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New BMW X1 sDrive 1.8i in showrooms this weekend, priced from RM208,368

Along with the new M135i xDrive, BMW Malaysia has also introduced the new X1 sDrive18i which, being assembled locally, now enjoys full exemption of sales tax until the end of 2020. This puts its pricetag at a very attractive RM208,368.48, excluding insurance premium.

The new variant joins the X1 sDrive20i M Sport introduced in January this year, extending the BMW second generation of the F48 SAV line-up. Colour choices are Alpine White, Mediterranean Blue, Black Sapphire, and Mineral Grey, with interior upholstery in black Leather Dakota.

1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbo unit
Under the bonnet is a BMW TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder 1.5-litre engine which produces up to 140 bhp with 220 Nm of torque. Power flows to the wheels through a 7-Speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch, giving the X1 the potential to reach 100 km/h from standing in a claimed 9.6 second and achieve a top speed of 201 km/h.

Having a small displacement helps in fuel efficiency for the engine which has won an International Engine of the Year award for 5 consecutive years since 2015. BMW claims it has a fuel consumption of 15.9 kms/litre which would give a range of around 800 kms on a full tank.

With the same basic styling as the X1 sDrive20i M Sport, the sDrive18i comes with LED headlights, front LED foglights, satin-finish aluminium roof rails and exterior trim, as well as 560 17-inch light alloy wheels in V-spoke style.

Most spacious interior in class
Claimed to have the most spacious interior in its class, the SAV’s boot capacity can be expanded from 505 litres to 1,550 litres. The automatic tailgate with Comfort Access makes opening and closing easier as no manual operation is needed. Great for the times when both hands are carrying grocery bags.

The cockpit features interior trim finishers in black high-gloss and highlight trim finishers in Pearl Chrome. For the driver, there’s a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and front occupants have the convenience of electrically-adjustable front seats. Two-zone automatic air conditioning keeps the entire cabin cool and comfortable while the grey headliner helps to give a brighter ambience.

The infotainment system is managed by BMW’s intuitive iDrive system. Its 8.8-inch Control Display can be operated via the iDrive controller, by touch, and even voice control.

Driving assistance systems to enhance safety included the BMW Personal CoPilot, which includes the Lane Departure Warning. The system also has Frontal Collision Warning with braking intervention and a High-beam Assistant. Speed limit information is displayed to keep the driver aware of how fast he or she is allowed to travel.

From RM,2,378 a month
Those who use the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will be able to own the X1 sDrive18i with monthly instalments of RM2,378.00. This is based on estimates of an 80% loan with a 5-year repayment period (terms and conditions apply).

Each SAV comes with a 5-year warranty (no mileage limit), Free Scheduled Service, BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card, and BMW Service Online.

MINI and BMW prices with Sales Tax exemption

Bugatti Baby II soon to be delivered to customers

At the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, Bugatti announced a new ‘baby’ as its 110th birthday present to itself. It was the reimagining of the original Bugatti Baby, developed in partnership with The Little Car Company, for enthusiasts old and new.

A year later, the company has completed the design and testing phase, with production of 500 units commencing. When it was first announced, all 500 cars were booked within just 3 weeks but as some customers have had a change in circumstances due to recent global events, there are now a few units still available. Prices range from €30,000 to €43,500 (equivalent to RM150,000 – RM216,000).

Like the original but bigger
The original Bugatti Baby was born in 1926 when Ettore and his son Jean decided to build a scaled-down Type 35 for Ettore’s youngest son, Roland, on the occasion of his fourth birthday. They had intended the present as a one-off car but customers who saw it were so enthusiastic that the Baby went into production and was sold between 1927 and 1936.

Cherished by Bugatti enthusiasts worldwide, no collection is complete without a Baby. However, with only around 500 ever made, they have been the preserve of the lucky few.

Bugatti T 52 Baby and Bugatti 35 — The original Baby, referred to internally as T 52, was a scaled-down version of the Type 35 (above). It was meant to be a one-off for Bugatti’s son but customers liked it so much that Bugatti built another 500.

