More RFID Lanes At Toll Plazas Along North-South Expressway

Good news for those who use
R
adio
F
requency
ID
entification (RFID) tags to pay toll. Additional lanes lanes have now been created and are open at various toll plazas along the North-South Expressway (NSE). The work carried out by PLUS, the concessionaire, was completed earlier than planned (mid-April).

In total, there 12 additional RFID lanes which are at the Penang Bridge, Setia Alam, Subang, Jalan Duta, Putra Mahkota, Kajang, Kubang Semang, Sungai Besi, Shah Alam, Sungai Buloh, and Rawang Selatan toll plazas.

The additional lanes for RFID tag users are certainly timely with the Hari Raya
balik kampung
 journeys to take place next month. This should help improve traffic flow through the toll plazas, many of which have long queues during festive periods when traffic volumes increase tremendously.

While the SmartTAG can process up to 1,000 vehicles an hour (550 if manual tapping is done), the RFID tag is said to be able to process up to 1,200 vehicles an hour. However, as long as the barrier exists and needs to be raised each time for a vehicle to pass through, there is no advantage with the RFID tag.

Nevertheless, the government is determined to implement the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system by 2025 and this will mean that there will be no barrier. Removing the barrier will also require some new laws that make it an offence not to pay toll. At the moment, there is no law so the toll concessionaires has to chase after those who do not pay, rather than the police.

The
Works ministry is looking into this matter
 which will also be used along with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. The MLFF system is one of the initiatives under the Works ministry’s Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Master Plan. Work on developing the MLFF is expected to start from October this year with full implementation by 2025.

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While motorists will soon be able to pay their toll
with credit cards and debit cards
, it’s uncertain if implementation of the MLFF system will eventually mean that only the RFID tag will be used for electronic toll payment. The option to use other forms of payment besides the TouchNGo card is convenient for motorists but could also add complexity to the system as more connections to the issuing banks will be needed.

From Touch ‘n Go to SmartTAG to RFID – is it necessary?

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


EON now has a website dedicated to Proton products and services

Malaysians know Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad or EON very well. After all, it was the company that was established together with Proton and given the responsibility to distribute and market the National Car. While things have changed over the years, EON (a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad) is still the largest dealer chain handling Proton products today.

Over the years, EON has continuously evolved as times have changed. Even its
logo has undergone refreshing
 periodically while its retail outlets and service centres have been upgraded.

Although EON has been involved in other brands (such as Volkswagen, Audi and Mitsubishi), Proton is still its most important and in view of this, the company now has a dedicated Proton Division website. Created with the user experience in mind, the newly-designed website includes many features to help users quickly and easily navigate and browse for the many Proton models.

Everything to do with Proton

The integrated platform allows customers to find out about the latest promotions, book a test drive, reserve their next service appointment and even calculate monthly instalments for vehicle loans. They can do all this from a smartphone or tablet in the comfort of their home or office, or even a restaurant (when we can dine-in again).

Akkbar Danial, Head of Automotive Distribution of DRB-HICOM and Chief Executive Officer of EON, believes that the possibilities are endless for brands with a strong online presence as a website not only provides massive opportunity for business growth, but is also at the heart of the car buying process today.

“A new website was overdue. With over 80% of Malaysian car buyers doing their research online before making a purchase, it is only logical to have a website, and a good one that works well on personal computers, smartphones and tablets,” he said, adding that there is also a virtual showroom to visit when showrooms are closed for any reason.

“As the single largest Proton dealer in Malaysia, we aim to be the preferred automobile dealer nationwide by positioning ourselves and bringing customers to the forefront of our ‘stores’. Through the website, the most accurate, up-to-date information and promotions regarding our products are easily accessible for our current and prospective customers to make informed car-buying decisions,” Encik Akkbar added.

Beyond distribution and an extensive after-sales network, EON also provides customised solutions for corporate clients under the Proton Fleet Programme, targeted at fleet operators.

Latest campaign from EON

In conjunction with the launch of the new website, EON is partnering with Shell Malaysia in a campaign that offers Shell Vouchers as a token of appreciation. The campaign is for all customers who place a booking and register their new Proton vehicle with EON outlets
from August 1 until October 31, 2021
. The vouchers, which can be used nationwide for purchases of fuel as well as items at Shell SELECT Stores (excluding tobacco products, e-Pay reloads and Touch ‘N Go top-ups), will be valid until February 28, 2022.

1989 Proton Saga wins Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional in the UK


New & affordable Shell Helix HX8 0W20 launched – RM199

Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd has unveiled their latest Shell Helix HX8 0W20 engine oil specifically formulated to meet the demands of today’s modern passenger vehicle engines. This new low viscosity formulation is not only a fully synthetic blend but also affordable for the masses who want that extra protection and performance when on the roads.

The new Shell Helix HX8 0W20 promises to deliver outright performance paired with extended fuel economy as well as enhanced engine protection, even during cold starts. This is all thanks to its adaptive Flexi Molecule Technology which works by adapting to the everyday driving scenario, style, and conditions.

According to Shell Lubricants Marketing General Manager, May Tan, “Globally, there is a continuing migration to low viscosity passenger car motor oil with many car manufacturers converting their factory first fill and service fill requirements to these low viscosity grade products. The new Shell Helix HX8 offers premium fully synthetic engine oil performance at an affordable price so that car owners can now give the best to their cars without compromise.”

Those who are interested in the new Shell Helix HX8 0W20 can purchase them at participating Shell Helix branded workshops at RM199 (4-litre pack) and RM53.90 (1-litre pack). Do look out for the
‘Untuk Pasaran Malaysia’
 label on the original bottles to ensure that what you’re putting in your engine is the good authentic stuff.

In conjunction with the launch, Shell Malaysia is offering RM25 off for any of the three Shell Helix HX8 variants upon the customer registering the purchase on the Shell Advantage and Rewards (SHARE) loyalty programme. The promotion is valid until 30 November 2019. For more information, head over to
https://share.shell.com/consumer/my
.

Shell Advance AX7 15W-50 Semi Synthetic & Ultra 15W-50 Fully Synthetic for kapchais & superbikes


F1 Legend Niki Lauda has passed away

The world of Formula One has lost an iconic figure earlier today, ladies and gentlemen. F1 Legend Niki Lauda has passed away at the age of 70 and it has been confirmed by his family regarding the breaking news just now. The three-time world champion is said to have passed peacefully in his sleep last night and confirmed the day after by his family.

After a number of major medical operations which include a double lung transplant and a couple of kidney transplants in recent years, the 70-year-old Austrian have had some complications and was bravely battling through.

The double lung transplant which was carried back in August 2018 infected him with the flu just after a few months and was reported to be in and out of the hospital several times. The 70-year-old was also reported by Austrian media to be on kidney dialysis at a Swiss private clinic but age finally caught up with the legendary F1 driver.

Niki Lauda was known for winning the world championships in 1975 and 1977 for Ferrari and another one for McLaren in 1984. He was also famously known for his horrific crash back in 1976 which gave him serious burns to the body but what’s more amazing was the fact that he only missed two races that season and was back behind the wheel six weeks after.

Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.


Kode 0 is a 1970s inspired Aventador

Remember the
Kode 57
 that we covered in September? Well, Ken Okuyama and his team are at it again but this time, they have taken a crack at revamping a current gen Lambo. The Japanese designer’s previous creation, the Kode 57 was rebodied Enzo with special tweaks and features.

This new one, known as Kode 0, has been tastefully reworked to resemble supercars from the 1970s. Okuyama took a standard Lamborghini Aventador and reworked the skin to form a wedge-shaped design unlike any other. Though the support structure was maintained for safety purposes, most of the outer body is unique to the Kode 0.

Okuyama’s team used both wet and dry carbon-fibre to create this masterpiece. The owner who commissioned this build, specifically wanted it to have a chrome exterior. But the end result, which probbaly took serious convincing, is better suited for a vehicle of its class.

Under the hood is the same V12 that comes with the standard car, but the suspension and brakes are unique to the Kode 0. The same is true for the rest of the design elements, including the interior.

The Kode 0 has been introduced with the blessing of Lamborghini. Okuyama personally sought the approval of the Italian automaker before the ‘OK’ was given for the project. That said, somone of Okuyama’s caliber, who served as design chief of Pininfarina and lays claim to the Enzo and Quattroporte’s design work, is incapable of mucking up such a project.

Check out the video and let us know what you think of the car and whether it deserves to be given the same respect as an Aventador. Also, take a look at
Jay Leno’s Garage Youtube channel
 for more videos such as the one featured here.


Toyota Mobility Foundation’s CATCH offers two solutions to address Kuala Lumpur’s mobility and city planning challenges

While Toyota Motor Corporation is best known for developing, manufacturing and selling motor vehicles, its scope of business has expanded widely over the decades. Many of the businesses and activities are directly or indirectly related to transportation and mobility, and among them is the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF). Established in August 2014, it supports the development of a more mobile society utilizing Toyota’s expertise in technology, safety, and the environment.

Last year, TMF launched the
C
ity
A
rchitecture for
T
omorrow
Ch
allenge (CATCH)with a global call for dynamic, intelligent and data-driven solutions to address mobility and city planning challenges, with Kuala Lumpur chosen as the city where the ideas would be tested.

 Minimum Viable Products developed by 6 finalists

Through the journey of the CATCH program, 6 finalists developed and delivered Minimum Viable Products (MVP),  despite the continuing impact of COVID-19. With support from strategic and data partners through the finalist stage, including mentorship from industry experts during the incubation workshop, the finalists obtained meaningful local insights and feedback for finalizing their solution development.

The finalists were also able to install physical devices in Kuala Lumpur, develop data analytics platforms and dashboards, and conduct feasibility testing to showcase the data utilization and leverage innovative technologies to improve the access to mobility in Kuala Lumpur. These MVPs were then presented at the final assessment to a panel of 8 judges from various fields of expertise.

