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All-new Toyota Veloz to replace Avanza, bookings now open

July looks like a ‘MPV month’ with at least three new MPVs to be launched in the month or if not, early in the next month. We already know that the updated Nissan Serena S-HYBRID will be launched in early July and with Perodua having opened bookings for its all-new Alza from yesterday, it is likely to be in showrooms by the end of July (going by the usual time-frame).

And today, UMW Toyota Motor has announced that it is accepting orders for the all-new Toyota Veloz, the 7-seater MPV launched in Indonesia last November. Depending on the market, the Veloz is considered as a new model line or as a successor to the Avanza. In Malaysia, UMWT says it will replace the Avanza and comes with the highest specification and advanced features. The estimated price is given as RM95,000, without insurance.

*Note: All images shown on this page are of the versions sold in Thailand and Indonesia. The Veloz assembled in Malaysia may have differences in colours and features.*

The Veloz is considered more as a crossover with a SUV character but also having the spaciousness of a MPV – the best of both worlds. Like the Toyota Rush, it will be assembled locally at the Perodua plant, which makes sense since the new Alza is also having the same platform as the Veloz. It’s not known how many variants there are although the option of a two-tone colour scheme with a black roof suggests that there may be a high-end version.

With an entirely new style and a larger body size, the Veloz of generous interior space said to be comparable to a-segment MPV. The seating in the premium-class cabin is also flexible in layout, allowing more cargo or people to be carried. One reason for the increased spaciousness is that, unlike the Avanza, which had rear wheel drive, the Veloz has front-wheel drive

A 1.5-litre Toyota 2NR-VE petrol 4-cylinder engine powers the Veloz and this is coupled with a 7-speed CVT, so fuel efficiency should be pretty good. The CVT also offers sequential shifting for those who prefer to be in control of the gears in use.

As with many of the models sold by UMWT, the Veloz will come with Toyota Safety Sense technology. This is a suite of active safety systems that will help the driver be alerted of potential accidents and even act if he or she doesn’t respond in the correct way (eg with Automatic Emergency Braking).

A convenient feature is the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) which replaces the long and traditional handle that has operated the mechanical brake for decades. With the EPB, very little effort is needed; in fact, just a slight pull with a fingertip on the small tab will activate the brake. The Veloz will also come with a wireless charging pad (Qi standard) for compatible smartphones.

“We are extremely pleased to announce that the All-New Toyota Veloz will soon be launched in Malaysia. At UMW Toyota Motor, we are committed to go that extra mile for our Toyota customers and ensure that they experience only the best. With the SST exemption ending on June 30, 2022, commencing the order-taking for the All-New Toyota Veloz today is a token of appreciation to our customers for their support towards the Toyota brand and enabling them to drive the car of their dreams. We hope that Toyota fans and other potential buyers looking to purchase a car for their family will take the opportunity to do so and leverage on the SST exemption before it ends,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran. K.

No further exemption of sales tax after June 30, but registration can be in 2023

Prodrive P25 – the iconic Subaru Impreza 22B reborn

David Richards, who started Prodrive as a motorsport and automotive engineering firm in 1984, is very familiar with motorsports. While he has been involved in various roles in the sport – including being co-driver with Ari Vatanen when they won the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1981 – his company is probably best known for its involvement with the Subaru rally team. The 18-year association through the 1990s to 2008 was one of the most successful partnerships in the sport.

It’s no surprise then that the Subaru Impreza holds a special place in Richards’ heart and Prodrive has created its own car called the P25 which takes inspiration from the 22B version, arguably the most iconic Impreza.

“The original 22B Impreza is considered the most iconic of Subarus and highly sought after. We wanted to enhance everything that made that car so special by applying the very latest technology to create our own modern interpretation of a car that’s established a place in motoring history,” said Richards who presented the car today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

It’s been 25 years since Prodrive debuted the 2-door Impreza World Rallycar as a special edition. Only 424 of these road-legal cars were manufactured. Over time, it has achieved cult status as the ultimate turbocharged 4-wheel drive car of its era.

*The original Subaru Impreze 22B in 1998.*

Peter Stevens, who styled the original Impreza WRC in 1997, as well as subsequent Prodrive limited edition Subarus, has restyled a number of features of the P25. Also on the team was technical director, David Lapworth, who was responsible for developing the first Impreza WRC 25 years ago.

Now, using the latest technology and materials, Prodrive has reimagined what this car would be like in 2022. Just 25 cars will be produced, each with an original 2-door Impreza WRX chassis at its core. This is the very same chassis used in the first Impreza WRC but now with reduced weight, a more powerful engine and improved vehicle dynamics.

