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FSR Technology, the creator of TuneBoss is giving away a brand-new Yamaha Y15ZR to one lucky customer in a draw planned to take place on the 7th of July 2018. The draw will be done in conjunction with the 2018 Yamaha R25 Gathering happening that day at the Go-Kart Circuit @ MAEPS Serdang (link).

All TuneBoss customers are eligible to enter. To complete the entry, one needs follow the instructions in the “TuneBoss Bike Giveaway” post on Facebook. The winner will be randomly picked by the TuneBoss serial number and the draw will be done live on Facebook.

Proof of ownership is required by providing the receipt, ECU, warranty card and the product box to prevent entry using stolen TuneBoss units. Bt the way, this is not the first time FSR Technology has given away a motorcycle, last year Muhammad Zulhanif Hamidon (above) won a TuneBoss Equipped Honda RS150R in a competition organised by the tech company.

For more information visit (linked) tuneboss.co or call + 603-78315041 or drop a “Private Message” on the TuneBoss Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TuneBoss.Malaysia/

Direct link to competition post…

https://www.facebook.com/TuneBoss.Malaysia/posts/914116125439658

 

About FSR Technology…

FSR Technology was founded in 2011 by Farhan and Sufian, both electronic engineers. Their vision is to build a company based on “Research & Development” for leading product design. It took them three years for the R&D work to produce TuneBoss ECU which was made possible through self-financing and also supported by a development grant from the Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, an agency under the Ministry of Finance. 

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), Ford Motor Company’s exclusive distribution partner in Malaysia, today announced the opening of its newly upgraded Ford dealer showroom and service centre, Sime Darby Auto Connexion Kota Kinabalu.

Strategically located at Jalan Limau Manis, the 3,216 square-metre facility is designed with Ford’s global Brand@Retail standards, including six additional service bays with vehicle hoists, totaling 13 service bays. The facility also features a dedicated customer service lounge with complimentary Wi-Fi, where customers can enjoy hot beverages and snacks while waiting for their service appointments.

“Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu) is designed to offer an unmatched customer experience, with convenience, efficiency and comfort,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Bin Syed Faiz, (below) managing director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion. “This upgraded facility is part of Ford and SDAC’s network expansion and customer service enhancement plan aimed to offer the very best sales and aftersales services to better serve growing number of Ford customers in East Malaysia.”

 

Staffed by certified technicians, the Kota Kinabalu showroom is equipped with the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment and special tools to provide Ford Authorised Service, and maintains a full supply of genuine spare parts. “The quality of the ownership experience we provide is just as important as the quality of our world-class Ford vehicles,” said Truong Kim Phong, managing director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company. “The newly upgraded Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu) demonstrates our joint commitment to offer Ford customers an even better experience.”

The Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu) is located at Jalan Limau Manis, Off Jalan Lintas, 88450 Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The Showroom is open from 8:30am-5.30pm from Monday to Friday, and from 8:30am-12:30pm on Saturday, while Service Centre opening hours are 8:00am-5:00pm from Monday to Friday, 8:00am-12:30pm on Saturday.

For more information, call the Kota Kinabalu hotlines – showroom 088 425 255, service centre 088 427 666, or visit www.sdacford.com.my.

I’ve not slept very well since this drive. I’m still rather perplexed as to how it was possible to create something with so much power and yet dial in so much user-friendliness as well. I’m referring of course to the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T, which Piston.my reviewed recently. Here’s the day we’d not soon forget…

https://www.facebook.com/piston.my/videos/1105343836305123/

The Facts & Figures…

Boasting 448kW (610bhp) and 760Nm from a twin-turbocharged 3.9-litre V8 mated to a 7-Speed F1-DCT gearbox, the GTC4 Lusso T also benefits from 4-wheel steering and an E-Diff. All this culminates to enable the GTC4 Lusso T to accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in less time than it took you to read this sentence; 3.5sec to be exact. Drive modes are of course selectable via the manettino on the super-mega-multi-function-steering-wheel, which also houses the turn-signal buttons, starter button, suspension settings and even the friggin’ wipers.

Pedal to the floor, and with enough road, in 11-seconds from zero it’ll hit 200kmh, and it will see the bright side of 320kmh flat-out before giving up the ghost, while a slew of active safety systems constantly monitor every rotation of the wheel to ensure the intended path of travel remains exactly that. You can find more of the GTC4 Lusso T’s specifications here.

