Karma Automotive, the company created from the previous Fisker Automotive purchased by a Chinese autoparts supplier Wanxiang Group, will reveal its design and technological direction with the North American debut of its SC1 Vision Concept car.
“The SC1 is a signpost to Karma’s future,” said Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou. “Designed and engineered in less than 12 months, SC1 is a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) that explores the brand’s striking design language and the innovative technology integration possible through our collaborative Open Platform strategy.”
Humanized communication system
The SC1 Vision Concept seamlessly integrates a new infotainment architecture with 5G connectivity and a humanized communication system with touch, voice, eye and graphical interfaces. Artificial Intelligence understands conventional language and commands, while a camera-based eye tracking system is capable of biometric identification, allowing for the multi-modal authentication of occupants. The eye-tracking system monitors a driver’s irises, eyelids and gaze – should the driver become distracted or fatigued, AI safely takes control of the vehicle.
With the use of 8 radar systems, 6 Lidar sensors, and half a dozen external cameras, the SC1 Vision Concept is fully equipped for autonomous motoring in the future. It will store information on cityscape and points of interest which are displayed in augmented reality.
Both driver and passenger can immerse themselves in comfort with an all-new surround audio system with dedicated sound environments for each of them. Karma says it will soon offer audio capabilities similar to the SC1 Vision Concept’s system through the company’s guided customization program.
New definition of luxury and style
“The SC1 Vision Concept draws its inspiration from Karma’s pioneering spirit,” said Andreas Thurner, Karma’s VP of Global Design and Architecture. “It is thought-provoking — it conjures a new definition of luxury and style with distinct Karma DNA.”
The SC1 Vision Concept features a one-off fluorescent orange paint scheme with flakes of violet mica capturing stunning sunset colours, juxtaposed by a darker palleted interior fading from black to deep indigo. A bold body design is reminiscent of an H-1 racing aircraft of the 1930s, with impressive length stretching from the car’s front axle to windscreen.
Striking patented articulating hinge doors open in a winged motion, gently rising up and forward, rotating around front wheels. The SC1 Vision Concept’s interior prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, eliminating excess to reveal a stratified design with a multi-dimensional in-cabin experience. The car’s battery is housed in a centre tunnel cascading down from dashboard into seats, before gliding upward to the decklid.
The little car that was loved by school teachers, royalty, bank robbers, racing drivers, filmstars… in fact, just about every class in society all over the world accepted the Mini. Over the decades, it has evolved but has remained an icon of the automobile industry and this year, it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
To commemorate this occasion, MINI Malaysia is offering 60 units of a limited-edition collector’s version. It is only available as the MINI Cooper S 3 Door variant but customers have a colour choice of New British Racing Green with Pepper White roof and mirror caps, or Melting Silver with Jet Black roof and mirror caps. Signature black bonnet stripes with Aspen White and British Oak pinstripes further underline the exclusivity.
Nod to the past, looking to the future
“For over 60 years, MINI has captured the hearts of millions worldwide for its timeless motor racing spirit. With the MINI 60 Years Edition in the brighter and more eye-catching ‘New British Racing Green’ exterior paint finish, this exclusive model pays tribute to MINI’s British racing pedigree and paves the way for a new era. Captivating from every angle, the MINI 60 Years Edition radiates style and attitude – with a nod to the past, while looking towards an exciting future,” said Harald Hoelzl, MD of BMW Group Malaysia.
In conjunction with the 60 Years Chili equipment package, the MINI 60 Years Edition features LED headlights, LED foglamps, white turn indicators and LED rear lights in the Union Jack design.
The exclusive side scuttle badging, which bears the anniversary model’s distinctive 60 years insignia, provides great individuality, while the logo projection shines down from the exterior mirror. The rear spoiler and exclusive 17-inch light alloy wheels in the 60 Years Spoke 2-tone style contribute to the distinct look of the exclusive car.
