Home - Piston.my

VW owner proud of being a loyalist for 50 years

Brand loyalty isn’t something we hear much about these days. Modern car buyers aren’t brand conscious anymore, instead, flock to manufacturers that provide them with the best bang for their buck. That said, a Volkswagen car owner in the UK, has the exact opposite understanding.

Karen Wilson has owned in total, 16 VW cars and plans to keep it that way. She currently drives a 4-year-old Polo R-Line with a 1.2L TSI engine. Prior to this, she has owned a pretty colourful list of Volkswagen vehicles dating back to 1967.

In the past 50 years, Wilson has owned several cars including a Campervan, 2 Beetles, 3 Golfs and 10 Polos. Her first love was a cream-coloured Volkswagen Beetle that she purchased new, in 1967. She loved it from the very beginning, taking it on several road trips including one, from Austria to Germany.

The Beetle may not have been a technological marvel or a powerhouse, but its peppy flat-four engine was extremely reliable and easy to maintain. Running costs were low and since it made use of rudimentary mechanicals, mending a problem was fairly simple.

Wilson’s love for the brand stems from this very reputation. VW is known for building safe and reliable cars. In her ownership experience, her vehicles have been extremely dependable, getting her from point A to B with little to no fuss at all.

Her local retailer, JCT600 Volkswagen York, invited Wilson over for coffee and cake as an appreciation gesture for her loyalty and love of the brand. Besides the food and beverages, the celebrations also included gifts and a letter of thanks from the Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones.

Speaking of the sales and after-sales aspects of the brand, Wilson, said, “I’ve always had really good service from all the Volkswagen dealerships. They’re nice and friendly and when you walk in they remember your name, and the salespeople don’t put pressure on you to make a sale. They don’t need to because of their confidence in the cars.”

According to Volkswagen UK, Wilson’s love affair with the brand is quite common in the country. Her experience isn’t unique because there are many other owners who have similar stories to share. In fact, VW’s customer service in the UK is aware of a number of high mileage cars that are still out and about.

However, Wilson’s commitment to the brand is nothing short of remarkable. These days, consumers are spoiled for choice due to the market being flooded with good vehicles. So, for someone to pledge an allegiance to a certain brand, said automaker has to offer something extraordinary in return.

Cruden thinks simulator is best for testing autonomous cars

Following the recent UK budget announcement by The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond regarding driverless cars, Cruden announced a cost effective way forward. This is a big deal considering that the UK government is set to make bold reforms that will see developers test vehicles on UK roads nationwide without a human operator by 2021.

Cruden is a well-known designer, manufacturer and integrator of open architecture driving simulators for the automotive, Motorsport, marine and motorcycle industries. And it believes that the most cost effective and risk-free way for companies to test their autonomous systems, is by using a driving simulator.

Doing so, will keep public motorists and pedestrian out of harm’s way. Currently, in states like California in the USA, autonomous cars are tested and driven on public roads. Should the unthinkable happen, and an autonomous car decides to go rogue, it could potentially cause a great deal of harm to those in the vicinity.

This is why Cruden believes that testing driverless technology in a repeatable and highly effective environment, without risking human injury, can only be accomplished with the use of a driving simulator. In fact, Cruden’s own machines can be used to test advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle systems.

“We believe that extensive testing of the interaction between the driver and the car, with many different types of people, is required to get the necessary acceptance of the car’s decisions in handover moments and emergency scenarios, ” said, Jelle van Doornik, development engineer at Cruden.

“Yet this is dangerous, expensive and time consuming to do with real people in real cars with real traffic. The only way to achieve this while processing large numbers of different drivers through a test programme is to use an advanced driving simulator,” he added.

The company is adamant that testing driverless cars on UK roads isn’t possible because of the inconvenience and risks that they would pose to motorists and pedestrians. That said, automakers like Volvo, Tesla and Google have made massive strides in this area with only minor setbacks. But we shall have to wait and see if automakers decide to heed their warning or ignore it completely.

