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Russian F1 GP cancelled permanently; FIA also announces decisions preventing Russians from taking part in motorsports

The actions of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine have been condemned by much of the world community and where, in the past, military actions by other countries would have been initiated – making the conflict even worse – the approach today is to use other non-military means to ‘persuade’ Russia to stop. Economic sanctions are one powerful approach which has had an effect on Russia and various organisations have also taken actions to alienate the country.

The motorsports community has also taken a stand, which started with many of the drivers in Formula 1 expressing an unwillingness to take part in the Russian Grand Prix scheduled as Round 17 in September. The Formula 1 organisation has gone further and terminated the contract with the organisers of the Russian Grand Prix – and not just for this year. The official position is that there will no longer be a F1 event held in Russia although that can well change in future.

The Russian Grand Prix was first run in 2014 and held for 8 years until 2021. The races have been run on a street circuit in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Mercedes-AMG team has won every year, with Lewis Hamilton winning 5 times, Valtteri Bottas twice and Nico Rosberg once.

Will there be a replacement?
The slot for the cancelled Russian Grand Prix could either be left empty, which means a 2-week gap betwee the Italian GP in Monza and the Singapore Grand Prix. If the organisers must have their 23 rounds, then they would either look for another venue in Europe or even consider one in Asia. Vietnam was preparing for its first-ever F1 race but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it and it may well try again to be a host. And don’t forget Malaysia also has a F1-ready track…

FIA’s decisions
The FIA – the governing body of international motorsport – has also announced a number of decisions made in relation to the Ukraine conflict. In accordance with the International Olympic Committee recommendations, motorsport events will not be allowed (until further notice) to take place in Russia and Belarus, and no flag/symbol or anthem of Russia/Belarus is to be used in international/zone competitions.

Drivers, competitors and officials are also affected by the same decisions as no Russian/Belarusian national teams can participate in international/zone competitions (eg FIA Motorsport Games). However, Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials are still allowed to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the ‘FIA flag’, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA’s principles of peace and political neutrality. The FIA also forbids any display of Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (uniform, equipment and car) or the playing of associated anthems at events.

Additionally, representatives from Russian/Belarusian FIA Members are to step aside temporarily from their roles and responsibilities of elected officers/commissions’ members. No FIA grant will be awarded to the Russian/Belarusian FIA Members, and no existing FIA grant funding will be paid to them as well.

“I want to thank the Council members for their prompt action in deciding these measures in the interests of sport and peace. We stand in solidarity with Leonid Kostyuchenko, the President of the Federation Automobile d’Ukraine (FAU) and the wider FIA family in the country. The measures taken today recognise the authority of the FAU in Ukraine and are also aligned with the recommendations recently made by the International Olympic Committee. We are in active discussions with our members as we continue to extend our compassion and support in their time of need. We sincerely hope for a peaceful resolution to their intolerable hardship,” said the new FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, after chairing an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.

URAKALI and Nikita Mazepin
Among the current teams taking part in Formula 1, there is one Russian driver and one major sponsor – Nikita Mazepin and Urakali, which is a major sponsor of his American-owned team, Haas F1. Understanding the sensitivity of association with anything Russian, Haas removed Urakali’s name from its racing cars before the final day of testing in Spain. Incidentally, Urakali, a fertilizer company in Russia, is owned by Mazepin’s father.

*The URAKALI name disappeared (below) from the Haas F1 racing car on the final day of testing in Spain. URAKALI is a Russian fertilizer company owned by Nikita Mazepin’s father.*

*Nikita Mazein, 23, may not get a chance to continue racing in F1 after having started last year.*

Mazepin’s future with the team has also been uncertain. There are rumours that the 23-year old driver who began driving in F1 last year will likely be dropped by the team although the FIA has stated that it is possible for him to race as a ‘neutral’ party. If he is removed, his place alongside Mick Schumacher could be taken by Pietro Fittipaldi, the team’s reserve driver.

A chance to become a ‘millionaire’ when purchasing a new Nissan vehicle in March

This March, purchasers of new Nissan vehicles from an authorized Nissan showroom can become millionaires… BoostStar millionaires. For a new campaign, ‘March Deal Boosters’, by Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), up to 20 million Boost Stars are to be given out during the campaign period from March 1 to 31, 2022.

The Boost Stars, normally accumulated through transactions using the Boost app, can be redeemed for many different rewards from the BoostUP catalogue so customers have a wider choice of rewards to choose from.

