English Archives

Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

From just a weekend motor carnival and a one-make series with the Toyota Vios, the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival) has continued to grow since starting in 2017. The one-make series, known as the Vios Challenge, has been a regular highlight of the TGR Festival which has taken place in different parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

This year, as with other international motorsports events, there was disruption due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, the fourth and final round scheduled in mid-April at the Sepang International Circuit had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had alternative motorsport-related activities online as well as the Toyota GR Velocity eSports Championship which had also started in 2018.

Hopefully, the ‘dark period’ is behind us and we can look forward to a new year with less restrictions. UMWT is certainly optimistic about 2021 and has prepared a calendar of events for Season 4 of the TGR Festival. To start next month, the event takes on a new format that offers racers three racing series with a total of 11 races and combined prize money amounting to RM420,000.

“Three individual racing events will spearhead the GAZOO Racing (GR) presence in Malaysian motorsports. GAZOO Racing is the umbrella for all of Toyota’s motor-racing activities globally, and after 3 seasons of successfully organizing the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival, 2021 will cement an even greater commitment from Toyota to contribute to the development of motorsports in Malaysia,” said UMW Toyota Motor Deputy Chairman and GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.

GR Vios Challenge
The Vios Challenge retains its one-make format with specially prepared Vios sedans, all having identical specifications and performance levels. The idea behind such a series is that while the car must have good performance, driver skill will also be very important. This makes for close racing which is what spectators want to see.

Malaysia has a long history of motor racing so there are already many drivers of varying levels of skill, as well as newcomers who want to enter the sport. For this reason, the Vios Challenge has 4 classes so that the newcomers and those with limited racing experience can still have a chance at winning races and gaining encouragement. For the skilled drivers, there is the Super Sporting Class, while the Sporting Class is for amateurs and newcomers.

*Some of the celebrity racers have raced in earlier seasons, and some are new. All have received training prior to the events to familiarise themselves with the cars as well as learn racing techniques.*

Then there is the popular Promotional Class for celebrities and this is a big draw as the celebrities have their fans who follow them around the country to the different venues. In the Promotional Class, some of the ‘old-timers’ from the previous seasons are racing again – Shukri Yahaya, Janna Nick, Nabil Ahmad, Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar.

*Janna Nick (left) and Akio Takeyama (right), two of the celebrity racers, have taken part in all 3 seasons to date.*

*The three newcomers to the Vios Challenge Promotional Class – (from left) Talitha Tan, Zizan Razak and Ahirine Ahirudin.*

They will be joined by three newcomers – actor Zizan Razak, singer/songwriter Talitha Tan and television personality Ahirine Ahirudin. Zizan and Ahirene have competition experience, though Ahirine’s has been on 2 wheels. She has done superbike racing and also does pretty well on a motocross bike. And being a reservist in the Royal Malaysian Navy, she would also be quite fit (she also does triathlons). Talitha also does motocrossing, so we can expect these three newcomers to give the others a good challenge. Incidentally, Mr. Takeyama is also racing in the Promotional Class, and has done so for all 3 seasons.

To further its aim of helping promote and develop motorsports, there is also a new Rookie Class for young drivers. This new class will see 6 drivers who are graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program offered by UMWT.

GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program — *The 6 rookies are now undergoing training not only in driving but also fitness, just like professional racing drivers.*

Training program for rookies
The program is first of its kind to be introduced by any Malaysian car company. It has identified 6 drivers to train and develop. They all have a background in karting and/or sim-racing and are now undergoing training from experienced instructors. The training is not just for driving but also many different aspects which a professional driver should be good at, including fitness training.

The 6 drivers are Mika Hakimi (17), Naquib Azlan (20), Amer Harris (17), Jwan Hii (18), Putera Adam (14) and Troy Eimann (16). Though they may already be top-notch sim racers or karters, this will be the first time they are racing on the track in real life, and they will use the Vios racing cars supplied by UMWT.

The opening round of the Vios Challenge will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from January 28 – 30. Round 2 will be held from July 16 – 18, also at the SIC, while the third and final rounds will be from September 24 – 26. The use of SIC is probably in case there are limitations to the number of spectators, or if the races can only be run without spectators (as was the case with most of the F1 rounds this year). By September, perhaps things will be better and a custom street circuit can be used, as with previous seasons. Each round will have 2 races with individual round prize money, and with points being scored as a championship series.

*Most of the races will be held at the Sepang International Circuit.*

GR Vios Sprint Cup & Enduro Cup
Season 4 of the TGR Festival will also see the introduction of the GR Vios Sprint Cup and GR Enduro Cup (an endurance race). The former will consist of 2 rounds with 2 races each, and the latter will be run in conjunction with the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race. The 2 Sprint Cup rounds will be in March and May, while the Enduro Cup will be in November.

