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Two more WEC races to be run, with replanned Le Mans 24 Hours in September

The 24 Hours of Le Mans race, typically held in June, had to be postponed to the 19/20 weekend of September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the 88^th edition this year, and well aware of the financial impact of the situation on racing teams, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) was keen to ensure that their resources are not tied up over too long a period.

In agreement with the FIA and the main partners and stakeholders of the international event, the event will have a packed 4-day schedule for the 62 teams confirmed to be taking part. Between Thursday and Sunday, there will be 4 free practice sessions, qualifying, the Hyperpole session and a warm-up, culminating with the 24-hour endurance race itself.

Compact time-frame
The schedule of practice sessions – vital to good race preparation – has been rearranged, with qualifying, the warm-up and the race, packed into a 4-day time-frame. This is expected to maintain the requisite level of quality for such an iconic international event.

The traditional scrutineering procedures will take place at the Circuit on Wednesday before the 62 cars take to the track on Thursday for the free practice sessions, qualifying and night-time practice. Friday will see more practice sessions and the much-awaited new Hyperpole shoot-out where 24 competitors will battle it out on the 13.626-km circuit in a test of sheer speed, without the ‘heavy traffic’!

Hyperpole format
The Hyperpole qualifying format replaces the previous approach which involved 6 hours of qualifying in 3 two-hour sessions over Wednesday and Thursday. It was confirmed late last year to determine the top positions on the grid. The top six cars in each of the four classes during a 45-minute qualifying period will go forward to the Hyperpole session.

The 24 cars that make it through to this shoot-out session will be allowed one run because they will not be permitted to return to their pit during the 30 minutes. Teams will have free choice of tyres within the existing allocation for qualifying and the race.

Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, explained that the new format was aimed at ‘guaranteeing two exciting sessions for both drivers and spectators, where all the focus will be on sheer speed in a quest for the perfect lap’.

Last year, the starting time of the 2020 race was changed to 4 pm on Saturday, one hour later than usual. However, in replanning the whole event program this year, the race itself will start at 2:30 pm on Saturday.

The race at Le Mans will be the finale for the 2019/2020 World Endurance Championship (WEC). The season began with the 4 Hours of Silverstone in September 2019 and races were run in Japan, China, Bahrain, and the USA (Texas). There was also a second race to be held in the USA at Sebring but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. Before Le Mans, there will be a round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium in August.

Looking ahead
The 2020/2021 WEC season will see the brand new Le Mans Hypercar category in place of the LMP1 category. Assuming the pandemic diminishes and countries are less restrictive, there are 8 races (ranging from 6 hours to 24 hours) scheduled to be run in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the USA. Two new venues – Monza in Italy and Kyalami in South Africa will be on the calendar.

Aston Martin Valkyrie — *Aston Martin was initially among the participants of the new Hypercar category with its Valkyrie but has put the racing project on hold. It will continue to race in the WEC with the Vantage GTE.*

LOOKING BACK – Evolution of the original Hot Hatch

Launched at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September 1975, the first Volkswagen Golf GTI was a fresh and wild newcomer. Going on sale the following year, it stormed into an automotive category that hadn’t actually existed until that moment – the sporty front-wheel drive compact car, or what would come to be called ‘hot hatches’. Until that time, hatchbacks had been just more utilitarian cars without a performance image.

Originally, Volkswagen expected to sell 5,000 units but the affordable Golf GTI, with driving dynamics previously relegated to the world of expensive sports cars brought to the masses, saw all the production gone from showrooms within a very short time.

Consequently, the carmaker replanned for more and a total of 461,690 units of the Golf GTI of the first generation left the production lines at Wolfsburg. With seven generations to date, it has become the world’s most successful compact sportscar.

Mark 1 (1976 – 1983)
In 1974, half a dozen staff members at Volkswagen came up with a secret plan to develop a sporty version of the Golf. There was no official mandate to develop a ‘Sport Golf’, but Hermann Hablitzel, Board Member for Technology, was enthusiastic made sure the project kept going. Initial prototypes emerged and by early March 1975, the Sport Golf project was presented to Toni Schmucker, Chairman of the Board of Management, who gave it the green light.

