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Goodyear coping well with tough market demands

The trend in the global tyre market has shifted in recent years. It seems that customers are looking for better equipped and high quality tyres rather than regular ones. This shift in requirements suits Goodyear Tire & Rubber company quite well. The tyre manufacturer has been a leading maker and supplier of quality tyres that adhere to stringent tests and requirements. As sa result, this shift has increased the financial growth of the company considerably.

“The accelerating shift to high-value- added tires for both consumer vehicles and commercial trucks is the main product trend shaping the future of the tire industry,” Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Richard J. Kramer said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting today.

Goodyear says that the demand for tyres of 17-inches or larger has doubled since 2010 and it is expected to increase again by two fold by 2020. That said, the company is able to cope with market demands better than competitors due to its business model, consumer-centric strategies as well as OE relationships and marketing relationships with its distribution network.

Due to the vast diversity of vehicles and models produced by different automakers, developing and supplying suitable tyres in a timely manner can be an arduous task. But Goodyear says it is able to meet their needs and those of customers wanting the latest tyre technology in their rubber, confidently well.

During the tyre company’s annual meeting, shareholders re-elected 13 members of the company’s Board of Directors to new one-year terms, approved Goodyear’s 2017 Performance Plan and voted to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2017.

For more information on the company or the various tyres that it offers here in Malaysia, visit the company’s website to learn more.

Mini Remastered to debut at London Motor Show

Have you ever contemplated buying an original Mini but was a little skeptical about relaibility? Well, David Brown Automotive may have something thing of interest to you. The UK based coach-builder has taken apart the original Mini, reworked the body panels and internals as well as the various wiring and electronics and resembled it to create a remastered vehicle that resembles the original but features modern technology.

The company even reconditioned the 1,275cc 78bhp engine and four-speed gearbox. The chassis and body panels are reworked and de-seamed to provide that new car fit and finish. The Mini has been fitted with modern niceties such as an in-built infortainment and navigation system that offers a host of connectivity features for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also has a four-speaker sound system, USB connectivity and charging ports for your phone. Unlike the antic it is based on, the new reworked car called the Mini Remastered, features keyless entry, push-button ignition system and remote central locking.

Every Mini Remastered produced comes with a bespoke leather-lined luggage space and a petrol tank painted in each car’s contrasting roof colour. Every Mini Remastered come with an exceptional paint finish, with a full four-week paint process applied to every car.

David Brown automotive uses a combination of engineering, state-of-the-art technology and old fashioned coach-building techniques to build the car. The Mini isn’t its first project though because a year ago, the company unveiled the Speedback GT. It’s a bespoke car powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that puts out 510bhp.

The boutique British coach-builder takes pride in its modernized coach-building approach to manufacturing fully engineered, limited-edition vehicles that are made from hand-formed aluminium with entirely hand crafted interiors.

The Mini Remastered will be on display at the Confused.con London Motor Show from 4-7 May 2017 where it will make its public debut.

Michelle Gay, Brand & Business Manager at David Brown Automotive: “We are delighted to be exhibiting at The London Motor Show for a second year. We received a fantastic response to Speedback GT last year and are hugely excited to be making the first public debut in the UK of our second model, Mini Remastered, which is the ultimate modern classic for city driving.”

The company has done some excellent work with the Mini, we hope that these techniques catch on and allow other builders to restore former classic cars to their original glory.

Perodua Bezza wins Frost & Sullivan COTY

Perodua’s first EEV sedan has won over car buyers all over the country due to its fuel sipping engines and practical dimensions. It’s won over so many hearts that it has been awarded the 2017 Forst & Sullivan’s Malaysia Car of the Year at the namesake’s Excellence Awards.

The Bezza also picked up the Debut Car of the Year award from Frost & Sullivan, and its little sister, the Axia, picked up the Value-for-Money Car of the Year for the 1.3L & under category. Perodua’s Bezza was picked out from the list of finalists due to it’s substantial sales volume, sales growth, market share and its overall impact to the industry in terms of volume.