While the original Bugatti Baby was a 50% scale version of the car that brought Automobiles Ettore Bugatti to fame in the 1920s, the Bugatti Baby II (as it is referred to) offers more in terms of size and considerably more in terms of performance.

Eight-year olds would struggle to fit in the original half-scale Baby whereas, at 75% scale and designed for ages 14 and above, the Baby II has definitely become more of a young adult. Those who have had the opportunity to drive it describe it as ‘more of an unruly teenager than a Baby’.

“Ettore Bugatti himself was already interested in catering to the children of Bugatti enthusiasts and designed the Type 52 miniature car as a genuine Bugatti. That was a sensation at the time,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We are continuing this tradition with the new edition of the Bugatti Baby II, and I am delighted that we have found The Little Car Company, a partner that shares the same values as us. With the Bugatti Baby II, we invite a young generation of enthusiasts to fall in love with the wonderful world of Bugatti.”

Iconic design, today’s technology
The Bugatti Baby II is available in three versions – a base model, the Vitesse and Pur Sang. The base model has a composite body and a 1.4-kWh battery pack. With the Vitesse, there’s a more powerful 2.8-kWh battery pack in the carbonfibre body. Its upgraded powertrain includes a Speed Key like its big brother, the Chiron.

The Pur Sang version is targeted at collectors. This offers the same powertrain as the Vitesse but with hand-formed aluminium bodywork. Using the same traditional coachbuilding techniques as the original Bugatti Type 35, each aluminium body takes more than 200 hours of skilled craftsmanship to create.

Variable speed limit and power
Still rear wheel drive like the original, all versions of the Baby II have a limited slip differential, high performance hydraulic brakes and selectable driving modes. The Base model can be limited to 20 km/h in Novice mode while Expert mode limits speed 45 km/h with a maximum of 4 kW of power.

The Vitesse and Pur Sang versions include the Novice and Expert driving modes but also offer extra performance from the upgraded powertrain, unlocked by the legendary Bugatti Speed Key. This allows for up to 10 kW (13.4 bhp) to be used. With a total weight of just 230 kgs, the Baby II will be spinning the Michelin tyres as it sprints from standstill to a 70 km/h top speed. Depending on the weight of the driver, 0 – 60 km/h could be done in just 6 seconds.

Although the Baby II would not be legal on public roads so its driver won’t be travelling to the grocery shop down the road, the base lithium-ion battery pack combined with regenerative braking can give up to 25 kms of range on a single charge, with the larger battery pack in the Vitesse & Pur Sang doubling that figure. That means longer driving sessions on the test course around the home.

Like the full-sized electric cars, there’s the same balance of performance or range. If the driver prefers to enjoy the full performance of the Baby II, then the range would of course be less. If recharging is too time-consuming, the battery pack can be easily taken out and replaced with one already charged and ready to do.

2020 Bugatti Baby II — *Andy Wallace, a British racing driver who is also Bugatti’s test driver, was involved in tuning the handling of the Baby II.*

Authentic handling too
When it comes to handling, the Baby II is completely true to its mythical predecessor, the Bugatti Type 35. Based on a digital 3D scan of an original Lyon GP car with identical geometry and suspension, the handling is as authentic as an enthusiast could hope for.

The only nod to modernity is the introduction of adjustable dampers, allowing tailoring of the handling in ways not possible in the Type 35’s heyday. Bugatti’s test driver, Andy Wallace, was also involved in the final development of the tuning and set-up of the Baby II.

Other features which will appeal to enthusiasts include faithful working replicas of the original Type 35’s instruments, with some adaption for modernity. The turned aluminium dashboard is as present and correct as it was on the original Type 35, and custom ‘EB’ switches operate the LED headlights.

The car can even be customised in multiple colours for both the exterior and interior, including the exact same solid shades available on the Chiron, and an online configurator is available.

Bugatti Divo hypercar reaches final phase of development

New BMW M135i xDrive (F40) in showrooms from July 28, priced from RM355,646

The BMW 1-Series has been around for some 16 years and has been the smallest model in the BMW range. It reached its third generation (F40) last year and will be available in Malaysia from next week (July 28). Only one variant is offered by BMW Malaysia and that is the new M135i xDrive which, with the exemption of sales tax, will be priced from RM355,646.25 (without insurance).

