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KTM X-BOW GT2 Racer Becomes Road-Legal X-BOW GT-XR

KTM, the Austrian company (with India’s Bajaj Auto as a shareholder), is well known for its motorcycles but it also has a line of 4-wheelers that have been in production since 2008. Known as the X-BOW, the sportscar was developed in collaboration with Dallara, Kiska Design and Audi.

The X-BOW was developed with motorsports in mind (it is FIA-homologated) and has seen good demand that the company raised the annual production plan from 500 units to 1,000 units. Since entering the market 14 years ago, the model has been improved with upgrades to the TFSI engine provided by Audi.

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F1/Round 16: Preview & Starting Grid For 2022 Italian Grand Prix

The Monza circuit celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year and the 16^th round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship being held there this weekend will be the 72^nd time it has hosted a round. When the track, also known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, opened in 1922, the first race it hosted was the second Italian Grand Prix (pre-F1).

Monza is a high-speed track; in fact, it has the highest speeds of any F1 track. Due to the long straights and large portion of lap spent in eighth gear, with the highest average cornering speed of any F1 track today. It also has the lowest downforce level of the year and requires a special rear wing, just for this event.

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Jeep To Start Selling Fully Electric SUVs From 2023

Jeep, which began as the name for a military vehicle before becoming a brand name, will go fully electric by the end of this decade. Although it already has some electrified (hybrid powertrains) models, it will only introduce battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by the end of 2025.

As part of its ‘Dare Forward 2030’ long-term strategic plan, 100% of European sales will be BEV models by the end of 2030, while 50% of Jeep brand sales in the USA will be fully electric by then. All four new BEV models will be SUVs.

Jeep recently released the first images of two pf the forthcoming BEVs – the new Recon and new Wagoneer (codename Wagoneer S), while confirming that the all-new Avenger will go on sale launch in Europe early next year.

Currently, Jeep has been enjoying success with its 4xe plug-in hybrid models – the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee – and are drawing on the technology for the BEVs being developed. The electrification plan will also expand the Wagoneer portfolio which will have powertrains targeted to give up to 500 kms of range. The Wagoneer S will be a global BEV model and production will start in 2024 in North America.

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Volkswagen ID. XTREME Concept Shows High-Performance Potential Of MEB

With the ID.4 GTX that Volkswagen launched in May last year, the company showed that ‘performance’ can also be associated with battery electric vehicles (BEVs), just as combustion engine models have performance variants. A member of the brand’s BEV range, it is the first fully electric high-performance model that is said to add a new dimension to sportiness and dynamics. Just as ‘GTI’ has been used to identify Volkswagen’s performance models, ‘GTX’ will do likewise with the electric vehicles.

To show that there is still much potential to extend the performance envelope, Volkswagen has come out with the ID. XTREME concept car based on the ID.4 GTX. This is the most powerful ID model yet revealed and shows the performance potential and versatility of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB).

Equipped with all-wheel drive, the ID. XTREME combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the sense of adventure embodied by a rugged off-road vehicle. It was created by the team of Andreas Reckewerth (Head of overall vehicle) in the Volkswagen Development department.

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PRO-NET Established To Handle Proton’s New Energy Vehicle Business

Following the signing of its General Distributorship Agreement (GDA) with smart last month, Proton has established a new subsidiary company to handle sales and distributorship for the smart vehicles which are available only with battery electric powertrains.

The new company, known as Proton New Energy Technology Sdn. Bhd. (PRO-NET), will also be responsible for Proton’s own future new energy vehicle (NEV) offerings. ‘NEV’ is a term which originated in China around 2010 and refers to vehicles which are electrified (including plug-in hybrids). The category was created to facilitate the provision of incentives to boost development and sales of electrified vehicles.

*The new smart #1 battery electric vehicle that will go on sale in Malaysia next year.*

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Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Donates Triton To National Cancer Society Of Malaysia

The National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) recently received a Mitsubishi Triton pick-up truck from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM). The donation by MMM, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice, will help in providing NCSM’s services to rural communities around Malaysia.

NCSM, a non-profit organization (NGO) established in 1966, will use it to provide an extensive range of cancer services and support to people affected by cancer. With the Triton’s off-road capabilities, it will be able to travel further into the countryside to reach rural communities that have little or no access to cancer screening facilities.