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Race starts at 2:10 pm in Russian/7:10 pm in Malaysia

Nine races in 11 weeks with three triple-headers – it’s been tough on the teams since the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship had its delayed start in July. Both the drivers and the people who support them are feeling the strain and saying so, and this sort of calendar will not be acceptable in 2021.

Anyway, after the initial 9 rounds in Austria, the UK, Spain, Belgium and Italy, the tenth round is much further east for the first season’s standalone event – the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom.

The 5.8-km circuit within a complex originally constructed for the 2014 Winter Olympics. In that year, the F1 Russian Grand Prix was held for the first time (although there had been Russian Grands Prix back in 1913 and 1914).

Street circuit character
Known as the Sochi Autodrom, it has the character of a street circuit. It is characterised by two long straights – the long, high-speed arc of Turn 3 and by a proliferation of 90-degree, medium-speed corners. The race distance of 309.745 kms is the longest of any race this season, the next longest being at Mugello (309.497 kms).

The engineers have data from 6 years of racing at the circuit, so they know that it is something of a ‘balancing act’. The long straights would suggest reducing downforce levels in pursuit of outright pace, that would compromise balance, grip and traction on exit in the slower speed corners.

Fuel consumption is said to be particularly high at the Sochi Autodrom because there are several long straights. The frequency of short, 90-degree corners means drivers apply full-throttle much earlier than at a track with many hairpins and chicanes. If it’s a clean and uninterrupted race, more fuel management is required through lift and coasting than at many other tracks, according to Toto Wolff, Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Racing Team.

Gentle on tyres
The smooth tarmac at the Sochi Autodrom is very gentle on the tyres, with some drivers in the past pitting on the first lap one and making it to the chequered flag on the same set. So we won’t be seeing the tyre issues that have added drama to earlier rounds.

As Sochi has low tyre degradation, Pirelli has opted for the softer end of its tyre range for this round. The Italian tyremaker brings its C3 compound as the white-banded hard compound, the C4 as the yellow medium and the C5 as the red-banded soft tyre. It is the first time this season that the combination has been offered and a step softer than at last year’s Russian Grand Prix.

Championship positions
A sixth win in 9 races for Lewis Hamilton last time out at Mugello puts the British driver in a  commanding 55-point lead for the Drivers’ Championship. In second place is his team-mate Valtteri Bottas with 135 points, while third-ranked Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen still has 110 points after the last round.

McLaren’s Lando Norris is fourth with 65 points, two ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Alex Albon, who at the Tuscan Grand Prix became this season’s ninth podium finisher.

In the Constructors’ Championship battle, a third 1-2 finish of the season two weeks ago in Mugello saw the Mercedes-AMG Team pull even further away at the top of the standings. The defending champions now have 325 points, 152 more than closest rivals Red Bull Racing. Behind the top two, the contest is still tight, however: McLaren, with 106 points, is 14 points ahead of BWT Racing Point, while Renault is just 9 points further back.

If Hamilton wins again at Sochi, he will be equal with Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 F1 wins. Schumacher reached the total at his 246th race, while Hamilton is set to take part in his 260th F1 race tomorrow.

As the Russian Grand Prix is a relatively recent addition to the championship calendar, it’s not surprising that the Mercedes-AMG team has won at this circuit every year. Hamilton has been victorious on 4 occasions (2014, 2015, 2018 and last year), while Nico Rosberg won in 2016 and Valtteri Bottas in 2017. Should the team win again this year, it will establish a new record for most consecutive wins at the same Grand Prix.

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For the first time, Porsche Asia Pacific and Porsche Cars Australia have teamed up with Forza Motorsport 7 to run a simulation racing tournament. Known as  the Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup, it will see some of the best sim racers in the region compete on the Forza Motorsport 7 tracks of Bathurst, Nurburgring, Le Mans, Silverstone and Hockenheimring.

Qualifiers
The races will begin in a Porsche 918 Spyder which holds the distinction of being the first series production car to beat the lap record of 7 minutes at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2013. The race will take place on the rollercoaster Bathurst track which offers an extraordinary mix of 23 fast and slow corners, and gradients of up to 16%.

Porsche ESports

Subsequent qualifying rounds, to be held in October, will use the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife, in the 911 GT3 RS, and then Le Mans with the 919 Hybrid. Finally, the top 16 players, limited to a maximum of three from one country, will compete to bring home the first Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup over two races in a Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

The Finals
The first of the final races will be at the Silverstone track after which the finalists will then go head to head for their second finals race at the Hockenheimring. All 16 finalists and the top 3 participants of the finals will win prizes from the Porsche Driver’s Selection and HUGO BOSS, the official sponsor of the Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup.

