For those who want premium air quality in the premium cars they travel in, Volvo’s new Advanced Air Cleaner technology can satisfy that expectation. The technology is a world-first premium to provide Volvo drivers with clean and healthy air inside their cars and also clean the air of their cabin ahead of their journey.
While it may seem like the Swedish company is focusing on air cleanliness in view of global concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Volvo has given attention to air quality in the cabin for decades. It was among the early carmakers to provide pollen filters and of course, it has continuously developed technologies to ensure that its exhaust emissions from its engines are as clean as possible.
Volvo can’t do much about outside air quality (although it helps by ensuring its engine exhaust emissions are clean), but it can offer very clean air inside the car.
Measuring and cleaning
The system has a sensor that measures PM 2.5 levels inside the cabin, creating a feature not available in any other car currently on the market. Indicating the amount of fine particulate matter in the air, PM 2.5 is a widely used measure for air quality. Globally, many urban areas suffer from PM 2.5 values that exceed recommended levels by the World Health Organisation, underlining the need to minimize their impact.
In China, where PM 2.5 measurements and related information services are well established, Volvo drivers can also compare air quality inside the cabin to that outside the car.
Available on all 60-series and 90-series Volvo models based on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) since early this year, the Advanced Air Cleaner uses a synthetic fibre-based filter and ionization to clean the air. Up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles can be removed with these two methods.
Volvo’s Advanced Air Cleaner can remove up to 95% of all PM 2.5 particles using a synthetic fibre-based filter and ionization.
Healthier air means safer driving
With the greater air filtration, air quality inside the car is much healthier, limiting the adverse health effects that are associated with air pollution and fine particulates. Cleaner air inside the car also helps make driving safer as healthy and fresh air can help boost driver concentration.
Stale air tends to make a driver sleepy too, which is why the air inside needs to be refreshed periodically by opening the windows or switching to fresh air mode for the ventilation system. However, as external air quality is not clean, this is where Volvo’s Advanced Air Cleaner technology is very useful to clean it as it enters the cabin.
Drivers of certain Volvo models can also use the Volvo On Call smartphone app (where available) to easily schedule an extra cleaning of the cabin air ahead of their journey. The app then tells drivers about the actual PM 2.5 levels inside the cabin after cleaning.
Volvo owners can also check on air quality in the cabin and then activate the cleaning process from their home or office.
“With our Advanced Air Cleaner technology, you can rest assured that the air you breathe inside your Volvo is cleaner and healthier,” said Anders Lofvendahl, Senior Technical Expert on Cabin Air Quality at Volvo Cars. “We believe that clean air is good for you, both from a health and from a safety perspective, and we will continue to push the envelope in this area.”
Apart from the Advanced Air Cleaner technology, Volvo Cars also works on creating a healthy environment inside its cars in other ways. Its engineers have a long-standing focus on removing emissions from organic substances in the car. They also aim to minimize the amount of allergy-causing materials from its interiors as well as generation and emission of odours from parts and materials used inside the cabin.
The epitome of what driving pleasure is all about – the sportscar – will never go away. In spite of periods when the numbers declined and many carmakers decided that they could not afford the luxury of making such cars, the voices of the enthusiasts around the world (and also within the company) have brought back sportscars.
The Nissan Z is one such example. An icon among sportscars, it was among the first from a Japanese brand and it made a tremendous impact, especially in America where the biggest number has been sold in its 50-year existence.
The Z Car – past and present (top), and the future.
Other than a short break in the early 2000s when Nissan was recovering from financial difficulties, the Z has had a presence in the Nissan range with the generation on sale since 2009 being the sixth one.
Soon a seventh generation will be launched and it will be a totally new design with new technologies, as would be expected after a lapse of some 10 years. Nissan gave an online preview of the model – referred to as the ‘Z Proto’ for now – today from its base in Yokohama, Japan, with a clear promise that ‘the new Z is on its way’.
It wasn’t difficult to understand the excitement and passion of the original Z and earlier generations as many people involved in the project had memories of the sportscar and even owned it, including Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, who introduced the Z Proto.
Past meets future
The design of the Z Proto was done largely in Japan and while feedback was considered from many markets, Hiroshi Tamura, Chief Product Specialist of the Z Proto, admitted that the comments of the Z community in America were influential simply because it is where the most Zs have been sold.
