The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car, running a hybrid powertrain, scored its first win in Rally Sweden, the second round of 2022 World Rally Championship with Kalle Rovanpera at the wheel. It was the Finn’s third victory and added another WRC win to the Rovanpera family as his father had won the event 21 years ago in a Peugeot.
Rally Sweden is the WRC’s only snow event (and one of the fastest) and in the early stages, at least 5 drivers were in contention to win. For most of the rally, all three of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT’s drivers were in close fight for victory on the unfamiliar, high-speed, snow-covered roads (because of the new location nearer the Arctic Circle).
Rovanpera was disadvantaged to be first off the line as the highest-placed driver in the championship, and Ott Tanak of the Hyundai Motorsport team was able to take the opening stage win and build up a lead. However, the Toyota driver regained the initiative early on the second leg and then won the first of Sunday’s 4 stages to extend his lead which he held till the finish.
Hybrid powertrains have issues
Rovanpera’s team mate Elfan Evans was penalised 10 seconds overnight after an incident at the end of Saturday’s final stage, but his hopes of victory were ended in Sunday’s opener. Having started with the centrally-supplied hybrid system deactivated due to an issue, Evans then had a spin in the stage and damaged the front of the car. After stopping to make repairs he reached the end of the stage but, with the hybrid unit not showing the green light as required, was forced to retire in accordance with FIA safety procedures.
Rovanpera’s car also had hybrid issues as did Tanak’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car. While disappointing, this was not unexpected (especially in the extremely cold conditions) and Akio Toyoda, the boss of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, expressed a positive view. He said that they ‘gained precious data on how to improve the hybrid system in the harsh cold environment which he hopes can be used not only to win next year but also to provide data to suppliers in the quest to make ever better cars.
Rovanpera’s fellow Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi finished third to complete a double podium finish for the team on his first start for TGR since 2018. Lappi was in a close fight for second position throughout Sunday, ultimately finishing just 8.6 seconds away as he completed a fantastic comeback during the final day.
Solid drive by Ford’s Greensmith
M Sport Ford’s Gus Greensmith with co-driver Jonas Andersson would see their confident and solid drive rewarded with a second consecutive fifth overall finish. The weekend had proven a challenge for the team, with Craig Breen retiring on Friday after getting stuck in a snowbank in the second half of SS2. Once free from the snow, the car was driven back to service where it was repaired for the Saturday stages.
The second day of competition would see Breen claim his first stage win as an M-Sport driver and simultaneously a first stage win for the Puma Rally1 Hybrid on snow and ice. However, further bad luck would see the car suffer an electrical issue, cutting power after a small bump. The crew would utilise the new hybrid technology to allow them to drive some of the stage in full Electric mode before pulling over to make bigger repairs.
Although they were able to find and fix the fault, they would be over their allotted time limit and forced to retire for the day. The final day would see Breen drive through the stages preserving his tyres for the all-important Power Stage where he would take a vital point to go towards his championship tally.
Hyundai team unsatisfied despite podium finish
The podium finish by Thierry Neuville was consolation for the Hyundai Motorsport team but they were far from satisfied with how things went. “There are not really many positives for us to take away,” said Tanak, who was forced to retire due to hybrid problems. “Overall, it has been a frustrating and disappointing weekend. On the plus side, we showed that we had the pace to be competitive.
“We know there is still work to be done, and improvements we need to make on the car, but we have shown we’re getting there. This is an important result, but we hope it’s just the start of our return to the top,” added the team’s deputy director, Julien Moncet.
Rovanpera leads in the Drivers Championship with 46 points, 14 points ahead of Neuville and 19 points ahead of Sebastien Loeb. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has collected a total of 83 points after two rounds, with M-Sport Ford 24 points behind, followed by the Hyundai Shell Mobis team 36 points behind the leader.
Round 3 of the WRC moves to Croatia on April 21 and hopefully, the conflict in Ukraine will have ended by then.
