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Maserati Joins Cash & Rocket Tour 2018

The Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 started earlier this month in San Francisco and Maserati is a proud official partner of this charity road trip along with other luxury brands. Five Levante SUVs in GranLusso and GranSport trims, all in red – the official colours of this unique event – were enlisted in the glamorous convoy of 40 cars. The four-day adventure unites the efforts of eighty influential women from all over the world for a single cause: raising funds and global awareness for three charitable projects in Africa.

“We welcome prominent figures from the worlds of fashion, cinema, music, art and business to this stunning event. Through female solidarity, our aim is to raise money for charities around the world, which will make a huge difference to the lives of many”, says Julie Brangstrup, Founder and CEO of Cash & Rocket Tour and proud mother of seven.

Now in its fifth edition, Cash & Rocket Tour makes its debut in the United States aiming to break the record of 1.4 million euros fund-raised in the previous event that was organised in 2015. Since the inaugural tour in 2012, Cash & Rocket raised over four million dollars with every single cent donated going directly to the chosen charities (below).

This year, the C&R Tour raised funds for three charity projects that support the welfare of women and children in the African continent: The Art of Elysium, Shine on Sierra Leone and Sumbandila.

Among the celebrities who drove the five Maserati SUVs from San Francisco to Las Vegas are the Russian supermodel and Instagram sensation Lena Perminova; the Californian of Iranian origins; Stylebop.com fashion director Leila Yavari; the founder of Majorelle, creative director of Alliance Apparel and influencer from Los Angeles, Rachel Zeilic; the model, fashion designer, blogger and DJ from Spain, Gala Gonzalez; the Spanish top model and television presenter Nieves Alvarez; the American model and body activist Ashley Graham; and the American fashion model Arizona Muse.

Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 programme

Following the ”Gold and Glamorous” cocktail party on the night before the drive at San Francisco’s famed Fairmont Hotel, the convoy of red cars hit the road heading to Monterrey. After a lunch break, the next stop was Santa Barbara, where the ladies enjoyed a yoga beach evening and a dinner party, all dressed in white.

Saturday, June 9th, all cars were on display at the iconic Malibu pier. A Press Call will followed in the afternoon at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and the day’s activities concluded with an Auction Gala Dinner at the Peterson Museum of Los Angeles.

June 10th, the Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 arrived in its final destination, Las Vegas. The five Maserati Levante SUVs and all the other wrapped in red cars were on display at the Encore Beach Club in the afternoon. The culminating event was the closing party of Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 in the Encore Wynn Hotel, which featured famous DJ Kygo, with all ladies in red outfits.

You can find out more about the Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 on the official website www.cashandrocket.com. For donations, please visit http://www.cashandrocket.com/donate/

Cash & Rocket Chosen Charities

The Art of Elysium is using art as a catalyst for social change. Emerging artists in the fields of fine arts, fashion design, music, theatre and more, are engaged in its programs and share their creativity with distressed people, in special needs education centres, homeless shelters, elder care homes and hospice care facilities.

Shine on Sierra Leone currently supports nearly 500 students in Sierra Leone through programmes that integrate sustainable healthcare, education, microfinance and development to ultimately create the future of an inner-dependent country.

Sumbandila is currently focused on Limpopo, the poorest province in South Africa, aiming to transform the lives of exceptional children from backgrounds of extreme poverty and help them become leaders who will one day make significant contributions to their own communities and to Africa in general.

Maserati Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 Photo Gallery…

/;Lilly Beker;Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

Tiffany Persons;/;Julie Brangstrup Watts

Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham;Arizona Muse;Cody Horn

Hyundai IONIQ Awarded 2018 Women’s World Car Of The Year Award At Busan International Motor Show

The 2018 Hyundai IONIQ, Hyundai Motor’s innovative model that offers three electrified powertrains, was awarded the Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) Supreme Award at a ceremony at the Busan International Motor Show. The Supreme Award is the top honor awarded annually by 25 of the most respected female automotive journalists from around the world who vote in the WWCOTY competition.

