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Opening F1 round in Australia postponed, Chinese GP date to be rescheduled

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Last year, just as the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season opening round was to start, the state government in Australia forced it to be cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened. The cancellation triggered off postponements and then cancellations that would see the championship stalled until the middle of the year. It was then compressed to 17 rounds which ended just last month.

The calendar for 2021 again placed Australia as the venue for the first round of the championship, and it seemed that things were going well and the record number of 23 events for this year could have its traditional start Down Under.

The Formula 1 World Championship has traditionally started in Melbourne, Australia. Last year, it was cancelled at the last moment due to growing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year, there are still strict entry conditions so it will be difficult for teams to enter the country.

However, it has been announced today that the Australian round is postponed because the government maintains strict entry conditions, which make it difficult for teams to enter. But the round is not being cancelled altogether like last year and is changed to November 21 from the original March 21.

The opening round will instead be in the Middle East, where the final three rounds of 2020 were run. The Bahrain Grand Prix, which was to have been the second round, will become the opening round on March 28. The teams were there for two back-to-back rounds at the end of November and early December last year.

*Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain will be the new venue for the opening round of the 2021 championship.*

The organizers of the Chinese Grand Prix have also asked for a change of date due to what appears to be a new outbreak of COVID-19 infections which could become severe. As a precaution therefore, they don’t think it’s a good idea to run the event, which was to be round 3, on April 11. A new date has not been decided yet.

In the revised calendar, the Imola Circuit in Italy will again be used for the second round which will be on April 18. It was one of the three circuits in Italy that hosted a round of the 2020 championship.

The third round is not confirmed yet but the Portimao Circuit in Portugal could be selected for May 2. It was round 12 in the 2020 championship and was a new circuit to the drivers.

The rest of the calendar remains unchanged for now, but the dates for the rounds in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi have been adjusted to fit in the Australian round. This will result in the championship ending on December 12, just one day earlier than it ended in 2020.

Volvo sales in Malaysia last year were the highest since 1999

Volvo, once the leading European brand in the Malaysian market, saw its position change after the 1980s. While the products always delivered on the promise of safety, quality and reliability, a pricing strategy that raised prices didn’t work out well and it took a decade to recover. At the time, a senior Volvo executive acknowledged that the idea that it costs Volvo as much to make a car as Mercedes-Benz or BMW meant it could charge almost the same was not necessarily the case.

Nevertheless, the brand slowly rebuilt itself and with a progressive line of products replacing dated models, it has found a niche on which it can grow. Like all companies, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) was hit by the effects of the pandemic on the economy and recorded a 56.1% decrease in sales compared to the previous year.

However, things rapidly changed in the second half of 2020 as the numbers surged, thanks to the incentive offered by the government in the form of exemption of sales tax. With Volvo models being assembled locally in Selangor, the exemption was 100%, meaning that customers saved on the 10% sales tax normally imposed.

Highest volume since 1999
This allowed pricing to be attractive and along with other companies, VCM saw a boost in sales to finish the year with 1,950 units delivered nationwide. This was a 3.6% increase in volume, surpassing the previous year’s sales figure of 1,883 units and it was also the highest number since the establishment of VCM in 1999.

“We are very proud of what Volvo Car Malaysia has achieved despite this turbulent time and challenges that we faced. Through the collective efforts of our dealers and staff, as well as the opportune timing of the government’s sales tax holiday, we were able to finish a challenging year strongly. For us, seeing the results of our efforts has further recharged our drive to bring more premium, safe and sustainable cars to Malaysians,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia.

High demand for luxury cars
During 2020, VCM recorded its second-highest sales of the year in July, after the tax exemption incentive under the PENJANA program began (it will continue until the end of June 2021). Mr. Nalin said this was an indication that the demand for luxury cars remains high as the car market began to normalise and the country headed towards recovery.

