Mitsubishi Launches New Triton 4×4 In Thailand! [+Exclusive Photo Gallery]

Hot on the heels of the new
Ford Ranger Raptor
 which we reviewed recently, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) recently announced the world premiere of the new
TRITON/L200
 1-ton pickup truck in Bangkok, and is to start sales in Thailand on November 17.  Here are some exclusive photos of the launch from our friends at
AutoIndustriya.com
!

The New
TRITON/L200
 is the latest version of a model which is celebrating its 40
th
 birthday this year, and is produced at the Laem Chabang Plant operated by Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (MMTh), MMC’s producer and distributor in Thailand. To read the full launch report from AutoIndustriya.com, click this
link
.

The vehicle is a global strategic model which, following its Thai launch, will be launched in the other ASEAN markets as well as Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Eventually it will be sold in some 150 countries around the globe.

On the occasion of the world premiere, Mitsubishi Motors CEO Osamu Masuko stated: “The New
TRITON/L200
 is one of our most important global strategic models. Its success will accelerate the momentum of the company’s sustainable growth. The new model brings enhancements to the durability, reliability and comfort developed over the 40 years since the introduction of the series. “I am fully confident the New
TRITON/L200
 will meet the diverse needs and wishes of our customers around the world.”

 Photo Gallery (Photos courtesy of
www.AutoIndustriya.com
)

More on the new 2019 Mitsubishi Triton…

The New
TRITON/L200
 has been developed to embody the Engineered Beyond Tough keyphrase which underlined its creation. Elements making it significantly more competitive include: more powerful styling that incorporates the latest iteration of the Dynamic Shield front design concept; an enhanced 4WD system that delivers improved off-road performance, and the latest in active safety and driver assistance systems. Overall, the new model features significant refinements to the durability and reliability required by the commercial user and to the comfort and ride sought by the private user.

Powerful “Engineered Beyond Tough” Design

The New
TRITON/L200
 a revitalized design under the concept “Rock Solid” that embodies, both inside and out, the full essence of its “Engineered Beyond Tough” development keyphrase – a toughness fully underpinned by engineering prowess and knowhow.

Front view

The front face incorporates the new-generation “Dynamic Shield” front design concept. The high engine hood line and beefier-looking lamps located higher up give the new model a more powerful and imposing front face.

Side & rear view

Newly sculpted body curves with contrasting sharp lines, extended wheel flares and bright accents embody the strength of a Mitsubishi Motors’ truck and add modernity. The lighting and bumper parts become part of the tough design, framing the front and rear designs and adding visual width.

Interior

The restyled inside of the
Triton
 expresses modern a modern and robust feeling with frame surroundings for the switch panel and air outlets. A high quality look is created by soft pad materials and stitching on the floor console, armrests and parking brake.

 4WD System Gives Enhanced All-terrain Performance

New
TRITON/L200
 4WD models are fitted with either Super-Select 4WD, which delivers optimum traction and handling characteristics for any given surface, or Easy-Select 4WD, which simplifies switching between drive modes for different road surfaces. With the addition of new drive modes, both 4WD systems deliver improved off-road performance.

New Off-road Mode

Both Super-Select and Easy-Select 4WD systems use a new Off-road Mode which has GRAVEL, MUD/SNOW, SAND and ROCK (in 4LLc only) settings. When engaged, Off-road Mode integrally controls engine power, transmission and braking to regulate the amount of wheel slip and thereby maximize all-terrain performance and self-extraction performance in mud or snow.

Hill Descent Control

Vehicle speed is electronically controlled to allow the driver to negotiate steep or slippery descents more safely and with more assurance.

 Active Safety / Driver Assistance Systems

New
TRITON/L200
 retains the current model’s high-durability, high-reliability ladder-type frame and high impact-safety cabin structure while featuring class-leading advanced active safety and driver assistance systems.