Reduced weight
Extensive use of carbon composite means the car weighs less than 1200 kgs. Under the bonnet is the latest 2.5-litre flat four ‘boxer’ engine producing over 400 bhp/600 Nm, combined with a 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox, WRC-derived launch control and turbo anti-lag. Prodrive’s own tests show that it can reach 100 km/h from standstill in under 3.5 seconds.

Weight has been removed from the chassis by manufacturing the boot, bonnet, roof, sills, door mirrors, front and rear quarters. The WRC-style rear wing and bumpers are from carbon composite while inside, there are optional lightweight racing seats with carbonfibre door cards and a lithium-ion battery.

The engine is based on Subaru’s latest 2.5-litre cylinder block but has been totally re-engineered by Prodrive’s powertrain team with bespoke internal components. These include new cylinder liners, pistons, conrods, and a valvetrain with variable cam timing. A Garrett motorsport turbocharger has been chosen and has a high performance intercooler and airbox, with an Akrapovic titanium and stainless steel racing exhaust system.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox with helical cut gears and semi-automatic shift via a paddle on the steering column, giving precise gear changes in 80 milliseconds. The car has a WRC-style launch control system, which combines the fly-by-wire throttle and clutch in the floor mounted pedal box to automatically take the car through first, second and third gear to achieve the optimal acceleration from standstill without any driver intervention.

Power goes to all four wheels via a drivetrain with an adjustable active centre differential and limited-slip differentials front and rear. McPherson strut suspension has been retained but with machined aluminium uprights which can be tuned for camber and geometry optimised for the wider track. The Bilstein dampers are adjustable for compression and rebound while the springs and anti-roll bars optimise the tarmac handling.

Stopping power is provided by AP Racing brakes with 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear. Prodrive’s own 8.5 x 19 rims are fitted and standard tyres are Bridgestone Potenza 235/35 which are matched to the dampers.

Modern features in 1990s cabin
In the cabin, the dashboard has a full width high-definition multi-page display, including a data logger. For those wishing to take the car on track, the driver can select from various throttle response and engine performance maps, including anti-lag adjustment. There is also a WRC-style ‘fly-off’ hydraulic handbrake which automatically disengages the centre differential to remove drive to the rear wheels. This is in addition to the standard electric parking brake.

While Prodrive’s focus has been on the driving experience, the interior has also been upgraded. There’s an authentic late 1990s Impreza interior with a mix of leather, Alcantara and carbon trim. The P25 can carry four passengers, but there is also the option to remove the rear seats and have a partial safety cage fitted.

*The successful Subaru team cars in the World Rally Championship were prepared and run by Prodrive over an 18-year period.*

Paying home to the Impreza roots
“The iconic blue Subarus bring back memories of an extraordinary era of the WRC and it was the Impreza 22B that brought this rallycar performance to the road. By reimagining this car using the latest technologies and materials, the Prodrive P25 pays homage to its roots and there will be little else able to match its performance on the open road. I therefore believe we have achieved our vision of creating our own modern interpretation of the most iconic Subaru Impreza ever,” declared Richards.

The P25 which ran at Goodwood today is the first development car and will be used for an extensive test and development programme. The 25 production cars will each be priced from £460,000 (around RM2.48 million), with the first being delivered to customers later this year.

Prodrive starts division to restore and support competition cars it built since 1984

RM1.074 million McLaren GT4 debuts today in England, to enter races in 2023

McLaren Motorsport’s Artura GT4 racing car makes its debut today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, ahead of its competitive debut. Based on the all-new Artura luxury supercar, the Artura GT4 builds on the successes of the multi-championship-winning 570S GT4 and 720S GT3 racers. It shares much of its technology with the road-legal version, including the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture featuring a carbonfibre monocoque at its core.

This motorsport-inspired chassis design and construction is said to be the ideal platform for a racing car as a rigid structure enables a wider setup envelope for the driver as well as providing a strong and extremely safe driving environment. The minimisation of weight is a key element of the Artura, and this philosophy continues in the racing car. With a compact V6 engine and ancillaries including the exhaust system all weight-optimised, the new GT4 is more than 100 kgs lighter than the outgoing 570S GT4.

However, there is also a lot of weight saved in the powertrain because the GT4 does not have a hybrid powertrain like the Artura. The V6 engine alone generates more than enough output for the tightly-controlled GT4 racing requirements, where regulations do not permit hybrid powertrains. The lack of hybrid components takes away 130 kgs on an already super-lightweight car, while the space within the carbon monocoque for the hybrid battery of the road car now houses the fuel cell and ancillary drive system, keeping weight central and low down.