This year, the Hyundai IONIQ was a “standout”,” said the WWCOTY jurors, calling the IONIQ a “clear winner” among more than 400 initial contenders. IONIQ was also recognized as the winner of the Green Car category. The IONIQ is the first eco-focused vehicle platform in the world to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric models. Hyundai’s approach for the IONIQ line delivers an uncompromising design and driving experience coupled with the latest in safety and convenience technologies, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of buyers. For the awards competition, all three IONIQ variants were considered and treated as one car for voting purposes.

“We are honored to be present at the Busan International Motor Show to present this special trophy commemorating IONIQ’s Supreme Award and Green Car category award” said Sandy Myhre, CEO, Women’s World Car of the Year. “Having passed our rigorous test and being picked from a democratic voting process, IONIQ really stood out as a “clear winner”.”

“IONIQ’s aerodynamic body lines assist airflow and benefit its overall efficiency as an eco-friendly vehicle,” said Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor (above). “Earning the Supreme Award from the judges of the Women’s World Car of the Year serves as yet another proof of IONIQ’s outstanding design that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also purpose-built.”

FEATURE: The Two Best Deals Out There Are From Honda & Renault – Japanese vs. Continental [+Videos]

So 1st June has come and gone, and true to form, the prices of cars did indeed drop, significantly, even before the actual date of implementation in may cases. Well, this got me thinking, what’s the best deal out there right now, if we disregard the two national brands? I guess I’ve given the game away with the featured image above, so let’s dive right into why I picked these two; one Japanese and one Continental, and believe it or not, they are somewhat related…

The Honda City…

As far as the B-segment of the car market is concerned, and especially for first-time car buyers, in the non-national car market you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the Honda City i-VTEC right now. Post 0% GST, prices for the Honda City start just RM70,000-ish (S variant, less with on-going Raya bonus incentives) and end at around RM84,000 (Hybrid). Touted at launch last year as offering C-segment features in a B-segment car, this is not an empty boast.

Across the range, be in the S, E, V or Hybrid, the Honda City comes packed with a host of active and passive safety features such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, and emergency signal stop. This is most heartening because oft times, car makers only offer all these important safety systems in their range-topping model only. That kind of commitment and responsibility to the consumer alone makes the Honda City more than worthy of its now even lower asking price. Here’s my in-car video…

As you can see, despite my disdain for CVT gearboxes, the one in the City is quite easy to live with, and since it has paddle-shifters on the multi-function steering-wheel, it also allows a little bit of fun if you’re so inclined. However, just leaving it in D and letting the ‘box do the work is perfectly fine. It’s one of the better CVTs out there for sure. Of course, there’s always the City Sport Hybrid with its 7-speed DCT to opt for, if you wish. The new prices for Honda vehicles can be found here.

Then again, if you want something completely different, have a look at this….

The Renault Fluence…

No, I’m not on any medication or recreational drugs. I got to thinking about the Renault Fluence after returning the Renault Koleos recently (full review coming soon), and it just so happened that TCEC (Tan Chong EuroCars) had sent out their post 0% GST prices on that day. You can check that report here.

I really did think my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw that the Fluence was now RM40,000 cheaper. It’s not just from the GST exemption of course, TCEC is having a special Raya 2018 promotion, which in addition to the 0% GST, offers some amazing rebates as well. As such, limited units of the Renault Fluence 2.0 are going for under RM80,000 now. No, that’s not a typo…

So where the Honda City offers “C-segment features in a B-segment car”, the Fluence is a “C-segment car at a B-segment price”. See? Told you they were somewhat related… Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch even for me, but you see my point right? Here’s a C-segmenter that’s actually cheaper than the mid-range Honda City E variant, and just RM10k more than an entry-level Toyota Vios! Here’s my in-car video of the Fluence…

In addition, TCEC offers one of the best after-sales incentives which include:

