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SEAT performance brand CUPRA reveals 3 new models for electrified era

Like a number of manufacturers, Spanish carmaker SEAT (a member of the Volkswagen Group) also has a performance sub-brand. Known as CUPRA, its name was taken from the high-performance motorsport subsidiary of the company. CUPRA was established in 2018 to focus on high-performance products which, like those of SEAT, uses much of the Volkswagen Group’s technologies and platforms.

The brand has gained a lot of credibility with its high-performance models, delivering close to 200,000 units to date, mostly in Europe. Now it is looking ahead to an electrified future and will launch 3 new electrified models by 2025. The names of the new models were revealed recently – Terramar, Tavascan and UrbanRebel.

“Here is the entire range of CUPRA’s next generation of heroes to be launched by 2025,” said Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA, at the presentation of the future models. ”In the mid-term, our aim is to deliver 500,000 cars per year and push forward with our international expansion into new markets as well as entering new segments. The CUPRA Tribe is committed to making all this happen, it’s the people that count. Because at the end, it’s the people who make the brand.”

The Terramar
This will be the first electrified SUV of the brand which is expected to move the company to the hotspot of the SUV segment, the fastest-growing segment in Europe. To be produced in Hungary at Audi’s plant, the Terramar will be available with conventional petrol powertrains as well as a new generation of plug-in hybrid powertrains that are promised to deliver around 100 kms in all-electric mode. The e-HYBRID range focuses on performance and contemporary sportiness and are part of the bigger journey as CUPRA fulfils its electrification revolution.

“Terramar, our new sporty hybrid SUV, perfectly combines bold proportions with a long striking bonnet, while the shark nose means breakthrough resistance and the determination to win,” said Jorge Diez, Design Director at CUPRA. “Thinking of how the driver will feel, we provide a unique experience with the latest technology, thanks to the driver oriented interior concept. All in all, a 4.5-metre long SUV, with CUPRA DNA ready to shake one of the most competitive segments”.

Tavascan
In 2024, CUPRA will launch the Tavascan, based on the electrified vision shown in the 2019 concept car of the same name. Some design elements were already strongly hinted at in the 2021 Tavascan Extreme E Concept. The Tavascan will have the mission of globalising the brand and take CUPRA to new markets.

UrbanRebel
In 2025, the UrbanRebel will be the final model to be launched. Its name suggests that it will take the brand beyond its traditional boundaries. It will have an emotional design and be ‘developed for a more rebellious electric world’, according to CUPRA. The front-wheel drive model will sit on Volkswagen Group’s MEB Small platform.

Measuring 4030 mm long, the vehicle has sustainability at its core, integrating advanced recycled polymers and bio-based materials to push the boundaries of what is achievable, and delivering a more environmentally-conscious vehicle. It mixes 3D printed and 3D knitted manufacturing approaches with parametric design to improve performance and value perception.

Lightweight design both in the exterior and interior help the vehicle’s 166 kW (226 ps) electric motor propel the urban electric car to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.9 seconds. The battery pack will have energy to give a range of up to 440 kms.

“The CUPRA UrbanRebel will be the biggest project for our company in the upcoming years since it is key for our transformation as a fully electric brand. We are leading the cluster development, the family of vehicles that will democratise sustainable urban mobility, for different brands within the Volkswagen Group,” said Werner Tietz, Vice-President for Research & Development at CUPRA.

During the impulse event, CUPRA’s CEO also hinted at the future versions of the current range which consists of the Leon, Formentor and Born, to be renewed by 2025.

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ACO Tech launches locally-developed ATLAS automotive operating system

ACO Tech today launched ATLAS, an automotive operating system solution which it led and developed locally. ATLAS aims to shape a new automotive ecosystem of connected software and hardware, including an in-vehicle infotainment system, a mobile application (ATLAS Auto) and a human-touch communication such as wearable technology that connects with the vehicle and the mobile application.

Specifically designed to integrate the concept of humanised connected lifestyle into the drivers’ automotive experience, ATLAS is a scalable ecosystem that can be customised into the automaker’s development cycle. The operating system on the open-source Android 10 platform and above.

Today, there are more than 10,000 vehicles on the road equipped with ATLAS and ATLAS Auto App. It is now available in vehicles fitted with the ATLAS Infotainment Head Unit.

ACO Tech has also established a partnership that will provide end-to-end in-vehicle connected services using its ATLAS proprietary technology. The strategic partnership is with UOB Malaysia, Fass Payment Solutions Sdn Bhd, and FIVE Petroleum Malaysia.

