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Women’s World Car Of The Year Announces Six Category Winners For 2023

While it may sometimes seem that cars are largely a ‘guy thing’, many women also have interest in cars. In fact, it should be remembered that it was a woman – the wife of Karl Benz, inventor of the motor car – who was the very first driver in the world in 1886. Women are also equally present in every aspect of the automotive world and can be influential when a couple is shopping for a new car.

The various Car of the Year (COTY) organizations around the world have women on their juries but there is one COTY program which is specifically female-oriented. It’s the Women’s World Car of The Year (WWCOTY) which has been run since 2009.

It is the only car awards group in the world which has only women motoring journalists making up its judging panel. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist Sandy Myhre, who is Honorary President today.

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PLUS And TNB Collaborate To Add More DC Fast-Chargers For EV Users Along N-S Expressway

Ever since the government announced its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the earliest, the development of the EV (electric vehicle) industry has accelerated. While the government has given exemption of all import taxes for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to make them less expensive and therefore promote faster adoption, efforts have also been underway to quickly build up the EV infrastructure and ecosystem.

Of importance is the network of charging stations which needs to be nationwide so that EV owners can travel long distances. The government wants the network to have at least 10,000 points by 2025 and at last count, the number has reached around 900 charging stations.

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Maserati Levante GT Hybrid Now On Sale in Malaysia

In 2020, Maserati began its electrification journey with the Ghibli Hybrid, followed a year later by the Levante Hybrid. By the end of this decade, the Italian brand plans to have its entire range composed of fully electric models.

The brand’s electrification has also been taking place in Malaysia as Naza Italia began selling the Ghibli Hybrid at the end of 2021. Now it is also offering the latest Levante GT Hybrid for those who want the versatility of a SUV. Priced at RM738,000 (including duties, other taxes but without insurance premium), the model comes with a 3-year warranty with no mileage restriction.

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MINI Cooper SE Convertible EV To Be Produced As A Limited Edition Model

Just 8 months ago, it was an idea and with the positive feedback encouraging the top management, MINI is now going ahead with a limited production of a battery-electric Cooper SE Convertible. 999 units of the world’s first zero-emissions premium convertible in the small car segment will be produced alongside the conventional MINI Convertible in the Netherlands.

“Three years ago, we launched the all-electric MINI Cooper SE. Today, one in five MINI sold in Europe is an all-electric MINI. This success has spurred us to implement the small series of the MINI Cooper SE Convertible within only a few months. I’m delighted that we can offer 999 MINI customers an extraordinary and exclusive open-air go-kart feeling,” said Stefanie Wurst, Head of the MINI Brand.

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W14 – Back To Black In The Name Of Performance

The unveiling of the 2023 F1 machines continues with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team presenting its W14 E PERFORMANCE racing car today. Silver and black being the colours of the team, the decision was made to go with black this year ‘in the name of performance’. While taking inspiration from the legendary creation of the original Silver Arrows, instead of stripping back paint to shiny aluminium beneath, it will be sleek black carbonfibre on the W14.

“You will see that the car has some raw carbon bits, along with some that are painted matte black. Of course, when we changed the livery in 2020, the main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart. The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

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First Locally-Assembled Mercedes-Benz EV Rolls Out From Pekan Plant

Following the launch of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS in Malaysia last year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today rolled out an EQS 500 4MATIC as its first locally assembled battery electric model at the assembly facility in Pekan, Pahang.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has been assembling its vehicles there since 2004 and the EQS marks a significant milestone. It is not just for Mercedes-Benz but also the Malaysian auto industry since it is among the first fully electric models to be assembled locally.

The program to assemble has been quite fast and would have been encouraged by the Malaysian government’s decision to provide duty-free incentives for BEVs from 2022, with those assembled locally enjoying the incentives for an extra 2 years (till the end of 2025). Without the imposition of import taxes and sales tax, the price of the EQS 500 4MATIC is RM648,888 (excluding insurance), RM50,000 less than the CBU EQS 450+ AMG Line.

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