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Isuzu is ‘King’ of commercial vehicles in Malaysia

When it comes to commercial vehicles, Isuzu is the ‘King’ and evidence of this is shown by its consistently dominant position in the Malaysian market for many years. 2021 was no exception and once again, the brand retained two titles – for Malaysia’s top-selling truck for the 8^th consecutive year, and for the best-selling light-duty truck for a 12^th straight year.

These accomplishments were delivered through the total combined sales of 4,808 units of trucks in all segments and 4,545 units of light-duty trucks that were recorded in 2021.

“We are extremely thrilled to be able to achieve and retain the top spot again for overall truck and light-duty truck categories which our Isuzu brand has been privileged enough to enjoy for so many consecutive years in this market,” said Koji Nakamura, CEO of Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

“These achievements demonstrate the continuation of our robust footprint and growth in Malaysia, as well as our ability in positioning ourselves to harness the opportunities whilst tackling the challenges amidst a pandemic-laden market situation. It is also particularly significant given how this situation had caused supply chain disruptions such as scarcity of raw materials which has impacted production in the trucking industry,” he said.

Extensive dealer network
Mr. Nakamura added that another key factor which had significantly contributed to the brand’s continuous market leadership is its extensive dealer network across the country. Regular communications between the head office and dealer partners has, over the years, fostered a strong relationship which enabled Isuzu Malaysia to capture on-ground market intelligence and deliver what customers need.

Dealers in close contact with customers
“Our dealers have a closely established rapport with our customers and were able to constantly gather feedback about the customers’ business situation and trucking solutions requirements. With these crucial ‘on-ground’ market information, our sales and aftersales teams could identify where the gaps are and work towards maintaining the strength of their respective operations for the benefit of our customers,” explained Atsunori Murata, Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Mr. Murata said that, prior to the pandemic, Isuzu Malaysia’s management team used to make regular face-to-face visits to its dealerships, business partners like body builders and transporters, and customers. However, due to the ‘New Normal’, this had to be immediately re-strategized by optimizing digital communications platforms for its marketing efforts such as creating videos on You Tube and Facebook, disseminating SMSes and holding meetings using Microsoft and Google conferencing tools. All these were done to ensure continuity of relationship-building and promotion of new products and services for easy understanding of Isuzu’s offerings.

In the last 2 years, Isuzu Malaysia had rolled out several strategic initiatives such as partnering with new dealers and opening of new centres; introduction of new product innovation which is the ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus for greater safety and efficiency; plus on-time truck delivery to customers.

The company said all these had helped in further meeting the trucking solutions needs of customers and enhancing their satisfaction through market reach and quality service, which are pivotal in maintaining its robust truck sales and market-leading position.

Greater efficiency and safety
“We are grateful that our Isuzu brand continues to enjoy high demand as more customers experience the performance and comfort of our trucks. Since we introduced the new ELF range with Isuzu Safety Plus 2 years ago featuring a combination of safety system upgrades and B20 biodiesel compatibility, our customers have experienced greater efficiency and safety,” Mr. Murata revealed.

Mr. D.I.Y., a well known retail group, has been using Isuzu trucks since 2017 and last year enlarged its fleet with additional units. It now has 100 units of Isuzu vehicles which are used to deliver stocks to its hundreds of stores nationwide.

“Overall, Isuzu Malaysia is very honoured to share our success with everyone in our dealer network and employees because without their strong passion, dedication and outstanding work for the brand, achieving a market-leading position year-on-year would be a tough feat. Equally, we are also extremely appreciative to all our customers and we will continue to remain focused on providing more excellence and value through outstanding products and services to support their varied trucking needs,” said Mr. Murata.

For more details on Isuzu’s range of vehicles and to locate an authorised dealership in Peninsular or East Malaysia, call 1-300-88-1133 or visit www.isuzu.net.my.

Isuzu Elf range enhanced with extra safety features, B20 compatibility and longer warranty

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing moves into lead in World Rally Championship with win in Rally Sweden

The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car, running a hybrid powertrain, scored its first win in Rally Sweden, the second round of 2022 World Rally Championship with Kalle Rovanpera at the wheel. It was the Finn’s third victory and added another WRC win to the Rovanpera family as his father had won the event 21 years ago in a Peugeot.

