While much attention is on the new Grecale launched recently, Maserati’s first SUV – the Levante – has received updates for the 2022 model year. With the cosmetic updates, the Levante gains a more unified identity with the rest of the Italian carmaker’s range by adopting the common language for its key models.
The changes can be seen in the grille and new rear light clusters which have a boomerang shape inspired by the units on the 3200 GT styled by Giugiaro. To emphasise the boomerang shape, the light clusters are produced with a state-of-the-art 3K injection moulding technology, giving the unit a 3-colour lens. They are black around the edges, red in the middle and clear in the bottom section.
Coupe profile for SUV
Though it is a SUV, the design concept of the Levante has a couple profile which enhances aerodynamics. The imposing grille, which was inspired by the 2014 Alfieri concept, pays homage to historic Maserati cars like the Tipo 60 Birdcage. The new front grille with the tuning fork design now comes in chrome for the GranLusso trim and Black Piano for the GranSport.
The GranLusso trim is identified on the exterior by a series of elegant chrome inserts in the front fascia, chrome front/rear skid plates, body colour rear spoiler, black-painted brake callipers, 21-inch Anteo wheels and GranLusso badges on the fenders.
The wider, more muscular rear end has a sharper horizontal element and a body-colour lower extractor embracing the four exhaust tips. Alongside the sportier bumpers, the GranSport exterior is also discernible for the front and rear Black Piano inserts, the GranSport badges on the front fenders, red brake callipers and either 21-inch Helios or 21-inch Anteo wheels.
The Levante is available with V6 and V8 twin-turbo engines with 3.0-litre and 3.8-litre displacements.
The existing differences between the various trims remain unchanged. On the GranSport trim, the side air intakes in the lower fascia have a more aggressive design, defined by two aerodynamic wings that give a sense of further stability, visually ‘pushing’ the weight of the car’s nose towards the massive front wheels. The side bezel blades and the splitter are styled to improve the airflow distribution.
Updates for instrument panel
Inside, the main changes of the 2022 Levante are largely seen in the 8.4-inch central display and instrument cluster. The central screen is now frameless for a more contemporary look, with almost all the surrounding bezel removed. The improved resolution, graphics and visual effect make it look like a single curved screen with the air vents cut into it, enabling vertical reading of the whole display.
The name Maserati is screen-printed on the back of the screen at the bottom of the display for a 3-dimensional effect. There is also a subtle but very sophisticated change to the instrument cluster, which now includes a large tachometer and speedometer (still analogue but with updated graphics) on either side of a 7-inch TFT display.
Much of the plastic from the previous version is eliminated and replaced with real anti-dazzle flat glass covers over the instruments. All these changes give the instrument cluster a more high-tech look and generate a richer impression. Effects are achieved by alternating glossy and matte blacks. The perimeter ring which contains the numbers is reflective glossy black, while the central ring containing the indicator lights is matte black.
Active Driving Assist
Newly added is Active Driving Assist (ADS), an evolution of Highway Assist introduced in 2018. The system works with Adaptive Cruise Control and keeps the vehicle centered in its lane. It uses a radar and forward-looking camera to scan the road ahead for other vehicles and hazards.
The latest Levante is available in Malaysia through Naza Italia and priced from RM808,800 (inclusive of taxes and duties) with full specifications and options.
With the renewal of its brand, product and business model, smart has entered a new era of development. The company, which has a history going back to 1994, had struggled to get a strong footing but lack of profitability hindered its development. By 2020, Daimler AG established a joint-venture with Geely which would give the brand a new lease of life.
The joint-venture company will produce the new generation of cars in China and the first of these was revealed in 2021 as a concept car referred to as Concept #1. While the pandemic has slowed down development, the production program has been able to continue between the Mercedes-Benz global design team and smart’s R&D team.
Concept #1 shown in 2021.
Concept #1
The Concept #1, painted glossy white, has smart elements but also shows that its design language will evolve for the new generation of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). “The new sporty Concept #1 is a redefinition of the smart brand in a very cool grown-up way,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler Group. “We have created a completely new design DNA that has the potential to establish smart as the leading design brand.”
Balanced proportions, a powerful sculpture, the usual short overhangs at the front and rear and a progressive design language characterise the concept vehicle which is in the form of a compact SUV. One of the central design features is the large panoramic glass roof with a striking ring of light. The seamless transition to the windscreen and to the window surfaces of the frameless doors makes the roof appear to float above the body – an impression further enhanced by the atmospheric roof lighting.
In contrast to this visual lightness, striking design elements in anthracite and black in the lower body area emphasise the robustness of the sport utility vehicle. This is further accentuated by the distinctive 21-inch wheels with their unique design.
