12 7 月, 2021

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Motivated for Monza

TOKYO, Jul 12, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing aims to maintain its 100% winning Hypercar record this week when the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) returns to Italy for the first time in nearly 30 years for the 6 Hours of Monza.The new GR010 HYBRID Hypercar has won both races so far this season, in Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao, and will now take on the high-speed challenge of Monza, a track which holds a special place in Toyota's endurance racing history.In 1992, Geoff Lees and Hitoshi Ogawa earned Toyota's first World Championship sportscar victory, beating opposition from Peugeot and adding the TS010 Group C car to a roll of honour which includes previous Monza-winners such as the Jaguar XJR-14, Mercedes Benz C11 and Porsche 962.That proved to be the last World Championship sportscar race in Italy, although WEC visited in 2017 for its pre-season Prologue test. The historic 5.793km track, in Europe's largest walled park, returns to the calendar this year.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing heads to Monza leading both World Championships following an exciting start to the season. Last year's Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley, in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, lead the drivers' standing following consecutive wins. World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez have scored podiums in both races so far in their #7 car.While the action on track has been dramatic, one important element has been missing; due to the global circumstances, fans have not been permitted to attend WEC races since February last year. But that will change in Monza, when a limited number of spectators will make a welcome return.The high-speed Monza track is ideal preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours, with long straights followed by chicanes which will replicate some of the technical challenges posed by the Circuit de la Sarthe when this year's delayed race takes placed on 21-22 August.Action begins in Italy with first practice in the afternoon of Friday 16 July, before a packed Saturday sees two further practice sessions and qualifying to determine the 37-car grid for Sunday's race, which begins at midday CEST.Hisatake Murata, Team President:"We are excited to race in front of fans again. It has been over a year since we could enjoy the atmosphere of a race weekend with spectators and we really miss this. The Italian fans are famous for their passion for motorsport, so Monza is a perfect place to welcome back spectators. Thank you to the organisers and the circuit for making this possible. This weekend is also an important step on our road to Le Mans, and Monza is a circuit which will be a tough test for the GR010 HYBRID, with the high top speeds and hard braking zones. We are all looking forward to the challenge."Mike Conway (GR010 HYBRID #7):"I am happy to be going back to Monza. We were there a few years ago for the Prologue test and I really enjoyed driving the TS050 HYBRID on a high-speed track like that. I'm sure it will be the same with the GR010 HYBRID. It will be a challenge for us because it's our first time there with the Hypercar and we need to get the set-up right, particularly under braking and over the kerbs. Hopefully we can achieve that and come out on top."Kamui Kobayashi (GR010 HYBRID #7):"We have never raced at Monza in WEC but I know the track well; I first raced there when I was in junior racing as a 17-year-old. So I am happy to be coming back to Italy, where I lived for a while early in my career. This race is the last one before Le Mans so it's an important week. We have to manage everything well, find the performance and the reliability and get ourselves prepared. Hopefully we can have an exciting race in front of Italian fans because it will be great to see spectators again."Jose Maria Lopez (GR010 HYBRID #7):"I am very happy to go back to Monza. I have not raced there for a long time but I have very good memories from earlier in my career, when I used to live close by. I won some races there in junior racing and I would like to win there in WEC too. It's a perfect circuit for endurance racing and after the strong performance in Portimao we go there with high expectations. We all want to have a good weekend because it's the last race before Le Mans."Sebastien Buemi (GR010 HYBRID #8):"To start the season with two wins is obviously great for our car and we hope to keep that run going in Monza. As always it will not be easy. We saw in Portimao how quick Alpine is, and Glickenhaus will have two cars in Monza so they will be stronger. I expect another close fight in Hypercar but we have worked hard to be ready for it. Le Mans is coming very quickly so we need to prepare properly and hopefully go there in a positive mood following another good team result."Kazuki Nakajima (GR010 HYBRID #8):"Monza is one of my favourite circuits so I am really looking forward to going back there for the first time since 2017. It's great to feel the high speeds on a circuit like that. I am quite interested to see how our Hypercar performs there because it is not an easy track in terms of braking, riding the kerbs and traction on the bumpy surface. It will be a big challenge but that's helpful for our Le Mans preparations."Brendon Hartley (GR010 HYBRID #8):"It is so cool to be racing at the temple of speed in our new GR010 HYBRID. Monza has a great history in endurance racing and it's great that it's back on the WEC calendar. It will be the first time that we see the new Hypercars on long straights with similar top speeds to Le Mans so, with similar aerodynamic requirements, it will be the perfect preparation. It's not only preparation; it's also important we keep building points for the World Championship so we target win number three." Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

