Did you ever think you’d see the day when a Kia would be compared to the likes of a BMW M6 and Porsche Panamera? How things have changed! Here’s more of the Stinger in action…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWQTkbTYIQ
Be sure to catch our feature on how the S.Koreans have caught up with the Japanese, coming soon!
BMW Group Malaysia has introduced the first-ever BMW 5 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology. Priced at a very respectable RM343,800, the all-new BMW 530e Sport is the fifth BMW iPerformance model to be introduced in the country, further reinforcing the premium automaker’s expertise in Plug-in Hybrid Technology.
Raymond Tan, Head of Sales, BMW Malaysia (above, right) said, “The All-New BMW 5 Series now offers eDrive Technology, an innovation taken from the Mobility of the Future – BMW i. More than this, however, is the fact that the All-New BMW 530e Sport also increases our portfolio of premium Plug-In Hybrid vehicles here, enabling us to offer the largest portfolio offering by any automaker in the country and to further demonstrate our commitment to Visionary Mobility in Malaysia.”
Charting more than half of BMW Malaysia’s total sales volume in 2017 with a profound 55% units of BMW Hybrid with eDrive Technology delivered, BMW Group Malaysia has a stronghold as the most successful premium hybrid brand in Malaysia. Tan said, “In terms of model mix share, we are also proud to share that 55% of our total models for the country are hybrid vehicles with eDrive technology. This also makes us fifth in the world in terms of deliveries of plug-in hybrid vehicles.”
In the details, BMW Group Malaysia set an all-time high sales record for the BMW X5 xDrive40e by delivering over 3,000 units in 2017 alone, making Malaysia the second largest market after America for the model.
Malaysia is also the third largest market for the BMW 330e and the BMW 740Le xDrive with over 2,400 units and over 450 units delivered respectively in 2017. “The All-New BMW 530e Sport will be a meaningful addition to our iPerformance portfolio and we are confident it will further underpin us as leaders in shaping mobility of the future here in Malaysia,” said Tan.
BMW Group Malaysia continues to be committed to Malaysia’s plan of reducing its carbon intensity by 40% by 2020. This was first announced in 2014 at the UN Climate Summit in New York and reiterated in 2016 at the Paris Agreement of the 21stConference of Parties (COP21).
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Dr. Mohd Azman Zainul Abidin (above, left), Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Green Technology Corporation said, “A key strategy for Malaysia to move towards low carbon mobility is through industry wide cooperation and partnerships. We at GreenTech Malaysia are pleased to have BMW Group Malaysia as a partner from the very beginning, to ensure necessary and sufficient infrastructure is provided to support the new innovation of Plug-in Hybrid technology and eventually Electro Mobility. This will increase consumer confidence in the viability of electric vehicles and plug-in-hybrid vehicles. It is reassuring to see BMW Group Malaysia taking initiative to further propel Malaysia into a futuristic future of electromobility, while we continue to grow the number of ChargEV charging stations across the country.”
Design: charismatic athleticism.
The All-New BMW 530e Sport is the most innovative model in its class and offers the full wealth of BMW 5 Series driver assistance systems, in all modes including eDrive. The premium business sedan promises to serve up the dynamic driving experience, for which the BMW brand is renowned, combined with outstanding efficiency and seamless everyday practicality.
Starting with its signature feature, the air stream kidney grille is designed to further empower aerodynamics – opening and closing to adapt to different situations. The All-New BMW 530e Sport is offered in Sport Line and features LED headlights for both low-beam and high-beam, side lights, as well as daytime running lights, which complements the elegant high-gloss black front bumper, ready to turn heads on the road. The ‘530e’ badge is the most noticeable identifying feature of the plug-in hybrid variant. The highly visible i logo above the air breather as well as the eDrive logo at the C-Pillar provides insight to the fact that the premium business sedan receives technology know-how from the BMW-i sub brand.
