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BMW to reveal new 8 Series concept car

During BMW’s annual general meeting, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Krüger, announced that the automaker would be introducing a new concept car. Considered to be a design study, it will be unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 26 May 2017.

The concept car will provide a glimpse into what the new BMW 8 Series Coupe would look like when it eventually is revealed in 2018. According to the Munich based automaker, the new car “embodies uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe”.

Speaking of the new concept car, Krüger said, “The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination. The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”

At the moment, all we have is an outline of the car. It isn’t much to go on but based on the silhouette, the car may incorporate design cues from the 6 Series Coupe albeit with wider dimensions. Both front headlights and rear taillights should be of the LED kind at the very least and the car in general, should be loaded with the latest safety tech and BMW’s latest iDrive system.

We will bring you more once the car is unveiled next week, so stay tuned for more updates.

BMW opens biggest warehouse and parts centre in Asia Pacific region

BMW Group Malaysia has officially opened its state-of-the-art logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre in Senai, Johor. This facility will function as the parts distribution hub for 23 countries in the region.

The 775,000 square feet facility is located at the Free Industrial Zone of the Senai International Airport in Johor Bharu. More than RM130 million was invested in the facility which is considered one of its kind and the first in the Asia Pacific region. It will not only function as the logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre for vehicle parts but for lifestyle merchandise of brands under the BMW umbrella, which include BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

Regarding the launch, Mr. Hendrik von Kuenheim, Senior Vice President Region Asia, Pacific and South Africa, BMW Group, meanwhile, said, “The record sales performance we achieved in Asia last year and in the first quarter of 2017 is a testament to the strength of the BMW Group in the region. In that, we believe Malaysia to be a key market that supports our strategic business direction in expanding our footprint in the region. The opening of the new BMW Group Regional Parts Distribution Centre here will help the BMW Group to continue driving our vision to deliver the best in automotive innovation and value to customers in the region.”

According to the German automaker, the launching of this facility proves its commitment to serving customers in the region and ensuring that the parts supply chain is in check with BMW standards and to ensure customer satisfaction.

It was completed at the end of last year and marks the first phase of the construction of the entire facility. Situated in a strategic area with good access to the sea port and airport in the Free Industrial Zone, BMW’s new centre should improve parts supply even further. Besides Malaysia, other countries that will benefit from the launching of this facility include Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Guam.

The opening of this new centre is expected to create 120 new job opportunities in the country, which is good news for us Malaysians.

Porsche achieves new record this year

Porsche has exceeded its own expectations this year by achieving increased revenue, number of employees and vehicle deliveries compared to the same period last year. Its profit margin grew from 16.7% to 17.6%, operating results increased by 8% and revenue increased by 2% to EUR 5.5 billion (RM 26.1 billion).

This year, Porsche managed to sell more vehicles than it did during the same period last year by reporting a 7% increase which equates to 59,689 vehicles. During the same time, the German automaker’s workforce grew by 13% to a total of 28,249 employees.

Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT at Porsche AG, Lutz Meschke, said, “This exceptionally good result is a seamless continuation of our record year in 2016, and we have once again exceeded an already high level.”

The automaker attributed much of its success this year to the attractive pricing of its vehicles, which include the Panamera. The most popular of its variants where the plug-in hybrid and the Sport Turismo. Porsche is also adamant that the addition of electric propulsion vehicles in its product portfolio has not taken anything away anything from the spirit and principles of the company. Any vehicle that bears the Porsche badge, will offer the best performance and handling characteristics that it has to offer. An electric or hybrid Porsche will be able to utilize the best technology available to deliver peak performance to drivers as and when needed.

The Stuttgart based automaker expects to see moderate growth in revenue and vehicle delivers this year provided that the foreign exchange rates remain stable. Porsche says that it requires at least a 15% profit margin to maintain its current running costs and position as one of the most profitable automotive manufacturers in the world.

Story of a Corolla KE35 and the man who brought back its shine

True love can only be described by those who have experienced it. Such is the case with Romain Saraiva and his red 1976 Toyota Corolla KE35. His interest in cars ran in his family. On family road trips, Romain and his family would play car spotting games.

