SsangYong Motor Company (SMC) has been struggling with financial problems, but it has also been allowed to continue running its operations. This includes product development for its next generation of models and one of the new ones will be a SUV called Torres. Two pictures of a production model have now been shown on social media outside Korea.
The front of the Torres has a vertical radiator-style grille, a classic look for SUVs, while the rear tailgate continues this theme with a classic off-road appearance. Inside, there is the functional and rugged look that many SUVs are given as well as a dual centre display. The upper panel has a widescreen format for map displays, with the lower one appearing to be more for adjusting functions and features.
The name was inspired by the spectacular views of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, South America. The park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO in 1978 and is well known for its magnificent mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. The name this ‘embodies a sense of adventure, challenge, and escapism’, according to the Korean carmaker.
The Torres is the first model to reflect the brand’s new design philosophy ‘Powered by Toughness’, and is said to introduce a new segment in the SUV sector. The first teaser images of the exterior of the Torres show a modern SUV style which uses some elements of earlier models.
“The SUV market continues to expand and subdivide, and with Torres, we are filling the gap between semi-medium-sized SUVs such as Korando and large SUVs like Rexton. This move will create an additional segment in the market and will open up new opportunities for us, especially as we further develop the product offering and continue to add value and originality,” said a spokesperson for SMC.
The Torres will soon go into production and customers who have booked vehicles since last month will be taking delivery during this quarter. For the European market, a BEV version (U100) will be introduced towards the end of 2023.
Ferrari has unveiled its 2023 contender, the 296 GT3, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium ahead of this weekend’s TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa race. The 296 GT3 was developed with extreme use in mind, typical of the Pro classes, but also for gentlemen drivers, for whom racing is first and foremost about having fun.
The entire Ferrari 296 GT3 project concept emerged in 2020 and went live with the first simulations and simulator models. Then came the indoor testing, which defined the car’s aerodynamic shape in the wind tunnel, the bench-tuning of the engine and rigidity testing the chassis. The car finally completed the endurance tests in Maranello’s 4WD Dyno. Since the first shakedown at the Fiorano track on April 12, 2022, the new Ferrari has completed tens of thousands of kilometres preparing it for racing.
This is the first modern-day Ferrari GT that has been designed and developed completely in-house and is the mid-engined successor to the 488 GT3 Evo 2020. ORECA will put together the 296 GT3 as well as provide parts support for customers.
The Ferrari 96 GT3 grew out of the 296 GTB, the latest evolution of the company’s two-seater mid-rear-engined sports berlinetta concept. It’s a new approach in terms of design, car management at all stages of a race weekend, electronics, and even the engine architecture, a 120° turbocharged 6-cylinder (600 ps/710 Nm) – in compliance with the new GT3 regulations.
6-cylinder-engined Ferrari returns to track
This new model marks the return to the track of a 6-cylinder-engined Ferrari even though, in compliance with technical regulations, it doesn’t have the electric unit featured in the 296 GTB. Like its road-going twin, the positioning of the turbos is inside the vee. All this brings significant benefits in terms of compactness, lower centre of gravity and reduced mass
The gearbox of the 296 GT3 is new and specially developed for this car. The designers opted for a single-disc clutch unit with 6 gears, arranged transversely for better aerodynamics and weight distribution. Clutch actuation is now electronic and can be controlled from the steering wheel, rather than mechanical via the foot pedal, while the gear change is electrically actuated.
Connection to production car
The car’s design, minus the aerodynamic devices or features specific to the racing version, has retained its connection to the production model. The Ferrari engineers have been able to define an aerodynamic configuration within the homologation performance window by reducing ride height sensitivities with the aim of improving handling and driveability. This precise and detailed work on the shapes yielded a gain of 20% in downforce on the car over the previous generation.
Development of the cabin design was done without neglecting essential aspects such as safety and comfort. In endurance racing, performance depends on these features. The cabin was completely redesigned over the 488 GT3, in response to input from factory drivers and customers. The result is a cockpit that allows its occupant to quickly and effectively find the best driving position, with the main functions always within easy reach.
F1-inspired controls
Many controls and functions have moved to the new Formula 1 single seater-inspired steering wheel, while the position of the Sabelt seat provides optimal visibility, both day and night. It also adds a new level of comfort for drivers of different sizes and statures who can use the adjustable pedals and steering to find their best position in the car. The air conditioning system and airflow inside the cabin were designed to provide adequate ventilation in all conditions, helping the driver to concentrate during every stage of a race.