With the renewed interest, VCM reinforced its customer service channels and adopted new digital practices. It introduced a new Online Ordering System for customers to make bookings from their homes or offices, and implemented the Digital Silent Salesman 2.0. This is a platform that digitally displays all necessary details about the cars available in Malaysia.

The new digital practices are part of the company’s push for digital transformation across the entire value chain of its business and reflect its commitment towards its sustainability goals by eliminating printed brochures.

Greenterest Calculator
With sustainability as the forefront of its goals in the coming years, VCM kicked off the ‘Volvo Green Planet’ in the third quarter of 2020. This campaign is aimed at driving awareness about the impact of high carbon footprint, which can be calculated via a Greenterest Calculator. It will bring the conversation to its customers with fully-electric test drives of their cars in a program known as ‘Green Drive’ and dispensing Green Seeds as a token to champion cleaner air.

Recharged 2021 ahead
Based on the past year’s performance, VCM aims to ride on the momentum from 2020, entering 2021 with renewed purpose and recharging all areas of its business. “2021 will be a big year for Volvo Car Malaysia as we look to switch all aspects of our business to incorporate more sustainable solutions and also bring in more products offerings to suit the different needs of Malaysians while helping them make more sustainable choices,” said Mr. Nalin.

When Volvo drove a car off a building for a crash test (w/VIDEO)

2021 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year

*To know more, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.*

The diverse nature of the huge North American car market means it has many brands present and when it comes to picking winners for the annual North American Car & Truck of the Year awards, the domestic American brands certainly have a lot of challengers from foreign makes. Running since 1994, these awards are the longest-running new-vehicle awards not associated with a single publication, website, radio or television station.

As trucks are an important segment of the North American market, there are three separate awards: North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year, and North American Utility of the Year which was introduced in 2017 for the growing SUV segment.

In fact, even in the first year of the awards, it was a German make – Mercedes-Benz which won the title with its C-Class. Foreign makes have won the North American Car of the Year awards 11 times in 27 years, and in the 28^th year, Korean carmaker Hyundai (including the Genesis brand) collects the title for the fourth time with its latest Elantra.

Second time for Hyundai Elantra in North American Car of the Year awards.

This is the second time the Hyundai model has won Car of the Year, the first being in 2012. Only two cars have won the award more than once (the Chevrolet Corvette and Honda Civic). Hyundai also won an overall award for North American Utility of the Year with its Kona SUV in 2019.

For the 2021 North American Utility and Truck of the Year, Ford has two winners – the all-electric Mustang Mach-E and the new F-150. It seems a bit odd that the Mustang is positioned and presented as a Utility Vehicle as, historically, it has been a sportscar – and a legendary one too. Nevertheless, Ford has not left out the performance for which the model has been known and admired, with a high-performance electric powertrain.

“This recognition for Mustang Mach-E and F-150 is validation not only for our brand, but also for our Ford team, which continues to innovate and deliver on its commitment to creating must-have products and services,” said Kumar Galhotra, President, Ford Americas and IMG. “The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards are among the most prestigious in the industry and such an honour serves as a capstone achievement for years of hard work for the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 teams.”

To know more about Ford models available in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my.

For the 2021 event, the jurors tested and evaluated more than 40 new vehicles before voting the top three models of each category to be finalists. The jury is made up of automotive journalists from numerous outlets in the USA and Canada. They evaluate the finalists based on segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

*Mercedes-Benz C-Class was the first North American Car of the Year when it started in 1994.*

China’s NIO Inc. launches all-electric ET7, its first autonomous car

NIO Inc., a global smart electric vehicle company founded in November 2014, is still pretty much unknown although it has generated some news for itself in various way. In 2015, the NIO Formula E team won the inaugural Formula E Drivers’ Championship and in 2016, it launched the EP9, one of the world’s fastest electric vehicles. The EP9 broke lap records and the world’s autonomous driving records at Nurburgring Nordschleife.

In 2017, NIO unveiled a concept car called EVE and a year later, it began deliveries of the ES8, a 7-seater high-performance electric flagship SUV, in China. Since then, it has also added the ES6, a 5-seater electric SUV to its range as well as the EC6 electric Coupe SUV and ES8 premium electric SUV.