At a much younger age, Romain, who at the time was still in school, was looking to buy his first car. He wanted something different and with a soul. He stumbled upon a Toyota Corolla Coupe whole on vacation with his family in Portugal. Smitten by the car’s silhouette and uniqueness, when he got back to France, kept an eye out for a similar one. He eventually found one and acting on impulse, bought the car.

Blinded by his love for it, he didn’t realize that the car was in pretty bad shape. It’s previous owner, in an attempt to make a quick sale, made a hash of the repair work. As such, a lot of the work had to be done by Romain to get the car looking brand new again. Watch the video and let him tell you how his passion for his KE35 led him down this complicated path.

New BMW 1 Series to be launched in July

Fresh after the reveal of the 2 Series bimmer, BMW has spilled the beans on the new 1 Series that should be launched at the same time as its bigger brethren. The compact premium car will come in 3-door and 5-door form and will be offered in three new editions which are Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow and M140i Edition Shadow.

Subtle design changes help differentiate these variants from the rest of the line-up. They include black kidney grille, black inserts in the LED headlights and darkened LED rear lights. There are also 5 new light-alloy wheels to choose from but they will only be made available in 17 and 18-inch form. Inside, the new 1 Series features a newly designed instrument panel and various design tweaks to improve drivers’ attention and provide for a better feeling of spaciousness.

The addition of new materials and premium leather upholstery help give the car a more elegant apperance, which is a welcomed feature for vehicles in it’s category and price point. BMW’s famous iDrive system governs the 8.8-inch touchscreen and various other functions including voice control, Navigation and touch-sensitive interface.

Those wanting a little more sophisticated will not go empty handed because the 1 Series comes with the BMW Connected Drive services that ensure that the car is connected with systems that enable Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) with hazard preview, On-Street Parking Information, vehicle access via Remote Services and the integrated Microsoft Exchange function for sharing and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details. Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay, inductive charging and a WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices are all features that are available with BMW’s latest infotainment system.

Petrol Engine options for the 1 Series are similar to that of the 2 Series BMW. they include three, four and six cylinder petrol engines as well as three and four cylinder diesel ones. Power output range from 109bhp for the basic 116i to 340bhp for the fire-breathing M140i. Touted as the only compact hatch with rear-wheel-drive, the new 1 Series has also been made available with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system as an option.

If you are interested in the car, you would be happy to know that BMW has added two new exterior colours for the bodywork, which are Sunset Orange and Seaside Blue. Expect more from BMW in the months leading up to the official launch, but we will do our part to ensure you get the latest news.

Goodyear launches Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 in Malaysia

Global tyremaker Goodyear, has launched its new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 here in Malaysia. Apparently, the tyre will offer 31% better wear performance and shorter braking distances on dry and wet roads compared to its predecessor.

“Goodyear is known for its commitment to innovate and to offer superior performing products to its consumers. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 is designed to suit the needs of consumers in Malaysia, and tested to Goodyear’s highest standards to provide confidence that it will perform on the region’s roads. It has also been accredited as original equipment for some of the world’s leading cars such as the Jaguar XF, Mercedes E-Class, the BMW 5 series, Alfa Romeo Guilia, Chevrolet Camaro and the Porsche Panamera,” said Ben Hoge, Managing Director of Goodyear Malaysia Berhad.

The new tyre incorporates new technology that allow it to deliver better grip, longer life and improved braking distances. It’s Grip Booster Technology has a grip booster compound and adhesive resin, that deliver better grip characteristics. Active Braking Technology increases the contact surface of the tyre, increasing the grip levels, which then allow for shorter braking distances.

Goodyear utilized a new reinforced construction technology for the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, allowing it to be strong yet still retain its lightweight properties, which will improve a vehicle’s handling and cornering characteristics as well as reduce tread ware but increase fuel efficiency.

Confident of its latest creation, Goodyear handed over the new tyre to Dekra and TUV to conduct the various tests. Based on Dekra’s results, the Eagle F1 Asymetric 3 offers up to 11,500km extra service life which is about 31% better wear compared to competitor tyres.

TUV found that Goodyear’s tyre offered 2.6m shorter stopping distances on wet roads, 1.3m in dry roads and 4% better handling in rainy conditions. The tests also revealed that the Goodyear tyre offered the second best rolling resistance of all tyre brands that were tested.