*The cars eligible for the two additional events – the Vios Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup – will be those already used in the Vios Challenge.*

These additional events are independent of the Vios Challenge series and intended to provide drivers and teams with more racing activities to use their cars, and the opportunity to win additional prizes.

Both the Vios Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup will retain the format of a one-make race, and only cars used in the Vios Challenge will be eligible. The races, however, will only be run as one single open class and drivers competing in the Vios Challenge. Teams meanwhile, are also not confined to competing with their regular driver/s signed up in the Vios Challenge and are free to field new drivers for both events (but they must have the requisite competition licence).

The story behind TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and why it was created

In 2050, the Nissan GT-R could look like this!

Car designer Jaebum ‘JB’ Choi, like many of the graduating seniors at ArtCentre College of Design in California, was looking to the future for his final thesis – to the year 2050. As he was starting an internship at Nissan Design America (NDA) at a time when COVID-19 restrictions changed how everyone was thinking about the future, his student thesis brought forth the Nissan GT-R(X) 2050.

“I started my internship at NDA in January and participated in company projects for about 2 months. Then, I started my ‘vision humanoid’ project for the rest of the internship, working from home because of COVID-19,” said Choi. “Little did I imagine then that the team at NDA would take me under their wings and help me create it as a full-size model.”

Nissan GT-R (X) 2050 — *Designer Jaebum ‘JB’ Choi and the GT-R(X) 2050*

Styling cues from GT-R
The completed project car is about 3 metres long and sits very low to the ground. Choi’s futuristic project still takes cues from the current GT-R with its bold, dramatic surfaces, monolithic body volumes and V-motion design features. It also has iconic GT-R taillights and red-striped accents of the GT-R NISMO.

The single occupant, the driver, rests horizontally in a prone position with limbs extended in an X-shape. The driver wears a futuristic, form-fitting suit and helmet that resembles a superbike riders’ protective helmets and leathers.

A ‘wearable machine’
As a ‘wearable machine’, Choi envisions that connecting the human brain to the computer’s would provide better performance than ‘ordinary’ self-driving cars. He said the vehicle imitates the shape of the human body so it can efficiently protect the brain.

“Exo-skeletons today make people stronger by wearing mechanical structures. I tried to fit the size of a person’s body as much as I could, as if I were wearing a car,” Choi explained about the car’s compact layout. “I wanted to create a new form of machine that is not a vehicle to ride, it is the space where machine and the human become one.”

Brain-controlled car
A unique element is the GT-R styled helmet and ‘docking’ suit. The helmet is designed to be inserted into a slot for a front vision camera shared with VR vision. A brain-to-core transmitter would help the human brain activate digitalized signals.

As a car would travel most likely at night, maneuverability would be a critical part of its high-power electric performance. Choi imagines the one-piece wheel/tyre units as having a shape close to square, allowing the vehicle to turn 360 degrees. The outer tyre diameter measures 21 inches and inner wheel circle is 15 inches. The wheels’ spoke pattern is designed to help the wheel cool down fast, even under extreme braking.

The GT-R(X) 2050 also deploys an active wing that would add downforce when extended. The wings fold so the driver can get in and out of the car.

“JB is a super-talented, super-creative designer and his ideas about future supercars driven by brain-to-vehicle integration fit perfectly with Nissan’s advanced work in the B2V field,” said NDA Vice President, David Woodhouse. “His thesis was all about demonstrating the emotional connection technology can create, and the benefit that it can deliver for customers. It was super exciting for the NDA team to help JB give form to this idea as a 1:1 model.”

Production-ready Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign makes debut on track

‘Reindeer Eight’ shows the expertise of Bentley Mulliner to meet any customer request

While most of Bentley’s customers would prefer not to be identified, there are some who allow the company to tell the world about the cars they have commissioned. From time to time, we are treated to some very personalised models prepared by the company’s bespoke and personal commissioning division, Mulliner. As it is Christmas time, Bentley can show off the ‘Reindeer Eight’, a unique and festive Flying Spur V8 commissioned by ‘a world famous customer’.

Every commission is important and this was in fact, one of Bentley Mulliner’s most important yet because of the customer’s own global and extensive list of expectant fans. It drew on its rich history and expertise of fine craftsmanship to meet the specific requirements of the customers.

One of 62 shades from Extended Range
The one-off ‘Reindeer Eight’ is finished to the exterior in deep red Cricket Bauble paint finish, a unique shade created for the customer based on Cricket Ball which is available as one of the 62 shades offered by the Extended Range.

Leading the car from the front, a gold three-dimensional printed reindeer can be found in lieu of the Flying B mascot, and to the sides the V8 badges have been replaced by a special ‘Reindeer Eight’ badge signifying the powertrain the customer is more familiar with.