While the 296 GT3 chassis draws on the experience of the 488 GT3, it is entirely new and is made of aluminium. It allows the car to exploit the grip potential offered by the tyres without compromising their integrity in just a few laps, benefiting performance and repeatability. The chassis’ extreme lightness, which in the 296 GT3 also allows better and more efficient ballast management, contributes to this. The safety structure has been carefully designed using the most sophisticated simulations and innovative technologies and research, especially in alloys and materials.
Suspension differences
The 296 GT3 has a longer wheelbase than its road-going counterpart, within the regulatory limits, and a different suspension design to the 488 GT3, with dedicated kinematics and structures. The double wishbone arms in the front and rear suspensions are designed to offer maximum grip even at high speeds, limiting stress on the tyres as far as possible, to the benefit of tyre life, performance and reliability. The suspension, like the anti-roll bars, features the widest possible range of settings providing drivers with the best possible setup.
Ferrari is still working on the pricing which will be available towards the end of the year. The first customer teams will get their cars late in the year but in time for them to prepare for the debut race which will be the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Better known for its MPV and commercial vehicles, Maxus also has a representative in the pick-up truck segment in Malaysia. This is the T60 which it has been selling since mid-2019, and which has now been updated to become a better value-for-money proposition.
Complimentary Performance Kit
Besides cosmetic changes, there are feature upgrades as well as an improved powertrain. For a limited time, all bookings of the updated T60 will come with a complimentary new performance enhancement kit, dubbed the MAXUS Performance Kit. Worth RM3,000, the kit raises power to 155 bhp at 3000 rpm and boosts torque from the standard 360 Nm to 425 Nm between 1600 – 2300 rpm.
Though more powerful, the fuel consumption is actually better and where the standard engine is claimed to do 10.4 kms/litre, the uprated engine can go up to 11.1 kms/litre. With the 75-litre fuel tank, the T60 should be able to travel further before requiring refuelling – which would be welcome by those who venture deep into the jungle.
The Performance Kit is fitted to the same 2.8-litre, 16-valve, DOHC turbocharged (VGT) engine which meets Euro 4 emission standards. Power goes to all 4 wheels via the 6-speed PUNCH automatic transmission with a BorgWarner Electronically-Controlled Four-Wheel Drive System that has the usual 2H, 4H and 4L modes that can be selected while on the move. An Eaton mechanical differential lock is also provided as standard for better stability in difficult conditions.
The driver can also select from three drive models – Eco, Power and Normal – to suit the driving conditions. The Eco mode is claimed to stretch the mileage by 2% (compared to the default Normal mode) while the Power mode is said to give a 5% increase in performance.
In addition to the complimentary Performance Kit, the T60 comes with 17-inch wheels. The previously available 19-inch wheels are still available as optional equipment basis for an extra RM3,000.
Safety like a car
The T60 has high safety standards and when it was introduced, it raised the bar in its segment as the only 4×4 pick-up that offered front and rear ventilated disc brakes and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Besides that, it also has Bosch Electronic Stability Program, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, Traction Control System, and Brake Assist – all active safety systems commonly found in passenger cars.
Due to the higher centre of gravity of a pick-up truck, drivers need to be cautious when cornering fast. To provide safer cornering, the T60 has Roll Movement Intervention (RMI) which gives greater stability as well as improved traction at high speeds or in the event of emergency avoidance (lane-change) maneuvers. The RMI recognizes the threat of an impending roll-over from the various sensors and intuitively applies the brakes individually to counter the motion and return stability to the vehicle. On steep slopes, the driver can press a button for assisted driving upwards or downwards.
Premium features inside
In the cabin, the atmosphere is passenger car-like with features like power-adjustable front seats, a multifunction steering wheel with integrated switches, 10-inch inch HD infotainment system with touchscreen (Android Auto /Apple CarPlay ready), pushstart button, and automatic air-conditioning.
Besides 15 storage areas around the cabin, the forward and rearward folding rear seats provide extra storage, while the overall cargo volume is 1,188 litres. For those who need still additional carrying capability, there’s an aluminium luggage rack.
The new T60 is priced from RM115,888 and, for a limited period, there is a RM1,500 rebate for all bookings received. Confident of the reliability and durability of the vehicle, Maxus offers a warranty of 5 years or maximum of 130,000 kms. For the first 4 years of ownership (or maximum of 80,000 kms), scheduled maintenance will be free with a complimentary service package that covers required parts, lubricants and labour charges.