Applicable to all new Nissan models
All new Nissan models will qualify customers for the BoostStars, including the Almera 1.0L Turbo, Navara 2.5L Turbo 4WD, X-Trail and Serena S-Hybrid. Additionally, free accessories packages and free maintenance service are also offered for even better value for money. And apart from the pick-up truck models, exemption of sales tax is available so there are additional savings.

RM30 voucher for test-drive
Also during the month of March 2022, visitors to Nissan showrooms who test-drive the latest Almera Turbo will receive a Watsons Voucher worth RM30 in appreciation of their interest. They can make use of the test-drive opportunity to experience the performance of the turbocharged engine as well as its fuel efficiency. In a charity event organized by ETCM last year, one owner was able to get fuel consumption of up to 18.4 kms a litre which would give a range of up to 650 kms on a full tank.

The Almera also comes with Nissan Intelligent Mobility and Nissan Safety Shield 360 to provide pro-active action in avoiding accidents or reducing the damage if an accident occurs. Up to 6 airbags are present and to assist the driver are active safety systems such as Blind Spot warning Rear Cross Traffic Alert and an Intelligent Around View Monitor 360^ocamera.

The dominating Navara PRO-4X comes with a proven 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine with 7-speed transmission and robust 4×4 system can tackle any terrain, while Nissan Intelligent Mobility Technologies provide a 360-degree Safety Shield for the vehicle and occupants.

All new Nissan vehicles come with a 5-year warranty covering manufacturing defects and other than the Navara, there is no limit on mileage travelled after registration. For the Navara, the mileage limit is 150,000 kms or 5 years, whichever comes first.

24-hour Nissan showroom
For customers who are not able to visit Nissan showroom, information is also available at the 24-hour Nissan Online Showroom and test-drives can even be arranged at their premises if they wish. And if a purchase decision is made. a low-booking fee payment online (via the Lazada Nissan Flagship store) is now available and a Sales Representative will be in touch to assist in completing the purchase process.

For more information, www.nissan.com.my, or contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838.

FEATURE: A closer look at the Nissan Almera Turbo engine

Proton’s February sales rebound after low numbers in January due to supply shortages

The year started on a low note for the Malaysian car companies as supply issues and the after-effects of the severe floods pushed new vehicle sales down. However, February – normally a low month due to the short working days – proved to be better in spite of the Chinese New Year holidays.

Proton was among the companies that saw sales rebounding, with a 107% increase in sales. The company sold 9,225 units (domestic + export) during the month, which would put it back in second position on the sales chart for 2022. The company estimates that it captured 20.2% in February although for the first two months of the year, the cumulative market share is estimated to be 15.9%.

Top-seller was the X50
The model with the largest sales volume was the X50 with 3,002 units delivered, bringing the total over the first two months of 2022 to 5,603 units. This SUV has been exceptionally popular and Proton reports that over 100,000 bookings have been received in 16 months.

Next was the evergreen Saga, with 2,951 units delivered; while this is less than its usual monthly average, the numbers are expected to return to their previous level in the coming months. The Persona, with 1,675 units delivered, was third on Proton’s chart. The Exora, though having been in the market for quite some time, remains the best buy for anyone wanting a C-segment MPV.

While domestic sales still trail last year’s volumes, export sales are trending upwards and have grown by 72.8% in 2022. For the first two months of the year, 323 units have exported, compared to just 187 units in 2021.

All production lines in operation
With all production lines in operation at the factories in Shah Alam, Selangor and Tanjung Malim, Perak, February’s rebound in sales was a direct result of being able to produce more cars. “This was only made possible by the outstanding joint efforts of our vendors and Proton staff, who worked and continue to work ceaselessly to get us back on track. Thankfully, our order bank remains healthy, and we remain hopeful of catching up to our targets for this year,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“As for the Malaysian automotive industry, the first two months of the year has seen strong demand as evidenced by the growth in TIV compared to 2021. This is good news for both car companies and the vendor community and is also testament to the effectiveness of policies set by the government,” he added.

To better serve its customers and enhance sales growth, Proton continues to grow its sales and service network. The 147th 3S/4S outlet was officially opened in Alor Setar today and is the tenth outlet for EON, a leading dealership. It is also the fifth Proton Platinum Showroom in the country.

*A new Proton Platinum outlet operated by EON in Alor Setar.*

Addressing customer complaints
“Proton is aware of the issues it faces regarding after sales and parts availability. Our customers have reached out to us, and we deeply regret any inconvenience caused. I would like to reassure them we take every complaint seriously and senior management has identified several bottlenecks and operational issues that require fixing,” Encik Roslan said.