Autonomous driving capability
This year, it has started off with the launch of the ET7, an electric flagship sedan, its first model with autonomous driving capability. The ET7 features NIO’s latest NAD (NIO Autonomous Driving) technology based on NIO Aquila Super Sensing and NIO Adam Super Computer. NAD is said to provide safer and more relaxing autonomous driving.

The NAD full stack autonomous driving capability includes perception algorithms, localisation, control strategy and platform software. NIO Aquila Super Sensing features 33 high-performance sensing units, including 11 8MP high-resolution cameras, one ultralong-range high-resolution LiDAR, 5-millimetre wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, two high-precision positioning units, V2X and ADMS.

Aquila can generate 8GB data per second, while NIO Adam features 4 Nvidia Orin SoCs with a total computing power of 1,016 TOPS. All these elements and computing capabilities are necessary for autonomous motoring.

*Sensors are integrated with the bodywork of the ET7.*

Integrated sensors
The 5098 mm long ET7 breaks the norm by integrating high-performance sensors naturally into the body. Inside, it has an interpretation of the ‘second living room’ concept. This provides a refined and cozy mobile living space. Frameless soft-closing doors make for easy and quite entry and exit.

First application of renewable rattan
The ET7 also marks the first application of Karuun renewable rattan on a production model for a green and natural experience. The standard massage seats with heating and ventilation offer a reassuring and comfortable experience for every passenger.

NIO’s interior designers have already moved to a second-generation smart cockpit for the ET7. This has enhanced mobile connectivity and communication capability enabled by the third Generation Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform.

The new 12.8-inch AMOLED centre display has greatly improved resolution and contrast, while NOMI, the world’s first in-car AI system, continues to evolve. The 7.1.4 immersive sound system has no less than 23 speakers and 1,000W total output.

0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds
Powering the ET7 is a 180-kW electric motor in the front and a 300-kW induction motor at the rear. The combined output is rated at 480 kW with peak torque at 850 Nm. This gives a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds while braking from 100 km/h is claimed to be within 33.5 metres.

With a drag coefficient of 0.23 Cd and the application of the second-generation high efficiency electric drive platform with silicon carbide power module, the energy efficiency is further improved. The 70-kWh battery pack has enough energy for a claimed range of over 500 kms; customers can also opt for a 100-kWh battery pack to extend this range to over 700 kms. Additionally, NIO will offer a new 150-kWh battery pack which will stretch the range to over 1,000 kms.

The ET7 is designed to be able to achieve 5 stars in both China and Euro NCAP assessments. Its body structure, featuring an ultra high strength steel aluminium hybrid body, has high torsional stiffness.

In China, the ET7 has a pre-subsidy price starting from RMB 448,000 (about RM280,000). Deliveries are expected to start during the first quarter of 2022.

*NIO already sells a range of electric vehicles and has been participating in the Formula E championship.*

Movement Control Order (MCO) will start again from Wednesday, January 13

The Movement Control Order (MCO) will be introduced again in Malaysia from January 13 and is set to run for 2 weeks until January 26 2021. Whether it will be extended will be decided at a later time. However, the MCO will not apply to every state and the strictest conditions will apply to Pulau Pinang, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Melaka, Johor dan Sabah.

Inter-district travel will not be permitted (there will be roadblocks) and the range of travel will be a maximum of 10 kms from the home. Only two persons from the same household can travel in the vehicle for the purpose of buying essentials or food.

Kedah, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu will be under CMCO, while Perlis and Sarawak will be under RMCO, during the same period.

During the MCO, employees of most sectors, except those in essential services, are required to work from home, but 30% of employees in a company (in the management category) are permitted to work in their office if they wish. Employers are allowed to determine those from a support group who can also come in to work.