Following the lead reindeer, the standard chrome bonnet strip has been re-trimmed in gold, and coordinating hand painted fine line details shimmer from the rear of the Bentley wing badges.

Maximum aerodynamic performance
To emphasise the speed and performance required to cover the significant distance planned by the owner, a gold styling specification has been included, comprising of a carbonfibre diffuser to the front and rear bumper, carbonfibre side sills and a bootlid spoiler – for maximum aerodynamic performance at cruising altitude.

The Mulliner Driving Specification with 22-inch golden wheels and diamond finish, representing the snow peaks crossed, completes the exterior theme. Given the cold climate of the customer’s primary residence, All Season tyres have been fitted.

Personalised embroidery with 11,100 stitches
The interior of the ‘Reindeer Eight’ showcases Bentley’s expertise in creating a modern cabin of unrivalled luxury and innovation, capable of comfortable seating for four or five. The customer specified a monotone Cricket Bauble interior with gold personalised embroidery and hand cross-stitching, including his name stitched into the driver’s seat and that of his wife alongside.

Festive gold hand cross-stitch highlights the attention to detail and skill of those working at the Bentley factory. It takes 18 hours for a craftsperson to complete the 11,100 hand-sewn stitches throughout the cabin, and consumes 115 metres of special thread (equal to the height of Big Ben).

The seats of the ‘Reindeer Eight’ feature a twin-flute design and increased functionality, including heating, ventilation, multi-mode massage, adjustable bolsters and top tilt which should keep the customer alert yet relaxed over the extensive mileage that he will be covering. With the Mulliner Driving Specification chosen by the customer, the new three-dimensional leather combines with traditional stitching and embroidery work.

Sweeping horizontal veneer flows across the dashboard and into the doors, emphasising the spacious width of the cabin. At Mulliner’s suggestion, the Grand Black veneer displays a North Pole winter night scene with inlays to fascias and door waistrails to depict the end of the night’s journey.

The industry-first Bentley Rotating Display features in the ‘Reindeer Eight’. When the engine start button is pressed, and after a welcome sound of sleigh bells jingling, the veneer section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch touchscreen, displaying multiple menus. A Naughty and Nice list integrated in the navigation system allows the customer to quickly know whether his fans have been bad or good.

The second side of the display reveals three elegant analogue dials showing outside temperature, a compass (vital for the customer to find home at the end of the long work night) and a chronometer. Finally, the third side offers the seamless Grand Black veneer fascia, continuing around the cabin, representing the North Pole winter night scene.

“What fun it is to ride in a 542 horsepower sleigh. Plus, there’s space in the back for all my subordinate Clauses. I’m looking forward to putting 66 million kilometres on the clock before the end of the year,” said the bearded customer.

Bentley Motors offers customers a multitude of customisable features, making their car truly and uniquely theirs from the inside out. The Continental GT V8 is no exception and where colours are concerned, there’s a very broad spectrum of choices for them to express themselves and show off their personalities. To further enhance the exterior, owners can also opt for the Blackline Specification which replaces the exterior body brightware with black-painted trim and other items. Customers can discuss with their dealer, Bentley Kuala Lumpur in the case of Malaysia, on the wide range of options available to ensure they get exactly what they desire.

Click here for other news and articles about Bentley.

Team Fordzilla’s P1 ultimate virtual racing car turned into a real model

Four months ago, Ford’s Team Fordzilla unveiled a world-first at this year’s gamescom event which was described as ‘the ultimate virtual racing car’. Designed with collaboration between Ford designers and the gaming community, the car was developed under the codename ‘Project P1’. At that time, Ford also announced that it would build a scale model of the P1 concept before the end of the year at its design studios in Germany.

The model has now been completed and was recently unveiled online. While seeing real cars transferred to computer games is commonplace, this is the first-ever time an automaker has brought to life a gamer-collaborated virtual car – yet to be featured in a game – with a physical model. It’s part of its continuing theme of exploring the parallels between the real-world and the virtual one, with learnings from design in the digital world being applied to concepts for reality.

Gamers chose the design features
The journey of the Team Fordzilla P1 racing car started in March this year when gamers were asked to vote on the package and features of the car on Twitter, including seating configuration, engine position and cockpit definition. Nearly a quarter of a million fan votes were submitted throughout the polling process.

The innovative Team Fordzilla P1 racing car features an exterior designed by Arturo Arino and an interior that was the vision of Robert Engelmann, both Ford designers. The car is built around the monocoque structure partially covered by a large, hyper-transparent jet fighter-style canopy, protecting the driver and co-driver. The transparent canopy not only blurs the boundaries between the exterior and the interior but it also emphasises the unique F1-like driving position.

