from pole position with Valtteri Bottas alongside. It’s the first F1 pole position for the 21-year old Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver.

♦ The 4.38-km circuit is often referred to as ‘Monaco without walls’ because of the tight and twisting layout. This is not good for the Ferraris as their downforce is not as strong as the leading rivals.

♦ Improved aerodynamics on the Williams cars have helped George Russell perform better. This is especially important on the Hungaroring circuit’s flowing sequences of slow and medium-speed corners and frequent changes of direction. The teams are using the highest levels of downforce seen all year at a purpose-built track to Hungary.

♦ The Ferrari team is concerned about tyres. The circuit layout also places relatively high lateral loads on tyres and that, allied to often high track temperatures, means that rubber is put under some stress. Sebastian Vettel expects it to be a very difficult race today in terms of tyre management and given the characteristics of the car.

♦ This will be the last round before the teams take a summer break. The next race will be in Belgium on September 1.

♦ As the team managers enjoy their holiday break, they will also be thinking about the driver line-up for 2020. Although there are rumours of Verstappen moving to Mercedes-AMG, this is unlikely to happen and the team’s boss will be looking at retaining Bottas or letting current reserve driver Esteban Ocon partner Lewis Hamilton.

Infiniti gets award for adoption of advanced high-tensile steel in new QX50

Weight has long been known as something that must be reduced as much as possible in a car. Lowering the weight brings benefits to fuel efficiency and handling, two important aspects that engineers keep trying to improve all the time. However, back in the days before computer-aided engineering (CAD), it was difficult to achieve weigh reductions and manufacturing technology then was also not able to handle advanced steel materials.

The advent of high-tensile steel was a big leap forward for the auto industry. This type of steel has high strength but the greater strength does not require extra weight. In fact, compared to conventional steel, high-tensile steel is lighter yet stronger.

Stronger steel produces a number of clear benefits for the customer. The overall weight reduction improves fuel economy, while the increased strength builds on existing safety. Since the steel is stronger, the sections become smaller and more interior space is available, producing environments that are more open for the driver and passengers.

Use of advanced high-tensile steel gets award
When creating the latest QX50, engineers at Infiniti, Nissan’s premium brand, went into molecular detail to ensure it was the best it could be in every aspect, and the science behind a more advanced high-tensile steel used in the QX50 has just received a prestigious global award.

One of the challenges of very high-tensile steel is it can be difficult to work with in the manufacturing process, limiting the complexity of parts and adoption in a new vehicle. In order to make this world’s first steel compatible for mass production, engineers worked directly with a steel supplier to formulate a brand new, high-strength, lightweight and highly formable steel for the model.

980 MPa steel supersedes 590 MPa steel
The new 980 MPa steel, created using a specially developed formula, has superseded the traditional 590 MPa steel. As part of the work around the new steel, an academic paper on ‘The application of 980 MPa advanced high strength steel with high formability’ was chosen for The SAE/AISI Sydney H. Melbourne Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Automotive Steel Sheet. It is awarded by SAE International, a global nonprofit organization based in the USA, which has more than 128,000 participating engineers and researchers working in aerospace, passenger car and commercial vehicle industries.

Around 27% of the QX50 body is made from special steels – an increase of 21% over the previous generation – resulting in a 23 kg mass reduction overall. Within the front of the car alone, the adoption of high-tensile steel has provided a 13 kg weight reduction, while frontal energy absorption improved by 10%.

With the QX50 being the first car in the world to use 980 MPa steel, Infiniti will look into adopting it in more applications in coming years. The goal is to achieve 25% or more of the vehicle weight made from advanced high-strength steel, benefiting customers with reduced weight, improved fuel economy and enhanced levels of safety.

Visit www.infiniti.com.my to know more about the models available in Malaysia.

