Perodua expands on public protection initiative

Continuing its role as a good corporate citizen, Perodua has expanded on its public protection initiative with the recent distribution of a further 10,000 face shields within the Hulu Selangor district and Selayang municipality.

Recipients in Hulu Selangor, where the Malaysian carmaker has its headquarters and manufacturing complex, included the District Health Office, community and dental clinics, enforcers from the District Council’s (MDHS) Licensing Department, plus various morning and night market hawkers.

The carmaker also contributed face shields to the Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS) Licensing and Enforcement Departments, and through them, hawkers and street sellers in the area.

“Perodua’s face shield contributions are our way of giving back to the surrounding communities who have supported and made us feel at home for the past 27 years,” said Perodua’s President & CEO,  Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

“As a
People First
 company and a good corporate citizen, Perodua cares very much for the safety, health and well-being of the general public in these COVID-19 times. We have given out over 21,000 face shields to date; we hope they will be worn conscientiously and diligently by those going about their daily duties, bravely continuing to give all of us the services, healthcare and provisions we need,” he added.

Last month, prior to schools reopening,
Perodua gave out some 11,000 face shields to secondary schools
 in Putrajaya and Hulu Selangor.

The face shields, manufactured by an associate of Perodua, feature a fog-resistant visor made of polyethylene terephthalate for optimal visibility, sponge cushioning that hugs the forehead to act as a barrier against airborne droplets, and an adjustable elastic band for a snug and comfortable fit.

“We are not out of the woods yet in our battle against COVID-19. We hope Malaysians will continue to adopt and adapt to the new normal by exercising caution and complying with all the government’s health and safety guidelines,” advised Dato’ Zainal.

Visit
www.perodua.com.my
 to know more about other Corporate Social Responsibility activities of the carmaker.


Team Proton R3 takes Malaysian Championship Series title

Team Proton R3 (R3) drivers Fariqe Hairuman and Syafiq Ali have clinched the M-Production Class Championship for the 2019 Malaysia Championship Series (MCS). Driving a Proton Iriz, the pair finished second in Round 5, a gruelling 300-km race offering double points to those who finished in the Top 10.

For Fariqe, the 2019 title is his second MCS championship as he also won it in 2015 while driving for R3. His co-driver Syafiq, a 3-time Sepang 1000km (S1K) winner, collected his first MCS title to add to the impressive list of racing accolades he has already won.

Aiming for S1K win

After winning the MCS championship, R3 is aiming for a S1K win in November. By winning the MCS championship, R3 have achieved one of their main goals for 2019 and can now focus on defending their S1K title to deliver Proton a record-breaking fifth title in the race. They have a good chance of doing so as the team will be fielding cars with proven track records.

Aside from the Iriz, R3 will race two units of the 2019 Proton Saga, the newest car in their stable. During Round 5 of the MCS, the veteran driven pairing of Admi Shahrul and Faidzil Alang defended their title chasing teammates from attacks by other cars but still managed to drive their Saga to a third-place finish. It was the second podium for the Saga in the last three MCS races, which bodes well for the S1K.

The second Proton Saga will be piloted by drivers selected from the MSF-R3 Lady Racers Search. The initiative offers an opportunity to lady racers to undergo a development programme with R3, culminating in a race seat in the 2019 S1K race.

Competent road cars add competitiveness on track

“R3 set out to win the MCS in 2019 and we won 6 consecutive races to go into Round 5 as championship leaders. Having racked up 5 wins, the Iriz was carrying 60 kgs of success ballast so our competitors had an advantage during the race. Still, we tried our best to overcome the weight penalty and win the race but, in the end, we finished with two podium places in second and third. The results worked out well for us though and thanks to the skill of our drivers and the handling and reliability of our cars we easily clinched the MCS championship,” said Gary Lee, Team Principal of Proton R3.

“The team is using the newest versions of the Iriz and Saga and both have proven to be very competitive, thanks to the excellent handling capabilities of road-going versions of all Proton cars. This provides R3 with a good base from which to build a racing machine and as the season has progressed our development programme has managed to deliver two cars with race-winning potential,” he added.

Click here for other news and articles about Proton in PISTON.MY

Click here to find out more about accessories available from Proton R3


F1/Round 16: Highlights & Provisional Results For 2021 Turkish Grand Prix

Rain was falling as the cars lined up, Valtteri Bottas in front with Max Verstappen alongside and the fastest driver in qualifying – Lewis Hamilton – down in 11th spot as he had to take a grid penalty for the engine component change. The wet conditions were expected to remain throughout the race.

The Mercedes-AMG driver got off to a good start, and Verstappen slotted behind in his spray. Not surprisingly, there was some drama as Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, Williams Racing Nicholas Latifi and Haas F1’s Mick Schumacher went into spins on the wet track. But Hamilton was quick to slice through traffic within the first few corners and started the second lap to positions higher. He was then held at ninth place for 6 laps as Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda proved difficult to get past.

In third was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc while Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez was shadowing him and waiting for an opportunity to get forward to cover Verstappen. Track temperatures were low due to the rain and as the drivers tried to get the tyres warmer, the racing was still a bit tricky.

On lap 9, the first penalty of the race was imposed on Pierre Gasly. It was a 5-second time penalty for having bumped Alonso in a spin at the start. However, Alonso also got a 5-second penalty as well as he had later bumped in Schumacher.

Within 15 laps, Hamilton had moved from eleventh at the start to fifth and the difficult part would start – ahead were Perez and Leclerc. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who had started from the back due to an engine change penalty, had moved up to ninth place after 18 laps. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo was less successful and stuck at sixteenth place for some time. He would be the first driver to pit on lap 24.

At the halfway point of the race, it was still Bottas leading Verstappen and the gap was around 4 seconds. Leclerc was about 3 seconds behind the Dutchman but Perez was still some distance away with a gap of over 10 seconds. The prospect of more rain was mentioned in the pits.

Lap 36 saw Hamilton close in on the Red Bull driver and for a few corners, the two drivers were doing close-up duels. As with Tsunoda, Hamilton’s attempts to overtake keep being frustrated by the Mexican driver. And then Perez headed for the pits on lap 37, letting Hamilton through to start chasing Verstappen. Bottas also came in at around the same time, his lead taken by Leclerc. The Mercedes-AMG driver was able to return to the race just ahead of Verstappen.

On lap 42, Hamilton was asked to come in but he was reluctant to do so, and remained on the track. Leclerc too was thinking that he might trey to stay with the tyres all the way till the end of the race. Aston Martin COGNIZANT’s Sebastian Vettel had come in and taken the chance on intermediates which proved to be a very bad decision, dropping him totally out of contention.

Bottas started to close in on Leclerc while Verstappen was facing steering problems. With 10 laps remaining, the Mercedes-AMG finally regained the lead. Leclerc was displaced to fourth as Hamilton zipped past him but there was still a 6-second gap with Verstappen.  The pressure was on the Red Bull driver who was aiming for the Finn ahead but also having to keep an eye on his team mate in the mirror.

To be on the safe side, Hamilton decided to come in to change tyres with 7 laps remaining. His quick stop allowed him to return behind Perez and Leclerc. He had fresh tyres and could put in maximum effort all the way to the finish so the 5-second gap was nothing. But even as Hamilton closed in on Perez, he put in a spurt and overtook Leclerc, which was not what the Mercedes-AMG driver was expecting. It didn’t help that Scuderia Alphatauri’s Pierre Gasly had also closed in and was watching for an opening past. Only 3 laps remained.

In the final two laps, Bottas had a comfortable 10-second lead over Verstappen, enough for him to concentrate on picking up an extra point by going for the fastest lap just before he took the chequered flag to win the Turkish Grand Prix. It was his tenth win on Formula 1. Strange how, having been confirmed that he will leave the team at the end of this season, his fortunes are getting better.


Porsche produces one millionth 911

The one millionth Porsche 911 has rolled off the production line in Zuffenhausen, Germany. This is an incredible milestone for the company, which has improved on the 911 with each new iteration for the past 53 years, turning it into the most practical supercar on the market today.

The car, was of the Carrera S variant painted in a special Irish Green bodycolour. It is still owned by Porsche and will be placed in the automaker’s museum, after it embarks on an epic road trip across the globe, gracing places like the Scottish Highlands, the Nurburgring, as well as certain locations in the USA, China and other parts of the globe.

Speaking of the car that has made history for the nameplate, Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG said, “54 years ago, I was able to take my first trips over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road with my father. The feeling of being in a 911 is just as enjoyable now as it was then. That’s because the 911 has ensured that the core values of our brand are as visionary today as they were in the first Porsche 356/1 from 1948.”

The 911 is still an important model for the German automaker. Its signature rear engine, rear-wheel-drive platform has proven to be favoured by customers and enthusiasts all around the world. According to Porsche, more than 70% of all 911 cars built to date are still in driveable condition, which is a testament to their appeal.

On the track, over half of all 30,000 race wins that Porsche accumulated in its Motorsports history can be accredited to the 911, it is considered a favourite of racing drivers and teams of numerous racing series around the world.

In 2016 alone, Porsche produced 32,365 cars of the 911 model. And the reason Porsche has been able to cope with market demand is due to its facility in Zuffenhausen. This is where the German manufacutrer builds all of its two-door cars. It also happens to be where the new Mission E car will be built too. The assembly workers are skilled at handling 200 different tasks on the production line. Their knowledge, skills, work ethic and attention to detail are the reason why Porsche is able to produce a sizable volume of vehicles while ensuring that quality control does not suffer.


Before you go on that long-distance drive you have missed…

With interstate travel being permitted from June 10, many people are already making plans to do their ‘
balik kampung
’ journeys which they could not do for Hari Raya this year. Others are looking forward to driving beyond the state where they had been confined for over 80 days and of course, those who were stuck elsewhere can finally go home. It’s likely that there will be a lot of traffic on the highways and employers will probably be receiving many applications for leave in the coming days.