As a result, the clandestine Sport Golf officially became development order ‘EA195’. It was paired with the right power unit – a fuel-injected engine generating 110 ps. However, the Sport Golf didn’t even have then. Suggestions included TS and GTS, but GTI got the most votes. At the same time, chief designer Herbert Schafer – a keen golfer – reinvented the shifter knob by simply attaching a golfball to the GTI’s selector rod!

The car was showcased in Frankfurt, receiving an enthusiastic media response. In June 1976, the Golf GTI Mk 1 was launched in Germany before going on to enjoy global success. The initial plan was to manufacture 5,000 units of this special product line to at least recoup the cost of development and the investment in production equipment.

However, things turned out rather differently as the GTI’s level of popularity was unexpected. The GTI had a top speed of 180 km/h, black wheelarch extensions, a black frame around the rear window, red edging around the radiator grille, plaid sport seats, that golfball shifter knob, and a sport steering wheel.

Mark 2 (1984 – 1992)
The second generation of the Golf GTI perpetuated the concept and design DNA of the first generation. The GTI’s insignia – in particular, the red strip in the radiator grille and the plaid sport seats – became classic design features and the newcomer ultimately also became an icon.

In 1984, its year of launch, the engine output briefly dropped to 107 ps as a result of the fitment of a catalytic converter. But 2 years later, Volkswagen engineers offset the loss of power with a new 16-valve unit generating 129 ps. By 1990, the G-Lader supercharged engine in the Golf GTI G60 boosted output to 160 ps, accelerating the performance increases for the model.

Mark 3 (1991 – 1998)
Restyled for the third generation, the dual headlights of the previous generation had now been concealed behind a shared lens and the engine output started from 115 ps. One year later, the number rose to 150 ps with a new 16-valve engine.

In 1996, a turbocharged diesel version (TDI) generating 110 ps enhanced the GTI concept. Years later, petrol and diesel engines would be divided once and for all into GTI and GTD.

Mark 4 (1998 – 2005)
The fourth generation of the GTI, introduced in 1998, was modest in terms of GTI styling. It was the first and only GTI to do away with classic cues including the red strip in the radiator grille. Nevertheless, the hot hatch still became a design icon, celebrated today as the starting point of a new, cleaner era of vehicle design.

In terms of technology, the 150-ps Golf GTI Mk4 was a car that kept competitors at arm’s length with its agility and quality. The petrol engines—with 4 and 5 cylinders—generated up to 170 ps while turbodiesel engines delivered a maximum of 150 ps. In 2001, celebrating the icon’s first quarter century was a turbocharged ‘25 years of GTI’ special edition generating 180 ps.

Mark 5 (2004 – 2009)
In September 2003, Volkswagen unveiled a prototype of the fifth-generation GTI in Frankfurt. More than ever before, GTI had become synonymous with outstanding compact-car handling. The production version appeared at the Paris Motor Show the following year, going on sale from November.

Its hallmarks were a significantly sharper look, a 200-ps turbocharged engine and of course, even better handling. The GTI concept was propelled into the future with this version. The new Denver design wheels and the black, V-shaped radiator grille were particularly striking features.

The new turbocharged engine also delivered plenty of power, rocketing the GTI (with a manual gearbox) from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. With the new dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG), the time fell to 6.9 seconds. The top speed reached 235 km/h. On the 30th anniversary in 2006, the engineers delivered a special edition with an output of 230 ps.

Mark 6 (2009 – 2012)
For the sixth generation, racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck was brought in to help refine the car’s suspension and handling. It featured an electronic differential lock (XDS) for the first time. With a top speed of almost 240 km/h, this GTI had a turbocharged engine generating 210 ps as standard. A sound generator and a new exhaust system, with a tailpipe on either side, delivered sound to match the drive experience.