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The titleholder will win an opportunity to race on a real track during a track experience at the Porsche Experience Centre in Hockenheimring, Germany, in 2021.

The tournament is currently open for registrations online from players from the Asia Pacific region. They must hold a Xbox game pass and have either access to a PC, Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X. Click here to sign up, or find out more about the race details and points scoring system.

Porsche in Esports
Porsche’s involvement in Esports or sim racing – also referred to as digital motorsports by the  FIA – goes back some 3 years and has been growing in recent times, especially this year when real-world racing was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Porsche ESports

Porsche ESports

“Racing games and Esports connect the real and virtual worlds and enable us to gain further access to the young target group. It means that they can develop a passion for Porsche even before buying their first sportscar”, said a senior executive of the company.

One of its major sim racing events – the Porsche Esports Supercup –  was included in a gala event to honour the successes of the teams and driers in motorsport. Porsche was the first major carmaker to recognise the achievements of virtual racers at the same event as their real-world racing peers.

The expanding universe of eSports

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Most motorists will leave it to the authorised service centres maintain their vehicles to provide the right engine oil specified and approved by the manufacturer. Some of these engine oils have specific formulations with high quality components and additives that enable the engines to run at their best.

For those who are no longer bound by warranty conditions of the manufacturer which usually require them to use the engine oil supplied by the authorised service centre, Shell Malaysia offers a premium quality oil with proven performance – the new Shell Helix Professional range.

Shell Helix Ultra Professional

For demanding requirements
While the existing Shell Helix Ultra range caters to the wide and varied needs of the mainstream consumer market, Helix Professional is specially tailored to meet the demanding requirements and specifications of a select group of car engine manufacturers.

According to Shell Lubricants General Manager for Malaysia and Singapore, Nyon Kam Yew, the new Shell Helix Professional range enables the car manufacturers’ official service centres and specialist workshops to deliver more value via customised service packages to benefit their customers.

“This is yet another innovative solution from Shell, the top lubricant supplier in the world for the past 13 consecutive years and the largest provider of finished lubricants to automakers. With the new Shell Helix Professional range, these businesses can now incorporate a genuine, premium quality engine oil with proven performance from a trusted brand in special value service packages,” he said.

Two grades, fully synthetic
The Helix Professional range is available with two grades – Helix Ultra Professional ABB 5W-40 and Helix HX7 Professional SN 5W-30. Developed for high performance petrol and diesel engines, the fully synthetic Helix Ultra Professional ABB 5W-40 is formulated with Shell’s proprietary PurePlus Technology that uses a 99.5% pure base oil made from natural gas.

Both engine oils also have Shell’s Active Cleansing Technology to keep the engine close to factory-cleanliness. This technology provides resistance to physical and chemical degradation and prevents build-up of performance-robbing deposits. The wear and corrosion protection is also superior, even in extreme operating conditions.

Besides maintaining performance at high level, the engine oils provide enhanced fuel economy as well as superior sludge and wear protection to keep maintenance costs low.

Easy decision-making with new Shell Helix engine oils

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Honda Malaysia continues with its run-up to the launch of the all-new Honda City with further information about its features. This time, the company has revealed that the 5th generation of the popular B-segment model will come with what is claims to be the most complete advanced safety features in the segment.

This will be with enhanced Honda SENSING – already available in the CR-V, Civic and Accord – which consists of seven active safety systems. Developed by Honda to meet the objective of ‘Safety for Everyone’ so that there will be a collision-free mobile society, Honda SENSING alerts and assists drivers during various driving situations.

5th generation Honda City 2020

Comprehensive suite of safety systems
The Honda SENSING suite is available in various compositions, depending on the model and market. For the Malaysian market, the new City RS i-MMD seems to get a very comprehensive suite which consists of the following:

  1. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
  2. Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
  3. Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
  4. Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
  5. Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
  6. Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
  7. Auto High-Beam (AHB)

Many of the systems rely on a front wide-view camera mounted at the top of the windscreen to scan the road ahead. The imagery captured is analysed by the on-board computer to identify lane markings and the presence of vehicles ahead.

Adaptive Cruise Control, for instance, will adjust the set cruising speed to ensure there is a safe gap with the vehicle ahead. So even if the cruising speed is set at 110 km/h but the vehicle in front is travelling at 100 km/h, the system will slow down the City. If the vehicle ahead moves aside, then the speed will return to the set speed.