4 6 月, 2021

Toyota Hits World Championship Century at Portimao

Toyota City, Japan, Jun 4, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will write another step in the history books when the GR010 HYBRID Hypercar takes on new competitors in the 8 Hours of Portimao, round two of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).Next week's event in Portugal marks Toyota's 100th race at the top level of World Championship endurance racing. Since the debut of the 83C car in the Fuji 1000km in October 1983, Toyota prototypes have participated in 99 World Championship races.Following a historic first Hypercar victory in Spa-Francorchamps, the World Champions face new competition from Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, which enters one car, as does Alpine. Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley, in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, lead the drivers' standings after winning at Spa, while Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, in the #7, began their title defence with third.Portimao is a new venue for WEC and therefore becomes the 21st different circuit on which Toyota has participated in World Championship sportscar racing since that first race in 1983, won by Derek Bell and Stefan Bellof in a Porsche 956. The debut of Toyota's first dedicated Group C car, the 83C, saw Kaoru Hoshino, Keiji Matsumoto and future Le Mans winner Masanori Sekiya classified ninth, while the entry of Derek Daly, Geoff Lees and Toshio Suzuki could not start following a practice crash.Through hard work, team spirit and continuous improvement, results and performances progressed throughout the following years and Toyota won its first World Championship race, with the TS010 at Monza in 1992, in its third full season. Since that first win, Sebastien has earned the most victories, winning 18 times, and has also participated in more races for Toyota than anyone else, 60 prior to Portimao.Toyota cars have won 31 of their 99 World Championship races so far, finishing on the podium in over half of those races, a combined total of 78 podium finishes in 56 races, and the team's target is to add to that tally in Portugal.Although Portimao is a new venue for WEC, it is a familiar one for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which has used the 4.684km track in the Algarve region as a regular testing venue for several years. The team last visited Portimao in December, when the GR010 HYBRID completed its first endurance test.With no changes permitted to Hypercars during a season, the GR010 HYBRIDs will be in identical specification to those raced in Spa. Nevertheless, engineers in Cologne and Higashi-Fuji have spent the last five weeks optimising set-ups and control strategies whilst addressing technical issues experienced in Belgium.Following a three-day journey by truck from Cologne, the GR010 HYBRIDs will undergo scrutineering and final preparations on Thursday, prior to first practice on Friday afternoon. Saturday is a busy day of practice and qualifying, to set the grid for Sunday's race, which begins at 11am local time.Hisatake Murata, Team President:"Although we are always looking to the future, for the next challenge, the next victory and the next technical innovation, it is satisfying to take a moment and look back on Toyota's history in endurance racing. Everyone in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team today is proud to be part of these 100 races. This anniversary gives us the chance to enjoy that history and remember the great names, the exciting races and the big sacrifices which are part of this fascinating story. While we celebrate our 100th race, we warmly welcome Jim Glickenhaus and his team to WEC for their first event, which I hope will be an exciting one for the fans. The Hypercar category is all about competition and it starts this year with Glickenhaus, before Audi, Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche join us in the near future. We are ready for the challenge but we saw areas to improve in Spa. We worked hard in the last weeks to continue strengthening our reliability and our operations to be ready for Portimao."Mike Conway (GR010 HYBRID #7):"It's great that the WEC season is now in full flow and we're back in a racing rhythm again. I'm looking forward to this race, which I hope will be the real kick off for our World Championship defence. We learned a lot in Spa about the car and we will take that into the Portimao race, trying to improve all the time. Even after a difficult Prologue, we put ourselves in a great position to win at Spa but couldn't execute, so that will be the target in Portimao."Kamui Kobayashi (GR010 HYBRID #7):"We know Portimao well from testing but nothing compares to the experience of being on track with other cars in a competitive environment. But I think we are well prepared after a challenging start to the season. It's good to have another Hypercar competitor to race against; this will give us a better indication of where we stand and what we need to work on for Le Mans. I hope we will be part of an exciting battle at the front."Jose Maria Lopez (GR010 HYBRID #7):"We went to Portimao already to test the GR010 HYBRID so, compared to Spa, we are a small step ahead in terms of preparation. It's a nice track with a good atmosphere, and the Portuguese weather should be reliable. What I like most is the mid-section, which feels like a roller-coaster because there is a lot of elevation change. You can never relax; there is always something happening. This makes Portimao a very challenging track and I cannot wait to race there with the GR010 HYBRID."Sebastien Buemi (GR010 HYBRID #8):"Of course, it's an honour to have participated in and won more races for Toyota in endurance racing than anyone else. It's a nice anniversary and shows Toyota's commitment to endurance racing, but my focus is on the future: the next race and particularly Le Mans. So Portimao is the next priority and, as it's a shorter event than Spa, we need to find the right set-up direction quickly and get a lot of information from the practice sessions. We will be working flat-out to win again."Kazuki Nakajima (GR010 HYBRID #8):"It was great to put our names in the history books as the first Hypercar race winners but Spa was only the start of the season; we want to win regularly with our GR010 HYBRID. It will be interesting to have new competition in Portimao, particularly as Glickenhaus is our first true Hypercar rival. I am sure it will not be an easy weekend as the competition will be close, but it's exciting to be part of the Hypercar fight and we are pushing to be in the centre of the podium again."Brendon Hartley (GR010 HYBRID #8):"I'm looking forward to racing with the GR010 HYBRID at Portimao, particularly against new competition in the Hypercar category. It's good to have another Hypercar to compare ourselves with. In a way, it feels a bit strange to be going to Portugal in the middle of June because usually we are in Le Mans, but this is an important step in our preparations for the big one in August so we will be pushing to keep the momentum going from Spa." Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

