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New Ford EcoSport gets manlier without compromising on creature comforts

Ford has unveiled the new EcoSport, which now comes with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system and a more sporty variant called ST-Line. Building on its predecessor’s design, the Blue Oval has decided make the vehicle a little more rugged this time around.

The rather docile grille has been repaced with a matte-black two-piece louvered one that certainly is in-line with Ford’s current design language. It’s projector headlights slope forward and towards the front fascia, which reminiscent of the ones on the current gen Mustang.

from the side, the two-tone paint scheme does provide the EcoSport with a sporty look as does the 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels. Ground clerance of certain variants might vary depending on the suspension setup that is utilized.

Ford has left the rear relatively untouched safe for minor changes to the taillights and rear bumper, both decent decisions considering that there wasn’t much wrong with them in the first place. The decision to keep the spare tyre internally has had a positive effect on the rear, giving rise to a cleaner and sporty overall feel.

Speaking if the new vehicle, Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, said, “Ford has sold 150,000 EcoSport compact SUVs in Europe since we first introduced the model to the region in 2014.The new Ford EcoSport offers customers even more style, comfort, capability and choice.”

There will be a diesel (EcoBlue) and a petrol (EcoBoost) engine available with the new EcoSport but the most notable feature of the lot is the Intelligent AWD system. It will be capable of distributing power between the front and rear in a 50/50 configuration.

In fact, it will be able to do this in a mere 20 miliseocnds, which Ford says is 20 times quicker than a human eye takes to blink. It will work seamlessly by transitioning torque between all four wheels, to allow for better traction and stability.

The 125bhp 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine is all-new and comes with a number of innovative technologies. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is offered in several states of tune, which include 140bhp, 125bhp and 100bhp. And if the 4WD life isn’t your thing, you can still opt for the 2WD option that is significantly lighter and easier on fuel consumption as well.

Compared to the outgoing vehicle, the new EcoSport gets optimized springs, dampers, spring aids, steering gear, rear axle twist beam, Electronic Stability Programme settings and steering assistance profiles.

The interior takes on a more refined look with easier to use controls and soft-touch materials, and a new centre console ergonomically designed for easy operation and featuring fewer buttons. The seats have been redesigned to offer good comfort and premium feel.

Occupants can also match the ambiance to their mood with adjustable interior lighting that can be set to one of seven colours. But the cabin’s main party trick is the ability to store small items in compartments hidden through out the cabin including under the seats.

As mentioned earlier, the EcoSport will also be offered as an ST-Line variant that has sportier styling and sports-tuned driving dynamics. As a result, it gets Ford Performance-inspired bumpers and side skirts, black-finish roof rails and headlight bezels, 17-inch Dark Tarnish alloy wheels, ST-Line badging and extended painted roof and door mirrors as standard.

As for the interior, you get a unique ST-Line leather-trimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel; unique partial leather seats featuring Miko®-Dinamica inserts – an ecological suede made from recycled polyester and red stitching, leather handbrake lever and gear knob, ST-Line branded scuff plates, and stainless steel sports pedals.

Other tech that are available across all variants is the SNYC 3 (Voice Assistant) and 8-inch colour touchscreen, which can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures. The B&O sound system offers impressive sound quality for the audiophile in all of us.

The EcoSport for the first time comes with Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter that helps drivers keep within speed limits, and a Rear View Camera that makes parking more efficient and safer. There’s also Blind Spot Detection and Roll Stability Control, which should help novice drivers handle the vehicle with more confidence.

There’s no word yet on when Ford will bring this vehicle over here, but it should hit European markets very soon.

LaFerrari Aperta to hit auction block for charity

Ferrari is doing its bit to help children in need, by auctioning one of its very special cars. The car in question is a LaFerrari Aperta with a unique metallic Rosso Fuoco body colour and metallic Bianco Italia double racing stripe.

Proceeds from this auction, which will take place on September 9th during the “Leggenda e Passione” sale, will be donated to Save the Children Charity for an international program focusing on education.

The event will take place at Ferrari’s Fiorano track and is said to be the most important single marque collector’s car auction in history. It’s a limited edition vehicle that was introduced to commemorate the Italian automaker’s 70th anniversary.

The LaFerrari Aperta is the roadster version of the LaFerrari hybrid supercar. Designed for Ferrari’s most passionate clients, the Aperta is an open-top supercar that offers similar performance to its hard roof brethren.

Its interior features black Alcantara and shiny black carbon fiber with red leather inserts on the seats that are complemented by red stitching. This allows the car to stand out in a unique way that will help bring in a significant sum of money for a very good cause.

Like most high level auctions of this nature, its an invitation only event that is part of a three day program of festivities in Maranello.

JLR’s connected assistant aims to revolutionize personal transportation

Jaguar Land Rover has released information on some pretty interesting tech that it has been working on. It’s touted as an ‘intelligent and connected’ steering wheel that aims to revolutionize the future of mobility.

The device, fittingly, resembles a futuristic square-shaped steering wheel that rests on a circular stand. Similar in function to Amazon’s Echo and Google Home voice assistants, this device is home to JLR’s voice-activated AI assistant called Sayer.

According to the automaker, users will be able interact with it through voice commands, enabling Sayer to carry out hundreds of different tasks. For instance, Sayer could signal your membership of JLR’s on-demand service club.