Given the heritage of the car, it’s only expected that the designers would constantly look back at past generations, especially the very first one, for inspiration and guidance. The long-nose silhouette, in particular, is a must for the Z but the retro theme is also combined with projected futurism.
“Our designers made countless studies and sketches as we researched each generation and what made them a success,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Head of Design at Nissan. “Ultimately, we decided the Z Proto should travel between the decades, including the future.”
Headlight with cover on the original Z (left) and the PROTO Z headlight (right) which mimics the reflections.
The shape of the bonnet and the canted, teardrop-shaped LED headlights are both unmistakable reminders of the original Z. “The LED headlights have two half-circles that hark back to the Japan market-only 240ZG of the 70s,” Albaisa explained. “The ZG had clear dome lenses over the headlight buckets, which under light give off two circular reflections over each headlight. We liked that unique characteristic and discovered that it naturally fit with the Z’s identity.”
The rectangular grille’s dimensions are similar to the current model with the addition of oval grille fins to offer an updated modern look. However, the link to the original Z is most striking when viewing the Z Proto from the side. The roofline flows from the nose to the squared-off rear to create a distinctive first-generation Z profile whose rear edge was slightly lower than the front fender height giving the Z its unique posture. The signature transition from the rear quarter glass to the low-slung position of the rear tail adds to the effect.
The rear takes inspiration from the 300ZX (Z32) taillights, reinterpreted for the modern world. Set within a rectangular black section that runs across the rear and wraps around the outer edges, the LED taillights convey a sharp glow.
Sharp-eyed readers may notice that the badge on the rear says ‘Fairlady Z’ and this could be a bow to the original legendary car. It might also be used for the future domestic model since the name does have a historical connection to the Japanese fans and owners.
Vintage touch, modern feel
The Z Proto’s cabin blends modern technology with vintage Z touches. The interior design team sought advice from professional motorsports legends to create an ideal sportscar cabin, both for road and track.
This can be seen in the Z’s instrumentation, a 12.3-inch digital display with all the information the driver needs to have. The tachometer is the dominant item with a digital speedometer and vital information is arranged to help the driver grasp it at a glance, such as the redline shift point at the 12 o’clock position.
It’s difficult to replicate the original steering wheel of the Z due to safety requirements but the designers have still tried to keep some vintage aesthetic. It is deeply dished and the driver has quick access to controls with switches on the left and right spokes.
Although digital display screens can be designed to provide the driver with all kinds of information and free up space on the dashboard, the designers have still retained that old-school sportscar look with three small round meters placed on top of the dashboard. In the Z Proto, these show boost pressure, turbocharger rpm and voltage although the ones in the production car might show other information.
Yellow accents are found throughout the cabin, including stitching on the instrument panel. The seats feature special yellow accenting and a layered gradation stripe in the centre of the seats to create depth. Incidentally, the bright yellow pearlescent paint of the exterior is a tribute to a popular paint scheme on both the first generation Z and the 300ZX (Z32).
6-speed manual gearbox lives on
Although the Z is about more than power increases, each new generation has nevertheless had a more powerful engine and the new Z can be expected to continue to provide punchy performance. “Z is a balance of power and agility,” said Tamura. “It is a vehicle that creates a connection with the driver not just on the physical level, but emotionally, and responds to the driver’s impulses.”
For this reason, Nissan will continue to offer a 6-speed manual gearbox. There’s usually not much to say about a manual transmission, unlike automatic transmissions which have constantly improved with advancements in electronic control technologies.
However, 12 years ago, Nissan did draw a lot of attention to its manual transmission in the new 370Z which had the world’s first synchronized downshift rev-matching system. Known as SynchroRev Match, the system blips the throttle just prior to downshifts and upshifts to match engine speed to the next gear. The result is a smoother transition which used to be only possible by drivers who knew about ‘heel-and-toe’. This feature should still appear in the new Z.
Will it be called ‘400Z’?
50 years ago, Yutaka Katayama – regarded as the ‘father of the Datsun Z’ – bravely removed the ‘Fairlady’ badges on the cars that arrived in America. The man in charge of Nissan’s subsidiary in America understood that ‘Fairlady’ (which was the chosen by Nissan’s President after he saw ‘My Fair Lady’, the play) was just not right for such a sportscar. So he chose something from the internal coding (Z432) and used just ‘Z’ to designate the new car. Which worked superbly and started a legendary line of sportscars.