The exterior form is the combination of a sleek GT-like front end with sculped front fenders and extremely sculpted bodyside panels. Twist and floating buttresses visually connect the cockpit with the rear wheels. The rear end is completely exposed and presents the ‘rawness’ of aerodynamics and racing circuits. 21-inch wheels are fitted front and rear, with the front ones sized 315/30 and the rears 355/25.

In the cockpit are LED notification units, keeping the driver and co-driver up-to-date on the track status in their peripheral view. In addition, an integrated screen on the steering wheel enables live data exchange with the team at the pit wall. The whole interior is designed to help the driver to minimize any sort of distraction during the race and heighten the enjoyment of racing.

From CAD to reality in 7 weeks
Team Fordzilla P1 is Ford’s first ever car built digitally without any face-to-face interaction throughout the process. Due to the current pandemic, it was designed by a team who had never met, working remotely – and spread across 5 different countries. It was built in just 7 weeks which is less than half of the time it would normally take. The finished build is a full-size, inside-outside model with extreme proportions and truly unmistakable character.

Being co-created by gamers for gamers, the hypercar features a few special touches that speak to the sim-racing community. On the floor in front of the co-pilot’s seat, there is an AFK (Away From Keyboard) message, a playful reminder that occupants of that seat are away from keyboard. A #levelup graphic acknowledges that gamers and racing drivers aim to better themselves each time they play or race, while a #liftoff graphic is a nod to the lifting off of this race car from a virtual world and transitioning it to the real one.

On the front of the 4731 mm long car, by the lower spoiler, there’s the most important message: a GLHF (Good luck, Have Fun) reminder to every gamer and racing driver to truly have fun and enjoy the ride.

“This project had so many firsts. It was the first fully digital project for us. It was the first car to be designed publicly with full transparency and the first we’ve ever designed remotely with designers located in 5 different countries, some of whom have never met face to face. That we completed it all in less than half of the usual time is a real testament to the team and the passion they had for the project,” said Boris Ferko, Design Manager at Ford of Europe.

Ford forming racing teams in Europe to compete in esports competition [w/VIDEO]

All Volvo PHEVs registered since 2015 now also entitled to extended battery warranty

Besides range anxiety – the concern about how far you can go on a fully charged battery pack – has been on the minds of people who consider hybrids or electric vehicles, the other issue has also been the cost of the battery pack itself. In the early years, when the technology was still young, battery packs were very expensive and discouraged many people. But there has been constant advancement of the technologies, along with prices coming down, although they still are much more expensive than the small batteries that you see in the engine bay.

The battery packs have generally been reliable and how long they last has depended on many factors, both environmental as well as driving. It’s like batteries in laptops or mobilephones – some people enjoy a long service life while others may have to replace them within a couple of years when they cannot hold their charge properly.

PHEVs sold since December 2015 are covered
To give customers peace of mind, many companies have offered longer warranties on the battery packs. Volvo Car Malaysia announced its extended warranty in March 2020 but the coverage was only for models in its Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) range registered from January 1, 2020.

Now the company has extended the coverage to all Volvo PHEVs purchased since December 3, 2015 when the XC90 T8 PHEV was launched in Malaysia. The company says that this has been prompted by ‘the enthusiastic response from customers and realising the positive impact that long-term electrification can bring to the environment’.

*The S60 T8 is one of the models in Volvo’s PHEV range.*

“As we continue our journey into sustainability, we are happy to announce this new, extended warranty coverage for our customers who have purchased any Volvo PHEVs since the launch of our first XC90 PHEV in Malaysia. This is our way of showing gratitude to the early adopters and also for those who are striving to make a more sustainable decision,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia.

The Volvo range of PHEVs for the Malaysian market consists of the S60 T8, XC60 T8, XC90 T8, and S90 T8. Prices range from RM295,888 to RM409,888 (excluding insurance).

Volvo’s new technology offers premium air quality inside the car

Toyota Vios GR-Sport – more than just a ‘special edition’ car

Less than 200 units of the new Toyota GR Yaris will be officially available in the Malaysian market, each priced at RM299,000. If you miss the opportunity to own one of these ‘Homologation Specials’ that are ready for competition use, there’s also another new sporty Toyota model available and it costs considerably less.

It’s the Toyota Vios GR-Sport (GR-S), and it has been specially developed for the Malaysian market by UMW Toyota Motor. In fact, at this time, no other country has this variant of the Vios which was launched last night along with the GR Yaris.

RM7,700 more than top Vios variant
The Vios GR-S is priced at RM7,700 more than latest Vios 1.5G, which is the top version of the popular Toyota sedan range. This means it would be RM95,284 (without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia price) and there will be considerably more units available as it is assembled in Malaysia at UMWT’s own plant in Selangor.

While there are 5 colour choices for the Vios range, the Vios GR-S is only available with a choice of 2 colours – White and Red, the former being a pearl finish and the latter is mica metallic.