Movement is limited and people are urged to remain at home as much as they can. However, as before, they can still travel to supermarkets and restaurants to buy essential items and food. Dine-in will not be permitted, so either pick up your orders or use a food delivery service. Hawkers will still be allowed to do business but in all cases, social distancing and other SOPs the public should be familiar with will apply. Please observe them.

Roadblock — *As before, interstae travel will not be allowed and the maximum range for travel is 10 kms from the house to buy essential items or food.*

Those who have special need to travel to hospitals or medical facilities may do so, and scheduled operations are still allowed to carry on. However, SOPs must be strictly observed.

Social activities in MCO states are banned, which means any event with public gatherings, including wedding receptions and group sport activities. Seminars and conferences are also not permitted. This means that Thaipusam festivities and processions are not allowed in all states, except for Perlis and Sarawak.

However, recognizing that being isolated at home could be detrimental for mental health, people are allowed to leave their houses to carry out recreational activities only with members of their households. If exercising, it is important to be at least 2 metres apart and if company is needed, only one other person should follow. Cyclists are also asked not to cycle in groups.

Lexus Malaysia adds new variants to RX and ES ranges

2021 sees the ranges of two of Lexus Malaysia’s popular models – the RX300 and ES250 – gaining additional versions. These are the new RX 300 Luxury Special Edition and ES 250 Limited. Orders are accepted at all 6 authorised Lexus outlets nationwide from mid-January, with sales beginning in February 2021.

Without insurance premium, the RX 300 Luxury Special Edition is priced from RM421,909.50, while the ES 250 Limited is priced from RM327,510.50. As the government has extended the exemption of sales tax under the PENJANA program, the savings (5% of the sales tax amount) will be available until the end of June 2021. You also get a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage.

“The Lexus RX and Lexus ES have suitably played a key role in the Lexus family by developing a strong interest in the Lexus brand. They have continuously delivered an overall package that not only impresses from its design, but the high level of quality finish, equipment and luxurious drive have made these the best-selling models in the Lexus stable,” said President of Lexus Malaysia, Ravindran K.

The new RX 300 Luxury Special Edition that joins the line-up alongside the Premium and F Sport variants has an exclusive bodykit which give a sportier outlook while providing aerodynamic benefits. The front bumper design is new along with that of the side skirts and rear bumper diffuser.

Those buying the RX Luxury Special Edition can choose from 4 main colours – Sonic Quartz, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake and Red Mica Crystal Shine, while ES 250 Limited Edition buyers have a choice of Sonic Quartz, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake or Deep Blue Mica, Depending on the exterior colour, the interior colour theme will be either Topaz or Black.

Bamboo wood trim
For the new ES 250 Limited Edition, there is an inlay of bamboo wood trim in the doors, dashboard, centre console and steering wheel. While offering a unique texture and a fine finish to the luxurious interior, the bamboo trim perfectly illustrates the role of the Takumi craftsman who painstakingly sculpts and finishes each piece by hand.

Lexus upholds its duty to be environmentally responsible and the bamboo used is hand-picked from sustainable forests in Kochi in southern Japan.

Powertrains
Powering the sleek coupe-like ES 250 is a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine (2AR-FE) with Dual VVT-i and ACIS-III, a variable acoustic induction system for higher torque. With a compression ratio of 10.4:1, the engine produces 204 ps/247 Nm. Power delivery to the wheels goes through a 8-speed automatic Super ECT transmission with AI Shift.

For the RX 300, the powertrain is the 8AR-FTS 2-litre 4-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger. This proven engine produces a maximum of 235 ps/350 Nm, thanks to ESTEC (Economy with Superior Thermal Efficient Combustion) technology as well as D-4ST Direct Injection. Power goes to all 4 wheels through a compact and lightweight 6-speed automatic transmission, Super Electronically Controlled Transaxle with AI (Artificial Intelligence) Shift.