In 2011, the GTI was made available with a convertible variant for the first time. Again, the engineers produced a special anniversary version, the Golf GTI Edition 35, which had a 235 ps engine.

The new GTI flagship was presented at the Nurburgring and it was the first to come very close to reaching 250 km/h. Thanks to a power-to-weight ratio of 5.9 kg/ps, the GTI had become faster than ever before, reaching 100 km/h from rest within 6.6 seconds.

Mark 7 (2013 – 2020)
The seventh generation of the GTI arrived with two engine outputs for the first time in early 2013. The basic version delivered 220 ps, while the Golf GTI Performance went up to 230 ps. The latter was the first Golf GTI to feature an electronically-controlled torque-sensing limited-slip differential and to be constructed on the modular transverse matrix (MQB).

This new platform cut the GTI’s weight by up to 42 kgs compared with its predecessor, allowing it to be even more agile. With a manual transmission, it was the first Golf GTI to reach 250 km/h.

It formed the basis for the Golf GTI Clubsport, introduced in November 2015, with an engine output of 290 ps, thanks to an overboost function. The 0 – 100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds was easily achieved.

A year later, the Golf GTI Clubsport S – with an output of 310 ps – smashed the previous record for front-wheel drive cars around the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife in 7:49:21 minutes, during which time it reached a top speed of 264 km/h.

From mid-2020…
More than 2.3 million units of the Golf GTI were produced by the end of 2019. After 45 years, Volkswagen has again reinvented the icon for the latest generation. The 8th generation GTI has revolutionary ideas with evolutionary development to become a fully-fledged sportscar. It is the first Golf GTI of the digital age.

A new Vehicle Dynamics Manager control system controls the XDS electronic differential lock, front-axle locking differential functions, and also the lateral dynamics ratio of the controllable damping system (DCC) that forms part of the new GTI running gear set-up.

The 245 ps 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine is now standard. It is coupled with a manual 6-speed gearbox, a firm favourite with sportscar purists. The quick-shifting 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) is also available as an alternative.

UX designers developed a new GTI graphic for the standard Digital Cockpit. It is made up of a combination of 3 round meters which can be individually assigned to show, for instance, the engine’s boost pressure or the current power output.

Visit www.volkswagen.com.my to know more about Volkswagen models in Malaysia.

Digital Cockpit of new VW Golf 8 brings revolutionary new features to the driver

Special limited edition celebrates 50th birthday of the Range Rover

Long before the luxury SUVs of today appeared in showrooms, there was just the Range Rover in the segment that had yet to be created. It was introduced 50 years ago in June 1970, a product at the top of the Land Rover Range which even the Queen of England appreciated.

Over five decades, the Range Rover has been a pioneer of all-wheel drive technologies, achieved many world firsts and completed numerous impressive feats. It was the first SUV to feature a permanent 4WD system when it was launched and, in 1989, was the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with ABS. Three years later, it became the world’s first 4×4 to be fitted with electronic traction control and automatic electronic air suspension. In 2012, the latest generation Range Rover became the world’s first SUV to feature an all-aluminium lightweight construction, making it lighter, stronger and more efficient.

A must-have in the garages of many rich and famous owners, the Range Rover has also made a name for itself as a very capable all-terrain vehicle. It has crossed the notoriously impassable ‘Darien Gap,’ a remote and dangerous area between Panama and Colombia. It has been used by adventurers to explore new territory on the planet and has even been a winner in the Paris-Dakar rally – twice. And it was the first vehicle to ever be displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

To celebrate 50 years of a motoring icon, a Range Rover Fifty edition of the fourth generation has been created, restricted to just 1,970 vehicles globally, in recognition of the year the original Range Rover was launched. Building on the luxuriously appointed Autobiography, the Range Rover Fifty features a number of bespoke exterior accents in Auric Atlas as well as two unique 22-inch wheel designs.