Have your vehicle checked first

It will be nice to be able to drive anywhere again, without having to stop at roadblocks but if you are planning on a long-distance trip, the same traffic rules apply even under what is called the ‘new normal’. Likewise, the same preparations need to be done on your vehicle before the journey, especially if it was not used much during the MCO period.

Some of the bigger tyre shops also offer general maintenance services and can inspect your vehicle to ensure important components are in good condition.

If you are unable to send your vehicle to a service centre for a quick inspection to ensure that everything is okay, you could go to one of the bigger tyre shops where they also do general maintenance. They would be able to help check things like the brakes, suspension and other areas that concern safety.

You can also do the checks yourself and most Owner’s Manuals provide information on what needs to be checked periodically. Tyre pressures would be one area, especially if the vehicle was idle for a long time. Check that the pressures are in accordance with what the manufacturer recommends and if you are travelling, then it is a good idea to increase the pressures a bit. And don’t forget to check the spare tyre too! Needless to say, all lighting units should be in working order.

Check all the fluids as well – brake fluid, engine oil level and radiator fluid – and top up if necessary. It’s hard to see the condition of the battery (although some batteries have indicators of their health) but if you have a basic battery, then at least make sure the fluid inside is topped up. Again, the people at the tyre shop can help determine the condition of the battery. This is important to know as you do not want to have your journey disrupted when you cannot restart the car because the battery died after you switched off the engine at a R&R.

If there are very small children, remember that there is a law now which makes it compulsory to provide them with a childseat. It came into effect in January this year and using a childseat is even more important when travelling outstation as you will be cruising at higher speeds than in town.

Next is something which you probably never considered before – hand sanitizers and antiseptic wipes. On your journey, you may stop at some places where you will come in contact with surfaces that many other people touch. For your protection, you should not only minimise touching such surfaces but if you do, use the hand sanitizer to clean your hands before you touch anything else in the car (and avoid touching your eyes or mouth). It is recommended that you do not leave the hand sanitizers in the car as long periods of high temperature can cause their effectiveness to diminish.

Related:
Latest fuel prices

The other thing to also keep in mind is when refuelling. Although the petroleum companies have said that their staff sanitize the equipment frequently, it doesn’t hurt for you to also take precautions. There have been warnings not to use thin plastic gloves for protection as these can cause static electricity which is very dangerous at a fuel pump. If you want to use gloves, be sure they are made of rubber. If you do not have gloves, an old newspaper should also be fine to hold the nozzle. That would at least prevent direct skin contact with the surface and, of course, you can use the hand sanitizer to clean after that.

It’s probably something you never thought about before but this nozzle handle is held by many different people. In these times when there should be precautions taken to avoid picking up the virus, it is a good idea not to have direct skin contact with the handle.

Keep face masks in the vehicle as well. You don’t have to use them while in the vehicle but if you have to go into the R&R area or the petrol station convenience store and there are many other people around, wearing a facemask would be a good idea.

Stalls at the R&Rs

All the stalls at R&R locations will be operating from June 15 but there are certain procedures which must be observed. In particular, social distancing must be practiced, just as at restaurants in the city, so don’t crowd together at the table. In fact, gathering in large groups is also not recommended. PLUS has also informed that comprehensive cleaning work at all R&Rs will be carried out between June 12 and 14, in addition to scheduled cleaning.

All the stalls at R&Rs will be allowed to operate from June 15. However, customers are expected to practice social distancing in all areas (this picture was taken last year).

PLUS has also introduced a ‘Pre-order’ facility at selected R&R restaurants located at the Dengkil, Rawang and Sungai Buloh R&Rs. Motorists customers can order food using the PLUS Mobile app and make online payments before collecting at the respective R&R . This facility will be extended to other R&Rs in the near future.

According to PLUS, the number of vehicles on its highways has been steadily increasing and over 1 million vehicles have been recorded on weekdays with a 20% decrease over the weekend. There is an expected surge during the week following June 10 when interstate travel is permitted again.

Check your TnG tollcard before your jouney and be sure it has enough balance to pay for the toll charges along the way.

Reloading of Touch’nGo cards at toll plazas is not available as PLUS suspended the services to avoid interaction between motorists and its staff so as to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. The company urges motorists to ensure that their tollcards or accounts have sufficient balance to cover toll charges along a journey. Reloading can be done at some 11,000 locations around Malaysia and these include ATMS, petrol stations, convenience stores and many other places.  Don’t inconvenience other motorists by causing a jam because you do not have enough to pay the toll.

Have a safe drive wherever you are going in the near future.


BMW Drivers Will Be Racing At Super Sim Saturday With Races All Around The Virtual Globe

Real-world motorsports events all over the world, including world championships, have been cancelled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no racing going on – within the vast BMW Motorsport SIM Racing programme, no less than ten BMW drivers will fight for glory today.

The first-ever virtual round of the Nurburgring Endurance Series will start off at 1 pm European time (8 pm in Malaysia) with a 4-hour race in what is nicknamed the ‘Green Hell’. Among the more than 50 cars in the field that are split into four classes, there will be two BMW Z4 GT3s driven by BMW drivers. The race will be broadcast in livestream at
www.vln.de
.

“It is obviously a shame for us racing drivers to be at home instead of at the racetrack at the moment. As such, I am all the more delighted that sim racing is offering us the opportunity to still go racing,” said Martin Tomczyk, who will be in a Z4 GT3). “Personally, I am spending a lot of time in the simulator at the moment. I think holding the season-opener on the Nordschleife in a virtual environment, and in line with the original regulations, is a great idea. I am sure there will be a lot of well-known names on the grid.”

After this race, you can visit the YouTube channel of THE RACE in order to follow the second edition of the All-Star Esports Battle. Up to 60 pro racers will accept the challenge of sim racers, in order to determine the overall winner in the Grand Final from 8 pm (3 am Sunday in Malaysia). BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Maximilian Gunther (GER) will return to this competition, after finishing second behind Max Verstappen (NED) in the very first Pro Race held last weekend.

Four MOTUL BMW M8 GTE cars will line up on the grid of the 90-minute IMSA Super Sebring race. With the classic Sebring 12 Hours (USA) being postponed, IMSA fans will now be treated to GTE action on the iRacing sim platform. In total, more than M8 GTEs have registered for the race which will start at 2:30 pm in America (2:30 am Sunday in Malaysia) which will be broadcast on the iRacing eSports Network on YouTube and Twitch.

BMW DTM driver Philipp Eng, who makes his debut in THE RACE All-Star Esports Battle, said: “I am very much looking forward to taking to the virtual racetrack with so many of my fellow professional racing drivers and sim racers. At the moment, the simulator is our only opportunity to go racing. I will prepare as well as possible and hope to be up there at the front of the field.”


McLaren Racing to take over Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team for 2023 entry

As reported last year, McLaren Racing will join Formula E and Extreme E, the two series which run all-electric racing cars. The team for Extreme E has already started competing in the second season which started earlier this year, and next year, McLaren Racing will enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in its ninth season.

Acquiring championship-winning team

The McLaren Formula E Team will be formed through the acquisition of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, expected to complete later this year, following agreement between McLaren Racing and Mercedes-Benz. The Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team won last year’s championship and will exit at the end of this season.

Ian James, Team Principal of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, will continue to lead the team, enabling a smooth transition as the team prepares to join the series which will be using the
new Gen3 cars
.

McLaren Racing will have a ‘ready-to-race’ team when it takes over the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team which is in its final season this year. The German team won Season 7 of championship last year.

McLaren Racing’s participation is said to be squarely aimed at accelerating the organisation’s understanding of EV technology as part of their sustainability journey while reaching a new, more diverse global audience.

More manufacturers joining Formula E

McLaren will join the growing number of car manufacturers such as Porsche, Jaguar,
Maserati
,
Nissan
 and DS in the series which continues to become more popular. However, it is not the first involvement by the organisation as McLaren Applied (a subsidiary) has been Formula E’s exclusive Gen2 battery supplier under a 4-season contract.

“McLaren Racing always seeks to compete against the best and on the leading edge of technology, providing our fans, partners and people with new ways to be excited, entertained and inspired,” said Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO. “Formula E, like all our racing series, fulfils all those criteria. As with all forms of the sport we participate in, Formula E has racing at the centre but will be strategically, commercially and technically additive to McLaren Racing overall.”

“I firmly believe that Formula E will give McLaren Racing a competitive advantage through greater understanding of EV racing, while providing a point of difference to our fans, partners and people, and continuing to drive us along our sustainability pathway,” he added.

McLaren is among the great names in motorsport, collecting 20 Formula 1 World Championship titles and more than 180 Grand Prix wins since the team was founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963. In addition to Formula 1 racing, it has three Indianapolis 500 victories and won the Le Mans 24 Hours at the first attempt.

McLaren Racing has been taking part in Formula 1 since 1966 and this year, it also entered the Extreme E all-electric off-road series (below).

In Formula 1, it was also the first team to be awarded FIA Three-Star Accreditation for sustainability and is a signatory to the UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action framework established to drive the climate agenda in the sports industry.

For Formula E Founder and Chairman, Alejandro Agag, McLaren’s arrival is the culmination of a long-term objective, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter. “I wanted McLaren to be part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since Season 1, and I’m delighted we finally made it happen. But it is so much more than just deciding to go racing. Being part of Formula E signals a strategic investment in the future of electric vehicle development. I welcome Zak’s belief that Formula E provides a cutting-edge environment for a proven innovator like McLaren to accelerate their EV experience and performance,” he said.

New generation of electric racing cars

The Gen3 racing cars will be used from the 2022/23 season, bringing performance and efficiency advances including more powerful, lighter cars and faster charging as well as a set of technical and financial controls aimed at reinforcing the business case for Formula E’s ecosystem of teams and manufacturers.

With more automotive manufacturers on the grid than any other motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is not only one of the most compelling racing series on the planet but also an unparalleled proving ground for race-to-road electric vehicle and sustainable mobility technologies.

