UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) continues to maintain its position in the non-national category with 7,442 units of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in May. Added to the cumulative volume for the first 4 months, this brings the company’s total sales in 2022 to 36,972 units at the end of May.
With almost 37,000 units sold, the cumulative volume for the first 5 months of 2022 is 9% higher than for the same period in 2021 which was 34,026 units. This increase is despite the forecast that vehicle sales in Malaysia will be slow for the rest of the year due to shortage of completed vehicles.
While there was no issue of shortage of semiconductors last year to prevent carmakers from completing vehicles, this is the situation in 2022 is making it difficult to achieve higher outputs to meet demand.
The strong demand up till now has also been driven by the expectation that sales tax (or GST) will be resumed after the end of June 2022 (although there are now rumours that it could be extended again). This has persuaded many car-buyers to make their purchase before the end of June in order to enjoy the savings.
“As we rev up for the second half of this year, we at UMW Toyota are truly appreciative and emboldened by the support we have received from our customers. It has always been our policy to put our customers first and we are always ready to extend our assistance to the many Toyota fans as we journey out of these uncertain times. We are looking forward to continued confidence in our products and servicing capabilities, backed by our advanced automotive technology and comforted by the security features of all our products. Here’s to a more positive outlook forging ahead,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Continuing with the monthly promotions, UMWT has offers worth RM4,000 for those who want to become owners of the Yaris or Vios. There are also money-saving offers for other models in the form of cash rebates.
UMW Toyota has new models in the pipeline for the second half of the year so they are expecting a further increase in numbers.
The company is also looking forward to running the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival on June 25/26 at the Sepang International Circuit. While the highlight of the event is the Vios Challenge one-make race, there are also other activities for all the family. Entry is free during the two days but the public should observe social distancing and wear facemasks to protect themselves as well as others around them. Click here to read more about the upcoming Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival.
Toyota won the 24 Hours Le Mans again, the fifth year in a row that the Japanese carmaker has won the classic endurance race. Toyota is the only other Japanese carmaker to win the 24-hour race, the other being Mazda in 1991 with its 787B.
This year, Toyota is using a new racing car, the GR010 HYBRID developed to the LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) technical regulations. It’s a completely new machine, sharing virtually nothing with the LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype) class TS050 HYBRID car that was used successfully in previous years.
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team’s fourth 1-2 finish at the 90th edition of the race was led by the crew of Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa who drove in the #8 GR010 HYBRID for 380 laps. They were followed across the finish line by 2021 winners, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María Lopez, in the #7 car, 2mins 1.222 seconds behind.
The two Toyota hypercars were in a class of their own and engaged in close battles at the front. The lead changed several times as the race went through the night, with traffic, slow zones and track evolution all coming into play. Most of the time over a period of 16 hours, the two cars ran just a few seconds apart.
As the morning started, there was a rare moment of trouble when the #8 car had a puncture with Buemi at the wheel. But the complexion of the race changed decisively on lap 256 when Jose had to move the race-leading #7 car to the side of the track following an issue relating to the front motor. He had to perform a system reset and was then able to return to the pits. Further resets solved the issue and allowed the car to rejoin the race but nearly a lap behind the new leader in the #8 GR010 HYBRID.
With closely-matched performance, that deficit proved too great for the #7 crew to overcome, despite Jose setting the fastest lap of the race within the remaining 30 minutes of the race. It was therefore left to Brendon to take the #7 car across the finish line, completing 5,177 kms in 24 hours.
Third and fourth places were taken by the cars of Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, also racing in the hypercar class, which has covered 370 and 375 laps. Fifth place in the category (but 23rd overall) was the Alpine A480 – Gibson which was off-pace due to a number of technical problems that plagued the car and team.
Aston Martin claimed another victory with its Vantage GTE as partner team TF Sport won the GTE-Am class. The victory, in a year featuring a record-equalling 23-car GTE-Am entry, marks a second in three years at Le Mans for TF Sport following its class success in 2020.