SISMA Auto launches new Volvo Showroom in Bukit Bintang

Malaysia’s newly appointed authorised dealer for Volvo Car Malaysia that is SISMA Auto has just launched the all-new showroom located at Menara Worldwide on Jalan Bukit Bintang. The brand new city centre showroom is strategically placed just a stone’s throw away from the Pavillion shopping centre.

Offering the best of what Swedish motoring has to offer, the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s premier and residential district has been ‘blessed’ with the finest Swedish luxury and Scandinavian appeal dubbed the “Volvo Retail Experience” or VRE for short.

According to Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Lennart Stegland, “VRE is designed to reflect our Scandinavian-inspired values of calm with clean lines that exude a cool and refreshing visual exterior appeal whilst the interior offers customers a warm and inviting feeling.”

In addition to the new showroom that’ll help to boost the brand’s presence in the country with their wide range of luxury vehicles, SISMA Auto Managing Director, Syed Khalid Syed Ibrahim also added “We are very proud to be associated with Volvo, a brand that is clearly on the ascent after releasing an amazing range of new models.”

He then added, “The range that include the XC90 to the new S90 T8 Twin Engine. With this new showroom, we hope to bring the Volvo experience closer to those who live or work in the city.”

To add yet another premium touch to the Volvo ownership experience, the showroom also features SISMA Auto’s Concierge Service. As one of SISMA Auto’s key signature, this service offers great ease for customers with its home or office vehicle pick-up and drop-off.

In conjunction with the new Volvo showroom launch, customers will stand a chance to win a premium all-expense paid for two to Sweden when they purchase any new Volvo from SISMA Auto.

To know more about the new SISMA Auto Volvo showroom, head on over to the ground floor of Menara Worldwide which is located at 198, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100, Kuala Lumpur. Operation hours are from 9am to 7pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm on weekends.

Article by Sepp Iran

Production begins in Belgium for XC40

Production of the first ever Volvo compact SUV, the XC40, has just started in Belgium. The newest addition to the Swedish automaker’s line-up is being assembled at its Ghent plant. It’s one of two manufacturing sites that the automaker has in Europe and it has been operational since 1965.

Extensive retooling and modifications were conducted to accomdate the production of the XC40. In fact, a total of 363 robots have been installed including one that is nicknamed ‘The Beast’. This machine, is used to lift lower car bodies to a conveyor belt close to the ceiling of the plant.

“This is a proud day for Ghent, the company and all our employees here,” said Mr Samuelsson. “Our people have put in long days and many hours to prepare the plant for the start of XC40 production and they have done a great job. The XC40 represents a bright future for Ghent and for Volvo Cars.”

The modifications have also turned the facility into a global export hub for CMA-based cars, including an 8,000 square metre addition to the body shop. It will complement the other manufacturing site located in Volvo’s home country. The company also operates two vehicle manufacturing plants in China, while a US plant is still under construction.

The XC40 will join the rest of the family including the XC60 and XC90 on the production line at Gent, where they will probably need to ramp up production to fulfill the more than 13,000 bookings. Unlike its bigger siblings, the Xc40 is built on the CMA platform or Compact Modular Architecture. CMA will be used to underpin all future 40 series vehicles, moving forward.

It was joinly developed with Volvo’s parent company, Geely for necessary synergies and economies of scale for the small premium car segment. This type of technology, which is employed by other automakers as well, reduces the amount of time needed for a vehicle to go from, inception to production.

Chrysler 300 is the most wanted vehicle in the US

Modern muscle cars do not get the respect that they deserve because many prefer to ogle at their ancestors, specifically those from the 1960s and 1970s. Thankfully, the Chrysler 300, considered by many as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, has been recognized for all the right reasons.

The car has emerged as the winner of the Large Car segment in Edmunds’ Most Wanted awards. This competition recognizes vehicles that are the most in-demand based on sales, days-to-turn and shopper interest data.

Winners of each of the 17 categories are determined by analyzing data from the first nine months of 2017 for all models on sale during that period. Edmunds tabulates its site data and traffic to gauge, which vehicles garnered the most attention.