Greater presence on the road
Compared to the second generation, this new generation has greater presence with the design language providing a fresh interpretation of iconic BMW features. Its distinctive kidney grille is finished in Cerium Grey and an exclusive mesh design replaces the classical bars. The merging of the two sides of the grille has a more unified style that suits the enlarged size.

Adaptive LED headlights, now slanting in design, flank the grille while the front and side air inlets, exterior mirror caps and the 100-mm exhaust tailpipes are all finished in the same Cerium Grey. On each corner are newly designed 19-inch 8J light alloy wheels in V-spoke Style 557 M Bicolour, fitted with broad 235/35 tyres.

At the rear, three-dimensional two-part taillights with the classic BMW L-shape emphasise the vehicle’s width. Also standard is a BMW M rear spoiler to not only enhance the sporty image but also provide extra downforce.

Customers can order their M135i xDrive in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Misano Blue, Mineral Grey or Melbourne Red. Interior choices are black Leather ‘Dakota’ upholstery with black perforations or Magma Red Leather ‘Dakota’ upholstery with grey highlight and black perforations.

With ‘M’ as part of its designation, it’s only to be expected that this new BMW model will get a powerplant worthy of ‘M’. And it does: the 2-litre M Performance TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine (B48) which puts out 306 bhp/450 Nm. With an 8-speed Steptronic transmission, the M135i xDrive is claimed to take 4.8 seconds to get to 100 km/h from zero and top out at 250 km/h which is the set limit.

More capable xDrive system
The xDrive system has front-wheel drive architecture that also features technology transferred from BMW i. The ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel-slip limitation) – as seen in the all-electric BMW i3s – improves traction and enables noticeably more sensitive and faster intervention on the driven front axle. This is made possible by the slip control system positioned directly in the engine control unit, which results in a shorter signal path with engine output imperceptibly reduced as soon as threat of wheel slip on the front wheels is detected.

The all-wheel drive system also has a newly developed Torsen LSD integrated into the transmission which optimises traction by distributing power to individual wheels. It functions as a front differential and channels power to the wheel with the most traction in fast corners. Additionally, the Torsen differential has a Launch Control mode that maxes torque to 450 Nm in the first two gears.

To allow the driver to make full use of all the power and take the M135i xDrive to its high limits safely, the car is fitted with M Sport suspension and M Sport brakes. The latter offers superior fade resistance and strong stopping power.

The driving pleasure is enhanced by aural pleasure with Active Sound Design that amplifies the actual sound from the engine. The sound is modulated into a sporty soundtrack without generating increased external noise (which should keep the neighbours happy at night).

Advanced connectivity and assistance systems
To complement the driving pleasure, more advanced connectivity and driver assistance systems are installed in the car. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional is managed by the BMW Operating System 7.0 with a customisable 10.25-inch Instrument Display and high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen Control Display. There’s also a BMW Digital Key, Apple CarPlay, Remote Software upgrade and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

To allow the driver to focus on driving, the BMW Personal CoPilot takes over some of the safety concerns with its Driving Assistant, Parking Assistant and Reversing Assistant. The Driving Assistant includes Lane Change Warning, Crossing Traffic Warning at the rear, Rear Collision Warning and Speed Limit Assist. It also includes Lane Departure Warning and Frontal Collision Warning with braking function.

The Parking Assistant is also available, along with the intuitive Active Park Distance Control. The Reversing Assistant recalls the last 50 metres covered and is able to manoeuvre back the same way by taking over control of the steering wheel while the driver just controls acceleration and braking.

Increased width for more comfort
While the wheelbase is shorter than before, the cabin has gained wider interior dimensions which improves comfort for not just the driver and front passenger but the rear passengers as well. And thanks to the space-saving rear-axle design, luggage capacity has increased by 20 litres to 380 litres.