“We are proud to announce that the 2022 model is not only refreshed in terms of looks, but also comes with performance options for the growing pick-up truck segment here in Malaysia. The CBU unit is the ideal balance of performance, capability, and safety, and offers the best value for money for a pick-up truck in the current market. We are fortunate our principal has given us priority and sufficient stock for us to supply the current demand here in the country,” said Syed Ammar Syed Azman, CEO of Weststar Automotive Division.
Rolls-Royce, like other carmakers, is on an electrification journey as social demands are growing for cars to be environment-friendly. Presumably, its customers also expect that if the Rolls-Royce goes electric, it will do so without losing any of the superlative attributes that keep it at the topmost end of the car market. That’s the challenge for Rolls-Royce and it may seem like the company would need time to get a perfect electrically-powered limousine into production that Is worthy of having the Spirit of Ecstasy on the bonnet.
Experience with electric power But electric power Is not new to the company as Charles Rolls, one of the founders, personally experienced electric cars in 1900. He was impressed enough to say this: “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.”
Of course, In the years that followed, Rolls-Royce gave attention to the internal combustion engine instead, since that was the way the industry was going. But with its technological resources, it could still develop an electric car and did so in 2011 with a fully electric Experimental Phantom concept named 102EX (which was followed by 103EX). But in 2011, the urgency was not there to fully commit to electric power, so the company did not go further.
Now that there is a commitment to be fully electric by 2030, the company is drawing on past experience and also the latest technologies. Thus it was able to have running prototype by September last year for real-world testing. To ensure that the new car, to be called Spectre, is a true Rolls-Royce, it will undergo the most demanding testing programme ever conceived by the marque. No less than 2.5 million kms will be covered by prototypes, simulating on average more than 400 years of use for a Rolls-Royce.
New phase in testing Earlier this year, in Sweden, the Spectre prototype received the first ‘lessons’ in a finishing school that is custom designed to teach the car how to behave and react like a Rolls-Royce. Over the past months, the marque’s test and development engineers have shifted their focus from extreme conditions to more formal scrutiny in a location that reflects the car’s everyday use: the French Riviera.
The French Riviera and its roads present a perfect combination of the types of conditions that will be demanded from future owners of the Spectre, ranging from technical coastal corniches to faster inland carriageways. Forming a crucial part of the global testing programme, a total of 625,000 kms will be covered.
This phase is split into two parts, beginning at the historic Autodrome de Miramas proving ground (a circuit that once hosted the 1926 Grand Prix) which is a state-of-the-art test and development facility. The engineers will be able to do their testing in privacy as there are more than 60 kms of closed routes and 20 test track environments over its 1,198-acre site.
These include irrigation units that create standing water, demanding handling circuits with tight corners and adverse cambers, as well as a heavily banked 5-km 3-lane high-speed bowl, enabling the Spectre to be tested at continuous high speeds.
Driving in real-life conditions The second phase of testing moves around the countryside surrounding the Autodrome de Miramas. Many Rolls-Royce owners drive around this region, therefore a significant 55% of testing here has taken place on the very roads that many production Spectres will be driven on following first customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2023.
This provision for testing under local, real-life conditions is repeated in key markets around the world, as Rolls-Royce will make sure that its products meet – and usually exceed – the expectations of its highly discerning customer group.
Unlike any other Rolls-Royce The Spectre is unlike any Rolls-Royce before it. This is not only because of its fully electric powertrain, but also its unprecedented computing power and application of advanced data-processing technologies. It will be the most connected Rolls-Royce ever, with each of its components more intelligent than in any previous Rolls-Royce.
Yet developing the Spectre is not an exercise in computer science alone. The car requires a response to hundreds of thousands of possible scenarios and therefore it needs the most skilled and experienced specialists to define and finesse an appropriate mechanical reaction. Over the course of the Riviera Testing Programme, the marque’s most experienced engineers are painstakingly creating a dedicated control for each of Spectre’s 25,000-plus functions, incorporating variations of response depending on factors including weather, driver behaviour, vehicle status and road conditions.
‘Magic carpet ride’ in high definition Following months of continual testing, a new suspension technology has been approved that will give the Spectre Rolls-Royce’s hallmark ‘magic carpet ride’. This technology is now being refined and perfected at Miramas and on the roads of the French Riviera.
The Spectre will have an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture – only used by Rolls-Royce – which has enabled the designers to create a new class of Rolls-Royce – the Electric Super Coupe. To achieve the most rigid body in the marque’s history, the aluminium architecture is reinforced with steel sections that provide exceptional torsional rigidity. This is combined with aluminium body sections that represent the largest of any Rolls-Royce yet.