Red Cross Experts Push New Land Rover Defender Prototype To The Limits In Desert Testing

The all-new Land Rover Defender will have its world premiere later this year. In the past, when Land Rover was developing its new models, it would do most of the real-world testing on its own, using its own experienced personnel. Perhaps that was partly to keep details of the new model under wraps till launch.

These days, however, the carmaker must find it also useful to let outside parties check out prototypes. This is especially so if the outside parties operate in extreme conditions and have specific requirements for the transport vehicles.

One such organisation is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) which was visited by the team carrying out the latest stage of its global testing programme of the new Defender.

IFRC fleet experts put new Defender to the test
A prototype vehicle visited the IFRC global fleet base in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Land Rover engineers demonstrated the vehicle’s breadth of capability to their IFRC counterparts both on and off road. Then the IFRC fleet experts took to the wheel to test the vehicle for themselves on the region’s desert sand dunes and the twisty tarmac of Jebel Jais highway in temperatures over 40 degrees C. The Defender also climbed the tallest mounting in the UAE and reached an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres.

The dunes around Dubai were the perfect place to confirm that this is the most capable Land Rover ever made. It sits on tyres with an overall diameter of up to 815 mm, resulting in a very large contact patch. Coupled with a bespoke traction control system, which monitors and adjusts for a large variety of terrain, this makes the new Defender highly capable on sand and incredibly smooth on road as well.

Global partnership since 1954
The test in Dubai coincides with the renewal of Land Rover’s global partnership with the IFRC – a relationship that dates back 65 years, to 1954, when the first specially adapted Land Rover entered service in the region as a mobile dispensary.

This year marks the humanitarian organisation’s centenary as it celebrates ‘100 Years of Hope’. Over the next three years, Land Rover will support disaster preparedness and response initiatives in locations including India, Mexico and Australia.

“The Red Cross supports millions of people in crisis every year, working in almost every country in the world. We operate in some of the most hard-to-reach places on earth, often working in very difficult terrain, so our teams have to be able to cope with anything. That’s why we’re proud to have partnered with Land Rover since 1954, and to be putting their new Defender to the test, as together they help us reach vulnerable communities in crisis, whoever and wherever in the world they are,” said Ilir Caushaj, the IFRC’s Team Lead For Global Fleets And Logistics.

The session with the IFRC fleet experts complements the global testing programme which has seen prototypes covering more than 1.2 million kilometres in all kinds of conditions. Various activities have also been arranged to give the public a sneak preview of the vehicle, including a dynamic appearance at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

354hp Porsche Macan S officially available now – RM625,000

Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP), the official custodian of the Porsche brand here in Malaysia, has officially announced that their latest Porsche Macan S version is now available for purchase. The unveiling was held in conjunction with their first ever Porsche Sportscar Together Day held at the Sepang International Circuit. (more…)

Fuel prices for August 3 to August 9 2019

HardKhor Motorsports Report: Malaysian racers at events in China and Belgium

2019 CHINA ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Round.2, TIANJIN
This is China’s domestic GT racing endurance championship and Round 2 was run on the V1 Auto World Circuit in Tianjin last weekend. Malaysian GT driver, Melvin Moh in the ABS Project M Racing Team’s #77 AMG GT3 won Race 1 convincingly but sadly didn’t finish in Race 2. Last time out in round 1 in Ningbo, the team won race 1 and placed 3^rd in Race 2 so they should be up there in the overall points for the championship.

About the Tianjin V1 Auto World Circuit: Opened in 2018, this is another Hermann Tilke-designed circuit (he also designed many of the F1 tracks around the world, including Sepang) located in Wuqing between Tianjin and Beijing.

It has a novel feature of being able to be extended out onto public roads around the track and thus also offers a ‘street’ layout, apart from its permanent circuit. The other feature of this circuit is its ‘Z’ shaped pitlane which can accommodate the two layouts.

As an International FIA Grade 2 circuit, it can be 4.28 kms long or 3.7 kms as a Grade 3 circuit. The cars run counterclockwise around 15 corners.