The cockpit has ‘Illuminated Boston’ interior trim finishers and Leather Dakota upholstery. Electrically-adjustable front seats with driver’s seat memory function, two-zone automatic air conditioning and the BMW Individual Headliner Anthracite are standard. Also included is a wireless charger along with a 16-speaker 464-watt Harman Kardon surround sound system.

Buying the new M135i xDrive
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia can help make you the owner of the M135i xDrive with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM4,058 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a 5-year tenure, terms and conditions apply).

For a complete premium ownership experience, owners will receive a 5-year warranty with free scheduled service, BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card and BMW Service Online.

By the way, if you book the new car at BMW Shop Online (a deposit of just RM1,000 is required), you could also win a new BMW i8 Coupe.

Visit www.bmw.com.my for more information or to locate a nearby authorised BMW dealership.

BMW Shop Online and BMW Engage digitalise premium ownership experience

Fuel price updates for July 25 to July 31, 2020

New vehicle sales and production for the first half of 2020

The official numbers are out and as expected, they show a grim picture of the auto industry’s performance in the first 6 months of this year. For the first half (H1) of 2019, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) was almost 300,000 units but this year, it fell by 41.1% to 174,675 units.

As the chart shows, the unprecedented contraction started in March when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented in the middle of the month and the slide continued through April with a 99.7% drop compared to April 2019 as no business could be done. By May, the situation shows signs of improvement that the government was willing to relax the MCO and allowed many businesses to resume operations, with strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be observed.

The resumption began with service centres and factories and then showrooms were also allowed to open for business. While large numbers of customers didn’t visit showrooms, many companies began to promote their online services for booking which at least started the purchasing process without having to physically be in contact with the customer.

May saw a climb in numbers to 23,960 units and then came some good news that was part of the government’s plan to help industries recover: the sales tax of 10% would be exempted from June 15 to December 31, 2020. For locally-assembled models, which make up the dominant share of new vehicles sold, the exemption would be 100% and for imported CBU models, it would be 50%. It was hoped that the lowering of prices would encourage people to buy new vehicles.

Commercial vehicles — *Like passenger vehicle sales, commercial vehicle sales also fell this year but pick-ups continued to have the biggest volume.*

Even with just two weeks in June when the prices were reduced (although Perodua started adjusting prices downwards a bit earlier), sales shot up by 91.7% from the May TIV to 44,695 units – even higher than the 42,526 units reported in June 2019.

2020 forecast revised twice
When the MCO was in force and its impact on the industry was clear, the MAA revised its forecast for the year downwards to 400,000 units. Then, when the government announced the exemption of sales tax, the forecast was revised again as it was felt that the auto industry-specific incentive, along with other economic incentives, would help to boost sales. The revision saw the TIV for 2020 going up to 470,000 units.

This means that, for the second half of the year, the TIV would have to be 295,325 units or almost 50,000 units each month. That may appear a bit ambitious but last year, 5 of the six months in the second half of the year saw volumes over 50,000 units. However, consumers were uncertain about the economy then, not their lives; it is different this year with concerns about COVID-19. Many people have lost their jobs (the unemployment rate increased to 5.3% in May from 3.3% in February) or had big pay cuts and buying a new vehicle might be one of the last things on their mind.

Used car business booming
The used car industry is experiencing a boom, though. According to MAA President, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, apart from wanting to spend less on a vehicle purchase (or not at all), many people may be reluctant to use public transport to avoid risks of infection and therefore buy a low-priced used car for their transport needs.

Obviously, the auto industry would like more assistance from the government to help in its recovery but understandably, the government has to help other industries as well. The new National Automotive Policy (NAP) which was announced at the beginning of the year has yet to be implemented and the MAA will soon be meeting MITI to get more clarification on the policy as well as to offer suggestions on how the industry can be helped in its recovery. The MAA President thinks that the policy is unlikely to be changed despite the challenging economic conditions.

Other ASEAN markets
As always, the MAA press conference also included an overview of how other ASEAN markets are doing and as would be expected, there was a big drop in the total regional sales and production volumes by 42% and 39%, respectively. Only Myanmar did not have a decline in sales (in fact, its sales increased by 5%) during the first 6 months of 2020 but that market is small – less than 8,000 units over a 5-month period. Compared to the 5-month period in 2019, production in Thailand and Indonesia, the two big markets which also export substantial numbers of vehicles, dropped by 40% and 33%, respectively, while Malaysian production was 51% down.