For additional convenience, the All-New BMW 530e Sport offers Comfort Access – providing a seamless owner experience without having to reach for your car key. From unlocking your doors to starting your engine, the All-New BMW 530e Sport is designed to be aware of your car key’s unique sensors, which resonates solely with the car’s internal system; as such, no two keys are alike. To further emphasise on convenience, the All-New BMW 530e Sport also provides owners contactless boot operation.
Accentuating its sporty vibe to the rear of the new premium business sedan from BMW is the double round exhaust tailpipe on both left and right of the eDrive variant. Fitted with 19” V-Spoke light alloy wheels, the All-New BMW 530e Sport hints at an agile driving experience.
Dynamic interaction enabling powerful delivery.
Powering the All-New BMW 530e Sport is the latest-generation inline 4-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo 2-litre petrol engine which generates 184hp and 320 Nm of torque. Combined with the BMW eDrive system’s state-of-the-art electric motor, the All-New BMW 530e Sport has an overall system output of 252hp and 420 Nm of torque, enabling the car to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. With a top speed of 235 km/h, the All-New BMW 530e Sport enjoys segment-leading figures of consuming only 2.0l/100km of fuel with a significantly low CO2 emission of 46g/km.
The electric drive boasts powerful efficiency with its combination of electric motor, lithium-ion high-performance battery, and intelligent energy management. The intelligent energy management optimises the effectiveness of the electric drivetrain and the high-performance battery with a predictive operating strategy. The All-New BMW 530e Sport offers an all-electric driving range of up to 48km with a maximum speed of up to 140km/h – the best in its segment.
For the FULL press release on the new BMW 5-Series Hybrid eDrive, click this: Press Release – BMW Group Malaysia Introduces the First-Ever BMW 5 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology
BMW 5-Series Hybrid eDrive FULL Specs & Price List:
BMW 530e Spec Sheet_Pen Malaysia
BMW 530e Spec Sheet_East Malaysia
LATEST! Nationwide campaign offering special ownership programmes for BMW models and BMW iPerformance models.
Additional special ownership programmes for BMW vehicles and BMW iPerformance range is also offered at BMW Malaysia’s ongoing nationwide campaign, held at all authorised BMW dealerships. This includes special financing interest rates from 0.88% as well as attractive rebates across a wide range of BMW models.
New owners of the BMW iPerformance models – BMW 330e M Sport, BMW X5 xDrive 40e, BMW 740Le, and now the All-New BMW 530e Sport will also have unlimited, complimentary access for a whole year for the ChargeNow mobility services via the ChargEV platform in collaboration with GreenTech Malaysia. The special offer also comes with a complimentary BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable. Specifically for new owners of the BMW X5 xDrive40e and BMW 740Le xDrive, the new programme by BMW Malaysia offers a complimentary BMW i Wallbox Plus, with RFID detection and can be managed and controlled remotely using the BMW iV smartphone app. The campaign ends 31st March 2018.
BMW Group Malaysia has achieved its best performance in the country with a total of 12,680 units of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles delivered in 2017. This is the premium automaker’s seventh consecutive all-time high performance, achieving a segment leading growth of 16% as compared to the same period in 2016 (10,906).
Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia (above, right) said, “We are humbled by this achievement. Our successful growth here in Malaysia is a result of our absolute commitment to the country as well as all our customers, dealers and their premium ownership experiences. We are committed more than ever to serve the country and the South East Asian region from Malaysia this year and set another benchmark with utmost excellence for the premium automotive industry here. Going into 2018, with the continued support of the Malaysian government, our customers and our strong dealership network, we will realise our investments and plans for the region here and we hope in sustaining this momentum and achieving yet another milestone for the Group and the country.”
The BMW brand grew by 18% in 2017, delivering a total of 10,618 BMW vehicles from 9,000 vehicles in 2016. The growth was predominantly driven by the BMW 3 Series with 3,564 units delivered – 2,408 of which are units of the BMW 330e and BMW 330e M Sport. The BMW X5 xDrive40e is also a key contributor of the brand’s performance, with over 3,000 units sold last year. The BMW 740Le xDrive which was introduced in the first half of 2017 took the concept of Driving Luxury to the Mobility of the Future and had over 400 units delivered.