Like the other top non-national brands, Honda focusses largely on locally-assembled models as they can be priced competitively and sell in large volumes. Nevertheless, it also offers some models that are imported in CBU (completely built-up) form for customers who want something that the local range may not have.
One of these is the Odyssey which is now in its fifth generation. To date, Honda Malaysia has sold almost 2,000 units of the MPV which was introduced locally in 2003. The latest generation of the MPV is priced at RM275,311 without insurance and with half the applicable sales tax exempted (until June 30, 2022). The model continues to use a 2.4-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine (172 ps/225 Nm) and CVT.
“The introduction of the New Odyssey caters to the needs of customers such as families and executives who seek a luxury 7-seater MPV with excellent ride comfort, elegant exterior and unrivalled utility features, all in one package. In addition, the refined exterior and enhanced premium interior will further elevate the joy of owning a luxury Honda 7-seater MPV,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.
The Odyssey was originally developed for the US market to compete in the minivan segment and was a successful model. It was also available in Japan and to make it more suitable for urban conditions, its roofline was a bit lower than most MPVs so it could more easily slot into garages.
Cosmetic updates for 2022
The latest Odyssey inherits much of the DNA of its predecessors with an imposing front end to the monobox form. The new chromed grille and flanking headlight units are an interpretation of the ‘EXCITING H DESIGN!!!’ which has a ‘Solid Wing Face’ design language. At the rear, the taillight units have been revised along with a new bumper profile. Both the front and rear signal lights now have sequential signalling which gives a premium touch to the vehicle.
For this latest version, which is essentially a midcycle facelift, the interior has received premium upgrades as well as an updated dashboard design. The dashboard has a 7-inch TFT meter for the driver and an 8-inch display panel for infotainment. As would be expected of models being introduced nowadays, there is smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so favourite apps can be access from the display panel.
Captain Cradle Seats with Ottoman
The Odyssey has always offered good cabin space with versatile layouts that makes it suitable for families as well as executives who may need to work while on the move. It comes with standard combination leather upholstery and Captain’s Cradle Seats with Ottoman on the second row. These wide and comfortable seats are like those on aircraft which allow the passenger to stretch out.
Loading luggage or other items in the boot does not require the use of hands to open the rear door. In fact, there isn’t even a need to press a button as placing a food under the rear bumper will automatically open the door. It’s great when both hands are carrying things and also if it’s raining and one hand has to hold the umbrella up.
Honda SENSING is, of course, standard and the integrated active safety systems are Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Auto High Beam. Additionally, there is also a Multi-View Camera System with Smart Parking Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Cross Traffic Monitor. All these systems can not only help the driver avoid an accident but also reduce the workload to reduce fatigue on long drives.
The Honda SENSING system, which uses a camera to scan road markings, can not only keep the vehicle within its lane but also guide it back if it unintentionally starts to move into another lane
More information on the New Odyssey can be obtained from authorized Honda dealers. To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.
Carsome, a regional e-commerce automotive platform, recently launched the Carsome Certified Lab, said to be the largest car refurbishment facility in the region. The facility complements the other services offered to dealers and buyers of used cars which include inspection, ownership transfer and financing.
Located in the Bukit Raja industrial park, Selangor, the facility covers over 185,000 square feet of floor area and is a fully-functional Lab which can transform a pre-owned car to be as good as new. It is able to refurbish up to 2,000 vehicles per month, which is an industry-leading volume in Southeast Asia. Similar facilities will be opened in other parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand over the coming 12 months.
175-point inspection before refurbishment
Each Carsome-Certified car must go through a stringent 175-point inspection to ensure that it is free from fire, flood and major accident damages. Only if it is certified can be it refurbished and the bulk of the investment is spent on mechanical and general repair, body and paint, as well as car detailing.