He said that the first step taken to address the availability of parts has been implementation of a mandatory requirement where all dealers are required to have 3 months holding stock of 22 fast-moving parts. “Our central parts centre is also subject to the same requirement, and we hope this will ease waiting times for customers. We are also strengthening the capability and knowledge of our dealers to provide excellent aftersales service to all Proton customers. There is still a lot left to do, but we will give updates on our progress throughout the year,” he added.

Proton Edar to distribute smart New Energy Vehicles from China

Chery launches new Tiggo 8 Pro SUV in South Africa with warranty for 1 million kms

Chery was the first carmaker to begin exporting passenger vehicles from China and not surprisingly, it has remained the country’s top passenger car exporter for 19 consecutive years. Its vehicles are now sold in more than 80 countries and regions, and it has also set up 10 factories outside China.

Like the early years of the Japanese brands venturing overseas, the quality and reliability of cars from China has also been raised by customers. There’s certainly no doubt that since the auto industry in China began accelerating its activities and development from the 1980s, the products have constantly improved with new technologies and more advanced manufacturing processes.

To show its confidence in the reliability of its latest products, Chery has launched the new Tiggo 8 Pro in South Africa with an engine warranty that is 10 years long or up to 1 million kms (whichever comes first). This warranty complements the vehicle warranty which is 5 years or a maximum of 150,000 kms and this warranty is transferable (if still valid when the vehicle is sold to another person).

The 1 million km engine warranty is impressive but not new as Hyundai has been offering a warranty of a million miles (1.6 million kms) in America for some time. Like Chery’s warranty, it is only for the powertrain but is for up to 20 years.

Long warranties are reassuring for owners and may seem to be a long-term risk for carmakers that offer them. However, it should be noted that such warranties usually apply only to the first owner and subsequent owners will not enjoy the same length coverage. In markets like the USA, ownership of a car is for a few years and then the owner gets a new one, so in reality, the risk to the carmaker is not much different from that of warranties of 5 years.

Anyway, it’s still a good way to convince customers who wonder about quality, which was one of the reasons why Hyundai offered it in America. Back in the 1980s, when the brand first entered the market, its products had poor quality and damaged the image. The Koreans worked hard to improve quality and when they were confident they could offer better products, they backed up their claims with longer warranties.

The engine is a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol unit, one of Chery’s powerplants which has won awards in China for its high efficiency. The TGDI engine produces 197 ps/290 Nm.

The new Tiggo 8 Pro is a flagship of the range and South Africa is the first country on the continent to get it. It uses ‘Movement Design’, Chery’s next-generation design language which has a galaxy-inspired 3-dimensional grille flanked by automatic matrix-LED headlamps with dual daytime running lamps, establishing a strong visual signature. Satin chrome is used for the lower air intake (which doubles as a skidplate), foglamps, grille, window frames and lower doors.

Inside, all major controls have been digitised in 3 separate screens – a horizontal 12.3-inch instrument panel, an 8-inch climate control screen, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen ‘floating’ in the centre of the dashboard. The centre screen, which also displays the rearview image from a camera, operates the infotainment system which is Apple CarPlay/Android Auto ready.

The fully automatic climate control system has dual-zone circulation and, in consideration of increased concerns about air quality today, there is an N95-grade air purifying system as standard. For the Executive variant, rear occupants receive more cool air with an additional air-conditioning system for the rearmost seats. All variants offer wireless charging, intelligent voice control and eight surround speakers by Sony. Leather upholstery is standard, with the driver’s seat having 6-way power-adjustment.

According to Chery Malaysia, the Tiggo range will be offered in Malaysia soon. There are also plans to do local assembly with a partner that has not been revealed. Chery first appeared in Malaysia in the early 2000s with the QQ minicar and then assembled a few models at the former Oriental Assemblers plant in Johor (now owned by Berjaya).

When Chery first came to Malaysia in the early 2000s, it offered models such as the QQ minicar (blue and green cars) and the A160, as well as the first generation of the Tiggo. 20 years later, the carmaker has greatly advanced its design and engineering capabilities and now offers models like the new OMODA 5 (below) which will soon be available in Malaysia along with the new Tiggo.