The Indescribables….

So now you need to forget all that techno babble above, because I really do believe that that’s not what the GTC4 Lusso T is all about. Sure it may look, feel and even sound like a super-sports car, and from most of the reviews I’ve read emanating from the USA and Europe, many of my counterparts there seem to think it is, but I don’t. Dare I say it? The GTC4 Lusso T is not really a supercar, it’s a gentleman’s super-cruiser.

Before the pitchforks and lit torches arrive en masse, accompanied by the Tifosi braying for blood though, let me explain. First-off, it’s a Ferrari, so it’s a given that it has – absolutely has – to be fireballs-out-the-flanks type powerful, and don’t get me wrong, it is. It’s just that in the GTC4 Lusso T – and this despite all the aforementioned figures I regurgitated on you three paragraphs up – is exceptionally, and I mean exceptionally, easy to drive.

It came to a point (when I was alone in the car) where I intentionally tried to get it to kill me and it outright refused. Perhaps it was able to cotton-on to my juvenile nefariousness, and decided to show me just who was smarter of the two. It won. As weird as it sounds, I was actually a bit disappointed that the car didn’t try to kill me; my own cars try to ‘suicide’ my ass all the time…

No, the GTC4 LT is actually docile; fast as hell, but docile. One giveaway could very well be the fact that it has two rear seats. Yes, it’s now possible to ferry 3 of your friends around in a Ferrari, and not just 1. However, now that that’s possible, one must take into consideration that those ‘friends’ may very well be – and will likely be – replaced by ‘family’ at some point or other.

Image from http://www.topcarrating.com/

That’s a whole new ball-game isn’t it? Rhetorical question. Of course it is. If you’re ferrying your wife in front and your 2 kids at the back, it’s 100% guaranteed that you will not be driving the same way as you would be with friends. Think about it; where’s the fun in a family-drive if half the time you’re going to have to stop to clean puke off the floorboards, seats and the back of your neck? Sorry, I needlessly over-emphasized that. My articles should come with a warning sometimes, graphic imagery ahead…

So, has Ferrari created the world’s first family station-wagon supercar? Okay, okay, shooting-brake. Happy? Tomatoes, tomatoes. Sure everyone knows they made a one-off Ferrari 456GT Wagon for the Sultan of Brunei a while back, so have they made one for the masses now? I use that ‘masses’ term lightly of course, seeing as how the GTC4 Lusso T costs more than most bungalows in really nice neighbourhoods. Well, I think they have.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still every bit a Ferrari from fore to aft, top to toe, inside and out. It still imparts an extremely rewarding and spirited drive when (WARNING: Graphic Imagery Ahead!) you’re alone and unconcerned about copious amounts of semi-digested sustenance unexpectedly adorning the interior of your car courtesy of passengers. Attack any road, and it’s guaranteed that the GTC4 Lusso T will be able to handle anything you throw its way, with the kind of ease and panache that almost seems to taunt you to push harder. If cars could talk, this one would be saying “Is that all ya got?”…. a lot.

If you really feel the need to know more about the 20-inch alloys, 46:54 F&R weight distribution and CS brake discs that are bigger than most cars’ wheels and tyres combined, feel free to click here. But, come on, does it really matter? I didn’t think so. – Chris Wee.

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso T Photo Gallery…

BMW Group Malaysia has appointed Regas Premium Sabah as its newest dealer representative for the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad in the state of Sabah. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “East Malaysia has long been a contributing market to our growth here and we are excited to have Regas Premium Sabah on board as our new dealer in Kota Kinabalu to continue growing our presence in the State of Sabah.”

Hoelzl (above, 2nd from left) added that the State of Sabah currently contributes over 500 vehicles to the premium segment in the country annually and has the potential to double over the next five years. “Last year, we experienced an 18% growth in our deliveries in Sabah in comparison to 2016 which really demonstrates the potential in the state.” added Hoelzl.

L-R: David Tay, Managing Director of Regas Premium Sabah; Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia; Matthew Tan, Dealer Principal of Regas Premium Sabah; and Michael Rainer, Finance Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

Matthew Tan, Dealer Principal of Regas Premium Sabah (above, 2nd from right) meanwhile said, “It has always been an ambition of ours to venture in the premium automotive industry in Sabah, and representing the brands of the BMW Group is definitely a dream start. With the great ambition and challenge ahead, we look to continue serving existing and new customers with BMW Group Malaysia to further reinforce the growth and presence of the brands in the state.”