For RM7,700, you get a Vios that stands out with a more aggressive appearance. It has a sculpted front bumper with a large black lower grille and the rear bumper includes a diffuser. The boot spoiler and side mirrors are finished in black and side skirts are also fitted, lowering the body visually.

The Vios GR-S also gets exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels finished in black with 205/45R17 tyres. The tyres are Toyo Proxes TR1 and these are the same type of tyres that are used by the cars racing in the Vios Challenge one-make series.

While a buyer would look at the visible items that come in the GR-S package, what cannot be seen and has to be experienced by driving is the suspension tuning that has been done. It draws on the experience of the Vios Challenge which has provided Toyota engineers with useful information to make the Vios better.

*The Vios GR-S has been developed with experience gained from preparing the racing cars for the Vios Challenge.*

The suspension is the same as that in a regular Vios with MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. Tuning of the springs and stabilizer bars gives a sportier feel and sharper handling. However, comfort is not sacrificed which is not always the case when a car’s suspension is sports-oriented.

Tengku Djan’s comments
“It’s a fun to drive car and has a dual personality. On your daily drive, you have comfort and if you want to push it hard, then it transforms into a refined version of a racing car. I believe the Toyota engineers went to great lengths to accomplish this,” says GR Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley who has been Vios Challenge champion twice and is also a top drifter.

“What Toyota has done with the Vios GR-S is to take it to another level. It is not the run-of-the-mill special edition cars produced in Malaysia that normally focuses only on body kits, wheels and tyres, and interior enhancements. For the price, you are actually getting a lot of car,” he adds.

Reliable engine with dual performance characteristics
Reliability is one of the things people buy a Toyota for, and the company has worked hard to ensure this in all its models. For this reason, ‘improving’ engine performance is not common if it involves modifications. Toyota has many engines with different power outputs but there is also extra cost and to keep the Vios GR-S affordable, it has meant using the standard 1.5-litre 2NR-FE engine that has proven reliability.

However, you can still ‘modify’ the performance characteristics yourself even if you are not an engineer or a computer programmer. This can be done by just activating the Sports mode at the push of a button and an alternative ‘map’ in the Engine Control Unit (ECU) will be used which gives stronger acceleration.

10-speed CVT
The Vios GR-S also comes with a 10-speed CVT, rather than the 7-speed unit in the other variants. The additional ratio allows the car to be more responsive by sustaining higher rpm, and the gears (actually there are no gears in a CVT) can be selected using the paddle shifters as well. Toyota’s CVT has often been praised for having a feel which is closer to that of a conventional torque converter automatic transmission so you don’t get that ‘rubber band’ sensation.

The cabin has a more individualistic and bold look with black as the dominant colour., The black semi-bucket sports seats have red stitching on the suede and leather. The 3-spoke steering wheel is also leather-wrapped as is the shifter and of course, the ‘GR’ logo can be seen in many places including the start/stop button for the engine.

Meters originally developed for Lexus
The instrument panel is similar to the one in the Vios 1.5G with those sharp and distinctive Optitron meters. The meter technology was originally developed for use in Lexus models and has since trickled down to even the Vios so it’s a high-quality item.

For a sporty look, the meters have red calibrations and red pointers on a matt black background. Exclusive to this variant is a GR animation sequence on the 4.2-inch Multi-Information Display which appears whenever the engine is started.

*The GR Garage in selected Toyota dealerships sell not only the GR Supra, GR Yaris and Yaris GR-S but also accessories for spirtier looks or enhanced performance.*

Like the GR Yaris, the Vios GR-S is available only at Toyota dealerships with the GR Garage (only 5 nationwide at the moment) as well as those dealers which have teams participating in the Vios Challenge. To locate a GR Garage dealer, visit toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/gr-garage.

UMW Toyota Motor launches competition-ready, road-legal Toyota GR Yaris

Fuel Price Updates For December 19 – December 25, 2020

New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For November 2020

*Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association*

♦ Though just 181 units less, November’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) remained above the 56,000-unit level that new vehicle sales have been at since September. Compared to the same month in 2019, the 2020 TIV was 7.4% higher.

♦ However, when compared to the 11-month period in 2019 where the cumulative TIV was 549,439 units, the cumulative volume this year was lower at 454,708 units. Clearly, the MCO shutting down businesses and factories was a great impact on the industry and cannot be recovered from.

♦ The MAA had revised its forecast to 470,000 units earlier in the year and this is just 15,292 units more than the cumulative TIV from January to November. The forecasted TIV should therefore be achieved easily and if December proves to be a better month than all the other months due to promotions and the rush to buy new vehicles before the sales tax exemption ends, the year could end at 500,000 units or slightly more.