60 years theme inside
Inside, there’s a sports steering wheel wrapped with hand-stitched MINI Yours Walknappa Leather bearing the 60 Years insignia on the lower spoke. The insignia also adorns the front door entry strips. Leather upholstery in the exclusive MINI Yours Lounge 60 Years Dark Maroon is complemented by bold stitching, paying tribute to MINI’s heritage in craftsmanship.
The Cooper S uses a 2-litre 4-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo engine (192 bhp/280 Nm) and a 7-speed DCT Steptronic Sports Transmission. It can rocket to 100 km/h from standstill in a claimed 6.7 seconds, reach 235 km/h and yet consume fuel at a rate of up to 18.2 kms/litre (when driven moderately, of course). Needless to say, its sports suspension settings provide performance-oriented driving that is as fun as exhilarating as driving a go-kart.
Special offer if you buy before Merdeka Day Those who purchase the MINI 60 Years Edition by August 31, 2019 can enjoy the 60 Months MINI Service + Repair Inclusive programme. The celebratory offer provides owners with 60 months or 80,000 kms (whichever comes first) of Free Scheduled Service and 60 months of Warranty with Unlimited Mileage. For purchases made after August 31, 2019, the MINI 60 Years Edition will be available with the MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service.
Easy Drive from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia makes it possible to own the MINI 60 Years Edition paying monthly instalments from RM3,358 (terms and conditions apply). If you don’t need any financing package, then the full price of the car is RM255,888 (excluding insurance).
While the country’s top fashion models prepare to strut their stuff under the spotlights during KL Fashion Week (KLFW), Lexus will also be present at the same event with its own models.
As the KLFW’s official car sponsor, Lexus will showcase some of its distinctive models at Pavilion KL, the venue. The models will include the Lexus NX, ES and LC500.
“Lexus has long shared a close identity with international fashion. The luxurious designs, attention to detail, superior craftsmanship and an appreciation for definitude are just some of the core values that both the audience at the KL Fashion Week and Lexus customers can closely identify with,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia.
LC500 will be on display at KLFW venue
Brand aligned with cutting edge design
As a leading luxury brand that is closely aligned with cutting-edge design and superior craftsmanship, Lexus is keenly aware that innovative and captivating designs play a key role in engaging the soul.
As part of the brand’s efforts to further the love of arts and in support of the Malaysian doodle art community, the Lexus NX on display at the Bukit Bintang entrance to Pavilion KL will be part of an installation as it will feature a wrap of the winning Doodict design from over 80 entries of a local doodle art competition.
Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia (left) with Mohd Amin bin Hadarih, winner of the doodle contest, and Andrew Tan, Founder of KL Fashion Week.
Lexus Malaysia has been actively celebrating doodle art as a growing art form and has been collaborating strongly with the Malaysian doodle art community as a means of embracing this diverse pool of creativity and to inspire new talent who will further this creative lifestyle.
Lexus brand story videos
Another insightful collaboration that will feature during this year’s KLFW, which starts on August 21, will be with fashion icon Alia Bastamam. Through a series of videos produced with Lexus, Alia shares her fears, her inspirations and how her story closely relates to the three pillars of the Lexus brand story: Anticipate, Innovate and Captivate.
Lexus LS500 flagship will be providing transport for VIPs during the event which starts on August 21
Keeping KLFW’s guests fashionable, Lexus Malaysia will ensure its VIP guests arrive in style using the fleet of courtesy transportation vehicles that include the Lexus NX F-SPORT and LS500 flagship.
“Whether it is in a car or high fashion, the appeal of great design can never be underestimated. A wonderful piece of art, captivating blend of colours or innovative use of fabrics are all able to bring about an imaginative emotion that is capable of transporting us beyond the ordinary,” added President of Lexus Malaysia, Ravindran K.
This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California will see Mercedes-Benz Classic using the carmaker’s ‘125 Years of Motorsport’ anniversary year theme. It will bring a reconstructed Mercedes-Benz SSKL streamlined racing car from 1932 to the annual event and it will be driven in the Tour d’Elegance along the legendary 17-mile Drive coastal route of the Monterey peninsula.