Regas Premium Sabah Sdn Bhd is a joint venture between TM Vision Auto Services Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Tan Brothers Machinery Company (TBMC) group of companies and Regas Premium Auto Sdn Bhd. Regas Premium Auto is the authorised dealer representative for the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad in the state of Sarawak, and was also appointed as the authorised service dealership for BMW i in 2016 in the state, and last year established the first-ever BMW i public charging facilities in East Malaysa at CityOne Megamall Kuching.

Regas Premium Sabah will be taking over FM Autohaus as BMW Group Malaysia’s new dealership in Kota Kinabalu and will operate in the existing 53,500 sq ft facility located in the prime area along Jalan Penampang, offering the full suite of Sales, Services, Spare Parts and Systems (4S) for the brands BMW and BMW Motorrad, as well as service facilities for the brands BMW i and MINI.

BMW Group Malaysia currently has a network of 20 BMW, 8 MINI, and 9 BMW Motorrad dealerships nationwide. Regas Premium Sabah commences operation on 1st July at Lot 17362, Mile 3, Lido, Jalan Penampang, 88300 Penampang.

Let me tell you a story… There was a time when I went full-retard for the world of 4×4’s, no, really. It was quite a sight I tell you, and since it was me, and everyone knows you never go full-retard, needless to say it was pretty epic… And one of the 4×4’s I had early on was a little Suzuki Jimny SJ413, which looked almost exactly like this (minus the roof-rack, alloy rims, bull-bar, air-press, spot-light, decals, etc.)…

It was the most uncomfortable vehicle I’d ever owned in my life, and I also later learned that during previous ownership, a fire had broken out in the engine compartment. Wow. Powered by a small, naturally-aspirated 1300cc engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, it had manual-locking front hubs if I needed to get into 4×4 mode, but more importantly, it also had a 4WD High & Low transfer case, and that’s what mattered most. Actually, forget the photo above, mine looked exactly like this one, bare-bones and basic as hell – and also that filthy – cos it looked better that way…

You see, I was crazy into off-roading back then, and often accompanied friends, who happened to be in the 4×4 line, as a back-up car when they went to recce locations for upcoming 4×4 events. The thing I recall most fondly about my SJ413 SWB (short wheelbase, there was also a LWB, but that was pretty rare even back then) is that it never got stuck, not once. The bigger 4×4’s in the convoy would always invariably get stuck at some point, and had to be winched or snatch-strapped free, but not the little Jimny. It would just scuttle along merrily past them, seeing as how it was so light, so nimble and much smaller than the rest.

And you wanna know the best part? Short of a set of M/T tyres (mud-terrain), my Jimny was bone-stock-standard. No bull bars, no snorkel, no body-lift, no raised suspension, no winch, not even a tow-hook to speak of. This always made me smile (well, snigger actually) when those who had gotten stuck earlier in the day would talk about their expensive 4×4 modifications and add-ons around the campfire later that night. Stock-standard, never stuck.

Classified ad image from www.Carlist.my

Here’s an old video showcasing the SJ413 against its (then) newer sibling, which debuted in 1998. A bit of an unfair comparison seeing as how the (then) newer one seemed to be on road tyres, and traction matters most when you’re ascending a slippery incline, but it does show just how tough and nimble the old one was…

I still occasionally scour the on-line classifieds to scope out used Suzuki Jimnys, and I’m quite pleased to see that they’ve maintained their value in the used-car market. Good ones still command five-digit figures easily, and sometimes those digits don’t start with 1.

Classified ad image from www.Mudah.my

Sadly though, the Suzuki brand is no longer represented here, which is a shame really, because the new Jimny set to debut next year looks brilliant. It looks like a mini Merc G-Wagen to be honest, and well if you’re gonna be design-inspired, it might as well be by one of the best out there right? Here’s the intro video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FALkze7E808

And now from CarBuyer UK, check out the new Suzuki Jimny due in 2019!

These are the first official pictures of the 2019 Suzuki Jimny, showing that the new version of this diminutive SUV will look tougher than ever when it arrives next year. The Jimny has a reputation for being a superb off-roader despite its small size and the outgoing model has the oldest design of any car on sale, with few major changes in the past 20 years.

