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New Ferrari 488 Pista Sneak Peek Before Geneva Motorshow!

The Ferrari 488 Pista, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, is the successor to Ferrari’s V8-engined special series – the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale – which have received critical acclaim for their performance and undiluted handling.

The car’s development evolved directly from the company’s involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship – where it has won five Manufacturers’ titles in the GTE class in the six years since the series’ inception, taking 29 out of 50 races – and 25 years’ experience in running the Ferrari Challenge one-make series.

The Ferrari 488 Pista’s extensive weight saving solutions, along with engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic developments all derive from Ferrari’s racing cars: the 488 GTE and the 488 Challenge. The result is a car with an uncompromising mission: to offer track-like performance on and off the road, even when in the hands of non-professional drivers.

Compared to the 488 GTB, the new model weighs an impressive 90 kg less (1280 kg dry) which, when combined with the largest ever increase in engine power for a special series car (+50 cv), results in a new benchmark for Ferrari’s V8 sports cars.

Its engine is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history and is an extreme evolution of the turbo unit that has won the overall International Engine of the Year award titles in both 2016 and 2017.

It punches out 720bhp (530kW) and 770Nm of torque with the highest specific output of in its class (185 cv/l) and is now lighter too, thanks to solutions adopted from the 488 Challenge, including Inconel exhaust manifolds and lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, but also thanks to additional features, such as titanium con rods and carbon-fibre intake plenums.

Ferrari 488 Pista Photo Gallery (more tech details after)

More info on the Ferrari 488 Pista (specifications at the bottom)…

In the Ferrari 488 Pista, torque (770Nm) is higher than the 488 GTB at all engine speeds, delivering a feeling of consistently smooth, powerful acceleration with even faster turbo response times despite the increase in power. The engine sound is unique and unmistakably Ferrari, as such a special car warrants. Both the sound quality and the intensity are higher than the 488 GTB in all gears and at all engine speeds in proportion with the progressive increase in power.

The Ferrari 488 Pista makes full use of Ferrari’s motor-sports experience for maximum aerodynamic performance even on the road. Among the racing solutions adopted is the front F1-inspired S-Duct and the design of the front diffusers which feature a ramp angle that was optimised for the 488 GTE to create strong suction for increased downforce.

The underbody vortex generators have also been redesigned, and the rear diffuser incorporates the same double kink as the 488 GTE to increase the air extraction and downforce generation compared to a traditional diffuser. In addition, the rear blown spoiler is higher and longer and the shape has been optimised. The final result of all these interventions is an impressive 20% increase in downforce.

The vehicle dynamics were designed to enhance driving pleasure and make the car’s full potential available to all drivers, professional or otherwise. The objective was to make the car’s performance on the limit easier to reach and control.

This was achieved by synergies between the development of the mechanical set-up and the electronic dynamic controls integrated into version 6 of the Side-Slip Angle Control system. SSC 6.0 incorporates all the following systems: E-Diff3, F1-Trac, the magnetorheological suspension (SCM) and, for the first time ever, the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer. The FDE features a world-first: it uses Ferrari software to adjust the brake pressure at the callipers.

This additional level of control further fine-tunes the 488 Pista’s performance through, and powering out of, corners making the car’s handling even more effortless, intuitive and predictable. The extra confidence the system gives means that drivers can more easily control yaw angles, even on the limit, and develop a completely symbiotic relationship with the car resulting in the perfect combination of genuinely extreme performance and driving thrills.

The suspension set-up is completed by new tyres developed specifically for the car by Michelin. The design of the Ferrari 488 Pista is focussed on functional aerodynamic concepts while the cockpit is pared back in keeping with its very sporty vocation. Ferrari Design used innovative elements, such as the aerodynamic S-Duct at the front, as an opportunity to visually shorten the car’s nose, creating an original floating wing effect.

The racing livery colour scheme is an integral part of the design of the car and the way it dives into the S-Duct underscores the berlinetta’s compact yet imposing forms. Contrasting edging on the aerodynamic elements on the bumpers and flanks add structure to the design.

The concept of the front is echoed in the dolphin-tail rear spoiler which appears suspended to provide an impression lightness and efficiency, while the rear volumes add a sense of power to the tail.

The car’s underlying sense of extreme purpose is also highlighted by the adoption for the first time on a Ferrari of optional new 20” carbon-fibre wheel rims, while other carbon-fibre parts include the engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.