Systems providing all-direction safety and reassurance are:

Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), which can detect vehicles and pedestrians ahead;

Blind Spot Warning (BSW with LCA), which helps avoid sideswiping another vehicle when changing lanes by detecting vehicles behind or at the rear quarter and alerting the driver with an audible alert and flashing light in their door mirror;

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which, in the same way, helps avoid collisions when reversing;

Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) which reduces accidents resulting from improper use of the accelerator when moving off or reversing in car parks and other confined spaces.

Providing convenient driver assistance are the Multi Around Monitor, which generates a bird’s eye view image of the area around the vehicle, and Parking Sensors.

 Pickup Truck Performance & Functionality

The New
TRITON/L200
 features many detail improvements, directed by the Engineered Beyond Tough development keyphrase, to the durability and reliability sought in commercial use and to the comfort and ride sought in private use. Braking performance and feel are improved with the use of larger front discs and caliper pistons; Ride is improved with the use of larger rear dampers which contain more damping oil; Changing to a
6-speed A/T
 from the current 5-speed A/T to allow smoother, more powerful acceleration and improved refinement.

Roll-out Plans

Following its start of sales in Thailand on November 17
th
, the New
TRITON/L200
 is scheduled to be rolled out sequentially in the company’s markets in ASEAN, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America, eventually going on sale in some 150 countries around the globe. MMC plans to sell some 180,000 units of the new and current models this fiscal year.
TRITON/L200
 is a core global strategic model and is MMC’s second biggest seller, following Mid-size SUV
Outlander
 in the MMC lineup last fiscal year.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) plans in Malaysia

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) will be having an official preview of the New Triton at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from 23 November to 2 December.

Alternatively, the public may view the new Triton at the following locations:

Region

Date

Venue

Time

Peninsular Malaysia

7-9 December

My Town

10.00am-10.00pm

17-23 December

IOI Puchong Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

10-13 January

Aman Central Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

23-27 January

IOI City Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

East Malaysia

11-13 January

Karamunsing Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

11-13 January

Imperial Permaisuri Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

18-20 January

The Spring Shopping Mall

10.00am-10.00pm

MMM will also plan to hold a special display of the New Triton in Johor Bahru. Those who are interested are encouraged to register for interest at
http://mitsubishi-motors.com.my/new-triton-teaser/
 for display locations and for further information about the New Triton.


First High-Performance Charging Station of Shell and Porsche Asia Pacific collaboration opens in Johor

‘Range anxiety’ is a concern of those who drive battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which run only on electricity. Unlike vehicles with conventional petrol or diesel engines that can be refuelled at the thousands of stations around the country, a BEV requires a charging station to ‘refuel’ its battery pack with electricity. At this time, the network of charging stations is still being developed so there are not many (around 500) and most are in urban areas, especially in the Klang Valley.

Thus, for the owner of a BEV, going long-distance is something which sounds risky as you might run out of electricity in the battery pack and get stranded somewhere remote. Fortunately, battery technology is advancing all the time and battery capacities are increasing while BEV technologies are also increasing the distance that can be travelled. But still, range anxiety will be at the back of the motorist’s mind until such time when the network of charging station is visibly extensive and people know they are not far from a station.

Shell, together with Porsche Asia Pacific, have collaborated to set up a high-performance charging (HPC) infrastructure EV network along the North-South Expressway. This is a first in Southeast Asia and Shell’s first cross-country EV infrastructure in the region, enabling BEV owners to drive from Singapore up the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to Penang and on to Thailand.

The establishment of this network is timely as the government is also promoting the use of BEVs. By allowing them to be imported and sold duty-free (and also exempting them from roadtax), it is hoped that adoption of BEVs will be faster. This means that the charging station infrastructure will need to grow quickly and this Shell/Porsche Asia Pacific initiative will contribute towards it.

The HPC network will have a total of 12 charging stations at 6 Shell stations along the North-South Expressway, two stations located in each of the states of Johor, Negri Sembilan and Perak. Porsche owners passing through Selangor will also be able to use the charging station at Porsche Malaysia’s showrooms at Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) in Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara and Sg. Besi (Kuala Lumpur). After Perak, they can use a charging station at a SDAP showroom in Penang.