After 2020
The MAA’s forecast for the next few years is conservative and as the TIV for 2020 is going to be lower than normal – the last time it was around 470,000 units was in the early 2000s – 2021 is expected to see a 17% increase to 550,000 units. However, after that, the TIV may slow down and a 9.1% increase to 600,000 units is forecast for 2012. Thereafter, it may be just 2% a year till the end of 2024.

At this time, it’s hard for anyone to say with certainty how things will be. As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, ‘the trajectory of the pandemic remains hard to predict’. Unlike economic recessions where business drops but when things get better, it picks up and continues to grow. This pandemic situation is like a world war, with devastation including loss of lives as well, that impacts virtually everything and with the economies so interconnected, every country will be affected.

Lamborghini offers customers Ad Personam personalisation services online

In the post COVID-19 world (we’re not there yet), close contact is going to be avoided or discouraged to minimise spread of coronavirus infection. Many industries will have to change the way they do things whether within their organisations and for those which deal with the outside world, interaction with customers and clients.

The auto industry, being one of those that has much interaction with customers, is undergoing change with processes that promote social distancing and contactless transactions. Greater attention is being paid to hygiene and the health of staff.

For carmakers like Lamborghini, which has long maintained a personal touch with its customers, there is also a need to review the interactive activities. In particular, the Ad Personam customisation program now has to take into consideration customers who may not wish to travel (or cannot) to the specialist department in Italy.

For such customers, there is now a new Ad Personam virtual studio offering consultation sessions to customers worldwide who want their new Lamborghini to be personalized. From this month, these customers can pre-book an initial consultation of around 2 hours via their dealership, either joining their sales specialist at the showroom or from another location, for their dedicated session with Lamborghini’s specialists.

They will be able to view extensive Ad Personam options on display during the video call to the Ad Personam studio. With the model present, design proposals and configuration suggestions from the Ad Personam team can be discussed using smartphones for walkarounds and to see close-up details. The virtual consultation is followed up with full proposals sent to the client, including renderings and even material samples.

“Lamborghini is always thinking dynamically about the best solutions to challenges, and our new virtual Ad Personam studio consultations have been carefully devised to support clients who, in times where we are all cautious about international travel, still want the special, one-to-one experience of creating an entirely personalized car,” said Giovanni Perosino, Chief Commercial Officer of Automobili Lamborghini.

“We still look forward to welcoming clients to Sant’ Agata Bolognese in the future but we expect more than 150 Ad Personam consultations to take place virtually within this year, and continuing as an option for the future. With the support of our dealers worldwide, who also have significant personalization experience and of course, samples and materials in their own dealerships, we have the exciting opportunity in an increasingly digital age to create one-off Lamborghini models virtually,” he explained.

To celebrate the new Ad Personam facility, Lamborghini announces the Aventador SVJ Xago special edition. Only 10 units are available to those customers specifying their Aventador SVJ virtually. Inspired by the hexagon cloud shapes at the North Pole on the planet Saturn and the strength of the hexagon in nature, the Xago celebrates the iconic ‘hexagonita’ theme in Lamborghini design.

The exterior of the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Xago edition features a specially-created fading hexagonal silver effect, with a unique Ad Personam contrast colour livery for each car and gloss black Nireo Ad Personam rims.

The interior features an exclusive seat pattern with hexagonita theme, and special contrast colour matching the exterior. Each of the Aventador SVJ Xago models will be identified by a numbered plate.

Lamborghini started its Ad Personam program in 2013 and opened its Ad Personam studio in 2016. Today, more than 50% of its cars are given additional attention by Ad Personam specialists after leaving the factory. This percentage has tripled over the last 3 years, with customers in the USA, Asia and UK being the largest number using the personalisation service.