The new Z will have the model code ‘Z35’ to follow the sequence that began in 1984 with the 300ZX. Rumours are that it will be badged ‘400Z’. Nissan does have a version of the VQ engine with a 4-litre displacement but this is designed for SUV applications so the ‘400Z’ would likely have an updated 3.7-litre unit as Nissan confirms it will be an ‘enhanced V6 twin-turbocharged engine’. Production is set to start next year so it would probably be in showrooms sometime in the second half of 2021.
Three years after the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely) took on a 49.9% equity in Proton, the carmaker is about to launch a second brand new model – the X50. Like the X70, it is also a SUV, catering to the most active segment globally.
It is also a model adapted from one which Geely developed and launched in August 2018 – the Binyue (Coolray outside China) – like the X70, which is why Proton can get completely new models into the market in such a short time. Normally, a new model would take a few years to develop but adapting from an existing model means the main time-consuming (and expensive) engineering work has been done already.
However, just as in the case of the X70 (known as the Boyue in China), a Proton version was not merely doing cosmetic changes and putting a different brand badge on. Until Proton launched the X70, there was no righthand drive version of the model anywhere in the world. And that meant additional engineering work which was more than just moving the steering wheel to the right side. Entirely new parts for righthand drive had to be made too, eg a different dashboard, power window switch panel, centre console, etc.
New X50 is adapted from the Geely Binyue/Coolray.
With the urgency to revive Proton and turn it around, the X70 was initially built in China and sent to Malaysia while the factory in Tg. Malim, which started operations almost 20 years ago, was renovated and improved. With that completed, X70 production was shifted to Malaysia and for the X50, Proton can start off right away making the model locally. And, like the X70 too, it will be the first (and for now, only) righthand drive version of the Binyue.
According to Proton DESIGN Head, Azlan Othman, there’s jet fighter influence in the design of the air vents! The last time we heard that was when another designer told us that he was influenced by the Stealth Fighter when he styled the Savvy.
It is only to be expected that lessons learnt from developing the X70 have made the process of developing the X50 faster. For instance, Azlan Othman and his team at Proton DESIGN had to also get used to a new working culture while rushing work on the X70. With the X50, it would be safe to say they were ‘in the groove’ and also had a chance to ‘customize’ the model a bit more.
4 variants, 2 engine outputs
We don’t have the prices yet, but we do know that there will be 4 variants – Standard, Executive, Premium and, appropriately, Flagship. All of them will be powered by a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine with turbocharging. However, the engine in the X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship will have a higher output of 177 ps/255 Nm as it has direct injection. The engine in the other three variants will have port injection and produce 150 ps/226 Nm.
All-wheel drive (AWD) may be nice to have but the cost-vs-benefit doesn’t work well in Malaysia and in any case, most customers don’t really care. So all X50 variants have front-wheel drive only, with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. For those who feel AWD gives better grip and stability in the wet, that argument is less relevant with the advanced electronic stability control and traction control systems available today.
More powerful GKUI 19
And talking of electronic systems, the X50 will have a newer generation of the Geely Key User Interface, or GKUI 19. Like computers and smartphones, the processing power of the system becomes greater over time as processors evolve. It also has a graphics processing unit (GPU) which helps in reducing demands on the main processor.
Latest generation GKUI 19 uses a more powerful quad-core processor for faster performance.
What this means to the user is more responsiveness – perhaps when ‘Hi Proton’ is said, the computer will spend less time ‘thinking’ before responding. Moving to a new generation gave the system designers a chance to revise and refine the interface, simplifying the menu structure while also offering a cleaner layout. The virtual buttons on the 10.25-inch touchscreen (8 inches for the Standard and Premium variants) are large, as they should be to make selection easier. The larger screen also has a resolution of 1920×720 px.
The navigation system in the X70 has sometimes been deficient and to partially address this, Proton has switched to a different digital mapping service. Whether it proves to be better remains to be seen when we get to test the new car. It would be good if there’s Apple CarPlay or Android Auto so smartphone apps like Waze or Google Maps can be transferred into the screen but the X50, like the X70, does not have them yet. It is, however, possible to interface using a mirroring function called QDLink.