As the third round of the 2022 World Endurance Championship (WEC), Le Mans offered double points and a chance for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to jump upwards in the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ standings. The new season had seen a close start in the Hypercar class against strong competition from Alpine and Glickenhaus.
However, after the Le Mans race, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has moved to the top, 22 points ahead of Alpine. The Drivers’ championship remains wide open, though, with the #8 crew just 3 points ahead of the leading Alpine trio, and #7 20 points behind.
Being at the right place and striking at the right time – that seems to have been the winning formula for the pair of Tengku Djan Ley and Mika Hakimi who drove to almost identical wins in both the races of the inaugural GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup.
The Prima Pearl TD Racing duo finished of their race weekend at the Sepang International Circuit with a win in the second 1-hour race. While it was 18-year old Mika who had taken the chequered flag in the first race the day before, Tengku Djan – a 3-time Vios Challenge overall champion and Malaysia’s ‘Drift King’ – was at the wheel for the second win.
Unlike Race 1 on Saturday which was held in blistering heat, Race 2 got underway after being delayed twice to wait for a heavy downpour to subside. So conditions around the 5.543-km circuit were slippery and made things even more challenging.
Race 2’s grid was filled with 19 cars, with each car having two drivers. There was one car and crew more than Race 1 as Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Liew/Putera Adam had not taken part due to a technical problem with their Vios.
To make the race more interesting, the reverse grid format was adopted and the winning pair started Race 2 in sixth position, plus weight penalties as well. On pole position was the Vios driven by the pair of Ady Rahimy and 16-year old Abdul Miqail, followed by Laser Motor racing’s Mark Darwin/Bradley Benedict Anthony, while in third position was Axle Motorsports’ Hayden Haikal/Naquib Azlan who finished fourth in Race 1. Starting from fourth on the grid was S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh/Freddie Ang, third placed winners the day before
Abdul Miqail got off to a great start but failed to hang on to his race lead when he spun off the wet track just as the race entered its second lap. That immediately promoted Naquib to race leader with Bradley, Nabil and Mika in close pursuit. Positions remained unchanged for 4 laps until Bradley misjudged his braking point, losing his position to Nabil and Mika.
The biggest gainer in the opening stages was Putera Adam who jumped 17 places from last position and into the lead by lap 7 of the race. The 16-year old drove a blistering pace and was among the last drivers to make the compulsory pit-stop for a driver change, handing the car over to his team mate for the remaining 30 minutes of the race.
With the driver changes completed, Eddie led the race 4.7 seconds ahead of Tengku Djan with Hayden, Boy and Mark rounding up the top 5 frontrunners. His lead however, diminished lap after lap as the pair of Tengku Djan and Boy lapped the circuit almost a second a lap quicker. By lap 14, the three drivers were abreast of each other and fighting for the lead.
The closing 3 laps were thus exciting and Tengku Djan used his experience and skills to move from third to first. It was a similar move as Mika did the previous day; once in front, his lead would grow from 1.3 seconds to 4.5 seconds by the time he took the chequered flag. Boy secured second place, with Hayden finishing third, Eddie in fourth position and fifth place going to the M7 Japan Project Team’s Fariqe Hairuman and Tarmimi Tahang.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about teamwork and both drivers must have similar pace, and only then will you have a fighting chance. Mika has been able to keep his cool throughout the race weekend and on top of that, he has the speed. We have to work as a team, there must be a sharing of knowledge, and you can’t do everything yourself,” said Tengku Djan.
UMW Toyota Motor President Ravindran K. said the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup and its format of a 1-hour race with a driver change certainly introduced new dynamics to the racing many of the drivers who are already competing in the Vios Challenge used to.
“As you know, UMW Toyota Motors’ foray into Malaysian motorsports began with the introduction of a street racing series. That has since evolved to include races on the half and full track length at the Sepang International Circuit; the organizing of a night race; the introduction of a program to develop young drivers and creating a Rookie Class; and even participation in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race last year as well as the running of the Vios Enduro Cup,” he said.