26 5 月, 2021

Mitsubishi Motors Introduces the Eclipse Cross PHEV Model in New Zealand and Australia

TOKYO, May 26, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that the Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model will launch in New Zealand on June 1, with the launch in Australia to follow in July. The addition of the Eclipse Cross PHEV model to the lineup reflects Mitsubishi Motors' continued commitment to contributing to the development of a sustainable society by promoting electrification focusing on plug-in hybrids.Eclipse Cross PHEV modelThe second plug-in hybrid in the Mitsubishi Motors' lineup, the Eclipse Cross PHEV model incorporates the twin-motor 4WD system from the Outlander PHEV and offers a quiet, smooth yet powerful acceleration unique to electric vehicles, as well as a sporty driving experience. Combined with the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, the vehicle delivers stable handling and precise control, giving drivers confidence to conquer on-road conditions with ease. The traction battery can also be used as a reliable source of electricity in an emergency, as it can supply power to a general household for up to 10 days(1) via the Vehicle-to-Home system when the vehicle is fully charged and fueled. "Our plug-in hybrid technology has been highly acclaimed in New Zealand, where the Outlander PHEV is the best-selling new plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle in the market's automotive history(2)," said Yoichiro Yatabe, executive vice president of MMC. "In addition to eco-friendly performance, the Eclipse Cross PHEV model allows nimble yet stable handling with peace of mind and is already well-received in Japan and Europe. We are confident that it will offer an enjoyable driving experience to the customers in New Zealand and Australia." The Eclipse Cross debuted in Europe in 2017 as Mitsubishi Motors' global strategic model. It has been rolled out to more than 100 countries across the world, with cumulative sales volume reaching around 273,000 units(3). The redesigned Eclipse Cross gasoline model was first introduced in Australia and New Zealand in November 2020, followed by the launch of the gasoline and PHEV models in Japan in December and the launch of the PHEV model in Europe in February 2021. (1) The amount of power is based on Mitsubishi Motors' internal calculation, assuming that the amount of power used per day in a general household is approximately 10kWh per day, and does not include the conversion efficiency of V2H equipment and similar device.(2) Source: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sales data from January 2002 to March 2021. The Outlander PHEV was launched in New Zealand in February 2014.(3) As of April 2021 About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211), MMC - a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan -, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has more than 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. MMC has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, MMC has been a leader in electrification - launched the i-MiEV - the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV - the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. MMC announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross PHEV (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on MMC, please visit the company's website athttps://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