The successful delivery of BMW’s electrified vehicles to customers in Malaysia continues to underline the company’s leadership role when it comes to electro-mobility and is an indication that Malaysians are ready for the newest technology in the automotive industry. Driving its product portfolio of BMW Hybrid vehicles with eDrive Technology forward, BMW Group Malaysia will continue to prioritize on infrastructure and mobility services in its strategy to make electric driving a more comfortable and convenient experience and a daily pleasure.
The launch of the all-new BMW 5 Series, the most progressive sport-business sedan, in the first half of 2017 also accelerated the brand’s sales with over 1,600 units delivered.
MINI also grew from strength to strength, achieving the brand’s best record performance in 2017 with 1,010 MINI vehicles delivered. This marks a 12% increase from the previous year (902). This feat continues to position MINI as the second fastest growing brand in the Malaysian premium segment and is now the third largest brand in the segment. Last year, MINI added the new MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman to its portfolio.
BMW Motorrad meanwhile, delivered a total of 1,052 units of its motorcycles, charting a 5% increase as compared to the previous year (1,004). 2017 saw the unveiling of five new motorcycles – the BMW S1000RR, BMW R1200GS, BMW K1600 GT and Bagger and BMW R nineT Urban GS.
Adding to the company’s commitment to deliver greater ownership experience for its customers, BMW Group Malaysia also introduced the Full Circle Programme by BMW Credit Malaysia, and the Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline Program for BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad vehicles, on top of its existing premium offerings such as the BMW 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Free Service Program, the BMW Tyre Warranty Program, and the MINI 4 Year Unlimited Mileage and Free Service Warranty program.
The leading premium automaker also opened its doors to its newest Regional Parts Distribution Centre facilities at the Free Trade Zone of the Senai International Airport of Iskandar Malaysia. The new regional facility, which is built on an investment of over RM 130million, is one of the largest of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and supports over 22 countries in the region. This is a testament to Malaysia being a key market for the BMW Group; a market that supports the Group’s strategic business direction in expanding its footprint in the region.
In 2018, BMW Group Malaysia will begin delivery of the first BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series to Vietnam and the Philippines. To support the move, the BMW Assembly Plant in Kulim increased its local assembly capabilities to over 10,000 vehicles in 2017 with an investment of over RM 10million.
“This year is our 15th year of operations in Malaysia and we are very proud to have established ourselves as the leading provider of premium individual and sustainable mobility. We look forward to another year of growth in every aspect – from our sales to the maturity of our product portfolio to our leadership in electromobility and future mobility here in Malaysia,” said Han.
The success of BMW Group Malaysia mirrors that of the BMW Group worldwide. Globally, the premium automaker achieved a new all-time sales high with a total delivery of 2,463,526 vehicles. A seventh consecutive year of record sales. In 2017, the BMW brand saw a 4.2% boost in numbers with a total delivery of 2,088,283 vehicles while the MINI brand also charted a new sales record in 2017, growing 3.2% over the previous year with 371,881 deliveries. Sales across the BMW Motorrad range also increased by 13.2% with a total of 164,153 units delivered worldwide.
Ever thought of buying a car for investment purposes? Most naysayers will have you believe that purchasing a vehicle with the sole intention of selling it on for a profit, is a waste of time. But in actual fact, not only is that possible, but certain enthusiasts have managed to turn the idea into a profitable business.
The key is to purchase a vehicle that has a certain value, the same value that may appreciate overtime. This depends on certain factors that include rarity, desirability and driving enjoyment. This is what hpi, a UK based automotive data company plans on accomplishing. They have listed 10 classic cars that may increase in value in the not so distant future.
Motoring expert Clive Owen has shortlisted these cars based on the following criteria: cheap to acquire, are holding their values and could potentially become future collectors’ items. The list of said vehicles are:
Regarding the topic, Owen said, “Classic cars have shot up in value over the last few years and in many cases represent a great investment opportunity. Classics in particular are snapped up by collectors and enthusiasts, so prices are constantly on the rise.”