The work carried out covers all areas of the vehicle, including engine and electronic systems. Each process is performed by skilled and experienced technical specialists while adhering to global safety standards. These efforts ensure that all Carsome-Certified cars are safe, comfortable and look as good as new.
5-day money-back guarantee
All Carsome-Certified cars come with the ‘Carsome Promise’ which, besides confirming that they have passed the 175-point inspection, includes a 1-year warranty and 5-day money-back guarantee. The prices are fixed with no hidden fees.
“Carsome Certified exists to give consumers the options of pre-owned cars that are more superior. All our cars go through world-class refurbishment at Carsome Certified Lab, so that our customers can choose their dream car from our largest selection of best-in-class, quality-assured cars. This is our continuous effort in eliminating consumer and industry pain points,” said Carsome Certified CEO Mei Han.
Over the past decade, the auto industry has probably seen more new companies starting up than at any other time except in the earliest years over 100 years ago. And where those early companies saw new business opportunities with the motorized carriage invented by Karl Benz in 1886, the new companies of the 21st century see great opportunities in electrically-powered ‘carriages’ – electric vehicles (EVs). And not having the legacy of decades of investment in vehicles with combustion engines, these new companies can be on the starting line alongside the established players in the new race.
More than just cars
But it’s not just transport vehicles which these newcomers are developing as they also look at providing mobility in a broader sense and as a service, rather than just selling the product. One such company is Faraday Future (FF), an American company originally founded by a Chinese businessman in 2014, which describes itself as a ‘shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company’. After some financial difficulties, the company was able to get substantial funding and went public on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in New York City and proceeded to set up its manufacturing facility in California.
FF ZERO 1 concept
Its first concept car was the futuristic FF ZERO 1 which was shown in 2016 at CES and some other events, more to draw attention to the new company than as a preview of the EV it would build. That came a year later in the form of the FF 91 which remains as the designation for the production model.
SUV bodystyle for flagship
The FF 91, to be the flagship model, is designed to be highly modular. It is built with the company’s Variable Platform Architecture (VPA) that includes the FF Echelon Inverter, the first patent of Faraday Future. It’s a large car – overall length of 5255 mm and width of 1986 mm – sitting on a wheelbase of 3.2 metres, which is comparable to a BMW X7.
The mono-volume is a SUV bodystyle which has design features not constrained by traditional engineering approaches. Unlike early EVs which used architecture based on vehicles with combustion engines and mechanical drivetrains, the new generation of EVs are essentially clean-sheet designs that are optimized for electrical components, systems and layouts. Everything is incorporated on a skateboard platform for ease of manufacturing and simplicity.
3 motors, 1,050 ps, AWD
While details of the powertrain are not given at this time, FF does provide some performance claims. There will be 3 electric motors powered by a 120 kWh battery pack with patented submerged liquid cooling technology. The system output will be 1,050 ps and the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time is claimed to be less than 2.4 seconds. A fully charged lithium-ion battery pack is expected to provide up to 700 kms of range.
All four wheels will be powered with AWD and there will also be all-wheel steer with rear-wheel torque-vectoring. Before full-scale production starts, real-world testing will be carried out in America and most likely in China as well.
It’s not been mentioned what level of autonomous capability the FF 91 will have though it would surely be above Level 2. It will be fitted with a LiDAR sensor and use cameras for the door mirrors and inside rearview mirror.
High-tech interior
The FF 91 will have the ability to memorize different user profiles in FFIDs so each driver’s preferences and even content choices can be set upon entry. Information and entertainment will be displayed on 11 different displays around the cabin with a total of over 2.5 metres of high-resolution viewing area. The rear occupants will also get a state-of-the-art Mobile Movie Theatre screen on the ceiling which can be used for entertainment or even video conferencing.
The rear seats have a zero-gravity concept inspired by NASA and we’re not sure if this is similar to those which are found in some Nissan models (also called Zero-Gravity seats) but it sounds similar. In zero gravity, the human body naturally assumes what NASA scientists call the ‘Neutral Body Posture’ and using the posture data, the rear seats are designed to enable the ideal distribution of the body’s weight. The seats can also recline up to 60 degrees, which is industry-leading.