An eSIM is provided for all variants, providing the necessary connectivity to the digital world. With the Premium and Flagship variants, it is also possible to start the engine as well as the air-conditioner without being inside the car. This is done using the Proton Link app which also allows setting the desired cooling temperature.
Idling the engine wastes petrol since the car is not going anywhere. But it is necessary if you want the luxury of having a cool cabin when you get in because the air-conditioner compressor needs to be powered. So the maximum time the engine is allowed to run is 10 minutes, after which it shuts down and so does the air-conditioner. If you do get in when the engine is running, you can also move off immediately so hopefully, the locking system is secure enough otherwise someone passing by can just get in and drive off!
Safety & ADAS
ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-start Assist, Hill Descent Control and Reverse Camera are standard active safety systems across the range. All variants also have a minimum of 4 airbags – front and sides – as well as ISOFIX points at the rear for compatible childseats. The Premium and Flagship variants have additional window curtain airbags and the camera system gives a 360-degree top-down view, as well as a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The X50 Flagship has an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) like the top version of the X70. However, the one in the new model is more advanced and can even operate with Level 2 autonomy. At this level, which is one of 5 levels, the brakes will activate automatically (if the driver does not act) if an accident is predicted as a vehicle or pedestrian are detected in front with the camera and radar.
The cruise control is also adaptive, adjusting the speed to maintain a safe gap and can even drop to standstill and resume moving in accordance with the vehicle ahead. Other ADAS features are keeping the car within a lane, automatically switching from high beam to low beam and a blind spot monitor.
Self-parking is one of the ADAS features in the X50.
The X50 Flagship can also carry park itself, which should be welcome by those who find difficulty doing so. It’s an amazing system which uses the sensors around the body to position the car and all the driver has to do is work the accelerator pedal. Once this feature become standard in all vehicles, there won’t be a need for parking skill when taking a driving test!
Feature differences of each variant
The list of main differentiating features in each variant are shown below and you get 6 body colours to choose from.
Panoramic sunroof is standard only with the X50 Flagship. ‘HiProton’ assistant can open it if you make the request to ‘see the sky’.
In the coming weeks leading to the official launch within a month’s time, we’ll be given more information on other aspects of the X50. As it will be launched within the period when the 10% sales tax is exempted, its price will differ from those registered after December 31, 2020 when the exemption incentive ends. So if you want to save money, order one quickly and it will cost you only RM500 to make a booking which will be accepted from tomorrow (September 16).
Vote for the X50 slogan
While the name has been revealed (not that it was a big secret, except that Proton never really confirmed it), the company is still undecided about the slogan to use for the new model. So, just as with the X70 when the public was invited to vote (for the model name), Proton is again inviting the public to vote for the slogan this time.
There are four slogans: Intelligence that Amazes, Intelligence that Leads, Intelligence that Exceeds, and Intelligence that Lives. We don’t see the page for voting tonight and maybe it will be open when bookings start tomorrow so visit www.proton.com to stay updated if you want to vote.
This Malaysia Day on September 16, BMW Malaysia will showcase a range of M models at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. An exclusive M4 will also be unveiled at the venue and this car will have the design by a 27-year old Malaysian, Chan Wen Bin, who won the global BMW M4 GT4 livery contest. Chan beat many other contestants who had submitted their proposals for the contest which started in early July this year.
While a jury that assessed every entry, votes from the BMW Motorsport community on social media also counted towards determining the winner. Juan Diego Sanchez from Spain and Monholo Oumar from France were in second and third place, respectively.
In addition to the pure aesthetic perspective, the jury also placed a great deal of importance on the link between virtual and real-world motorsport when making their decision. With the motto ‘THE FUSION OF REAL WORLD AND SIM RACING’, the entrants were faced with the task of creating a design whose elegance and beauty comes into full effect not only in the virtual world but also in the real world.
“The black overall colour is always classic and elegant for a high-performance BMW coupe,” said Cao Fei a jury member who designed the 18th BMW Art Car. “The subtle blue and red parts scattered around the car are not only lively and chic, accentuating its sporty and exclusive aesthetics, but the colour combination also reflects the very essence of BMW M series, paying tribute to its history and legacy. This livery is truly timeless.”
Chan’s winning design for the M4 GT4 got him a cash prize of US$3,000. He will also have the satisfaction of knowing it will be seen in a real-world race. At the season finale of the DTM Trophy at Hockenheim in Germany on November 7/8, the winning design will be on one of the M4 GT4 racing cars competing.