He added, “The trick is how best to spot trends before they take place and maybe even try to redefine what is actually recognized as a classic. Future classics don’t necessarily have to be decades old, luxurious or expensive to begin with.”
Apart from vehicular investment advice, hpi also offers online vehicle evaluations services allowing consumers the ability to buy and sell cars with confidence. Adding to that, it also provides potential buyers with ownership costs over a vehicle’s lifespan and precise depreciation figures.
Due to certain safety concerns, BMW may be on the verge of organising a voluntary recall in the USA. According to a recent article by InsideEvs, the issue is with the BMW i3 regarding the less than acceptable data received by NHTSA based on its crash test results.
Apparently, during a crash, a ‘5th percentile female’, who isn’t wearing a seatbelt, can suffer neck injuries that are slightly above the acceptable limit. In this context, the 5th percentile female can be defined as a female driver, weighing 50kg or less and is about 5 feet tall.
This means that drivers who do not fall into this category have no cause for concern. This issue only effects a small portion of i3 drivers, but is still being treated as a serious matter. The article also states that a Stop-Sale order has been made that will effectively halt vehicle deliveries to customers until the problem has been rectified.
All BMW i3 cars since its launch in 2014, are effected by this issue, which equates to about 30,000 vehicles in total. There is no news yet on how the Bavarian automaker tends to tackle the problem but whatever it decides, this probably won’t be an easy fix.
So far, the problem seems to only affect the North American car but we shall have to wait and see if it stems from a manufacturing defect or a design flaw. If the latter is true, BMW may find themselves in a little bit of a pickle, especially if they want to continue selling these cars in markets with stringent safety laws.
The BMW i3 is a compact eco car that has been made available as a full-fledged electric vehicle or a hybrid/range extender. It’s a decent looking city car that helped change our perception on hybrid and EVs in general. We will let you know more as the i3 issue unfolds in the coming weeks.
Soource: InsideEVs
A BMW Z8 formerly belonging to Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs is up for sale. Jobs purchased the car in 2000 and then sold it on to the current owner in 2003. It was then resold to a third party but bought back three years later.
The vehicle is said to have extremely low mileage and complete service history was well as a full set of accessories and items that came with the car. These items also include a BMW branded Motorola flip phone, which Jobs despised.
There were only 6000 BMW Z8 cars that were ever produced, which makes it a bit of a rarity. It was offered with either a 4.8 or 4.9-litre V8 that was mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Weighing about 1,585kg, the car had an all-aluminium chassis and body, which helped increase agility and stability.
It’s 400bhp engine, which was shared with the E39 M5 allowed the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and eventually reach a limited top speed of 250km/h. As a means to lure more enthusiasts to the Z8, BMW promised that it would retain the car’s spare parts for 50-years.
Meant to be a modern interpretation of a retro sports car, the Z8 never managed to garner the success it was meant to achieve. Despite factory-backed support and other unique customization options, the car didn’t quite live up to the hype.
That said, due to the relative significance of this particular one, speculators suggest that the car might fetch somewhere between $300,000 (RM 1,270,050) to $400,000 (RM 1,693,400) when it is eventually sold at the RM Sotherby’s New York auction.
Source: Car Throttle
BMW has recorded an increase in demand for its electrified vehicles this September. According to the automaker’s recent reports, it mentioned that a total of 10,786 vehicles have been sold in September which is a 50.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
The German automaker’s current electrified line-up includes 9 different models from a number of its sub brands that include BMWi, BMW iPerformance and MINI electric vehicles. The extensive portfolio has allowed the company’s electrified division to record a year-to-date total sales figure of 68,687 vehicles which is a 64.2% increase compared to last year.
This proves that the demand for electric or hybrid vehicles are growing with each passing year. And with cities around the world tightening regulations on petrol and diesel powered vehicles, these numbers are going to rise exponentially.
That said, in general, BMW’s global sales figures have risen across the board with the automaker recording exceptional sales figures for 2017. In fact, in the first three quarters of 2017, BMW managed to sell as many vehicles as it did in the entire 12 months of 2017.