First 300 units booked
FF began accepting orders last July for two versions of the FF 91 – the Futurist Alliance and the Futurist. The Futurist Alliance will be a limited edition of only 300 units and exclusive colours and wheels. Apparently, all 300 units have already been booked by customers who received special invitations.
The first pre-production unit left the factory earlier this week and with volume production starting from the middle of this year, deliveries are expected to start during the final quarter of the year.
Jeff Koons, an American artist, and BMW have had many years of association, going back 12 years to the time when Koons created the 17th BMW Art Car. Since that time, he wanted to create a special edition of a BMW model as a personal project and finally, he got his wish with THE 8 X JEFF KOONS.
Only 99 units of this exclusive edition based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe will be available. Describe, as a ‘rolling sculpture’ by Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, it is the most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history.
11 different exterior colours
The expressive and striking design combines 11 different exterior colours, ranging from blue to silver as well as from yellow to black. The multi-coloured interior uses high-end materials, fine leather and the cupholder lid includes edition badging and the artist’s signature. The seats are made up of the striking red and blue which reflects the colours of superheroes from the comic book universe as well as those of the company’s high-performance unit, BMW M.
Overall, the energetic and powerful design includes both elements of pop art as well as geometric patterns paying homage to the sporty 8-Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. The exploding lines of colour at the rear, in turn, are their own unmediated homage to the artist’s 2010 BMW Art Car, while the ‘POP!’ on each side as well as the vapour thrust imagery symbolize the power and speed, according to the artist.
Over 200 hours of manual work
Over 200 hours of manual work were spent by highly specialized professionals at two BMW Group plants on the exterior paintwork alone, where the colour samples were often applied with magnifying glasses. Dozens of engineers and designers were involved and Koons had many days of discussions on design options with the BMW employees involved.
“I was thinking very intensely about it: What is the essence of the 8-Series Gran Coupe? What is the essence of power? How to create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element?” he said.
The original 850i was the first model of the 8-Series launched in 1990 and was celebrated as creating a new perspective of progress in advanced motoring, appealing to the connoisseur who acknowledges elegance and performance as the ultimate blend of perfection. THE 8 X JEFF KOONS also continues this tradition.
The original 8-Series launched in 1990.
The artist’s dream car realised
“My edition of the BMW 8-Series is my dream car! It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. I can’t wait to drive it and ride in it, and I hope that people will enjoy the Gran Coupe just as much as I do,” said Koons.
“On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the bonnet towards the boot, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapour thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space and I like the idea of the car being a global car. What matters is how we relate to each other and our awareness of everything we are surrounded by. For the driver and all passengers, there is a heightened state of pleasure. This is what my car has to offer,” he explained.
Each car will come with a large-format certificate signed by the artist which, in addition to Zipse’s signature, also contains the individual Vehicle Identification Number. The artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver’s Manual, while the signature of the artist is set into the cupholder panel in the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo.
Following its world premiere in Los Angeles this month, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be presented at numerous art fairs and events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Initially, the car will be on display for the general public in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Plaza before one car from the series, signed on the tailgate by Jeff Koons, will be auctioned off at Christie’s in New York on April 4. All proceeds from the highest bid will go to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), a non-profit NGO which Koons has been personally involved with for over 2 decades.
This BMW M3 GT2 was aesthetically reworked by the US artist Jeff Koons and in 2010, it was unveiled as the 17th model in the BMW Art Cars series. The car bears the racing number 79 – a tribute to the BMW M1 body work-over presented by Andy Warhol in 1979. The striking colours of Koons’ Art Car exude a boisterous sense of power, motion and energy. As with Warhol’s M1, Koons’ BMW also participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The Perodua Myvi, now in the third generation, is currently in its fifth year and has been the country’s most popular model in all that time – and in the 12 years before as well. It’s hard to drive anywhere and not see a Myvi, old or new, around or in the background. While Perodua has worked hard to build the brand image, the product itself still has to be good to become a continuous bestseller. This means it has to be built well, have good space within, look good and of course, be priced affordably. And the Myvi ticks all those boxes, adding further strong points as it evolved and grew up.
