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New BMW 1 Series to be launched in July

Fresh after the reveal of the 2 Series bimmer, BMW has spilled the beans on the new 1 Series that should be launched at the same time as its bigger brethren. The compact premium car will come in 3-door and 5-door form and will be offered in three new editions which are Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow and M140i Edition Shadow.

Subtle design changes help differentiate these variants from the rest of the line-up. They include black kidney grille, black inserts in the LED headlights and darkened LED rear lights. There are also 5 new light-alloy wheels to choose from but they will only be made available in 17 and 18-inch form. Inside, the new 1 Series features a newly designed instrument panel and various design tweaks to improve drivers’ attention and provide for a better feeling of spaciousness.

The addition of new materials and premium leather upholstery help give the car a more elegant apperance, which is a welcomed feature for vehicles in it’s category and price point. BMW’s famous iDrive system governs the 8.8-inch touchscreen and various other functions including voice control, Navigation and touch-sensitive interface.

Those wanting a little more sophisticated will not go empty handed because the 1 Series comes with the BMW Connected Drive services that ensure that the car is connected with systems that enable Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) with hazard preview, On-Street Parking Information, vehicle access via Remote Services and the integrated Microsoft Exchange function for sharing and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details. Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay, inductive charging and a WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices are all features that are available with BMW’s latest infotainment system.

Petrol Engine options for the 1 Series are similar to that of the 2 Series BMW. they include three, four and six cylinder petrol engines as well as three and four cylinder diesel ones. Power output range from 109bhp for the basic 116i to 340bhp for the fire-breathing M140i. Touted as the only compact hatch with rear-wheel-drive, the new 1 Series has also been made available with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system as an option.

If you are interested in the car, you would be happy to know that BMW has added two new exterior colours for the bodywork, which are Sunset Orange and Seaside Blue. Expect more from BMW in the months leading up to the official launch, but we will do our part to ensure you get the latest news.

Goodyear launches Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 in Malaysia

Global tyremaker Goodyear, has launched its new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 here in Malaysia. Apparently, the tyre will offer 31% better wear performance and shorter braking distances on dry and wet roads compared to its predecessor.

“Goodyear is known for its commitment to innovate and to offer superior performing products to its consumers. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 is designed to suit the needs of consumers in Malaysia, and tested to Goodyear’s highest standards to provide confidence that it will perform on the region’s roads. It has also been accredited as original equipment for some of the world’s leading cars such as the Jaguar XF, Mercedes E-Class, the BMW 5 series, Alfa Romeo Guilia, Chevrolet Camaro and the Porsche Panamera,” said Ben Hoge, Managing Director of Goodyear Malaysia Berhad.

The new tyre incorporates new technology that allow it to deliver better grip, longer life and improved braking distances. It’s Grip Booster Technology has a grip booster compound and adhesive resin, that deliver better grip characteristics. Active Braking Technology increases the contact surface of the tyre, increasing the grip levels, which then allow for shorter braking distances.

Goodyear utilized a new reinforced construction technology for the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, allowing it to be strong yet still retain its lightweight properties, which will improve a vehicle’s handling and cornering characteristics as well as reduce tread ware but increase fuel efficiency.

Confident of its latest creation, Goodyear handed over the new tyre to Dekra and TUV to conduct the various tests. Based on Dekra’s results, the Eagle F1 Asymetric 3 offers up to 11,500km extra service life which is about 31% better wear compared to competitor tyres.

TUV found that Goodyear’s tyre offered 2.6m shorter stopping distances on wet roads, 1.3m in dry roads and 4% better handling in rainy conditions. The tests also revealed that the Goodyear tyre offered the second best rolling resistance of all tyre brands that were tested.

BMW introduce new BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet

BMW has given us a glimpse of the new 2-Series Coupe and Cabriolet ahead of their official launch in July this year. The automaker has sold about 150,000 such cars of the same name plate around the world but the demand is highest in the US, UK and Germany.

The new 2 Series features subtle design changes on the outside but an all-new interior with different upholstery choices. Now, the bi-LED headlights are fitted to both models as standard, but can also be specified in adaptive full-LED ones as an option. The twin headlights has a hexagonal look giving rise to a more futuristic appearance, The kidney grille is larger, the outer air intakes are now also larger and the rear features new single-piece LED taillights as standard.

Step inside the cabin, and you are immediately greeted by a new instrument display that features a black-panel design. There’s now one new leather and two new cloth upholstery options to choose from, which complement the aluminium or fine wood trim strips and high-gloss black panels with chrome accents.

BMW says that the interior feels more spacious and less cluttered due to certain tweaks that they’ve made to the design and layout. It’s more prominent features are the contrast stitching as well as the high-gloss black surfacing for the centre stack and the chrome elements for the control panels in the doors.

Located at the top of the centre stack is the high-resolution 8.8 inch touchscreen infotainment system that has the latest iDrive operating system as standard, optional navigation system, support for Apple Carplay, voice control system and a touch controller interface.

For convenience there’s a charging tray that allows you to charge your compatible smartphone wirelessly and the in-car Wifi hotspot provides high speed mobile internet for up to 10 devices. You can also insert a SIM card to expand the vehicle’s connectivity services which include Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) with hazard preview, On-Street Parking Information and access to the vehicle via Remote Services. There’s even support for Microsoft Office 365, which will allow occupants to use a secure server for their emails, calendars, contact details and the car’s built-in Microsoft Exchange function.