The BMW group consists of a number of brands, which are BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, BMW Group electrified and BMW Motorrad. And this year alone, BMW has managed to sell a total of 1,811,234 vehicles to date, which is a 3.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Many of us car enthusiasts were bitten by the automotive bug at an early age. Some of us had pinup pictures of Ferrari F40s and Lamborghini Diablos on our bedroom walls with aspirations of one day owning one of them.
In the case of 12-year-old Nikolass Bertanss, adolescence should prove to be a lot more interesting. He has his very own E36 BMW M3 that he uses for drifting. As absurd as that may sound, it gets better, the car was given to him as a gift for his birthday.
It’s been fully modified with a lot more power, better suspension, a roll cage and a ton of other upgrades to make it a competitive drift car. Unlike the standard M3, this one has had its original engine swapped out for a powerful V8 that sounds amazing.
Despite what many might think, Bertanss has some crazy skills when it comes to drifting. A skilled drifter, he is fully capable of handling his car around drift tracks with great aplomb. And will probably get even better as he matures.
The car’s cockpit has been reworked to accommodate his smaller size. It’s pedals can be adjusted according to his liking, which in the long run, can be pushed further back to accommodate his growing stature. This will allow Bertanns to grow into the car as he gets older and is of legal age to participate in competitive drifting.
Check out the videos by Youtube Channel robyworks and see for yourself how getting children interested in cars at an early age can save them from any other types of addictions.
BMW announced some interesting news at the IAA Cars 2017 at Frankfurt. It introduced a number of projects including the BMW i Vision Dynamics, which is a futuristic four-door Gran Coupe concept vehicle.
Sporting smooth and elegant contours, minimalist yet functional front fascia and a sensor-laden kidney grille that is integrated with the front bumper, the car’s styling is meant to provide us with a glimpse of the future.
The contours, take on a fluidic shape thanks to a low slung roof and body panels that fit seamlessly throughout the structure. The design of the rear, especially the long tail lamps nd bumper assembly are a major departure from the automaker’s current design language .
BMW says that some design cues will be taken when building the next generation of i models. A lot of what goes into these future cars are studied and tested extensively by realising vehicles like the i Vision Dynamics.
Speaking of the company’s achievemtns with its electrified vehicles, Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design said, “With the i3 and i8 we have designed a revolutionary city car and a revolutionary sports car.”
“And now the BMW i Vision Dynamics is combining electric mobility with the core values of BMW: dynamism and elegance. We are therefore demonstrating how the product range and the design language of BMW i can be evolved further into other concepts,” he later added.
The i Vision Dynamics when fully realized, will have a 600km range, be capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 200km/h. It will offer the e-mobility experience that offers, convenience, practicality and sporting elegance.
As advanced as this car maybe, the project is still in its infancy stage and it will take quite a while before we ever see something resembling an i Vision Dynamics gracing our city streets. That said, cars like the i8 owe quite a lot of their styling and tech to outlandish vehicles such as this.
Hurricane Harvey has caused serious problems in Texas. The Category 3 hurricane, which made landfall about two weeks ago, has laid ruin to homes, vehicles and other property caused by its strong winds and heavy flooding.
Some experts estimate that the damage left in Harvey’s wake may take years and considerable amount of money to undo. As bad as this sounds, things might get even worse as weather forecasts say that there’s more heavy rainfall expected in the coming days.
This is especially bad news for car owners over there because all vehicles, from the least expensive to the ultra rare collectibles, weren’t spared from hurricane Harvey’s wrath. Places like Houston have been the worst effected regions in the state, which is why we think the recent news about a certain BMW enthusiast to be of worth mentioning.
Owning an E36 M3 is a challenge, even when everything is going fine with the car. Knowing the consequences if things went south, this Texan went to great lengths to ensure that his M3 was kept out of harm’s way. The car was kept on lifts to ensure that flood waters wouldn’t be able to reach it.
It isn’t the only Bimmer in his possesion mind you, he also owns an X5 and and another E36 that is kept on a trailer. Check out his video on the TEXAS E36 Garage’s video on Youtube as he takes viewers around his home and garage to show the aftermath of the hurricane.
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