A first hint of the new dimension of digitalisation of future smart vehicles is provided by the concealed door handles, which are merely indicated by light elements. The rear doors of the smart Concept #1 are hinged at the back and open in the opposite direction from the front doors. This portal door concept makes it particularly easy to get in and out of the car. Plus, the absence of a B-pillar facilitates an unobstructed view of the generously dimensioned interior when the doors are open.
The LED headlights and taillights, with their striking signatures, make a significant contribution to the unique and emotional appearance of the smart Concept #1. At the same time, they are fundamental components of an attention-grabbing light display around the vehicle. In this sophisticated orchestration of the exterior and interior lighting in harmony with specially arranged sound elements, the front light strip divides into small triangles which flicker in rhythm. Starting from the illuminated radiator grille, light effects also move in time to the music along the sides of the vehicle to the rear diffuser.
Of course, many of the features seen on the Concept #1 will not be adopted for the production car. However, recent pictures of the car, albeit camouflaged, show that the concealed door handles will be present although those ‘suicide doors’ which open in opposite directions will not. Such doors often appear in concept cars but rarely continue into production models.
Prototypes undergoing testing in winter conditions in China.
Final testing of prototypes
Prototypes have been undergoing endurance testing in winter conditions and aerodynamic work was done at the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute in Chongqing. Testing in the facility’s wind tunnel showed the smart #1, as the new model will be known, to have a drag coefficient performance of 0.29 Cd. This is thanks to the features like the flush door handles as well as an Active Grille Shutter (AGS) to lower wind resistance.
Win tunnel testing has shown the cd to be 0.29, important for an EV especially which needs low wind resistance to go further.
The smart #1, which will be the brand’s first all-new production car as a purely electric brand, will be unveiled on April 7, 2022 at STATION-Berlin, a historic landmark and disused train station in the German capital.
Coming to Malaysia too Proton Edar has been appointed distributor for Malaysia and Thailand so we should be seeing the smart #1 on Malaysian roads in future. They are unlikely to be associated with the Proton brand and would be an additional business venture for the subsidiary which handles sales and marketing in the Proton Holdings Group. Proton’s own electrification program would likely start off with hybrids and then move to fully electric vehicles, perhaps towards the end of the decade.
With the success story of the GR Yaris, it’s not surprising that Toyota has now followed up with another model and this time, it’s not on a limited production run. It’s the GR Corolla that has long been rumoured and it’s a full-fledged GR model developed from scratch rather than adapted from existing models. As with other GR models, which started with the Supra, the GR Corolla has been developed with a strong focus on high performance that will make it competitive for motorsport.
And with the company president, Akio Toyoda, being passionate about racing and being a racing driver himself, the engineers must have had a lot of encouragement and perhaps even given a bit of freedom in the budget. Naturally, the boss himself got involved in development and ensured that the final product would be as impressive as the GR Yaris.
GR Yaris
100 bhp per cylinder
Under the bonnet is the familiar G16E-GTS turbocharged, direct/port injected 3-cylinder engine, first seen in the GR Yaris. For GR Corolla, the output from the 1681 cc engine is boosted to 300 bhp/307 Nm, which equates to an impressive 100 bhp per cylinder. The boost in power is partly due to using a 3-piece muffler which reduces exhaust pressure (and outside noise), which are essential to backpressure performance.
As would be expected, the compact and lightweight G16E benefits has technologies from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s long and broad racing experience – and successful too. Features include multi-oil jet piston cooling, large-diameter exhaust valves and a part-machined intake port. Combustion is fed by Toyota’s D-4S direct and port fuel injection system, which operates at high pressure for maximum fuel dispersion and efficiency.
The 12-valve engine uses a single-scroll ball-bearing turbocharger integrated in the exhaust manifold, reducing weight, while control of wastegate bypass gases is used to improve the catalyst’s warm-up efficiency.
Delighting drivers is the provision of a 6-speed manual transmission – and only a manual transmission. ‘Morizo’ (Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s racing name) probably approved and encouraged that, being a racing driver himself. It’s called an Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) though it is not explained what the ‘intelligent part is, although Toyota says the rev-matching is engineered to accommodate high torque levels.
Toyota has long experience with high-performance 4-wheel drive since its days with the Supra GT-Four and with experience gained in WRC participation, it has advanced its all-wheel drive technologies. These technologies are used in the GR Corolla’s GR-Four All-Wheel-Drive system which was originally developed for rallying. The system gives drivers a choice of 60:40, 50:50 or 30:70 power distribution to the front and rear wheels with the twist of a dial.
The GR Corolla Circuit Edition (limited production run) is also equipped with front and rear Torsen Limited-Slip Differentials, for further enhancement of cornering performance and grip. Left and right-hand drive torque distribution are more effectively controlled on the front and rear axles.