The first HPC station located a Shell station near Tangkak, Johor, began operations today and will be followed by 12 stations at 6 Shell stations strategically located along the North-South Expressway. All the charging stations will have 180kW high-performance chargers which are capable of charging BEVs at super-fast speeds. This helps partially address the issue of long recharging times and in the case of the Porsche Taycan, a completely empty battery pack can be recharged to 80% capacity in around 30 minutes. This will provide a range of up to 390 kms although, like a combustion engine vehicle, the distance depends on driving conditions.

While HPC and its short recharging time is great, not all BEVs might be able to use it if they are not designed for DC rapid-charging systems. The newer models in the market will be designed with this capability but some of the older ones might not. Then there is also the issue of different charging connectors as the industry has not yet come to a common type. It would be nice if all BEVs had the same common connector like all computers have USB ports that are identical.

Although, for now, there may be places where BEV owners can just plug in their vehicle’s cable and get electricity without paying, it is still energy that has a cost and recharging will be just like refuelling petrol or diesel. With Shell’s Recharge HPC network, there is the option of a pay-per-use service or an exclusive membership plan by making reservations via an online booking app (ParkEasy).

The charges (shown in the chart below) start from RM20 or RM12 for every 5 minutes in the first 25 minutes of charging, depending on whether it is a pay-per-use service or with a subscription which costs RM835 a year. Those who buy a Taycan get a complimentary 3-year subscription with special benefits but still have to pay for their electricity at a rate of RM10 for 5 minutes during the first 25 minutes. There’s also a RM4 fee for each charging session.

How long a vehicle is recharged depends on the owner’s preference although it is unlikely that recharging will be from zero. Quite likely, the battery pack will be ‘topped up’ along the way to keep its capacity maximised. In this case, the charging time might not be long so the cost will not be high. Anyway, there are the Shell SELECT stores at the stations where drinks and snacks are available while waiting.

Those who purchase a Taycan (which is now available tax-free in Malaysia) will get a 3-year complimentary subscription to use the Shell Recharge HPC network at special rates as well as enjoy additional privileges.

Porsche Taycan Driven by Karamjit Singh – Behind The Scenes Story


Track-only Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 with full carbon chassis meets FIA Hypercar safety standards

With 30 years of experience in using composite materials in the automotive field, it’s not surprising that Lamborghini is the first carmaker to have a car on the market with a carbonfibre roll-cage homologated according to the FIA Hypercar safety standards. The model is the
Essenza SCV12
 which was developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse and designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile as the direct descendant of cars such as the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR.

‘Laboratory of ideas’

“The Essenza SCV12 was born as a ‘laboratory of ideas’. This allowed us to use technical solutions usually found in racing prototypes, such as the suspension installed directly on the load-bearing gearbox, which is an innovative solution for a GT car. In addition, it features the new carbonfibre monocoque chassis without steel roll- cage, resulting from technical collaboration with the FIA, thanks to which we’ve started a process that will lead to an exponential improvement in safety for GT racing drivers in the future,” said Giorgio Sanna, Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport.

Rigorous testing to meet standards

The carbonfibre chassis has been subjected to the testing required by the FIA for chassis homologation. This testing is extremely rigorous, involving both static and dynamic tests, and required Lamborghini Squadra Corse technicians to extensively modify the structure of the production chassis from which the Essenza SCV12 chassis is derived.

The carbonfibre monocoque was reinforced in several points, having to withstand forces of over 12 tons during the FIA homologation tests without presenting significant deformations. There are more than 20 static tests which, in addition to the chassis, involve the pedals, seatbelts and fuel tank. The dynamic crash tests, on the other hand, involve impacts at speeds of up to 14 metres/second. In this type of test, the chassis must not be subjected to any intrusion of external elements that could come into contact with the driver, and the fuel tank must not leak.

