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New Lamborghini Urus sets record at Pikes Peak even before launch

A new Urus SUV will make its debut in the near future but even before its world premiere, it has already collected a new record in the production SUV category on the track used for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in America.

Yet to make its formal debut, the new Urus was not entered in the official race but the time was recorded by the official timekeepers of the event. When it reached the peak, its record time was quicker than both the previous PPIHC-sanctioned non-race day manufacturer record of 12:35.610 set by Paul Dallenbach in 2014, and the current race day record of 10:49.902 held by Rhys Millen, set in 2018, in a Bentley Bentayga.

The Urus was piloted by hillclimb champion and Pirelli test driver, Simone Faggioli, holder of the rear-wheel drive record set in the 2018 ‘Race to the Clouds’, the name given to the PPIHC. Because it has not made its official debut, the SUV was covered with a camouflage wrap to conceal some of its styling features.

The timed drive took place on the same route as the race, with the road closed to traffic for the occasion. Starting from an altitude of 2862 metres, Faggioli tackled the 156 turns that wind for 20 kms, rising a further 1,439 metres to reach the finish-line at the top which is at an altitude of 4,302 metres. It took him 10:32.064.

“The decision to test ourselves at Pikes Peak reflects the Lamborghini spirit of ‘expect the unexpected’, and demonstrates the outstanding performance of the new Urus model to be presented shortly,” said Rouven Mohr, Automobili Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer. “Pikes Peak is the most famous hillclimb event in the world, as well as being extremely challenging for the car: the uneven track layout tests the chassis’ balance; the significant altitude differences stress the powertrain; and the weather conditions can change very rapidly between start to finish.”

The Urus, equipped with the standard twin-turbo V8 engine, was modified to comply with the safety regulations of the event. Some of the changes and additions were the roll-cage installed around the cabin; the standard seats replaced by a racing seat with 6-point harness; and a fire extinguishing system.

The tyres fitted (285/40 R22 and 325/35 R22) were an evolution of the Urus’ Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R. For the first time, the Pirelli semi-slick tyre has been developed to meet the characteristics of an SUV, with this particular variant developed in cooperation with Lamborghini.

The result of the collaboration is a tyre with increased versatility, returning high performance both on dry asphalt with high ambient temperatures and on wet surfaces with colder temperatures.

Taming a Hurricane: Driving The Fastest Street Legal Lamborghini Huracan Around Sepang Circuit!

RFID can now be used for fuel purchases at Shell stations

While most people associate the RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification) tag with electronic toll payment, the potential of the system is actually greater and it can be used for other types of transactions as well. Touch ‘n Go, the company running the RFID and eWallet service in Malaysia, is exploring other services to hook up with and one of them which is now officially active is fuel purchases – specifically at Shell stations.

The company today launched the Touch ‘n Go RFID payment channel which will be available at 88 Shell stations nationwide. The number of stations will double by the end of this year, and within 3 years, motorists will be able to pay for fuel purchases using RFID at 50% of Shell stations.

“In line with our commitment in making our customers’ daily journeys more seamless through innovative offerings, we embarked on this partnership with Touch ‘n Go to develop a new payment method that provides cashless convenience, using RFID technology, without the hassle of a mobile app, said Seow Lee Ming, General Manager, Mobility for Shell in Malaysia and Singapore.

“Over the last year, we have received positive response from over 10,000 pilot users, and we have been working closely with Touch ‘n Go to continuously optimise the technology to ensure a truly hassle-free payment experience. We are confident that this collaboration with Touch ‘n Go will further enhance our customer experience at Shell,” she added.

In order to make payment with Touch ‘n Go RFID at Shell petrol stations, motorists must of course first have the RFID tag on their vehicle, and linked to their Touch ‘n Go eWallet account. There is a one-time registration and activation through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app, which will also link to the motorist’s Bonuslink account for points to be awarded.

Once the registration and activation are done, the motorist can then look for stations which have RFID scanners installed over the pump area. These stations will be identified on the signs outside the station and the pumps with RFID will have bays designated with clear markings.