McLaren Racing reveals 2022 F1 car as well as Extreme E and IndyCar challengers


BMW continues to be the largest exporter of vehicles from the USA

BMW first began selling its cars in America in the mid-1950s and as their popularity grew, the carmaker began to consider making some of them there. The decision was finally made in the early 1990s, and Spartanburg County in the state of South Carolina was chosen for the factory site. It would be the first full production factory outside Germany and was intended to be a global production hub.

The first car – a 3-Series sedan – rolled out in September 1994, and was followed by the Z3 and Z4 models in the years that followed. The output was not only sent to distributors around North America but also worldwide, shipped out of  the Port of Charleston which is nearby and one reason why BMW chose Spartanburg.

BMW’s first and still only factory in the USA began by making the 3-Series in 1994, followed by the Z3 and Z4 (below).

In 1999, the plant was designated as the global production hub for the new SAVs, starting with the X5. Today, it is the global centre of competence for X models.

Global centre of competence for X models

The Spartanburg factory began making the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAVs) in 1999, with the X5, and today produces five X models (X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7). These include plug-in hybrid electric variants which accounted for 13 percent of the factory’s total production last year. BMW has assembled batteries for electrified vehicles since 2015, making the BMW Group a pioneer of electromobility in the USA.

In over 25 years, BMW Plant Spartanburg’s employment level has risen to more than 11,000 people who build 1,500 BMWs every day. The current facility represents a total investment of US$10.6 billion that includes two massive body shops, two paint shops, two assembly halls and an elaborate logistics operation.

Exporting more than two-thirds of its product, the BMW factory makes a considerable impact on US economic growth. A 2018 study by the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina estimated the annual economic impact of BMW Manufacturing on the US economy, measured in terms of overall output, was US$38.5 billion.

Seventh consecutive year as top exporter

Last year, for the seventh consecutive year, BMW Plant Spartanburg again topped the chart for automotive exports from the USA by value, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The factory exported 218,820 SAVs  and Coupes during 2020 with an export value of more than US$8.9 billion.

While 86% of the vehicles were exported through the Port of Charleston, other ports along the east coast of the country were also used, as well as rail transport. The exports go to more than125 countries around the world. The top 5 export countries were China (23.3% of export volume), Germany (12.9%), South Korea (7.8%), Canada (6%), and Russia (5.3%).

BMW Spartanburg exports vehicles by sea as well as by rail (below).

Like all automotive manufacturers, BMW experienced a production interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a 5-week non-production period, activity in the factory resumed for one shift daily from May 4. With new health guidelines and procedures in place, production slowly ramped up as the supply chain stabilized and demand rose. During the second half of the year, the factory produced nearly 218,000 BMWs, a record for any 6-month period in its history. By year’s end, the total output was 361,365 vehicles for the whole of 2020.

Click here
 for other BMW news and articles or visit
www.bmw.com.my
 to know more about models and services available in Malaysia.


Price Of RON95, Diesel May Increase Gradually By The End Of 2023

The existing RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre subsidy ceilings for RON95 and diesel, respectively, may be subject to revision and a possible progressive rise later this year.

If there is no gasoline subsidy, as opposed to the present RM2.05 per litre, the actual price of RON95 is anticipated to reach roughly RM3.22 per litre, according to PublicInvest Research analyst Sabrina Edora.

Furthermore, it is estimated that eliminating fuel subsidies for the T20 income category would raise inflation by 0.45 to 0.75 percentage points each year. The government recently indicated that the Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU) system, which will be used to deliver targeted subsidies for RON 95 fuel and diesel next year, will be ready by the end of this year.

Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, stated that the integrated database will review all existing data to enable tailored subsidies to be supplied to the appropriate target.

In April 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a slower rate of 3.3 percent, compared to 3.4 percent in March 2023, in accordance with market expectations. In the meantime, core inflation rose at a slower rate of 3.6 percent in April, compared to 3.8 percent in March.

Overall inflation in the country is expected to average between 3.0 percent and 3.5 percent in 2023, according to PublicInvest Research, with the caveat that any changes to the retail oil price cap or the deployment of price control measures may impact the prediction. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) expects inflation this year to be between 2.8 percent and 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Sabrina anticipates the BNM will maintain its current monetary policy stance until at least the third quarter of 2023. She said, with the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) returning to pre-pandemic levels, he expects BNM to use a wait-and-see approach, especially in relation to monitoring important central bank developments. Any change to the current monetary policy stance will be subject to careful evaluation based on further progress in macroeconomic conditions.


KLIMS Is Back – The KL International Motorshow 2018 Starts On 23rd Nov @ MITEC! [+Links]

I’ve never liked KLIMS.
 No,
really
, to me it was without a doubt the
worst
 motorshow of the region. Badly organised, always in a shambles and no-one (especially the media) knew what was going on and when. But the biggest, most obvious error in judgment was its physical location. The PWTC or
Putra World Trade Centre
 is a great building, but holding a massive motorshow within its confines was never going to be a good idea. This was akin to holding the World Cup in a
futsal
 stadium. Here’s a good example below from KLIMS 2013: where in the world have you ever seen an International Motorshow with a ceiling that
low?

The floor area was just too small, and crowd underestimation always meant wall-to-wall visitors with little or no breathing space, much less photographic opportunity. Covering this show from a media standpoint was borderline impossible. And nowhere else in the world did one have to cross a
river
 to get from one show hall to the next… and let’s not even talk about parking smack-dab in the middle of the city.

That being said, after a
5-year hiatus
, on paper at least
KLIMS 2018
  (<– link) is looking better already. For starters it’s going to be held at
MITEC
, or the
Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre
 in KL (Full address: 8, Jalan Dutamas 2, Kompleks Kerajaan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. Waze: MITEC). Boasting 50,000 square feet of floor space and more than 100 participating companies, KLIMS will be on-going from
23rd November to 2nd December 2018
.

“KLIMS is Malaysia’s most established and significant automotive event. The motor show is trailblazing towards its 9
th
 presentation after a five-year hiatus, on the theme of “Beyond Mobility” –
Malaysia Automotive Association, MAA.

A few carmakers are using KLIMS 2018 as a platform for some important announcements, including our very own
Proton
, who are using the show to reveal the
official price
 of its much-hyped new
X70 SUV
.

Ford Malaysia
 is bringing in the new Mustang, and will also reveal the price of the new
Ranger Raptor 4×4
.

UMW Toyota
 will unveil the new
Vios
 &
Camry
, the latter being
revealed
 (<– link) late last month in Thailand.

Boon Siew Honda
 will launch their electric PCX scooter, new Goldwing & Fireblade at KLIMS 2018, while
Kawasaki Malaysia
 has something up its sleeve too.

We have high-hopes for KLIMS 2018, let’s see if this time around they get it right. After 5-years and countless visits to other regional motorshows like
BIMS

and
Gaikindo
, (<– links) let’s hope the organisers have learned a thing or two (and more) about how to properly run a motorshow. For more info log on to the
KLIMS 2018 Facebook
 (<– link) page, because the KLIMS website doesn’t seem to be responding at time of publishing…

Stay tuned as Piston.my will be there on the ground to cover KLIMS 2018!


Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Records Strong Performance In 2017

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (MBM CV) delivered a strong performance last year, recording a total of
2,469
 vehicles sold in 2017, comprising
FUSO
 light-duty and heavy-duty trucks as well as Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans. Despite the dip of 7.9% in Total Industry Volume (TIV) for 2017, MBM CV continues to be a strong supporter of the transport and haulage industry, attributing its robust performance in 2017 to its strategy of placing customers at the centre of its initiatives.

“Part of Daimler Trucks, MBM CV represents first-class product quality and service excellence in the Malaysian market. In everything that we do, our focus is on our customers. Safety, reliability and economic efficiency are our topmost priority. With the commitment of our dealer partners and the trust of the market, 2017 proved to be a positive year in many aspects. As a new year begins, we remain as committed as ever to deliver vehicles and solutions of the highest quality – Trucks you can trust,”
 said
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles, Vice President, Mr Albert Yee
(above, main image).

In 2017, the famed
Mercedes-Benz Actros
 proved to be a top choice among hauliers recording an impressive total of
268
 units sold, maintaining a double digit growth of 24.1%. Contributing 32.1% sales, the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2644LS 6×2 (L-cab) remains the most popular model. Meanwhile, FUSO trucks recorded
2,170
 units sold.  As a result of securing fleet contracts from new small and medium operators during the year, MBM CV was able to achieve a market penetration
 13.06%
 for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in 2017, a new record for the company.

Throughout 2017, MBM CV and its network dealers continued to raise the bar with best-in-class commercial vehicles and service quality for the haulage industry.  Product enhancements included the new TD Canter facelift and ensuring that MBM CV’s entire product portfolio complies with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) safety regulations set by
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan
 (JPJ). These measures improve vehicle safety and ensure customers’ peace-of-mind.


Aston Martin V12 Vantage ‘Final Edition’

15 years ago, Aston Martin revealed a new car built around the premise of fitting the most compact and driver-focussed model with the largest and most potent series production engine. It was the
V12 Vantage RS Concept
 that would go into production and through successive version that have formed an iconic bloodline.

This lineage is now nearing its end and it ‘goes out on the highest of highs’, as Aston Martin’s CEO, Tobias Moers, says with the fastest, fiercest and most dynamically accomplished version of them all. While other manufacturers present ‘First Editions’ of their new models, Aston Martin is presenting the ‘Final Edition’ of the V12 Vantage. There will never be a car like it again.

Production of the V12 Vantage is strictly limited to 333 units, all of which have already been taken right after the new V12 Vantage was confirmed in December last year. As with many such limited editions, the number who want it exceeds the supply so there is a register of interest for hopefuls who wait for someone to change their mind. The first customers will get their cars before June this year.