Pearl Capsule gives Lamborghini Urus buyers additional colour choices

Jaguar Land Rover’s Predictive Touch Technology can help reduce spread of viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on changes to many different aspects of life to fight the coronavirus. One of the important measures is the reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, which can be on the many surfaces we come in contact with. Researchers are also beginning to find that the viruses can float in the air for a while too.

For the auto industry, urgent work has been carried out to develop systems and switch to materials that can help in the fight against bacteria and viruses. The latest development is from Jaguar Land Rover which, together with the University of Cambridge, has a new contactless touchscreen technology. This will also help keep drivers’ eyes on the road, improving motoring safety.

The patented technology, known as ‛predictive touch’, uses artificial intelligence and sensors to predict a user’s intended target on the touchscreen – whether that’s satellite navigation, temperature controls or entertainment settings – without actually touching a button.

The pioneering system, developed with engineers at the University of Cambridge, is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Destination Zero’ vision – a desire to make its vehicles safer and the environment cleaner and healthier.

In the ‘new normal’ once lockdowns around the world are lifted, a greater emphasis will be placed on safe, clean mobility where personal space and hygiene will carry premiums. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are already designed to help improve passenger wellbeing, with innovations including a Driver Condition Monitor, engine noise cancellation and cabin air ionisation with PM2.5 filtration to capture ultrafine particles and allergens.

New technology like predictive touch is another step forward in addressing the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.

Lab tests and on-road trials have shown the predictive touch technology could reduce a driver’s touchscreen interaction effort and time by up to 50%. At the same time, this will limit the spread of bacteria and viruses from the touchscreen surface to fingers.

Uneven or poor road surfaces can often cause vibrations that make it difficult to select the correct button on a touchscreen. This means drivers must take their attention away from the road, increasing the risk of an accident. The technology uses artificial intelligence to determine the item the user intends to select on the screen early in the pointing task, speeding up the interaction.

A gesture tracker uses vision-based or radio frequency-based sensors, which are increasingly common in consumer electronics, to combine contextual information such as user profile, interface design and environmental conditions with data available from other sensors, such as an eye-gaze tracker, to infer the user’s intent in real time.

Land Rover — *Existing displays need not be replaced as the technology is a software-based solution using artificial intelligence.*

This software-based solution for contactless interactions has reached high technology readiness levels. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing touchscreens and interactive displays, so long as the correct sensory data is available to support the machine learning algorithm. This means that existing systems do not need to change, keeping costs down.

“As countries around the world exit lockdown, we notice how many everyday consumer transactions are conducted using touchscreens: railway or cinema tickets, ATMs, airport check-ins and supermarket self-service checkouts, as well as many industrial and manufacturing applications. Predictive touch technology eliminates the need to touch an interactive display and could therefore reduce the risk of spreading bacteria or viruses on surfaces,” said Lee Skrypchuk, Human Machine Interface Technical Specialist at Jaguar Land Rover.

“The technology also offers us the chance to make vehicles safer by reducing the cognitive load on drivers and increasing the amount of time they can spend focused on the road ahead. This is a key part of our Destination Zero journey.”

New Land Rover Defender gets advanced connectivity with world-first dual e-SIM hardware

Three-Dimensional Wood trim – a world-first by Bentley

There’s something about wood which adds classiness to a car’s interior. Perhaps it brings to mind the days when wood was the primary material for trim, instead of plastic and metal, and it was handcrafted rather than moulded. Wood trim is a mark of luxury and therefore a must for the prestigious brands.

So far, wood panels have had flat surfaces, polished or natural but now Bentley is offering a ground-breaking new Three-Dimensional Wood trim with the all-new Flying Spur. Used for the rear door trim, Three-Dimensional Wood is a world-first in the automotive sector.

Available from Bentley Mulliner Collections
The trim has a striking, diamond-shaped pattern enhanced with a three-dimensional surface finish machined directly into the wood. The new option is one of the unique veneer choices from the Bentley Mulliner Collections and forms a contemporary luxury design statement, bringing tactility to the natural beauty of wood.

Each rear door and quarter panel is handcrafted from a single block of sustainable American Walnut or American Cherry timber, in a harmonious marriage of traditional skills and modern technology. The Three-Dimensional Wood parts are not made using veneers, as is typically applied to the fascia and waist rails. Instead, each is created from a single block of timber.