Free service and maintenance (parts and labour) for five years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first
A five-year manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage
Complimentary 24 hours roadside assistance*
Pick-up and delivery during scheduled maintenance at Renault service centres
Mobility service of replacement car in the event any part is not available for over 48 hours at authorised service centres, subject to availability

*only available for customers who purchase their insurance under Tan Chong Insurance Business Stream (TCIBS)

Conclusion: So as you can see folks, there are plenty of great deals out there at the moment, and these two just happen to be my choice, from the Japanese and Continental segments, and no, neither Honda Malaysia nor TCEC Renault ‘sponsored’ this post, just in case you were wondering. – Chris Wee.

Honda Civic & Renault Fluence Photo Gallery…

FEATURE: Malaysians, Why Do You Hate Wagons So Much?! They’re Super-Cool! [+Videos]

Wagons. Estates. Stationwagons. Touringwagen. Sportwagen. Shooting Brake. Sports Wagons. Call them what you will, but they have never been popular here in Malaysia, and that folks is a crying shame, because wagons are uber cool.

To make matters worse for the dwindling wagon market, Volvo Car Malaysia recently announced that they will cease offering the incredible V90 T5 & T6 R-Design wagons locally solely due to poor demand. As can be seen from this recent 0% GST news release from VCM, all iterations of the V90 wagon are indeed already missing from their line-up…

This of course didn’t sit too well with many of us, seeing as how we (i.e. the Malaysian motoring media) absolutely adored the V90, to the point where when its wheels got stolen right-off the car at VCM’s own parking lot, many of us took it personally and proceeded to post notifications of the theft on our own personal social media pages (we were pissed!). For the record the wheels were never recovered and it cost VCM RM17k to replace them and subsequently de-fleet the said unit, so whoever you are (wheel thief and also buyer) I personally hope you rot in hell…

It’s the weirdest thing really; Malaysians won’t buy wagons new, but actively seek-out used ones voraciously. As such, a used Mercedes-Benz W124 wagon will typically cost at least three to four times more than its sedan counterpart in the second-hand car market, as would a Volvo 245, 850 T5 & 945 wagon, BMW E30, E34 & E39 wagon, etc. Even a Toyota KE70 wagon will cost at least three times more than a KE70 sedan. In fact any wagon from the same lineage will always cost more than its sedan counterpart, even a freaking Nissan Sunny. The Mercedes-Benz W123 wagon (below) now costs about seven times more than its sedan variant locally. No, really.

And that’s the greatest irony; if no one wants them in the first place when they’re new, how is it that they are able to command a much, much higher price in the used car market? They should be borderline un-sellable in the second-hand car market, since no one wants them even when they’re brand-spanking-new right? Speaking of brand new, here’s one that’s still available locally, the Mazda6 wagon…

Now tell me honestly that isn’t simply amazing looking. Look at the lines, simply gorgeous. Defy convention folks, thumb your nose at the norm, and buy a wagon, you won’t regret it. At the very least, you’ll know it’s going to be worth more in the second-hand market than its sedan sibling.

Now have a look at this video from Volvo and judge for yourself why wagons are so cool.

In addition to the Volvo V90 above, thanks to AutoExpressUK, here’s a look at some of the nicest, sportiest and most desirable wagons out there… but first, a bit more eye-candy on the Volvo V90, this time in the latest Cross-Country guise. And no, we won’t be getting it here… no demand, remember? – Chris Wee.

And now, the coolest wagons according to AutoExpressUK, starting with the…

Audi RS 4

Fans will moan about Audi replacing the 4.2-litre V8 engine used in the previous RS 4, with a less enjoyable 2.9-litre unit, but with 444bhp, 600Nm of torque and a top speed of 174mph (280kmh) in the new car, there are worse problems to have. The interior compliments a car that has a split personality between sensible and ludicrous, but lacks the sense of theatre that some of its rivals bring. At over £60,000 it is by no means cheap – not that that is untoward in present company.

