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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.

Limited-edition M4 CSL for BMW M’s 50th birthday

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

SAIC-GM-Wuling Air EV has global debut in Indonesia

It looks like the Chinese carmakers are steadily establishing their presence in the ASEAN market as sales are growing for some of the brands that have entered a few years earlier. This is not their first approach as they began to appear in the 2000s. But back then, their products were not of the same quality as what consumers had come to be used to from the Japanese and Korean brands, so they quietly faded away. Chery was one of them, having tried its luck in Malaysia and even did some local assembly but pulled out in the end.

Today, the Chinese carmakers have progressed greatly and have improved quality as well as made technological advancements themselves. With the government having given a push towards electric vehicles (EVs), they have had to develop EV technology as quickly as possible while competing with each other for a slice of the biggest vehicle market in the world.

Having their own EV technology and products is timely, of course, as government around the world are pushing the auto industry to take definite action to address climate change. Going electric is one approach and countries like Indonesia have offered attractive incentives that are drawing carmakers there to grow their EV business.

Wuling Motors, through its SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) joint-venture with General Motors, is aiming to do just that and develop Indonesia into a major overseas market. Over the past 15 years, it has gained experience in export sales, having sold one of the most popular small vans in Asia. In 2021, SGMW exported over 140,000 units from China to more than 40 countries and regions.

Now it intends to also promote its new range of models developed on its Global Small Electric Vehicle (GSEV) platform. And for the debut of its first global-market zero-emission vehicle – the Wuling Air EV – it chose Indonesia for the world premiere. Apart from the country’s attractive incentives for EV players, SGMW already has a significant presence and a manufacturing plant.

The Wuling Air will be the first EV model that SGMW will sell outside China and has been selected as the official car partner for the 2022 G20 Summit to be held in Indonesia this November. It is likely that the model will be assembled in Indonesia where there can be significant economies of scale and flexibility.

Furthermore, with the provisions of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement, the EV can be exported to other markets in the region duty-free. Of course, for Malaysia, that will be the case anyway since there is presently full exemption on import duties for BEVs (battery electric vehicles).

It is likely that SGMW will produce LHD versions in China for the domestic market, complementing the joint venture’s current EV portfolio that has the Wuling Hong Guang MINIEV, Wuling Nano EV and Baojun KiWi EV. Indonesia could thus become the production hub for RHD versions.

The Air EV is the Wuling’s fourth next-generation vehicle to adopt the brand’s new look with a new design language. It has a modern appearance that is somewhat different from other small EVs, with a front fascia that features a horizontal bar extending to the sideview mirrors, and integrated LED daytime running lights.

Size-wise, there are two versions – one with a long wheelbase (LWB) and the other with a shorter wheelbase (SWB). From information released in Indonesia, it appears that only the 4-seater LWB will be offered outside China. This has a length of 2974 mm, width of 1505 mm and height of 1631 mm with a wheelbase measuring 2010 mm. The SWB version can accommodate only two persons and is 2599 mm long with a wheelbase of 1635 mm.

These are certainly very small cars as a Perodua Axia is 3645 mm in length. And while it is often said that an EV doesn’t have a heavy engine, the lithium iron phosphate battery pack is still heavy. In spite of being smaller than an Axia which weighs 825 kgs to 860 kgs, the Air EV LWB weighs 860 kgs, while the SWB version is 100 kgs less.

The powertrain will be fairly basic with a single motor driving the front wheels. There will be a choice of 30 kW or 50 kW and also Standard and Extended ranges of 200 kms and 305 kms, respectively. Top speed is claimed to be 100 km/h which is probably as fast as you would want to go in such a small car.

The price in Indonesia is rumoured to start from 275 million rupiahs (about RM84,000) and while that is down to the Honda City/Toyota Vios level in Malaysia, Perodua and Proton offer cheaper cars – and they are more spacious too. So we can’t see the Air EV coming in and besides, with the still-limited recharging network, many will be hesitant to invest in a car which could be stuck in some kampung in the rural areas because its battery can’t be recharged. Presumably, Indonesia’s plan to raise EV adoption will see a rapid development of the recharging network around the country.