Chery Automobile to enter US market using newly-created VANTAS brand name

SunAgata Supercars opens Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur sales and service facility in Glenmarie, Selangor

SunAgata Supercars Sdn Bhd today officially opened Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur, its showroom and service centre to provide sales and aftersales services for the Italian brand in Malaysia. SunAgata Supercars was appointed as Lamborghini’s sole authorized dealer and aftersales provider in January last year and has been operating from the Audi Centre in Glenmarie, Selangor.

Its new facility is also in the same area but located along the main road through the district. The styling of the premises follows Lamborghini themes which are characterized by polygons, clean lines and modern architecture.

A special area of the showroom has been set up as an Ad Personam room where customers can personalize their car with the wide range of options. There are samples of various materials for them to feel so they can decide exactly what they want. From the colours and materials to the seat’s logo and embroidered initials inside the cabin, virtually every wish can be given form by choosing from infinite combinations, and fitment will be to the high standards of quality Lamborghini prides itself in.

Lamborghini is a strong and highly acclaimed brand worldwide and our new dealership environment is a tangible demonstration of this. We believe that the strong partnership between Lamborghini and SunAgata Supercars will effectively communicate our brand values as well as deliver an unparalleled customer ownership experience,” said Francesco Scardaoni, Region Director of Automobile Lamborghini Asia Pacific, at the opening ceremony this morning.

To celebrate the occasion, the first Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae in Malaysia was unveiled. The Ultimae edition is the final production model of the V12 supercar. 600 cars will be available – 350 in coupe form and 250 roadsters, with pricing starting from around RM1.9 million. There are a few orders from Malaysians, but all 600 units have already been sold and there are customers hoping that some of the orders will be cancelled and the cars re-allocated.

*Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur also displayed a selection of iconic models owned by Malaysians. The red Countach on the left was originally owned by the Bee Gees Sir Barry Gibb who purchased it in 1983.*

It’s not known how many new Lamborghinis were sold in Malaysia last year but for the Asia-Pacific area, the carmaker reported that 2,249 units were sold in 2021. The 14% increase from the year before contributed to Lamborghini’s best sales results ever, with 8,405 cars delivered worldwide.

Lamborghini’s other records that you may not know about

Malaysian winners of 2022 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest to go to Japan for World Contest in August

Toyota’s Dream Car Art Contest has been ongoing since 2004 and has seen participation from over 6.2 million children from some 100 countries and regions. It’s an event that invites children to show what their dream car looks like and their idea of the future of mobility through drawings. The best and most creative entries are recognized with awards from the carmaker.

Malaysian children have participated in the contest for over 10 years and in some years, their submissions have won awards. In fact, one of them even won the President Akio Toyoda Award, a special award from the President of Toyota Motor Corporation, in the seventh edition of the contest in 2013.

A chance to attend the World Contest
Each year, national contests are held first to pick winners who will represent their country and these winners will have a chance to attend the World Contest in Japan. For the 2022 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, the Malaysian winners are Chong Xia Juan in Category 1 (7 years old and under), Choo Yi Zhe in Category 2 (8 – 11 years old) and Liew Jia Xin in Category 3 (12 – 15 years old).

For their efforts, the winners also received special category prizes such as an Apple iPad, Apple Watch and Electric Scooter, as well as vouchers worth RM400 for the other winners.

Future of mobility through children’s perspective
“Despite the pandemic, I am pleased to announce that we received over 2,280 entries. I would like to thank the participants, their parents and everyone involved for making this year’s Toyota Dream Car Art Contest a success! We are very inspired by the imagination and ideas of these children, and I enjoyed looking at the future of mobility through their perspectives. As a leader in mobility, we will continue innovating with a focus on sustainability to pave the pathway to our future of Electrification in Malaysia,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran. K.

At the virtual Toyota Dream Car Art Contest Closing Ceremony, Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain, UMW Toyota Motor’s Executive Director of Sales, noted that every submission was invigorating and stimulating, brimming with the passion and dreams of the young artists, with those of the three winners having stood out the most. He also applauded the creativity of the participants and hopes that the next generation of great inventors, thinkers and dreamers can be nurtured from this contest.

*Leng Yi Shun, who was a Bronze Award winner, won the President Akio Toyoda Award in the 7th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest in 2013.*

The three winners, together with the two runners-up of each category, will be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend the World Contest and Awards Ceremony in August this year.

Click here to know more about the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest (Malaysian event).

Toyota Mobility Foundation’s CATCH offers two solutions to address Kuala Lumpur’s mobility and city planning challenges

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