The design will also appear on the iRacing sim racing platform. The M4 GT4 has been racing on that platform in the virtual world since June, where it enjoys great popularity.
“I’ve been a fan of BMW since my childhood and always dreamed of achieving something with BMW one day,” said Chan who lives in Semenyih, Selangor. “This livery contest was a fantastic opportunity for me to show my passion for BMW and have my design used by BMW Motorsport. I’m over the moon and am delighted to have won this competition! I can’t wait to see the result in the real world. It’s one of my biggest successes in my career as a designer. Thank you so much BMW.”
The entry by Spaniard Juan Diego Sanchez which won second place.Third place winner Monholo Oumar from France submitted this proposal.
PLUS Malaysia Bhd has established an RTD Enforcement Highway Monitoring Centre (Highway Enforcement Unit) as one of the ways to improve safety on its highways. The facility, opened on July 1 this year in collaboration with the Road Transport Department (RTD), is located at the old Jelapang Toll Plaza Supervision Building near Ipoh, Perak.
The control centre, located at KM268, on the North-South Expressway will provide faster access onto the highway to manage traffic incidences and improve safety. It also regulates all Highway Enforcement Unit activities at four major enforcement zones.
Since 2018, PLUS has provided four offices for the Highway Enforcement Unit at R&R Pagoh in Johor, R&R Dengkil in Selangor, and R&R Gunung Semanggol, besides the latest Enforcement Highway Monitoring Centre, in Ipoh.
“PLUS continuously explores new approaches and ideas to improve safety on our highways to help our customers enjoy safer and more convenient travel. Apart from focusing on engineering and education aspects through road safety advocacy programmes, we also look at law enforcement aspects by collaborating with enforcement agencies such as the RTD to improve safety on the highways,” said PLUS Chief Operating Officer, Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.
“At the same time, the presence of JPJ enforcement officers on our highway mainline is crucial in addressing issues relating to heavy vehicles such as the use of low-quality rethreaded tyres, overloaded and improperly secured consignment and so on. Based on our data, most of the obstacles found on the highway which consist of tyre fragments, wood, iron scraps or debris and many more originated from heavy vehicles, pose a threat to our customers,” he added.
During the official opening ceremony, PLUS and RTD also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic collaboration involving operations and enforcement to improve safety on the PLUS highway.
According to Dato’ Sri Shaharuddin, RTD’s Director-General, the initiative that has been carried out between PLUS and the RTD is a strategic and smart partnership which is the key to improving the safety and well-being of the people.
“PLUS proves its role as a good ‘Rakan Negara’ in helping RTD to enhance the level of safety and enforcement on the highway. PLUS’ contribution and various initiatives to ensure the safety of its customers have been globally recognized by winning the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in December 2019 and was recently ranked as the number one top performing closed toll highway in terms of safety and comfort by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS),” added Dato’ Sri Shaharuddin.
Most people would never have heard of Lucid Motors but that’s how the auto industry is these days, with many new players joining it. Lucid, originally known as Atieva and based in California, is one of those start-ups which has focussed on electric vehicles during the 13 years since its founding.
From making EV hardware (batteries and powertrains) for other companies, Lucid has developed its own technology and has embarked on developing and producing its own electric cars. Its first model will be the Lucid Air with up to 4 versions at prices expected to start from US$80,000 (about RM332,000).
“Lucid Motors is driven to make the electric car better, and by doing so, help move the entire industry forward towards accelerated adoption of sustainable mobility. The goal of this relentless approach to developing the world’s most advanced electric vehicle is to benefit all mankind with sustainable, zero emission transportation, and to also attract new customers to the world of EVs,” said Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid Motors.
Using space to create the Air
The Lucid Air is said to be the result of a revolutionary approach to automotive packaging called the Lucid Space Concept. It capitalizes upon the miniaturization of Lucid’s in-house developed EV drivetrain to optimize interior cabin space.
The concept is central to the architecture of the Lucid Electric Advanced Platform (LEAP) upon which the Lucid Air, and forthcoming Lucid vehicles, will be built. It’s a holistic, clean-sheet approach to advanced EV construction, without using existing ‘off the shelf’ solutions so often seen in EVs from legacy automakers.