Vehicular payment feature
ACO Tech, UOB Malaysia and Fasspay will work together to implement a car-based digital wallet system and an integrated automotive payment system that are tailored for the in-car environment. These features will be available by the fourth quarter of 2022.

The collaboration with FIVE will further strengthen ATLAS’ user experience by offering nationwide automotive-related support through a network of approved service providers, automotive merchants and refuelling experience at FIVE petrol stations.

Connected and personalised driving experience
“As auto manufacturers strive to deliver a connected and personalised driving experience to the consumers, it is imperative for ATLAS to be agile, scalable and ever-evolving. While ensuring our technology capabilities are optimised to rapidly adapt to the demanding needs, building relationships with industry partners continues to be a priority for ACO Tech to provide innovative in-car experiences that make perfect sense to the drivers,” said Li Pu, CEO of ACO Tech.

Mr. Li Pu said that, with the partnership, ACO Tech can further broaden ATLAS’ competencies and make its offerings accessible at home, on the road and everywhere in between. “Essentially, our vision for our technologies is to enrich and complement every part of our users’ lives in the best way possible,” he explained.

He added that a global partnership which focuses on audio streaming experience is well under way and will be announced by the end of this month.

Supporting smart mobility lifestyle
At the launch event today, ACO Tech also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand its partnership with Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to continuously develop cloud-based automotive solutions on Huawei Cloud for regional markets. The extended collaboration will see both companies leverage their technological capabilities to accelerate innovations in software applications for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to further promote the adoption of the smart mobility lifestyle.

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Polestar releases uncamouflaged image of its first SUV – fully electric, of course

Polestar, the Swedish car company which makes and sells on battery electric vehicles (BEVs), will hold the world premiere for its next model, the Polestar 3, this October. This will be a SUV, the company’s first, and reflects the significance of the segment which is the most competitive today. Polestar will be entering one of the highest margin and growth segments in the automotive industry, particularly in the USA.

Customers can expect to order Polestar 3 in initial launch markets from the day of the premiere. Production is expected to begin in early 2023, and besides China, the model will be manufactured in the USA. This follows carmakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW which set up factories for their first SUVs in the USA in the 1990s.

“This is a major milestone for our company, one that boosts our growth trajectory and takes us into our next phase,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO. “Polestar 3 is the SUV for the electric age. Our design identity evolves with this high-end large luxury EV, with a strong, individual brand character. With this car, we bring the ‘sport’ back to the SUV, staying true to our performance roots.”

The company said that Polestar 3 will, over time, offer autonomous highway piloting powered by the best-in-class LiDAR sensor from Luminar and centralized NVIDIA computing power. At launch, it will have a dual-motor drivetrain for all-wheel drive and a large battery, with a range target of over 600 kms.

Polestar plans to launch a new model every year for the next 3 years, starting with Polestar 3. Polestar 4 is expected to follow in 2023, and it will be a smaller SUV coupe. In 2024, the Polestar 5 performance 4-door GT is expected to debut as the production evolution of Polestar Precept.

While Polestar is a recognised carmaker today, its origins were rather unusual as it started off as the name of a racing team in 1996. It gained prominence in the Swedish Touring Car Championship running Volvos and by 2015, Volvo Cars decided to take it in and give it a role involving high performance products.

*The Polestar name first appeared with a successful racing team running in the Swedish Touring Car Championship with Volvos.*

With Volvo Cars being acquired by the Geely Group in 2010, Polestar also became part of the group while its racing activities have been run by Cyan Racing. Under the Geely Group, Polestar grew further and besides developing and selling electric performance cars, it offers performance hardware upgrades and engine software optimisations for Volvo models through their Polestar Engineered division.

Polestar also functions as an innovation lab for Volvo Cars, developing designs and technologies. Being part of a huge group, Polestar enjoys technological and engineering synergies and benefits from significant economies of scale as a result, as well as sharing resources. Polestar has production facilities in China, and as mentioned earlier, there will be a new factory in the USA to manufacture the new SUV model.

To date, Polestar has produced two models – the Polestar 1 which was built between 2019 and 2021 as a low-volume electric performance hybrid GT with a carbonfibre body, and the Polestar 2 which sells in larger volumes.

The company plans to increase its presence to at least 30 global markets by the end of next year. This supports its plans to grow ten-fold from global sales of approximately 29,000 in 2021 to approximately 290,000 by the end of 2025.

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Lamborghini Urus sets record as brand’s best-selling model in the shortest time ever

Since the 1990s, SUVs have grown in popularity phenomenally – to the extent that event at the topmost segment of the market, manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce have had to include such models in their range. And further evidence of the importance of this type of vehicle can be seen in how many carmakers have chosen it to be the first bodystyle for their new electric vehicles.