Rally Sweden is the WRC’s only snow event (and one of the fastest) and in the early stages, at least 5 drivers were in contention to win. For most of the rally, all three of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT’s drivers were in close fight for victory on the unfamiliar, high-speed, snow-covered roads (because of the new location nearer the Arctic Circle).

Rovanpera was disadvantaged to be first off the line as the highest-placed driver in the championship, and Ott Tanak of the Hyundai Motorsport team was able to take the opening stage win and build up a lead. However, the Toyota driver regained the initiative early on the second leg and then won the first of Sunday’s 4 stages to extend his lead which he held till the finish.

Hybrid powertrains have issues
Rovanpera’s team mate Elfan Evans was penalised 10 seconds overnight after an incident at the end of Saturday’s final stage, but his hopes of victory were ended in Sunday’s opener. Having started with the centrally-supplied hybrid system deactivated due to an issue, Evans then had a spin in the stage and damaged the front of the car. After stopping to make repairs he reached the end of the stage but, with the hybrid unit not showing the green light as required, was forced to retire in accordance with FIA safety procedures.

Rovanpera’s car also had hybrid issues as did Tanak’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 car. While disappointing, this was not unexpected (especially in the extremely cold conditions) and Akio Toyoda, the boss of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, expressed a positive view. He said that they ‘gained precious data on how to improve the hybrid system in the harsh cold environment which he hopes can be used not only to win next year but also to provide data to suppliers in the quest to make ever better cars.

Rovanpera’s fellow Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi finished third to complete a double podium finish for the team on his first start for TGR since 2018. Lappi was in a close fight for second position throughout Sunday, ultimately finishing just 8.6 seconds away as he completed a fantastic comeback during the final day.

Solid drive by Ford’s Greensmith
M Sport Ford’s Gus Greensmith with co-driver Jonas Andersson would see their confident and solid drive rewarded with a second consecutive fifth overall finish. The weekend had proven a challenge for the team, with Craig Breen retiring on Friday after getting stuck in a snowbank in the second half of SS2. Once free from the snow, the car was driven back to service where it was repaired for the Saturday stages.

The second day of competition would see Breen claim his first stage win as an M-Sport driver and simultaneously a first stage win for the Puma Rally1 Hybrid on snow and ice. However, further bad luck would see the car suffer an electrical issue, cutting power after a small bump. The crew would utilise the new hybrid technology to allow them to drive some of the stage in full Electric mode before pulling over to make bigger repairs.

Although they were able to find and fix the fault, they would be over their allotted time limit and forced to retire for the day. The final day would see Breen drive through the stages preserving his tyres for the all-important Power Stage where he would take a vital point to go towards his championship tally.

Hyundai team unsatisfied despite podium finish
The podium finish by Thierry Neuville was consolation for the Hyundai Motorsport team but they were far from satisfied with how things went. “There are not really many positives for us to take away,” said Tanak, who was forced to retire due to hybrid problems. “Overall, it has been a frustrating and disappointing weekend. On the plus side, we showed that we had the pace to be competitive.

“We know there is still work to be done, and improvements we need to make on the car, but we have shown we’re getting there. This is an important result, but we hope it’s just the start of our return to the top,” added the team’s deputy director, Julien Moncet.

Rovanpera leads in the Drivers Championship with 46 points, 14 points ahead of Neuville and 19 points ahead of Sebastien Loeb. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has collected a total of 83 points after two rounds, with M-Sport Ford 24 points behind, followed by the Hyundai Shell Mobis team 36 points behind the leader.

Round 3 of the WRC moves to Croatia on April 21 and hopefully, the conflict in Ukraine will have ended by then.

World Rally Championship organisers warn spectators of high-voltage dangers with hybrid rallycars

2022 Honda Odyssey now available in Malaysia, priced from RM275,311.

Like the other top non-national brands, Honda focusses largely on locally-assembled models as they can be priced competitively and sell in large volumes. Nevertheless, it also offers some models that are imported in CBU (completely built-up) form for customers who want something that the local range may not have.