Its long-awaited replacement is clearly recognisable, but has squared-off lines, a table-top bonnet, upright windows, bright colours and a black roof. Viewed from the front, its two-tone look apes cars with a ‘floating roof’ design, including rivals like the Ford EcoSport. The Jimny could also tempt buyers away from the Dacia Duster and Jeep Renegade.

Funky features like round headlights and a slotted grille pay tribute to the old model, as do rear light clusters either side of its simple bumper and the spare wheel hung on the tailgate. The overall effect is similar to a Mercedes G-Class (toldja! – Ed.) that has shrunk in the wash. Basic versions will come on practical steel wheels, while chunky alloy wheels will be offered on Jimnys further up the food chain.

The angular design theme carries on inside, where the staunchly horizontal dashboard has been treated to a large infotainment screen, sitting above Suzuki’s modern switches and dials for the heating and ventilation system. There’s also a new steering wheel and large gauges sunk into an old-school square binnacle.

Under the retro bodywork, there’s a tough ladder-frame chassis featuring rigid axles and part-time four-wheel drive, with a low-range set of gears you can switch into for serious off-roading. There’s no word on engines yet, but we’d expect Suzuki to fit petrol engines from its current portfolio, with the 1.2-litre Dualjet and advanced 1.0-litre Boosterjet from the Swift the most likely candidates.

Sitting between the smaller Suzuki Ignis and larger Suzuki Vitara SUV in the Japanese manufacturer’s line-up, the new Jimny is expected to sell for close to the £12,999 price of the current model.

WikiHistory: The history of Suzuki four-wheel-drive cars dates to 1968. Suzuki bought former Japanese automaker Hope Motor Company which had introduced fifteen small off-road vehicles called the HopeStar ON360. The first Suzuki-branded 4-wheel drive, the LJ10 (Light Jeep 10), was introduced in 1970. The LJ10 had a 359 cc air-cooled, two-stroke, in-line two-cylinder engine. The liquid-cooled LJ20 was introduced in 1972 with the cooling changed due to newly enacted emission regulations, and it gained 3 hp. In 1975, Suzuki complemented the LJ20 with the LJ50, which had a larger 539 cc, two-stroke, in-line three-cylinder engine and bigger differentials. This was originally targeted at the Australian market, but more exports soon followed (Malaysia included).

In occasion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Prancing Horse is launching a unique ‘Piloti Ferrari’ specification for the Ferrari 488 Pista. This special custom creation, the latest from the exclusive Tailor Made programme, was designed to recognise the success of clients who race Ferraris and will make its debut on the eve of the legendary French endurance race at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Inspired by AF Corse’s no. 51 car, with which Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado won the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles, this special finish for the new Ferrari 488 Pista is available exclusively for customers involved in the company’s motor sports programmes.

The exterior features a new livery with stripes in the colours of the Italian flag recalling the racing version of the 488 GTE, embellished by a laurel celebrating the WEC title, the logo of the championship and the word “PRO” indicating the class the car raced in. The Italian flag livery features again along the car’s flanks which are also adorned with the personal race number each client will be able to add.

The version that will be unveiled at Le Mans carries the number 51 used by the world championship drivers. The matte black S-Duct and the natural carbon-fibre ‘dovetail’ suspended rear spoiler and vent surrounds round off the personalisation of the exterior. The ‘Piloti Ferrari’ 488 Pista will be available in four different colours inspired by the world of racing: Rosso Corsa, Blu Tour De France, Nero Daytona and Argento Nürburgring.

The interior, in black Alcantara®, includes seats upholstered with a special perforated version of the same material that incorporates the Italian flag in the central band of the backrest. The national colours are also clearly visible on the edge of the gearshift paddles and on the floormats which, like the carpeting itself, are made of a special technical fabric. The number that features on the external livery also appears on the base of the steering wheel, while all the carbon-fibre trim parts have a matte finish. The personalisation of the interior is completed by an exclusive identification plate and sill trim in carbon-fibre, the latter with the Tailor Made logo.

The ‘Piloti Ferrari’ 488 Pista is powered by the latest 720-cv version of the 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 which has been voted best engine in the world for the third consecutive year at the 2018 International Engine of the Year Awards. 

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