Saving weight and space

The decision of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse technicians to maintain the carbonfibre structure, ie not mounting a steel roll-cage, was a benefit in terms of overall weight, along with the use of innovative laminated foams inside the chassis (ROHACELL 71 XT). This also provided a significant increase in cockpit space for optimal driving comfort.

In the Essenza SCV12, the driver sits on an OMP FIA 8862 homologated seat, mounted on carbonfibre cradles designed by Squadra Corse and produced in Lamborghini’s CFK laboratories. The seat has been lowered compared to the road models and the driver and passenger are protected on the door side by two side impact guards, also made of composite material, which replace the classic steel tubes found in racing cars.

Another new solution is the cradle situated in the rear part of the monocoque, which houses the engine perfectly positioned on the longitudinal axis, while the gearbox has a load-bearing and structural function. This characteristic also made it possible to achieve torsional stiffness values 20% higher than those of the Huracan GT3 EVO.

“Along with the aerodynamic load of over 1,200 kgs at top speed, the torsional stiffness of the car contributes to ensuring extraordinary driving precision,” explained Marco Mapelli. “This makes it possible for the driver to tackle curves at speed without any appreciable correction of the steering angle. Essenza SCV12 is a very fast car, thanks to the extraordinary thrust of the 830 bhp engine, and it’s relatively easy to drive.”

Only for track use

The track-only hypercar, limited to 40 units, has the most powerful V12 naturally-aspirated engine ever developed by Lamborghini, combined with aerodynamics inspired by racing prototypes and new technical solutions designed for the ultimate driving experience.

The first units of Essenza SCV12 were delivered to customers about 2 months ago and the dedicated program of track events will start at the end of this month.  Essenza SCV12 owners will become part of an exclusive club that will give them access to special programs to drive their hypercar on the most prestigious circuits in the world. The program includes storage service in a new hangar built in Sant’Agata Bolognese for the Essenza SCV12 club. Each car will have a personalized garage and dedicated services, including webcams to allow customers to monitor their cars 24 hours a day using an app.

Are you good enough to be a Lamborghini Official Sim driver?


Ferrari threatens to leave F1 if sport’s proposed changes are made

After the recent announcement made by Liberty Media, the owner of F1 regarding certain changes to powertrain specifications, several engine suppliers are up in arms about it. The issue surrounds the proposed idea of standardizing powertrains.

Several automakers, especially those who have worked tirelessly through R&D to develop competitive technology, aren’t willing to forgo this in order to allow for a more level playing field. Ferrari is one such team, and has threatened to walk away from the sport as reported by
Motor Authority
.

Ferrari isn’t too happy with the proposed plan which was made vocal by its CEO and Chairman, Sergio Marchionne. He likened the move of standardizing such mechanicals to similar rules that define how NASCAR racers are developed and built.

Unlike other Motorsport categories, NASCAR’s rule book dictates pretty much everything that include body dimensions and mechanicals need to be built to a certain code. This effectively ensures that very little can be altered by each team, making sure that the spotlight is shone on driver talent rather than massive R&D budgets.

Renault and Mercedes-AMG, two other major players in F1 share Marchionne’s sentiment. Like Ferrari, they too are engine suppliers to a number of other teams in Formula One and as such, aren’t too happy with having their hands tied during R&D.

This isn’t the first time that Ferrari have threatened to leave, it has done so several times in the past when it didn’t agree with the path F1 was taking. These threats haven’t amounted to anything in the past, probably because whether Ferrari realizes it or not – the two share a symbiotic relationship.

These new regulations haven’t been set in stone and once each team has given its own two cents, certain changes will probably be made to keep the big guns happy. Till then, stay tuned and we will let you more about this issue as it unfolds.

Source:
Motor Authority


New Ticketing Concept By KTMB Lets You Buy Train Tickets 6 Months In Advance!

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) made the announcement yesterday that beginning on Sunday, July 30, ticket sales would be available on the 30th of every month throughout the year.