Ferrari 488 Pista Short technical specifications…

ENGINE

Type V8 – 90° twin turbo

Overall displacement 3902 cc

Max. power output * 530 kW (720 cv) at 8000 rpm

Max. torque * 770 Nm at 3000 rpm in 7^th gear

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Length 4605 mm

Width 1975 mm

Height 1206 mm

Dry weight** 1280 kg

PERFORMANCE

0-100 km/h 2.85 s

0 -200 km/h 7.6 s

Max. speed > 340 km/h

* With 98 octane petrol

**With optional lightweight content

The New Porsche 911 GT3 RS – A Clear Focus On Motorsport [+Videos]

The Porsche motorsport department is presenting Weissach’s latest treat at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show: The new 911 GT3 RS with motorsport chassis and 383kW (520-hp), 4-litre, high-speed naturally-aspirated engine. The new high-performance sports car is based on the 911 GT3, which has been refined still further to combine the performance-enhanced engine with a running-gear setup that features recalibrated rear axle steering designed for maximum dynamics and precision.

The 911 GT3 RS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 312 km/h. Following the launch of the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT2 RS, this latest release will see Porsche present its third GT road-approved sports car within a year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=lTbGdV3NlNk
911 GT3 RS: Aerodynamics and interior based on the race trim
Aerodynamics have determined the design of the wide, weight-optimised body with its classic rigid rear wing. The racing look continues into the interior with full bucket seats made of carbon to provide secure lateral support in response to high-level driving dynamics. Lightweight door panels with storage nets and opening loops, reduced sound absorption and the new lightweight rear lid further emphasise the consistency of the material choices.

911 GT3 RS: The most powerful naturally aspirated engine at 520 hp
The four-litre, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine from Porsche in the new 911 GT3 RS pushes the sports car to new limits: The flat engine delivers 15 kW (20 hp) more than the engine in the previous model and the 911 GT3. Together with a speed range reaching up to 9,000 rpm, it was the ideal choice as a thoroughbred sports engine. Combined with the specially calibrated seven-speed PDK, the high-performance engine guarantees an outstanding driving performance.

911 GT3 RS: Motorsport-inspired chassis and Clubsport package
Technology straight from motorsport ensures that the chassis offers exceptional driving dynamics. Ball joints on all arms provide even greater precision than conventional elastokinematic bearings. 20-inch lightweight wheels with newly developed 265/35 sports tyres on the front axle enhance agility and steering behaviour, while 21 inch wheels with 325/30 tyres at the rear axle improve traction.

As with all current GT sports cars, the Clubsport package is also available for the 911 GT3 RS at no extra cost. The package includes a roll-over bar, a manual fire extinguisher, preparation for a battery disconnect switch and a six-point belt for a sporty driving experience.

911 GT3 RS: Weissach package and magnesium wheels for additional weight savings
For particularly ambitious drivers, the Porsche motorsport department has created an optional Weissach package for a further weight reduction. The package features additional carbon components for the chassis, interior and exterior, as well as optional magnesium wheels. In its lightest configuration, this package reduces the weight of the 911 GT3 RS down to 1,430 kilogrammes.

911 GT3 RS Video:

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Photo Gallery…

Bentley Mulsanne Speed – What RM2.6 Million Looks Like! [+Video]

When money is no object, there are cars out there that simply beggar belief in terms of craftsmanship and sheer road presence, and one such car is the Bentley Mulsanne Speed…

Costing about RM2,588,000 (NSP), the Bentley Mulsanne Speed is powered by a more potent 6.75-litre, twin-turbo V8, capable of producing 530bhp and a whopping 1,100Nm of torque.

As gargantuan as it may be, the Mulsanne Speed will send you into triple digit speeds from a standstill in just 4.9 seconds, and onward to a top-speed of 305kmh as you waft along on special 21-inch “Speed” alloys.

Do have a look at the video below and photo gallery that follows, and try not to drool too much. – Chris Wee.

Bentley Mulsanne Speed Photo Gallery…

REVIEWED: Volkswagen Beetle Sport 1.2 TSI

You know the hard part about this job is not doing it, because with practice it becomes almost second nature. We’re not born to do this job though, nobody is, it all stems from passion for anything and everything automotive, short of a ride-on lawnmower. But I’d have a go at that too if given the chance…

No, the hard part of this job is returning the review cars that we reeeeeally liked. In fact some of us motoring scribes have even gone as far as to buy the cars we liked reviewing so much; yes, it happens more often than you’d imagine. The Mazda3 hatch was one such car, I think there were at least 4 who bought this car after reviewing it for their respective publications / websites. For me it’s only happened once in my career, with the Proton Satria GTI.