“These elements combined are in line with our efforts to contribute to not only growing interest in motorsports, but to make it even more exciting for both the participating teams and drivers, as well as spectators and enthusiasts,” Mr. Ravindran said.
The races in the Vios Challenge one-makes series typically take around 25 to 30 minutes around half the Sepang International Circuit but with the GR Vios Sprint Cup, the drivers race for up to an hour and they circulate on the full course of 5.534 kms. The extended time and number of laps made things more challenging and exciting and the lead changed multiple times from start to finish in the first race yesterday.
The first ever running GR Vios Sprint Cup saw a total of 18 cars with 36 drivers. Starting from pole position was S&D Tama Motorsports’ Freddie Ang but his leading position was lost by the very first corner to Boy Wong of Axle Motorsports, with Tengku Djan (Prima Pearl TD Racing) following.
From fourth on the grid, veteran racer Tengku Djan paced himself, picking off the front-runners one at a time before positioning himself as high as second by lap 10, 30 minutes into the race. At this time, the pit window opened for a driver change.
“As the pit window presented itself, we considered the overall race strategy and decided that it was just the right time to pit for a tyre and driver change. With the car running hot, it was better to make a pit-stop and take that chance to cool the car down, cool the tyres down before going back on track to attack again,” said the eventual winner.
“It’s a one-hour race and it’s a lot more stressful. Fitness definitely plays a role and it was definitely hot today as well. For example, in a race where everyone is on identical cars, I close the windows on my car so I get better aerodynamic efficiency… but that means you’re essentially cooking in the car and without fitness, you will mentally breakdown,” he explained.
Of his younger team mate Mika Hakimi, Tengku Djan said: “Mika has proven himself in the GAZOO Racing Young Driver Development Program last year and had some really good races in the Rookie Class. After a few sessions preparing for the Vios Sprint Cup, he came straight up to the pace. The pace is definitely there but there are some areas he will need to look into for example a little more aggression so that he can pressure the car in front more efficiently.”
With the final 30 minutes of the race unfolding, Prima Pearl TD Racing’s fate was left in the hands of the 19 year old driver. “In these kinds of races, you really have to pick your battles and that’s precisely what I did. I told myself that I would only go all out in the final two laps. I wanted to close the gap on Nabil immediately after taking over from Djan but it was better to just let the battle between Nabil and Goh play out ahead of me and save my tyres for the end,” Mika said after the race.
He put in a great drive in what was to be a game of nerves. From third, he had quickly challenged Tom Goh (the second driver for S&D Tama Motorsports) for second position before setting his sights on the lead – a move that no one anticipated, and would not come until the final few corners of the last lap. “When you have Djan as your team mate, you really need to be on your top form!” he added.
Finishing second clearly disappointed was Nabil Azlan (Axle Motorsports) who made a crucial mistake in the last lap. “I made a mistake in shifting gears. I am really sorry to the team because we could have won it. At the exit of turn 2, I wanted to shift into 3rd gear but I accidentally went into 1st,” said the 20-year-old, also a graduate of UMW Toyota Motor’s GAZOO Racing Young Driver Development Program. “I’m happy that I showed by pace here today but disappointed that I could not finish first.”
For third place winner Goh, meanwhile, starting from pole position was an incredible boost considering the tough competition he and team mate Ang were in. “The Vios Sprint Cup is a really exciting format, especially with the compulsory pit stop and driver change. I was hoping to win from pole position, but Mika and Nabil were really super fast and all I could do was to try to defend as best as I can,” said Tom.
The second part of the GR Vios Sprint Cup, which is held in conjunction with the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS), is on today. Total prize monies amount to RM60,000, and the overall champion in each of the 2 races at the GR Vios Sprint Cup stands to win RM10,000 in cash.
UMW Toyota Motor is also putting up an additional RM30,000 in prize monies for its Toyota dealer teams making the GR Vios Sprint Cup the second most lucrative racing event in Malaysia next to the Vios Challenge.