“We are overwhelmed with this recognition for the Perodua Bezza and the Axia. The 2017 Frost & Sullivan’s Malaysia Car of the Year Award for the Bezza is an endorsement towards our first ever full upper body designed model,” Perodua President & CEO, Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

There are two factors that were considered before the Bezza was chosen, these are quantitative and qualitative factors. The quantitative ones include sales volume for 2015 and 2016, sales volume growth, market share within its own segment in 2015 and 2016, market share growth within the vehicle’s own segment and average sales per month. For the qualitative factors, judges consider market strategy in 2016, the key selling points,key competitive advantages, achievements, popularity and the model’s perception among car buyers.

The Bezza was launched in July of 2016 and since then, about 50,900 cars have been sold. It’s a popular choice due to its affordability, practicality and choice of variants. The car can be ordered with either a 1.0-litre (1KR-VE) or 1.3-litre (1NR-VE) engine and up to 5 variants are offered as standard. The variants are the 1.0L Manual, 1.0L Automatic, 1.3L Premium X Manual, 1.3L Premium X Automatic and 1.3L Advanced version Automatic.

If you are in the market for a compact economy car, the Bezza should be in your shortlist. It is a sensible choice for those looking for economical vehicle but with space for the family and luggage.

Porsche Panamera launched in Malaysia

The second generation of Porsche’s four door sedan for the road has finally been launched here in Malaysia. Featuring extensive changes both inside and out, the Panamera has a svelte silhouette which is a major improvement over the disproportional first generation car.

The new car is 5,049mm long, 1,937mm wide and 1,423mm tall making it longer, wider and taller than its predecessor. Despite the increase in dimensions, the reason for the new car’s sleek look is its lowered roofline, which sits 20mm lower than that of the previous car. Its wheelbase has been extended a further 30mm which means the front wheels have been moved forward in an effort to reduce front overhang.The rear overhang has been extended to make for a bolder presence.

As a means to improve handling, the new Panamera features rear wheel steering, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM elecntronic damper control), Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (PDCC Sport), Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), active roll stabilization and electromechanical steering system. The car even features a 4D chassis control system that works with all other systems to ensure that chassis remains balanced and controled regardless of the situation.

As of now, only two versions of the new Panamera have been made available, the Panamera and Panamera 4S. The V6 and V8 biturbo powerplants that have been optimised for power delivery. The tubrochargers sit in banked manner allowing them to be integrated with the rest of the engine making for a more compact package that is able to sit lower in the engine bay.

The 2.9-litre V6 engine develops 440bhp which is 20bhp more than that in the previous model. As such the Panameara 4S will be able to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds but even quicker when equipped with the Sports Chrono Package. In the Panamera, the engine is also turbocharged and 330bhp which is also 20bhp more than the car it replaces. The engine is mated to a 8-speed dual clutch transmission (PDK) and owners can now have their cars fitted with permanent all-wheel-drive system too.

Inside, the Panamera features better technology with the replacement of mechancial switchgear with that of the more modern touch sensitive system. The car retains the signature tachometer which is flanked with two 7-inch displays on each side. In the centre stack sits a 12.3-inch display infortainment system called the Porsche Communication Managment (PCM) system.

The Panamera is priced at RM890,000 and the Panamera 4S is priced at RM1,100,000. Both variants come with a four-year warranty and free maintenace package which is offered with complimnetary service, labour and parts. Should you require further information, please visit your nreartest dealerhsip or visit the company’s local website.

New Volvo XC60 to be produced this month

Volvo turns 90 this month, and its no coincidence that it will begin manufacturing the new XC60 at its facility in Gothenburg, Sweden starting this month. It is set to replace one of the company’s best selling vehicles to date. Sales of the original XC60 were so good that, since its launch in 2008, Volvo has sold 1,000,000 of them worldwide.

It accounts for 30% of the Swedish automaker’s worldwide sales, which is a signficant chunk of its yearly revenue. Volvo planned it this way so that 90 years to the month that its first car rolled off the lot, the ÖV4, it will once again be bringing a revolutionary product to the masses.

“Volvo is very proud of its history. The past 90 years have been exciting, but the 10 years left until the 100-year anniversary may come to be more exciting as industry focus shifts to autonomous driving, electrification and connectivity,” says Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo Cars. “The new XC60 is in many ways the embodiment of these trends.”

It’s common knowledge that Volvo makes some of the safest cars in the world and with the XC60, it shows. The new vehicle features a myriad of safety tech including Oncoming Lane Mitigation system, which uses Steer Assist to help mitigate head-on collisions. It also has, as an option, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driver-assistance system – Pilot Assist, which takes care of the steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h.