The rankings for each of these data sets were weighted equally to determine the winners in each segment. Unlike many other automotive competitions, Edmunds’ is based on pure data alone and not the subjective input of a panel of judges.

“Bold and aggressive, the Chrysler 300 stands out in a class of largely look-alike sedans, and its originality makes it one of the most popular large cars on the market,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis, Edmunds.

The Chrysler 300 is said to offer world-class performance, efficiency and quality. It is also equipped with cutting edge tech that include a sophisticated entertainment system. That said, its main party piece has to be its sweet sounding 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine.

It isn’t the only powerplant offered however, there’s a more docile 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 available that produces decent amount of power. But it’s no match for its bigger and power powerful brother. The Chrysler 300 is a fan-favourite in the US and should continue to be that for quite a while.

New Aston Martin Vantage breaks convention

Aston Martin has finally revealed the newest member of its family, the latest Vantage. This sleek two seater picks up where its predecessor left off, offering a sleek silhouette and a healthy helping of power. Its design however, is a major departure from the automaker’s current design language. At 4465mm, the Vantage is 284mm shorter than the DB11, and is 34mm shorter than a Porsche 911.

The signature front grille receives far more real estate than before, it’s placed lower and has been integrated with the lower lip assembly. Gone are the familiar headlights and in its place, narrower ones that blend with the lines of the front fascia. Most prominent of the lot has to be the large swooping bonnet that looks like it stretches for miles.

From the side however, the shape isn’t that dissimilar from its predecessor, but the lower roof line and angular contours do add to the design’s depth. As far as the rear is concerned, you would be forgiven for mistaking the new Vantage for a Porsche, at first glance. The rear haunches, wedged shaped upper section and elongated LED taillights bear more than a passing resemblance to the 911.

On the inside, there’s a whole new interior, which is a breath of fresh air considering Aston rarely likes change. The car’s switchgear consoles are huddled together under the twin chrome-outlined air vents.The 8-inch LCD screen is responsible for controlling the audio, phone mirroring and navigation. A nice addition is the body-colour matching lower centre console, it and the leather inner door handle housing add to the car’s exclusive feel.

Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre V8 twin turbo engine that develops close to 510bhp and 685Nm of torque. It’s a Mercedes-AMG unit that has been reworked by Aston Martin engineers to ensure that it delivers the same character and feel of engines that preceded it. Both its induction and exhaust systems have been reworked to produce the same visceral feel of the normally aspirated V8 in its predecessor.

The Merc sourced powerplant is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission that is rear mounted to help with weight distribution. It has specially developed software that allows for shorter and crispier gear changes as well as the refinement and practicality, which is beyond that of dual clutch gearboxes. As such, the Vantage is able to sprint from 0-100km/h in about 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 314km/h.

Aston Martin’s Chief Technical Officer, Max Szwaj, said, “As an automotive engineer the challenge is always the same: to achieve greater efficiency in every area of the car. With an unashamed sports car such as an all-new Aston Martin Vantage you have another challenge – the relentless pursuit of greater emotion and excitement. Not only have we massively improved the hardware of this new Vantage, we’ve invested it with true heart and soul.”

The suspension features a forged double wishbone arrangement at the front and a multi-link one at the rear. Thanks to adaptive damping, the car is able to understand and compensate for the driving conditions and driver needs through the use of several sensors. Four driver modes, Sport, Sport Plus and Track, alter the powertrain, transmission, suspension and steering systems to deliver the required output.

And for the first time on an Aston Martin, the Vantage is fitted with an electronic differential or E-Diff. Linked with the car’s electronic stability control, it is able to understand the car’s behaviour and shift power to the wheel that needs it most. Unlike conventional Limited Slip Differentials or LSDs, it can react in a matter of milliseconds. This improves the car’s cornering and handling capabilities.

Stopping power comes courtesy of ventilated two-piece 400mm cast-iron discs at the front, with ventilated 360mm discs at the rear, gripped by 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers. They offer decent stopping power for the 20-inch lightweight rims that are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The new Vantage is on sale now in the UK, Germany and the USA. Deliveries are scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2018. The car comes equipped with the latest tech and is bound to be a top seller.