By simultaneously making smaller yet more powerful electric motors and improving the packaging of the entire electric powertrain, Lucid is able to reclaim that space for passengers and their comfort. This extends the philosophy of hyper-efficiency embedded in the car, from energy to spatial efficiency, to achieve longer range, practicality, higher performance, and luxury.
The Space Concept
The Space Concept also contributes to the subtly different and modern proportions for the Lucid Air, without relying on any traditional automotive design cues, instead delivering a car that can look distinctive on the road.
Lucid designers have also made the Air the world’s most aero-efficient luxury car. Tests in an advanced rolling-road wind tunnel have returned results of a Cd of 0.21. This aspect is particularly important for EVs as wind resistance must be kept to a minimum so as to enable motor output to be used to propel the car.
Advanced lighting
The car’s headlamps employ advanced technology with the revolutionary Micro Lens Array system. This has literally thousands of ‘light channels’ to provide the brightest, most precise and advanced lighting. Digital ‘steering’ of light direction is possible by digitally switching light channels in different directions to give the best spread and coverage.
Lucid will also create special retail and digital experiences for the brand which will be different. These are summed up in the brand tagline of ‘Dream Ahead’, which is also the company’s vision for rejecting the status quo and always pushing the boundaries in EV technology.
Record-breaking performance and range
Initial specifications claimed for the Lucid Air show output of up to 1,080 hp available in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive architecture. It is claimed to be able to do the quarter-mile (about 400 metres) as quick as 9.9 seconds on a consistent, repeatable basis. To date, no other electric sedan has been able to do a time under 10 seconds, according to the company.
High performance can usually mean less range; at least that is how it has been with internal combustion engines. But for electric cars, advanced technologies are continuously extending the range and up to 832 kms is the claim for the Lucid Air with a full-charged battery pack. The compact 113 kWh extended-range battery pack is developed in-house.
World’s fastest charging EV
When it arrives in the market in 2021, the Lucid Air will be the fastest charging electric vehicle ever offered, with the capability to charge at rates of up to 32 kms per minute when connected to a DC Fast Charging network. For owners charging their car in real-world conditions on the road, that can translate into 480 kms of range within just 20 minutes of charging.
To enter the market sometime next year, the cars will be offered in North America, and some countries in Europe and the Middle East.
In conjunction with its 10th anniversary, Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is offering Porsche Macan customers a new enhanced Premium Package for the Macan. Available until December 31, 2020, the package has three additional options, worth over RM39,000, that now come as standard.
Extending the standard features list
The complimentary options which enhance comfort, connectivity and driving dynamics are Comfort Access, Park Assist with Surround View and Porsche Active Suspension Management. Other features that are complimentary with the base price of the Macan include Apple CarPlay, BOSE Surround Sound System, Power Steering Plus, 14-way power seats, comfort lighting package and automatic dimming mirrors.
The current model also includes a 3-dimensional LED light panel at the rear and the new fully interconnected Porsche communication management system with a 10.9-inch touchscreen.
The Macan, priced from RM439,351.00 (excluding insurance but with applicable sales tax exemption till the end of this year), is powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with maximum output of 252 bhp/370 Nm. With a 7-gear PDK dual-clutch gearbox, the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time is 6.7 seconds with a top speed capability of 225 km/h.
“We are committed to continuously enriching the ownership experience for Porsche customers, and bring fans closer to realising their dreams of owning a Porsche. The introduction of the new enhanced Premium Package for our best-selling model, the Macan, is a great way to introduce more people to the brand, especially given the rising popularity of the Macan and the overall compact SUV segment over the past few years,” said Christopher Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of SDAP.
“With the addition of these new features as standard, the Macan is now even more competitively priced as the sportscar in the compact SUV segment, providing pure driving enjoyment with every kilometre behind the wheel,” he added.
♦ This was the first race of the season which had spectators watching from the stands. A maximum of 2,880 spectators (including Ferrari Club members who had a special allocation) were permitted into Mugello on each day of the event.
♦ Scuderia Ferrari, celebrating its 1,000th F1 race, had its two racing cars in the original burgundy colour on the cars of its first race in 1950, and Mick Schumacher drove his father’s 2004 title-winning car on a special lap around Mugello (which is owned by Ferrari).