New aerodynamic standard In announcing the redesigned Spirit of Ecstasy mascot that will sit proudly at the prow of Spectre, Rolls-Royce aerodynamicists predicted that the new car would have a drag coefficient just 0.26 Cd, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created. Following rigorous wind tunnel testing, digital modelling and continuous high-speed testing in Miramas, this figure has been further reduced to 0.25. This does not just represent a record in the context of Rolls-Royce, but is unprecedented in the luxury sector.
“It is no exaggeration to state that Spectre is the most anticipated Rolls-Royce ever. Free from the restrictions connected to the internal combustion engine, our battery-electric vehicle will offer the purest expression of the Rolls-Royce experience in the marque’s 118-year history. This latest testing phase proves a suite of advanced technologies that underpin a symbolic shift for Rolls-Royce as it progresses towards a bright, bold, all-electric future. This will secure the ongoing relevance of our brand for generations to come,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The company has officially opened its first flagship 3S Centre in the Temasya Industrial Park at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor. It provides the full range of services, ie sales, service and sale of spare parts, at one location for the convenience of customers and owners.
The flagship outlet features Kia’s new brand identity which was introduced last year as part of its brand transformation to a new image. The new brand identity aims to shift the customers’ mindset and provide them with a meaningful experience with Kia. Dinamikjaya Motors, like the other subsidiaries in the Bermaz Automotive Group, is committed in providing the best ownership experience to customers.
Kia Store concept
Adopting the Kia Store concept, the spaces in the showroom are separated by red loop across the store that connects the display area and customer area. The wood tone radiates an earthy coziness with a minimalistic and natural sensibility that gives the customer a warm space. The point of this space initiates a whole new customer experience in the journey of purchasing a car.
With a built-up area of 39,240 sq ft, the showroom can display up to 4 vehicles. In the display zone, an achromatic colour theme infuses a futuristic tone on the metallic surfaces and reflections, offering tranquillity that ensures the display vehicles receive undivided attention.
Aftersales support
The service centre with state-of-the-art facilities has 20 bays and a team of trained and skilled technicians to look after Kia vehicles, including the fully electric EV6. It is equipped with the latest manufacturer’s diagnostic system equipment and maintenance tools. Customers who wait can use the comfortable waiting lounge which has refreshments and a working space (with complimentary wifi).
The showroom is open seven days a week while the service centre operates from Mondays to Saturdays. Kia owners who have vehicle problems or an accident can obtain support from the 24/7 roadside assistance service by calling 1800-22-2228.
As the new distributor, Dinamikjaya Motors would like to establish contact with all Kia owners in Malaysia. If you are a Kia owner, you should provide them with your contact details so that they can keep you informed of any technical updates, recall notifications or other matters related to your ownership of a Kia vehicle. Click here to obtain a form to submit your details which will be kept and protected in accordance with the law of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of Malaysia.
Fuel Price Updates for coming 7 days see another 10 sen reduction in RON97 petrol to bring the price per litre to RM4.55. New fuel price effective after midnight today.
Fuel saving tips Slow and steady: You don’t have to drive at a crawl to save fuel but if you just drive more frequently at 80/90 km/h instead of 100/110 km/h, you could save 10 to 15% in fuel. Keeping a steady speed rather than ‘pumping‘ the pedal will also save on fuel.
Switch off the engine more: Many motorists do not fully realise that the engine is burning fuel every second it is running. They will keep the engine running for long periods while waiting for someone to buy things or waiting for their children to come out from school. This is very wasteful and running the air-conditioner at the same time wastes more fuel. Switch off the engine when you are going to be stationary for more than 5 minutes and you’ll find your fuel consumption improving.
Right tyres pressures: Under-inflated tyres will cause more rolling resistance (not to mention faster wear) which will worsen fuel consumption. Be sure they are inflated to the minimum recommended by the manufacturer and a bit more might also be better.
Service the engine regularly: Engine parts wear out or get dirty over time and reduce the operating efficiency of the engine. Regular servicing ensures that adjustments are set correctly and periodically, parts like filters or sparkplugs need to be replaced.
Don’t carry unnecessary weight: The less weight your car has to move, the less hard the engine has to work. So whatever you do not need to keep in the boot should be taken out. This includes those golfbags.
Plan trips: If you have different places to go on a single journey, spend a few minutes to think about the route so that you avoid congested areas. You may have to travel a few extra kilometres using a less congested route but you will actually use less fuel because the car won’t be stuck in a jam burning fuel going nowhere. Plus you will probably be less stressed out when you reach your destination.