2019 24-HOURS & INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND, SPA (Belgium)
Shanghai and Sepang-based Absolute Racing, Sepang-based Modena Motorsport, China-based Open Road and Taiwan-based HubAuto Corsa teams were the few Asian teams that took part in this prestigious endurance race for GT3 cars.

HubAuto Corsa deserves special mention as they won the previous and opening round of the IGTC in Laguna Seca 8-Hours in March. Unfortunately, a crash just 26 laps into the Spa event meant the #27 Ferrari 488 GT3 was out of contention.

Also significant is that this front-running team in the Intercontinental GT Challenge Championships has 5 Malaysian technicians, the most of all the Asian teams who are running in the Spa 24-Hours.

The event was run at the Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps which is nestled in the Ardennes hills. It consists of fast sweepers, uphill and downhill stretches and parts of it is still on public roads. The original Spa circuit had a reputation for being very fast (average speed of 240 km/h!) and was unforgiving. It was one of the most feared circuits as many drivers and even track marshals lost their lives there.

The present and ‘safer’ circuit is now 7 kms long, compared to 15 kms before. It still has fast stretches where speeds in excess of 330 km/h can be reached. A round of the F1 championship is held there regularly.

Malaysian drivers and technicians head to Korea
We’re into August and this month, our Malaysian GT drivers and race technicians will be in Yeongam, Korea for Round 5 of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia and also for Round 4 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia.

In the PRO/AM division of Blancpain Asia, Melvin Moh and Singaporean Daniel Au will once again be behind the #55 Craft Bamboo Mercedes AMG GT3, H.H Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahim(Jefri) will be joined by Aussie Shane Van Gisbergen in their #888 Triple Eight Racing AMG GT3 whilst in the PRO category, Weiron Tan will be piloting the Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute Racing #12 Audi R8 LMS GT3.

For the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series, Malaysian Afiq Yazid and Japan’s Ochiai in PRO/AM leads the points going into this round in Yeongam. Afiq has been the standout driver in this series in his Japan-based Hojust Racing Team this season. Aylezo Motorsports East Malaysian and gentleman racer Zen Low will also be racing this weekend in the Super Trofeo.

I’ll bring you the results next week.

Piston.my

English

Hyundai Motor Group begins selling first model with solar roof charging system

F1 (Round 12) – Highlights Of The 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix And Results

More savings with Volkswagen Merdeka Voucher

The BMW M1 Art Car presented in a new perspective 40 years later

F1 (Round 12) – 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Grid

Infiniti gets award for adoption of advanced high-tensile steel in new QX50

Red Cross Experts Push New Land Rover Defender Prototype To The Limits In Desert Testing

354hp Porsche Macan S officially available now – RM625,000

Fuel prices for August 3 to August 9 2019

HardKhor Motorsports Report: Malaysian racers at events in China and Belgium

Aston Martin Unveils DBX S: A Lighter, Sharper and More Powerful Flagship SUV

Auto Shanghai 2025: Xpeng G9 2025 Edition Displayed, 66 Enhancements and Advanced Turing AI Driving System

Auto Shanghai 2025: GWM Previews Pre-Production Version of the Ora 07 Touring

PRO-NET Expands Proton e.MAS Dealer Network to Meet Growing EV Demand

Auto Shanghai 2025: GWM Ora 03 GT Displayed, Malaysian Launch Soon!

Continental to Cease Tyre Production at Alor Setar Plant by End-2025

Isuzu Malaysia Welcomes New CEO Tomoyuki Yamaguchi, Focuses on Strengthening Customer Experience

Mitsubishi Motors Expands Presence in Klang Valley with New Kajang 3S Centre

UMW Toyota Motor Unveiled GR Supra Track Edition and GR Yaris Automatic Variant in Malaysia

Auto Shanghai 2025: BMW Group Showcased Future Innovations, On the Road to Neue Klasse

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RWB Collective Malaysia: Up Close and Personal

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