♦ 15 minutes before the start, Max Verstappen’s car developed a problem. His mechanics fixed it in time for him to start the race. A collision between Pierre Gasly and Kimi Raikkonen had the latter bumping into the Red Bull car and sending it into the gravel at the second turn. End of race for the Dutchman.
♦ Gasly, last Sunday’s winner, also went into the gravel and had to retire, bringing the Safety Car out for the mashalls to clear the debris and cars.
♦ As the Safety Car prepared to enter the pits, another three cars collided on the 7th lap – Carlos Sainz, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi and Kevin Magnussen. Track conditions were so bad with broken bits all over the pit straight that the red flags came out. That means the race comes to a stop and the cars must return to the pits and shut down, until allowed to restart.
♦ With the four drivers, plus Gasly and Verstappen, that saw six cars out of the race within the first six laps.
A multi-car collision in the 6th lap saw red flags coming out, bringing the race to a stop and the car had to remain in the pits.
♦ From the time the red flags appeared until the cars were released for a restart, some 23 minutes had elapsed. Valtteri Bottas was the lead car in the pack of 13 remaining (Esteban Ocon did not join the restart as the brakes on his car had problems) but by the second turn, Lewis Hamilton shot past him and pulled away.
♦ With a quarter of the race done, Hamilton’s lead from his team mate was around 2 seconds, but Bottas had a strong 9-second lead over Charles Leclerc. Lance Stroll powered by on lap 16 to take third and set his sights on Bottas.
♦ On a day when Ferrari was to be celebrating a milestone, things were certainly disappointing for the tifosi as they saw Sebastian Vettel struggling aong the end-runners and Leclerc also facing difficulties regaining his upper position after his third visit to the pits.
♦ Lap 43 saw Stroll’s race come to an end as he slipped into the gravel, seemingly due to a puncture. For the third time in the day, the Safety Car sped out and red flags appeared to stop the session again.
♦ With 15 laps remaining, only Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari still had both their cars running while the other teams lost one car.
♦ When the race finally restarted, Hamilton managed to stay in the lead while Bottas had to just maintain his pace. Behind him a determined Red Bull,, Alexander Albon, closed in on Daniel Ricciardo, the surviving Renault driver, and got past to a podium position.
♦ Hamilton won again, with Bottas crossing the finish line almost 5 seconds behind. Albon held on to the end, with the reward of his first ever presence on the Formula 1 podium.
The Mercedes-AMG f1 Safety Car was in action on three separate occasions, right from the first lap. The Ferrari Red colour pays tribute to the 1,000th GP of the Italian team at Mugello.l
Today, at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari will start their 1,000th race in the Formula 1 World Championship. The team made their debut at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1950, the second race on the inaugural F1 calendar. In that race, the team’s Alberto Ascari finished second, a lap down on Juan Manuel Fangio, who won for Alfa Romeo. A second Ferrari driver, Raymond Sommer, finished fourth.
Scuderia Ferrari entered its first F1 race at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, with Alberto Ascari finishing second overall.
First victory in 1951
Scuderia Ferrari, also known as ‘The Prancing Horse’, holds a record 237 victories (plus a win for a privately-entered car at the 1961 French Grand Prix). Their first victory was at the 1951 British Grand Prix, which was won by Jose Froilan Gonzalez, while the most recent win was scored by Sebastian Vettel at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix.
Besides 16 Constructors’ Championships since the inception of that competition in 1958, the team hold numerous other F1 records. They have made 655 consecutive starts, in a string stretching back to the 1982 Italian GP, have 84 1-2 finishes and hold the record for consecutive appearances on the podium with 53 between the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix and the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher, one of the greatest racing drivers, won 5 titles with Ferrari.
F1 record books also show that Ferrari have had 254 fastest laps and scored 8,318.5 Constructors’ Championship points, while their drivers have cumulatively collected 9,220.27 points in the Drivers’ Championship. They hold the record for victories at a single grand prix, winning the German Grand Prix 21 times and have a record 228 pole positions from the 1,001 Grands Prix entered.
As an engine supplier, Ferrari has 239 victories. This includes the 237 wins for the works team, Giancarlo Baghetti’s victory at the 1961 French Grand Prix in a privately-entered car, and Sebastian Vettel’s win for Toro Rosso at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
Celebrating the 1000th race
“Scuderia Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix is a very important milestone, therefore it had to be marked in a special way. That’s why we decided to run a unique livery on the cars for this event, with the SF1000s taking to the track at the Mugello Circuit in the Burgundy colour first seen on the 125 S, the first racing car to carry the Ferrari name,” said Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of the company.