The concept for 3D-machined wood was first shown in Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. The distinctive feature was inspired by the form of leather used for the diamond-quilted areas in Bentley’s Mulliner Driving Specification interior suite.

18 months of development
Three-Dimensional Wood required 18 months of production development by expert technical craftsmen before Bentley Mulliner could then bring the complex concept to reality. To achieve the three-dimensional surface, skilled operators carve the wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1 mm, less than the thickness of a human hair, hand-finishing the cuts for perfect results. An open-pore lacquer is then applied, allowing the true colour and texture of the wood to shine through for a refined, natural appearance.

The back or ‘B surface’ of the log is machined to match a die-cast aluminium door panel template. The timber is then bonded to the template before the assembly is placed back into the machine and the front or ‘A surface’ is cut into its three-dimensional form.

Highest quality sustainable timbers
Both American Walnut and American Cherry timber are sustainably sourced from North American hardwood forests. Bentley selects only the very finest timbers, with no knots or resin inclusions through the depth of the wood. Only these logs offer an attractive grain and smooth finish, plus a natural texture and warm colour to complement the superbly appointed Flying Spur cabin.

American Walnut and American Cherry are both popular growing stock in North America, offering an abundant supply of sustainable wood. American Cherry woodland is increasing by more than 7 million cubic metres each year after harvest, while American Walnut is increasing by 3 million cubic metres.

American Walnut is one of the most sought-after species of wood in markets around the world. It is darker than European Walnut, as well as tough, hard and of medium density. American Cherry is highly prized for furniture and interior joinery – the wood finish varies from rich red to reddish brown.

2020 New Bentley Flying Spur — *The New Bentley Flying Spur*

From concept to production reality
“Three-Dimensional Wood is the next interior design element we’ve taken from concept car idea to production reality. It works in perfect harmony with the three-dimensional leather quilting across the cabin of the Flying Spur and creates an even more special environment for those being driven,” explained Bentley’s Head of Interior Design for the Flying Spur, Brett Boydell.

“The principle of milling a geometric three-dimensional diamond form into solid wood was so well received at Geneva, it confirmed the value in translating the concept into reality for the customers of Bentley’s all-new Flying Spur,” he said.

How Bentley ensures the highest quality for its cars

Jeep will bring back the V8 Wrangler

During the past 10 years, the auto industry has been downsizing engines as a way to reduce consumption, toxic exhaust emissions and also weight. Thanks to turbocharging and direct fuel injection, the engine outputs have actually increased in spite of displacements decreasing.

But while most people are happy with smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, Americans still miss the big ones that have been typical in their vehicles, especially the vee engines. Jeep fans, in particular, have been wishing for a V8 Wrangler in recent years, and their request has been noted. The last time a Jeep was offered with a V8 engine was in 1981 when the CJ had a 5-litre V8.

*1981 Jeep CJ Renegade was the last model with a V8.*

Yes, a V8 is returning
As an indication they may soon get their wish, Jeep has revealed the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept. This has a huge 6.4-litre V8 engine that delivers 450 bhp/610 Nm and can go from 0 to 96 km/h in a timed of less than 5 seconds, it is claimed.

“Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts have been asking us for a Wrangler V8, and our new Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept proves that we have the ability to make that happen,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA North America. “From the recently introduced Wrangler EcoDiesel, to our award-winning Jeep Gladiator, and the upcoming Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, Jeep is clearly listening to its customers. We are anxious to gauge their reaction to this new Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept, a vehicle that delivers an incredible and unmatched level of fun-to-drive performance and capability, on- and off-road.”

Capability on and off-road
To accommodate the massive 6.4-litre V8 engine and stronger 8-speed transmission, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept has upgraded engine mounts and a modified frame. Suspension upgrades include new aluminium, monotube Fox shocks for improved damping and heat dissipation. A dual-mode exhaust alters the performance sound at the touch of a button.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept boasts even more capability courtesy of third-generation Dana 44 axles, a Selec-Track full-time 2-speed transfer case, Tru-Lok electric front and rear-axle locking differentials. 37-inch mud-terrain tyres wrap around custom 17-inch beadlock wheels that hold tyres to rims under extreme lateral loads, allowing for reduced tyre pressure operation and added traction.