After careful consideration and deliberations by the judging panel, two teams were identified as having presented the best suited solutions. These matched the 5 assessment criteria of creativity, desirability, feasibility, sustainability and technicality. The teams were Numina from the US and KERB from Australia.

The winning solutions

Numina’s solution (above) uses computer vision and Privacy by Design technology to measure how people and objects move in streets and public spaces, and delivers real-time insights from streets to make cities more responsive to human movement and needs. The data can be utilised by Kuala Lumpur stakeholders for making data-driven decisions in terms of city planning and infrastructure improvement.

KERB’s solution is a global parking application (shown below) which unlocks parking in the cities through their unique technology driven by their ‘KERB box’. It develops a platform that automates car parking, and enables renting public/private spaces to customers who need parking spaces. During the challenge, KERB deployed its technology to unlock parking spaces that are empty during office hours – thereby increasing the number of parking options available, with zero infrastructure by providing one-touch booking and payment, ‘hands-free’ carpark access, and real-time of parking behaviour data.

An outdoor public carpark in Kuala Lumpur.

US$250,000 each for trial and implementation

Numina and KERB will receive a grant of US$250,000 (RM1.041 million) each, as financial support for their solutions’ trial and implementation in Kuala Lumpur with the continuing collaboration from strategic and data partners. They will continuously work on implementation of the solutions in Kuala Lumpur.

“In line with Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Guiding Principles, the winners offer high tech practical solutions that can deliver immediate benefits to Kuala Lumpur citizens and city planners. Furthermore, they also exhibit potential for future-proofing mobility in any large city, and we are excited at the possibilities of our engagement going forward. Through CATCH, TMF hopes to utilize the insights gained through this challenge to solve mobility issues in other regions and countries in the future,” said Pras Ganesh, Director of Programs at TMF


Audi has virtual PC robots working for them

What does it feel like to work with a virtual robot? Well, the employees over at Audi know the experience as they’re currently working hand in hand with virtual PC robots at their workstations. Their job is pretty simple but crucial to get it right every time; entering countless data and creating standardised reports faster and more efficiently without any errors.

The reason why Audi has ‘hired’ these virtual robots to work on their employees’ PCs is because they want to relieve some of the working tasks so that they can focus more on complex and value-adding tasks that no robot can assist – yet. Audi IT founded the centre of excellence that provided this central platform for the Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

This digital assistant is called “Audi myMate” and they’ve been working effortlessly in entering and booking capital goods in their system since August 2019. So far, employees have welcomed these virtual robots with open arms as they can focus more on complicated task. By the looks of things, Audi said that they might add more digital assistants in the near future.

According to Dr. Bernd Martens, Member of the Board of Management for Procurement and IT, “With the introduction of RPA, we are pushing forward the digitalization of our business. We are using bots to make our processes more efficient and faster, and at the same time are giving our employees more time for more interesting work – a win-win situation for everyone.”

New Audi Q3 arrives in Malaysia, priced from RM269,900


Sebastien Ogier wins 2020 World Rally Championship title on first time with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

While the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team won the Manufacturers category in the 2020 World Really Championship (WRC), Sebastien Ogier of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT which took the Drivers title this year at the conclusion of the season in Italy

The 36-year old French driver has won titles in 7 WRCs since starting becoming an active participant in 2008. This year, with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, he used a Toyota Yaris WRC for the first time. He has previously driven in the Citroen, M-Ford and Volkswagen teams.

The Frenchman is the fifth different driver in 30 years to win the WRC title driving a Toyota, reclaiming the crown after Ott Tanak won the championship with the team in 2019. Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, also in his first season with Toyota, was on track to take the season’s driving honours until he slid off the road on an incredibly slippery right-hander on Saturday. He finished second in the championship. Ogier made it through to Sunday’s conclusion with a final margin of 13.9 seconds in a demanding rally with winter conditions that made driving treacherous.

“I feel the team would also have deserved to win the Manufacturers’ title; we fought as three drivers against five and came so close. But this seventh title for me is also a big achievement for the team and I couldn’t have done it without them, so thank you to them and I’m looking forward already to this bonus season for my career in 2021,” he said.

The event was the last one that Tommi Makinen, a former WRC champion, will have a role as team principal. Next year, he becomes Motorsport Advisor to Toyota. Team chairman Akio Toyoda congratulated Ogier and Ingrassia on their victory, expressed his consolation to Evans and paid tribute to Makinen who he said would continue supporting Toyota to make ever-better cars.

“Thanks to Tommi, we were also able to develop the GR Yaris,” the Toyota President said. “He led us to change our way of making cars through participating in the WRC.”

The Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team won the WRC Manufacturers title for a second consecutive year. With the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, the team scored 3 victories and 11 individual podiums.


Hyundai Motor Group Vehicles To Be Transformed To Software Defined Vehicles

The Hyundai Motor Group has announced a new global strategy which will ensure that its vehicles remain technically and functionally up to date throughout the vehicle’s entire life. This will see all vehicles (Hyundai, Kia and Genesis) transformed to Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) by 2025.

The industry-leading initiative is expected to transform the customer experience via constantly evolving software technology. It will encompass all models and enable upgrading of all vehicle functions such as safety, convenience, connectivity, security, and driving performance.

The upgrades will be delivered ‘Over-The-Air’ and the vehicles will be equipped with the necessary hardware to receive the updates. This means that owners need not visit a service centre, saving time. The ability to upgrade software will also enhance resale value of the vehicle which will be kept up to date even after 10 years in use.

The Group expects 20 million vehicles (of the Kia, Hyundai and Genesis brands) to be registered to its connected car service worldwide by 2025. Connected vehicles equipped with cutting-edge telecommunication features will create unprecedented value and possibilities and provide customers personalized services, such as software subscriptions.

There will also be FoD (Feature on Demand) services next year. This will give customers the ability to select and purchase functions and features that meet their needs and tastes, and the freedom to create vehicles that best match their lifestyles.

The vast amount of data generated by the 20 million subscribed vehicles will provide the basis for the further development of personalized services. The Group plans to continuously offer customized services that can enhance individual customer requirements and handle vehicle big data exceptionally quickly and ultra-reliably.

Furthermore, connected car data will network with future mobility solutions, including Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), robotaxis and robots. By establishing a new data platform, innovative services will be provided through connecting and processing the various data generated throughout the car’s life-cycle, as well as promoting the creation of an open ecosystem in partnership with diverse industries such as logistics and accommodation.

Accelerating SDV transformation
The Group plans to significantly reduce the time required for all mass-production processes, including planning, design, and manufacturing, by developing a shared hardware and software platform for vehicles. This will enable vehicle components to be shared across different vehicle segments, leading to more efficient vehicle development and greater cost reductions. Reducing vehicle complexity will further enhance the effectiveness of SDV technology.

Constantly upgradeable vehicle software will bolster Hyundai Motor Group’s ability to secure diverse and stable revenue streams by providing fresh vehicle features and functionality and leveraging selected data to offer personalized services for each customer. The Group’s profitability will also be improved by shortening vehicle development time and reducing costs through platform standardization.

Integrated Modular Architecture
“In 2025, Hyundai Motor Group will present vehicles with two platform types: eM, a passenger EV-dedicated platform; and eS, an exclusive platform for Purpose-Built Vehicles,” said Paul Choo, Executive Vice-President of Head of Electronics & Infotainment Development Center of Hyundai Motor Group. “These new platforms are evolving under Hyundai Motor Group’s ‘Integrated Modular Architecture’, which will lead to further standardization and modularization of core components of electric vehicles, such as batteries and motors, while offering advantages in sectors additional to electric vehicles.”

The Group’s Integrated Modular Architecture will facilitate the standardization and modularization of key EV components. By standardizing the batteries and electric motors, for example, which currently vary across each EV model, the Group will flexibly apply common components to each vehicle, thus efficiently expanding its lineup.

Future mobility and new challenges
The mobility industry paradigm will eventually be entirely transformed, enabling people to enjoy convenient, seamless travel, even if they don’t own a car. The Group’s mid-to-long-term strategy will accommodate a new dimension of mobility service and software will be the core technology that delivers this future by seamlessly connecting new mobility devices and services from Hyundai, Kia or Genesis.

“By ‘movement,’ we mean more than just moving between locations. We’re talking about the entire end-to-end journey, from leaving your house and meeting friends, to things like charging, shopping, eating, and finally returning home,” explained Chang Song, President and Head of Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) Division of Hyundai Motor Group. “Software-defined mobility will provide a holistic user experience based on vast mobility data and AI technology that understands user intentions and context. This way, all these journeys can be seamlessly connected.”

Hyundai Motor Group starts pilot autonomous car-hailing service with IONIQ 5 in Seoul


Porsche 99X Electric ready for its first Formula E season

With the international premiere of the Porsche 99X Electric, Porsche has reached another milestone on the way to the works entry in the 2019/2020 season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Porsche’s regular drivers Neel Jani and Andre Lotterer played an active role in the car presentation with videogamers from around the world. They were guided through the Porsche Digital GmbH premises in Ludwigsburg by specific instructions from the gaming community, first to find the Porsche 99X Electric and then to unveil it.

“It was a unique car presentation unlike anything the motorsport world has ever experienced before. It was great fun joining the gamers’ search for the Porsche 99X Electric both virtually and in real life at the same time. It is great that Porsche is breaking new ground and involving the young, digital generation,” said Jani.

“A different kind of car premiere; I really enjoyed the fact that Neel and I acted as live players. It is fantastic that we are communicating with the digital target audience as equals and that they were able to be part of it,” added Lotterer.

Significance of 9 and X

In terms of the design, the traditional Porsche motorsport colours were chosen for the Formula E racing car. From a bird’s-eye perspective, the Porsche emblem is clearly visible around the Halo system. As usual, the naming format is three digits which represent Porsche racing cars and 2-door sportscars.

