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New Volvo XC60 to be produced this month

Volvo turns 90 this month, and its no coincidence that it will begin manufacturing the new XC60 at its facility in Gothenburg, Sweden starting this month. It is set to replace one of the company’s best selling vehicles to date. Sales of the original XC60 were so good that, since its launch in 2008, Volvo has sold 1,000,000 of them worldwide.

It accounts for 30% of the Swedish automaker’s worldwide sales, which is a signficant chunk of its yearly revenue. Volvo planned it this way so that 90 years to the month that its first car rolled off the lot, the ÖV4, it will once again be bringing a revolutionary product to the masses.

“Volvo is very proud of its history. The past 90 years have been exciting, but the 10 years left until the 100-year anniversary may come to be more exciting as industry focus shifts to autonomous driving, electrification and connectivity,” says Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of Volvo Cars. “The new XC60 is in many ways the embodiment of these trends.”

It’s common knowledge that Volvo makes some of the safest cars in the world and with the XC60, it shows. The new vehicle features a myriad of safety tech including Oncoming Lane Mitigation system, which uses Steer Assist to help mitigate head-on collisions. It also has, as an option, Volvo’s semi-autonomous driver-assistance system – Pilot Assist, which takes care of the steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h.

Volvo is launching the new vehicle across global markets in a staggered manner, hoping to keep supply and demand in check and ensure that customers get their vehicles on time. The automaker is confident that the new XC60 will boost thier sales even further, allowing them to post record sales for 2017. No news yet on when it will be made available here in Malaysia, but we hope its sooner rather than later.

BMW i3 wins 2017 World Urban Car award

BMW’s electric vehicle, the i3 94 Ah, has been named 2017 World Urban Car at the New York International Auto Show. The car’s small dimensions, lightweight construction and efficient propulsion system made it a clear favourite for 2017.

“We are delighted and honoured that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car of the Year,” said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. “This award highlights BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW’s first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fibre. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 94Ah provides more range, paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world.”

Originally launched in 2014, BMW managed to make the car spacious and offer decent range which made it a worthy choice for city dwellers. Compared with the standard one, the 94 Ah has a 50% higher battery capacity (33kWh) due to the higher energy density of its lithium-ion cells.

BMW was able to increase battery capacity but without altering its physical dimensions. This means that it occupies the same space as that in the standard car but allows the i3 to travel significantly longer before needing a recharge. The car is powered by a 170bhp AC synchronous electric motor which is able to propel the the little city car to 100km/h from a standstill in just 7.3 seconds.

Audi A4 is now available in three new variants

Audi has added three new variants to its A4 line-up which are the 1.4 TFSI, A4 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and the range topping 2.0 TFSI quattro. Launched last September, the A4 portfolio initially comprised of the A4 2.0 TFSI and A4 2.0 S Line. The added contenders will provide buyers with more options to choose from and allow the brand to meet the needs of many more buyers.

Considered the entry level variant of the lot, the A4 1.4 TFSI differs a little in terms of styling compared with the standard 2.0 TFSI. It has a different wheel design and comes with xenon plus headlights with DRLs but halogen taillights. Inside, the car is identical to its larger engine sibling with the exception of the steering wheel, which is of a different design.

Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre engine that produces 150bhp and 250Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission. Fuel consumption is pretty good too, Audi claims that the car should provide a fuel consumption figure of 5.2 l/ 100km on a combined cycle.

Moving up the range is the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack which features the Audi virtual cockpit and Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators in the front. Inside, the infotainment system has the Audi smartphone interface for Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as a number of others. It’s powered by the same engine as the rest of the 2.0-litre A4 variants but it produces 190bhp and 320Nm of torque.

The third variant, called the 2.0 TFSI quatrro, features the same 2.0-litre engine but is tuned to produce 252bhp and 370Nm of torque. Due to the power, the 0-100km/h time for this variant drops to a mere 5.8 seconds which is close to the sports car territory. Also, its fitted with Audi’s clever all-wheel-drive system (quattro) enabling the car to have better grip especially on roads even in poor weather conditions.

There some subtle cues that enable the car to stand out from the rest of the line-up which include sportier front and rear bumpers, 18-inch 5-spoke cast aluminium wheels, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, sports front seats, Alcantara upholstery, matte brushed aluminium inlays, Audi smartphone interface for apple Carplay and Android Auto, Audi connect as well as other features.

The 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI Tech pack variants can be ordered in seven different body colours which are Glacier White, Floret Silver, Scuba Blue, Tango Red, Monsoon Grey, Argus Brown, as well as Mythos Black. The 2.0 TFSI quattro can be had in the same range of colours except for Argus Brown, which has been replaced with Daytona Grey. Pricing starts at RM218,900 for the 1.4 TFSI, RM273,900 for the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack and RM314,900 for the 2.0 TFSI quattro.

However, since the cars have just been launched, Audi are offering them at a lowered price to entice buyers meaning, for a limited time only and starting from April 14, the 1.4 TFSI costs just RM199,900, the 2.0 TFSI Tech pack is offered at RM 249,900 and the 2.0 TFSI quattro is priced at RM294,900.

All variants of the A4 line-up come with a 5 year and unlimited mileage warranty. If you are interested, visit your nearest dealership or visit the automaker’s local website to learn more.

New Mitsubishi Triton launched

Mitsubishi has officially launched its new Triton for the Malaysian market. The new pick-up truck boasts a number of improvements over its predecessor which aid safety, performance and reliability.

Compared with the truck it replaces, the new one has a dark chrome grille at the front end, newly designed side steps, automatic bi-xenon HID headlights with integrated DRLs and on one variant, 17-inch dual-tone alloy rims and a front bumper shield extender.

Inside, there’s now a new four-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a new instrument cluster. There’s also leather seats, a 8-way adjustable driver’s seat and reverse camera but are only available in the VGT Adventure variant.

Under the the bonnet is a 2.4-litre MIVEC engine with Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) that produces 180bhp and 430Nm of torque. This engine replaces the older 2.5-litre unit in its predecessor and is said to offer 15% better fuel efficiency. The improvement is due to the use of aluminium alloy for the engine block and the ability of the MIVEC system to control the engine valves with better precision. Mitsubishi has fitted it with a timing chain, which will lower running costs and extend service life.

There two transmission choices, buyers can choose between a 5-speed automatic with manual mode or a new 6-speed manual one. The 4WD system can be toggled while the vehicle is mobile, which should offer better flexibility especially during off-read excursions.

As for its safety features, the Triton has 7 airbags (front, side and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag) but only if you opt for the Adventure variant. Some variants will come with all the features stated in this article, so before you put your name down for a Triton, make sure its of the variant that you actually want.

The following is a list of variants available and the various corresponding body colours:

Imported from Thailand, the new Mitsubishi Triton is already available for order at any Mitsubishi dealership, so visit your nearest one to know more.

New Audi Q8 and Q4 to complete SUV line-up

Audi is expanding its product portfolio with the addition of two new Q models – the Q8 and Q4. The Audi Q8 will open up a new segment for the German automaker’s top-end models. It is a premium SUV with a coupe-like silhouette but offers decent amount of space and the latest technologies. The Q4 on the other hand, will be responsible for penetrating the compact utility vehicles (CUVs) segment. Featuring coupe-like design as well, the Q4 will slot between the Q3 and Q5 and should complete the Q line up for the German automaker.

“We will integrate two completely new Q‑models into the existing production network and will thus increase our competitiveness in an extremely important segment,” stated Audi’s Board of Management Member for Production and Logistics, Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl.

Audi’s Q8 will be produced in Bratislava (Slovakia) where the Q7 and Q7 e-tron plug-in hybrid are also being made. The smaller Q4 will be produced in Győr (Hungary) and will be joined by the Audi Q3 once the conditions are favorable but until then, the Q3 will continue to be produced in Martorell, Spain.

Production for the Q8 will begin in 2018 and a year later, Audi will give the green light to start production of the smaller Q4. Expect good things from the German automaker in the next couple of years but we are sure Mercedes-Benz and BMW aren’t going to take this news lying down.

Ford to roll out hybrid pursuit sedan soon

Ford has developed a police spec hybrid pursuit vehicle for Police departments in the US. Called the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, the vehicle features clever tech that help it save fuel and put less strain on the car’s engine when it comes to powering the various electronic equipment.

Under the the bonnet is a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine and an electric motor which is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Ford says, that the car can run on pure electric power at speeds of up to 100km/h. It will switch between electric, petrol or a combination of both (hybrid) as and when necessary to ensure police officers have the performance needed to respond to emergency situations.

The Blue Oval also says that the car will be able to cover more than double the distance of a regular petrol-only pursuit vehicle but with the same amount of fuel. This can be attributed to the use of a lithium-ion battery pack that helps power the electrical systems and putting less of burden on the engine especially when the vehicle is stationary.

This pursuit sedan is one of 13 electrified vehicles that will be introduced to the market in the next 5 years. Others include a hybrid F-150 pick-up, hybrid version of the Mustang, plug-in hybrid Transit, all-electric small SUV and a hybrid powered self-driving vehicle which has not been named.

“Electrifying our next generation of vehicles is core to our unwavering commitment to sustainability,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “By being a leader in electrified vehicles, we remain committed to delivering cars, trucks and SUVs that are better not only for our customers, but for the environment and society as well.”

Ford has poured $4.5 billion dollars into its alternative energy campaign with the hopes offering general consumers the vehicles that are most useful to them. Though the launch dates of these various vehicles are still far off, the hybrid pursuit sedan will be made available for purchase by various police departments as early as the middle of next year.