Volvo is launching the new vehicle across global markets in a staggered manner, hoping to keep supply and demand in check and ensure that customers get their vehicles on time. The automaker is confident that the new XC60 will boost thier sales even further, allowing them to post record sales for 2017. No news yet on when it will be made available here in Malaysia, but we hope its sooner rather than later.

BMW i3 wins 2017 World Urban Car award

BMW’s electric vehicle, the i3 94 Ah, has been named 2017 World Urban Car at the New York International Auto Show. The car’s small dimensions, lightweight construction and efficient propulsion system made it a clear favourite for 2017.

“We are delighted and honoured that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car of the Year,” said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. “This award highlights BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW’s first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fibre. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 94Ah provides more range, paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world.”

Originally launched in 2014, BMW managed to make the car spacious and offer decent range which made it a worthy choice for city dwellers. Compared with the standard one, the 94 Ah has a 50% higher battery capacity (33kWh) due to the higher energy density of its lithium-ion cells.

BMW was able to increase battery capacity but without altering its physical dimensions. This means that it occupies the same space as that in the standard car but allows the i3 to travel significantly longer before needing a recharge. The car is powered by a 170bhp AC synchronous electric motor which is able to propel the the little city car to 100km/h from a standstill in just 7.3 seconds.

Audi A4 is now available in three new variants

Audi has added three new variants to its A4 line-up which are the 1.4 TFSI, A4 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and the range topping 2.0 TFSI quattro. Launched last September, the A4 portfolio initially comprised of the A4 2.0 TFSI and A4 2.0 S Line. The added contenders will provide buyers with more options to choose from and allow the brand to meet the needs of many more buyers.

Considered the entry level variant of the lot, the A4 1.4 TFSI differs a little in terms of styling compared with the standard 2.0 TFSI. It has a different wheel design and comes with xenon plus headlights with DRLs but halogen taillights. Inside, the car is identical to its larger engine sibling with the exception of the steering wheel, which is of a different design.

Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre engine that produces 150bhp and 250Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission. Fuel consumption is pretty good too, Audi claims that the car should provide a fuel consumption figure of 5.2 l/ 100km on a combined cycle.

Moving up the range is the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack which features the Audi virtual cockpit and Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators in the front. Inside, the infotainment system has the Audi smartphone interface for Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as a number of others. It’s powered by the same engine as the rest of the 2.0-litre A4 variants but it produces 190bhp and 320Nm of torque.

The third variant, called the 2.0 TFSI quatrro, features the same 2.0-litre engine but is tuned to produce 252bhp and 370Nm of torque. Due to the power, the 0-100km/h time for this variant drops to a mere 5.8 seconds which is close to the sports car territory. Also, its fitted with Audi’s clever all-wheel-drive system (quattro) enabling the car to have better grip especially on roads even in poor weather conditions.

There some subtle cues that enable the car to stand out from the rest of the line-up which include sportier front and rear bumpers, 18-inch 5-spoke cast aluminium wheels, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, sports front seats, Alcantara upholstery, matte brushed aluminium inlays, Audi smartphone interface for apple Carplay and Android Auto, Audi connect as well as other features.

The 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI Tech pack variants can be ordered in seven different body colours which are Glacier White, Floret Silver, Scuba Blue, Tango Red, Monsoon Grey, Argus Brown, as well as Mythos Black. The 2.0 TFSI quattro can be had in the same range of colours except for Argus Brown, which has been replaced with Daytona Grey. Pricing starts at RM218,900 for the 1.4 TFSI, RM273,900 for the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and RM314,900 for the 2.0 TFSI quattro.

However, since the cars have just been launched, Audi are offering them at a lowered price to entice buyers meaning, for a limited time only and starting from April 14, the 1.4 TFSI costs just RM199,900, the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack is offered at RM 249,900 and the 2.0 TFSI quattro is priced at RM294,900.

All variants of the A4 line-up come with a 5 year and unlimited mileage warranty. If you are interested, visit your nearest dealership or visit the automaker’s local website to learn more.

New Mitsubishi Triton launched

Mitsubishi has officially launched its new Triton for the Malaysian market. The new pick-up truck boasts a number of improvements over its predecessor which aid safety, performance and reliability.