The engine is the heart of every Aston Martin but never has it been more so than in this car which is  the fastest and most powerful Vantage ever built. The quad-cam 60-degree 5.2-litre V12 develops 700 ps at 6,500 rpm and 753 Nm, fully available between 1,800 rpm and 6,000 rpm. That can send the V12 Vantage from standstill to almost 100 km/h in around 3.4 seconds, and on to a top speed claimed to be 320 km/h.

While the muscular engine provides the strong propulsion, extensive weight-saving measures have also  brought the overall weight down so that it has a power-to-weight ratio of 390 ps per ton, or more than 20% compared to the V8-powered Vantage.

The power flows through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and mechanical Limited-Slip Differential mounted at the rear of the car. Unique transmission calibration enhances shift speeds and driver interaction, with learnings taken from the
V12 Speedster
 and
Vantage F1 Edition
. This specially calibrated software delivers a level of shift refinement and usability which is beyond that seen on dual clutch gearboxes.

The weight-saving measures include a carbonfibre front bumper, clamshell bonnet, front fenders and side sills, composite rear bumper and decklid, and a special centre-mounted twin-exit exhaust system. Tuned to ensure the V12 Vantage has a voice to match its looks and performance, this new exhaust system is made from lightweight 1 mm stainless-steel, saving some 7.2 kgs compared with the system fitted to the Vantage. Even the battery is a specially sourced lightweight unit.

To complement the engine performance and character is the dynamic driving experience, improved in this last V12 Vantage. It comes with a new adaptive damping suspension system including new anti-roll bars, bushes, and spring and damper assemblies. Suspension spring rates have been increased by 50% at the front and 40% at the rear, combined with top mount stiffness increasing by 13% and new anti-roll bars are 5% stiffer at the front and 41% softer at the rear. To maintain comfort for the driver, a secondary tender spring has been introduced to the rear.

Body stiffness has also been increased with additional front and rear sheer panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing, increasing body stiffness by 8% and lateral stiffness  by 6.7%, giving the optimum platform stiffness for superior driving dynamics.

For stopping power, Aston Martin has installed its Carbon Ceramic Braking system as standard, saving 23 kgs in weight. This comes with 410 mm x 38 mm discs with 6-piston calipers at the front, and 360 mm x 32 mm discs paired with 4-piston calipers at the rear. The CCB discs maintain consistent braking performance at high temperatures and have been engineered to resist brake fade at very high temperatures.

Moving to the interior, the V12 Vantage retains the instantly recognisable layout of the current Vantage, whilst signifying its halo positioning with a Sports Plus Seat trimmed in full semi-aniline leather featuring ‘Wings’ quilt and perforation pattern as standard.

There is also a new carbonfibre performance seat with exposed twill carbonfibre shell and manual 6-way adjustment available as an option, offering a supportive seat design for those enhanced driving dynamics and a distinct design character. This is an Aston Martin patented design inspired by motorsport, optimised to save 7.3 kgs without compromising comfort.

Woven leather or Alcantara seat inserts, trim inlays and the anodised rotary dials found in the centre console can coloured in a way to match or contrast with the exterior body or graphic colour, providing a more subtle injection of colour inside the cabin. With so many design combinations available, it would not be a surprise to see no two cars the same.

Aston Martin provides F1 Safety and Medical Cars again for 12 races in 2022


Updated Mitsubishi Triton Quest – the workhorse truck that also looks good for personal use

Pick-up trucks used to be just workhorses, vehicles that were bought for business purposes and therefore did not need much by way of features, comfort or performance. They were also priced cheaply because they didn’t have the luxuries of a passenger car. When the regulations in Malaysia changed in the late 1990s to allow private registration of such vehicles, their popularity rose but the new group of people who bought pick-ups wanted the comforts of their passenger cars. So the manufacturers began to add more and more car-like features and even safety systems comparable to passenger cars.

However, at the entry-level end, businesses still wanted a workhorse, something tough and capable in rough conditions to do hard work. And they naturally wanted a low price since they would buy many units. This led to companies offering variants that were fairly simple with basic specifications and even the drivetrain was 4×2 (rear wheel drive only), saving cost and weight and also having lower consumption.

To cater to this end of the market, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) imported the Mitsubishi Triton Lite from Thailand in 2008, in the process introducing the low-rider version to Malaysia. The low-rider pick-up truck is lower and that makes loading more convenient. As mentioned earlier, being intended for the entry-level end, the Triton Lite was priced low and also equipped minimally (though not as spartan as the earlier pick-up trucks).

The Triton Lite found its own niche in the market and as generations changed, MMM maintained the variant in the Triton range. Today, the company presented an updated version –  now called the Triton Quest – to the media which has freshened looks with the distinctive Dynamic Shield front end. Though this variant has been around since the new generation was launched, the new looks now make it a workhorse that also looks good enough for use as personal transport. Those who want to enhance the looks can obviously install accessories (especially since they have saved money by choosing the cheapest Triton variant).

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre commonrail turbodiesel with an output of 110 ps/200 Nm, with power delivery going only to the rear wheels (4×2) through a 5-speed manual gearbox. While 4×4 is desirable, if the vehicle is mainly used on hard surfaces, 4×2 is not that disadvantageous.

MMM highlights the massive 970 kgs of load capacity of the Triton Quest and the cargo deck floor area as being the largest in the low-rider category. In spite of the large area, the cabin is still spacious, thanks to the J-Line profile which allows for good rear room. There’s also additional storage space in a compartment that cannot be seen as it is under the rear seats.

Features-wise, the latest Triton Quest can be said to be generously equipped for the asking price. Safety features and systems such as dual front airbags and ABS with EBD are present and occupant protection is assured by the strong RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body structure.

Priced at
RM79,890
 (without insurance), the latest Triton Quest comes with a 5-year (or maximum of 100,000 kms) warranty. It is available only in white but a Pearl White finish. This is unusual as entry-level variants usually come with a basic white colour to minimize production costs.

TRUCKS: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Launches All-New Triton 4×4! All You Need To Know


Great Wall interested in purchasing Jeep

Based on a recent report by
Automotive News
, Great Wall, a Chinese automaker has expressed interest in buying the American SUV maker, Jeep. Parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), has so far denied the claims stating that it has not been contacted by said party.

Great Wall plans on becoming a global player in the SUV market and by snapping up Jeep, an establishment of 4×4 vehicles, will be able to realize that goal a lot sooner than expected. The Jeep has a wealth of knowledge and technology that have kept the company competitive in major markets in the US and abroad.

Reports say that Jeep is worth more on its own than FCA as a company who’s portfolio includes Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. This is understandable considering the brand’s value and heritage that traces back to World War II.

Great Wall has already set up R&D centres in Detroit and Los Angeles to study trends in the US to help it plan its strategy on penetrating that market. Unlike most other countries, the demand for SUVs and pick-trucks in the US are significantly higher than that for regular econoboxes. This then is a prime area for the Chinese automaker to secure a beachhead.

This is purely speculative, but, if FCA chooses to sell Jeep to Great Wall, that would cause serious consequences for the brand as a whole. Granted, FCA has mulled over the idea of spinning Jeep off as a separate entity before, but that was to allow for better stability.

Whatever the case maybe, if FCA does cave and hands over the keys to its kingdom to Great Wall, that would weaken the American company further. And this will put homegrown automakers like Ford and General Motors on notice that the days of complacency are over.

Source:
Automotive News


Perodua warns of scam relating to its 28th anniversary

Perodua has issued a statement to warn the public that it has not made any announcement of 28 units of the Perodua Aruz being given away free on its 28
th
 anniversary. Referring to a message that is circulating on several mobile messaging and social media platforms, the carmaker said it did not originate from Perodua and it appears to be a scam.

“We are now taking all the necessary actions to combat further spread of this scam message,” said Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President & CEO of Perodua. Noting that the message has a link inviting the public to register interest, he advised everyone to always be wary and cautious of any suspicious claims.

“Please deal only with staff at our authorized  sales and service outlets, and refer to information on our official social media channels and official website at
www.perodua.com.my
,” he added.

Perodua Aruz

The links to Perodua’s official channels are:

Facebook –
https://www.facebook.com/Perodua

Instagram –
https://www.instagram.com/PERODUA/

YouTube –
http://www.youtube.com/myperodua1

Twitter –
https://twitter.com/perodua

Click here for other news and articles about Perodua at PISTON.MY
.


Proton sales continue to surge upwards, even in a month that saw the Total Industry Volume decline

It’s usually the case new vehicle sales in Malaysia that there is a big drop in numbers for the month following a festive period. June this year was no exception, coming after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays. Additionally, looking back to June 2018, that was also the first month of the GST tax holiday period when sales began to rocket as purchase prices were reduced.

Highest market share since July 2015

However, for Proton, there was still an upward surge one month after setting a sales high in May. In fact, with 7,615 vehicles delivered nationwide, the brand recorded its highest market share since July 2015 (estimated by Proton pending data to be released by the Malaysian Automotive Association). The share of 18.1% of the market was achieved in a month when the Total Industry Volume (TIV) was estimated to have shrunk by 30.8% to 42,090 units.

And even when comparing to June last year, Proton’s sales volume grew by 23%, helping the Malaysian carmaker finish second overall on the sales chart for the third consecutive month. It also contributed to an overall sales growth of 61% for the first 6 months of 2019, putting the company on track to achieve its sales targets for the year.

X70 leads SUV segment

The X70 SUV continues to be one of the stars and for the first half of the year, 15,175 units were delivered. It has cemented its position as the cumulative sales leader in the overall SUV segment, impressive for a newcomer that has been in the market less than a year.

The other models also performed equally well. Sales of the Saga continued to grow with 2,541 units delivered in June, contributing to a volume growth of 27% over the first 6 months of 2018. The other models, now updated with intelligent features, also saw strong bookings.

“By achieving a market share of 18.1% in June, Proton continues to show positive sales growth this year despite the tough market conditions following the Hari Raya holidays. Our year-to-date market share currently stands at 14.7% and is a big improvement of our 2018 figure of 10.8%. For the second half of the year, we will concentrate on continuing to build our sales and exciting the market further by introducing new and updated models as was promised at the beginning of the year,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.