3 5 月, 2021

Hard-Fought Hypercar Win for Toyota Gazoo Racing

Toyota City, Japan, May 3, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing began the Hypercar era in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a landmark victory in the Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps following an exciting start to the 2021 season in Belgium.Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley earned a place in the record books by winning in the #8 GR010 HYBRID after a dramatic and tense battle at the front, overcoming a close challenge from the #36 Alpine in second and their own team-mates in the #7 car.In an incident-packed race, the Hypercars foght relentless from the off. World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez started from pole position in their #7 GR010 HYBRID and had challenged for victory but finished third following several setbacks.Today's result marks TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's fifth consecutive win in Belgium as it begins its challenge for a hat-trick of World Championships.When the green flags waved to begin WEC's new era, Mike led the 31-car field, with Sebastien closely behind over the opening laps. The #8 took the lead on lap 11 and the pair of GR010 HYBRIDs were hotly pursued by the #36 Alpine.As the first pit stops approached, the race took its first dramatic turn. Mike brought the #7 into the pits and lost time when the car did not leave cleanly, before Sebastien visited the pits a lap later.At the end of that stop, the fuel nozzle was removed from the #8 before the 35secs minimum refuelling time had elapsed, breaking a new regulation and resulting in a 30-second penalty, taken at the car's next pit stop, when Brendon took the wheel.With the #7 requiring a fluid refill when Mike handed over to Jose, the #36 Alpine took over at the front. At half distance, Jose was closing in and just a few seconds behind, with Brendon further back in the third-placed #8.The exciting Hypercar battle showed no sign of easing off, and neither did the drama. Jose made contact with a GT car, slightly damaging the front bodywork. Then with just under two hours remaining, the #7 slid off track and became stuck in the gravel, requiring a rescue vehicle to recover it before he resumed in third.That left Kazuki in the #8 hunting down the #36 Alpine for the lead, while Kamui suffered a further setback when the #7 was given a drive-through penalty for the earlier contact with a GT car.Following the final Hypercar fuel stops, Sebastien in the leading #8 had a modest cushion of around a minute over the Alpine and he brought the car safely to the chequered flag to win by 1min 7.196secs from the #36, with Kamui bringing the #7 home one lap behind.Battle will resume for Hypercar honours in Portugal next month, when the inaugural 8 Hours of Portimao takes place on 13 June.Hisatake Murata, Team President"What a dramatic and unpredictable start to this new era for our team. We all hope that Hypercar will become an extremely competitive class and this race lived up to the expectations of fans around the world. Thanks to WEC and the race organisers for giving us an opportunity to race safely despite the global situation. We faced several difficulties but thanks to a big effort from the mechanics, engineers and drivers we began this new chapter in endurance racing in the centre of the podium. Despite the challenges this week, the team never gave up and Kamui really showed this spirit when he overtook the race leader just a few laps after being stuck in the gravel. Today was a strong start for our next generation of Racing Hybrid technology but we are still learning and improving with our GR010 HYBRID. It has not been the smoothest week for the team at Spa but this has highlighted areas to improve so we will work hard to do this before the next race, and particularly before Le Mans."Mike Conway (GR010 HYBRID #7)"It is tough to take that result today because we were looking pretty solid halfway through the race. Unfortunately a couple of things happened and it took us out of contention. We might have been okay with only the drive-through but when we lost a lap due to Kamui's incident, we knew that a podium was the best we could achieve. It's disappointing because we wanted to start the defence of our World Championship with a win and we had been doing well. Congratulations to car #8 for a strong performance and well done to the team for winning on the GR010 HYBRID's debut."Kamui Kobayashi (GR010 HYBRID #7)"That was a difficult race for our car, despite a promising start. During my incident, I locked the tyres but managed to avoid hitting anything. Unfortunately, I couldn't reverse because I got stuck in the gravel so I had to wait for the rescue car to get me back on track. It was a pity because we had the pace and were in a good position to win. We had a few issues today and it's clear we are still learning how to get the maximum out of the GR010 HYBRID. It looks like we have the performance but we need to get better in some areas."Jose Maria Lopez (GR010 HYBRID #7)"First of all I am really happy for the team. After ups and downs this week, even in the race, it was important that we started the season with two cars on the podium and a win for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Well done to car #8 who did a great job. On our side of the garage we felt we had the pace to win and we managed to pull out a little advantage. We had a couple of problems that changed our race and I regret the contact I had with the GT car. That was a tricky situation. So there is a lot to learn from today. We take the positive from this race, which is that we had the speed to win, and we will keep fighting."Sebastien Buemi (GR010 HYBRID #8)"It feels great to win the first race of the Hypercar era. Obviously there was a lot of pressure on our shoulders. Car #7 had pole position and it is amazing that we managed to get the win with car #8; I am really happy that we managed that. It was a big challenge and the team has worked really hard in the last few weeks with lots of testing. It was a well-earned victory from everyone. But we also know that we need to improve on a lot of different aspects and this is just the start. Now is time to celebrate a little bit before we quickly go back to working hard because there is lots to do."Kazuki Nakajima (GR010 HYBRID #8)"I am very proud to win the first race of Hypercar for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. I think as a team we did a really good job in the race. Congratulations to all of our car crew, and all of the team. The race was tricky for us, we had some ups and downs, but as a driving crew we did what we needed to do. It was so easy to make a mistake because the traffic was difficult to manage and we had strong competition from Alpine and even some of the LMP2s. We couldn't afford to make any mistakes so I am happy to have done our job well. It's a great achievement."Brendon Hartley (GR010 HYBRID #8)"It's a great feeling to start this new Hypercar era with a victory. It didn't come without some challenges but in the end we delivered the right result. As a driver crew we didn't make any mistakes and we were learning on every single lap. We continue to improve our understanding of the GR010 HYBRID, how we deal with double-stints with this car and the traffic management, which is very different than with the previous car. All I can say is that we are very happy with the first victory. It was a proper race, it was a challenge, but it was a lot of fun."Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps results:1st #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 162laps2nd #36 Alpine (Negrao/Lapierre/Vaxivierre) +1min7.196secs 3rd #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +1lap4th #22 United Autosports (Hanson/Scherer/Albuquerque) +1lap5th #38 JOTA (Gonzalez/Da Costa/Davidson) +2laps6th #28 JOTA (Geleal/Vandoorne/Blomqvist) +2laps Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