Compared with the truck it replaces, the new one has a dark chrome grille at the front end, newly designed side steps, automatic bi-xenon HID headlights with integrated DRLs and on one variant, 17-inch dual-tone alloy rims and a front bumper shield extender.

Inside, there’s now a new four-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a new instrument cluster. There’s also leather seats, a 8-way adjustable driver’s seat and reverse camera but are only available in the VGT Adventure variant.

Under the the bonnet is a 2.4-litre MIVEC engine with Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) that produces 180bhp and 430Nm of torque. This engine replaces the older 2.5-litre unit in its predecessor and is said to offer 15% better fuel efficiency. The improvement is due to the use of aluminium alloy for the engine block and the ability of the MIVEC system to control the engine valves with better precision. Mitsubishi has fitted it with a timing chain, which will lower running costs and extend service life.

There two transmission choices, buyers can choose between a 5-speed automatic with manual mode or a new 6-speed manual one. The 4WD system can be toggled while the vehicle is mobile, which should offer better flexibility especially during off-read excursions.

As for its safety features, the Triton has 7 airbags (front, side and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag) but only if you opt for the Adventure variant. Some variants will come with all the features stated in this article, so before you put your name down for a Triton, make sure its of the variant that you actually want.

The following is a list of variants available and the various corresponding body colours:

Imported from Thailand, the new Mitsubishi Triton is already available for order at any Mitsubishi dealership, so visit your nearest one to know more.

New Audi Q8 and Q4 to complete SUV line-up

Audi is expanding its product portfolio with the addition of two new Q models – the Q8 and Q4. The Audi Q8 will open up a new segment for the German automaker’s top-end models. It is a premium SUV with a coupe-like silhouette but offers decent amount of space and the latest technologies. The Q4 on the other hand, will be responsible for penetrating the compact utility vehicles (CUVs) segment. Featuring coupe-like design as well, the Q4 will slot between the Q3 and Q5 and should complete the Q line up for the German automaker.

“We will integrate two completely new Q‑models into the existing production network and will thus increase our competitiveness in an extremely important segment,” stated Audi’s Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics, Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl.

Audi’s Q8 will be produced in Bratislava (Slovakia) where the Q7 and Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid are also being made. The smaller Q4 will be produced in Győr (Hungary) and will be joined by the Audi Q3 once the conditions are favorable but until then, the Q3 will continue to be produced in Martorell, Spain.

Production for the Q8 will begin in 2018 and a year later, Audi will give the green light to start production of the smaller Q4. Expect good things from the German automaker in the next couple of years but we are sure Mercedes-Benz and BMW aren’t going to take this news lying down.

Ford to roll out hybrid pursuit sedan soon

Ford has developed a police spec hybrid pursuit vehicle for Police departments in the US. Called the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, the vehicle features clever tech that help it save fuel and put less strain on the car’s engine when it comes to powering the various electronic equipment.

Under the the bonnet is a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine and an electric motor which is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Ford says, that the car can run on pure electric power at speeds of up to 100km/h. It will switch between electric, petrol or a combination of both (hybrid) as and when necessary to ensure police officers have the performance needed to respond to emergency situations.

The Blue Oval also says that the car will be able to cover more than double the distance of a regular petrol-only pursuit vehicle but with the same amount of fuel. This can be attributed to the use of a lithium-ion battery pack that helps power the electrical systems and putting less of burden on the engine especially when the vehicle is stationary.

This pursuit sedan is one of 13 electrified vehicles that will be introduced to the market in the next 5 years. Others include a hybrid F-150 pick-up, hybrid version of the Mustang, plug-in hybrid Transit, all-electric small SUV and a hybrid powered self-driving vehicle which has not been named.

“Electrifying our next generation of vehicles is core to our unwavering commitment to sustainability,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “By being a leader in electrified vehicles, we remain committed to delivering cars, trucks and SUVs that are better not only for our customers, but for the environment and society as well.”

Ford has poured $4.5 billion dollars into its alternative energy campaign with the hopes offering general consumers the vehicles that are most useful to them. Though the launch dates of these various vehicles are still far off, the hybrid pursuit sedan will be made available for purchase by various police departments as early as the middle of next year.