The 2022 version is essentially a facelift to keep the model fresh for another few years. It’s inside that there are more noticeable changes, like the larger touchscreen, new steering wheel and a red theme (and only red) for the upholstery which is also leather in the Myvi 1.5 AV we tested. As with every generation of the Myvi, build quality is excellent and the feel is more solid with attention given to tiny details to reduce metal-to-metal contact. Even the bonnet can be kept raised in two positions, a second one more upright for easier access from above.
Developed with Malaysian DNA
The spaciousness of the cabin has always been a strong point of the Myvi, thanks to the fact that Malaysians were involved in the development of the first one alongside the teams from Daihatsu and Toyota. Though Perodua’s role was small (it was more for the Malaysians to gain experience), they nevertheless were able to convince the project team that the interior space needed to be greater because that was what Malaysians wanted. Had they not provided that input (and had it not been accepted), we might have gotten a more compact cabin which the Japanese are okay with.
From the experience of developing that first generation, Perodua began to develop its own capabilities to the extent that they can now do the upper body work themselves. This means that there is more localized thinking in the styling elements which would be more suited to Malaysian tastes and expectations. It also saw the addition of features like the teh tarik hooks as well as the handbag hook on the side of the front passenger’s seat to prevent theft.
Suspension more customised for Malaysia
We also noticed that the handling of the Myvi in its third generation had changed in character somewhat and upon discussion with the Perodua guys, we learnt that with this generation, the suspension settings were specifically tuned to Malaysian requirements, rather than using those provided by Daihatsu in the past. Apparently, this was a ‘victory’ because it meant that the car’s handling could be more suited to our roads and from what we noticed driving the second and third generations is that the current one has a more direct feel with more linear response to changes in direction.
Switch to CVT
While maintaining the same 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre engines with Dual VVT-i, the drivetrain has switched from the conventional electronically-controlled automatic transmission with a torque converter to a D-CVT (continuously-variable transmission). This change helps to squeeze a few more kilometres from each litre of fuel as CVTs are more efficient, especially in urban driving conditions.
Unfortunately, those who still like manual transmissions can’t get them anymore with the Myvi and if you really must have a manual (and you want a Perodua), then you would have to settle for a Bezza, Axia or Alza. And if it is an Alza you want, you should quickly go to a showroom to order one as stocks will be diminishing with no replacements coming since production of the model ended last month.
While some may be critical of a CVT’s feel and characteristics, it would generally be fine for most people. The engineers have tuned the transmission (which, like the engines, is produced in Malaysia) to have an almost similar feel as a torque-converter unit with less of that ‘rubberband’ acceleration.
The transmission also improves acceleration which can be slightly enhanced by selecting the ‘S’ mode. But conversely, as we discovered, you don’t get the same level of engine braking. For this reason (and it’s also present in hybrids), there is a ‘B’ mode which can be used to assist in slowing down. It helps to decelerate the car more positively so you don’t have to use the brakes excessively, especially when going down a steep slope. So those who frequent the Genting Highlands road would want to use it a lot so their brakes don’t end up smoking.
It’s interesting that, besides the ‘S’ (Sports) mode in the transmission, the Myvi (1.5 version) also has a PWR mode. Both would seem to do the same thing which is enhance performance, usually acceleration, but they actually have different purposes. When you select ‘S’ mode in the transmission, it is like downshifting with a manual and the ratio is lowered. This improves control when driving on winding roads.