One of these is the Odyssey which is now in its fifth generation. To date, Honda Malaysia has sold almost 2,000 units of the MPV which was introduced locally in 2003. The latest generation of the MPV is priced at RM275,311 without insurance and with half the applicable sales tax exempted (until June 30, 2022). The model continues to use a 2.4-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine (172 ps/225 Nm) and CVT.

“The introduction of the New Odyssey caters to the needs of customers such as families and executives who seek a luxury 7-seater MPV with excellent ride comfort, elegant exterior and unrivalled utility features, all in one package. In addition, the refined exterior and enhanced premium interior will further elevate the joy of owning a luxury Honda 7-seater MPV,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.

The Odyssey was originally developed for the US market to compete in the minivan segment and was a successful model. It was also available in Japan and to make it more suitable for urban conditions, its roofline was a bit lower than most MPVs so it could more easily slot into garages.

Cosmetic updates for 2022
The latest Odyssey inherits much of the DNA of its predecessors with an imposing front end to the monobox form. The new chromed grille and flanking headlight units are an interpretation of the ‘EXCITING H DESIGN!!!’ which has a ‘Solid Wing Face’ design language. At the rear, the taillight units have been revised along with a new bumper profile. Both the front and rear signal lights now have sequential signalling which gives a premium touch to the vehicle.

For this latest version, which is essentially a midcycle facelift, the interior has received premium upgrades as well as an updated dashboard design. The dashboard has a 7-inch TFT meter for the driver and an 8-inch display panel for infotainment. As would be expected of models being introduced nowadays, there is smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so favourite apps can be access from the display panel.

Captain Cradle Seats with Ottoman
The Odyssey has always offered good cabin space with versatile layouts that makes it suitable for families as well as executives who may need to work while on the move. It comes with standard combination leather upholstery and Captain’s Cradle Seats with Ottoman on the second row. These wide and comfortable seats are like those on aircraft which allow the passenger to stretch out.

Loading luggage or other items in the boot does not require the use of hands to open the rear door. In fact, there isn’t even a need to press a button as placing a food under the rear bumper will automatically open the door. It’s great when both hands are carrying things and also if it’s raining and one hand has to hold the umbrella up.

Honda SENSING is, of course, standard and the integrated active safety systems are Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Auto High Beam. Additionally, there is also a Multi-View Camera System with Smart Parking Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Cross Traffic Monitor. All these systems can not only help the driver avoid an accident but also reduce the workload to reduce fatigue on long drives.

*The Honda SENSING system, which uses a camera to scan road markings, can not only keep the vehicle within its lane but also guide it back if it unintentionally starts to move into another lane*

More information on the New Odyssey can be obtained from authorized Honda dealers. To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.

Honda Malaysia introduces new Genuine Engine Oils, upgraded to API SN standard

Carsome Certified Lab – Southeast Asia’s Largest Car Refurbishment Facility

Carsome, a regional e-commerce automotive platform, recently launched the Carsome Certified Lab, said to be the largest car refurbishment facility in the region. The facility complements the other services offered to dealers and buyers of used cars which include inspection, ownership transfer and financing.

Located in the Bukit Raja industrial park, Selangor, the facility covers over 185,000 square feet of floor area and is a fully-functional Lab which can transform a pre-owned car to be as good as new. It is able to refurbish up to 2,000 vehicles per month, which is an industry-leading volume in Southeast Asia. Similar facilities will be opened in other parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand over the coming 12 months.

175-point inspection before refurbishment
Each Carsome-Certified car must go through a stringent 175-point inspection to ensure that it is free from fire, flood and major accident damages. Only if it is certified can be it refurbished and the bulk of the investment is spent on mechanical and general repair, body and paint, as well as car detailing.

The work carried out covers all areas of the vehicle, including engine and electronic systems. Each process is performed by skilled and experienced technical specialists while adhering to global safety standards. These efforts ensure that all Carsome-Certified cars are safe, comfortable and look as good as new.

5-day money-back guarantee
All Carsome-Certified cars come with the ‘Carsome Promise’ which, besides confirming that they have passed the 175-point inspection, includes a 1-year warranty and 5-day money-back guarantee. The prices are fixed with no hidden fees.