With pandemic-related restrictions now eased, spectators are allowed to be at the racetrack to watch the race. Or you can also watch the live broadcasts at UMW Toyota Motor’s Facebook page from the comfort of home. Click here for more information on GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s activities.
Now a firmly established event on the country’s motorsports calendar, the Vios Challenge, which originated as part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival), is the most lucrative motorsports event in the country. In total, more than a half a million ringgit in prize money is offered by organisers UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia.
After 5 seasons of the one-make series, there now exists a large base of Toyota Vios cars in Malaysia which have been specially prepared to meet the regulations of the series. These regulations strictly require all the cars to be identical in specifications with stock standard drivetrains as well as suspension and tyres. The aim is to equalise the performance aspect of the machine and make the races about driving skills and experience.
The large base of race-ready cars had encouraged UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO racing Malaysia to broaden the activities so that the owners have more races to participate in. One of the additional races on this year’s calendar is the GAZOO Racing Vios Sprint Cup in the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) this weekend (May 21/22) at the Sepang International Circuit.
A total of 38 drivers will start the first ever running of the GR Vios Sprint Cup, which will have two 1-hour races on Saturday and Sunday, with two-driver teams competing in 3 generations of Vios vying for total prize monies amounting to RM60,000.
The GR Vios Sprint Cup is run independently of the Vios Challenge, and there will be 2 rounds within the MCS, with each round offering two races. However, the regulations for the GR Vios Sprint Cup are similar to those of the Vios Challenge with regard to all the cars being identical in specification and preparation, with the only differences being the driver behind the wheel and the paint scheme on the bodywork.
All the cars are standard Vios models and prepared identically for racing so that they have similar performance levels. Winning a race is therefore dependent on driver experience and skills, rather than the power of the car.
Not surprisingly, the event has attracted many top local racers with varying levels of experience, virtually all of whom have taken part in the Vios Challenge. These include experienced contenders like Tengku Djan Ley, Mark Darwin, Mohd Fariqe Hairuman, Eddie Lew, Boy Wong and William Ho, as well as what can be regarded as the next generation of racers. These are drivers like Naquib Azlan, Hayden Haikal, Mika Hakimi, Nabil Azlan, Bradley Benedict Anthony, Timothy Yeo and Alister Yoong.
The GR Vios Sprint Cup will see drivers with varying experience – from veterans like Tengku Djan Ley (left) to rookies like Nabil Azlan (right).
To level the playing field further, the race prohibits 2 experienced drivers from racing together in the same car. Driving for Prima Pearl TD Racing, Tengku Djan will thus partner teenager Mika Hakimi this weekend, while Mark Darwin, another strong contender, will team up with another teenager, Bradley Benedict Anthony for Laser Motor Racing.
Axle Motorsports meanwhile, will field 2 all-teenage teams with the first pair of drivers consisting of Hayden Haikal and Naquib Azlan, and the second car driven by Alister Yoong and Muizz Musyaffa.
Race 1 of the GR Vios Sprint Cup on Saturday will see both drivers driving in two separate qualifying sessions, with the faster driver required to start the 1-hour race before making a mandatory pit-stop for a driver change. In Race 2 on Sunday, which will start as a reverse grid order based on the results of Race 1, the slower driver of the pair will start the 1-hour race and again required to make a mandatory pit stop. Both races will be a rolling-start format.
“Unlike the Vios Challenge which is usually confined to approximately 30 minutes of racing, the GR Vios Sprint Cup is designed to up the ante and to double the excitement on the track. In a full-blown endurance race, racers will pace themselves, but this is a 1-hour sprint to the finish which means the drivers will be going all out for 60 minutes from the very first corner in order to maintain an edge,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.