23 4 月, 2021

Toyota Gazoo Racing Hyped For Hypercar Debut

Toyota City, Japan, Apr 23, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will begin a new era with its GR010 HYBRID Hypercar when the road to the Le Mans 24 Hours opens at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, the opening round of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on 1 May.A direct successor to the legendary Group C period of the 1980s and 1990s, the spectacular LMP1 era has reached its conclusion, handing over the top category of endurance racing to the Le Mans Hypercar generation.Reigning World Champion and three-time Le Mans winner TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is the first manufacturer on the Hypercar grid in 2021, alongside Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, with Audi, Ferrari, Peugeot and Porsche among those joining the battle in the coming years.Following an intense pre-season testing programme, the all-new GR010 HYBRID Hypercar is ready for its race debut as the team aims to defend its world titles and win a fourth consecutive the Le Mans 24 Hours with an unchanged driver line-up.For the fourth season, World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez share the #7 GR010 HYBRID, while last year's Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley are at the wheel of the #8 GR010 HYBRID.Despite thousands of testing kilometres already completed at three different circuits since the GR010 HYBRID first turned a wheel in October last year, the final step of preparation for Spa is still to come, with a two-day official Prologue test taking place at the legendary Belgian circuit on 26-27 April.That represents the first time the GR010 HYBRID will be on track with rival cars, giving the team and drivers an important opportunity to evaluate the new car in traffic and against its main competitors Alpine, which races a grandfathered LMP1 car.The GR010 HYBRID features a front motor generator unit, delivering 272PS of hybrid power and four-wheel-drive traction at speeds over 120km/h. Combined with a 3.5litre V6 engine, the driver has 680PS at his disposal, with no restrictions on fuel usage. In contrast, the TS050 HYBRID weighed 162kg less and boasted 1000PS, although strict per-lap fuel restrictions effectively limited top speeds.With such fundamental differences compared to its all-conquering predecessor, drivers will need to adapt their approach, while engineers fine-tune the new Hypercar for maximum performance, particularly when passing the slower LMP2 and GT cars.Aside from on-track performance, the whole team also has to adapt to new regulations which limit the size of the operational crew at the circuit to 43. This cost-saving measure requires significant reorganisation and flexibility from the mechanic and engineering crews to maintain their high standards of on-track support, with Spa being the first time the slimmed-down team will operate in a competitive environment.A challenging start to the week is therefore expected, with a combined 12 hours of testing on Monday and Tuesday for the Prologue before the race event begins with a single practice session on Thursday. A busy Friday sees two practice sessions before the starting grid for Saturday's race is decided in a new qualifying format, when one driver per car will set a single flying lap.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has an excellent record at Spa-Francorchamps, with five victories since its first WEC race there in 2013 and, despite a strong challenge expected from its competitors, the target is to start the season with maximum points. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

20 4 月, 2021

Honda Exhibits the World Premiere of the “Honda SUV e:prototype” at Auto Shanghai 2021

TOKYO, Apr 20, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Honda exhibited the world premiere of the Honda SUV e:prototype, a prototype model of the first Honda-brand electric vehicle (EV) in China, at Auto Shanghai 2021 (The 19th International Automobile & Manufacturing Technology Exhibition, Media days: April 19-20, Trade days: April 21-23, Public days: April 24-28, 2021).In China, Honda will introduce 10 Honda-brand EV models within five years. The mass-production model based on the Honda SUV e:prototype is scheduled to go on sale in spring 2022 as the symbolic first Honda-brand EV in China. Moreover, striving to attain its goal to "realize carbon neutrality by 2050," Honda will evolve a number of comprehensive strategies while viewing the "electrified society" from a broad perspective beyond the electrification of products.The exhibit at the Honda automobile booth is showcasing the comprehensive lineup of Honda's electrified vehicles consisting of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV models. This includes the world premiere of the Breeze PHEV, GAC Honda's first(1) plug-in hybrid model.In addition, the technology presentation booth is exhibiting the third-generation Honda CONNECT which was introduced last month (March 2021) in China and Honda's omnidirectional ADAS(2) the next-generation advanced safety and driver-assistive system, enabling visitors to experience new technologies that contribute to the safety and comfort of everyday mobility.Key products/technologies on displayHonda SUV e:prototypeBased on Honda dynamics technologies, the Honda SUV e:prototype pursued dynamic, yet smooth acceleration performance and realized performance that enables the driver to feel the "joy of driving" in abundance. Moreover, in addition to futuristic designs, this prototype model features the third-generation of Honda CONNECT that offers a number of advanced functions such as everyday connectivity, smartphone link and OTA(3) updates based on a highly sophisticated voice-recognition interface. These features enable this model to provide its users with a fresh and fun-filled value of mobility. Breeze PHEVThe Breeze PHEV is a new plug-in hybrid model that combines the advantages of an EV and a hybrid vehicle. Developed based on Honda's original 2-motor hybrid system, SPORT HYBRID i-MMD, the plug-in hybrid system for this model realizes an "EV-like feel" and a torqueful drive in virtually all areas of everyday driving while eliminating customers' range anxiety during a long drive.The Breeze PHEV is scheduled to go on sale in China in the second half of 2021 as the first plug-in hybrid model introduced by GAC Honda.Third-generation Honda CONNECTThe third-generation Honda CONNECT is a connected service which seamlessly connects the users' mobility and daily lives to bring new value to everyday mobility. Based on the AI personal assistant equipped with highly sophisticated voice recognition capability, this third-generation Honda CONNECT offers functions full of advanced value, including functions to enable operation of smart home appliances and online shopping while driving, operation of the vehicle through a smartphone link such as a digital key and OTA updates. Moreover, the Honda CONNECT will offer more new and smart mobility experiences through the latest navigation and entertainment functions.The third-generation Honda CONNECT will become available starting with new models Honda will launch in China in the second half of 2021.(1) GAC Honda's first Honda-brand model equipped with plug-in hybrid system. (2) Advanced driver-assistive systems.(3) Over-the-air updates: Wireless delivery of software updates. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

7 4 月, 2021

New standards for Mice sector launched as S’pore welcomes more visitors, larger events resume