Audi RS 6

The Audi RS 6 is one of the leading lights in the fast estate world. Partly thanks to its looks, but also helped a its 552bhp twin-turbocharged V8 which will rocket you and four other passengers from 0-100kmh in just 3.9 seconds, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh). Prices start from just over £81,000, but for that you do get a comfortable, quiet cabin (most of the time) and 565-litres of boot capacity.

Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Some will argue the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso isn’t a ‘proper’ estate, but if you consider that it is just leaning a little harder on the left of the performance-practicality balance, it becomes easy to see why it made this list. The Ferrari has a 6.3-litre V12 under the bonnet which pumps out 681bhp and 697Nm of torque, which allows it to obliterate most of this list with a 0-100kmh time of 3.4 seconds and a claimed top speed of 208mph (335kmh).

Ford Focus ST

While the petrol version of the Focus ST wagon is a great fast estate, the 2.0 TDCi is our pick of the bunch. This is largely down to the delivery of the power, with the diesel’s get up and go being less unruly and easier to put down on UK roads, but that does not mean the diesel is a slouch – the performance stats of 182bhp, 400Nm of torque and a 0-100kmh time of 8.3secs proves as much. Add to this a claimed economy of 67.3mpg – high 40s low 50s are more realistic – and the diesel Focus ST estate becomes incredible alluring.

Mercedes-AMG C63

The Mercedes-AMG C63 is a full-blown muscle car. Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 which produces a thunderous 469bhp and 650Nm of torque (increasing to 503bhp and 700Nm if you opt for the S model). S or not, both models feel astonishingly quick and of course offer impressive levels of practicality, with the only real issue for everyday use being the firm ride. The interior is a comfortable place to be, even if it is not quite on the same level as the E-Class.

Mercedes-AMG E63

You are going to need deep pockets to drive away in an E63 estate as they start north of £84,000 – which is slightly more expensive than the starting price of the Audi RS 6. That said, the E63 is one of the fastest cars on the road, never mind estates. The latest generation is all-wheel drive and in S guise packs 604bhp and 850Nm of torque. Plus, owners get a drift mode. From a standing start it will hit 100kmh in just 3.6 seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh) – these figures change to 3.5 seconds and 186mph (300kmh) in the S version.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

The Porsche Panamera is no longer the ugly duckling it once was, and the Sport Turismo is no exception. If you go for the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid, flat out you will be doing 193mph (310kmh)and 0-100kmh is over in a meger 3.4 seconds – wiping the floor with all but the Ferrari on this list. Even if you drop down to the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, the 6-cylinder turbocharged engine allows the big German to reach 160mph (257kmh)flat-out and sprint from rest to 100kmh in 5.5 seconds. While the performance is strong here, practicality is not. The rear is just about big enough to get two adults and a smaller human buckled in, and 520-litres of boot space is a tad underwhelming.

Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R estate is related to both the Skoda and SEAT mentioned in the link below (but comes with four-wheel drive), and offers one of the finest all-round driving packages you can get for the money – the R starts at around £36k. Under the hood there is the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 296bhp as found in the Leon, but here it is only available with VW’s seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The exhaust note sounds good with a nice deep burble, which helps keep up the fun even when you aren’t exploiting the strong chassis.

For the FULL article from AutoExpress, which features a few more estates from brands unavailable here, click this link.

Wagon Photo Gallery (all images from AutoExpressUK)

FEATURE: Ford’s 5 Practical Driving Tips To Help You Be A Better New Driver!

It’s the holiday season! You just got your license! You’re behind the steering wheel, cruising into an exciting new world of driving, but in today’s crowded cities, it can be a dangerous world, too. Traffic is hectic, distractions are all around and other drivers and pedestrians can behave unpredictably (read: dangerously!). While being in a car can feel safer than driving on a scooter, you’re only as safe as your actions.