The highest number, 9, was used twice, to re-emphasise the importance of the Formula E project for Porsche, while the X stands for the forward-looking approach and prototype racing. The 99X Electric also serves as a development platform for future fully electric production models.

Porsche E-Performance Powertrain

The development of the Porsche powertrain, referred to as the ‘Porsche E-Performance Powertrain’, has played a central role from the start. The Formula E regulations stipulate a standardised chassis and a standard battery, while the drive technologies are developed by the manufacturers. The engineers were able to make use of their LMP1 experience when developing the Porsche Formula E powertrain. With the hybrid technology, the foundations were laid for electric mobility.

“In hindsight, we laid the foundations for Porsche’s future involvement in Formula E during the LMP1 project. We used the insights gained during that time in the development of the Porsche Formula E powertrain. We focused on building a highly effective powertrain with the highest level of efficiency,” said Malte Huneke, Technical Project Leader Formula E.

The 800-volt technology used in Formula E is also used in the Taycan, Porsche’s first volume-produced fully electric sportscar. In addition, energy management and efficiency are the keys to success in both Formula E and series production. This is where the permanent synchronous motor comes into play which has an important role in optimising the drive concept.

TAG Heuer as Title and Timing Partner

TAG Heuer, the Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches, is the Title and Timing Partner of the Porsche Formula E Team, which will contest Season 6 of the single-seater all-electric championship under the name ‘TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’.

By entering Formula E, Porsche is also breaking new ground from a commercial perspective. This environment addresses a young, different-minded and digitally-oriented target audience. This sphere allows the company to explore what customers expect from vehicles and mobility in general both now and in the future, also in terms of products and services.

Return to single-seater racing

It’s been more than 30 years since Porsche last participated in single-seater racing. Entering Formula E and the accompanying restructuring of the motorsport involvement can be derived from the 2025 Porsche strategy. In addition to traditional GT road-going sportscars, fully electric sportscars are also firmly anchored in the strategy. Both will be reflected in Porsche’s involvement in motorsports in the years to come.

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


Toyota adds new C+pod Battery Electric Vehicle to its range in Japan

Although Toyota is well known for hybrid vehicles, which it pioneered as a mass producer, it has also been developing and selling fully electric vehicles (EVs) for many years. While it recognises that pure EVs are – which are also referred to as Battery Electric Vehicles or BEVs – are going to increase in the market, the segment is not particularly large yet. Nevertheless, the company has made plans to sell 1 million BEVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (which also have electric powertrains) by 2030.

Meanwhile, it is improving a small range of BEVs and selling them in limited numbers, mainly in Japan where engineers can more easily monitor usage and investigate any issues that arise. With BEV technology as part of Toyota’s future mobility roadmap, there is a need to encourage large numbers of people to adopt them and the company is progressively introducing such models.

A new mobility option

The latest one announced today is the new C+pod, a 2-seater BEV designed as a mobility option that improves per-person energy efficiency. In addition to short-distance daily use, the C+pod is also aimed at corporate users visiting customers on a regular basis, and at users in urban or mountainous communities needing safe, unrestricted, and environmentally-friendly transportation options.

The C+pod is 2.5 metres long and 1.3 metres wide so it is a compact vehicle and can turn within a tight radius of 3.9 metres. It’s therefore ideal for urban use and require minimum steering wheel operation when parking.

Toyota has been producing the i-Road 3-wheeler BEV since 2013 and is running it in public trials in Japan and Switzerland.

The under-floor location of the lithium-ion battery in front of the seat creates a flat, low-floor package that minimizes steps. The motor is positioned in the rear of the vehicle while the independent suspension system absorbs irregularities in the road surface and maintain stable movement.

Lightweight body with 150-km range

The motor can generate up to 9.2 kW with 56 Nm of torque, which is sufficient to give the lightweight 690-kg vehicle good performance. Factory tests using industry test cycles have achieved  cruising range of up to 150 kms which would be adequate for daily use.

The C+pod can be charged at home or in public areas and in Japan, there are around 15,000 stations nationwide, all of which will be marked on the navigation system. Depending on the charging method used, an empty lithium-ion battery pack can be fully recharged between 5 and 15 hours.

There are now around 15,000 charging stations throughout Japan (Toyota COMS BEVs being recharged in Nagoya)

Mobile power supply capability

The C+pod includes an external power supply system of up to 1,500W as standard for use during power outages and natural disasters. In addition to use through the accessory power outlet near the passenger’s feet, the optional vehicle power connector can be plugged into the standard charging inlet at the front of the car for use as an external power supply socket, which can supply power for up to about 10 hours.

The 1100-mm wide cabin provides a simple space for two adults to sit side-by-side. Positioned above a white centre tray, the instrument panel features meters and other functional equipment. The contrast with the black tones of the interior creates a feeling of spaciousness.

Toyota has made sure the C+pod has safety features to protect the occupants even though its body is compact and has plastic panels in some areas. Its structure efficiently disperses and absorbs impact energy across multiple components during frontal, side or rear impacts. Injuries to pedestrians are also reduced during a collision with the vehicle, thanks to the design of the front end elements.

The C+pod will be sold only in Japan and customers can choose from two grades, priced from 1,650,000 yen (about RM65,000).

First look at the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain being developed by BMW and Toyota


Peugeot’s 1.2L PureTech wins International Engine of the Year

Peugeot’s little 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine has won this year’s International Engine of the Year award for the 1.0 to 1.4-litre category. The winners of these awards are chosen by an international panel of journalists who decide on the appropriate winner based on a set criteria.

This is the third year in a row that Peugeot has won it, which is a testament to the quality and reliability of it’s powerplant. Over 850,000 units of this particular engine have found their way into Peugeot vehicles around the world.

Demand for the engine seems to be growing by the day, and to compensate for it, the French automaker is planning on increasing the number of facilities that are able to manufacture them. It has been stated that if the current trend is maintained, annual production of the 1.2-litre PureTech engine should reach 1 million units by 2019.

Peugeot’s PureTech 1.2-litre engine is a 3 cylinder unit that comes with either a 110bhp or 130bhp power rating and is being utilised in about 90 different models in 70 countries.

Speaking of the award, Christian Chapelle, Vice-President, Powertrain and Chassis Engineering, PSA Group, said, “Receiving this award confirms the exceptional quality and performance of our petrol engines. We are continuing to optimize our internal combustion engines to make them more efficient and ever more environmentally friendly, thereby better addressing the challenges of energy transition.”

Before the end of 2017, Peugeot plans on updating their award winning engine with the following features to boost efficiency, performance and fuel consumption:

introduction of a petrol particulate filter to reduce emissions particles by more than 75%

optimisation of efficiency, due to the combustion cycle evolution and a 250bar fuel injection pressure;

reduction in mechanical friction and introduction of a new turbocharger

making the engine more compact to optimise body aerodynamics

Here in Malaysia, the newly launched Peugeot 208 PureTech is powered by the same award winning engine that we have mentioned in this article. If you would like to know more about it, visit the automaker’s local website.


New Honda HR-V RS, now with full black interior

Honda Malaysia has announced that their latest Honda HR-V RS variant will now come with a new full black interior specially for those who prefer a sportier look and feel. This move was made based on customers’ feedbacks to add more style and sophistication into the HR-V RS mix.

The new black interior will be replacing the outgoing Ivory interior colour which can be seen in the car’s centre console, front panel, driver and passenger seat (front and rear) as well as door panel lining.

So far, Honda Malaysia has received over 12,200 bookings just for the Honda HR-V line-up and were pretty sure with this introduction of blacked out interior, those numbers will see a rise especially when paired with that lovely RS variant.

The RS model alone contributes to around 20% of the entire HR-V sales figure and with the domination of 86% of the total market share in the compact SUV segment, the HRV maintains its positions as No.1 in the Non-National Segment and No. 2 in overall Total Industry Volume (TIV).

Powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC engine, the RS model produces a commendable 140hp at 6,500rpm and 172Nm of maximum torque at 4,300rpm. All that power is sent to its sporty 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels via a continuous variable transmission (CVT) system for better overall mileage.

Other interesting specs include:

Multi-Angle Rearview Camera

8-Way Driver Power Seat (V & RS), full leather seats (V & RS)

Honda LaneWatch camera (V & RS)

Cruise Control and Paddle Shift

6 Airbags

Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

ISO Fix

The New HR-V is available in 5 colour options namely Passion Red Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Ruse Black Metallic, and White Orchid Pearl. Prices start from RM108,800 to RM124,800 (basic selling prices without insurance). For more information, head over to
www.honda.com.my
.

WEEKEND FEATURE: Honda HR-V Hybrid i-DCD Driven! [+Videos]


Maserati revives the Royale Series for special editions of the Quattroporte, Levante and Ghibli

Throughout its history of over 100 years, Maserati has been well known for creating unique models and exclusive cars. Amongst them, the 1986 Royale version of the 3rd generation Quattroporte stands out. Essentially a restyling project featuring exclusive blue and green colours, improved interiors, with soft leather seats and extensive use of wood in the dashboard and door panels, only 51 units were produced for sale.

Now Maserati is paying tribute to its heritage with the launch of a special series bearing the same name, this time available across all models with V6 engines featured in the current Maserati range. The factory plans to make 100 units of the Quattroporte, Levante and Ghibli Royale with engines ranging from the 275-bhp 3.0-litre V6 Diesel to the 350-bhp and 430-bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol.

As with the original Royale, the 2020 special series is available in similarly unique blue and green colours: Blu Royale and Verde Royale. To complete the elegant exterior look, the Levante Royale features 21-inch Anteo Staggered Anthracite rims, with Titanium Anthracite rims on Ghibli and Quattroporte, all with silver brake calipers.