SINGAPORE - Singapore has launched a new certification programme for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) sector for large-scale events to be conducted in a safe manner. Event organisers, venue owners and suppliers who meet strict benchmarks and uphold best practices in areas such as hygiene and sanitisation, safe distancing and emergency management will be able to display a mark of assurance that they meet Singapore government standards, which can serve to assure global participants, such as conference attendees. The SG SafeEvents Certification, billed as a first-of-its-kind programme, was launched on Wednesday (April 7) by the the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (Saceos). The certification is aimed at giving Mice players here a competitive edge as they recalibrate their business operations for a Covid-19-safe marketplace, said Saceos president Aloysius Arlando. Adherence to the national standards provides a mark of assurance to the industry and the global community that events organised by certified organisers and suppliers, and held at certified venues, are "recognised under the programme to be safe, and the health and well-being of all involved are managed with the utmost care and consideration", he said. The provisional standard goes beyond current government-mandated safe management measures and complements the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) safe business events framework, which hybrid events such as TravelRevive and Geo Connect Asia 2021 have followed. To be certified, event organisers must also have a risk management plan and use contactless technology where feasible, while venue operators must develop a routine and periodic cleaning and disinfection plan. The programme, announced at STB's annual Tourism Industry Conference, will run for three years, after which there are plans to use the experience gained to turn the SG SafeEvents Certification into a full-fledged Singapore standard. Ms Jeannie Lim, assistant chief executive of STB's policy and planning group, said the SG SafeEvent standards contribute to Singapore's post-Covid-19 reopening efforts. "As we progressively resume larger events and welcome more overseas visitors, we must ensure that the industry is ready to implement the necessary safeguards and systems to ensure the well-being of our visitors as well as the local community," she said. Companies in the Mice sector that wish to be certified under the provisional standard can register their interest with Saceos to attend an industry briefing in May, where more details of the certification process will be announced. Attendees taking the antigen rapid test before the Tourism Industry Conference on April 7, 2021. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO More on this topic Related Story Wristbands to track visitor movements at hybrid Mice event in S'pore Related Story Mice sector restarts with hybrid events, amid much exploring

18 2 月, 2021

OUTLANDER PHEV Became Europe’s Best-selling Plug-in Hybrid SUV in 2020

TOKYO, Feb 18, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) announced that the OUTLANDER PHEV has closed out 2020 as Europe's best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV. A total of 26,673 units were sold across Europe in 2020, and the OUTLANDER PHEV became the second best-selling plug-in hybrid across all segments(1).The OUTLANDER PHEV is the flagship model which embodies MITSUBISHI MOTORS' expertise in electrification, SUV and all-wheel control technologies. The vehicle delivers a quiet, smooth yet powerful acceleration unique to electric vehicles (EVs) with eco-friendly technologies. The OUTLANDER PHEV is sold in more than 60 countries since the launch in 2013, and its global cumulative sales volume has reached 270,000 units as of December 2020."We are pleased that the OUTLANDER PHEV has been chosen by many customers in Europe where people are highly eco-conscious and the popularity of electrified vehicles is growing rapidly," said Takao Kato, chief executive officer of MMC. "Our mission is to provide attractive products with a sense of security to customers around the world by further strengthening our environmental technologies and 4WD technologies. We are also committed to contributing to the development of a sustainable society with our 2030 target--raising the proportion of electrified vehicles in the total sales to 50 percent with not only plug-in hybrids but with EVs and hybrid EVs."The OUTLANDER PHEV can be used as an EV in daily life and as a hybrid vehicle for long trips, allowing drivers to enjoy motor driving without worrying about recharging. The twin-motor 4WD combined with S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) system enables handling with peace of mind in various weather and road conditions.The two on-board power outlets with a maximum 1,500 watts can supply power from the traction battery to electronic appliances for outdoor leisure and as a reliable source of electricity in an emergency. Since the OUTLANDER PHEV can generate its own power, it can supply power to home using the vehicle-to-home (V2H) equipment up to 10 days(2) to a general household when fully charged and fueled.(1) Source: JATO Dynamics Limited(2) Amounts and durations of power supply were calculated by MMC--assuming average household power usage is approximately 10kWh/day, excluding the conversion efficiency of a V2H equipment. The power supply function may vary by market.About MITSUBISHI MOTORSMITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Since the Mitsubishi group produced its first car more than a century ago, we have demonstrated an ambitious and often disruptive approach, developing new vehicle genres and pioneering cutting-edge technologies. Deeply rooted in MITSUBISHI MOTORS' DNA, our brand strategy will appeal to ambitious drivers, willing to challenge conventional wisdom and ready to embrace change. Consistent with this mindset, MITSUBISHI MOTORS introduced its new brand strategy in 2017, expressed in its "Drive your Ambition" tagline - a combination of personal drive and forward attitude, and a reflection of the constant dialogue between the brand and its customers. Today MITSUBISHI MOTORS is committed to continuous investment in innovative new technologies, attractive design and product development, bringing exciting and authentic new vehicles to customers around the world. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

12 1 月, 2021

CITIC Telecom CPC Expands ASEAN Points of Presence to support Regional Proliferation of Innovative Technology Businesses and Smart Cities