The vehicle’s RFID tag should be detected within seconds, and payment will be auto-debited from the customer’s Touch n’ Go eWallet, allowing refuelling to commence. Any unutilised amount will be immediately refunded to eWallet account when refuelling ends.

One thing to keep in mind is that the fuel purchase will usually be more than a typical toll payment so the e-Wallet balance will be significantly lower after the transaction. For those with autoload enabled to top-up the e-Wallet balance, there should be no issues. However, if topping-up is done manually, then it would be a good idea to check the balance and take action to top up if necessary.

From August 10 to September 16, 2022, Shell and Touch ‘n Go will be rewarding the first 25,000 customers who purchase fuels at Shell stations using Touch ‘n Go RFID. They need to pump a minimum of RM50 on their first Touch ‘n Go RFID transaction at Shell to receive a RM10 cashback. Customers eligible for this cashback would have to be first-time users of this feature.

First High-Performance Charging Station of Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific collaboration opens in Johor

Fuel Price Updates For August 11 – August 17, 2022

Fuel Price Updates for coming 7 days has a 10 sen drop while other prices of other grades are controlled.

Fuel saving tips
Slow and steady: You don’t have to drive at a crawl to save fuel but if you just drive more frequently at 80/90 km/h instead of 100/110 km/h, you could save 10 to 15% in fuel. Keeping a steady speed rather than ‘pumping‘ the pedal will also save on fuel.

Switch off the engine more: Many motorists do not fully realise that the engine is burning fuel every second it is running. They will keep the engine running for long periods while waiting for someone to buy things or waiting for their children to come out from school. This is very wasteful and running the air-conditioner at the same time wastes more fuel. Switch off the engine when you are going to be stationary for more than 5 minutes and you’ll find your fuel consumption improving.

Right tyres pressures: Under-inflated tyres will cause more rolling resistance (not to mention faster wear) which will worsen fuel consumption. Be sure they are inflated to the minimum recommended by the manufacturer and a bit more might also be better.

Service the engine regularly: Engine parts wear out or get dirty over time and reduce the operating efficiency of the engine. Regular servicing ensures that adjustments are set correctly and periodically, parts like filters or sparkplugs need to be replaced.

Don’t carry unnecessary weight: The less weight your car has to move, the less hard the engine has to work. So whatever you do not need to keep in the boot should be taken out. This includes those golfbags.

Plan trips: If you have different places to go on a single journey, spend a few minutes to think about the route so that you avoid congested areas. You may have to travel a few extra kilometres using a less congested route but you will actually use less fuel because the car won’t be stuck in a jam burning fuel going nowhere. Plus you will probably be less stressed out when you reach your destination.

Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron to debut in America

The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron to be driven by Ken Block has been completed and will make its North American debut at the Rolex Motorsport Reunion later this month. This is the first time the drift artist is working with Audi after having long associations with Ford and Subaru.

Unlike all previous cars that Block has used, the S1 e-tron quattro – to be used in the next installment of his famous Gymkhana series, ‘Electrikhana’ – does not run on petrol because it has no combustion engine. Instead, it has dual motors powered by electricity, and Block will show that even with electrification, extreme performance is still possible.

*Design of the S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron was inspired by the legendary quattro S1 (below) that set a new record in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the 1980s.*

Inspiration for the design of the one-off car came from the legendary quattro S1 rallycar that sped up Pikes Peak in record time. The entire development, including the technology, of the S1 Hoonitron was conducted by Audi Sport.

Audi Design was brought in for the styling work only in December 2021. Typically for a project of this magnitude, designers and engineers would spend a year or more just developing the concept. However, in the case of the S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron, an accelerated timeline of just 4 weeks was targeted at the Audi Sport facility in Germany.