“Since UMW Toyota Motor began committing itself to motor racing in 2017, the objective has always been to see how we can contribute to not only the growth but to make Malaysian motorsports even more vibrant. The format of a one-make race has proven to be an incredibly successful formula, attracting not only professionals and experienced racers, but also newcomers and young talent. The GR Vios Sprint Cup continues this tradition but by changing the dynamics of the race, continues to generate enormous interest and participation which we hope will help to create more excitement in Malaysian motorsports,” he said, adding that there will also be the GR Vios Enduro Cup in conjunction with year end’s Sepang 1000Km Endurance Race.
Like the Vios Challenge which is the most lucrative motorsports event in Malaysia, the GR Vios Sprint Cup offers a large sum of prize money.
The overall champion in each of the 2 races at the GR Vios Sprint Cup stands to win RM10,000 cash, followed by RM8,000 for the first runner-up, RM6,000 to the third-place winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the fourth and fifth placed winners, respectively. In total, the Vios Sprint Cup offers prize monies amounting to RM60,000 per round.
UMW Toyota Motor is also putting up an additional RM30,000 in prize monies for its Toyota dealer teams making the GR Vios Sprint Cup the second most lucrative racing event in Malaysia next to the Vios Challenge.
With pandemic-related restrictions now eased, spectators are allowed to be at the racetrack to watch the races this weekend. Or you can also watch the live broadcasts UMW Toyota Motor’s Facebook page from the comfort of home. Click here for more information on GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s activities.
Last year, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) started the year with the aim of regaining the top position in the non-national segment and it successfully achieved that objective. The momentum has continued into 2022 as the company held the top position in the first quarter of the year. Entering the second quarter, UMWT expects to push further ahead and has started off with deliveries of 6,946 vehicles (of which 78 units were from the Lexus brand).
Cumulative sales after the first 4 months of the year have reached 29,393 units (Toyota + Lexus), an increase of 11% compared to the volume over the same period in 2021.
With a more optimistic mood brought on by the lifting of many restrictions of the pandemic period, as well as the onset of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities, many people were inclined to consider a new vehicle. In conjunction with the festive period, UMWT had its ‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya promotion which offers benefits worth RM4,000 to those buying a new Vios or Yaris.
Both models, assembled locally as the fairly new second assembly plant in Selangor, have seen growing popularity as they are good value for money. The image of the Vios has also become sportier with the intensive promotion of the Vios Challenge one-make series over the past few years. Each round has been broadcast live, bringing the races right to homes around Malaysia and even outside the country.
Vios Challenge one-make series, in its fifth season this year, has added a sporty image to the popular sedan.
“It is heartening to note that we have transitioned well into the endemic phase, and we at UMW Toyota Motor are always encouraged by the support from our customers, especially during this busy Ramadan and Raya period. Even with the surprise announcement of Aidilfitri falling a day earlier than expected, all our service centres were fully prepared to assist our customers in their ‘balik kampung’ journey. We continue to be committed to leaving no one behind and offer value-for-money innovations, coupled with advanced technology and security features in all of our products,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
‘Bersama Lebih Makna’ Raya
With Ramadan and Syawal being the prominent events of this month, UMWT presented a special film entitled ‘Kota Raya’ on various several social media platforms. Inspired by family ties and the importance of being together, the film focuses on the deep-rooted tradition of celebrating together, something which was greatly missed over the past two years due to travel restrictions.
Besides the film, UMWT also reached out to those less fortunate in a collaboration with Harian Metro through their ‘Titipan Kasih’ programme. With the aim of providing assistance to the underprivileged, this outreach by the company saw 50 children receive ‘baju raya’ worth RM150. Additionally, a ‘Kotak Rezeki’ consisting of groceries valued at RM100 was presented to 168 families. 50 children also received RM60 each as ‘duit raya’.
Volunteers from UMWT also carried out other outreach activities to assist the less fortunate during this recovery period and at the same time, establishing a relationship with the surrounding community.
“The focus of this activity was for us to share the festive celebration with the less fortunate, as it is more meaningful if we celebrate it together. Furthering our ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ Raya, we wanted to reach out to all those underprivileged, especially the orphans, and single-parent families. We also wanted to inspire and instill a strong spirit of volunteerism, along with community service among our employees as a way to bring our brand closer to the community,” Mr. Ravindran said.