Lexus Safety System +
Both the Lexus models come with Lexus Safety System + (LSS+), a package of active safety systems that help the driver to avoid an accident. These include a Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, and Adaptive High-Beam System. The lighting system also has the world’s first BladeScan where blade-shaped mirrors in the headlights spin at high speed to vary the spread of light away from other road-users while providing optimum illumination of the road ahead.

“The Lexus RX and the Lexus ES have proven to be capable, sophisticated and impressive performers in their segments and they continuously exceed expectations by delivering a level of distinctiveness that cannot simply be ignored,” said Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia, Akio Takeyama.

4-seater Lexus LM350 MPV coming to Malaysia in 2021

Subaru to introduce first all-electric model in Europe by June this year

With tightening regulations iyn Europe, carmakers have no choice but to switch their ranges to electrified powertrains. Subaru has already begun offering two electrified models – the XV e-BOXER and Forester e-BOXER – and will add a fully electric model before the middle of this year.

The model will be about the size of the Forester and will sit on a platform shared with Toyota. The news underlines Subaru’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint in Europe and satisfy a growing demand for alternative powertrains. It also signals the brand’s second electrification step in Europe.

e-BOXER accounts for 60% of sales
So far, since being introduced, the two e-BOXER models already account for 60% of Subaru sales in Europe. The e-BOXER powertrain combines a 2-litre direct injection horizontally-opposed petrol engine with an electric motor. A lithium-ion battery unit is mounted within the boot floor and allows for pure-electric driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Paired with an updated Lineartronic transmission and Subaru’s Symmetrical All Wheel Drive, the e-BOXER powertrain provides achieves smooth and linear acceleration with highly responsive torque. Power-split adjusts according to the driving condition and alternates between 3 driving modes: EV driving, Motor Assist driving and Engine driving.

In EV Driving mode, the vehicle is powered by the electric motor and can travel for a distance of about 1.6 kms at speeds of up to 40 km/h. This is suitable in urban conditions with stop-and-go traffic where a 10% improvement in fuel economy is claimed compared to the 2-litre variant with just a petrol engine.

During Motor Assist Driving, at medium speeds, the motor and the engine work together to improve power and performance. For higher speeds, the Engine Driving mode is utilised, and this operates with just the engine alone. Depending on speed and driving conditions, the engine will recharge the battery pack.

The Subaru Way
In designing the e-BOXER powertrain, the engineers stuck to the ‘Subaru Way” where it is arranged in a symmetrical layout. The electric motor assist and battery pack are aligned longitudinally with the heavy motor placed near the vehicle’s centre of gravity. The battery and other components are positioned above the rear axle which plants the car on the road giving noticeable handling improvements and achieving a balanced weight distribution.

First details and pictures of the new Subaru BRZ

5th generation Jeep Grand Cherokee launched in North America

Jeep is a highly recognisable brand globally although it has not had much of a presence in Malaysia. Perhaps that’s partly because we were not associated with America much, being a British colony, and where 4×4 vehicles were concerned, it was the Land Rover that has had a long presence on our roads. Most Malaysians know Jeep for its original Wrangler that was based on the World War II vehicle although the range today is much wider.

The only time that Jeep had a lengthy period of sales in Malaysia was in the 1990s when an MBf automotive unit took on the franchise. It sold the Jeep Cherokee (which was also assembled locally in Johor) and then tried to sell the bigger Grand Cherokee. The Cherokee sold reasonably well but then came the financial crisis of the late 1990s and Jeep was one of the casualties. The moment the numbers dropped below 4 digits, the Americans who were here to support marketing packed up and went home, and Jeep didn’t bother to renew the contract. DRB-HICOM had a go some years back but with the way the models were priced, most people preferred the more established alternative SUVs in the market.

First time with 3 rows
So Malaysians don’t know much about Jeep and won’t know much about the range to know that the Grand Cherokee has 4 generations since 1993 and this week, the fifth generation has made its debut. Besides being a full model change – meaning a complete redesign – the new Grand Cherokee has a wider range with the addition of the Grand Cherokee L, a longer version which has 3 rows of seats, a first for the model.

