11/05/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY MAY 11, 2025

Driver-centric performance models Sapura, Yaris bring motorsport engineering, rally-honed capabilities to public roads

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd expanded its Gazoo Racing family today with the launch of two new performance models – the GR Supra Track Edition and the GR Yaris Automatic Variant. Both vehicles brought motorsport engineering and rally-honed capabilities to public roads, further strengthening Toyota’s commitment to delivering exhilarating, driver-centric experiences. The GR Supra Track Edition contin ued the brand’s proud four-decade leg acy, offering sharper handling, refined chassis control, and purposeful, track ready styling. Meanwhile, the GR Yaris Automatic Variant introduced a newly developed 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission, broadening the reach of the GR brand to a wider range of enthu siasts without sacrificing its competitive motorsport heritage. The GR Supra Track Edition stood as the flagship of Toyota’s GR lineup, evolving into an even more focused m a c h i n e

ing 300PS and 400Nm of torque. It could sprint from 0-100kph in just 5.2 seconds. New to the variant was the introduc tion of Launch Control, designed to optimise engine torque and traction for more aggressive, controlled takeoffs. This feature worked in tandem with the newly developed automatic transmis sion and motorsport-calibrated paddle shifters to deliver a rally-inspired driv ing experience during everyday use. The GR Yaris Automatic Variant was priced at RM325,600.00. Both the GR Supra Track Edition and GR Yaris Automatic Variant were now available through GR Garage dealer ships nationwide, complete with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and comprehensive aftersales sup port.

sion brought enhanced accessibility without diluting the core performance ethos of the GR brand. Developed with insights from the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, the 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission delivered remarkably swift and precise gear shifts. Unlike conventional automatics that reacted primarily to vehicle movement, this system was engineered to anticipate driver intent, creating a more connected and intuitive driving experience. The GR Yaris Automatic Variant retained its 1.6-litre three-cylinder tur bocharged engine – the most powerful of its kind – produc

through a series of comprehensive upgrades. Powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cyl inder turbocharged engine producing 388PS and 500Nm of torque, the model was available with a choice of a six speed manual or an eight-speed auto matic transmission with paddle shifters. Acceleration figures confirmed its potency, with the automatic variant achieving 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds, while the manual version managed the sprint in 4.3 seconds. The GR Supra Track Edition was priced from RM698,000.00. Alongside it, the GR Yaris Automatic Variant made its debut, marking a sig nificant milestone for the rally-inspired model first launched in 2021. Building on the momentum from the recently introduced face lifted manual variant, the automatic ver

On the road to Neue Klasse

New G9 showcases 66 enhancements

XPENG displayed the 2025 iteration of its flagship electric SUV, the G9, at the Auto Shanghai 2025, showcas ing a total of 66 enhancements over its predecessor. According to Xpeng chairman He Xiaopeng, the updated model is anchored by the introduc tion of the brand’s next-generation Turing AI intelligent driving system – an innovation that eliminates the need for LiDAR and significantly enhances autonomous driving capa bilities. The new G9 retains the founda tional design of the current model, continuing with the X Robot Face 3.0 styling language. The SUV meas ures 4,891 mm in length, 1,937 mm in width, and 1,680 mm in height, while maintaining a wheelbase of 2,998 mm, making it slightly bigger than the Xpeng G6 that we have in our Malaysian market. Aesthetic updates include new electric suction doors, an automatic tailgate, and updated 20-inch five spoke alloy wheels. Xpeng will also offer a special “Black Warrior” edi tion, finished entirely in black, includ

ON its journey toward the Neue Klasse era, the BMW Group presented the innovations of its next-generation vehi cles at Auto Shanghai 2025. At the heart of BMW’s presentation were two key innovations: the BMW Panoramic iDrive smart display and operating system, and the lightning-fast Heart of Joy central computer. BMW introduced the Panoramic iDrive in a version developed specifically for the Chinese market. In collaboration with local technology partners, BMW tailored its Operating System X to Chinese users, offering exclusive digital functions available only in China. The Panoramic Vision display pro jected content across the full width of the windscreen, creating an entirely new interactive experience. Approximately 70% of the software in the Chinese ver sion consisted of locally developed and adapted code, reflecting BMW’s com mitment to its “China for China” strategy. Exclusive features included an AI powered BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, developed through collabora tion with Chinese tech giant Alibaba . Over the course of the year, BMW

ing blacked-out rims, emblems, and fenders, to cater to buyers seeking a more aggressive appearance. The 2025 G9 is equipped with Xpeng’s proprietary Turing AI driving system, which replaces LiDAR with a sensor suite comprising 11 cameras, three millimetre-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. This setup reportedly increases visual perception distance by 125% compared to the previous system, while improving object recognition speed by 40%. Both stationary and moving obstacles can be identified with high precision, marking a leap forward in autonomous functionality. The updated G9 offers both rear wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) variants. Battery options include 79 kWh and 93.1 kWh packs, offering China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) ranges of 625km, 680km, and up to 725km. These figures represent modest improvements over the 2024 G9, which had claimed ranges of 570km, 650km, and 702km, respectively.

planned to further enhance this system with “AI Reasoning by Deepseek,” ena bling seamless integration between the vehicle and the outside world. BMW also debuted the Heart of Joy central computer, capable of processing information ten times faster than previ ous systems, achieving millisecond-level latency. It was responsible for driving dynamics such as propulsion, braking, charging, recuperation, and partial steer ing functions. BMW unveiled the Heart of Joy inside the BMW Vision Driving Experience, a high-performance test vehicle devel oped as a “rolling laboratory.” This one off machine generated up to 1.2 tonnes of downforce and 3G of lateral forces, levels comparable to Formula 1 cars. Although the Vision Driving Experience was not intended for produc tion, the Heart of Joy system would power all Neue Klasse all-electric BMW models starting with the launch of the iX3 from the new Debrecen plant in Hungary later this year. A China-specific version, developed by BMW’s Shanghai design team, would follow in 2026, produced at BMW’s Shenyang plant.