♦ Of the 56,489 units registered, 9.4% were commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks.

♦ The output from the plants was 18% higher in November this year, compared to the same month in 2019, although it seems to be slowing down. While the bigger players like Perodua and Proton have many back orders, other companies may have built up sufficient stocks and now want to manage the inventory in preparation of a slowdown in January. Many customers are likely to want their new vehicle this year to take advantage of the tax savings, in contrast to the usual practice of deferring registration to the new year.

Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association

UMW Toyota Motor launches competition-ready, road-legal Toyota GR Yaris

Tonight is a big night for Toyota with Malaysian importer and distributor UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) unveiling three new models as well as announcing future activities which centre around motorsports. The increased motorsports activity has been going on for some time now since the Vios Challenge One-Make series began a few years ago, complemented by UMWT being the first local car company to get into eSports (simulator racing).

Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR), which manages the brand’s global competition activities, also began to develop into a brand of its own, focused towards high performance products like the GR Supra. The motorsports involvement by the brand could be largely attributed to Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, who is a racing driver and sees motorsports as a way to build better cars.

Second GR model
Now comes the second GR model – the GR Yaris – which is a ‘Homologation Special‘, meaning its original brief was for a model that could qualify for use in FIA-sanctioned motorsports events. The FIA requires a manufacturer to make no less than 25,000 units of a model and if they want to have a high-performance variant, there must be a minimum of 2,500 units which are really the Homologation Specials.

However, Toyota has decided to develop a high-performance model that can be offered to more customers, so it is building 25,000 Homologation Specials! At the same time, the car is road-legal with all the required safety systems and should the owner want to enter a rally, he or she can do so as well (with the fitment of additional safety equipment for racing purposes).

“The manufacturing process is a first for Toyota, whereby the competition elements and requirements dictated the building and engineering of the GR Yaris. The end product and the results have been phenomenal,” said UMWT’s Deputy Chairman and Gazoo Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer, Akio Takeyama. He added that the GR Yaris is made in Japan in the same factory that built the Lexus LFA.

Developed in collaboration with Tommi Makinen
Development of the GR Yaris was carried out by TGR in collaboration with Tommi Makinen Racing, the organization led by the legendary WRC driver who was champion for 4 years in a row (1996 – 1999). His WRC-skilled team of designers and engineers focused on perfecting the aerodynamics, weight distribution and weight optimization of the car to achieve the best performance and drivability.

Unique model line
The GR Yaris is different from the latest Yaris hatchback assembled and sold in the Malaysian market. It is a unique model rather than a variant and has a 3-door hatchback bodystyle which provides increased area for the inclusion of aerodynamic parts. Its overall length is 3995 mm with the wheelbase at 2560 mm.

As with most of the latest Toyota models, it sits on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform which is highly variable. For the GR Yaris, the variability was taken further as half the platform is the GA-B which is mated to the GA-C platform that is used for the Corolla and C-HR.

The reason for this hybrid architecture is to allow the rear suspension to use the more sophisticated double wishbone layout of the GA-C Platform (instead of the torsion beam rear suspension of the GA-B platform). The special platform also accommodates all-wheel drive and achieves high levels of agility and stability.

Aerodynamically optimised, lowered weight
For competition cars, aerodynamics and weight reduction are crucial factors which influence performance. These were areas the TGR team gave much attention to and as mentioned earlier, instead of just making 2,500 units with superior aerodynamics and the lowest possible weight (1,280 kgs), Toyota is offering the same benefits in all 25,000 units. This can save costs for those who want to use the car for competition as they don’t have to change to lighter parts.

Aluminium is used in many areas, including the bonnet, and the roof is made of C-SMC, a carbonfibre material which saves 3.5 kgs compared to a steel roof. Besides aluminium, another lightweight material used is TSOP (Toyota Super Olefin Polymer), for the rear bumper which reduces weight by 38 kgs. By lightening the upper part of the body, it also helps lower the car’s centre of gravity (by 2.5 mm),

Even though they run over rough ground, rallycars travel very fast so aerodynamic performance is just as important as on the racing circuit. Reducing wind resistance is one thing but increasing stability is also important – even when going sideways! Various aerodynamic aids have been installed on the optimized shape of the car, and as with many modern cars, the underside has been made as smooth as possible to minimize turbulence and lift.

The roofline is low to increase the amount of wind hitting the deep, high-mounted rear spoiler, maximizing the downforce generated. The roof and rear pillars are also tapered to promote better stability at high speeds. Shaping the rear diffuser (the aero step) to fold into the bumper unit also helps in managing airflow to reduce turbulence as it leaves the car.

High performance suspension
Drawing on experience developing the WRC cars, the engineers had a lot of data to use for suspension geometry and settings to maximize tyre grip. The front MacPherson strut suspension is both lightweight and highly rigid as is the specially developed trailing double wishbone suspension at the rear.