“Carsome Certified exists to give consumers the options of pre-owned cars that are more superior. All our cars go through world-class refurbishment at Carsome Certified Lab, so that our customers can choose their dream car from our largest selection of best-in-class, quality-assured cars. This is our continuous effort in eliminating consumer and industry pain points,” said Carsome Certified CEO Mei Han.

More peace of mind buying pre-owned Honda vehicles from Honda Certified Used Car dealers

First units of Faraday Future FF 91 e-SUV produced, to go on sale before end of 2022

Over the past decade, the auto industry has probably seen more new companies starting up than at any other time except in the earliest years over 100 years ago. And where those early companies saw new business opportunities with the motorized carriage invented by Karl Benz in 1886, the new companies of the 21^st century see great opportunities in electrically-powered ‘carriages’ – electric vehicles (EVs). And not having the legacy of decades of investment in vehicles with combustion engines, these new companies can be on the starting line alongside the established players in the new race.

More than just cars
But it’s not just transport vehicles which these newcomers are developing as they also look at providing mobility in a broader sense and as a service, rather than just selling the product. One such company is Faraday Future (FF), an American company originally founded by a Chinese businessman in 2014, which describes itself as a ‘shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company’. After some financial difficulties, the company was able to get substantial funding and went public on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in New York City and proceeded to set up its manufacturing facility in California.

Its first concept car was the futuristic FF ZERO 1 which was shown in 2016 at CES and some other events, more to draw attention to the new company than as a preview of the EV it would build. That came a year later in the form of the FF 91 which remains as the designation for the production model.

SUV bodystyle for flagship
The FF 91, to be the flagship model, is designed to be highly modular. It is built with the company’s Variable Platform Architecture (VPA) that includes the FF Echelon Inverter, the first patent of Faraday Future. It’s a large car – overall length of 5255 mm and width of 1986 mm – sitting on a wheelbase of 3.2 metres, which is comparable to a BMW X7.

The mono-volume is a SUV bodystyle which has design features not constrained by traditional engineering approaches. Unlike early EVs which used architecture based on vehicles with combustion engines and mechanical drivetrains, the new generation of EVs are essentially clean-sheet designs that are optimized for electrical components, systems and layouts. Everything is incorporated on a skateboard platform for ease of manufacturing and simplicity.

3 motors, 1,050 ps, AWD
While details of the powertrain are not given at this time, FF does provide some performance claims. There will be 3 electric motors powered by a 120 kWh battery pack with patented submerged liquid cooling technology. The system output will be 1,050 ps and the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time is claimed to be less than 2.4 seconds. A fully charged lithium-ion battery pack is expected to provide up to 700 kms of range.

All four wheels will be powered with AWD and there will also be all-wheel steer with rear-wheel torque-vectoring. Before full-scale production starts, real-world testing will be carried out in America and most likely in China as well.

It’s not been mentioned what level of autonomous capability the FF 91 will have though it would surely be above Level 2. It will be fitted with a LiDAR sensor and use cameras for the door mirrors and inside rearview mirror.

High-tech interior
The FF 91 will have the ability to memorize different user profiles in FFIDs so each driver’s preferences and even content choices can be set upon entry. Information and entertainment will be displayed on 11 different displays around the cabin with a total of over 2.5 metres of high-resolution viewing area. The rear occupants will also get a state-of-the-art Mobile Movie Theatre screen on the ceiling which can be used for entertainment or even video conferencing.

The rear seats have a zero-gravity concept inspired by NASA and we’re not sure if this is similar to those which are found in some Nissan models (also called Zero-Gravity seats) but it sounds similar. In zero gravity, the human body naturally assumes what NASA scientists call the ‘Neutral Body Posture’ and using the posture data, the rear seats are designed to enable the ideal distribution of the body’s weight. The seats can also recline up to 60 degrees, which is industry-leading.

First 300 units booked
FF began accepting orders last July for two versions of the FF 91 – the Futurist Alliance and the Futurist. The Futurist Alliance will be a limited edition of only 300 units and exclusive colours and wheels. Apparently, all 300 units have already been booked by customers who received special invitations.