After about a month of labour-intensive work, the S1 Hoonitron was finalized. Block flew over to provide his input and also learn how to drive an all-electric car sideways and in circles. “I’m familiar with a wide variety of cars using internal combustion engines and transmissions, but there were a lot of new things for me to learn. Spinning into a donut at 150 km/h directly from standstill – just using my right foot – was an all-new experience for me! Our work was focused on getting the car and I used to each other. My thanks go to the whole Audi Sport squad for their outstanding teamwork,” he said.

“The S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron combines a lot of what Audi was already famous for in the 1980s,” added Block. “For instance, the car’s spectacular aerodynamics have now been translated into a totally modern form. I think it’s cool that the Audi designers have been inspired by their own past and uniquely transferred the car’s technologies and appearance into the present.”

The S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron brings electrification directly to the performance car enthusiast’s doorstep. Besides powerful electric motors, there’s all-wheel drive, a carbonfibre chassis, and incorporation of the full suite of safety standards as dictated by the FIA.

From 1984 to 1987, Walter Rohrl, as a member of the Audi Sport team, drove the original Sport quattro S1 during the Group B era of rallying. Audi had gained an unfair advantage in the early 1980s when it used the quattro all-wheel drive system in its rallycars. The ‘unfair advantage’ propelled the success of the brand in off-road, pavement, and track competitions alike, with significant performance benefits.

Today, the Audi quattro system has evolved with the latest technologies and credentials adapted from the world of motorsports. The modern interpretation, the S1 Hoonitron, serves as a nod to this significant period, while remaining sharply focused on the commitment toward electrification.

The gripping story of Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system

All-new Toyota Yaris Ativ (Vios) launched in Thailand

A new generation of the Toyota Yaris Ativ was unveiled in Thailand this evening and while it is known by that name there, Malaysians know it as the Vios, one of the best-selling sedans in the non-national brand segment. With this new DNGA-based Yaris Ativ, the Vios goes into its fourth generation since 2002. To date, around 3.5 million units have been sold worldwide, with a large number in ASEAN.

DNGA – Daihatsu New Global Architecture –is a platform and structure which is used for the smaller models in the Toyota Group which Daihatsu is part off (and which is also extended to Perodua since it is partnered with Daihatsu).

2021 Toyota Vios — *Current third generation Vios*

DNGA has been developed with weight-saving approaches while the rigid structure and suspension geometry provide high standards of stability and comfort. Besides giving much attention to aerodynamics, DNGA also provides generous interior space with a quiet environment.

Size-wise, the new Vios (we’ll call it that since the name is more familiar to Malaysians) is almost the same as its predecessor with 5 mm more length, 10 mm more width and an extra 5 mm in overall height. Of greater significance is the widening of the wheelbase by 70 mm to 2620 mm which will have positive implications on handling and stability and more importantly, cabin spaciousness.

For now, only the specs for the Thai Yaris Ativ model are available and the engine fitted is the 3NR-VE 1.2-litre petrol engine which is partly dictated by the need to meet the country’s Eco Car requirement for incentives. This engine produces 94 ps/110 Nm which flows through a Super CVT-i transmission to the front wheels. As is common these days, the driver can choose an Economy or Sport mode, or just leave the engine to run in the default Normal mode.

It’s not known whether Malaysia will continue with the 1.5-litre 2NR-VE unit (107 ps/140 NM) in the current Vios. As the model is assembled locally, it may be possible to use the engine and if we’re not mistaken, it is produced at a factory in Negeri Sembilan. Using the engine would be important for the model to maximise its local content level and get better government incentives to help keep its pricing competitive.

The suspension remains straightforward with MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam with coil springs at the rear. Some versions come with rear disc brakes as an extra selling point although most engineers will tell you that drum brakes are good enough.

As we’ve seen in the new models launched in recent times, Toyota’s design approach has become more ‘aggressive’ with a bolder appearance. Where appropriate, models are also given a sportier image and in the case of the new Vios/Yaris Ativ, the profile has gained a sleeker fastback style which brings the Cd down to 0.284.