According to
Bernama
, the announcement stated that sales of tickets are now ongoing until December 31, 2023. Beginning on July 30, consumers can purchase tickets for travel until January 2024 under this new system of ticket sales. It will be accessible for travel until February 2024 starting next month, on August 30, 2023.

The new idea, according to KTMB, would enable commuters to plan their trips six months in advance for vacations or “balik kampung,” particularly for public holidays and significant festivals.

The notification stated that ticket sales will start at noon for Electric Train Service (ETS) and KTM Intercity travel and at 10 am for Shuttle Tebrau services. Purchases of tickets may be done via the KTMB website or the KITS mobile application, according to KTMB.


Hans de Visser – new Managing Director & CEO for BMW Group Malaysia

BMW Group AG has announced the appointment of Hans de Visser as the new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Malaysia, effective May  1, 2021. Mr. de Visser will assume the role and responsibilities from Harald Hoelzl who will take on a new role at BMW Group AG.

Mr. de Visser brings with him over 29 years of experience in various roles within the BMW Group. He started as a Manager in Marketing Communications at BMW Motorrad in Munich and before his current role in BMW Russia as the Marketing Director, he served in various Sales and Marketing roles across several markets globally as well as in the BMW Group headquarters in Germany.

“Hans’ broad experience in various roles in marketing and sales, as well as his international background will be extremely valuable in his new position,” said Hendrik von Kuenheim, Senior Vice-President Region Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa.

For more information on BMW or MINI products and services in Malaysia, visit
www.bmw.com.my
 or
MINI.MY
.

BMW Group Malaysia was the leader in the premium automotive segment in 2020


Perodua Gives Away 100 Child-Seats For Raya Travelers

Heartwarming this…
Perodua
 distributed
100
GearUp
 child seats to motorists at three highway rest areas in Peninsular Malaysia recently, as part of its on-going five-year
Road Safety Campaign
 which was launched last October. The Toddler seats were gifted to lucky Perodua drivers travelling with children aged roughly between two and six, at Petronas stations at Rawang (PLUS), Bentong (Karak Highway) and Seremban (KL-Seremban Highway) rest areas.

“This is the first time Perodua is organising such an event in collaboration with our partner Petronas and our panel of insurers,”
 said
Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin
.
“We took this special initiative because we care for the well-being of our customers and their families. We hope Malaysians will come to realise how important it is to keep children properly secured in child seats while on the move,”
 he added.

Introduced concurrently with the Road Safety Campaign in October, Perodua’s GearUp child seats are available in two models. Both are ISOFIX compatible and satisfy ECE R44 safety standards. The Infant seat, priced at
RM622.50
 (RM640 in East Malaysia), is suitable for infants weighing up to 13 kg, while the Toddler seat, priced at
RM736
 (RM754.50 in East Malaysia), is designed for children weighing 9-36 kg. All prices are introductory with 0% Goods and Services Tax (GST), valid until 30 June.

“Over two million vehicles are expected to hit the roads this Raya. That’s a lot of vehicles, and naturally, there is a higher risk of collisions and accidents,”
 Dato’ Dr Zahari said.
“Seat belts are designed to restrain adults and not children. Please secure your young ones in child seats, ideally in the back seat, and do not place them on your laps when the vehicle is in motion. Always buckle up in the front and in the back, use your turn signals and do not operate your mobile devices on the move. Above all, drive carefully and have a safe journey back to your hometowns,”
 he continued.

Wow, just wow… well done Perodua! –
Chris Wee.


Castrol Hari Mekanik Malaysia honours mechanics’ contribution to the nation

Visit
www.bhpetrol.com.my
 for more information.

Castrol is bringing back its annual
Castrol Hari Mekanik Malaysia
 for 2021 and as in 2019, the event honours mechanics throughout Malaysia, being the only one of its kind in the country. Castrol is honouring mechanics’ dedication to the automotive service profession throughout March 2021 through a fully virtual experience with social media activations, giveaways and advertising.

These experiences aim to increase awareness for mechanics’ importance to Malaysian society and how they keep the economy moving though trying times of the pandemic. The campaign features a social media contest and is themed ‘
Beat of Mechanics’
.