The first pre-production unit left the factory earlier this week and with volume production starting from the middle of this year, deliveries are expected to start during the final quarter of the year.

Sony has developed a second EV and this one’s an SUV

THE 8 X JEFF KOONS – most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history

Jeff Koons, an American artist, and BMW have had many years of association, going back 12 years to the time when Koons created the 17^th BMW Art Car. Since that time, he wanted to create a special edition of a BMW model as a personal project and finally, he got his wish with THE 8 X JEFF KOONS.

Only 99 units of this exclusive edition based on the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe will be available. Describe, as a ‘rolling sculpture’ by Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, it is the most elaborately designed vehicle in all of BMW’s history.

11 different exterior colours
The expressive and striking design combines 11 different exterior colours, ranging from blue to silver as well as from yellow to black. The multi-coloured interior uses high-end materials, fine leather and the cupholder lid includes edition badging and the artist’s signature. The seats are made up of the striking red and blue which reflects the colours of superheroes from the comic book universe as well as those of the company’s high-performance unit, BMW M.

Overall, the energetic and powerful design includes both elements of pop art as well as geometric patterns paying homage to the sporty 8-Series Gran Coupe’s intricate contours and shape. The exploding lines of colour at the rear, in turn, are their own unmediated homage to the artist’s 2010 BMW Art Car, while the ‘POP!’ on each side as well as the vapour thrust imagery symbolize the power and speed, according to the artist.

Over 200 hours of manual work
Over 200 hours of manual work were spent by highly specialized professionals at two BMW Group plants on the exterior paintwork alone, where the colour samples were often applied with magnifying glasses. Dozens of engineers and designers were involved and Koons had many days of discussions on design options with the BMW employees involved.

“I was thinking very intensely about it: What is the essence of the 8-Series Gran Coupe? What is the essence of power? How to create something that exemplifies all the energy of the BMW 8 Series that is also able to touch upon the human element?” he said.

The original 850i was the first model of the 8-Series launched in 1990 and was celebrated as creating a new perspective of progress in advanced motoring, appealing to the connoisseur who acknowledges elegance and performance as the ultimate blend of perfection. THE 8 X JEFF KOONS also continues this tradition.

*The original 8-Series launched in 1990.*

The artist’s dream car realised
“My edition of the BMW 8-Series is my dream car! It is very special to me and I’ve wanted to create a special edition BMW for a long time. It is sporty and flashy as well as minimalist and conceptual. I can’t wait to drive it and ride in it, and I hope that people will enjoy the Gran Coupe just as much as I do,” said Koons.

“On the car, the lines are getting bigger on their journey from the bonnet towards the boot, creating a sense of forward movement just as the ‘POP!’ and the vapour thrust design elements do. The blue colour resembles the vastness of space and I like the idea of the car being a global car. What matters is how we relate to each other and our awareness of everything we are surrounded by. For the driver and all passengers, there is a heightened state of pleasure. This is what my car has to offer,” he explained.

Each car will come with a large-format certificate signed by the artist which, in addition to Zipse’s signature, also contains the individual Vehicle Identification Number. The artist also designed the dust jacket of the Driver’s Manual, while the signature of the artist is set into the cupholder panel in the Bavarian blue from the BMW logo.

Following its world premiere in Los Angeles this month, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be presented at numerous art fairs and events in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Initially, the car will be on display for the general public in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Plaza before one car from the series, signed on the tailgate by Jeff Koons, will be auctioned off at Christie’s in New York on April 4. All proceeds from the highest bid will go to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), a non-profit NGO which Koons has been personally involved with for over 2 decades.

This BMW M3 GT2 was aesthetically reworked by the US artist Jeff Koons and in 2010, it was unveiled as the 17th model in the BMW Art Cars series. The car bears the racing number 79 – a tribute to the BMW M1 body work-over presented by Andy Warhol in 1979. The striking colours of Koons’ Art Car exude a boisterous sense of power, motion and energy. As with Warhol’s M1, Koons’ BMW also participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race.

BMW Art Cars now available for viewing from anywhere in the world and with AR too

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