Inside the Royale Series

The Royale interiors, based on the GranLusso trim, are available in Zegna PELLETESSUTA Cuoio or two-tone Pieno Fiore leather in Black/Cuoio. The Zegna PELLETESSUTA is a woven leather textile made exclusively for Maserati interiors. Born of old-world Italian traditions and today’s innovative technology, it was ingeniously fashioned using thin strips of Nappa leather to create an ultra-luxurious ’fabric’ that is lightweight, soft and durable.

The extensive equipment list includes Cold Weather, Premium and Driving Assistance Plus Packages fitted as standard. Comprehensive Advanced Driving Assistance Systems actively respond to potential hazards to ensure safety for driver and passengers.

Like the rest of the range, the Royale Special Series features the Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC+) unit, an 8.4-inch touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard. The interface is said to be extremely straightforward to use and controls all the key vehicle functions. The screen also displays the rear view depicted by the reversing camera, with guidelines for ease of use.

Compatible smartphones can interface with the infotainment system using either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. In addition, for iPhone users, Apple’s Siri system acts as a personal assistant, allowing them to carry out tasks using voice command. Through naturally spoken language, it is possible to make a call or access music, messages, reminders, emails, websites and much more.

Although the first deliveries are scheduled for March 2020, orders for this limited series are now being accepted. In the UK, the prices start from £78,900 (around RM417,500) for the Ghibli, £85,300 (RM451,400) for the Levante and £103,150 (RM545,900) for the Quattroporte.

Maserati readies for new era starting in May 2020


TGR Festival Parade of Vios Racing Cars brings excitement to streets of Kuala Terengganu

Terengganu on the East Coast has Friday and Saturday as its weekend, so Thursday night is usually a time when people start to look forward to their weekly break. Last night saw added excitement in the state capital of Kuala Terengganu as the streets came alive with a convoy of 35 vehicles taking part in the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival Drivers’ Parade.

A first in Kuala Terengganu

The parade was a promotional event for this weekend’s opening round of Season 3 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival and Vios Challenge race series. In the convoy were 26 Vios racing cars which were driven on public roads for the very first time, escorted by the police. The racing cars, intended for the race series, are normally not for normal use on public roads.

Starting from the race venue at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin stadium, the 25-km journey took drivers across the iconic Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge before coming to stop at Pasarnita for a meet-and-greet session with hundreds of local fans.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival Chief Motorsports Officer Akio Takeyama led the convoy which had celebrities and Promotional class drivers Diana Danielle, Janna Nick, Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali, Ain Edruce, Shukri Yahaya, Shawn Lee, Nabil Ahmad, Khai Bahar and Syafiq Kyle.

Also joining the parade were the pool of amateur and professional racers competing in the Sporting and Super Sporting Classes who included Malaysian drifter and Season 1 champion Tengku Djan Ley, teenage driver Hayden Haikal, Dato’ Ken Foo, Season 2 champion Brendon Lim, Ahmad Tarmimi, Mark Darwin, Mirza Syahmi, Mohd Ismail Idris, Jackson Tan, Freddie Ang, Ricky Tan, Syafiq Ali, Lim Chun Beng, Sutan Mustafa and Tom Goh.

Recognized as Malaysia’s premier street racing series, the Vios Challenge is held on a specially-constructed 1.65-km street circuit and features close action on the track with celebrity, amateur and professional racing drivers competing in three classes of saloon car racing (Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting classes respectively) in the exciting one-make series that is the highlight of the TGR Festival.

Related story:
Drivers talk about the much-improved Vios racing car for Season 3

Scenes from the Season 2 event which was held at the same venue last year.

More than just racing action

For motorsports fans and spectators in Kuala Terengganu, the excitement of the TGR Festival is not confined to the action and drama on the track. Today and tomorrow, there also will be a display of Toyota’s wide range of models (with test-drives available), a drift performance by Japanese drifters courtesy of Toyo Tires, a racing simulator challenge, stage games and celebrity performances, promotional activities, lucky draws, the sale of merchandise, and a Superfans Signing Session where fans can mingle with the celebrities racing in the Promotional class. Entrance is free and there’s plenty of parking available at the venue.

Season


110th Rallye Monte Carlo starts today

To know about other promotions, visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
.

The 2021 World Rally Championship, which will have 12 rounds, begins today with the classic Rallye Monte-Carlo. The oldest event on the WRC calendar will celebrate its 110th anniversary with this year’s edition.

Over that time, the rally has formed a reputation as one of the most demanding in the world due to the unpredictable, wintery conditions in the French Alps, bringing ice and snow to the asphalt roads. This usually makes tyre selection an important element of the event and this year, the crews will be choosing from new tyres supplied by Pirelli, which commences its 4-year agreement with the FIA as exclusive tyre provider to the leading competitors.

Changes due to pandemic

While the challenge remains as tough as usual, there are a number of changes for this year’s Rallye Monte-Carlo as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions in the area. There will be no Shakedown before the rally begins, with two stages to the north of the Service Park in Gap. Tomorrow takes the competitors to the west for a loop of 3 new stages, beginning in the early hours of the day, with the first two runs then repeated in the afternoon.

On Saturday, the start takes place before dawn and there will be 3 stages before the crews drive south to Monaco, ready for Sunday’s finale. The final leg takes place further west than in recent years following severe flooding last October, meaning no trip to the iconic Col de Turini. Briançonnet – Entrevaux instead hosts the rally-ending Power Stage as one of two runs which will take place twice on Sunday.

The teams and drivers

6 weeks after claiming his seventh world title at the 2020 season-closing Rally Monza, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier will be first off the line. Ogier will be targeting a seventh WRC victory on Rallye Monte-Carlo in 8 years. He will again be driving a Toyota Yaris WRC, now in its fifth consecutive season – the last before new technical regulations are introduced to the championship in 2022. However, there will still be some optimisation which will be introduced during 2021.

So far, the car has achieved 17 victories in the WRC (winning over one-third of the events it has taken part in) and 322 stage wins. After the Manufacturers’ title of 2018, it has brought Toyota two consecutive Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ crowns, in 2019 and 2020.

Thierry Neuville, who last year interrupted Ogier’s winning run in Monte Carlo, leads the Hyundai Shell Mobis team assault together with the 2019 champion Ott Tanak. Dani Sordo makes his first Monte start since 2018 in the third Hyundai i20 WRC.

M-Sport Ford is entering two Ford Fiesta WRC rallycars with Gus Greensmith and Teemu Suninen as drivers. The 2C Competition team has Pierre-Louis Loubet in a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, while Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta also embarks on his first full season in an additional fourth Toyota Yaris WRC.

5 brands in WRC2

An expanded FIA WRC2 field of 8 cars for the opening round of the season features 5 different manufacturers of Rally2 cars. Regular category drivers – France’s Adrien Fourmaux in a Ford Fiesta Mk II, Russia’s Nicolay Gryazin in a Volkswagen Polo GTI, Bolivia’s Marco Bulacia in a Skoda Fabia Evo – are joined by Sweden’s Oliver Solberg on a Hyundai NG i20 or France’s Eric Camilli driving a Citroen C3. Eleven more crews, led by Frenchmen Nicolas Ciamin and Yohan Rossel in Citroen C3s, are entered into FIA WRC3.


Vios Challenge delivers masterclass racing in Penang

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival (TGR) concluded its third round here at Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang, where the Vios Challenge race series presented one heck of an action-packed racing all weekend long in all three classes taking part. Here’s the race report for those who are following the series before they head into the final round later this year at Sepang International Circuit.

SUPER SPORTING

Tengku Djan Ley (23 Motors) continues to extend his lead in the Super Sporting class with a textbook win in Race 1. Starting from pole position, Malaysia’s Price of Drift cleared the entire pack behind him and maintained a fast pace with no competition from other drivers. Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin came in second followed by Dream Chaser’s Brandon Anthony in third.

With a reversed grid coming in for Race 2, it was the opposite for Tengku Djan as he rammed into the wall during the first lap and obtained serious damages that caused him the race. Freddie Ang (Telagamas Toyota) took advantage of the reversed grid and maintained his pace with almost no contest from other drivers behind him.

Coming in second for Race 2 was William Ho (Toyotsu Racing) who was able to match the pace of Freddie Wang but was unable to close the gap as he settled for the runner-up spot upon crossing the chequered flag. Boy Wong put up quite a show as he defended the final podium spot against the quick Syafiq Ali who put on an incredible performance all the way from P7.

SPORTING

Race 1 saw Mirza Syahmi (Aylezo Motorsports) taking the holeshot from pole position but a mistake in Lap 5 saw him being taken over by Hayden Haikal(S&D Motorsports) who successfully crossed the finishing line in P1. More points obtained in increasing his lead in the overall championship.

Kenneth Koh (Panglima City Racing Team) finished in second whereas Adam Khalid (Crestmax Motorsport) took home the final podium spot of Race 1.

For Race 2, Tom Goh (S&D Tama Motorsports) cleared the pack with Bradley Benedict Anthony (Dream Chaser) close by before a dramatic six-car pileup happened halfway through Lap 1 which started with Vincent Ng (Team Fokus Tetap) clashing with the wall.

Red flags were waived and restarted again with the safety car rolling start. Tom Goh took the opportunity to extend his gap with a comfortable lead with Haji Sutan trying hard to fend off the rest of the pack that survived the initial incident.

Shanmuganathan Arumugan (Kashash Vina Motorsports) lost control of his vehicle which brought out the safety car onto the track. That resulted in all the drivers bunching up for the final few laps. The end of Race 2 saw Tom Goh being cut during the final lap by Bradley Benedict Anthony with Haji Sutan narrowly escaping from losing the final podium position of the race.

PROMOTIONAL

Shawn Lee was able to extend his lead in the championship thanks to a classy Race 1 win at Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang yesterday. Slightly wet conditions made the race even more difficult for the Promotional class drivers, but they managed to complete the race safely.

Second place of Race went to Nabil Ahmad who had a good battle with third-place finisher, Shukri Yahaya. It was a close fight but one of Malaysia’s top comedians managed to fend off the renowned actor from overtaking the second podium spot at the end of Race 1.