The platform is a totally new one and has been specially developed for the new generation. Like the Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee has also had monocoque construction or what the Americans like to call unibody, which is just like a passenger car’s. Many of the full-sized (large to us) SUVs in America continue to have body-on-chassis construction which is similar to pick-up trucks.

Weight-saving has been a priority for the engineers and besides using high-strength steel for 60% of the structure, aluminium is also used in many areas. These include the bonnet, rear door and front subframe.

Passenger car-type bodyshell
The unibody construction allows the Grand Cherokee to have a more passenger car-like feel, and multi-link independent suspension is used all round. For those who want more comfort, air suspension is also available and allows variation of the ride height to tackle more difficult terrain.

Powertrains are typically large, with displacements of 3.6 litres and 5.7 litres, both with 8-speed automatic transmissions. Like Land Rover, Jeep also draws heavily on its 4×4 heritage and for the Grand Cherokee, there are three 4×4 systems available. To reduce fuel consumption, the systems are able to disconnect the front axle automatically when the situation permits.

New seating structure
As mentioned earlier, the Grand Cherokee can now have up to 3 rows of seats to accommodate up to 7 people. The additional row is being offered as customer feedback indicates demand for it. This required a new seating structure to be developed for the Grand Cherokee L, apart from the new platform.

Up front, the dashboard layout has been entirely changed, with a 10.3-inch frameless digital meter panel ahead of the driver, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen display panel in the middle for infotainment. There’s the option of a larger 10.1-inch screen for the top variant as well as a 950W/19-speaker audio system custom-tuned by McIntosh Laboratory. As with most new vehicles nowadays, there are multiple connectivity choices including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and UConnect 5.

New generation of interiors
“The objective for the interior design team was to create a unique statement for 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. We viewed the overall design process through a wide lens that allowed us to use a new generation of Jeep interiors,” said Chris Benjamin, Head of Jeep, Chrysler and Advanced Interior Design, FCA. “While the Jeep Grand Cherokee interior has been synonymous with sophistication, our approach to the three-row version was to showcase distinguished details, handcrafted materials and modern amenities that pair seamlessly with its tailored exterior.”

The new Grand Cherokee L will be the first into the showrooms during the second quarter of 2021, while the 2-row and 4xe hybrid versions will come later in the year. For the immediate future, the Grand Cherokee L will only be available in North America and will not be exported to Europe, Middle East and Africa until the end of this year.

LEGO releases first ever Jeep SUV model

6-round Formula E Accelerate esports championship for 2021

While Formula E is known as the leading all-electric single-seater championship run globally, the organisation running it has also had a parallel esports competition. Last year, it had the Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF and building on the success of that event, it will run the Formula E Accelerate esports championship in 2021.

“We have evolved our esports product for both gamers and fans. The added element of energy management and Attack Mode translates the real-life Formula E racing experience into the virtual world more accurately than ever before and tests the sim racers’ ability to master electric racing,” said Hannah Brown, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer of Formula E.

Blending real and virtual worlds
Over 6 events, 24 rising stars from the world of motorsport and esports will compete against one another in a simulated racing experience using rFactor2 software. Blending the real and virtual worlds, each competitor will score Formula E Accelerate points for a real-life Formula E team. The virtual racers will also receive expert tips, mentoring and other talent development opportunities from the team they are attached to.

Competitors will need to contend with new energy management and Attack Mode features during the online e-Prix. Prior to the competition, there will be online qualifying open to the public with at least the top 3 quickest times on the Berlin Tempelhof E-Prix circuit earning places on the Formula E Accelerate virtual grid.

€100,000 prize pool
Everyone who participates in all 6 races will receive a share of a minimum prize pool of €100,000 (about RM493,000) with the overall winner earning a test drive in a Formula E Gen2 car.

Formula E drivers also participate
There will be two additional virtual races, each featuring 12 real-life Formula E drivers, one per racing team, during Round 4 and the Grand Final of Formula E Accelerate. Points from these races will be added to the overall team standings.