When you press the PWR button, you are going into a ‘sports mode’ whereby the engine programming is altered to give a boost to performance. Acceleration becomes quicker but at the expense of some fuel economy. So you get two ways to enhance performance, depending on the road conditions.
Perodua says that with the D-CVT, fuel consumption is 5% lower than before and for the Myvi 1.5 AV that we tested, the claim is 21.1 kms/litre. In the old days (before 1990s), verifying claims was tedious as you had to top up the fuel tank and then refill it again after driving some distance, and calculate the consumption from the fuel used – which wasn’t necessarily accurate.
These days, an on-board computer tells you not just the average consumption but also consumption in real-time as well as the range possible with fuel remaining in the tank. In our case, we actually got a bit better than the claim after a 2-day period, achieving 22.5 kms/litre. Much of this was highway driving and in city driving, it went to as low as 13.5 kms/litre at times due to congestion. That’s when the Eco Idle system which automatically shuts down the engine during long periods of standing still helps avoid wasting fuel.
Having such good fuel consumption means the tank can be smaller and the one in today’s Myvi’s is just 36 litres. The tank in the first Myvi had a 40-litre capacity so reducing it by 4 litres has also meant almost 3 kgs in weight-saving with less fuel.
More active safety systems
When this generation of the Myvi was introduced in 2017, its Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) system was an impressive new addition that moved active safety in this class to the next level. While ASA has continued to improve, the scope of safety systems for the Myvi has also broadened and the expanded package is now known as Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA).
While including ASA which is essentially to provide automatic emergency braking (AEB), PSDA adds Driving Assist, Parking Assist and Headlamp Assist to help the driver in various ways, not just to avoid accidents. For instance, Driving Assist has Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) which allows the car to travel at a set speed but adjusted to maintain a safe gap from the vehicle in front when necessary. There are also systems to keep the car in its lane and if the driver doesn’t do so, the system will apply pressure to guide the car back into its lane. We found the alerts rather intrusive as they often occurred but they also served to make driving a bit more ‘disciplined’.
ASA and some systems of PSDA use a camera mounted on the top of the windscreen. This is a lower-cost approach (appropriate for a model like the Myvi) than having camera and radar, which more expensive models have. Though the camera works well enough, there are some conditions where its view might be obscured, eg during heavy rain. This means that the system is ‘blind’ and that has implications on its ability to detect other vehicles ahead. Perodua acknowledges that the system is not 100% perfect, which is acceptable, and that drivers still need to pay attention. In any case, when a system is inactive, the driver will be warned by a message on the instrument panel.
One of the new additions with the PSDA system is Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which is really great when reversing. The camera at the back shows a limited field of view but the sensors can detect further to either side to detect approaching vehicles. The driver will be alerted so he can stop instead of continuing to reverse and possibly having an accident.
The other thing which we were surprised to see on the instrument panel was the position of the front wheels (when reverse gear is engaged). It’s a very rare feature and useful when maneuvering the car in tight spots. Along with the guide lines on the image of the rear view, it’s very easy parking the Myvi and there should be no excuse for bad positioning that gets your car publicized in Facebook’s Stupid Parking Idiots page!
One thing that has to be said about the controls and switches (and this is something we usually assess) is how easy they are to operate as well as how intuitive their operation is. Admittedly, everything can be found in the manual (which can be found online as well) but not everyone reads it. So the mark of a well designed cockpit layout would be that a driver can make settings intuitively. The Myvi gets top marks for this and someone new to the car will be able to use the many features right away.
Hard to beat package
The Myvi 1.5 AV that we tested starts from RM58,800 (without insurance) and with the amount of stuff that Perodua has put in, it’s certainly great value for money. The price range for the model goes down to as low as RM45,700 but when you pay less, you obviously get less too. Nevertheless, as an overall package, the Myvi would be hard to beat at the price point of each variant.
To locate a showroom to view or test-drive the latest Myvi or other Perodua models. visit www.perodua.com.my.