The latest V6 engine features fast-responding twin turbochargers situated within the engine vee and the unit has been designed to offer improved throttle response and fuel economy compared to the older M838 V8 used in the 570S GT4, even without electrification. Considerably lighter and smaller than the older unit, the new V6 engine further improves power-to-weight, lowers the car’s centre of gravity and benefits weight distribution.

*The road-legal Artura which has a hybrid powertrain.*

The engine is controlled by a Bosch Motorsport ECU to fine-tune Balance of Performance management, essential for competing in the GT4 category. A modular motorsport wiring harness for serviceability, reducing repair times and costs. This interfaces with a motorsport electrical system for enhanced versatility, with the benefit of more robust and variable control systems.

Power is delivered through a 7-speed gearbox with an improved set of ratios optimised for performance and the transmission system has onboard diagnostic software. The unit is not the same as the road car’s 8-speed gearbox which uses the E-motor for reversing. GT4 regulations demand that the car must have a reverse gear.

The Artura carries the McLaren design principles of ‘everything for a reason’ and accordingly has high aerodynamic efficiency. The GT4 extends this further with an aerodynamic package that offers greater downforce than the outgoing 570S GT4 (particularly at the front end) with features such as a bespoke splitter, dive planes and bespoke bonnet duct. At the rear, a high efficiency wing incorporates 7 angle settings to cover a wide spectrum of circuit types.

Safety levels are on a par with the 720S GT3, including the fixed FIA 8862 spec driver’s seat with adjustable pedals for reach. The steering wheel is also inspired by the GT3 car with illuminated buttons for competition in all conditions at both day and night. The cockpit also features a new Bosch DDU instrument display, with enhanced graphics.

Serviceability improvements include a removeable bonnet for ease of access and a 110-litre fuel cell with two motorsport lift pumps and a main pump for increased reliability and performance. The rear wing is mounted to the chassis using a new ‘G-Pylon’ design that means the rear bodywork can be removed without having to dismantle the wing. In the interests of robustness in the heat of battle, the Low Temperature Radiators have been moved inboard while the high-level exhaust system is now solely mounted to the powertrain; sound volume is recorded at 105dB static.

“The Artura GT4 is the second race car to be built from the ground-up by McLaren Automotive’s Motorsport division. With lighter weight, extremely precise handling characteristics and enhanced durability – as well as the packaging and efficiency advantages and all-round serviceability for mechanics of the new V6 powertrain – the Artura GT4 will set new class standards, as we are already seeing from our extensive test and development programme,” said Ian Morgan, Director of Motorsport at McLaren Automotive.

Pricing has not been announced although it is expected to start from £200,000, equivalent to about RM1.074 million. The car is still undergoing an intensive test and development programme ahead of the 2023 season when the first customer cars will compete.

A McLaren F1 racing car for just RM799.90!

All-new Perodua Alza coming soon with prices from RM62,000 – bookings now accepted

With the sales tax exemption not going to be extended after June 30, 2022, car companies are expecting that there will be a slowdown in orders in the coming few months as prices are go up. However, Perodua is unlikely to experience this as it has a brand new model on the way – the all-new Alza MPV. The model line, which has a history going back to 2009, can now be booked and going by past practice, it is likely to be launched within a month.

The new Alza (known as D27A internally) has estimated pricing of between RM62,000 and RM75,000 (West Malaysia price without insurance and without sales tax), and will be available in 3 variants – X, H and AV – with 5 colour choices.

*The first Alza generation which was added to the Perodua range in 2009.*

With its predecessor having been in the market for quite some time, it would be expected that the new one will come with significant improvements in terms of driving comfort and versatility. In the time that has passed, many new technologies have been developed and the cost of some have also come down, making it possible to offer them in models like the Alza at the lower end of the market.

“We took our time in designing this full model change as we truly wanted to understand what improvements our customers wanted, and the New Perodua Alza aims to fulfil these requests,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

He revealed that feedback from owners indicated that they wanted a better driving experience, which the engineers have addressed by lowering the ground clearance to 160 mm. “In our assessment, is the best height for a pleasant Malaysian drive, for an MPV,” he said.

Dato’ Zainal said that the new Alza has bigger space compared with its predecessor, especially in the third row as well as a rear air-conditioning unit. “Above and beyond that, the New Perodua Alza’s fuel efficiency has also been improved with up to potentially 22 kms per litre, which is among the best in its MPV class,” he added.

The engine will continue to have a displacement of 1.5 litres with Dual VVT-i (intelligent variable valve timing on intake and exhaust ports) for enhanced breathing efficiency, and the proven D-CVT for delivering power to the front wheels. Three selectable modes will give drivers a choice between stronger acceleration or extra kms for each litre of fuel, or a balance of performance. An ECO Idle system will also help to reduce waste of fuel during periods of long idling.