Toyota showrooms nationwide will also have ‘Toyota Raya Open House Weekender’ events on May 21/22. This event aims to reconnect with Toyota customers, both past, present and future, while celebrating Hari Raya together. At the events, there will also be special deals and promotions and those who take test-drives will receive gifts (while stocks last) in appreciation of their interest.
Visit www.toyota.com.my to know more about Toyota products and services and the locations of showrooms.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), the high-performance arm of the Japanese carmaker, has finally revealed details of the manual transmission for the GR Supra. It is part of a number of updates for the model which is now in its third year of production.
Available only for the 3-litre versions as well as a limited-run A91-MT Edition model, the manual transmission has been engineered and tuned specifically for use with the straight-six engine. The engineering team modified an existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gearset and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight.
At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. The larger friction area and a stronger spring are deemed necessary for the GR Supra’s high-torque engine which generates up to 500 Nm in standard form. The newly developed 6-speed manual gearbox is described as an ‘intelligent Manual Transmission’ (iMT) and has software that prioritizes sporty performance when required.
With an automatic, it’s possible to use second gear when pulling away uphill when opposite wheels are on surfaces with different grip levels – eg when the car is parked on partly icy road, progress is smooth with no rolling back or wheelslip.
With a manual gearbox, first gear must be used and releasing the clutch brings a greater risk of wheelspin. To address the issue, the TGR engineers tuned the car’s TRAction Control (TRAC) system for smoother operation like that experienced with an automatic. The system is also optimized for the GR Supra’s characteristic high engine torque, wide tyres and rear-wheel drive.
The car’s behaviour when accelerating out of a corner is a key element in the ‘Fun to Drive’ quality Toyota promises with the GR Supra. For the manual version, the traction control has again been the focus to ensure an ideal balance of agility and stability when exiting a corner on the throttle. TRAC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – so the car keeps faithfully to the driver’s intended line – while allowing the right amount of power for a sporty experience.
The ambition to make the GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios inspired the introduction of a new Hairpin+ function. This is designed to allow experienced drivers more freedom and reward when taking tight bends on an uphill gradient (more than 5%) with a high-friction road surface. More ‘freewheel’ spin can make such routes more enjoyable to drive, so the engineers optimized engine torque control to allow a greater difference in the degree of wheelspin on the left and right-side tires.
To counter the possibility of ‘snap-off’ oversteer – something that may be hard to control with the car’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) alone – an Anti-Roll Program has been included for both the manual and automatic versions. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to cover any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting it used.
In addition, the Track mode has been tuned to allow for easy drifting with freedom of throttle control. The vehicle remains agile, but there is less risk of spinning thanks to specific engine and torque control.
When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimize engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance with rev-matching. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Sport mode. To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT).
The lever ratio was specifically set to minimize the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear. The weight and shape of the 200 gm gear knob, along with the quality of shift engagement, have all been precisely defined. Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra.
Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra. Ergonomics were studied thoroughly and the console unit and position of the drive mode selector were adjusted to provide a 43 mm clearance between the shift knob and the control panel. The spherical shift knob has also been shaped to allow a firm grip.
In addition to the new manual transmission, TGR has also further refined the steering and suspension with modified stabiliser bushings and retuned adaptive variable suspension (AVS) and other chassis control systems to improve handling performance and ride comfort.
For certain versions, the 19-inch forged alloy wheels come with a new design of revised spoke and cross-sectional shapes and premium Titanium Dark Silver finish. They are said to have greater strength and are lighter, with a weight reduction of 1.2 kgs per wheel.
Customers also have three new exterior colours to choose from – Volcanic Ash Grey, Dawn Blue and Avalanche White – while the interior is now available with a tan trim option.
Toyota has not announced pricing for the additional manual version but exports from the factory in Japan will start later this year.
To know more about the GR Supra or to purchase on in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.