The badging features a ‘Fifty’ script created personally by the ‘Guardian of Land Rover DNA’, Professor Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Creative Officer, which will appear on the exterior of the vehicle and throughout the interior on the unique ‘1 of 1970’ centre console commissioning plaque, headrests, dashboard and illuminated treadplates.

“In the world of luxury vehicles, the Range Rover has always stood apart as peerless and enduring,” said Prof. McGovern. “Its unique and pioneering sensibilities, together with an unrivalled engineering approach, have been the intrinsic values which our customers have admired since the first of the breed was revealed in 1970.”

The Range Rover Fifty will be available in both standard and long wheelbase body designs with customers able to choose from four carefully curated exterior colours. Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations is also offering the Range Rover Fifty in one of three Heritage exterior solid paints reproduced from the original Range Rover paint palette of Tuscan Blue, Bahama Gold and Davos White.

A range of powertrain options will be available – petrol, diesel and even a plug-in hybrid P400e version. For customers in North America, each example will be fitted with a 518 bhp 5-litre supercharged V8 powertrain.

Range Rover celebrates 50th anniversary this year

McLaren celebrates 1995 Le Mans victory with special edition of 720S

In 1995, McLaren made its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with seven McLaren F1 GTR cars entered in the endurance classic. It was the first time the McLaren F1 GTR had competed in a race of greater than 4 hours’ duration and the first time the production-based machine had competed against sports-prototype cars.

Leading from the second hour of a race held in treacherously-wet conditions, the McLarens dominated from then on with the Ueno Clinic-sponsored car driven by JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya emerging victorious. The trio completed 298 laps – one more than its closest rival. The win headlined a McLaren 1-3-4-5 finish and Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win Le Mans.

This month, the company is celebrating that impressive achievement – victory on its first attempt in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – with a special edition 720S coupe. The 720S Le Mans takes the 720S supercar to a new level of exclusivity.

Each of the Le Mans edition cars carries a dedication plate featuring a ‘McLaren 25 Anniversary Le Mans’ logo. The VIN of each car will begin with 298, in recognition of the number of laps completed by the race-winning F1 GTR.

Powering the 720S Le Mans is the mid-mounted, 720 ps M840T 4.0-litre McLaren engine. The twin-turbocharged V8 propels the car from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 7.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 341 km/h.

A carbonfibre Monocage II central structure and Proactive Chassis Control II suspension system help to ensure that the 720S is the lightest car in its class, with an unparalleled breadth of dynamic ability.

The fully-functional roof scoop channels air to provide additional cooling for the powertrain and helps to drive heat evacuation – ideal for the additional demands of circuit driving. The carbonfibre louvred front fenders reduce aerodynamic lift generated by the rotation of the front wheels, as well as reducing vehicle weight.

Customers have a choice of exterior and interior colour combinations, with all cars featuring a portfolio of unique features as standard. Unique 5-spoke LM wheels echo the design of the #59 F1 GTR wheels and also feature ‘Le Mans’ etching with gold-coloured brake calipers behind them.

The interior has a choice of two bespoke black Alcantara themes with accents in McLaren Orange or Dove Grey. The carbonfibre racing seats have embroidered headrests with ‘McLaren 25 anniversary Le Mans’ logo.

To further enhance the motorsport connection and for track use, a titanium harness bar and 6-point harnesses from the MSO Defined range can be added. Satin finish visual carbonfibre air vents, extended shift paddles and extended sill trim with McLaren branding from the same range are also available, and two option packs of satin finish visual carbonfibre interior components can be specified.

Just 50 units of this Le Mans edition will be available for sale worldwide with a base price starting at £254,500 (about RM1.341 million).

Exclusive McLaren Senna XP cars pay tribute to one of the greatest F1 drivers

Selangor MB visits Toyota assembly plant to see Standard Operating Procedures

Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB), the wholly-owned subsidiary of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) involved in the local assembly of Toyota vehicles, was recently visited by the Menteri Besar Selangor, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Bin Shari, who was there to personally view the facility’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Accompanied by the top management of UMWT and ASSB, the Menteri Besar was briefed on the best practices and procedures put in place in accordance with the government’s SOPs. During his tour of the plant, which currently assembles the Toyota Yaris and Vios models, he saw various areas such as the motorcycle parking section, staff locker rooms and canteen where changes have been made to meet social distancing requirements.