A recent Ford survey found an alarming number of young drivers who admitted using risky behaviors while driving – such as speeding and even watching TV. While some things are out of your control, knowing road safety rules and following a few practical tips can help protect you on the road – no matter how far or near you go.

Buckle your belts! This may seem like old news. Wearing a seat belt is Rule #1. But many people are still reluctant to wear a seat belt, especially in the backseat.
The reasons why may surprise you. One common excuse for avoiding seatbelts is not wanting to wrinkle clothes! Hmmm, let’s consider the trade-offs. Don’t wear a seatbelt and you are prone to injury in case of an accident (and your clothes won’t fare well either). Or, wear a seatbelt and reduce your chance of injury by half in an accident – and reduce the risk of death by 45 percent. Trust us, seatbelts are beautiful. Your wrinkled clothes are beautiful after wearing a seatbelt. The takeaway? Buckle your seatbelt.
Know your car. This may seem obvious, but every car is different, so know the car you’re in to avoid distractions on the road. Understand how to use your head lights, windshield wipers and temperature controls before darkness falls, before the monsoon rains hit, before you’re scrambling to turn on the aircon. This handy guide can help decipher the symbols on your dashboard instrument cluster.

Many cars today are equipped with driver-assist technologies to help keep you safe on busy roads. Get familiar with this technology before you set out. For example, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak that is equipped with Forward Collission Alert & Mitigation by Brakes, warns you on an obstacle ahead while the Lane Departure Warning System vibrates the steering to alert the driver that he or she is drifting out of the lane.

Don’t be distracted. Phone alerts. Social media. Noisy children. Eating food. Applying makeup. Lack of sleep. Loud music. The list of distractions is endless. But distracted driving is linked to a growing number of accidents and fatalities and puts you in danger.
According to Ford’s 2017 survey about distracted driving, 54 percent of drivers in Asia Pacific say they try not to use their phones while driving – but they do anyway. Finish what you’re doing before you drive – your life and the lives of those around you are more important than answering that text.

Drive defensively. Crawling along in bumper to scooter traffic can be frustrating for any driver, experienced or not, but here are some strategies for defensive driving.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially when backing out of parking spaces or making lane changes and turns. Take advantage of your car’s parking technology and other driver-assist technologies like Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, which helps you be aware of cars in your own blind spot. Part of the Ford Co-Pilot360^TM suite of driver-assist technologies, BLIS is designed to help detect and notify the driver of vehicles that may have entered the blind spot zone, on either side of your vehicle. When backing out of a parking space, the same sensors can detect vehicles approaching from the rear side.

Other practical defensive driving tips include:
- Use your turn signals.
- Keep two hands on the steering wheel.
- Watch out for animals! Small animals can suddenly dart into the road, and larger animals may unexpectedly block traffic altogether.
- Don’t engage with aggressive drivers, and remember, it’s not a race! The only finish line is getting home safely, so follow all speed limits.

Watch the weather. Seasons change, and your situation on the road will, too. Practice driving in bad weather in a safe, secluded location to see how your traction, braking and steering are impacted at various speeds – if possible, have an experienced driver join you. Practicing will help you remain “calm in the storm” during a roadtrip or when it’s time to go to work or school.
Cyclical monsoons and typhoons can cause flooded roads with fallen or floating debris. Strong winds can make it difficult to stay in your lane, and sudden gusts can cause tall trucks to veer out of their lanes. Driving on flooded roads should be avoided, but here are a few strategies for cruising through the rainy season:
- Replace windshield wipers before the rains start…and check your tires to be sure they have adequate tread and are properly inflated.
- Turn on your headlights.
- Take it slow. Driving at high speeds can cause your car to hydroplane (lose traction and skid) on slippery pavement and may cause you to lose control.

Following these tips and taking a safe driving training course will help you avoid becoming a statistic and contribute positively towards responsible driving. Now in its eleventh year, Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) offers free training for people across the Asia Pacific, including young drivers, expectant mothers, Uber drivers and farmers. The program covers hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed and space management, distracted driving and much more. In Malaysia, DSFL has trained closed to 1,000 people in the past 3 years since 2012.