As ‘normalcy’ returns to our lives, motorsports activities are picking up and organisers are working hard on plans for events in coming months. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has already prepared for this, having made the plans last year to have a broader range of events instead of just the Vios Challenge One-Make series that has been run since 2007.
Two additional races
In 2022, in addition to the Vios Challenge (which has completed two rounds), GAZOO Racing and UMWT will run the Vios Sprint Cup and Vios Enduro Cup. These will offer another 5 races this year to make it 11 races in total.
The Vios Sprint Cup is run independently of the Vios Challenge, and will feature 2 rounds within the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS), with each round having 2 races. The event will also retain the format of a one-make series as in the Vios Challenge, to ensure a level playing field where the emphasis will be on racecraft, driving skills and experience, not engine power.
Round 1 of the Vios Sprint Cup will be held on May 20 – 22 at the Sepang International Circuit, followed by Round 2 in July at the same venue. The season finale Vios Enduro Cup will coincide with prestigious Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race (S1K) in November.
2 drivers per car
A total of 26 cars will line up on the grid for the Vios Sprint Cup with each car consisting of two drivers. To make things interesting and to level the playing field even more, the pairing of drivers must be made up of the combination of professionals, amateurs, celebrities and rookies as per the Vios Challenge classes for Super Sporting (professionals), Sporting (amateurs), Promotional (celebrities) and Rookies (young and new drivers).
The race weekend will consist of two 1-hour races. Race 1 of the Vios Sprint Cup on Saturday will see both drivers driving in two separate qualifying sessions, and the faster driver required to start the 1-hour race before making a mandatory pitstop for a driver change.
In Race 2 on Sunday, the slower driver of the pair will start the 1-hour race and again required to make a mandatory pit stop for a driver change. Race 2 will also be started as a reverse grid order based on the results of Race 1.
RM10,000 for the champs
The overall champion in each of the two races stand to win RM10,000 cash, followed by RM8,000 for the first runner up, RM6,000 to the third place winner, and RM4,000 and RM2,000 for the fourth and fifth place winners respectively. In total, the Vios Sprint Cup offers prize monies amounting to RM60,000 per round.
The Vios Enduro Cup in November will see Toyota drivers competing over 1000 km in the race that is expected to take 9 hours covering 181 laps of the Sepang International Circuit.
“The objective is to expand on our existing racing activities in the Vios Challenge. With the Vios Sprint Cup and the Vios Enduro Cup, it will mean an additional 5 races on top of the 6 races already lined up for the Vios Challenge. This will provide even more racing and rewards for participating drivers, teams and dealers and at the same time underline UMW Toyota Motor’s commitment to contribute to a more vibrant motorsports eco-system in Malaysia,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.
Those who wish to register their participation or know more about the Vios Sprint Cup and Vios Enduro Cup can contact Janet, the Race Management representative from Wing Hin Motorsports at 016-367 3300. Other information on
Toyota GAZOO Racing has done a lot of upgrades to the GR Supra since it returned in 2019. But the one thing which fans wanted that this Supra has not come with is a manual transmission. The shared development with BMW made it more convenient to use the same type of transmission – an 8-speed automatic – rather than separately engineer for a manual transmission. Although people may think that it’s a simple matter, everything involves time and cost and there must be a good business case too.
Toyota’s Executive Chief Engineer (involved in the high-performance products) Tetsuya Tada had explained that the automatic transmission for the GR Supra is an ‘excellent transmission’ and it also handles lots of torque well. So that’s helpful when it comes to tuners bumping up the output as they are less likely to destroy the transmission.
But he never ruled out the possibility of having a manual transmission too and now, three years down the road, the GR Supra will soon be available with a manual transmission. An official communication from Toyota Europe says that ‘all-new, tailor-made manual transmission is coming soon’. It ends with a hashtag #savethemanual which is probably a sentiment supported by Tada-san’s boss, the President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda.
All previous Supras have had manual gearboxes (besides automatics) with the last generation also having a Getrag unit in some markets.