“The All-New City RS i-MMD offers first in segment features such as Remote Engine Start, Honda LaneWatch and Electric Parking Brake. We are now raising the benchmark further to introduce a most complete Honda SENSING feature in its segment which was previously only available in the C, D and SUV segment. I believe the upcoming 5th Generation All-New City will excite Malaysians with its advanced safety technology and class-leading features,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

New technology at Melaka plant
Mr. Ishiyama said that several technology enhancements have been implemented at the Melaka assembly plant. These include new inner frame welding to enhance body rigidity and the use of new spray polyurethane foam to reduce body noise and vibration. He claimed that the assembly process is on par with the technology at Honda’s factories in Japan.

Honda Malaysia is also the first and only car manufacturer in the country to assemble an Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) from individual lithium-ion battery components to form a complete power unit for use in hybrid models.

The new City is larger than its predecessor with increases of 111 mm in overall length and 54 mm in overall width, moving its body size closer to a C-segment sedan rather than the B-segment that it is in.

4 variants to choose from
Four variants will be offered for the new generation, led by the RS with an intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain. This delivers maximum torque of 253 Nm, highest in its class and  comparable to a D-segment engine. Customers can also choose to have a new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine if they prefer something more conventional.

The top RS version will come with a Remote Engine Start feature, the first in its segment to have such a convenience feature. The driver will be able to start the car’s engine from a distance and even activate the air-conditioning system. Passengers at the back will also have cool air brought to them with the additional vents.

Bookings for the All-New City were accepted from August 14, 2020 and those who have booked early receive a RM1,000 Service Voucher. “We organised a nationwide tour where people could view the All-New City RS i-MMD up close. We are delighted to receive high interest and positive feedback from the public and bookings have been very encouraging,” Mr. Ishiyama said, adding that the nationwide tour will be ongoing until the cars launch.

The latest BR-V and Civic can be ordered with the new Platinum White Pearl finish.

New colour for Civic and BR-V
Meanwhile, Honda Malaysia has also introduced the new colour option of Platinum White Pearl for the Civic and BR-V. This new finish replaces the White Orchid Pearl colour that has been available for some time.

Honda Insurance Plus plan upgraded with more benefits

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BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

Mercedes-Benz has Mercedes-AMG, BMW has BMW M and now Peugeot has also created its own high-performance division known as PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED. Coinciding with the launch of this new division, the carmaker is announcing its return to the World Endurance Championship in the Le Mans Hypercar category from 2022, although that has already been known earlier.

Roots in Peugeot Sport
PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED is probably an evolution of the Peugeot Sport division within the original Peugeot PSA Citroen group. It was established in 1981 as a motorsports division and gained fame when it developed and ran the Group B Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 in the 1984 World Rally Championship. Since then, Peugeot Sport has been involved in F1 and WEC as well.

The Group B 205 Turbo 16 was one of the legendary rallycars developed by Peugeot Sport in the 1980s.

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

Two new models
Now, as PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED, the division appears to also be given an additional role in developing high-performance versions of Peugeot models for a more business-orientated approach. The first of these is the latest 508 with AWD and plug-in hybrid electric technology to enter the new era in which the kilowatt is king.

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

The new 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED will be available in Fastback and Stationwagon bodystyles. The signature of this new family, with three Kryptonite claws, refers to the new identity for Peugeot Sport, to the light signatures of the production models, and draws inspiration from the brand’s heritage with rear lights inspired by the 504 Coupe.

The new 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED is the most powerful production car ever built by Peugeot for sale. The powertrain produces 360 bhp/520 Nm, thanks to the combination of internal combustion engine and two electrical motors (one at the front and the other at the rear). Claimed 0 to 100 km/h acceleration is 5.2 seconds, with a top speed beyond 250 km/h but electronically  limited to that speed.

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

The driver can select from 5 driving modes to suit conditions and preference: 100% electric driving; Comfort; Hybrid; Sport and 4WD. Recharging can be done within 7 hours at home or within 2 hours using a dedicated 7 kW wallbox charging point.

Optimised for high performance
The engineers have made changes to the 508 to optimise the high-performance version for sportier dynamics. The adjustments to its chassis include a specially-tuned steering set-up. The front and rear tracks are wider and there’s variable 3-mode shock absorption.  380 mm diameter front brake discs and fixed 4-piston calipers are installed behind 20-inch alloy wheels running on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. The driving position has also been lowered.

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED

PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED has drawn on expertise gained during the development of the 3008 SUV HYBRID/HYBRID4 and 508 HYBRID, as well as experience from competing with hybrid powertrains.