Well in that respect then, so is this, the VW Beetle Sport 1.2 TSI. Now anyone who knows me, knows very well that I’m more into retro, classic and old-school type cars as a personal choice, seeing as how my daily-runner is a car that’s older than 80% of you reading this, and comes from a time when this laptop I’m hacking away on didn’t even exist yet. Heck, websites didn’t exist yet. And the thing is, I’ve never been into Beetles. Ever. The Beatles yes, but Beetles, no.

I won’t deny though, that the allure and appeal of the Beetle, now spanning 80 years (yes, eighty!) has never really waned. From the early models (above) to this latest one, there have always been followers for this most iconic of cars.

So iconic that in the span of eight decades, its external design (above) hasn’t really evolved that much, except maybe to become more streamlined, sophisticated, sporty and pedestrian friendly. Oh, and metallic paint of course. Also, I doubt this new one floats…

It still sports ’round-eyes’ and almost comically exaggerated wheel-arches, just like the original, and even pays homage to the latter on the inside, where the whole dashboard is colour coded to the exterior. Even the additional glove-box (below) is a direct copy of the one found in the classic Beetle. Epic.

It’s kinda hard to not like something as cool as this. But the similarities with its forefather pretty much end there, because under this new Beetle’s hood is an engine, and the boot this time is conventionally at the back. Speaking of engines, the Beetle Sport is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged (TSI) 4-cyl engine capable of 105Ps and 175Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed DSG with paddle-shifts.

Earth-shattering figures these aren’t, and well, maybe they’re not supposed to be, since this isn’t a Beetle RSI, remember that? Let’s sidetrack: Behold the maddest production Beetle ever….

The VW Beetle RSI was limited to only 250 units, and since it was a special edition of the vehicle, the Beetle RSI came with a 3.2 liter, 24-valve V6 engine which could produce 220bhp at 6200 rpm. (Photo & Text from AutoEvolution)

This Beetle Sport though has nowhere near that kind of oomph, but in all fairness, it shouldn’t anyway. There’s a bit of turbo-lag during initial acceleration, but once that turbine spools up, this little fella becomes pretty sprightly. It cruises into triple-digit speeds fairly quickly if given the beans, and of course being a VW, chassis-rigidity and NVH are right up there with the best of them.

There isn’t much room in the back for passengers, especially with me at the wheel, but surprisingly, the boot is huge for a car in this class (see gallery). One big gripe I had though is the position of the seat-belt anchors. Because this car is a 2-door, you’ll notice that the B-pillars (below) are much further back than they would be in a 4-door car, so even at 6’2″ and my driving position, I was having a hard time reaching back for the seat belt, located on the aforementioned B-pillar. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for more petite drivers.

I use the word ‘petite’ because throughout my time with the Beetle Sport, it only seemed to be the fairer-sex who were taking an active interest in checking out the car. Unless of course it was me they were checking out… no, I don’t think so. Really.

Another issue I had with the Beetle was the ridiculously large rear blind-spot created by the huge C-pillar (above & below). It looks great styling-wise, affording the Beetle a chunky swept-back coupe-ish look, but from the inside, I nearly reversed into a fork-lift which managed to hide perfectly in the said gargantuan blind-spot. So yeah, craning your neck to have a look-around before reversing is a must, and thankfully the Beetle Sport does have parking/proximity sensors to assist.

(For the full spec & price list, click this: vw-modelspecsheet-beetle-wm or click this link)

These are minor gripes though, because when it comes to actual driving, the Beetle Sport is every bit as fun as the original promised to be so many decades ago. It feels light and agile, spirited even. It feels like it wants to take the longer route, and because it’s so much fun to pootle around in, you will find yourself indeed taking that longer route to get somewhere, just so you can drive this thing more.

The Beetle Sport warrants me to use a term I coined a while ago, when it came to describing the Mazda MX-5. I called it a ‘happy car’. Weird right? But that’s what it was. It was the kind of car that makes you happy to drive, the kind of car that makes you want to drive it just for the hell of it. That’s exactly what this Beetle Sport does too. It even makes you feel happy just walking up to it…

Priced at RM147,888 (NSP) it’s by no means cheap, but then again, what price can you really put on something that makes you happy just seeing it parked in your porch? Heck, if this thing was a convertible, it would be perfect. – Chris Wee.