With the high speeds that the GR Yaris is capable of, the braking system has been engineered to provide strong stopping power. At the front are 356 mm ventilated discs with 4-pot, lightweight aluminium calipers (in red), while the rear brakes have 297 mm ventilated discs with 2-pot aluminium calipers.

Incidentally, the brakes fitted to the GR Yaris are comparable in size to those used on the GR Supra and in fact, the front discs are larger in diameter. And there is also a mechanical hand-operated parking brake for additional cornering control in rally driving.

Most powerful production 3-cylinder engine
The GR Yaris is powered by an all-new 1.6-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (G16E-GTS) producing 261 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 360 Nm of torque between 3,000 and 4,600 rpm. This makes it the world’s most powerful 3-cylinder engine and the lightest and smallest 1.6-litre turbo unit currently in production. The engine conforms to WRC 2 regulations and its 3-cylinder configuration was preferred by Toyota engineers due to light weight and compact size, making it simple to install.

It goes without saying that a car intended for competition use would come with a manual transmission and the GR Yaris is available only with a 6-speed manual transmission with i-MT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) function detects the driver’s shifting operation (disengaging the clutch and shifting) and matches the engine speed after shifting (constant speed shifting).

Rallying experience also dictated that the gearshift lever should be positioned higher and set closer to the steering wheel for quicker shifting. The shift stroke is also shortened and lightened for a more engaging feel.

New 4-wheel drive system
20 years ago, Toyota developed its own Sports 4WD system which was used in the Celica GT-4, one of its successful WRC cars. Lessons learnt in the past plus new technologies developed for today’s Yaris WRC rallycar have gone into the new GR-Four 4-wheel drive system fitted to the GR Yaris.

This advanced system has an aluminium central transfer case and distributes power between the front and rear axles using a high-response coupling with an electronically controlled multi-plate type clutch managing the split power between the front and rear wheels. Besides intelligent distribution of power in Normal mode when the torque is split 60:40 front to rear, the driver can also select a Sport mode which is 30:70 and Track mode which is 50:50.

Comfortable cabin for 4 persons
While weight-reduction was a priority, the cabin of the GR Yaris is not barren or uncomfortable (as racing cars often are because unnecessary items have been removed). It has the same comfortable feel as a Yaris hatchback but with a much sportier image. There is still weight-saving but it’s not visible, eg in the structure of the sports seats.

The overall interior theme is in black with smoke silver trim details. The front and rear seats are upholstered in black leather with red stitching for those at the front. There is also a GR 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and drilled aluminium sports pedals with wider dimensions. The pedal position, pad angle and pressing angle have also been calculated in line with the driver’s hip point to gain the best possible controllability.

Instrumentation in the GR Yaris consists of an analogue meter with white calibrations and red pointers, and a 4.2-inch TFT colour Multi-Information Display (MID). The MID shows various operating information and includes an all-wheel drive indicator showing torque distribution. There’s also a turbo pressure monitor and gearshift indicator, besides the 4WD Mode indicator. The driver can also refer to the standard Head-up display (HUD) projected on the windscreen.

For those who use the GR Yaris for highway cruising, there is also an infotainment system and all the convenience features that are found in other Toyota models – even dual-zone air-conditioning. To provide a more sporty feel, the engine sound transmitted into the cabin is enhanced in accordance with the engine speed.

Toyota Safety Sense
The GR Yaris comes with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) driver assistance systems consisting of a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and Automatic High Beam (AHB). The systems use data from a camera and radar to monitor the road ahead, intervening with counter-measures whenever there is a risk of an accident.

Additionally, the GR Yaris also has ABS, Traction Control, Electric Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist and Hill-start Assist Control. The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system includes an Expert Mode that can be activated by skilled and experienced drivers. Basically, it disables Traction Control and the VSC but the engine and brakes may be controlled depending on the car’s behaviour.

5-year warranty too
Although the GR Yaris is a high-performance competition-capable car, it has been thoroughly tested (even by Toyota’s President himself) for durability and reliability. For this reason, it comes with a warranty that is similar to what is offered with other Toyota passenger cars which is 5 years long – with no limit on mileage.

“We are absolutely excited and thrilled to welcome the GR Yaris to Malaysia. It is a car that has attracted so much of attention and praise globally. It sets a new and higher benchmark not only for a vehicle in its segment but also in the very way in which the car is actually built, and when you’re finally confronted with it, all I can say is the GR Yaris’ reputation as a competition-bred performance car precedes it,” said UMWT’s President, Ravindran K.