Peugeot to return to endurance racing in 2022 with hypercar (w/VIDEO)

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Over the next few weeks, you may come across BMW vehicles with uniquely designed artwork on their exteriors moving around the streets of Kuala Lumpur. The ‘camouflage’ is artwork designed by local businesses, volunteer groups and NGOs Komuniti Tukang Jahit, Changgih Designs, INKAA, and Kanoe who have been driving dynamic initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

“COVID-19 challenges many of us to be out of our elements, but we at BMW also saw many individuals and businesses who have pivoted to thrive in such challenging times. We are inspired by them. Collaborating with emerging local businesses, we want to highlight their individual dynamic independent spirit, their sheer determination and resilience – all of which have allowed them to rise above the adversity and challenges ahead of us,” said Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia.

Komuniti Tukang Jahit is a social enterprise that empowers the B40 women community consisting of single women, single mothers, the OKU group, and stay-at- home mothers. They provide certified upskill training and job opportunities for home-based tailors to earn a sustainable income through sewing orders.

Changgih Designs was founded by Joanna Moss and Bethany Dawson, two new, passionate mothers from Sabah who wanted to create crafts for their children. They were then inspired to help mothers from villages with vocational training and job opportunities. Today, the social enterprise blends the heritage of Borneo with contemporary fashion in a collection of hand-stitched handbags, wallets, scarves, accessories, masks, and wearable art made by artisans in villages across Sabah.

INKAA is a collaborative effort with grassroots organisations and artisans in Malaysia. They create beautiful products, while promoting more understanding and communication between individuals and the people they work with. It is a brand that honours artisans and preserves heritage. INKAA sources traditional batik textiles hand-made by three artisans in Terengganu, creating unique fabric designs where no two pieces are the same.

Kanoe is a homegrown brand that sets out to promote better living throughout their design and production process, ensuring that everyone involved from the beginning to the end of the process benefits from it. Kanoe’s garments are made from natural fibre and are designed in-house. The business also works with local businesses, artisans, and communities in need to promote handmade work, a healthy working environment, and fair wage.

Look out for the BMW vehicles with the unique designs around KL and stay tuned to BMW Malaysia’s Facebook or Instagram to win exclusively designed BMW merchandise.

A new way to find out more about ‘The Boss’ with BMW Malaysia’s AR Experience

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The Ferrari showroom in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has undergone renovation which brings its appearance in accordance with the Italian brand’s latest Corporate Identity (CI) design. A total of RM3.5 million was spent for the renovation and refurbishment of the showroom which has been at the location since 2009. It is among the first few in Southeast Asia to incorporate the new CI.

Naza Italia Ferrari Showroom

‘Exclusive club’ for customers and owners
The showroom has two floors, covering a total of 11,900 sq ft, and can accommodate up to 7 cars. On the ground floor is the main display area which showcases the latest Ferrari models available for the Malaysian market. A customer lounge, finely furnished and equipped with a coffee bar, provides customers with a luxurious space that has a community feel and a sense of being at an exclusive club.

Naza Italia Ferrari Showroom

Naza Italia Ferrari Showroom

The Configuration Room
In the Configuration Room is a broad selection of materials and options as well as the exclusive ‘atelier’ panels which rotate and allow for the room to be closed off when discerning customers would prefer to design their Ferrari with peace and privacy. The experience provided is said to be comparable to that offered to Ferrari customers at the factory in Italy.

Also located on the ground floor is a brand experience video wall and a private consultation room. For those taking delivery of their car, a delivery area has been thoughtfully designed for owners to celebrate the occasion.

Ferrari Approved
The first floor is partially dedicated to Ferrari Approved, the brand’s pre-owned certification programme. The pre-owned models go through a meticulous 190-step check and are prepared to ensure that their new owners receive a Ferrari in world-class condition.

Naza Italia Ferrari Showroom

A Heritage Wall and library offer a glimpse into Ferrari’s history, legacy and the brand’s evolution into the automotive powerhouse that it is today. Last year, Ferrari claimed the title of the world’s strongest brand, according to the Brand Finance Global 500 report. Its strength was determined through a review of marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance.

Ferrari Classiche Academy lets you experience driving supercars before the electronic age

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Prices for the updated Toyota Hilux to be launched soon have been announced by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) today. In the new line-up, there are five variants to choose from, with the new Double Cab 2.8 Rogue as the flagship.

There are two turbodiesel engine choices – 2.8 litres and 2.4 litres – and also automatic and manual transmissions. The Hilux Single Cab is still offered for those who use the vehicle mainly for heavy-duty business purposes. A warranty of 5 years (or maximum of 150,000 kms after original registration) is provided.

Assembled in Malaysia, the new Hilux range comes with a choice of seven exterior colours. These are Bronze Mica Metallic (a new colour), Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic and Super White II. The Hilux Single Cab is available only in a Solid White colour.