This club allows for either sole vehicle ownership or the option of sharing your car with others in the community. Putting this into perspective, once autonomous vehicles are legalized in your country, Sayer will act as your transportation liaison officer.

If you don’t own a vehicle, Sayer can call upon the vehicle of your choosing and schedule it to show up at your doorstep at the stipulated pick-up time. This summarizes JLR’s vision of future mobility. A steering wheel could be the only part of a car that you might ever own.

Here’s a scenario that the automaker thinks will help play out Sayer’s true value:

“Need to be at a meeting two hours away from home by 8am tomorrow? Simply ask Sayer from the comfort of your living room and it will work out when you get up, when a car needs to autonomously arrive at your door and even advise which parts of the journey you might enjoy driving yourself.”

Considered a well-sculptured art piece, Jaguar Land Rover’s intelligent steering wheel of the future, is designed to blend in with the rest of your future smart home’s decor.

And the intelligent assistant that resides in it was named after Malcom Sayer, one of the automaker’s most prominent designers who worked with the British marque from 1951 to 1970.

This interesting piece of tech will be showcased at the inaugural Tech Fest at Central St Martins art, design and technology college in London, UK. It’s an event that is open to the general public from 8th to 10th September to witness innovative tech creations.

Ford introduce Ranger Black Edition for Europe

Ford unveiled an exclusive Black Edition of its ever popular Ranger at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It’s based on the European market’s Limited Series variant that comes with a unique colour scheme and a plethora of features that set it apart from the base vehicle.

This particular Ranger comes with de-chromed body in Absolute Black with a black finish for the radiator grille, alloy wheels, sports bar and exterior detailing. Adding to this level of exclusivity, only 2,500 examples of this variant will ever be produced. And all of them will be offered with the Double Cab body-style only.

Besides this, the Black Edition is fitted with satellite navigation, front parking sensors and rear view camera, Ford SYNC 3 multimedia system with 8-inch touchscreen, dual-zone electronic climate control, leather seat trim, and power-folding as well as heated door mirrors.

Speaking of the latest addition to the stable, Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe, said, “Ranger customers appreciate the vehicle’s tough, go-anywhere capability and its rugged good looks, and we expect this attractive new limited series to be snapped up within weeks.”

In Europe, the Ford Ranger is the top selling pick-up truck as of July 2017, which also marks an increase of 12.1% in sales for the automaker. It managed to shift 23,100 compared to the same period last year.

It’s a similar story in Malaysia, despite fierce competition, the Ranger is still one of the favorites because of it what it is able to offer local customers.

BMW makes sourcing for parts a leisurely affair

A trip to the workshop has become a little less cumbersome for BMW owners in the UK. The reason for this is rather revolutionary, because BMW Group UK has launched a new digital shop, allowing customers to purchase BMW and MINI Parts, accessories and lifestyle products online.

Those wanting a certain part for their vehicle, need only select their vehicle model or enter their VIN number online, to browse the automaker’s online parts’ inventory. This can be done with any web browser on a computer or mobile device.

BMW and MINI customers with a myBMW account can access this service easily by using the same login credentials as other BMW services such as ConnectedDrive. Once the desired product/part/accessory has been selected, customers can choose their preferred collection point as well (BMW retailer).

Adding to this impressive service, customers will also be able to track their items while in transit to the desired location. Payments for items that are purchased online can be made using PayPal, 3D Secure credit and debit cards.

The BMW Group and its subsidiary brands have a slew of products on offer ranging from lifestyle apparel to Motorsport memorabilia. MINI has one of the most extensive product portfolios of the lot with a collection that spans articles of clothing to bags, cases and other items.

Unlike many automakers, BMW believes that the relationship between it and a customer doesn’t end once the keys are handed over. Instead, they believe that its a lifelong bond that is cultivated by allowing customers to own more than just a set of wheels.

As useful as this service is, it seems to only be available for customers in the UK. But we are sure that many Malaysians would appreciate having such a service in our country as well. It would require a lot less effort to source for parts if BMW Malaysia is able lend us a helping hand.

Subaru USA claims August as best sales month in company’s history

Subaru USA has reported that August 2017 has been its best sales month in the company’s history. It stated that 63,215 vehicles have been sold in that month which accounts for a 4.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

This marks the first time that the automaker has managed to shift this many vehicles in one month. The previous sales record was in December 2016, when the company sold 63,177 vehicles in total.

This has helped bolster Subaru’s sales yearly figures even further with an 8.1% percent increase with 423,728 vehicles sold, compared to the same period in 2016. This also means that August marked the 42nd consecutive month with 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company.

Demand for models like the Crosstrek, Impreza and Outback were considerably strong, Even its niche sports car, the BRZ, enjoyed a surge in sales compared with August 2016. This means that the trust of US car buyers have in the brand is growing with each passing year.

“It was our 69th consecutive month of yearly, month over month sales increases. Our retailers gave a truly exceptional effort and we are on pace for our 9th consecutive sales record,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc.

“The Crosstrek easily had its best month ever and we welcome the all-new 2018 model with the introduction of its advertising and marketing campaign in September that we know will resonate with customers,” he later added.

Subaru has had a strong presence in the US car market for several decades and is considered one of the most sort after/ trusted Japanese brands. Here in Malaysia, demand for Subaru vehicles have started to increase as well, thanks to enticing new models with relatively affordable price tags.