The new 2 Series can be ordered with 16, 17 or 18-inch light-alloy wheels and the exterior body coloyr can be ordered in two new colours which are Mediterranean Blue, Seaside Blue and Sunset Orange. The M Performance vehicles, M240i and M240 xDrive get a bit extra kit than the standard cars.

BMW is offering the two series with a number of engine options that include three, four and six-cylinder powerplants with power outputs ranging from 136bhp to 340bhp. These engines can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. And like the other cars in the line-up, the Coupe and Cabriolet have safety tech that include Active Cruise Control, a Driving Assistant, Lane Departure Warning system and City Collision Mitigation.

The 2 Series will officially be shipped out to dealerships around the world later in the year but expect more information and pictures as the launch date draws nearer.

Peugeot to offer Mobil lubricants at service centres

Mobilub Trading Sdn Bhd, ExonMobil’s distributor in Malaysia has signed a three year agreement with Nasim Sdn Bhd, Peugeot’s local authorised dealer, which will see all 35 Peugeot service centres use Mobil lubricants.

According to the automaker, this partnership signifies both companies’ commitment to bringing high-quality products to customers in Malaysia and to strengthen their reputation as the wold leading brands in the automotive industry.

“Mobil lubricants is the recommended choice for Peugeot car owners who are looking to protect their engines without compromising on their vehicle’s performance”, said Dato Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn.Bhd.

“At ExxonMobil, we are committed to providing the best lubricant solutions for car owners to bring out high-performance and proven long engine life”, said Pajaree Meekangvan, Southeast Asia Cluster Sales Manager at ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Both Mobilub and Nasim have been working together for the past two years and this new agreement cements their commitment to each other and Peugeot owners in Malaysia to offer the best automotive solutions that are available right now.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ are flagships that are worth the steep asking price

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ might very well be the best smartphones that were launched this year. The Android based devices feature a slew of new and innovative features that make them two of the more superior phones in the market right now.

They feature an Octa core 64 bit processor(10nm), 4GB of RAM, 5.8 inch (S8) and 6.2 inch (S8+) quad HD displays (2960×1440), 12 MP rear and 8MP front cameras, 3,000mAh or 3,500mAh batteries as well as the latest WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC and fast wireless charging technologies.

Some how, Samsung managed to keep the dimensions of the phones similar to that of their predecessors yet fit 18% larger screens with a 18:5:9 aspect ratio. This, along with the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities give videos and pictures vibrant and more accurate colour images. This Infinity display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and is optimized for multi-tasking use allowing users to pin recent apps at the top of the screen while using the area below for other work.

Love it or hate it, but the finger print reader is now located next to the rear camera. The physical home button on the front is no more and is instead, part of the GUI, this is also true for the back and menu buttons, which are now programmable to offer different functions.

Samsung says that through the use of its Knox security platform and other biometric technologies such as an iris scanner, the phones are far more secure than their predecessors, allowing for faster and better user authentication payments and unlocking.

This is all well and good, but the S8 and S8+’s main party piece is their ability to function as a PC. Through the use of the Samsung DeX system, users can connect their phones to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, then take advantage of the optimized interface and use the phone as a PC. Until now, smartphones lacked the performance to drive a full-fledged monitor and peripherals, but thanks to Samsung’s flagship specifications, the S8 and S8+ are able to tackle these tasks with relative ease.

The phones are IP68 dust and water resistance, support microSD cards of up to 256GB and have cameras that takes multiple shots in rapid succession instead of a single shot, picks the clearest one and uses the rest to reduce unclear sections of the picture.

Available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray and Maple Gold, the new S8 and S8+ are available for purchase at Samsung authorized dealers for a price of RM3,299 and RM3,699 respectively.

Audi adds Rimau Internationl to dealer network

Audi Malaysia has announced that Japanese based Rimau International is the latest addition to its authorised dealer network, making it the 9th exclusive Audi retailer in the country. The company began operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 at a temporary facility in Setia Alam, which is equipped with a showroom and two service bays that are manned by 15 sales and after sales consultants.

Regarding the latest addition, Sridheevan Sivanantham, Director of Sales at Audi Malaysia, said, “We at Audi Malaysia are truly delighted to welcome Rimau International into the fold as our newest dealer partner. They bring with them a wealth of experience from Japan, where they also operate a number of Audi dealerships in Kyoto.”

Yasuhiko Osada, Managing Director of Rimau International mentions, “Back in Japan, we have represented the Audi brand for over 25 years. We have seen the brand with the four rings take on a leading position in the premium automotive segment, and I am very happy that our partnership has been able to bear fruit outside of our home market.”

Eventually, Rimau International will be moving into its 4-story 4S facility in the first quarter of 2018. Once the 100,000 sq. ft facility is completed, it will be the largest Audi dealership in Malaysia. And will have a reception and lounge area to tend to customers and allow them to rest while they wait for the delivery of their vehicles. It’s showroom area will be able to accommodate 12 new cars and an additional space for 8 pre-owned ones that are from Audi’s approved plus section. The service area is equipped with 20 service bays to ensure that the company will be able to accomodate a high volume of vehicles.

According to Audi, investments will also be made in other areas to ensure that the facility is fully equipped with the latest equipment, tools and and is able to offer technical training to its designated staff members.

Audi will be commemorating the launch the Setia Alam dealership by organising the Audi Setia Alam Bonanza Weekend from 12 – 14 May 2017. Audi’s current line-up of vehicles will be on display for the general public to view and experience. There will also be enticing promotions and gifts to be won. If you would like to know more about this bonanza weekend, you can contact Audi personnel at the dealership at 03-3362 6224.