The reality of producing and running electric vehicles

Championship gaps tighten as Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans wins 1st Formula E Jakarta ePrix

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship appeared this weekend for the first time in Indonesia, joining 16 races at 5 locations so far in Asia. In fact, the very first Formula E ePrix was held in Beijing while the 50th race was in Hong Kong. Other locations have been Putrajaya in Malaysia (twice) and Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. Seoul, Korea will join the list for the first time at the end of this season.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan joined over 60,000 spectators at the first-ever Jakarta ePrix, Round 9 of the 16-race calendar of Season 8. 11 teams and 22 drivers took part on the specially built Jakarta International e-Prix Circuit in Ancol Beach. It was uncharted territory for the participants with high humidity and searing heat. Also adding to the unknowns was the 2.37-km circuit’s unique banked sections, undulations, bumps and a mix of technical and high-speed sections.

*The 2.37-KM, 18 corner circuit layout was inspired by the horses of the Kuda Kepang traditional dance.*

After 8 rounds and 5 different race winners, Season 8 remains a thrilling battle. Going into Round 9 in Jakarta was championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne of Mercedes-EQ, ahead of ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Edoardo Mortara and DS TECHEETAH’s double champion Jean-Eric Vergne.

But it was Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) who fended off the efforts of Vergne and Edoardo Mortara to take his third win of the season. The Kiwi made a late-race lunge that caught then-leader Vergne off-guard at Turn 7 on Lap 31 in an opportunistic move from way back.

From there, energy management became increasingly critical for the lead duo as they fought between themselves and against searing track temperatures. After an early Safety Car period, the race was extended and drivers posted 40 laps in total as a result.

That allowed Mortara to join the party as Evans and Vergne duelled. Evans had some 5 minutes plus added time to hold the pair off, with the race anybody’s heading into the final turn and his rear tyres fading fast. He held on to stay ahead of Vergne and Mortara home as all 3 drivers finished within a second of each other.

Antonio Felix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) slipped from second at the start to be fourth across the finishing line. As for the championship leader, Vandoorne was able to make 3 crucial passes through the race to wind up fifth after starting from seventh. He has enough points to retain his championship lead though the gap is now reduced.

“That was hard. I was just happy to be in it at the end. We had a tough last race [in Berlin], and this track was similar with the climate being on another level! We put a lot of work into the set-up and the systems, but the team gave me what I need, gave me the goods,” said Evans. “It was really tight at the end with Vergne; I thought I was going to pull away but my tyres started going off as soon as I got past him. I was under a bit of heat but we got the job done. This is what we needed.”

With Vandoorne’s closest rivals all finishing on the podium, the Drivers’ standings are closer. Just 12 points now split the top four, with Vergne 5 points back from the Belgian, Mortara 2 points away from the Frenchman in third, and Evans another 5 points back in fourth.

Vandoorne’s team, Mercedes-EQ, still holds its position at the top of the Teams’ championship with 186 points. That’s 16 points ahead of DS TECHEETAH which, after the Jakarta ePrix, climbs above ROKiT Venturi Racing.

The teams leave Jakarta to head to Morocco for the Marrakesh e-Prix on July 2. It will be Round 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and as in Indonesia, there will only be a single round run.

McLaren Racing to take over Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team for 2023 entry

Two Nissan Z Racing Concept cars taking part in Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hour Race this weekend

Nissan Motor and Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co. (NMC) have entered Nissan Z Racing Concept cars in the second round of ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2022 – the NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hour Race. The event is held at the Fuji Speedway this weekend and the two cars will have the numbers ‘230’ and ‘244’.

The aim of running the two cars is to explore possible competition in various motorsports categories. Car 230, entered by the NISMO team, is equipped with a carbon-neutral-fuel (CNF) compatible engine, while Car 244, entered by the Max Racing team, is powered by a powerful petrol engine.