EV Owners May Have To Pay More To Charge Their Cars

The Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT) mainly functions as a mechanism to evaluate the electricity rate every six months to account for changing fuel prices, which make up 65% of the cost component of the electricity tariff. This new ICPT surcharge for the second half of 2023 was based on fuel prices in the first half of 2023 because it is changed every six months depending on the six months prior to it.

The new ICPT programme for the second half of 2023 may require EV users to pay more to charge their cars at home. An RM0.10 per kWh tax will be applied to bills that use more than 1,500 kWh per month, which is an increase from the RM0.02 rebate that was previously given.

This implies that the highest residential tariff, which we normally use to estimate the cost of residential EV charging, which was previously RM0.571 per kWh, is now effectively RM0.671 per kWh.

We often utilise the RM0.571 rate because EVs are typically expensive devices used in homes with monthly residential power usage over the 901 kWh range, where the highest residential tariff is applicable.

Please keep in mind, nevertheless, that this RM0.10 per kWh tax does not just apply to usage exceeding 1,500 kWh. Your entire TNB bill will be subject to the extra after you use more than 1,500 kWh.

Consequently, if your usage is currently just below the limit, adding an EV to your home may result in a considerable rise in your electricity bill that goes beyond just the electricity your EV uses. Everything else’s electrical costs will increase as well.

The expected number of users who would be impacted by the surcharge is 83,000. The RM0.02 ICPT rebate that was previously offered is still valid for anyone else with monthly usage under 1,500 kWh.

The government reports that the average fuel price for the first half of 2023 was USD173.50 per metric tonne, down from USD224 per metric tonne in the second half of 2022, which was utilised to determine the previous ICPT rate.

The government also stated it would change the solar PV Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme for private homes to be less restrictive than the existing 10 kW restriction for 3-phase supply and 4 kW for single phase supply, but there have been no further specifics released as of yet.


First look at the updated Kia Stinger for 2021

Since appearing in 2017, Kia’s German-chasing Stinger has not enjoyed a glowing report card where sales have been concerned. In fact, as the numbers slowed down, there were even rumours earlier this year that the model might be discontinued. Well, the question of a second generation is probably unanswered for now, but it is already 3 years and so it’s time for an update anyway.

Kia has released the first images of an upgraded Stinger, revealing a refreshed design for the high-performance fastback sports saloon. Changes to the appearance of the model amplify its Gran Turismo character, while improving cabin quality and giving owners more choice of colour and material.

The images show as Korean market model which may be a bit more elaborate than those exported. On the outside, the changes add a new touch of drama to the car’s design and give buyers more options for customisation. A new colour choice will also be offered in export markets.

Inside, there’s a more comfortable space in which to travel, with a revised design, new higher-quality materials, and updates to the infotainment system.

Commenting on the new Stinger, Karim Habib, Senior Vice-President and Head of Kia Global Design, said: “The Stinger projects an air of elegance and comfort, and also great purpose, for long-distance driving. The updated model builds on the svelte gran turismo design we introduced three years ago with modern flair and a subtle hint of aggression to enhance its on-road presence. The interior, too, has been enhanced, and the new design elements and technologies incorporated into the Stinger reconfirm its credentials as the consummate Grand Tourer.”

More muscular looks

At the front of the Stinger, Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille sits between new multifaceted reflector LED headlamps, with a new design and LED daytime running lights. The new lamps appear darker and sleeker with the lights out, while giving the car a more high-tech light signature, with sharp slashes of light angled slightly towards the front of the car.

At the rear, a svelte updated rear combination lamp displays a distinctive new light signature, extending the full width of the car and mimicking the shape of the subtle spoiler integrated into the trunk lid. The new turn signals comprise a collection of 10 individual LED units each, arranged in a grid pattern to mimic the appearance of a checkered flag, used in motorsport to signal the end of a race.

Buyers of more powerful versions will have the option to specify larger wide-bore bright silver exhaust mufflers. This option will come with a more purposeful, performance-inspired rear diffuser to give the car a more muscular rear appearance.

New exterior packages

Two new exterior packages are also introduced for the first time. For high-performance variants in many markets, a new ‘Dark Package’ brings with it a gloss black diffuser surround and black wide-bore muffler tips. The Stinger emblem on the tailgate is also finished in black.

For North America only, a new ‘Black Package’ is offered, giving those who desire customisation the chance to enhance the aesthetics of the Stinger further with an aggressive new look. The Black Package includes new 19-inch matte black lightweight wheels, a new rear wing for the bootlid, and blacked-out mirror caps and side fender trim.

Higher-quality cabin

While the architecture of the 5-person cabin in the upgraded Stinger remains unchanged, there’s a range of subtle enhancements. The lower section of the steering wheel features a new metallic finish, matching the chrome bezel that now surrounds the 7-inch fully-digital instrument cluster. The latter is designed to provide crystal clear information to drivers via its high-definition display.

Depending on specification, the dashboard and doors are finished with new contrast stitching, while the centre console is available with aluminium or carbonfibre-style trim. Both measures enhance the sporty nature of the cabin.

Sitting atop the dash is Kia’s upgraded 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, accented by a new glossy black finish along the front of the dash. The rearview mirror is now frameless, creating a modern look and enhancing rear visibility.

More choices

The cabin also features a new mood lighting system, allowing drivers to select one of 64 colours to subtly alter the character of the cabin. These visual and material upgrades are designed to improve the car’s Grand Touring ability, creating a more luxurious ambience.

For global markets, new upholstery choices include Nappa leather finished in Saturn Black, Red or Beige, alongside existing leather and synthetic leather options. A new Saturn Black option finishes the seats in black suede with contrasting red stitching in a ‘chain’ pattern, designed to mimic the links in a watch strap.

The powertrain line-up is not revealed at this time but is likely to have some new technologies. The new Stinger will be launched in Korea before the end of next month, with other global markets to follow later.

VR technology enhances vehicle development processes for Hyundai and Kia


UKM team completes development of two hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)

Fuel cells, originally developed for spacecraft, use hydrogen in a chemical reaction that can generate electricity that can then be sent to the battery pack. Hydrogen is chosen because it is readily available and renewable, and a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), like a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), generates no emissions although water is formed. The FCEV approach would be more ‘green’ as it generates its own electricity rather than drawing it from power stations that themselves may generate emissions.

The two prototype FCEVs developed by the UKM Fuel Cell Institute (Sel Fuel) team.

The auto industry has been developing FCEVs for some years and companies like Toyota and Honda have even sold such vehicles. Now a team from the Fuel Cell Institute (Sel Fuel) at University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has also developed hydrogen FCEVs in collaboration with industry partners through the modification of electric vehicles.

Professor Ir. Dr. Siti Kartom Kamarudin and Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Shahbuddin Mastar @ Masdar from the UKM Fuel Cell Institute, who led the R&D team, developed the UKM FCH2HC, a mini version of a hybrid SUV, and the UKM-FCH2B, a buggy.

According to Siti Kartom, the UKM-FCH2B is unique as the battery has been replaced with a fuel cell system as an electrical power source to improve the buggy’s operational efficiency, as well as a 3000W stationary power generator for electrical appliances (campers will love the idea).

In order for FCEVs to be used, there will need to be hydrogen stations set up for them to refuel with hydrogen. Such station are only just being set up in limited numbers in more advanced countries.

“The UKM-FCH2HC is a hybrid vehicle that combines a fuel cell and a battery in a 0.5 ratio, with each power source capable of providing a capacity of up to 10 kW, allowing the vehicle to travel further. The fuel cell system is equipped with humidifiers and water coolers as supporting units to ensure optimal system performance at all times,” she said.

“During the chemical reaction, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electrical energy and harmless water vapour as a by-product, making hydrogen safe because it does not contaminate or harm the surrounding environment, unlike liquefied petroleum gas,” she explained.

How a fuel cell generates electricity from hydrogen.

Project began 15 years ago

“We began this project about 15 years ago with fundamental research to develop high-quality catalysts and membranes. Only in the last 3 years have we been able to bring together all of the fundamental components needed to develop the vehicle’s system,” she said. “As both the SUV and buggy will be used on campus, the speed is limited to 60 km/h. My team and I are looking forward to working on a second generation of the vehicles with increased capacity.”

The various elements of a FCEV.

Quick refuelling time

Mohd Shabuddin added that the quick charging time of a FCEV is a significant advantage. Fully electric vehicles require 7 to 8 hours to charge, depending on the charging station and battery capacity. FCEVs, on the other hand, offer faster refuelling times that can take less than 3 minutes depending on the pressure [of the hydrogen supply],” he said.

He added that one of the most difficult aspects of developing hydrogen cell fuel vehicles is their high cost. “We believe in the country’s direction toward greener energy will result in mass production of these vehicles, lowering the cost of production. The recent 12th Malaysian Plan includes hydrogen as one of the government’s renewable energy initiatives to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles, which I believe is a good start for the future of this technology,” he said.

Hydrogen FCEV models have been on sale to the public from Hyundai (top), Honda (middle) and Toyota (above).

The UKM Fuel Cell Institute has also been appointed as the Head of the Research Excellence Consortium Programme in the Transportation and Mobility category by the Ministry of Higher Education. The launching of the FCEVs recently symbolises the support and commitment of UKM towards Malaysia’s Low Carbon Mobility Development Plan 2021-2030 to reduce greenhouse gas up to 45% by 2030 and to be listed as a carbon-neutral country by 2050.

The next step after BEVs

FCEVs would be the next step after BEVs but even in advanced countries like America and Japan, the hydrogen fuelling network is small. The Japanese government has a plan to expand the hydrogen network as it wants to create a ‘hydrogen society’ that can be carbon-neutral. However, the costs are still high at this time and although there are FCEVs in use, the number is relatively small to justify investment in hydrogen stations for FCEVs to refuel.