I Drove To Another Country Just To See An Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder! [+Videos]

Selamat Hari Raya folks! Hey, have you heard of an Alfa Romeo Disco Volante? You don’t really need to be a car fanatic in this instance, because even if you have an appreciation for the finer things in life, art for example, this would appeal to you…

Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is a coach-builder that dates back all the way to 1928. An incredibly skilled team of master craftsmen who can take something that’s already quite beautiful and turn it into something extraordinary. Take for example this Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione below…

At the hands of Touring Superleggera, they took that 8C, and produced the incredible Disco Volante by hand. What you see below is very likely the most beautiful car that’s been created in the last half century at least, one of only 7 in the world, it’s the Touring Superleggera Disco Volante Spyder… and I drove 700km in total just to meet it in person.

When I heard that there was actually one unit in Singapore, at EuroAutomobile, it didn’t take me very long to decide that I simply had to go see it, despite the 4-hour journey one-way. The only other person I could think of to make the trip with me was Bobby Ang of EVO Aurizn, because I remember distinctly having a conversation with him about the Disco Volante some time ago, and the words that stuck were that the DV just happened to be his dream car…. so at 5am one recent morning, we set-off for Singapore in a Volvo XC90…

The journey, which we dubbed “In Search of… the Disco Volante”, was arduous to say the least, especially the causeway crossing, but all that changed when we reached EuroAutomobile @ No. 24 Leng Kee Road in Singapore, at the heart of ‘Motown’. And there she was… Here’s the video of my first viewing, something I never thought would happen, ever.

Created by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, the Disco Volante, which translates from Italian to ‘Flying Disc or Flying Saucer, is the most incredible looking car you’ll ever clap eyes on. 007 Bond fans will of course remember that ‘Disco Volante’ was the name of the hydrofoil yacht that belonged to the villain Largo from SPECTRE in the Bond movie of 1965, Thunderball, as well as its remake in 1983, ‘Never Say Never Again’.

Hand-crafted by one of the oldest and most gifted coach-builders in the world, here’s what good ‘ol JC had to say about it in this episode of UK Top Gear back in 2014…

That was of course the coupe, and what we drove a total of 8-hours to and fro to see was the latest Spyder, one of only 7 in the world. Priced at SGD$ 1.68 million before taxes, we’re hoping it’s snapped up by someone from Malaysia, seeing as how it’s a left-hand drive and (ironically) LHD cars are illegal in Singapore.

Pictures really don’t do this car justice. You really do have to see it in the flesh to completely understand just how incredibly special this car is. It isn’t a car anymore per se, it’s a driveable piece of hand-crafted automotive art that borders on erotica. Would I buy one? It’s a no brainer, of course I would, if I had the means, and yes, I’d park it in my living room between drives, and just ogle it for hours…

It’s also an investment for sure, since there are only 7 in the world, prices will definitely skyrocket in the near future. I can honestly say, hand on heart, you could park a Disco Volante next to any other modern-day supercar, and no one, absolutely no one, will pay any attention to the others. And then we spotted this…

After the most memorable 2hrs I’ve had in recent memory, Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile let us in on a little secret. They also have a Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso! Based on a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, I’ll let the short video below do the talking. It’s simply, incredibly, unbelievably beautiful too…

And now a quick shout-out to all Alfa Romeo Owners in Malaysia, if you happen to own one of the newer AR’s like the Giulia & Giuletta, EuroAutomobile would like to invite you to bring your cars over to their premises for a full-check up, service and repair. EuroAutomobile can also arrange the sale and export of any new Alfa Romeos that tickle your fancy, including the Disco Volante that we came to see. And last but not least, a BIG thank you to Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile for hosting us and putting up with our juvenile fan-boy antics! – Chris Wee.

EuroAutomobile @ 24 leng Kee Road, Singapore Photo Gallery…