The ‘new normal’
In accordance with the SOPs, body temperature checks are conducted daily, with hand sanitization and utilization of face masks are made part of the ‘new normal’. In the canteen, the seating has been rearranged to provide distancing and the menu now consists of pre-packed food. Besides staggering working times, new procedures aimed at minimizing interaction so as to reduce the risks of coronavirus spread have also been adopted.

ASSB has also adopted measures from Toyota plants in other countries in response to the pandemic. One example shown was the installation of an additional partition at the Door Assembly Process.

While at the plant, Dato’ Seri Amirudin also visited Toyota Boshoku UMW Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between Toyota Boshoku and UMW Toyota Motor which makes seat sets, door trims, headlinings, package trays for use in many models assembled locally.

PPE production for frontliners
As it has suitable equipment, Toyota Boshoku UMW set up production lines to produce Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which is required by medical staff treating COVID-19 patients. More than 10,000 PPE items consisting of Boot Covers, Head Covers and Gowns were provided by UMWT to the Ministry of Health for distribution to hospitals around the country.

A small ceremony was held for ASSB and Toyota Boshoku UMW to hand over PPE kits to the Menteri Besar as a gesture of goodwill to the Selangor state government. The kits consisted of 100 pieces each of gowns, head covers and boot covers.

“We are grateful to the Selangor State Government for its approval and guidance which enabled ASSB to resume operations after a lengthy shutdown due to the Movement Control Order earlier. Our plant has implemented all the necessary requirements of the Standard Operating Procedures and additionally, we have also adopted some best practices developed by Toyota factories in other countries,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.

“Toyota Motor Corporation is also very serious about providing safe and healthy conditions for all employees. As a member of the global Toyota family, ASSB can therefore draw on healthcare advice and best practices from TMC regarding additional measures that can be taken here in Selangor,” added Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

Toyota vehicle assembly in Malaysia resumes, starting with Vios and Yaris models

Update on fuel prices – June 20 to June 26, 2020

Two days left for a chance to win RM100,000 when you spend just RM30!

The exceptional and exclusive Twin Turbo Furious 300+ from Jacob & Co.

In 2019, Bugatti and Jacob & Co. signed a partnership to create unique timepieces. To inaugurate this partnership led by performance, two timepieces were created. These watches, based on the Twin Turbo Furious and the Epic X Chrono, were directly inspired by the unique design and spirit of Bugatti hypercars.

This year, new watches in the Twin Turbo Furious collection are being introduced, as well as now the Bugatti Chiron, a completely new line. After the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, the watchmaker has created the Twin Turbo Furious 300+ – inspired by the fastest hypercar ever created.

Last year, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ made Bugatti the first carmaker to break through the mythical 300 mph (480 km/h) barrier. Behind the steering wheel of the car was Le Mans winner Andy Wallace who set the world speed record at 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h).

Only 3 pieces for sale
In order to celebrate the world’s fastest series production hyper sportscar, Jacob & Co. captured the essence of the Super Sport 300+ in the design as well as the sophisticated technology of their new creation. Only three pieces will be made for sale.

The Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ features a black titanium twin triple-axis tourbillon movement, that includes a decimal minute repeater and a mono-pusher chronograph with reference time. It is housed in a forged carbon and black DLC titanium case, to echo the exposed carbonfibre bodywork of the record-breaking hyper sports car.

Exclusive technology
The presence of a tourbillon in a watch’s movement already places a timepiece among the elite of the watchmaking world. Jacob & Co.’s Twin Turbo Furious goes one step further incorporating two accelerated triple axis tourbillons into its striking design. The tourbillons work together to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement.