Hyundai Motor Group aims to take lead in technology for future hydrogen society


New experience and expression at Quill Automobiles

Quill Automobiles, a BMW dealership situated in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, offers customers a new experience and expression that further elevates delivery of the BMW premium ownership experience.

The new showroom occupies a total built-up space of over 33,000 square feet in the heart of Petaling Jaya’s prime business district. Up to 14 BMW vehicles can be displayed at one time, which makes this dealership one of the largest of its kind in Malaysia.

Speaking at the opening event, Alex Tang, Dealer Principal of Quill Automobiles said: “For over a decade, Quill Automobiles have been delivering our commitment to the BMW premium ownership experience to our loyal customers in Petaling Jaya. This commitment is now further strengthened with the opening of our new showroom which reflects the newest experience and expression from the BMW brand.”

The right environment and ambience

Harald Hoelzl, MD of BMW Group Malaysia, meanwhile, added: “The needs of our customers have always been at the forefront of everything we do. While it is our priority to deliver award-winning vehicles and industry-leading services to our customers, it is also equally important that we create the right environment and ambience for this experience. Quill Automobiles are the experts when it comes to creating this experience and they have executed this excellently once again.”

In its new expression, Quill Automobiles now features a new Grand Klasse luxury boutique in addition to the BMW Customer Lounge, Isetta Bar and BMW Lifestyle area. The dealership also operates a full-fledged, stand-alone BMW Service Centre located in Section 13 of Petaling Jaya. This 58,500 square feet facility houses a complete service workshop and a body and paint facility.

Meeting all the needs of BMW customers

With a team of 90 dedicated staff members, the dealership offers the full suite of Sales, Services, Spare Parts and Systems (4S) for the BMW brand. It also functions as a BMW Premium Selection dealership, serving those who are looking for pre-owned vehicles.

Quill Automobiles is currently running its ‘
X Marks the Future
’ campaign for customers who purchase a brand-new BMW vehicle
by December 31, 2019
. They will be entitled to 10 entry forms to participate in a contest to win
the latest Z4 sDrive 30i M Sport
.


2020 World Rally Championship to resume next month in Estonia

As with Formula 1, the 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) also saw disruption in the second and third quarters of the season as the COVID-19 pandemic spread widely and most countries started to have lockdowns. However, with the situation having improved – although some countries see signs of a new wave of infections – and organisers understanding what measures need to be taken if they are to run events, motorsports activities are resuming.

The sad thing is that spectators are not allowed, and participant numbers must be kept to a minimum. While F1, being held mostly at racing circuits, can adhere to the no-spectators condition, rallies are a different matter as they are held in the countryside. It would be impractical to try to enforce such a condition in wide open spaces.

Resuming on September 4

Anyway, three rounds of the 2020 WRC (Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico) were completed before being suspended and it will resume on September 4 with the Rally Estonia. Another four rounds are confirmed in Turkey, Germany, Italy and Japan, while the events in Finland, New Zealand and Britain will not be run this year.

8 rounds instead of usual 13

The organisers are hopeful that they can add a few more events to the calendar before the year ends. In past years, there have been 13 rounds on average although the inclusion of Rally Turkey last year made it 14 rounds in 2019.

Two events which the organisers are hoping to run could be in Belgium and Croatia in the month of October. Both countries have never hosted a WRC event before although Belgium’s Ypres Rally is among the more significant ones in the European Rally Championship.

The championship so far

There was a different winner in the first three rounds – Thierry Neuville/ (Hyundai), Elfyn Evans (Toyota) and Sebastien Ogier (Toyota). Two podium finishes and a fourth in Sweden put Ogier in the lead with 62 points while team mate Evans is 8 points behind. Neuville is third, 12 points behind Evans.

With five podium finishes in three rallies, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, using a Yaris WRC,  has a commanding lead of 110 points. In second position is the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team (89 points) which has the i20 Coupe WRC (pictured above). Third, with 65 points, is the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team using a Fiesta WRC (below).


F1/Round 9: Preview & Provisional Starting Grid of 2022 Canadian Grand Prix

Race starts at 2 pm in Canada/2 am in Malaysia (Monday)

A Formula 1 race is being run again in Canada after 3 years of absence, and it is held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve which has been the venue for the Canadian Grand Prix since it opened in 1978. Originally known as Circuit Ile Notre Dame (after the island it is situated on), It is one of three circuits that has hosted the Canadian GP since 1967.  In 1982, after Canadian F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve (father of Jacques Villeneuve) died in an accident, the track was renamed in his honour.

The 4.361-km is similar in characteristics to the Baku City Circuit. In fact, long before Azerbaijan became part of the F1 itinerary, it was the circuit in Montreal that teams had to develop a special wing for. The wing was to minimize drag as much as possible on the straights but generate as much downforce as possible in the slow corners. That is the requirement at Baku today.

However, the circuit is also unique for its succession of chicanes and calls for a car that can ride kerbs. There are also frequent hard stops and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is traditionally regarded as very tough on brakes, similar to the Austrian GP. But there are usually fewer cooling problems in Canada than at Spielberg, because the lap distance is greater and there is more time for the brakes to dissipate temperature.

With the constant cycle of heavy braking and equally heavy acceleration, the track takes its toll on the hybrid components of the powertrain, with many long deployments followed by big charging events. In the course of a single lap, there are 3 strong braking events that generate forces greater than 4
g
 for a duration of more than 0.4 seconds.

The 14 corners of the circuit comprise 6 left-hand turns and 8 right-handers. As in Baku, most of the corners are within a similar speed range, which is at the lower end of the scale compared to the rest of the circuits on the racing calendar. Unlike Baku, however, most corners in Montreal come as a double change of direction (left/right or right left combinations) that require good responsiveness from the car.

Apart from not having raced on this circuit for 3 years, there will be a number of question marks for the teams, according to Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director. “The weather is often variable, all previous data is 3 years old, and we have a completely different range of tyres with new compounds and structures, on a track that is hardly ever used. This will lead to a very high degree of evolution,” he said.

“Compared to their last visit to Montreal, the drivers should find compounds that are more stable with a wider working range, enabling them to push harder throughout each stint with a much lower risk of overheating. One interesting aspect to Montreal is that it has one of the lowest pitlane time loss penalties on the calendar, meaning that a car can be in and out of the pit lane in less than 20 seconds. This could open up a few options in terms of strategy,” he predicted.

The 404-metre pitlane (which got flooded recently after a heavy downpour) is among the top third of all circuits this season in terms of length. Even so, the time expended during a pit stop is relatively small, as the drivers are spared the inconvenience of going through the last chicane, instead entering the pitlane directly. Furthermore, the pit exit is in Turn 2, which means they don’t have to negotiate the first corner either.

With the long history of the Canadian GP, McLaren has been the most successful team at the event, with 13 victories, although that is just one more than Ferrari who are the most successful at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve specifically with 11 wins.

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have, over the years, collected 7 victories each so they are tied for the most successful drivers. Other drivers who have won the Canadian GP before and are in the race this weekend are Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel. Robert Kubica, Alfa Romeo ORLEN’s reserve driver also won in 2008.


Here are 36 things you probably didn’t know about Porsche

If you are a Porsche fan and have a thirst to know everything you can about the brand, then this is your lucky day. The German automaker has decided to share 36 facts you didn’t know about the company, the 919 hybrid and its achievements at Le Mans.

Some of them are really interested such as what the 919 Hybrid has in common with the power supply of a village, How many times has the company won Le Mans and how many hollywood actors participated in Le Mans with a Porsche race car.

Here are the 36 facts as described by Porsche:

1
 The initial roll-out of the first 919 was done by Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard on June 12 in 2013 at the Weissach test track. A little over two years later, he became world endurance champion with the further developed Le Mans prototype.

3
 Hollywood stars entered Le Mans with Porsche. Steve McQueen’s attempt made it in to the cinema in 1971, Paul Newman came overall second in 1979 while Patrick Dempsey also climbed the 2015 podium, finishing second in the GTE-AM class.

3.2
 hours is the average time each of the Porsche LMP drivers spend on a massage bed during the 24-hour race.

4
 Porsche LMP team members were the small delegation visiting Le Mans in 2013 for research purposes one year before the return to the top category. They witnessed the first win of a works Porsche since 1998 when the 911 RSR won the GT class.

5
 people were on board at the end of 2011 when Porsche, under the guidance of Fritz Enzinger, began to prepare for the LMP return. Since 2015 the team’s head count is 260 with 160 of them being engineers.

6
 Porsche LMP drivers in three bedrooms: two drivers each share a container behind the pit box to rest and sleep. A shared bathroom is included. Quietness is not an option.

8
 megajoules from energy recovery systems per lap in Le Mans is the highest category from the efficiency regulations. Porsche was the first – and for a long time – only manufacturer in that category. The trendsetting challenge behind this: the more electrical power the 919 uses, the less fuel it is allowed to burn.

10
 At 10pm on 10 June 2015 Neel Jani set off for the first Le Mans qualifying session. He lapped the circuit in 3:16.887 minutes – which remains a record time.

12
 men were the advance guard that began on 23rd May 2017, almost four weeks before the race, to build up the two-floor steel hall behind the Porsche LMP pit box. On May 30, a convoy of eight semi-trailers arrived containing the race cars and the entire equipment. For the test day on June 4, everything has to be in place.

14
 gigabyte of data is sent by each 919 to the pits during the 24 hours.

15
 minutes before the 919’s maiden race, at Silverstone in 2014, Team Principal Andreas Seidl spun his tension into a funny quote: “That’s one small step for mankind, but one giant leap for Porsche – we’ve got two LMP1 cars on the grid!”

19.9
 kilograms is the weight of a rim with tyre. Mechanic Rainer Mühlhäuser manages to pick up a used wheel and attach a new one by using only one hand respectively. Since he did that at the opening WEC race in Silverstone, others down the pit lane are practicing this truly impressive feat.