Though MPVs are largely bought as people-carriers, the Alza can also take a lot of cargo, especially when the seats are folded down. For the new model, the capacity is 137 litres when all seats are in use but this volume can expand 3.6 times to 498 litres if the third row backrests are folded.

Perodua has constantly been increasing safety levels in its models and apart from having up to 6 airbags (in the Alza AV), there is also the Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA) suite. This is made up of Advance Safety Assist (ASA), Driver Assist, Parking Assist and Headlamp Assist. PSDA will help drivers be aware of dangerous situations and in some cases, act to prevent accidents.

All variants will also include Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention systems, both of which will help when the driver may be drowsy. As extra bonuses, there is also Leaving Home Headlamp Assist and Hill-start Assist functions.

The latest features for a Perodua model include a 360⁰ Panoramic View monitor, Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Brake Hold, and rear disc brake. Standard safety features include ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control (VSC) with Brake Assist and rear sensors to assist with parking.

“This full model change represents our best effort so far in terms of product offering as the features included are the best within its price category,” Dato’ Zainal said.

Bookings can be made at all authorised Perodua 118 showrooms nationwide or online via the Perodua website at www.perodua.com.my. With just 7 days left for the sales tax exemption, Perodua is likely to get a flood of orders by many who want to save money while they can. The Finance Minister has said that those who book their new vehicles before the deadline cam remain entitled to the exemption even if their vehicle comes after June 30. But they must have it registered not later than March 31, 2023.

Lower-priced childseat now offered by Perodua

BMW Group Malaysia provides official pricing structure for BMW i Charging facilities nationwide

There was a while when it seemed that if you owned an electric vehicle (EV), you were free of having to buy petrol (or diesel) and all you had to do was plug in to a charging point and get the battery pack recharged. While electricity, wherever it is supplied, still costs something, it didn’t seem that way as no one really asked for money – at that time.

You can still charge ‘for nothing’ if you can install a charging station at your own home but with charging facilities now commercialised as the number of EVs goes up, getting the battery pack recharged will just be like buying liquid fuel – you have to pay for it.

As public usage of charging stations keeps growing, the charges will be adjusted according to demand. DC Fast Chargers, which shorten charging time (if the EV is able to accept such charging), are expensive to set up so the charges for using them will be higher.

Standardised prices
To ensure a fair and standardised experience for all EV owners in Malaysia, BMW Group Malaysia has released an official pricing structure for BMW i Charging facilities across the country. The Pay-Per-Use pricing structure for charging at any authorised BMW dealership listed below is as follows:

BMW and MINI EV owners can also expect greater accessibility to charging facilities across the country as BMW Group Malaysia partners with multiple key EV charging providers such as JomCharge and Tenaga Nasional Berhad, in addition to chargEV. This strategy will ensure that owners of our BMW electrified vehicles will have access to the widest range of charging facilities no matter where they are in Malaysia. Customers and members of the public can therefore expect to see many more BMW i Charging facilities located in key areas.

Over 400 charging stations
In partnership with chargEV, BMW Group Malaysia has successfully provided access to a comprehensive network of over 400 charging facilities across Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. The infrastructure network comprises of AC Chargers located strategically to enable peace-of-mind when travelling, whether intercity or out of state.

BMW EV owners who use chargEV-powered BMW i Charging facilities can register as a member at RM240 per annum to enjoy preferential Pay-Per-Use charging rates, as well as complimentary usage of all their AC Chargers nationwide. With the chargEV mobile application, users can also locate charging facilities at over 250 locations nationwide and are also able to reserve chargers, start and stop charging remotely, as well as view their vehicle’s charging status in real time.

Removing the worry of EV owners
“Our vision for an Electric Future spans beyond just the expansion of our EV portfolio and infrastructure here at BMW Group Malaysia. We have long been working on fostering a viable ecosystem that is future-ready and one that electrified mobility can thrive in, knowing that the main roadblock to EV adoption remains to be range anxiety and a worry that there may not be enough charging facilities in place across the country. Through our many partnerships with local tech and EV industry leaders over the past few years, we have been able to continuously grow our network of charging facilities where the needs are highest,” said Hans de Visser, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

“With an official pricing structure in place, we are taking the next step in the ever-maturing EV ecosystem in Malaysia, by endeavouring to provide fair and adequate access to these facilities for all EV users in Malaysia – regardless of make and model, as electrification remains a shared responsibility amongst automakers in solving climate change,” he added.