The first round starts on January 28 and the championship will run up till March 25 this year. Each 25-minute Formula E Accelerate race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme, featuring Formula E drivers, Team Principals and other special guests. All races will be live on Formula E social and streaming platforms.

“Formula E continues to create opportunities for fans and the next generation of racing drivers to get involved with the sport, and Formula E Accelerate will see a number of improvements that bring us closer to the real-life experience since our last event,” said Stoffel Vandoorne, ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge Driver Grid winner.

“Having won the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge, I learnt how competitive and demanding it is to race at such a high standard on a regular basis. This time there will be an extra challenge, having to contend with the introduction of energy management and Attack Mode – something even I haven’t tried yet – so it will be interesting to see how drivers manage,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz EQ Team prepares for second year of Formula E racing

Finalists for 2021 European Car of the Year announced

There are many Car of the Year (COTY) events all over the world today and there’s even a World Car of the Year. The one that started it all was the European Car of the Year (ECOTY), which began in 1964 as a collaboration between automobile magazines of a number of countries.

Unlike COTY events in other countries and regions, the ECOTY has just one winner each year. “The object of Car of the Year is to find a single, decisive winner. The voting process is designed for that purpose, and not to provide a scale of merit of all competing cars. There are no categories, sub-divisions or class winners,” according to the ECOTY website.

The nominees are models sold in at least 5 European countries with an expected annual volume of 5,000 units. A shortlist of 7 contenders will be established by voting from a multinational jury. Technical innovation and value for money are said to be particularly important factors.

*(Top row) Skoda Octavia, Toyota Yaris, CUPRA Formentor; (Above) Volkswagen ID.3*

This year, the seven models on the shortlist for the 2021 Car of the Year are:

Citroen C4
Cupra Formentor
Fiat New 500
Land Rover Defender
Skoda Octavia
Toyota Yaris
Volkswagen ID.3

*Fiat New 500, Citroen C4, Land Rover Defender*

The Volkswagen ID.3 is the only EV in the shortlist this year. It is one of the models in the German carmaker’s all-electric range. 10 years ago, EV models were more individual and the first one to win the ECOTY was the Nissan LEAF in 2011, followed by the Opel Ampera (GM Volt) the following year. But then car companies began to have EV or hybrid variants in a model line (eg the Hyundai IONIQ) so the distinction is somewhat blurred now. Last year, the Peugeot 208 was the winner and it has variants with internal combustion engines as well as electric powertrains.

*In 2011, the Nissan LEAF was the first EV to win the European Car of the Year*

A final voting round at the end of February will determine the Car of the Year for 2021, with the winner announced on March 1. Normally, the announcement would be made in Geneva, at the motorshow but with the pandemic and also the sudden cancellation of the event last year, it is now announced online.

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English

Opening F1 round in Australia postponed, Chinese GP date to be rescheduled

Volvo sales in Malaysia last year were the highest since 1999

2021 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year

China’s NIO Inc. launches all-electric ET7, its first autonomous car

Movement Control Order (MCO) will start again from Wednesday, January 13

Lexus Malaysia adds new variants to RX and ES ranges

Subaru to introduce first all-electric model in Europe by June this year

5th generation Jeep Grand Cherokee launched in North America

6-round Formula E Accelerate esports championship for 2021

Finalists for 2021 European Car of the Year announced

Opening F1 round in Australia postponed, Chinese GP date to be rescheduled

Volvo sales in Malaysia last year were the highest since 1999

2021 North American Car, Truck & Utility of the Year

China’s NIO Inc. launches all-electric ET7, its first autonomous car

Movement Control Order (MCO) will start again from Wednesday, January 13

Lexus Malaysia adds new variants to RX and ES ranges

Subaru to introduce first all-electric model in Europe by June this year

5th generation Jeep Grand Cherokee launched in North America

6-round Formula E Accelerate esports championship for 2021

Finalists for 2021 European Car of the Year announced

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