Even among supercar manufacturers, demands for SUVs is evident from their customers and an example can be seen in the Lamborghini Urus setting sales records. Labelled by the company as a ‘Super SUV’, the Urus has set the record of being its best-selling model in the shortest time ever. Since its market debut in 2018, 20,000 units have been produced, with the 20,000^th unit being delivered to a customer in Azerbaijan.

“From the first moment we presented the Urus concept at Beijing motor show in 2012, to its market debut in 2018 and each year since, the Urus has proved its instant and continued appeal as a true Lamborghini, born from our super sports heritage and the world’s first Super SUV, the LM 002,” said Stephan Winkelman, Automobili Lamborghini Chairman & CEO. “The Urus is a perfect complement to our super sports model ranges, providing a luxurious and high-performance daily drive for those who identify with our authentic Italian brand.”

The overall growth in global sales has been impressive, reaching the record of 8,205 units delivered in 2019 – that was double the volumes achieved in the period before the Urus went on sale. From 2018 to the end of 2021, a total of 16,000 SUVs were delivered worldwide to 5 continents, with 85% of customers being new to the marque.

Catalyst for transformation
The Urus has been the catalyst for doubling company volumes and the size of the factory has gone from 80,000 to 160,000 square metres. To manufacture more efficiently, Lamborghini Manufacturing 4.0 was established as an innovative approach to production technologies to support assemblyline workers. In 2019, the Urus paintshop was inaugurated and since 2020, the Urus supply chain became more sustainable through replacing the Urus bodies’ transportation by truck with train, and the cut of CO₂ emissions by 85%.

The environmental initiative followed the announcement of Lamborghini’s ‘Direzione Cor Tauri’ future global program, involving a complete switch to hybrid technologies by 2024 and the vision for a new fully-electric model in the second half of the decade. Cor Tauri starts from a holistic vision of the company’s sustainability strategy: a 360° approach that spans from the products to the entire factory site, from production lines to offices.

Adventures all over the world
Over the past 4 years that the model has been on sale, it is estimated that Urus owners around the world have covered more than 360 million kilometres in total. Where Lamborghinis were once only seen on highways, the Urus gives owners new adventures away from the highways. Besides many private journeys, events organised by Lamborghini have seen the SUV travel along the highest roads to the most extreme off-road environments. To prove that it can ‘Unlock any Road’, the Urus has set a new high-speed record for ice-driving on Russia’s Lake Baikal and going up the world’s highest driveable road (India’s Umling La pass at 5,884 metres).

Soul of a super sportscar, functionality of a SUV

The Urus continues to have a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine delivering 650 ps at 6,000 rpm and 850 Nm of torque at 2,250 rpm. With 162.7 ps/litre, it boasts of one of the highest specific power ratings in its class, as well as the best weight-to-power ratio of 3.38 kgs/ps. This enables it to go from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.6 seconds and reach 200 km/h in 12.8 seconds, after which it will top out at 305 km/h.

After paying so much for an Urus, it is to be expected that customers will spend a bit more to personalise their SUV. For this, Lamborghini has its Ad Personam services which offer special exterior colours as well as other exclusive options.

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Unique camouflage for BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh hypercar for 2023 WEC

Ahead of the testing phase for the LMDh prototype in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in America next year, BMW M Motorsport is announcing the name and showing the racing car’s design, albeit with livery that serves as camouflage. To be called the BMW M Hybrid V8, its look has been designed by BMW Group Designworks and is clearly recognizable as a BMW M car.

Recognisable as a BMW M Motorsport car
This message is echoed by Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH who explained that the most critical task and the greatest challenge for the design team in the LMDh programme design team was that the prototype must be clearly recognisable as a BMW M Motorsport car.

“I can say this to all the fans: just one look is enough to confirm that the BMW M Hybrid V8 is a BMW. It clearly carries the genes of BMW M. I also love the camouflage livery with its references to the great history of the brand in North America. Congratulations to the design and aerodynamics departments at BMW M Motorsport and Dallara on their great work. I can hardly wait to see the BMW M Hybrid V8 on the track soon,” said van Meel.

The hallmark of the design is the wide kidney element. In addition, it boasts typical BMW M design elements such as the nested 50th anniversary logo on the bonnet, twin BMW icon lights, dynamic body side, Hofmeister kink window graphic, M ‘hook’ mirrors and the tail-lights.