The two cars have been developed with the knowledge gained over many years of Super GT and customer racing car involvement. By entering the tough 24-hour endurance race, Nissan hopes to accumulate valuable data that can only be obtained through racing. This particularly applies to the CNF-compatible engine that can be applied to future development.

Nissan aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout its product life cycle by fiscal year 2050 and is therefore also enhancing its efforts in motorsports. For instance, the carmaker is the only Japanese manufacturer that participates in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for single-seater cars.

“In our pursuit of innovation, we have always challenged the limits of what is possible, but we have never compromised on what excites our fans. Whether it is the excitement mixed with the roar of the engines or silent speed, our ambition is to empower our customers to enjoy their experience without compromise,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer. “The participation of the Nissan Z Racing Concept cars in this demanding race will bring many valuable learnings to develop competitive engines compatible with carbon-neutral fuel.”

“The tougher the race, the more we learn. We expect to acquire ample data and know-how for future vehicle development and, at the same time, we aim to show fans the unique driving performance of the all-new Z that we hope will exceed their expectations,” added Takao Katagiri, Head of Nissan’s Motorsports Business Unit Office and President of NMC.

Nissan Z Safety Car
Besides the two concept racing cars, Nissan Motor and NMC have also provided new Nissan Z for use as a safety car in the Super GT race series. The car has been presented to the organisers, the GT Association, Inc., and the sportscar will make its debut in the third round of the 2022 season at the Suzuka Circuit.

Among the duties of the Safety Car will be pre-race inspection of the tracks for obstacles and leading competition cars when race accidents occur.

Unveiled in August 2021, the all-new Z generation has been enthusiastically received by new and old fans alike. By competing in this season’s Super GT with the Nissan Z GT500, Nissan and NMC aim to broaden the Z’s fan base and increase the exposure of the Super GT series.

For more information on Nissan products and services in Malaysia, visit www.nissan.com.my.

All-new 7th generation Nissan Z revealed! (w/VIDEO)

Proton delivers more vehicles as the two factories increase output

Proton sales have been steadily rising as the company ramped up production after overcoming its parts shortage issues. The Malaysian carmaker reports that for the month of May, its sales totalled 9,792 units (inclusive of export sales), which was 10.8% higher than the month before, and 3.7% more than the volume in May 2021.

The brand retains its position overall No.2 in domestic market sales and with the May volume accounting for an estimated market share of 19.6%, the market share after 5 months is estimated to be up to 17.1%.

“The increase in sales for Proton in May is a direct result of the company boosting its production volume to catch up to market demand. As with the rest of the automotive industry, we are continuing to try and secure sufficient parts supply to clear our backlog of orders. While that is happening, Proton would like to express its gratitude to customers who have supported us in bearing with the long waiting period,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of the company.

Proton X50 dominates
The little brother of the X70 has been in great demand since being and continues to dominate the SUV segment of the market. 2,779 units were registered nationwide in May, and Proton believes that it is the leader for B-segment SUVs as well as the overall leader for the SUV market.

The company also states that the X70 and Exora continue to lead their respective segments with sales of 692 units and 387 units, respectively.

As for the Saga, the company’s perennial bestseller, 3,996 units were delivered in May, which the company said placed it in second position for A-segment sedans. The continuing popularity of the model comes as it switched from the previous version to the 2022 models which was launched on May 12. Over 12,000 bookings have been received for the new model which has improved features, safety and quality in a refreshed design.

Overseas sales
The Saga has also been doing very well in export markets. The export volume for the first 5 months of this year now stands at 1,482 units, an increase of 71% compared to the previous year. Export sales for May were reported to be 513 units, an increase of 12.5% compared to previous month while the cumulative total is 2,086 units is an increase of 47% compared to the same period in 2021.

After the first 5 months of this year, Pakistan has emerged as the biggest export market with 1,350 units, followed by Egypt and Brunei with 172 and 158 units. respectively.