The frontal appearance, now more angular and chiseled, has hints of the larger Camry with the dominant grille. Sequential turn signals and LED headlamps/tail lamps have now come down in price that they can be offered in this class.

With each new generation, the level of quality has risen and texturing is even finer. Adjustable ambient lighting, common in more expensive models, has now trickled down to the Vios and the driver can choose from 64 colours to set the mood for each journey.

The dashboard layout follows current trends with a tablet-like touchscreen display to show infotainment and navigation information. In the middle area of the dashboard are the manual controls for the ventilation and air-conditioning system, a more practical approach than having everything done by just touch.

Over on the driver’s side, the digital instrument panel shows all the operating information (with variable displays) while there are switches on the steering wheel for easy setting changes without taking the hands of the steering wheel.

Depending on the version, the new Vios comes with features such as automatic air-conditioning, a PM 2.5 air filtration system and an electric parking brake. Connectivity with smartphones is easily done with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

An extensive Toyota Safety Sense package (which includes Adaptive Cruise Control) is provided to reduce drive workload as well as help avoid accidents. There’s also the Panoramic View Monitor which provides an all-round view and Toyota also has its own DVRs (dashcams) that are installed as standard or offered as accessories, depending on the version.

Toyota unveils 16th generation of Crown with a 4-model line-up

Volkswagen eShowroom revamped for greater clarity and convenience

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has refreshed its eShowroom to provide greater convenience and clarity for those looking to purchase a Volkswagen. On the revamped website, customers will know what models are available for sale at the respective authorised Volkswagen dealers nationwide in real-time.

Loosely based on the concept of “what you see is what you get”, only vehicles that in stock at the showrooms of dealers will be featured. In this way, a customer will be able to know that he or she can have the vehicle right away (subject to loan approvals and completion of other processes related to a new vehicle registration).

Customers can browse through the website to see the models currently available and their showroom locations. They can either book a test drive, or reserve the unit online with a standard booking fee of RM1,500. After that, a representative of their preferred dealer will be in touch to assist them through the next steps to complete the purchase.

Special offer
As part of the Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations over the next 2 months, those who place a booking via the eShowroom will also receive an exclusive RM500 rebate on their purchase.

“Volkswagen Malaysia is always looking for ways to enhance the ownership experience for our customers, and begins at the moment of purchase. With this in view, our eShowroom is anchored on the concept of bringing a dealership right to the customer’s fingertip, and we are pleased to now bring it up a notch by introducing real-time availability. This will bring greater convenience, thus ensuring a smoother journey for our customers,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

Online sales channel since 2020
VPCM was among the early companies to establish an online channel for customer to shop when the COVID-19 pandemic started. In fact, the company ‘opened shop’ for its eShowroom in March 2020, the same month when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first introduced. It was timely as businesses, including showrooms, had to stop operating. But with the e-Showroom, they could still ‘visit’ to know more about Volkswagen products and initiate a purchase if they were interested.

The availability of an eShowroom has provided customers with another channel to obtain information at their convenience – even at 2 am in the morning! From time to time, there have been special offers for purchases made only at the eShowroom, saving money for customers.

VW Free Home Delivery — *Illustration only as delivery methods may vary! But customers are assured that the new vehicle will be protected from risk of damage while being transported to their home.*

With social distancing being urged to reduce spread of the coronavirus, authorised Volkswagen dealers have also been offering a home delivery service for the past 2 years. The service is available nationwide up to a distance of 20 kms from an authorised dealership serving the customer. To avoid any risk of damage, the new vehicle (which is covered) is delivered using a flatbed carrier truck right to the customer’s doorstep.

Volkswagen Malaysia’s Das WeltAuto website refreshed for better user experience

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Latest News

New Lamborghini Urus sets record at Pikes Peak even before launch

RFID can now be used for fuel purchases at Shell stations

Fuel Price Updates For August 11 – August 17, 2022

Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron to debut in America

All-new Toyota Yaris Ativ (Vios) launched in Thailand

Volkswagen eShowroom revamped for greater clarity and convenience

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