The 1932 Mercedes-Benz SSKL reconstructed by Mercedes-Benz Classic
First car competition
The SSKL was an aerodynamically encased racing car with a Daimler 2-cylinder V-engine, which represented the beginning of motorsport. Vehicles equipped with engines of this type won in the first car competition in history 125 years ago – the race from Paris to Rouen on July 22 1894.
The aerodynamics pioneer Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld designed the streamlined body for the. On May 22 1932, Manfred von Brauchitsch entered the important international Avus race in Berlin with this racing car which was unusual to spectators of the time (the public promptly dubbed it ‘gherkin’) and won ahead of Rudolf Caracciola in an Alfa Romeo.
Reconstructed Daimler two-cylinder V-engine from 1889 used by the winning vehicles in the first car competition in history 125 years ago. used it.
Mercedes-Benz Classic has reconstructed the innovative ‘silver arrow’, as it was described in a radio report at the time, with the highest level of authenticity. This includes the lightening holes in the chassis, typical of the SSKL, which were undertaken according to the original drawings.
In total, the racing car weighs 125 kgs less than the Mercedes-Benz SSK, which served as its basis. The complete reconstruction of the streamlined body according to historical documents was particularly laborious. For this purpose, the experts researched the archives of Mercedes-Benz Classic and those at Schloss Fachsenfeld, which the engineer and inventor Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld transferred to a foundation in 1982.
Mercedes-Simplex 40 PS (1903)
Automotive contemporary witnesses
Alongside the unique SSKL, an elegant Mercedes-Benz 320 n combination coupe (W 142) from 1938 will also be present. Other models displayed will be an authentic replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. The Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp from 1903 is a representative of the family of the first modern car in the world and a high-performance vehicle of its time.
Mercedes-Benz 320 n Kombination-Coupe (1938)
Further automotive contemporary witnesses from ‘125 Years of Motorsport’ include a 3-litre W 154 Formula racing car from 1939, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racing sportscar (W 196 S) from 1955, a Sauber-Mercedes C 9 Group-C racing sports car from 1989, and the Penske-Mercedes PC-23 IndyCar from 1994.
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has been held since 1950. Since 1955, collector’s cars have been the focus of the event and today, around 200 exquisite cars from all around the world typically take part, are judged and receive awards.
Besides the Formula 3 championship in the UK, there were two major race series in Korea this month – the Blancpain GT Word Challenge Asia and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series – and our Malaysian drivers were there.
British Formula 3 Championship
Former karter Nazim Azman who is now furthering his studies in the UK won his first race in the recent popular British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) F3 series (Race 2) at the Brands Hatch circuit. Driving for Chris Dittman Racing, Nazim started in 3rd place and immediately took advantage of a collision in the first lap between the pole and 2nd placed drivers. He took the lead and from there had to fend off his team mate for the rest of the race. Holding his position, he took the chequered flag with a gap of just 0.334 seconds from the next rival.
Former karter Nazim Azman wins first race British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) F3 series.
BLANCPAIN GT WORLD CHALLENGE ASIA Rd.5
The Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia Round 5 was held at Yeongam, a previous F1 venue. Another Herman Tilke-designed circuit, it is 5.6 kms long with undulating and narrow sections in some parts.
The Audi R8 LMS GT3 2019 run by Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute Racing with a win in Fuji the last time out was back with Weiron Tan & Aussie Martin Rump and looking for another top 3 finish in the PRO class. Melvin Moh & Singaporean Daniel Au were in their Mercedes AMG GT3 in the Pro-Am class in one of the 4 Craft-Bamboo Racing cars as was H.H Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahim (Jefri) of Johor in his Triple Eight Racing run Mercedes AMG GT3.
There were quite a few Malaysian technicians and crew chiefs in the Blancpain paddock, some of whom just flew here directly from last weekends Spa 24 Hours GT race. These were the hardworking guys from teams like Earl Bamber Motorsports, HubAuto Corsa, Absolute Racing, Open Road Racing and Modena Motorsports.