VW Beetle Sport 1.2 TSI Photo Gallery…

Hyundai Tucson Ranked Most Dependable Small SUV By J.D. Power

The Hyundai Tucson has received the distinct honor of Most Dependable Small SUV by J.D. Power in their 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The annual Vehicle Dependability Study shows Tucson ranked highest in its class, beating out leading competitors. Overall, Hyundai scored an impressive sixth-place finish in the entire industry and third-best in the non-premium category, while the Hyundai Santa Fe also ranked second in its segment. Earlier, the Ioniq won the What Car? Best Hybrid Award too.

“In one of the most competitive segments in the industry, Tucson places highest in its class,” said Barry Ratzlaff, vice president of customer satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai is committed to providing customers with high-value vehicles that withstand the test of time. The quality and dependability of our models is important to reassuring owners that we care about their Hyundai experience beyond their initial purchase at the dealership. The results for Santa Fe and Tucson show, as our CUV lineup expands, long-term quality will be a real strength for us.”

For the 2018 model year, Tucson adds a 7-inch audio display system with expanded availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio and heated seats. More than 90 percent of 2018 model year Tucsons have these technologies included and are at dealerships now.

More on the J.D. Power VDS…

The study, now in its 29th year, examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of 2015 model-year vehicles. Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The study covers 177 specific problems grouped into eight major vehicle categories.

BMW “Oil Inclusive Programme” Now Available With Maybank Instalment Plan

The BMW Oil Inclusive Programme, another industry-first offering from BMW Group Malaysia, is now available for all BMW vehicles with Maybank Instalment plan. Maybank cardholders can now enjoy a 6 to 12 months repayment period, through the Ezypay method, with a minimum spend of RM 500. The instalment plan is available for all aftersales transactions including Vehicle Service, Extension of Warranty and Service Packages, Repair, Body and Paint, Parts and Accessory, and Lifestyle items.

Commenting on the value-added service, Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “We at BMW Group Malaysia are always in an ongoing pursuit of ways to enhance the sheer pleasure of a BMW ownership experience by providing quality initiatives. With this new offer, our goal is to affirm our initial sentiments for owners to enjoy their cars and peace of mind ownership experience even after the original service period.”

Stefan Sloboda, Head of Aftersales, BMW Malaysia expressed that “The plan with Maybank will allow more BMW customers to enjoy the freedom of further enjoying their premium ownership experience with their BMW vehicles.”

The BMW Oil Inclusive Programme allows BMW owners to extend the service for their vehicles within a set number of years or mileage period at a competitive price, with a choice of 5 Years / 60,000km or 5 Years / 100,000km.

Take for example a BMW 1 Series registered in 2013 would now be out of its service and warranty programme with its current mileage of (approx.) 70,000km. Acquiring the 5 Years / 100,000km Oil Inclusive Programme this year (2018) will allow the owner to continue the Free Scheduled Service programme for his BMW 1 Series until year 2023 or 170,000km, whichever comes first.

Below shows the approximate cost per service according to the vehicle models respectively*, calculated based on average vehicle service interval of 10,000km, which could differ by vehicle manufacturing date and user’s driving behaviour.

Time / Mileage (years – km)	5 years / 60,000 km	5 years / 100,000 km
BMW 1 & BMW 2 Series	RM 494	RM 342
BMW M2	RM 812	RM 548
BMW 3 & BMW 4 Series	RM 519	RM 362
BMW M3 & BMW M4	RM 812	RM 548
BMW 5 Series	RM 544	RM 377
BMW M5	RM 1097	RM 744
BMW 6 & BMW 7 Series	RM 645	RM 447
BMW M6	RM 1097	RM 744
BMW X1	RM 503	RM 347
BMW X3 & BMW X4	RM 519	RM 362
BMW X5 & BMW X6	RM 595	RM 412
BMW X5M & BMW X6M	RM 1080	RM 734
BMW Z4	RM 511	RM 352
BMW I8	RM 503	RM 347

With the BMW Oil Inclusive Programme, owners can enjoy a fixed price for the next 5 years and peace of mind as trained BMW Certified Technicians service their vehicles with the latest know-how, technology, and equipment. Of course, the BMW Oil Inclusive Programme includes BMW Genuine Oil (Full Synthetic), BMW Oil Filter, and labour.

Catered for BMW vehicles without any active package with BMW or out of BMW Warranty and Service Package, this vehicle service interval is Condition Based Service with an average of 10,000km service interval, which could differ by vehicle manufacturing date and user’s driving behaviour.