Historic racing machines on the camouflage
Look closely and you will see that the camouflage livery contains many elements from 5 decades of motor racing history in North America. The images of iconic BMW machines – the 1976 3.0 CSL, the 1981 M1/C, the 1978 320i Turbo, the 1986 GTP, the M3 E36 GTS-2, the Z4 GTLM and the M8 GTE – create a graphic mosaic which obscures the shape of the BMW M Hybrid V8 so rivals can’t determine the exact form.

“My team’s job was to make the BMW M Hybrid V8 look like a BMW, and embrace every opportunity to make it also perform like one on the racetrack,” said BMW Group Designworks Global Automotive Director Michael Scully. “The design is rooted in BMW’s DNA of purposeful, efficient performance, and the exterior’s bold, determined character invokes BMW’s frontiersmanship of turbo power, now united with an optimized hybrid electric powertrain. The camouflage livery celebrates the 50 Years of M by commemorating the great cars of BMW’s storied history in IMSA racing while uniquely cloaking the BMW M Hybrid V8’s future-facing exterior geometry and technologies during the critical on-track development phase of the project.”

“We’ll follow-up this camouflage with a works livery that exemplifies the dynamism and excitement of hybrid electric-powered competition,” he added.

What is LMDh?
LMDh stands for Le Mans Daytona Hybrid which is a category in the new Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Regulations specify that LMDh race cars have a combustion engine and an electric motor. While each manufacturer can use their own combustion engine, the electric motor, battery and transmission are standard parts. The chassis is also built by an external partner.

The new racing car will compete in the new GTP class of the IMSA series, at such prestigious classics as the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the iconic Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. BMW M Motorsport is working closely with the legendary Italian race car specialist Dallara on development of the BMW M Hybrid V8.

It’s basically a prototype racing car and BMW M Motorsport is returning to international prototype racing with the BMW M Hybrid V8. The last big victory for a BMW prototype came back in 1999, when the BMW V12 LMR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That car had also triumphed in the 12 Hours of Sebring in the same season.

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Volkswagen Golf R ’20 Years’ celebrates 20th anniversary of the R high-performance badge

The story of the Golf R began in 2002 when Volkswagen put a 3.2-litre 6-cylinder engine into the Golf, and the R32 badge. With 241 ps going to all four wheels, it became the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built for sale up to that point. And just like the first Golf, the planners under-estimated demand and sales were triple what had been expected.

To celebrate its 20^th year, the fifth edition of the sporty variant of the Golf range gets a special anniversary version called the Golf R ’20 Years’. Volkswagen plans to produce it for about 12 months, so the actual number has not been determined. But the Golf R ‘20 Years’ will undoubtedly become a collector’s item with its special-edition status.

2022 Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years edition — *Golf R ’20 Years’ and 2002 Golf R32 (right)*

Most powerful production Golf
As with other R-badged models, the Golf R draws on racetrack experience in its development, using many technologies developed for the high-pressured and demanding competition environment. With the Golf R ‘20 Years’, the company says that the model ‘surpasses everything that has been launched with the ‘Golf’ label up to now with its drive technology.

Unlike the first Golf R32, the latest one has a 4-cylinder engine and 2 litres of displacement. But with direct injection and turbocharging, its output has reached 333 ps – the highest ever for a production Golf. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is claimed to be just 4.6 seconds but the top speed is somewhere beyond 270 km/h, the electronically limited maximum speed.

Enhancing the driving experience
The enthusiasts at the company’s performance division have installed an ‘Emotion Start‘ to activate an initial engine speed overshoot extending up to 2,500 rpm, thereby enhancing the ‘R driving experience’.

The DSG is also said to provide noticeable feedback from the gearbox and drivetrain each time the right paddle is operated (when shifting up manually in S and S+ modes). In addition, the optimised engine tuning means that the load change response is extremely spontaneous. The turbocharger is preloaded to keep it at a constant speed during part-load driving. This then allows faster power development for subsequent acceleration and quickens response.

The Golf R ‘20 Years’ will be offered with the R Performance package already available with the current Golf R. This package includes R-Performance Torque Vectoring in conjunction with the Vehicle Dynamics Manager and 2 additional driving modes, Special and Drift.

Exclusive design and styling elements
The exclusive design highlights use blue accents and for the first time in a production Volkswagen model, the dashboard panel and door trim feature decorative trim elements in Genuine Carbon. There are blue R logos also found on the steering wheel and on the vehicle key cap.

First deliveries start from next month to many European markets and North America, with each unit priced in Germany at 59,995 euros (around RM283,000).

To know more about the latest Golf 8 and other Volkswagen models in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

All-new Volkswagen Golf R revealed

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