“Only a few months ago, no one could have imagined that our thousandth race could take place at our own Mugello circuit. I am pleased that in the Grand Prix official name, Formula 1 chose to pay tribute to Ferrari, the only team that has always been present in the sport’s 71-year history,” he said.
Race starts at 3:10 pm in Italy/9:10 pm in Malaysia
COVID-19 has caused loss of lives, hardship, disrupted life and businesses and impacted economies. It has also disrupted motorsports all over the world and as conditions eased, the Formula 1 organisers have rushed to try to run as many rounds as possible before the end of the year. And COVID-19 can also be ‘blamed’ for bringing the 9th round of the 2020 championship to a completely new venue – Mugello.
First new circuit for F1 since 2016
Located near the city of Florence in Italy’s Tuscan countryside, the Mugello circuit was opened in 1974 and while it has never had a F1 race, it has had at least 30 rounds of the Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix. It is the 72nd venue to host a F1 round and the first new one in four years, the last being the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan.
Mugello is not entirely new to F1 veterans though, as it was a testing venue until 2012, used mostly by Ferrari which also owns it (since 1988). However, where actual racing is concerned, it will be new to every driver and the teams have had only since last Sunday’s race at Monza to get to know and understand the circuit.
The circuit has a number of steep ascents and descents, long full-throttle sections and some extremely fast corners. Situated in a valley, it subjects drivers to quite a rollercoaster ride, especially at the start of the second sector. There are absolutely no slow corners (even the slowest can be taken in 4th gear at 140 km/h), and the cornering speeds will subject the drivers to higher g-forces than usual.
Needless to say, the cars and the tyres will also be under tremendous stress but comments from the drivers after practices has been enthusiastic as they welcome the challenges of a new circuit.
“Driving an F1 car around this circuit is unbelievable. In all the fast sections, it’s pretty impressive. I think it’s going to be quite a tough race, physically, as already in the long run we’ve done in FP2 the neck starts to feel it! The lack of run-off areas will also make it difficult, but I guess this is what we like as well,” said Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Unusual layout and abrasive surface
Mugello’s unusual track layout has fairly old, abrasive tarmac and bears some resemblance to Suzuka in Japan. The engineers at the Mercedes-AMG team will therefore use the venue of the Japanese Grand Prix as a reference point for their predictions about tyre life and degradation. Both tracks generate a very high sliding energy and put a lot of stress on the tyres.
To cope with a combination of fast corners and abrasive asphalt, Pirelli is sending their hardest compounds to Mugello, with the C1, C2 and C3 on offer. This is also to shield against the potential for thermal degradation exacerbated by very hot weather. The narrowness of the track and the technical nature of the layout are likely to make overtaking difficult, putting an extra onus on strategy decisions.
Some spectators allowed in for a change!
The Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio Della Toscana Ferrari 1000 2020 – which most will refer to as just the Tuscan Grand Prix – will be the 1000th F1 race for Scuderia Ferrari. Last weekend was a blot in the marque’s history book but that’s past and to celebrate this milestone, the two SF1000s took to the track in their special Burgundy livery, the deep red originally seen on the 125 S, the very first Ferrari ever built.
The F1 Safety Car painted in Ferrari Red as a tribute to Scuderia Ferrari’s 1000th race achievement this weekend.
“We will honour the achievement with the Mercedes-AMG Safety Car in Ferrari red – our nod to a racing history that brought us some of the greatest moments in Formula One. The men and women of Maranello have a proud history to celebrate and we’re paying respect to those celebrations this weekend,” said Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
Championship positions after Monza
Despite registering his worst result of the season at Monza last Sunday, Lewis Hamilton’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship holds steady at 47 points, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas moving into second position after Max Verstappen recorded his second DNF of the season.
Mercedes-AMG, meanwhile, expanded their lead at the top of the Constructors’ Championship as Red Bull Racing’s failed to score. Their lead is now up to 123 points. Behind them, the battle is rather more intense: McLaren’s best result since 2014 saw them extend their lead in the race for third place, pulling out a gap of 16 points ahead of Racing Point, who in turn have an 11-point advantage over Renault.