Wide and rigid for superior dynamics
To fully use all the power (and also to be worthy of the GR badge), the GR Corolla has a specially constructed bodyshell that is highly rigid. Based off the GA-C platform with Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA), its increased rigidity comes from significantly more weld points in the frame, particularly to strengthen joints. Further gains are made through extensive use of structural adhesive, increasing the joint rigidity between component parts.
The front suspension is a straightforward MacPherson-type strut with circuit-tuned coil springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars, For the rear suspension, there is a double-wishbone type multilink system that accommodates the AWD system’s goal of maximum agility and stability.
Wide tyres are installed for maximum cornering grip and high speed stability. Standard rubber provided from the factory are Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres sized 235/40R18 on 18-inch gloss-black 15-spoke cast alloy wheels.
Braking power comes from opposed, fixed-caliper disc brakes with 14 x 1.1-inch ventilated and slotted rotors clamped by 4-piston aluminium calipers. At the rear are 11.7-inch x 0.7-in. ventilated rotors with 2-piston aluminium fixed-caliper disc brakes.
Light and aerodynamic
Like the GR Yaris, there has been a focus on saving weight to maximize the performance potential, without compromising strength and safety, of course. This rigorous approach is particularly evident in the car’s construction, with extensive use of lightweight metals and materials used in key areas. Aluminium is used for the bonnet and front door panels, with light and strong high-tensile steel in critical areas to ensure the car’s structure can safely absorb and dissipate impact forces.
On the Circuit Edition, the roof is made of a forged (rather than woven) carbonfibre sheet molding compound. This lightweight, highly rigid material cuts weight and helps lower the car’s centre of gravity. The lower centre of gravity, which benefits stability and handling, is also a feature of the TNGA platform.
Aerodynamics are also vital for performance and it’s not just on the circuit but also in rallies as the speeds are also very high (not to mention literally flying through the air). From competition experience, the engineers have designed the GR Corolla with optimum aerodynamic efficiency. As with rally cars, the shaping of the front and rear canards and lower rockers efficiently channel airflow down the sides of the car. Bonnet, fender and rear bumper ducts and a flat underfloor reduce drag, add downforce and improve stability. Wind flow is directed onto the rear spoiler to generate extra downforce.
The exterior design of the GR Corolla follows that of the GR Yaris with its wide stance and hatchback form. The Core Grade’s aluminium bonnet is matched with a colour-keyed roof and matching shark-fin antenna, while the Circuit Edition features a bonnet bulge with functional gloss-black air ducts.
At the rear, a lower bumper cover with functional air vents. The wide track and flaring of the rear wings emphasize the car’s wide and low silhouette, with a spoiler on the roof to control airflow as it departs from the roof.
Race-inspired interior
The GR Corolla’s interior is very functional, thanks to feedback from professional drivers who obviously wanted a true driver’s cockpit. Facing the driver is a GR Full TFT meter with a 12.3-inch colour Multi-Information Display that has a GR meter with 4WD mode, turbo pressure, gear position indicator and tachometer.
The shift lever has a shortened stroke for a quick throw between gears. The subject of much testing, it is positioned where the driver’s arm is naturally lowered from steering. The action is light with short shift strokes. A pull-type mechanical parking brake is still used, something which is slowly disappearing as electric parking brakes replace the simple mechanical system. Incidentally, for the Circuit Edition, the shifter knob has an exclusive ’Morizo’ signature.
The GR Factory
The GR Corolla is built at the Motomachi plant in Japan, where as the Lexus LFA and Supra A80 have been built. It has a dedicated GR production line which has also produce the GR Yaris. Instead of the traditional conveyor system, the body and assembly lines comprise several different cells connected by automatic guided vehicles rather than the conveyors featured in conventional car plants. This fully flexible method of working, with many manual assembly techniques, enables precise body and suspension alignment, with variations in vehicle dimensions and weight kept to a minimum.
While the assembly of each GR Corolla takes longer than a conventional mass-produced car, the production line has been streamlined for performance, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has brought together highly skilled technicians from throughout the company to work on the new model. This team not only assembles the GR Corolla but also contributes to the technical skills of workers at other Toyota facilities.
The pricing has not been announced though whatever price it has, there will undoubtedly be no shortage of buyers. While the GR Yaris was a limited run, the GR Corolla will be produced in larger numbers as it will also be sold in North America (which did not get the GR Yaris).
It’s been 10 years since Petron Corporation, the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, acquired ExxonMobil’s downstream businesses in Malaysia. In the years that followed the acquisition, petrol stations with the familiar Esso and Mobil branding became Petron stations across the country.