Race 2 saw Janna Nick taking off ahead of the star-studded pack followed closely by Shukri Yahaya and Nabil Ahmad. The top three got closer by the second lap and the gap just grew closer as all the drivers tightened up their paces.

Shukri Yahaya took over the top spot from Janna Nick. Nabil Ahmad saw the disturbance in rhythm and took the opportunity to pounce on the second sport. Wany Hasrita met with the wall with a few laps remaining that resulted in the safety car being deployed.

With 4 laps remaining, Janna Nick was punted off by Shawn Lee as he was desperate to overtake with the top two drivers increasing their gap at the front. The safety car was deployed yet again and concluded the rest of the laps. Race 2 concluded with Shukri Yahaya on top followed by Nabil Ahmad and Shawn Lee securing the final podium spot of the day.

The final round of the Vios Challenge will take place in April at the Sepang International Circuit and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival (TGR) promises to close it off with a huge bang and celebrations. So, keep your schedules fairly clear in April and we’ll see you there!


Additional refinement for Lexus UX with latest enhancements and upgrades

After introducing the first premium luxury SUV in 1997, Lexus broadened its crossover line-up to cover every segment and as the industry moved towards smaller body sizes, Lexus followed likewise with new models. Its smallest is the UX, introduced in 2018, with a cumulative total of approximately 240,000 units sold globally.

The UX has been doing battle in one of the most competitive segments of the market and this year, it gets upgrades to keep it on par with rivals. Besides enhancements in the multimedia system, the new UX also has improved safety technology and better driving dynamics.

Under the skin, structural rigidity has been improved by adding 20 spot-welding points around the bodywork. The increased rigidity, besides giving additional passive protection, helps to enhance handling. At the same time, the electric power steering system and shock absorbers pf the suspension have been retuned accordingly to help provide a smoother transition between braking, steering and acceleration through bends and on a variety of road surfaces. It is this linear vehicle operation faithful to the driver’s input that defines the Lexus Driving Signature.

The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is a suite of active systems that lighten the driving burden on the driver and more importantly, help avoid accidents (or minimise the damaging effects). The single-lens camera on the windscreen and millimetre-wave radar in the grille have been improved to more effectively scan the road ahead. This enables expansion of the response range of the Pre-Collision System which can detect bicyclists and pedestrians (even in low-light conditions) and, at intersections, detect oncoming vehicles before turns. The system also detects pedestrians crossing the street from the direction toward which the vehicle was traveling before it started to make a right or left turn.

Also featured are functions such as Emergency Steering Assist, which assists steering within the vehicle’s lane as cued by the driver. The lane-recognition functions of Lane Tracing Assist have been improved through the application of AI technologies that expand the assist range, resulting in smoother and more-continuous steering assist.

Dynamic Radar Adaptive Cruise Control is a very useful autonomous system that ensures a safe gap[ from the vehicle in front and it functions at all speeds. To enhance its operation on highways with curves, the curve speed-control function decelerates the vehicle in advance according to the size of an approaching curve.

Most Lexus models have the Panoramic View Monitor nowadays so the driver can see all round the car with imagery captured by small cameras on the body. A new and advanced feature is an underbody transparent display which combines images of road surface conditions below the UX. A camera takes images of the ground earlier and then shows them on the display so the driver can have an idea what the vehicle is travelling over. The relative orientation of the wheels is also visible, which can be helpful on rough terrain with obstacles.

Inside the new UX, the multimedia infotainment system at the centre of the dashboard has been revised and now uses the new Lexus Interface system. This provides a larger touchscreen display (8 inches of 12.3 inches) that is positioned close to the driver. The display has higher resolution and smartphone-like anti-glare technology and instead of the remote controlled, users can now interact with the system through intuitive touch and voice activation controls.

The overall cabin usability has been improved by optimizing the shapes and switch layout of the instrument panel and console area with LED lighting added. Taking into consideration how people are using more personal electronic devices these days and require recharging, the interior designers have added two USB charging points at the front, and also improved the wireless charging space.

The Lexus Interface incorporates a new Voice Assistant available through voice activation or accessible via a button on the steering wheel, providing handsfree operation. Simple phrases like “
Hey Lexus
” trigger the system for voice commands and with a human-centred approach, the Lexus Interface Assistant allows for intuitive interaction using natural language.

For clear communication with the system, there are two microphones with enhanced noise-cancellation, seat detection and speaker location capabilities. The system gives front seat occupants an expanded and interactive experience to access media, phone and vehicle settings.

Depending on the market, the driver can also have access to Cloud Navigation, Destination Assist and other Intelligent Assistant features. The cloud navigation offered through Drive Connect allows for real-time Over-the-Air updates for traffic and routing information and Points of Interest. With Wi-Fi Connect, the Intelligent Assistant can also offer integrated audio streaming functionality.

Needless to say, the Lexus Interface support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with compatible smartphones and also has dual Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Powertrains are unchanged and depending on the market, there are either combustion engines or hybrid powertrains. In Malaysia, for example, only the 2-litre 169 bhp combustion engine is available but there’s a choice of three versions.

The new UX F Sport version has enhancements as well, both visually and technically. The addition of a brace to the steering gear complements the standard Adaptive Variable Suspension system and rear performance dampers to absorb body flex and minor vibrations and further sharpen handling and improve overall ride comfort.

The new UX will probably take a while to appear in Malaysia, but Lexus Malaysia has just launched the new NX, another crossover SUV model positioned a notch higher. You can read
our first impressions of it here
.

For more information on Lexus models in Malaysia, visit
www.lexus.com.my
.

Sneakers inspired by new Lexus IS F SPORT (w/VIDEO)


Sugar-Cane Cars Slow Down EV Adoption In Brazil

Speciality automobiles running on any blend of petrol and ethanol were Brazil’s novel approach to reducing tailpipe emissions for two decades, helping the country boast just a quarter of the road pollution of other nations its size.

While other countries are pushing the EV agenda, Brazil is standing its ground while several of the other leading economies in the world set out specific plans to ultimately stop selling automobiles with combustion engines. The most widely used models in the nation are so-called flexible-fuel cars that can operate entirely on biofuel made from sugar cane, making them generally more environmentally friendly than pure petrol engines.

According to the Secretary for Industrial Development Uallace Moreira Lima, Brazil will map a course to minimise its reliance on automobiles that operate only on petrol when it presents its new auto-industry strategy as early as next month. However, it won’t affect the favoured flex-fuel models.

These sugar-cane-powered vehicles are less expensive to maintain than gasoline-powered cars, which reduced Brazil’s vulnerability to oil shortages that severely damaged the economy in the 1970s. These automobiles received positive feedback from customers and developed a devoted following.

The slower EV uptake in Brazil is not unusual. Government officials, well-known sugar producers, and well-known automakers are all working hard to maintain ethanol in petrol. This support comes in a variety of forms, including a number of pro-ethanol regulations, such as lower taxes at the pump and a federal carbon credit programme that essentially rewards ethanol mills, as well as little investment in the infrastructure for charging EVs or the production of batteries.

But the Gol Flex, a car fueled by ethanol, wasn’t released by Volkswagen until 2003 when things really started to pick up. The Gol Flex made flex-fuel vehicles, which burn a mixture of ethanol and petrol, popular, and they swiftly ousted pure-gas automobiles from the market. For comparison, in June 2023, flex-fuel vehicles represented 84.5 per cent of all vehicle sales in the nation.

For socialist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, turning around would be challenging. In a country known as the greatest producer of sugar cane in the world, where agriculture accounts for almost a fourth of GDP, if fuel-flex vehicles were phased out, he would lose the enormous economic boost that ethanol generates every year.

However, as long as flex-fuel vehicles are widely available, reasonably priced, and manufactured locally, they will continue to outsell electric vehicles (EVs), which are among the cleanest in the world given that more than 80% of Brazil’s electricity originates from renewable sources including hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. Throughout their lifetime, they are therefore cleaner than flex-fuel vehicles.

Brazil will find it tougher to keep up with the rapid advancement of EV technology the longer it puts off planning its transition to battery-powered vehicles. Transitions take time, and if the country puts off implementing the types of initiatives that other nations have found to be crucial for lowering consumer costs and promoting adoption, it risks being stranded in an outmoded system.


‘Ford Ranger Getaways’ by SDAC-Ford provide owners with ways to enjoy their truck to the fullest

Most people who buy a pick-up truck are the active types who enjoy going out into the countryside and exploring our beautiful country. For those who own a Ford Ranger, there’s now an even better way to enjoy their truck with the ‘
Ford Ranger Getaways
’. This is new brand experiential programme offered by Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford (SDAC-Ford) for enthusiasts to experience the
‘
Ranger Life
’

with other owners. The program also allows them to discover the potential of the Ranger themselves through specially designed excursions.

An industry first, the programme has been crafted based on customer feedback, which underlined their desire for wanting to network with like-minded individuals, expanding their lifestyle activities to enhance work-life balance, and spending more quality time with family and friends.

There are 15 getaways and each one has been thoughtfully curated to showcase the multiformity of the Ranger lifestyle. These encompass fun city outings and outdoor or off-road excursions to foodie trails, and even flying a plane through Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)!

There is also a one-of-a-kind on and off-road experience within the vicinity of Sepang which will be held on February 26 for owners of the high-performance Ranger Raptor. Owners of other Ranger variants can also participate on a similar type of event the next day at the same venue.

The programme is also a way for SDAC-Ford to help boost domestic tourism which have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and to support as many local businesses as possible. These businesses have been selected for their activities that are aligned with the Ranger Life core values.

The Ford Ranger Getaways will be refreshed from time to time to ensure that they remain interesting. The current getaways on offer are half-day, full-day or overnight trips and prices range from RM98 to RM2,133 per person, depending on the package chosen.