20
hours in to the race when car number 20 took the lead in 2014. 20 minutes after Mark Webber had begun his final stint, he brought home this number 20 car on electric drive – engine failure. 20 minutes later the number 14 sister car suffered a gearbox failure.

20:32
 was the time in complete darkness on December 9 in 2013 when Mark Webber started his first ever lap at the wheel of an LMP1 car on a circuit he had never driven on. This Portimão test was a turning point: The 919 Hybrid’s initial V4 engine had caused heavy vibrations. By December, the problem was solved.

25
 On October 10 in 2014, practice day in Fuji, the team congratulated Brendon Hartley for his 25th birthday – including presents. Unfortunately, it was one month early.

30
 stops for refuelling and ten stops for changing tyres and drivers is anticipated for each Porsche 919 Hybrid during the Le Mans race.

54
 consecutive laps Romain Dumas as well as Neel Jani were at the wheel of the winning car at night during the 2016 Le Mans. Due to safety car periods, Dumas’ stint was exaggerated to the longest stint of all the Porsche LMP drivers. It lasted from 00:13 hrs until 03:38 hrs. That’s almost the duration of two Formula 1 Grands Prix.

60/40
 Around 60 per cent of the 919 Hybrid’s recovered energy comes from the front brakes, around 40 per cent is provided by the exhaust system.

65
 people form the Porsche LMP Team’s operational crew at a six-hour race. At the Le Mans 24-Hours this number is 90.

90
 degree is the cylinder angle of the 919 Hybrid’s V4 combustion engine. But its operating mode is one of a steep standing “boxer” engine.

100%
 At the 2015 final WEC round in Bahrain, both throttle barrel levers broke on the Timo Bernhard/Brendon Hartley/Mark Webber car. The fact that the three drivers still reached the chequered flag and became world champions was thanks to a mechanic’s clever idea and quick thinking engineers: mechanics had locked the barrels on full throttle – by putting two pliers into the engine, fixed with cable straps – while engineers were busy programming in real time to keep the car running.

239
 On November 30 2014, Mark Webber was on lap 239 at the season’s finale in São Paulo when he suffered the worst crash of his entire career.

248
After 248 laps in São Paulo, Neel Jani in the sister car, scored the first race win of the Porsche 919 Hybrid.

395
 laps were covered by Earl Bamber/Nico Hülkenberg/Nick Tandy on their way to win the 2015 Le Mans 24-Hours. The three LMP rookies agreed before the race that they each drive the speed they were comfortable while trying to avoid hitting anything. This way a podium finish should be doable. The plan resulted in the first overall victory for Porsche since 1998.

397
 laps is the longest distance ever covered during the Le Mans 24-Hours. The 2010 winners all had a Porsche junior background (Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Mike Rockenfeller). They shared an Audi when they covered the 5,410.713 kilometres.

> 400
 HP contribute the two different energy recovery systems (front axle brakes and exhaust). On demand, an electric engine powers the front axle and turns the 919 Hybrid in to what is in effect, a temporary four-wheel drive car.

< 500
 HP is the output of the 919’s turbo charged petrol engine that drives the rear axle.

919
The 919 Hybrid is the only LMP1 that regains energy not only when braking but also when accelerating, thanks to exhaust energy recovery.

1900
 was the year when Ferdinand Porsche created the first car with a serial hybrid drive. Its name “Semper Vivus” translates to “always alive”. Two-wheel hub electric engines (20 ampere at 90 volt each) and a battery were constantly serving two combustion engines by a dynamo. At the 1901 Semmering hill climb race, an improved version of the Lohner Porsche prototype comfortably achieved the best time of an electric car. Afterwards a small series of two-seater electric compact cars were built.

2013
 For two hours the smell would linger for if a driver broke wind in the car commented Neel Jani – unhappy with the cockpit ventilation of the first test car back in 2013.

22,984
 shifts (up and down shifting) of the winning Porsche 919 Hybrid’s gearbox during the 2016 Le Mans 24-Hours.

62,000
 kilowatt hours of electrical energy have been recuperated by Porsche 919 Hybrids during a total mileage of 321,000 kilometres (testing and race weekends) from their two energy recovery systems (brake energy from the front axle and exhaust energy). If the 919 was a “power station”, this energy would have been the capacity to power a village of 15 houses, each occupied by four people, for an entire year.

120,000
revs and more per minute of the turbine that sits in the exhaust and drives a generator. To recover energy also at low engine revs, the turbine has variable geometry. The turbo charger instead works without VTG.

128,000
kilometres have been completed by various variants of the Porsche 919 Hybrid from early 2014 until the end of May 2017 during race weekends (including practice and qualifying).

193,000
 kilometres from testing since 2013 add to this impressive tally.

243,000
 kilometers had been clocked up by the identical specification of the Porsche 919 Hybrid’s water pump with no issue when it suddenly failed at 23:13 hrs in 2016 at Le Mans. At 01:56 hrs, Bernhard/Hartley/Webber returned to the race now 39 laps be-hind the leaders.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You are a die-hard Porsche fan who will stop at nothing to understand everything in order to develop encyclopedic knowledge about one of the most respected names in motoring.


Another chance to own the limited edition BMW X5 xDrive 45e with M Performance Parts

Exclusivity is always desired, especially in the upper end of the car market and this was evident last year when Auto Bavaria offered a limited edition of BMW X5 xDrive 45e with M Performance Parts. Only 30 units were available, assembled at the BMW facility within the Inokom plant in Kedah, and all found owners within a week.

Only 22 units available this time

The response to that limited edition encouraged Auto Bavaria to place an order for a second batch but this time, only 22 units are available. “We are now able to once again offer our esteem customers a second opportunity to own this extremely premium vehicle. Auto Bavaria brand has become synonymous with top-notch quality for both sales and service, which is why we are the preferred BMW dealership,” said Vi Thim Juan, Managing Director of Auto Bavaria.

Each Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV), priced from
RM480,000
 (excluding insurance) comes with M Performance parts which not only give sportier looks but actually improve aerodynamics.

Specifically, the parts (which are worth RM36,500) are a gloss black front grille, carbonfibre housings for the door mirrors and Star Spoke 748M 20-inch light alloy wheels. Each tyre is linked to the Tyre Pressure monitoring system which will alert the driver if the pressure is abnormal.

Complimentary gifts worth RM22,000

This time round, those who buy the X5 also get complimentary gifts worth
RM22,000. These are a l
uxury suitcase, BMW umbrella, BMW Leather Care Set with UV protection, BMW Brake Pad & Brake Disc Voucher, and STTOKE Classic Insulated Ceramic Reusable Cup.

Bestselling SAV of the range

The X5 is the bestselling model of BMW’s SAV range worldwide. It was the company’s first SAV and the current generation is the fourth one since 1999. Powering the X5 xDrive45e M Sport is a 3-litre 6-cylinder engine with BMW eDrive technology. With a combined maximum output of 394 bhp/600 Nm, the SAV is claimed to have a top speed of 235 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h capability of 5.6 seconds.

Running with just the electric motor, the claimed range can be up to 77 kms on a fully charged lithium-ion battery pack, with a maximum speed of 135 km/h. With the hybrid powertrain optimizing fuel efficiency, the fuel consumption is said to be up to 40 kms/litre.

All X5s have all-wheel drive which is provided by BMW’s proven xDrive system. Power delivery first goes through an 8-speed Steptronic transmission with enhanced shift dynamics and then to all four wheels with torque distribution according to grip and surface conditions.

If you missed the opportunity to get on last May, you now have a second chance but you should hurry to an Auto Bavaria showroom quickly.

New variants for locally-assembled BMW X3 and X4


1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost does London-Edinburgh run again after 110 years

Today, a drive from London to Edinburgh, a distance of 650+ kms, takes between 7 and 8 hours (according to Google Maps). That’s on smooth and mostly straight motorway and keeping to the speed limit which is 70 mph (113 km/h). But 110 years ago, a drive would have certainly taken longer without motorways and with a different level of performance.

In the 1911 London-Edinburgh Trial, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1701 won the event. Given the primitive state of Britain’s Edwardian roads, its average speed of 19.59 mph (31.5 km/h) was very impressive and furthermore, its fuel consumption was over 24 mpg (8.5 kms/litre). To prove that the car had not been modified in any way, it achieved 78.2 mph (126 km/h) on a half-mile speed test conducted immediately after the Trial.

The car, designed as an ‘Experimental Speed Car’, also became the first Rolls-Royce to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h) in a later test at the Brooklands circuit in England. It had been given the name of ‘Silver Ghost’ to emphasise its ‘ghost-like quietness’ but more importantly, the participation in such a long-distance run was intended to show that Rolls-Royce cars were reliable and durable.

Recently, history literally repeated itself as Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1701 re-enacted its 1911 run. The re-enactment was as faithful to the original event as possible. The car, now a priceless collector’s item with registration plate R-1075, departed from the headquarters of the Royal Automobile Club in London at 6 am on Sunday, September 5. It then travelled to Edinburgh on a route that followed the old Great North Road as closely as practicable – and it was locked in top gear just as it was 110 years before.

This scene, taken in 2021, could have looked the same 110 years ago with the very same car.

The 1701 was accompanied on the 2-day run by another 9 Silver Ghosts, all of a similar age and in equally fine condition, from the 20-Ghost Club. Also part of the historic cavalcade was the latest Ghost which made its debut in 2009. The occupants, of course, enjoyed far greater comfort within the enclosed cabin which the original Silver Ghost did not have, not to mention that more than two persons could be accommodated.

“Silver Ghost 1701 has a unique and special place in the marque’s history and affections. It’s difficult to think of many machines that can still perform exactly as they did 110 years ago. This extraordinary car is a remarkable tribute to our predecessors who designed, engineered and built it. We’re proud to continue their work and uphold their values in today’s Rolls-Royce motorcars – which are still the best in the world,” declared Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Leading every Rolls-Royce for 110 years – the Spirit of Ecstasy


Need For Speed Payback pays homage to the Fast & Furious movies

EA Games will launch the latest installment of the Need for Speed gaming franchise, called Payback, this year. Slated for release on November 10th 2017 for the Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC via Origin, EA seems to have gone back to its roots with this new game. Unlike the recent crop of NFS releases, which focused more on professional competitions, Payback’s storyline is reminiscent of the good ol’ days of virtual illegal street racing.