Of the 25,000 units Toyota will produce, less than 200 units of the GR Yaris will be available for sale in Malaysia. Each one is priced from RM299,000 (excluding insurance and roadtax) and a limited number of units will have the Performance Pack, with each car bearing a special plate to indicate its exclusivity. Customers can choose from three colours: Platinum White Pearl, Emotional Red and Precious Black.

Additionally, UMWT is also offering an ‘Early Bird Package’ (worth a total of RM5,000) which consists of an exclusive helmet bag, a GR Yaris scale model and participation in a GR Yaris Driving Experience in 2021 to learn to enjoy the GR Yaris to the fullest.

While the other Toyota models are available at all authorized Toyota outlets nationwide, the GR Yaris (and GR Supra) are available only at outlets which have the GR Garage. To locate these outlets, visit www.toyota.com.my.

What’s a Homologation Special?

What’s a Homologation Special?

A Homologation Special is a model which is produced in a specific number required by the regulations of the FIA, the world motorsport governing body, in order for it to qualify for use in motorsports. The number can be as low as 200 units, which was applied for the powerful Group B rallycars of the 1980s.

Minimum production of 25,000 units
However, many of the models today which are used in FIA-sanctioned competition such as the World Rally Championship (WRC) are built to the requirement of a minimum number of 25,000 units within a certain period.

The 25,000 units are the total production number for the model type, of which 2,500 units can be high-performance variants as well. Toyota is producing 25,000 units of the new GR Yaris with similar primary specifications as it expects that there will be sufficient demand. In fact, demand has been exceptionally strong in markets where the new model has been launched.

Road-legal too
With a production run of 25,000 units, the GR Yaris would be able to qualify for all classes of FIA-sanctioned events anywhere in the world. An important aspect is that the cars are also road-legal so customers can buy them and drive them on public roads, enjoying their high performance.

*The Celica GT4 (ST185) was a successful rallycar, developed as a Homologation Special which made it also available to the public.*

There have been numerous Homologation Specials since the Lancia Stratos HF of 1974 made its debut. While Toyota’s Celica TwinCam Turbo of the 1980s was a Group B model built in very limited volumes, mainly for the WRC, the Celica GT4 (ST185) was a Homologation Special that was used by works teams as well as private teams around the world. It was the car which won Carlos Sainz (the senior Sainz, not the one in F1 today), Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol the WRC Drivers’ Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1994, respectively. It also won Toyota the WRC Manufacturers’ Championships in 1993 and 1994.

Some of the Homologation Specials
In many cases, manufacturers take a high-volume model which would be produced in more than 25,000 units and then develop the minimum of 2,500 units as variants with competition-oriented specifications. Proton did this with the Wira in the late 1990s, developing a high-performance variant with a 1.8-litre engine that was the Homologation Special and only 2,500 units were available.

Lancia Stratos HF 1974 — *1974 Lancia Stratos HF was the first Homologation Special.*

Proton Wira Homologation Special (2) — *Proton Wira 1.8EXi was a Homologation Special built in the late 1990s, enabling the model to be entered in international rallies.*

Other examples on Homologation Specials over the years have been the Ford Escort RS, Fiat 131 Abarth, Subaru Impreza Turbo, Ford Sierra RS, Nissan Sunny (Pulsar) GTiR, Mazda 323 turbo 4×4 and of course, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Piston.my

English

Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

In 2050, the Nissan GT-R could look like this!

‘Reindeer Eight’ shows the expertise of Bentley Mulliner to meet any customer request

Team Fordzilla’s P1 ultimate virtual racing car turned into a real model

All Volvo PHEVs registered since 2015 now also entitled to extended battery warranty

Toyota Vios GR-Sport – more than just a ‘special edition’ car

Fuel Price Updates For December 19 – December 25, 2020

New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For November 2020

UMW Toyota Motor launches competition-ready, road-legal Toyota GR Yaris

What’s a Homologation Special?

Season 4 of Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival to have 6 events with 11 races in 2021

In 2050, the Nissan GT-R could look like this!

‘Reindeer Eight’ shows the expertise of Bentley Mulliner to meet any customer request

Team Fordzilla’s P1 ultimate virtual racing car turned into a real model

All Volvo PHEVs registered since 2015 now also entitled to extended battery warranty

Toyota Vios GR-Sport – more than just a ‘special edition’ car

Fuel Price Updates For December 19 – December 25, 2020

New Vehicle Sales And Production Summary For November 2020

UMW Toyota Motor launches competition-ready, road-legal Toyota GR Yaris

What’s a Homologation Special?

Archive

Police to Expand Summons Discount Nationwide Following Positive Response to 2TM Program

Stellantis Malaysia Unveils Leapmotor C10: A New Chapter in the Electric SUV Market

Transport Consultant Criticises Focus on Road Projects, Calls for Public Transit Reforms

Volkswagen Data Leak Exposes Over 800,000 Customers’ Personal Information

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube

The Piston Show