The various Ford Ranger Getaway packages available.

In conjunction with the launch of the
Ford Ranger Getaways
, owners can enjoy 50% savings for the on and off-road experience which will be held on
February 26 and 27
. Each participant can also bring along a companion for free. As there are limited slots, acceptance of bookings will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Over the years, the Ranger has transformed from a purely utilitarian workhorse and is now leading the pack as a versatile and premium truck that is sought after for work, family and play, whilst maintaining its
‘Built Ford Tough
’ DNA. In line with the 5 guiding principles under our new ‘
Live the Ranger Life
’ brand essence, the
Ford Ranger Getaways
 aims to offer experiences that push the boundaries of what people perceive a pickup truck to be. We also believe that this attracts new customers to our Ford Ranger brand,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford.

Ranger owners can make their bookings from February 5, 2022 onwards by going to SDAC-Ford’s new e-commerce platform at
www.sdacford.com.my/shop
. Using the online platform, they can select their desired adventure and travel date as well as complete the payment transaction, all from the comfort of their home or office. Confirmation will be sent via email from the time the booking is processed.

‘Live The Ranger Life’ celebrates Ford’s pick-up truck evolution into the modern lifestyle machine that it is today


Volkswagen having virtual motor show online for 2 weeks

Following the cancellation of this year’s Geneva International Motor Show (which was to have been held last month), the Volkswagen brand show stand can now be visited online. Starting from today, visitors can ‘experience’ all the new models of the brand for 2 weeks.

Furthermore, they can do so at any time of the day, from their homes anywhere in the world. This would be welcome by people in the increasing number of countries where there is a lockdown or restricted movement.

Click here to go to the Volkswagen Virtual Motor Show

The 360° tour offers an interactive digital experience allowing visitors to be immersed in the motorshow. They can ‘stroll’ across the booth, view vehicles from all sides and also change colours and wheel rim configurations with the easy-to-use functions. This may well be the beginning of a new trend in the industry of presenting new models, given that social distancing will be emphasised in future.

“I am pleased that our marketing team has succeeded in making our booth available to all visitors despite the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show. Virtually, they can experience our team’s attention to detail in the presentation of this show and our product highlights. Once again, this demonstrates that special situations call for special solutions,” said Jurgen Stackmann, Member of the Volkswagen brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales .

“We are convinced that we will be able to reach even more people in future through virtual show visits in addition to the real presentation of vehicles,” he added.

All the vehicles and the booth planned for Geneva have been digitally processed for the 360° experience and give visitors a 3-dimensional experience of being at the show. The main focus is on the new products of 2020 which range from the future electric vehicle ID.3 to the new R2 with plug-in hybrid technology. There is also the latest generation of the iconic sports versions of the Golf, the GTI, GTD and GTE.

Users take part in a guided tour of the booth but can control their visit individually. By clicking integrated additional features and interactive exhibits which allow vehicles to be displayed with different colours or wheel rims, users are encouraged to interact with the presentation.

“Our first digital booth is only the opening chapter in our new sustainable concept for future innovative online experiences,” said Jochen Sengpiehl, Chief Marketing Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. “Exploiting the opportunities offered by virtual reality is part of our digitalization strategy. It will become an integral component of our experience marketing, the entire external presentation of the brand and interaction with customers and fans.”

Volkswagen has an online showroom


Bermaz Mazda Announces “Mazda Sports Day” Open To All!

All ye Mazda
Zoom-Zoom
 fans take note! Mazda cars have been designed and built for drivers to experience the joys of spirited driving. That is why the MazdaSports Division is dedicated to delivering the
Jinba Ittai
 driving experience to everyone.

MazdaSports Academy is introducing the
“MazdaSports Day”
, where everyone can experience the driving ability of a Mazda through a dynamic test drive course and participate in exciting driver challenges with prizes to be won.

The MazdaSports Day is a fun driving experience programme open for
everyone
 to join and personally experience Mazda’s
 “Celebrate Driving”
 brand essence. Participation is
free
. Set to take place
July 7 & 8, 2018
 (Saturday & Sunday) at the Shah Alam Stadium from
9:00AM – 5:00PM
.

For more information on MazdaSports Day, visit Mazda Malaysia’s Facebook Page. (https://www.facebook.com/mazdamy/).

MazdaSports Day Location Waze:
 https://waze.com/ul/hw281w8u6v Google Maps : https://maps.google.com/?q=3.080410,101.542252


The Isuzu D-MAX That Has Travelled 14 Times Around The Planet!

The Isuzu D-MAX has a reputation for reliability and toughness, with the ability to take passengers and cargo across extreme terrain. It is durable enough to last a long time and many owners do keep their D-MAX trucks for many years. New trucks may come along but they come to rely on their trusty D-MAX which gets their jobs done.

One owner has kept his D-MAX for 8 years and in that time, it has covered an astounding 351,364 miles (565,465 kms). Those are just 6 digits but to have an idea of just how far the truck has travelled, it is a distance equal to 14 times round our planet. Or to put it another way, it could have travelled to the moon and be halfway back to Earth, having covered an average of 43,750 miles (70,408 kms) per year.

The D-MAX, purchased brand new in 2014 from Bob Gerard Isuzu, a dealership in Leicester, England, was ‘discovered’ after Isuzu UK used the brand’s social media channels in the UK to find the D-MAX with the highest mileage. And it is still in active service, running daily for its duties.

The D-Max 2.5 Turbodiesel with manual transmission has clocked so much mileage because it is used daily for towing and providing logistical support for the vehicle sales and service dealer Aston Melton Mowbray. This non-Isuzu dealer provides a vehicle delivery and collection service all over the UK. So the D-MAX travels great distances on each trip and that is how the odometer reading has risen so much.

“When the business was looking for a vehicle capable of towing 3.5-tonnes on a daily basis, we wanted something that would not only do the job but would also prove to be the most cost-effective for the business, at which time the Isuzu D-MAX became the obvious choice. It’s extremely important for us to have vehicles we can rely on for our vehicle deliveries and the D-MAX has been fantastic for our business, so much so that when we needed to add another tow vehicle to our fleet, we once again chose an Isuzu D-MAX for the job,” said James Jeal from Aston Melton Mowbray.

Proving to be an extremely reliable workhorse – other than a repair to the rear differential in 2021 –  the vehicle has had no significant issues or major repairs. It is still running on the original engine, gearbox and all other major components, with just regular servicing and replacement of consumables such as tyres, brakes and a clutch.

This is not the only D-MAX that Aston Melton Mowbray owns as the dealer actually has a second unit, which itself has covered over 200,000 miles (320,000 kms) and has also proved just as reliable and trouble-free.

“Isuzu is renowned for the durability and robustness of its pick-up trucks, and this truck is a living testament to that reputation. It is fantastic to see a vehicle with this mileage used every day for towing and continuing to be a reliable workhorse for the business it serves,” said Brian Wheeler, Product Manager at Isuzu UK.

The D-MAX is sold worldwide and in markets like Malaysia, it is also a popular lifestyle machine. The current third generation of the D-MAX was launched in April 2021 and has proven to the best D-MAX ever offered by Isuzu. And the ‘best of the best‘ would be the X-Terrain version which is at the top of the range.

While the D-MAX X-Terrain has stylish looks and an interior that is liked a passenger car’s, it retains the go-anywhere capability, efficient and reliable powertrains and robust engineering that have been key attributes of the D-MAX.

The latest D-MAX X-Terrain

To find one in Peninsular or East Malaysia, visit
www.isuzu.net.my
 to locate an authorised Isuzu dealership

Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain: The One Pick-Up Truck To Rule Them All!

Click here
 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Bizzarrini Reveals All-New Giotto As Second Model

Giotto Bizzarrini’s name may not be as prominent as that of other Italian automotive engineers but he nevertheless remains an iconic name in Italian automotive history. After working at Alfa Romeo for 3 years, he joined Ferrari in 1957. He was influential in the development of models such as the 250 GT, 250 TR Testa Rossa, 250GT SWB and 3-litre Testa Rossa V12 engine, with the 250 GTO and original V12 engine being his most famous efforts.

In 1964, he founded his own company with the intention of producing specialised high-performance sports and racing cars. However, after 140 cars, the company could no longer continue and became dormant in 1969. 51 years later, in 2020, Pegasus Brands acquired the right to the Bizzarrini name and planned to use it for a new generation of cars for collectors and enthusiasts.

The Bizzarrini brand was reintroduced to the world with the
5300 GT Corsa Revival
 early in 2022. This was the first model to bear the Bizzarrini name since the
GT Strada 4.1 concept of 2005
. A total of 24 cars will be built at Bizzarrini’s own facility in the UK, each an authentic contemporary interpretation of the 1965 class-winner at Le Mans.

The 5300 GT Corsa Revival uses original blueprints, materials from original suppliers, with the input of experts originally involved in the 5300 GT project. To meet modern safety regulations so it can be driven on public roads, some key improvements have been added.

The 5300 GT Corsa Revival

Now comes a second model from the company which is a completely new model, the Giotto. With this model, a partnership first established 60 years ago is rekindled; with Giorgetto Giugiaro penning the design alongside his son Fabrizio. Back then, a young Giugiaro, whilst at Bertone contributed to the design of the Bizzarrini 5300 GT, so he is fully qualified to establish the design language of the first entirely new Bizzarrini model in the 21
st
 century.

The bespoke carbonfibre body is intricately sculpted to intersect the mindsets of the designer, engineer and driver. It has classic low-slung supercar proportions blended with core elements of Bizzarrini’s signature design DNA.

The prominent dual bonnet-mounted vents of original Bizzarrini cars are evolved into a new frontal visual character for the Giotto, incorporating ultra-slimline LED headlights. As they end in the centre of the bonnet, they cradle a prominent centre-mounted Bizzarrini badge, just as it was framed on the 5300 GT.

In profile, the Giotto is marked out by a reimagining of the 5300 GT’s triangular B-pillar and a rear windscreen that wraps so far around the rear it almost seems to cascade onto the wheelarches. Rear mid-engined, rather than front-mid-engined like the 5300 GT, the predatorial forward stance of the Giotto is a visual representation of power driving from behind and conveys the might of the power unit. The tail gently tapers and curves away gracefully, creating an aerodynamic teardrop shape.

The detailed technical aspects of the car have not been revealed but the company says that ‘an exclusive naturally aspirated V12 engine is planned’. Lamborghini’s V12 engine was attributed to Bizzarrini as it was he who created a racing engine that Ferruccio Lamborghini later turned into a production engine for the legendary
350 GT
, starting a new era of super sportscars in 1963.

Giotto Bizzarrini (left) with Ferrucio Lamborghini (centre) who commissioned him to build a V12 engine that went into the Lamborghini’s first sportscar.

While not specifically suggesting that a Lamborghini engine will be used, the company says ‘it will meet Bizzarrini-specific performance, drivability, emissions compliance and emotional targets’ and be paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

One of Giotto Bizzarrini’s most valuable talents was his ability to push the limits of contemporary engineering. The 5300 GT made extensive use of the strongest lightweight material of its day; the Giotto will likewise make use of the lightest, strongest and most suitable materials available today. As well as the purposeful carbonfibre body, the Giotto will be based on a composite body structure – designed to meet or exceed worldwide safety standards, using technologies and manufacturing processes developed in top-tier motorsport. Testing of the Giotto will begin in 2024.

Giotto Bizzarrini’s 5300 GT Corsa is reborn as Revival model

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 for more videos at The Piston Show.


Karamjit Singh Confirms Rallying Comeback With Cisco Racing Team!

It was a momentous day for Malaysian motorsport today as local rally legend Karamjit Singh announced his return to active racing.

Karamjit was in the news recently when a local news site reported about the difficulty he faced off the dirt road. Sponsorship dried up and even the local rally championship winded up, and soon after, Covid decimated the world, and any remaining dream of rallying.

The local daily report, which was written by Frankie D’Cruz for Free Malaysia Today , was strongly titled – “Where’s the respect for rally superstar Karamjit Singh?”
(click here to read the article)
, and was equally hard hitting.

The article highlighted the sad state of local motorsport athletes, and the seemingly failure of powers to be of their recognition of putting the country on the world map.

Particularly painful was a report that was carried by multiple media platforms about Karamjit having to turn to e-hailing to make ends meet. This was despite the Youth and Sports Ministry verbally informing Karamjit that he would receive RM5,000 a month for being a world champion. This was back in 2005.

A lot of promises had been made, but none were delivered.

Ultimately what got Karamjit back behind the wheel of a race car, and more determined than ever to succeed, is a local private security company – Cisco.

After reading about Karam’s story in the FMT article last December, Cisco Managing Director Rabin Nijhar (above, left) decided to reach out to Karamjit. What started as a simple job offer quickly evolved into a dream to restore Karamjit’s position as Malaysian Rally Champion, and Cisco Racing was born.

This also means that Karamjit would return to rallying for the first time since 2018, and will partner his long time navigator Jagdev Singh for the first time since Jagdev put away his navigation charts in 2015.

“ After 2020, I was looking for an exciting opportunity when I came across Karam’s story, and we at Cisco were in a unique position to help. As we come out of the Covid Pandemic, Malaysia needs a comeback story to rally behind, and I believe that Karamjit Singh is that story. We are excited to bring Malaysia together to support a true national icon,” said Rabin about how the idea was first mooted.

In a press release distributed by Cisco, Karamjit was quoted as saying, “ I’m very passionate about rallying, it’s been my job for nearly thirty years. I’ve been driving professionally since 1988, it was only up until recently that I’ve had trouble finding sponsors but the fact is, I can’t live without rallying. It is my passion and I just want to rally as much as I can and I am really looking forward to this event and getting back into the groove. I’ve missed rallying so much. ”

And Jagdev said, “ I am absolutely thrilled to get back into the car with Karam and must thank Cisco for giving us the opportunity to get back into competition. Karam and I go back a long way and we first partnered back in 1997, representing Proton and Malaysia in the Asia Pacific Rally of China. Since then we have done many rallies together both locally and internationally, winning nearly every event we entered. I’m certainly looking forward to the first event in June and will put in 100% towards securing a win for us on our return! ”

Cisco and Karamjit Singh are eager to hit the track in the upcoming Malaysian National Rally Championship due to be held on the 26th and 27th of June this year in Sepang.

In an exclusive private interview after the launch, we asked Karam what the difference was between the Karamjit of today and that of 10 years ago. His answer was a simple, “I am faster now than I was then”. Watch the exclusive interview at our Youtube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified every time we upload a new video about the local motoring scene.


Rolls-Royce customer in Singapore personalises Phantom with country’s national flower

The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective – an elite team of engineers, designers and craftspeople based at the Home of Rolls-Royce in England – provides Rolls-Royce customers with the ultimate in personalisation of their cars. Almost every Rolls-Royce sold nowadays has some involvement from the Bespoke Collective – after all, when you pay over a million ringgit, why not spend a bit more to make your car truly unique.

Most of the cars created by the Bespoke Collective are not publicised as their owners may prefer not to do so but some allow Rolls-Royce to show them to the world. The latest one is for a customer in Singapore, and appropriately, this customer wanted the orchid as the theme. The beautiful flower is especially close to the hearts of Singaporean as it is their country’s national flower.

Pioneering Bespoke work

Designers, craftspeople and artisans collaborated with artist Helen Murray over a period of 2 years to create this ‘one of one’ Rolls-Royce known as the Phantom Orchid. Helen and her team have undertaken pioneering bespoke work with Phantom’s Gallery – a wholly contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s fascia and instrument panel area.

She was inspired by several kinds of orchids, including the Singapore Orchid, spending over 200 hours relentlessly refining her design and artwork with her team. “I started by focusing on the actual orchids, which promptly led me to realise that colour was key to capturing the essence of the species. I have created artworks featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the Gallery was to create something in realistic full colour, which pushed us to refine our digital printing skills,” explained the UK-based artist and textile designer.

Murray started by illustrating the design by hand before creating a digital version that she could print directly onto the silk crepe satin. The final part of the process involved a meticulous hand-sculpting of the flowers, releasing layers of fabric to create a 3D effect.

Orchid Sanctuary

Within the interior, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer Yohan Benchetrit applied his talent to the Bespoke orchid-inspired Picnic Table inlays in the rear of the suite which, when opened, gracefully reveal a beautiful layer of orchids set into Piano Black veneer. He added Bespoke treadplates emanating a similar theme sans text to welcome the owner and passengers into the motor car. The interior suite meanwhile was furnished with elegant, natural colours which provide a soothing ambience akin to an Orchid Sanctuary.

To complete this special Phantom, a unique paint was specially created  using the latest paint technology. Arctic White was chosen as the base colour, while a tint of violet was added, inspired by orchids. Combined with fine glass particles through a special process, the result is a stunning pearlescent appearance. Under bright light, the paint technology creates a shimmering effect like no other, changing as an observer views the motor car from different angles. An eye-catching single coachline on either side of Phantom incorporates a Bespoke motif, inspired by an orchid, completing the theme.

Parallels with the Garden City

“It draws parallels with the Singapore I know; a thoroughly modern garden city merging nature and technology effortlessly in its make-up,” said Michael Bryden, Lead Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke, who has not only spent time in Singapore but designed the now famous, ‘one of one’ ‘SG50 Bespoke Ghost’, created to celebrate the country’s 50th Anniversary.

“It was the first time we had produced a motorcar to celebrate such an occasion, so I am again delighted to have participated with Yohan and the Bespoke Collective to create another masterpiece for Singapore,” he said.

He explained that the concept envisaged a balanced yet progressive design which echoes the values of the Singapore region. “The orchid is seen in many facets of Asian life, a reminder that the resilient adapt and thrive regardless of the evolving environment. Phantom is the only motorcar in the world to feature the Gallery, a space that enables one to exhibit art, sculptures, or objects of self-expression in the sanctuary of Phantom’s interior,” said Bryden.

Rolls-Royce re-establishes its Coachbuild department to go beyond Bespoke


Genesis joins Playstation Gran Turismo World Series, with intent to enter motorsport

Genesis has announced its debut in Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Gran Turismo 7 (GT7)  sim racing videogame series as an official manufacturer partner of the Gran Turismo World Series, an online global motorsport championship. GT7 is developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. and was recently released on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles.

The luxury brand of the Hyundai Motor Group will make available to championship competitors  the Genesis X GR3 and G70 GR4 concept vehicles, as well as the G70 Sport Sedan for the Manufacturer’s Cup.

“Genesis is pleased to be presenting the dynamic G70 sport sedan and our ambitious GR3 and GR4 concepts in Gran Turismo 7,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice-President and Head of Genesis Global Design Centre. “This platform allows fans of racing to get behind the wheel and discover the bold designs and performance ambitions of Genesis as we continue to explore the brand’s entry into motorsport.”

The X GR3 and G70 GR4 are concept vehicles which were shown last year when Genesis revealed the vehicle design process at an ultra-modern experiential installation called ‘The Performance of Design’ during Monterey Car Week. The two concept vehicles were part of a trio of models developed in collaboration with the creators of the Gran Turismo videogame series.

The X GR3 is based on the Genesis X Concept shown last year and reinterpreted in the Gr.3 racing specification. It is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo engine with 555 ps.

The G70 GR4 Gran Turismo, is a California-built  420 ps racing car derived from the Genesis coupe. It is a completely reimagined G70 sport sedan for competition with a GT-inspired racing package. Building on the existing G70 model to create a bold, yet elegant, high-performance racing car, it showcases the motorsport intent of the brand.