SINGAPORE, Jan 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited ("CITIC Telecom CPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), has recently completed its Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta network gateway deployments for its TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid (SD-WAN, Software Defined Wide Area Network) enterprise connectivity solution.These latest SD-WAN gateways, powered by VMware, follow CITIC Telecom CPC's ongoing initiatives to anticipate and address demand for innovative, high performance, and agile Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions in the fastest-growing markets in ASEAN. In 2016 the company expanded Russian and Eastern European coverage to serve its customers better, encompassing CITIC Telecom CPC's full range of end-to-end managed services, including MPLS, cloud, and managed network security solutions.By further enhancing the footprint and capacity of TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid in ASEAN, CITIC Telecom CPC (CPC) is catering to the significantly growing base of Innovative Technology Businesses and Smart Cities being created in the region. TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid's ASEAN coverage now includes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Jakarta."We have always focused on identifying and serving the most important needs in the most important market segments," said Mr. Taylor Lam, Senior Vice President of Product Development & Management from CITIC Telecom CPC. "Within a year of its launch, TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid already covers nearly 50 gateways across 49 cities in 15 countries, including six (6) in Southeast Asia. These new ASEAN gateways in Malaysia and Indonesia underscore our commitment to ASEAN customers and highlight our continued strong SD-WAN partnership with VMware. More network gateways translate to better link quality, lower latency and overall improved performance."With TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid, a fully managed and better secured SD-WAN connectivity solution, customers can leverage the most cost-effective bandwidth available without compromising QoS delivery. Enterprises can dynamically create hybrid networks that bind multiple access technologies into single logical paths, taking advantage of MPLS linkages' reliability, security, and performance, yet limiting associated expenses. Network traffic is steered intelligently on optimal paths at the best times to increase performance and reduce costs. It improves business agility, application performance, bandwidth conservation and maximizes business application accessibility. TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid achieves these compelling advantages without requiring the high traditional costs, additional in-house staffing or other ongoing overhead expenses, often prohibitive for companies with tight budgets and timeframes. IT managers also gain more visibility, traffic routing control, rapid deployment and recovery, all with almost zero on-site IT personnel. The new Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta network gateways significantly enhance TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid performance across ASEAN, long popular as an ideal region for world leading technology companies expanding physical presence. In particular, Singapore's political and legal stability and transparency have attracted considerable investment from MNCs and global technology pioneers to the city-state, including purchasing significant real property in the central business district and establishing innovation research labs. ASEAN as a whole is receiving increasing venture capital from around the world."A huge percentage of the ASEAN population is digitally savvy," said Mr. Derek Ung, General Manager, Enterprise Sales, CITIC Telecom CPC. "Companies and people are eager to embrace and enjoy new technological products and services. ASEAN is still relatively under-represented in terms of tech startups. The potential for solutions that support all these new businesses and government projects especially smart city initiatives is huge, and creates opportunities for win/win/win for our company, our partners such as VMware, and our customers."The latest Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is setting out the framework for becoming the largest free trade area in the world. It is a potential window to reshape the future of trade as well as to propel enterprises to capitalize new opportunities across Asia Pacific. Further, analyst research has pointed to potentially immense ASEAN growth of its digital economy to some $300 billion over the next five years, likely encompassing multiple areas including smart products and services in mobility, e-commerce, travel, social media, telecommunications and even healthcare, the latter driven by telehealth demands in Southeast Asian countries lacking sufficient medical workers, and COVID-19 social distancing impacts. The "Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025" has also forecast up to $625 billion in annual economic impact in ASEAN by 2030, through disruptive technologies such as mobile Internet, Big Data, Cloud and Internet of Things applications."We may also see tremendous growth in fintech as the financial sector leverages new connectivity and computing technologies to innovate banking and investment services," added Derek, CPC. "Manufacturing is yet another area that will evolve, with many regional companies relocating or building out their supply chain in ASEAN. With our latest gateway deployment, we want to be ready to serve our customers in ASEAN and those moving to ASEAN."The new ASEAN gateways for TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid fortify CITIC Telecom CPC's ability to maintain its high-quality SLA commitment to ASEAN enterprise customers, enabling high network performance without compromising on responsiveness or reliability. The enhanced network capacity is also crucial for the region's emerging new digital businesses and smart cities, including the New Normal "Work From Home" approach being adopted worldwide. Robust network performance without sluggishness or outages is especially relevant for organizations migrating applications and workloads to cloud platforms via business digitalization initiatives."We are very excited to partner with CITIC Telecom CPC and help them deliver TrueCONNECT(TM) Hybrid to ASEAN customers," said Abe Ankumah, senior director, SD-WAN and SASE Business, VMware. "VMware SD-WAN Gateways are a unique and key component of our architecture, and for even the most demanding connectivity requirements, enterprises will be well-supported by the many high-performance gateways deployed by CITIC Telecom CPC throughout this region." "We are fully committed to the long-term success of our customers," said Taylor, CPC. "From Q1 2021, we plan to expand our network gateways to 10 more cities including in the Philippines, to ensure that we deliver the best experience to our customers."About CITIC Telecom CPCWe are CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited ("CITIC Telecom CPC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), serving multinational enterprises the world over by addressing their specific ICT requirements with highly scalable tailored solutions built upon our flagship technology suites, comprising TrueCONNECT(TM) private network solutions, TrustCSI(TM) information security solutions, DataHOUSE(TM) cloud data center solutions, and SmartCLOUD(Tm) cloud computing solutions.As a leading Global Local ICT Solutions Partner with worldwide footprint across East to West and native presence, we truly live our motto, "Innovation Never Stops." Being a preferred Digital Society Enabler, we lead our key markets at the forefront of pioneering ICT development, embracing AI, AR, Big Data, IoT, and other cutting-edge emerging technologies to transform technical potential into real-world value for our customers, helping them achieve higher productivity, agility, cost-efficiency, and ultimately, Digital Globalization. As one of the first managed service providers in Hong Kong to achieve ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, 27001, and 27017 ICT-related certifications, CITIC Telecom CPC delivers on our superior quality commitment through a broad global self-managed infrastructure encompassing some of the highest growth markets in Asia, Europe and America, with over 140 points of presence, 18 Cloud service centers, 30+ data centers, and two dedicated 24x7 Security Operations Centers.For more information please visit www.citictel-cpc.comVMware, and VMware SD-WAN are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.Media Contact:June TayCITIC Telecom International CPC Limited(65) 6692 8357Email: june.tay@citictel-cpc.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