Details of the transmission are not revealed, and the only images shown are the pedals. Toyota Europe also offers pictures of the three pedals in the GR 86 and GR Yaris, with the GR Supra having a throttle pedal that is floor-hinged whereas the other two cars have it top-hinged.
The last generation of the Supra had two types of manual transmissions – a 5-speed Aisin W58 unit and in some markets, a 6-speed V161 (Getrag 233) transmission. The Getrag unit was well known to be a robust unit and praised for its ability to handle very high outputs. If there were transmission failures, it was mainly due to missed shifts.
Throttle pedals in the GR 86 (above) and GR Yaris (below) are top-hinged whereas the one for the manual Supra will be bottom-hinged.
Perhaps Toyota GR will use this proven Getrag gearbox again. From the words ‘all-new’, it is likely that this is an independent development by the Toyota GR team and so they can choose their own hardware. Or it could also be the gearbox from the M3.
The current powertrain line-up has two BMW-sourced turbocharged engines – a 3-litre in-line six and 2-litre in-line four – and it is likely that the bigger, more powerful engine will get the manual shifter. Whether it will be a limited edition or an addition to the line-up is uncertain. Toyota GR has done some limited editions and one more hint about the new variant is that it will be identified by a new red-coloured ‘Supra’ badge.
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had a significant jump of 32% in its March sales volume with 8,487 units reported, compared to 6,432 units the month before. The improvement in sales is attributed to promotions during the month which offered value-added benefits worth RM4,000 for popular models such as the Vios and Yaris.
Although conditions were challenging with the floods in Selangor causing some parts suppliers to temporarily stop operations, UMWT’s first quarter cumulative sales volume total of 22,447 units was 31% greater than for the same period in 2021 when 17,151 vehicles were sold.
The positive trend is expected to continue through the second quarter, with a boost expected when new and improved models make their appearance later in the year
Circumventing the global challenges on parts supply shortage, Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor, said: “We are constantly reviewing and adapting to the changing circumstances and uncertainties. Toyota has always been known for our proficiency in supply chain management and risk mitigation measures. Leveraging on these experiences, we are working closely with our suppliers and monitoring the developments closely to ensure minimal impact to our production and our customers.”
“As Malaysia transitions towards the endemic phase, UMW Toyota Motor is appreciative of the support we have received from our customers throughout these unprecedented times. We remain committed towards achieving continuous growth for the Toyota brand as well as for the local automotive industry through our cutting-edge innovative product and solution offerings. As we transform towards sustainable mobility, Toyota aims to leave no one behind as we continue to be at the forefront in offering value for money innovations equipped with technological advancements and state-of-the-art safety features across all our products,” he added.
Promotions for Hari Raya festive season
Until May 1, 2022, UMWT will be running the ‘Pandu Uji dan Menang Duit Raya’ contest at showrooms nationwide. During this period, those who test drive any Toyota model could collect ‘duit raya’. Each test drive will entitle the customer to a contest entry to win ‘duit raya’ worth RM100. Those who take the test drive and complete a vehicle purchase can win RM200 ‘duit raya’. A total of 30 winners will be selected every week.
In addition, all Toyota showrooms will continue their ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’ celebrations with the Ramadan Weekender on April 16 and 17. Customers can visit the showrooms to find out more about ‘Bulan Puasa’ deals and value-added offers as well as receive exclusive gifts (while stocks last) when they test drive any of the Toyota vehicles available.
New 3S centre in Cyberjaya
Toyota owners in Cyberjaya now have an authorised service centre close to them. Operated by Otomobil Sejahtera Sdn Bhd, the new facility is a 3S centre offering sales, service and spare parts as well as Body and Paint services for repairs or repainting vehicles.
“From the point of purchase, to aftersales service, and on to their next repurchase, it is important that customers feel the Toyota touch at every step. This new 3S service centre is just our way of bringing our brand closer to our customers, wherever they may be, while ensuring they have seamless access to our services whenever they need them,” Mr. Ravindran said.
For more information about Toyota vehicles or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.