Other concepts under study are the GR1 Alpha_DB, GR1 Bravo_GB, and GR1 Charlie_ET, all of which are potential designs for a future Vision Gran Turismo Concept that will be an elite racing car.

Genesis X Speedium Coupe concept


Kahn Design to introduce bespoke Land Rover Defender

Kahn Design is a world-renowned British vehicle designer who takes pride in building some of the most unique vehicles in recent memory. This time around, the design house will be building a one-off version of the Land Rover Defender which will be unveiled at the London Motor Show 2017 in May.

In line with Kahn’s successful track record in vehicle design, the company will pay homage to the off-roader by bringing together subtle influences to recreate a Defender with a modern feel.

Alec Mumford, Chairman of The London Motor Show, said: “It is a pleasure to have Kahn Design at The London Motor Show this year. Creating a truly outstanding tribute to one of the world’s most iconic cars, this immersive display is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser in Battersea Park. It goes without saying the Kahn Design’s unique and bespoke builds optimise the very best of British ingenuity.”

Mr Kahn, chief designer of Kahn Design said: “For The London Motor Show 2016, I designed a vehicle that celebrates the history and unique personality of the Defender. My designs are known for their attention to detail, so I do not want this Defender to be any different.”

Kahn Design have added their touch to a number of supercars and other vehicles by combining luxury, style and performance. Kahn Design has a showroom in Chelsea, London, where potential buyers can go to order their vehicles.


Toyota’s C+ Pod costs RM60,000 – is that low enough to attract Malaysians to buy an EV?

From this month onwards till the end of 2023, electric vehicles (EVs) imported to Malaysia will be exempted from all taxes and excise duties and even roadtax. This applies only to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and not hybrids, for which the government provides other incentives for those which are assembled locally. Companies which decided to also assemble BEVs will get the full tax exemptions up till 2025.

To Malaysians, always frustrated by the high duty structure that makes cars expensive, the thought of duty-free cars gives them the idea that they can get cars much cheaper. However, BEVs are not cheap anywhere in the world if they are the type that are equivalent of the small and medium sedan or SUVs with combustion engines. They cost more and governments offer various incentives to reduce their prices for buyers so that adoption is faster.

If volumes can go up quickly, then production costs can come down and they can be sold more cheaply. This has happened in China where, since 2009, the government has offered subsidies to buyers of BEVs and the sales of such vehicles has grown to almost 5 million units a year. The volume is considered high enough and the subsidies will stop after this year.

Because of the sudden announcement only in October last year, plans to import vehicles have had to be put in place in the past few months and some companies have indicated they will be adding BEVs to their range later this year. Contrary to what those in the government may think, vehicles cannot be supplied right away. Orders have to be placed and factories have to slot in the orders and if demand is high from other markets, then it may take longer to get the vehicles. So many have indicated that they will start selling from the second half of this year, perhaps towards the last quarter.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is the first BEV which has a price officially announced in Malaysia and it costs between RM150,000 to RM200,000 – duty-free.

The prices indicated are not exactly low and many seem to be RM150,000 upwards – even with no taxes imposed. That sort of price level does not put BEVs within the reach of the masses which means that the volumes will not grow fast like in China and other markets. Not being able to reach a high volume will also slow the pace of infrastructure development as those who spend on it will see returns being slow.

As mentioned earlier, BEVs are expensive due to the technology which is still young compared to the technologies for combustion engines which have been developed and used for over 100 years. The ones that cost RM150,000 upwards are the ‘conventional’ type but in places like Japan and Europe, there are also smaller BEVs that cost much less though they can only seat two.

One such model is Toyota’s C
+
 Pod, an ultra-compact BEV which costs around RM60,000 in Japan. It went on sale in 2021 but only to corporate customers and government agencies. However, last month, Toyota announced that it would also make the C
+
 Pod available to the general public. The cars will be offered via lease contracts from Toyota dealerships

The C
+
 Pod is classified as a kei car, a category of minivehicles in Japan. It’s just 2.49 metres long and 1.29 metres wide; in comparison, the old Perodua Kancil was 3.4 metres long and 1.4 metres wide and could accommodate 4 persons. Although it has a light powertrain, the 9 kWh battery pack does add weight and makes the C
+
 Pod as heavy as a Kancil (690 kgs).

The small electric motor is positioned at the rear and can generate up to 9.2 kW with 56 Nm of torque. With the typical characteristic of an electric motor which delivers maximum torque from start-up, the little C
+
 Pod has good acceleration. However, it is clearly intended for city use and has a range claimed to be up to 150 kms.

The recharging infrastructure is well developed in Japan (almost 10,800 points nationwide) so owners can conveniently top-up the battery pack almost anywhere (though it will take 5 to`16 hours if the battery pack is completely empty).

Additionally, the C
+
 Pod is designed to be a mobile power supply system which can provide electricity in disaster areas. It’s an idea which developed after the big tsunami and earthquake in East Japan as there was urgent need for power supply by rescuers. There are sockets on the car to connect to and power can be supplied for up to about 10 hours, depending on conditions.

The cabin is like a car’s, with a simple layout that maximises use of the 1100 mm wide space, an important consideration since it is such as small vehicle. The exterior panels are made of plastic to keep weight down. But Toyota has ensured that safety standards (for this vehicle category)  are met and there is a structure that efficiently disperses and absorbs impact energy across multiple components. This protects the occupants from serious injuries in the event of frontal, side or rear impacts. At the same time, the structure is also designed to reduce pedestrian injury.

To help the driver avoid accidents, there is also a Pre-collision Safety System which can detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. An Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Parking Support Brakes (Stationary Objects) is also included to help avoid collisions, or mitigate damage, with walls and other obstacles during low-speed operation.

The C
+
 Pod is just one of many small BEVs now on sale and they are popular in more developed countries like Japan where people appreciate having simple, personal transport. But will Malaysians accept such a small car priced at RM60,000, which is still almost double the price of a Saga? Incidentally, a Honda N-Box, the bestselling kei car in Japan, is priced between RM70,000 and RM80,000. As long as EVs do not have prices at the same level as the cheapest models of the two national brands, it will be hard for the country to move towards electrification.

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade


Toyota Claims Breakthrough For Longer Range EV Batteries. 1200km Range & 10 Mins Charge Time

Toyota claims to have developed a technological advancement that will enable it to cut the weight, size, and price of batteries in half, which could signal a significant development for electric vehicles.

The second-largest automaker in the world was already working towards a goal of introducing upgraded solid-state batteries in cars by 2025, which have advantages over liquid-based batteries.

The Japanese business announced on Tuesday that it has made the process of producing the material needed to produce them simpler. The company hailed the discovery as a significant advancement that may significantly shorten charging periods and extend driving range.

If Toyota’s assertions were true, according to University of Birmingham business economics professor David Bailey, it might signify a turning point for the development of electric vehicles.

Toyota’s president claims that the company could now produce a solid-state battery with a range of 1,200km and a charge time of no more than 10 minutes since it had figured out how to make batteries more resilient.

The Financial Times, which broke the news of Toyota’s purported breakthrough, reports that the corporation anticipates being able to build solid-state batteries for use in electric vehicles as early as 2027.

As they promise to shorten charging periods, boost capacity, and lessen the fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries, which employ a liquid electrolyte, solid-state batteries have been widely regarded as having the potential to revolutionise the field of electric vehicles.

However, the production of solid-state batteries has always been more expensive and difficult, which has limited their practical adoption.

But, Toyota now claims that it might potentially streamline the production process, making solid-state batteries potentially more accessible to manufacture than lithium-ion ones.

When compared to competitors in the market for electric vehicles, the Japanese automaker has been viewed as a bit of a laggard. It recalled 2,700 of its first electric vehicles (the bZ4X) in June of last year over worries that the wheels would come off.

Despite this, Toyota believes that, after 2028, it will be possible to produce an advanced solid-state battery with a range of more than 1,448 km in part due to lighter, simpler, and vehicles with fewer parts.


#Live2Drive With Continental Tyre Malaysia Adventure Across Two Continents A Success!

How’s this for a journey of a lifetime? The
#Live2Drive
 team of local professionals who made an adventure of a lifetime travelling from
Malaysia to Europe
 in classic Volkswagen (VW) vehicles using
Continental
 tyres made it safely back to Malaysia after clocking over
52,000
 kilometres of road travel. At a press conference recently at its premises in Petaling Jaya, Continental Tyre Malaysia (“CTM”) shared that the #Live2Drive team covered
30

countries
 over eight months and around
 607 hours
 of driving on the road.

CTM’s
Managing Director and Head of Continental’s ASEAN Region for BU PLT Replacement APAC, Cameron Wilson
 said,
“We are delighted to welcome the #Live2Drive team back to Malaysia and are proud of how the team managed to inspire those they meet as well as their contribution to the community along the way.”

“CTM is also pleased that the robustness and durability of Continental tyres have successfully took the #Live2Drive team safely across various terrains and roads which can get rough at places. Along the way, fans who recognised the Continental brand as well as those who are keen on classic cars came along to meet and cheer the team along. This reaffirms the premise that Continental tyres are trusted the world over for quality, performance and its German Technology,”
 Wilson added.

One of the #Live2Drive team member,
Cliften Nathaniel
 shared about his experience on the ride,
“Driving through what was a ‘cold summer’ in summer tyres was beyond my expectations. Cold summer is like driving up really high altitudes with cold temperatures, rough hard-off roads, as well as through snow and on some parts of icy roads. Despite all that, the tyres performed fantastically and made us wanting to keep driving. I used two different sets of Continental tyres: 185/65/15 and 215/55/17 for my Kombi – apart from the comfort, they also handled well in wet conditions and allowed me more confidence when driving through the continents in a classic car.”

ComfortContact™ 6 (CC6) and UltraContact™ 6 (UC6)
 tyres were used throughout the journey by the #Live2Drive team who were driving three VW Combi and a VW Beetle.