15 11 月, 2020

BYD Debuts DM-i Hybrid Technology and 1.5L Xiaoyun Engine

Eric Li, Deputy General Manager of BYD Auto Sales (Middle) presenting tech details of Xiaoyun Engine.The new highly efficient 1.5L plug-in hybrid engine, is specifically built for the DM-i hybrid technology. With a Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of 43%, it stands as the world's highest thermally efficient gasoline engine in production. The engine's immense fuel efficiency easily meets China's newest national emissions standards, while also providing a distinctly smooth and quiet driving experience.The DM-i Hybrid Technology - Bold new advances for a more fuel-efficient worldIn the Chinese government's recent New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2021-2035), NEVs are expected to account for 20% of the total sales of new vehicles in China by 2025. Among these, the path for PHEVs shows immense potential.By leveraging its Dual Platform strategy, BYD's dual-mode (DM) hybrid technologies - the DM-p and the DM-i - further enhances the competitiveness of PHEVs against traditional fuel vehicles.The DM-p platform, with a focus on exceptional performance, provides a power output that surpasses large fuel cars. This has drawn the interest of consumer groups that strongly care about environmental protection and sustainable lifestyles, while also holding high expectations for driving experiences.New models with the DM-i hybrid technology will see a wide array of improvements, including further reductions in fuel consumption, faster acceleration, smoother and quieter rides, and more environmentally-friendly electric power. When compared to traditional fuel cars, vehicles equipped with DM-i hybrid technology stand out as superior products with their enhancement of driving experiences while being less reliant on fossil fuels. In addition, the prices of models with the DM-i hybrid technology are similar to the cost (tax and fee included) of fuel vehicles of the same type from outside of China. This is positioned to be a significant shift in the competition between PHEVs and fuel vehicles, impacting consumer and market perceptions of NEVs.Eric Li, Deputy General Manager of BYD Auto Sales, said, "BYD has always insisted on self-reliance to build its core technology. With our advantages in new energy technologies, we have achieved major breakthroughs in several key areas. The DM-i hybrid will rigorously accelerate the replacement of traditional fuel cars with new energy vehicles."The Xiaoyun engine - Hardcore technology for premium thermal efficiencyPowering the ultra-high thermal efficiency of the Xiaoyun is a multitude of innovative technical features, allowing it to reach its world-leading 43% BTE.The Xiaoyun boasts an ultra-high compression ratio (CR) of 15.5, an increased B/S ratio, an Atkinson cycle for improved combustion efficiency, an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, a series of friction-reducing measures and an engine control system that is uniquely optimized for high thermal efficiency targets.In addition, the Xiaoyun engine takes full advantage of the electrification of plug-in hybrid models, electrifying accessories and removing the traditional front-engine accessory drive system, further reducing wear and tear and improving efficiency.For the first time ever, BYD has implemented split cooling technology for an engine. Through on-demand cylinder head and cylinder block temperature measurements, this enables precise and accurate cooling for the Xiaoyun engine to reach optimal running temperatures. By mitigating heating losses, this shortens the length of warming up the engine after a cold start by 15-20%, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions during the process.To dramatically improve noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance, the engine has specially-optimized designs for the crankshaft, bearings, cylinder block, intake manifold, oil pan, timing cover, cylinder head cover and other components of the plug-in hybrid system.About BYDBYD Company Ltd. is one of China's largest privately-owned enterprises. Since its inception in 1995, the company quickly developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem - comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, and cutting-edge electrified transportation - has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sectors. BYD is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the company can be found at http://www.byd.com.ContactsIn Asia-Pacific: Richard Lipr@byd.com;tel:+86-755-8988-8888-69666In North America: Frank Girardotfrank.girardot@byd.com; tel: +1 213 245 6503In Europe: Penny Pengpenny.peng@byd.com; tel: +31-102070888BYD Company Ltd. Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com