The station along the MRR2 at Selayang in Selangor was the first service station to have the Petron corporate identity in 2014. Its dealer, Mohd Azhar Ismail, still remembers greeting his customers “Hi! Selamat Datang ke Petron!” with a smile on his face on the opening day. Since then, about 200 more service stations have been added to Petron Malaysia’s retail network.
The first Petron station to start operations in Malaysia.
“We mark a significant milestone as we celebrate our 10th year. As we trace our humble beginnings, we can proudly say that Petron Malaysia is now one of the country’s leading oil companies. Since day one, we’ve remained committed to take new chances, aspire towards excellence, and move past the recent challenges that we’ve conquered together. We owe this to our customers, employees, partners, and other stakeholders who have all been part of this remarkable journey,” said Petron Malaysia’s Chairman Ramon S. Ang.
Products and services for various sectors
The company has solidified its commitment to provide consistent, quality products and services to its customers. Its range of fuels include the only RON 100 petrol in Malaysia (introduced in January 2016), liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic and commercial use, and lubricants for consumer, commercial and industrial purposes. Many of its stations also have car-care centres and, of course, convenience stores.
Petron is still the only brand offering RON 100 petrol which it introduced in 2016.Convenience stores at Petron stations provide motorists with all their needs for short or long journeys.
Petron Malaysia has also made it part of its mission to integrate sustainability practices into its operations – closing gaps to embrace economic, environment, social and governance agendas, and to deliver more value to its stakeholders and build a better future.
Major investments
As part of its economic sustainability, the company completed two major investments at Port Dickson Refinery (also acquired from ExxonMobil) in 2021. The Diesel Hydrotreater unit produces diesel with lower sulphur content meeting Euro5 specifications, while the Marine Import Facility 2 caters to bigger vessels thus reducing frequency of imports. Both projects contribute to reducing Petron’s carbon footprint in line with the company’s philosophy to ‘Protect our environment today for a better tomorrow’.
Petron’s two major investments at the Port Dickson Refinery in 2021 have been the Diesel Hydro Treater unit (above) and the Marine Import Facility (below).
Petron also has a palm methyl ester plant with a biodiesel production facility to ensure the uninterrupted supply of cleaner diesel for the nation. The Lumut PME plant was recently awarded as a Runner-up in the Renewable Energy – Biofuel Award.
Throughout the pandemic, Petron partnered with various private entities and non-government organizations such as MERCY and Uncle Kentang to mobilize its fuel, LPG and engine oil donations for underprivileged communities. When the country was recently hit by heavy floods, Petron was also at the forefront of bringing much-needed aid to affected stakeholders.
To thank its loyal customers and partners, Petron is launching the TENtu Happy celebration on April 2, 2022 at all its stations nationwide from 10 am to 2 pm.
Ever since Liberty Media acquired the Formula One Group in 2016 (paying US$4.6 billion for it), the American media company has been changing the character of the sport. There has been a bigger push in commercialization and expanding the sport’s global footprint. It has also increased the number of rounds for the championship and has not ruled out going to as many as 30 rounds in future. That’s something many teams and drivers are not in favour of because having to be on the move all the time, not only putting the pressure on logistics but also affecting personal life.
Not surprisingly, Liberty Media has been keen to have more rounds in America and has announced that Las Vegas will be a venue in the 2023 calendar. The city, well known for its casinos, has hosted Formula 1 before in 1981 and 1982 when a racetrack was created in the carpark of the Caesar’s Palace hotel and casino (yes, the carpark was big enough for a track within it). It was considered one of the worst circuits in F1 history.
The circuit in the Caesar’s Palace carpark used for the F1 rounds in 1981 and 1982. Drivers had to go round for 75 laps and it was considered among the worst circuits in F1 history.
F1 races in America
Other American cities which have had Formula 1 rounds in the past have been Detroit/Michigan (1982 – 1988), Los Angeles/California (1976 – 1983), Dallas/Texas (1984), Riverside/California (1960), Sebring/Florida (1959), Watkins Glen/New York (1961 – 1980), Indianapolis/Indiana (2000 – 2007), and Austin/Texas (2012 – 2019, 2021). In total, there have been at least 50 rounds of F1 held in America though it is not so apparent. In 1982, it became the first country to host 3 rounds in one season. This year will see Miami being added to the list when it is run for the first time on May 8.
While the last circuit was laid out in a carpark and the drivers had to go round the 3.6-km course for 75 laps, the 2023 one will have a very different layout (31 layouts were considered). While there will be 14 corners like the 1982 circuit, the new track will have 3 long main straights and a total lap length of 6.12 kms.
Night race
The racing cars will certainly be going much faster than those in the 1980s and should reach 340 km/h as they speed along the Strip past the buildings. The race will also be held at night, a feature of the sport since the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix when the first night race was held.