The practice sessions are seldom accurate indicators of what’s to come on race day especially so in a track which very few drivers and teams have raced on recently. So the teams were busy finding out track conditions and limits and looking for optimum set-ups.
Race 1 was largely uneventful until Weiron set a fastest lap time in the race just before the pit stops. H.H Prince Jefri held station for most of the race, fending off challengers and was 12th before handing over to Shane. Daniel Au too seemed to be holding on to his position before he suddenly slowed and ended up behind the GT4 runners before handing over to Melvin.
After the pit stops, Martin Rump in the Audi rejoined in 8th and eventually finished 6th overall. It was similar for Shane who rejoined in 8th and finished 7th in #888.
Melvin, on the other hand, rejoined dead last in 23rd. He swiftly dispatched some of the GT4 runners and backmarkers to eventually finish 16th overall with a lap down at the chequered flag. In the ProAm class, H.H Prince Jefri/Shane Van Gisbergen finished first.
Race 2 saw unusually hot with track temperatures at 58 degrees C. and humidity similar to Malaysia! Shane Van Gisbergen started in 1st as the pole-sitters Max Goetz and J Lee appeared to have suffered a penalty dropping them 5 places down the grid. Martin Rump started in 10th and Melvin in 12th.
It was a manic start as the first few corners are slow and narrow and tend to bunch up the field resulting in Melvin being pushed down to 15th whilst the Audi of Weiron and Martin gained two places to 8th.
At the pit stops, Martin handed the Audi R8 LMS GT3 to Weiron Tan in 8th, while Melvin was up as high as 10th. before the pit stops and Shane handed #888 AMG GT3 to H.H Prince Jefri Ibrahim from 1st place and with a 14-second lead!
With 23 minutes to go, H.H Prince Jefri was in the lead whilst Weiron, now up to 3rd, had an incident with the Am leader in the last turn resulting in a drive-through penalty. H.H Prince led for a few laps but was inevitably caught and passed by Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak, The Prince drove well for a rookie to bring his car home in 5th overall and 3rd in ProAm Class. Weiron, after serving a penalty, finished 9th and Daniel Au brought the #55 AMG GT3 home in 17th.
From what I saw, Weiron’s Audi had the pace but not the luck in Korea. Melvin had to struggle with his car for pace but H.H Prince Jefri had a flawless car which was the fastest throughout the weekend and got on the podium twice again!
LAMBORGHINI SUPER TROFEO ASIA KOREA
Malaysian Afiq Ikhwan Yazid started this round with his Japanese team mate, Toshiyuki Ochiai leading the points chart after outright wins in the previous rounds in Fuji. Afiq is in the hotly contested ProAm class which have seen as many as 14 drivers taking part in some rounds. This very successful one-make race for Lamborghini Super Trofeo Huracans also has 2 cars in the Pro class and up to 8 in the AM class. The other Malaysian driver is Zen Low, with partner D Hwang in their Aylezo Racing car #69.
In Race 1, the #38 Team Hojust Racing car with Ochiai started in 5th and he impressively held off some experienced Pro class racers behind him. After the pitstop, Afiq rejoined in 8th and proceeded to display his experience and mastery of the Lamborghini as he carved his way up to 3rd overall and 1st in ProAm before the chequered flag was weaved. Zen Low in the #69 car finished 8th overall eventually.
Afiq started from pole in Race 2 and led right up to the pitstops, setting fastest laps several times in the process. He then handed over the car to his team with a 5-second advantage over the next car. Ochiai was soon swamped by Pro leaders Evan Chen and Puhaka and he finished 3rd overall and 1st in ProAm class for Team Hojust. Aylezo Racing finished 7th overall and took 2nd in the Am category.
* Photo credits to the British F3 Championship, Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia websites.
The 680hp all-electric Volkswagen ID.R has stormed through the racing world with all of its might this past year. And every time we see it breaking a world record, we see it in different colours. Now, a special livery in red has been unveiled and the electric beast is ready for another record-breaking attempt. (more…)