The game’s story surrounds the (player) and his crew who are out to seek vengeance against a nefarious cartel known as The House, that rules the city’s casinos, criminals and cops. The trailer portrays action packed gameplay that is similar to what you would expect from a Fast & Furious movie. Highly tuned sports cars racing down public roads with the cops in tow, cars careening off roads during high speed racing sequences in spectacular cinematic CGI fashion and a myriad of explosions – it’s a recipe for a every intriguing game.

According to the
EA website
, Need For Speed Payback will feature a storyline where players will be able to choose between three different protagonists who are united with a common goal, high-takes competition racing, five different car classes (Race, Drift, Off-Road and Runner) and collect, win or buy after-market parts and house them in garage along with your vehicles. A major departure from the NFS games of past is the ability to find abandoned vehicles that have been scattered throughout the game and restore them from the ground up to create your perfect cars.

It combines some of the best features from other popular NFS games into what maybe the best NFS yet. Based on the trailer at least, that seems to be the case, but we would prefer to reserve judgement till we get our hands on the actual game – remember NFS 2016?


Three-Dimensional Wood trim – a world-first by Bentley

There’s something about wood which adds classiness to a car’s interior. Perhaps it brings to mind the days when wood was the primary material for trim, instead of plastic and metal, and it was handcrafted rather than moulded. Wood trim is a mark of luxury and therefore a must for the prestigious brands.

So far, wood panels have had flat surfaces, polished or natural but now Bentley is offering a ground-breaking new Three-Dimensional Wood trim with the all-new Flying Spur. Used for the rear door trim, Three-Dimensional Wood is a world-first in the automotive sector.

Available from Bentley Mulliner Collections

The trim has a striking, diamond-shaped pattern enhanced with a three-dimensional surface finish machined directly into the wood. The new option is one of the unique veneer choices from the Bentley Mulliner Collections and forms a contemporary luxury design statement, bringing tactility to the natural beauty of wood.

Each rear door and quarter panel is handcrafted from a single block of sustainable American Walnut or American Cherry timber, in a harmonious marriage of traditional skills and modern technology. The Three-Dimensional Wood parts are not made using veneers, as is typically applied to the fascia and waist rails. Instead, each is created from a single block of timber.

The concept for 3D-machined wood was first shown in Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. The distinctive feature was inspired by the form of leather used for the diamond-quilted areas in Bentley’s Mulliner Driving Specification interior suite.

18 months of development

Three-Dimensional Wood required 18 months of production development by expert technical craftsmen before Bentley Mulliner could then bring the complex concept to reality. To achieve the three-dimensional surface, skilled operators carve the wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1 mm, less than the thickness of a human hair, hand-finishing the cuts for perfect results. An open-pore lacquer is then applied, allowing the true colour and texture of the wood to shine through for a refined, natural appearance.

The back or ‘B surface’ of the log is machined to match a die-cast aluminium door panel template. The timber is then bonded to the template before the assembly is placed back into the machine and the front or ‘A surface’ is cut into its three-dimensional form.

Highest quality sustainable timbers

Both American Walnut and American Cherry timber are sustainably sourced from North American hardwood forests. Bentley selects only the very finest timbers, with no knots or resin inclusions through the depth of the wood. Only these logs offer an attractive grain and smooth finish, plus a natural texture and warm colour to complement the superbly appointed Flying Spur cabin.

American Walnut and American Cherry are both popular growing stock in North America, offering an abundant supply of sustainable wood. American Cherry woodland is increasing by more than 7 million cubic metres each year after harvest, while American Walnut is increasing by 3 million cubic metres.

American Walnut is one of the most sought-after species of wood in markets around the world. It is darker than European Walnut, as well as tough, hard and of medium density. American Cherry is highly prized for furniture and interior joinery – the wood finish varies from rich red to reddish brown.

The New Bentley Flying Spur

From concept to production reality

“Three-Dimensional Wood is the next interior design element we’ve taken from concept car idea to production reality. It works in perfect harmony with the three-dimensional leather quilting across the cabin of the Flying Spur and creates an even more special environment for those being driven,” explained Bentley’s Head of Interior Design for the Flying Spur, Brett Boydell.

“The principle of milling a geometric three-dimensional diamond form into solid wood was so well received at Geneva, it confirmed the value in translating the concept into reality for the customers of Bentley’s all-new Flying Spur,” he said.

How Bentley ensures the highest quality for its cars


2019 Perodua Axia range launched, with crossover-looking STYLE variant added

When Perodua started making cars over 25 years ago, its mission was to offer Malaysians low-priced personal transportation, besides helping in the development of the domestic auto industry. Learning from its technical partner, Daihatsu Motor, and then slowly building up its own in-house capabilities, it has done well and ascended to being the No.1 carmaker in the country.

The products which Perodua has been selling are at the entry-level end of the motor vehicle spectrum. In other countries, entry-level models are the cheapest and come with a minimum of equipment and features. Their cost is kept as low as possible so they can be sold cheaply. Some manufacturers may make little or nothing on such models but hope that once they have drawn new customers to own and experience their brand, they will be able to retain these customers in the years to follow.

Malaysian consumers expect a lot

The situation in Malaysia is somewhat different, perhaps because consumers regard the prices of cars as being too high – and this has been the perception for a long time. The tax structure is largely the reason but the government has always found it hard to lower taxes on new vehicles as the revenue is significant. To give it up means that another source of revenue must be found and that’s difficult in these times. The only way has been to provide incentives to those companies that assemble locally and make investments, enabling them to offset their production costs and set lower retail prices.

Even then, Perodua still has a big challenge because its customers expect even entry-level cars to have features and equipment that the more expensive models have. Fortunately, the carmaker has reached a very high volume today and has economies of scale to moderate production costs and give more to its customers than would be the case in other countries.

Which brings us to the 2019 Perodua Axia range launched today. The smallest model in Perodua’s range, the Axia has been in the market since September 2014 and with over 400,000 units on the road, it is the bestselling model in its class. In 2017, an updated model was launched and helped to maintain interest to keep sales high.

Overview of the 2019 Perodua Axia range launched this morning.

Posted by
Piston.my
 on Khamis, 19 September 2019

The ideal first car

Like the Kancil and Viva earlier, the Axia has been popular among younger customers which is not surprising, of course. It is ideal as a first car for many just starting to work. At the same time, there is also a segment of buyers who want a simple, economical small car just for daily transportation. The Axia also serves such people well and in fact, Perodua’s Chairman, Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, says that he enjoys driving his Axia more than the Lexus that the company provides.

“For over a quarter of a century, Perodua has mobilised Malaysia with quality compact vehicles that offer practicality, dependability, ease to drive and low overall ownership costs. For these reasons and more, the Kancil and Viva were popular choices for an entire generation of Malaysians buying their first cars,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“The 2019 Perodua Axia carries on that spirit while offering Malaysians much more in an entry-level model than ever thought possible. It offers major advances in safety and style never seen before in this segment and yet retains its affordability,” he added.

2019 Perodua Axia colours

Enhanced safety (in top variant)

The range-topping AV variant (pictured above) now has Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0, which is one generation ahead of the one that was introduced in the current Myvi. ASA 2.0 has extended capability and comprises Pedestrian Detection (up to 50 km/h), Pre-Collision Warning (up to 100 km/h), Pre-Collision Braking (up to 80 km/h), Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control functions to mitigate collisions. The video shown below refers to the Aruz SUV but the A.S.A. 2.0 system is identical in functions and capabilities.

Also, all variants from GXtra and above come with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control, and all variants except the cheapest Axia E have ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution as standard. ISOFIX is standard across the range for those who have to install childseats, while SE and AV variants get solar and security window film.

The Axia STYLE

The big news for the 2019 range is the addition of the STYLE variant. At a glance, this looks like a different model but it is just like the other Axia variants except that the designers have given it a bolder appearance. The looks have been inspired by the current popularity of crossover vehicles which are more rugged-looking. To achieve such a look, there are different front and rear bumpers with a skid plate being made a visual element, all-round body cladding, clear-lens tail lamps, roof mouldings, and a rear spoiler. The slightly raised body is the result of installing 15-inch alloy wheels. A new variant-exclusive Sunrise Orange body colour completes the trendy crossover-inspired look.

“The new Perodua Axia STYLE embodies the desire to be different; to unleash the fun and active side that exists in all of us. It is upbeat and trendy and, at the same time, retains all the hallmark Axia qualities of practicality, spaciousness, clever design and ease to drive,” Dato’ Zainal explained.

The STYLE variant is partly an experiment by Perodua to gauge consumer reaction to more ‘adventurous’ styling ideas. The problem is often that such variants might not stay in fashion for too long as tastes change. In the past, Perodua had some success with the two-tone Kelisa and that might be something to consider for the Axia STYLE too. In any case, for those who want additional personalization, there are already new GearUp accessories specially designed for the 2019 model.

The Axia is powered by a proven 1KR-VE engine with a 998 cc displacement, 12 valves and Variable Valve Timing. Power output is 68 ps/90 Nm and with a 4-speed electronic automatic transmission (4E-AT), the claimed fuel consumption is 21.6 kms/litre (20.8 kms/litre for the STYLE variant). The Axia E with a 5-speed manual transmission can go up to 22.5 kms/litre, it is claimed. This variant is popular with driving schools, we’re told.

The new Axia range can be viewed at Perodua showroom’s nationwide from today. Over 5,000 people have already booked one so if you already like what you see, don’t waste time and place your order quickly. You can find the locations of authorised Perodua dealers at
www.perodua.com.my
.