Another very rare component is the Twin Turbo Furious 300+’ decimal minute repeater. In order to simplify the audible indication of time, the Twin Turbo Furious chimes on demand the ten minutes intervals after the hours and before the minutes.

“In Jacob & Co., we have found a partner who understands the way we see exclusivity and how every object carrying the Bugatti name has to combine extreme power and the most sophisticated technology with pure luxury and the unmistakable Bugatti aesthetics and elegance. The Twin Turbo Furious is another product created in the spirit of this partnership,” said Bugatti President, Stephan Winkelmann.

A lap in the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport hyper sportscar (w/VIDEO)

Nissan LEAF beats fire and wind in 1-kilometre challenge (w/VIDEO)

In a first-of-its-kind driving contest, Nissan pitched its LEAF – the world’s first mass-market fully-electric vehicle (EV) – against the speed of nature’s powerful elements – fire and wind. The idea of having the challenge was to change the perception that electric vehicles are not dynamic or exciting.

On an enclosed area at Samroiyod Beach along the western side of the Gulf of Thailand, Nissan set up a one kilometre long course. A pyrotechnician’s ‘fire-line’ and a champion kite surfer raced against the LEAF to cross the finish line in the shortest time.

The Nissan LEAF, with its ability to go from standing still to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, raced ahead of its elemental rivals. The quick performance of the EV was made possible by its e-Powertrain. Power from the powerful electric motor goes straight to the wheels to give instant and strong acceleration. Additionally, the LEAF was able to beat both fire and wind in this race due to its light weight.

“Without doubt, electric vehicles are the most environmentally responsible cars of the future. And with this challenge, we aim to show that the Nissan LEAF is simply amazing, not only because of zero-emission, but also being a cool car with mind-blowing acceleration and driving dynamics that can handle any challenge,” said Nirmal Nair, Vice President Marketing, Nissan Asia & Oceania.

The latest Nissan LEAF is available in Malaysia from Edaran Tan Chong Motor. Visit www.nissan.com.my to know more and locate a showroom.

FIRST DRIVE: 2019 Nissan Leaf – “Simply Electrifying”

Two days left for a chance to win RM100,000 when you spend just RM30!

Tomorrow is the last day for a chance to win up to RM100,000.00 and 200,000 ePoints in the BHPetrol Kaya Raya Contest 2020. The contest, which began on March 15, 2020, requires just a minimum purchase of RM30 (in a single receipt) at participating BHPetrol service stations.

The main prizes are as follow:
1x Grand Prize of RM100,000.00 and 200,000 ePoints
2x First Prizes of RM50,000.00 and 100,000 ePoints
3x Second Prizes of RM20,000.00 and 40,000 ePoints
6x Third Prizes of RM15,000.00 and 30,000 ePoints

Additionally, since the contest began, there have also been 10 weekly prizes of 100,000 ePoints each. BHPetrol ePoints are instantly redeemable for an extensive range of exclusive items and gifts, as well as BHPetrol fuel (RM5 for every 550 ePoints or RM10 for every 950 ePoints). The points can also be accumulated to redeem items features in BHPetrol’s Annual Rewards Catalogue or redeemed via BHPetrol eCard Rewards online.

*Purchases made in the BHPetromart convenience store also qualify for participation Iexcept reloads for Touch’nGo and ePay).*

Participants may submit as many entries as they wish but each entry must be attached with an original BHPetrol sales receipt issued within the Contest Period. Touch’nGo reloads, ePay reloads and car wash payments do not qualify for participation.

To participate, customers have to answer questions on a contest form provided and deposit the form, together with the receipt, in boxes provided at the stations before midnight on June 20, 2020.

Winners for the main prizes will be selected based on a manual draw by BHPetrol. Contest winners will be notified by July 15, 2020 via the contact number or email address they provide on the Contest Entry Form. The results will also be published at www.bhpetrol.com.my.

Weekly prize winners will be notified via the BHPetrol eCard App and/or SMS. The results will also be published at www.bhpetrol.com.my.