As mentioned in an earlier report, the new Hilux has changes to styling, updates of features inside, and improvements in performance. Although the current 8th generation has achieved the maximum 5-star rating from ASEAN NCAP, it continues to be improved in safety aspects with the inclusion of the Toyota Safety Sense system (Hilux 2.8 Rogue only).

Toyota Service Savers & Insurance Packages
For those intending to purchase new Toyota vehicles, UMWT also recommends the Toyota Service Savers & Insurance Packages. With the Toyota Service Savers package, there can be saving of up to 13% during servicing and discounts of up to 20% for selected items and parts replacement. Available for the period of 5 years or 3 years, the cost of the package can be included in the financing scheme as part of the vehicle purchase cost.

The Toyota Insurance Package offers benefits which can allow an owner to regain use of his or her vehicle as quickly as possible after an accident. If not exceeding RM20,000, the claim can usually be approved within 24 hours, enabling repair work to commence quickly. There’s also no betterment charges or Excess Clause and the insurance companies will pay the entire amount of the claim.

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Visit www.toyota.com.my for more information on the new Hilux and other products and services in Malaysia.

Improved Toyota Hilux to be launched soon, and you can book now

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Lynk & Co, the global premium brand created in the Geely Auto Group, clearly has its eyes on the future and the future is going to be all about electric vehicles (EVs). Its ideas for the future therefore focus on  pure electric vehicles and Geely Holding has even developed Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) for this.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

Pure electric architecture for all
SEA is a pure electric architecture that will be used as the basis for all new EVs within the Geely Holding Group portfolio. It is the world’s first open-source electric vehicle architecture, and ‘open-source’ means that other third-party vehicle manufacturers will be able to use it for their own EV development. In this way, EVs can more quickly grow in numbers and enable manufacturers to reach efficient economies of scale for production costs to start dropping.

It’s like the architecture for the first Personal Computer (PC) that IBM developed in the early 1980s. This was open-source architecture that was freely available to everyone and very quickly, the availability of the PC from numerous companies led to it becoming the dominant system in what had been an industry fragmented by many different architectures and operating systems.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

Next production model previewed
The Zero Concept model that Lynk & Co will display at the coming Beijing Auto Show will be the first model to be based on the SEA architecture. It will be the basis for a new model to go into production next year and also enter the market before the end of 2021.

The Zero Concept was designed in Lynk & Co’s Gothenburg design studio in Sweden. It is the second concept car from the brand after the CCC Concept Car which was unveiled in 2016. It set the design direction for the Lynk & Co brand as it grew from one model, the 01, to encompassing 5 different variants – SUV, crossover, coupe SUV and sedan.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

CCC concept model displayed in 2017.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

The Zero Concept is an extension of the original CCC Concept in its execution, utilizing Lynk & Co’s unique design language that has a clear expression. Clear graphical lines push boundaries and work to highlight the technological aspects of the Zero Concept’s design language.

“The dedication that went into the Zero Concept was incredible, and the result has been first class design with state-of-the-art technologies that allow for a zero-emission future. We have encompassed passion, performance and pure electrification into the Zero Concept,” said Peter Horbury, Senior Vice-President of Geely Design.

Positioned as performance touring coupe
The SEA architecture has given the designers the possibility to create a vehicle with perfect proportions with low overhangs both front and rear, with a wheelbase that is just under 3000 mm. Its dynamic sporting profile positions the Concept Zero as a technology-orientated performance touring coupe.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

Sustainability has been placed at the forefront of the Zero Concept with the use of high-tech sustainable materials being used throughout the design strategy that will further enhance the production variants zero emission credentials.

Drivers can expect the range of the production model to be in excess of 700 kms with a fully charged battery pack, according to Lynk & Co. Like many EVs, it will also off brisk and zippy performance with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of under 4 seconds.

2020 Lynk & Co Zero Concept

About Lynk & Co
Although the brand is already 4 years old, it is still not well known globally as much of its marketing focus has been in China. The company was formed as a joint venture between the Geely Auto Group and the Volvo Car Group as ‘a challenge to the established automotive industry with an offering that meets the needs and requirements of a new generation of globally connected consumer’.

It developed a new business model, an open API, personalized services, sharing possibilities and the first dedicated app store for cars.

Since entering the market with the 01 SUV in 2018, Lynk & Co has sold over 300,000 cars. The tech-laden SUV is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) that was co-developed between the Geely Auto Group and Volvo Cars.

Lynk & Co’s first model

The brand has planned a roll-out of products in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Italy, France and Spain towards the end of this year, with the North American market to follow.

Automaker previews new ownership and sharing services

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