The factory-fitted Jeep Performance Parts 2-inch lift kit from Mopar enables additional suspension articulation for improved approach, breakover and departure angles. There are also Rubicon rock rails, steel bumpers with a Warn winch, and a steel belly pan – all to ensure protection when going over the roughest terrain.

Custom design inside and out
The Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept features Granite Crystal exterior paint adorned with bronze accentuated tow hooks, badging, springs, shocks and wheels, while featuring a heavy-duty raised performance bonnet with an aggressive appearance. Custom half doors and Wrangler’s Sky One-touch powertop, with removable side panels allow for open-air freedom when weather conditions are nice enough.

The vehicle made its appearance just recently and Jeep is doing final real-world testing before launching the production version. It’s not likely to be a long wait as Jeep must be eager to have a new model to prevent Ford’s new Bronco from drawing too many customers.

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Toyota revises brand emblem in Europe

It seems to be the season for changing brand emblems with some of the global players introducing new or evolved emblems that reflect the digital age. Nissan recently debuted its new brand emblem and now Toyota is doing likewise but is using the new emblem only for Europe, not globally.

Announced by Toyota Motor Europe (TME), the brand emblem and design language are essentially reworked versions of the existing emblem and typography. The intent is to signal a new era for the carmaker as it transitions from a car company to a mobility company.

In describing the changes, TME says that the development has been ’around an ever-diverse customer base coming to the brand for an expanding range of mobility products and services’.

The new design language is ‘fluent’ across all digital and physical touchpoints. The new visual identity is driven by simplification and has been shaped by four key principles: forward-thinking, mobile-ready, more premium feel and ultra- consistent across all business units and sub-brands.

New Brand Visual Identity
At a glance, most people will wonder what the change is as the three ellipses are still in the same arrangement as they have been all along since 1990. But the emblem has a 3-dimensional appearance and the TOYOTA wordmark is usually under it. The new emblem logo for TME distils this into a simple 2-D design, with the wordmark omitted. TME is confident that the emblem itself is sufficiently well-known across Europe by now.

The current Toyota emblem (left), introduced in 1989, will continue to be used but for Europe, there will be a new emblem (right).

2020 Toyota Rush — *The current brand emblem will continue to be used for Toyota vehicles globally.*

The design is said to communicate simplicity, transparency and modernity. It is especially adapted to the digital space but equally effective in the physical world. It will be applied across all communication touchpoints, while the current emblem will still be used for the vehicles. The current signage at outlets will remain in place and will be reviewed in the context of Toyota 2025 Network Strategy.

New typography
The new visual identity also comes with a new bespoke typography called Toyota Type. This has been multi-purposed for both on-line and off-line environments. It marks a step up in digital readiness as the company expands its online retailing in Europe.

In conjunction with these changes, TME’s different business areas will undergo naming changes. For example, Toyota Insurance Management is now renamed Toyota Insurance Services as its business expands with the growth of connected services and new mobility products. In the used cars area, Toyota Plus now becomes Toyota Approved Used.

“We developed the new brand visual design with ‘tomorrow’ in mind. Our focus was on enabling ever better customer connections allowing them to keep pace with Toyota’s rapid expansion of electrified vehicles, mobility services and online retailing. The design was re-purposed to better connect with customers across a diversity of touchpoints, which they can experience for the first time with the launch New Yaris Hybrid, the all-new 4th generation of our innovative city car,” said Didier Gambart, Vice-President, Sales, Marketing & Customer Experience, Toyota Motor Europe.

Toyota’s has had three main brand emblems over 85 years. The one on the left had the original name and was registered in July 1935. However, a year later, the brand emblem was changed to one which had the name ‘TOYOTA’ in Japanese kanji characters (centre). This would be used for many years and while there were some other emblems used, the next major new one was introduced in 1989 (right) which remains in use up till today.

Click here for other news and articles about Toyota.

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