Social media users who participate will be required to demonstrate their talent for dance moves by making a short video of their own, based on the #beatofmechanics music and predefined choreography displayed in the video coupled with their own creativity. The short video must also feature a vehicle, as a tribute to mechanics.

Through this celebratory contest, Castrol aims to promote appreciation of the work and contribution of mechanics behind the scenes, as well as highlight the brand’s continuous commitment to bringing new and engaging experiences for the community.

Over the past 12 months, vehicles such as ambulances, police cars, logistic trucks and delivery vehicles have been heavily depended on by essential services to support Malaysians staying at home – contributing to the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
Castrol Hari Mekanik Malaysia
 aims to recognise mechanics across the country who continue to perform vehicle maintenance and repairs as equal contributors to our nation.

“We are immensely pleased to be able to celebrate so many inspiring Malaysian mechanics that have gone the extra mile through these challenging times. We at Castrol believe that mechanics display the unwavering spirit of Malaysians. Their unyielding passion, commitment and dedication they continue to demonstrate is evident in how patients, goods, and workers continue to arrive at their destination safely.” said Castrol Malaysia & Singapore Marketing Director, Keow Mei-Shan.

“We know people are turning to social media more than ever to stay in touch with family and friends, and the fully virtual campaign will make it easy for them to share their support and appreciation for our mechanics” she added.


BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia gives support to reforestation efforts in Borneo

The BMW Group has sustainability goals to reduce carbon emissions globally and affiliates throughout the world work in their own ways to support those goals. In Malaysia, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia has announced a commitment to reforestation efforts in Borneo. These efforts are with a local social enterprise, Animal Projects and Environmental Education (APE Malaysia).

A logging area that will be reforested.

Helping mitigate climate change

Commenting on the commitment, Tobias Eismann, MD of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, said: “We recognise that climate protection is a shared responsibility. By playing our part in supporting planned reforestation efforts in the country, we look forward to helping mitigate climate change.”

He said BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will be directly contributing to APE Malaysia’s Restore Our Amazing Rainforest (ROAR) programme which aims to create and reconnect important forest corridors that have been degraded by deforestation. “As a company, we are focusing more and more into tangible initiatives to support sustainability, beginning internally with our own initiatives to go digital in efforts to reduce paper consumption,” he added.

Contributions from financing contracts

The initiative will see contributions of RM100, made on behalf of BMW and MINI customers, for every funded contract (for financing purchases) of the following models – the BMW 330e M Sport, BMW 530e M Sport, BMW 740Le xDrive, BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport, as well as the MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4. All funded contracts from May 1 to July 31, 2021 for the models mentioned are eligible for this initiative.

Every RM100 will contribute to 5 new trees planted at the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. Customers whose contracts contributed to the initiative will receive a photo, as well as an e-certificate with the GPS coordinates of their trees from APE Malaysia. The ROAR programme also serves to restore habitat for endangered animals which includes the orangutan and Borneo Pygmy Elephant, as well as to counteract carbon footprint.

Earlier this year, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia also
successfully raised over RM20,500 via BMW Engage
 for the upcoming phase of the BMW Safety 360° subsidy programme. The third phase of this programme will see over 300 more child carseat subsidies made available for parents in the local B40 community. The subsidy programme has delivered over 500 child carseats since its inception in late 2019.

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia contributes over RM200,000 to BMW Safety 360° subsidy programme


BIKES: TuneBoss Reveals New High-Performance Products @ 2018 Malaysian MotoGP!

TuneBoss, a local outfit making high-performance ECUs for bikes, recently announced the launch of
four new ECU models
and
four new products

that will be available in the Malaysian market by early next year and worldwide in the second half. The four new
High-Performance ECU
 will power
 Yamaha R15, Nmax, Honda CBR250R,
and
 CRF250
. A few more spinoff variants for models that use the same engine will be announced after.

Pricing information will be available at a later date but will be in the same range as the current line-up. