Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Petronas F1 Fuel
Something’s stirring in the air, and it’s an impending new fuel from Petronas. I’ve just spent the better part of the day at what was tagged an Experience to Believe event, organised by Petronas Dagangan, which teased the new fuel.
No details were revealed about the product, which the company says is inspired by F1 fuel technology. The only information that was managed was that it will offer improved acceleration and better fuel economy, and that it will be launched sometime next month (presumably, around the time the F1 Petronas Malaysian GP takes place – it’s simply the best time to shout it, no?).
The participants at today’s event were given a tankful of the mystery fuel to use in their own cars, and asked to provide feedback on what they thought about it, with a drive up to Bukit Tinggi part of the programme. As luck would have it, I’d just gassed up my ride a couple of days ago, so with almost a complete full tank there was no means to experience what the new offering was about. Yes, I know, the timing is just sucky, but happily Petronas has offered to gas up my ride next weekend, so there should be some notes about it when the fuel is launched.
Is it going to be a singular RON 95 or RON 97 product, or will the two current Primax forms be revised – and of course renamed – at point of launch? As mentioned, nothing was divulged, and though a hint was dropped that it was a RM1.90 product (which would make it a 95 fuel), the manner in which it was dropped suggests that it was likely a red herring.
What is improbable is that the new fuel will be an unregulated one like Shell’s V-Power Racing; to go down that path doesn’t make commercial sense, and 955 Petronas stations nationwide serving up the new fuel does make that one moot. In all likelihood, this will be Petronas’ version of what Shell worked with V-Power 97 – now, dare we hope for a 95 with significantly improved characteristics, while at that?
Guess we’ll find out next month!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Safety Car for F1 '11
The entire drivetrain is claimed to be the same as the production car though – a 340 horsepower inline-six M TwinPower Turbo engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the only available gearbox option for the M Coupe.
Even though the engine may be the same, this car will go faster than a production model due to weight reduction techniques. The safety car comes with a carbon fiber bonnet with integrated air vents, polycarbonate side and rear windows, and a lightweight titanium race exhaust system. There’s also an adjustable rear wing.
n the interior,the rear seats are missing,while the front seats have been replaced by
two racing bucket seats with six point belts.Theres a rollover cage bolted behind .
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Porsche. There Is No Substitute.
Well, the response to the 918 Spyder has been good enough for Porsche to put the car into serial production – the company has announced that dealers around the world will begin taking customer orders for the vehicle, which is set to begin production in September 2013. To keep things exclusive, only 918 examples of the plug-in hybrid sportscar will be built.
The company says that the production 918 Spyder will remain faithful to the concept car which made its debut in Geneva last year, though the two-seat production version, based on a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque, will feature a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stored in the front luggage compartment.
The car will be powered by a high-revving 500+ hp V8 engine that will have a minimum 4.0 litre displacement, assisted by two electric motors with a total of at least 218 hp. The engine will be based on the Porsche RS Spyder racing unit, and power will be transferred to the rear wheels via Porsche’s compact, seven-speed PDK double-clutch gearbox.
Meanwhile, the two electric motors – one each on the front and rear axles – will offer an innovative, variable all-wheel drive system with independent control of the drive forces on both axles. Electrical energy will be stored in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from a standard household outlet.
Electric-only driving range is expected to be more than 25 km on the NEDC cycle. Recharge time will depend on each country’s electrical power network; on a 110V/10A line, the charge time is around seven hours. A quick-charge option is being evaluated to further reduce charging times.
Performance figures include a 0-100 kph time of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 320 kph. Porsche adds that under the right conditions, the 918 Spyder will be able to drive on electric power alone at speeds up to 150 kph for limited distances.
The 918 Spyder customer gets a further deal sweetener – he also gets the opportunity to acquire a special-edition 911 Turbo S Coupe or Cabriolet, which he can hope to get much earlier, in this case later this year. Also limited to no more than 918 units, the 911 Turbo S ‘Edition 918 Spyder’ will have exterior and interior design elements echoing the 918 Spyder’s styling.
It features similar exterior colours, carbon-fibre elements inside and out, enhanced leather equipment and numerous acid-green accents on items such as the brake calipers, illuminated sill plates, interior stitching and instrument cluster needles. A limited-edition badge on the glove compartment door will feature the same production number as the customer’s 918 Spyder. All this for no added cost over a standard 911 Turbo S model, be it in Coupe or Cabrio form.
...by enthusiasts..for enthusiasts...
Here’s what happens when enthusiasts get beyond being merely enthusiastic in armchair fashion and do something about it. It’s called the Mono, and it’s the creation of BAC, a company started out by a couple of Brit lads.
The Mono (as in monoposto, or single seat) has been designed to bring formula race car levels of handling, performance and thrill to the public road, but it’s also the perfect trackday tool, racing school car and one-make series racer.
Conceived by brothers Neill and Ian Briggs, the Briggs Automotive Company creation offers superlative performance – at 520 hp to the ton, its power-to-weight ratio surpasses that of the Bugatti Veyron and it gets from nought to 100 kph in just 2.8 seconds, to 160 kph in 6.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 273 kph.
The car is an object of engineering perfection and desire, courtesy of the Briggs brothers’ 15 years experience of the motor industry, during which time they’ve handled design and engineering consultancy projects for the likes of Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, through their company Adaptive Space. Ian Briggs says that the Mono is the culmination of a 12-year dream for the brothers, the car they wanted to own but nobody else made.
The Mono’s aerodynamics were optimised using CFD in partnership with Stuttgart University, and is constructed in carbon fibre with a tubular steel driver safety cell, complete with FIA-compliant rollover protection system – similar in concept to a DTM race car.
Power comes from a 280 hp normally-aspirated 2.3 litre Cosworth unit mounted longitudinally and mated to an electronically-controlled, paddle-shift, six-speed sequential Hewland transmission with a limited-slip differential.
The vehicle features a rose-jointed, aero-profiled pushrod suspension with adjustable Sachs Racing dampers. Elsewhere, there’s an AP Racing braking system, bespoke HRT alloy wheels by OZ Racing, purpose-developed, street-legal track tyres by Kumho and vehicle electronics and instrumentation by GEMS.
The driver is secured by a full six-point racing harness by Willans, with a secure locker in which to store a helmet and the detachable steering wheel when parked. The seat is fixed for safety and optimum weight distribution (48/52 front to rear), and drivers of varying shapes and sizes can be readily accommodated thanks to a fully adjustable pedal box and steering column alterable for both height and rake. There’s even a F1-style fully-profiled seat option.
The Mono – which goes for £79,950 – is built to order on a first-come, first-served basis, and production capacity is currently between 50 and 100 vehicles per year.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The real news we were looking for last year.
Despite emerging from a global financial crisis, 2010 proved to be an exciting year for the Malaysian automotive industry. Here, StarBizWeek recaps some of the key events that made headlines last year.
JANUARY
20: Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) reviews 2009 vehicle sales, forecasts outlook for 2010
MAA announces that total industry volume (TIV) for 2009 slipped 2% to 536,905 units and predicts sales to hit 550,000 units in 2010.
26: Peugeot announces decision to make Malaysia its right-hand drive production hub
Peugeot, together with local partner Naza, announces it plans to make the latter's Gurun plant its right-hand drive manufacturing hub that will not only serve the Asean region but also Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
29: Local Toyota distributor assures that its vehicles are not affected by global recall
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the local distributor of Toyota vehicles, announces that its cars are not affected by the faulty “accelerator pedal dilemma” that caused the recall of millions of Toyota vehicles in the United States, Europe and China.
FEBRUARY
1: Sime Darby takes over Porsche franchise in Malaysia
After nine years of holding the exclusive rights to import Porsche cars to Malaysia, businessman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir decides to pass the wheel over to conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd.
5: BCorp ties up with China-based company to develop cars for Asean market
Berjaya Corp Bhd and China's BYD Auto Co Ltd sign an MoU to explore the possibility of building the latter's F0 1-litre passenger car for Asean market.
MARCH
2: Emas unveiled at Geneva Motor Show
Proton Holdings Bhd unveils its Emas Hybrid concept cars at the Geneva Motor Show, with production expected in 2012.
4: Tiered fuel subsidy system scrapped
The Government officially scraps plans to introduce the two-tiered restructuring of fuel subsidy following negative feedback from the public.
5: Naza becomes Chevrolet distributor
After months of speculation, the Naza Group officially ties up with General Motors to become the official distributor of Chevrolet cars and parts in Malaysia.
APRIL
6: DRB-HICOM to manufacture Westfield sports cars in Malaysia
DRB-HICOM Bhd signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Potenza Sports Car Ltd, owner and manufacturer of Westfield cars, to manufacture and distribute the latter's products, including hybrids and electric vehicles, locally.
JUNE
7: ProtonVolkswagen deal ends
The on again/off again negotiations on the possibility of a tie-up between national automaker Proton and German automotive giant Volkswagen AG officially end. Volkswagen would, however, hook up with another local partner later in the year (see December).
22: Five-year business plan for Lotus unveiled
Proton says it hopes to transform its British sports car maker Group Lotus plc into a profitable company under a five-year transformation plan. Lotus also sets its sights on entering the premium sports car segment alongside Porsche and Ferrari.
JULY
12: Naza to assemble C-Segment Peugeot car
The Naza Group and Automobiles Peugeot ink an MoU whereby the former would produce a Peugeot sedan, code named the T73, at its plant in Gurun, Kedah. Production is slated to begin before the end of this year.
21: MAA reviews H1 2010 TIV, revises full-year forecast
MAA revises upwards its 2010 total industry volume (TIV) forecast to 570,000 units from 550,000 initially. The new forecast, if achieved, would make it a record-breaking year in terms of sales for Malaysia, surpassing the country's all-time high of 552,316 units in 2005.
TIV for the first-half of 2010 grew 19.8% to 301,077 units compared with 251,305 in the previous corresponding period.
AUGUST
14: DRB-HICOM signs pact with Volkswagen
DRB-HICOM signs MoU with Volkswagen AG to assemble and manufacture Volkswagen vehicles at the former's manufacturing plant in Pekan, its largest automotive manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
SEPTEMBER
14: Foreign car assemblers poised to get green light
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority is reportedly evaluating the possibility of five foreign automotive assemblers to set up operations locally.
21: Former-Perodua MD joins Naza Kia
Naza Kia, the official distributor of Kia Motor vehicles in Malaysia, appoints former Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar as its new chief operating officer.
28: Proton and Lotus Racing to battle in court over name rights
Proton and Lotus Racing F1 decide to clash at the British courts over the rights to use the Lotus name.
OCTOBER
1: Lotus unveils five new models
Group Lotus plc unveils its Lotus Elan, Esprit, Elite, Elise and Eterne at the Paris Motor Show. The cars would be released in the market one by one every year starting with the Elan in 2012.
14: Proton unveils its Inspira
Proton reveals its new mid-sized four-door sedan, the Inspira. The car, which would be launched later in November, is essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer GT and is RM40,000 cheaper.
15: Budget 2011
The Government decides to grant full excise duty exemptions on hybrid cars below 2,000cc until Dec 31, 2011. The move results in a significant drop in price for hybrid cars in Malaysia.
22: BCorp granted vehicle manufacturing plant licence
Berjaya Corp Bhd is granted a manufacturing plant licence by the International Trade and Industry Ministry for the assembly of hybrid and electric cars as well as commercial and luxury passenger vehicles.
DECEMBER
2: Launch of Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010 new models unveiled.
MAA launches KLIMS 2010. The event sees a slew of local and foreign concept cars revealed and new models launched. Honda Malaysia launched its entry-level Insight hybrid, which replaced its Civic Hybrid. However, some big brands are largely absent. Over 300,000 people attend the 10-day event.
8: Lotus ties up with Renault in F1
Proton's Group Lotus plc officially announces its entry into F1 in 2011, acquiring a major stake in the Renault F1 Team from Genii Capital.
21: DRB-HICOM officially ties up with Volkswagen
DRB-HICOM signs an agreement with Volkswagen to produce the latter's cars in Malaysia, starting with the Jetta and Passat from end- 2011.
JANUARY
20: Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) reviews 2009 vehicle sales, forecasts outlook for 2010
MAA announces that total industry volume (TIV) for 2009 slipped 2% to 536,905 units and predicts sales to hit 550,000 units in 2010.
26: Peugeot announces decision to make Malaysia its right-hand drive production hub
Peugeot, together with local partner Naza, announces it plans to make the latter's Gurun plant its right-hand drive manufacturing hub that will not only serve the Asean region but also Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
29: Local Toyota distributor assures that its vehicles are not affected by global recall
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the local distributor of Toyota vehicles, announces that its cars are not affected by the faulty “accelerator pedal dilemma” that caused the recall of millions of Toyota vehicles in the United States, Europe and China.
FEBRUARY
1: Sime Darby takes over Porsche franchise in Malaysia
After nine years of holding the exclusive rights to import Porsche cars to Malaysia, businessman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir decides to pass the wheel over to conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd.
5: BCorp ties up with China-based company to develop cars for Asean market
Berjaya Corp Bhd and China's BYD Auto Co Ltd sign an MoU to explore the possibility of building the latter's F0 1-litre passenger car for Asean market.
MARCH
2: Emas unveiled at Geneva Motor Show
Proton Holdings Bhd unveils its Emas Hybrid concept cars at the Geneva Motor Show, with production expected in 2012.
4: Tiered fuel subsidy system scrapped
The Government officially scraps plans to introduce the two-tiered restructuring of fuel subsidy following negative feedback from the public.
5: Naza becomes Chevrolet distributor
After months of speculation, the Naza Group officially ties up with General Motors to become the official distributor of Chevrolet cars and parts in Malaysia.
APRIL
6: DRB-HICOM to manufacture Westfield sports cars in Malaysia
DRB-HICOM Bhd signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Potenza Sports Car Ltd, owner and manufacturer of Westfield cars, to manufacture and distribute the latter's products, including hybrids and electric vehicles, locally.
JUNE
7: ProtonVolkswagen deal ends
The on again/off again negotiations on the possibility of a tie-up between national automaker Proton and German automotive giant Volkswagen AG officially end. Volkswagen would, however, hook up with another local partner later in the year (see December).
22: Five-year business plan for Lotus unveiled
Proton says it hopes to transform its British sports car maker Group Lotus plc into a profitable company under a five-year transformation plan. Lotus also sets its sights on entering the premium sports car segment alongside Porsche and Ferrari.
JULY
12: Naza to assemble C-Segment Peugeot car
The Naza Group and Automobiles Peugeot ink an MoU whereby the former would produce a Peugeot sedan, code named the T73, at its plant in Gurun, Kedah. Production is slated to begin before the end of this year.
21: MAA reviews H1 2010 TIV, revises full-year forecast
MAA revises upwards its 2010 total industry volume (TIV) forecast to 570,000 units from 550,000 initially. The new forecast, if achieved, would make it a record-breaking year in terms of sales for Malaysia, surpassing the country's all-time high of 552,316 units in 2005.
TIV for the first-half of 2010 grew 19.8% to 301,077 units compared with 251,305 in the previous corresponding period.
AUGUST
14: DRB-HICOM signs pact with Volkswagen
DRB-HICOM signs MoU with Volkswagen AG to assemble and manufacture Volkswagen vehicles at the former's manufacturing plant in Pekan, its largest automotive manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
SEPTEMBER
14: Foreign car assemblers poised to get green light
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority is reportedly evaluating the possibility of five foreign automotive assemblers to set up operations locally.
21: Former-Perodua MD joins Naza Kia
Naza Kia, the official distributor of Kia Motor vehicles in Malaysia, appoints former Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar as its new chief operating officer.
28: Proton and Lotus Racing to battle in court over name rights
Proton and Lotus Racing F1 decide to clash at the British courts over the rights to use the Lotus name.
OCTOBER
1: Lotus unveils five new models
Group Lotus plc unveils its Lotus Elan, Esprit, Elite, Elise and Eterne at the Paris Motor Show. The cars would be released in the market one by one every year starting with the Elan in 2012.
14: Proton unveils its Inspira
Proton reveals its new mid-sized four-door sedan, the Inspira. The car, which would be launched later in November, is essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer GT and is RM40,000 cheaper.
15: Budget 2011
The Government decides to grant full excise duty exemptions on hybrid cars below 2,000cc until Dec 31, 2011. The move results in a significant drop in price for hybrid cars in Malaysia.
22: BCorp granted vehicle manufacturing plant licence
Berjaya Corp Bhd is granted a manufacturing plant licence by the International Trade and Industry Ministry for the assembly of hybrid and electric cars as well as commercial and luxury passenger vehicles.
DECEMBER
2: Launch of Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010 new models unveiled.
MAA launches KLIMS 2010. The event sees a slew of local and foreign concept cars revealed and new models launched. Honda Malaysia launched its entry-level Insight hybrid, which replaced its Civic Hybrid. However, some big brands are largely absent. Over 300,000 people attend the 10-day event.
8: Lotus ties up with Renault in F1
Proton's Group Lotus plc officially announces its entry into F1 in 2011, acquiring a major stake in the Renault F1 Team from Genii Capital.
21: DRB-HICOM officially ties up with Volkswagen
DRB-HICOM signs an agreement with Volkswagen to produce the latter's cars in Malaysia, starting with the Jetta and Passat from end- 2011.
..in da news today..
BUSINESS research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan expects Malaysia's automotive industry to reach an all-time high this year, selling up to 623,000 units of vehicles.
The growth will be spurred by new model launches, stable economic outlook, greater employment stability and marginal impact of the expected interest rate hike.
In 2010, the domestic total industry volume is likely to hit 598,200 units, a growth of 11.4 per cent over 2009, Kavan Mukhtyar, Frost & Sullivan partner and head of the automotive and transport practice for Asia Pacific, said.
The Malaysian Automotive Industry is set to announce the sales data for 2010 in the middle of this month.
"The record vehicle sales in 2010 were mainly attributed to the improved economic sentiment and spillover sales from new models launched in 2009," Mukhtyar said at a media briefing on Frost & Sullivan's Malaysian annual automotive industry outlook in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Perodua will continue to hold a leading position, commanding an expected 34.6 per cent market share last year due to robust sales of Alza and Myvi models, while Proton will have an estimated 29.3 per cent market share.
Rising oil prices in 2011 could present a renewed challenge but Mukhtyar is optimistic that the impact will be minimal as rises in the country are marginal, and it would not hurt the industry that much.
"As long as the increase in fuel prices is reasonable, there will be no dramatic impact on vehicle sales. This is more so in a country where public transportation service still has some gaps. Consumers do not really have an option, as they need vehicles as their means of transport," he said.
While hybrid car sales in Malaysia are likely to take off in 2012 and beyond, sales this year will likely be more than double to 3,400 units as compared to an estimated 1,500 units sold in 2010.
This is due to the excise duty exemptions on hybrid cars below 2,000cc until the end of 2011.
"This depends on the government's commitment to ensure the development of hybrid vehicles. Incentives given by government are likely to generate high interest on the likes of Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Proton is also likely to launch a hybrid model for Exora by end of 2011," Mukhtyar said.
This year, small and compact cars will continue to be the fastest-growing segment, increasing 14 per cent year-on-year to 91,044 units in 2011 due to launch of new Perodua Myvi, which will likely receive good response.
The growth will be spurred by new model launches, stable economic outlook, greater employment stability and marginal impact of the expected interest rate hike.
In 2010, the domestic total industry volume is likely to hit 598,200 units, a growth of 11.4 per cent over 2009, Kavan Mukhtyar, Frost & Sullivan partner and head of the automotive and transport practice for Asia Pacific, said.
The Malaysian Automotive Industry is set to announce the sales data for 2010 in the middle of this month.
"The record vehicle sales in 2010 were mainly attributed to the improved economic sentiment and spillover sales from new models launched in 2009," Mukhtyar said at a media briefing on Frost & Sullivan's Malaysian annual automotive industry outlook in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Perodua will continue to hold a leading position, commanding an expected 34.6 per cent market share last year due to robust sales of Alza and Myvi models, while Proton will have an estimated 29.3 per cent market share.
Rising oil prices in 2011 could present a renewed challenge but Mukhtyar is optimistic that the impact will be minimal as rises in the country are marginal, and it would not hurt the industry that much.
"As long as the increase in fuel prices is reasonable, there will be no dramatic impact on vehicle sales. This is more so in a country where public transportation service still has some gaps. Consumers do not really have an option, as they need vehicles as their means of transport," he said.
While hybrid car sales in Malaysia are likely to take off in 2012 and beyond, sales this year will likely be more than double to 3,400 units as compared to an estimated 1,500 units sold in 2010.
This is due to the excise duty exemptions on hybrid cars below 2,000cc until the end of 2011.
"This depends on the government's commitment to ensure the development of hybrid vehicles. Incentives given by government are likely to generate high interest on the likes of Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Proton is also likely to launch a hybrid model for Exora by end of 2011," Mukhtyar said.
This year, small and compact cars will continue to be the fastest-growing segment, increasing 14 per cent year-on-year to 91,044 units in 2011 due to launch of new Perodua Myvi, which will likely receive good response.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)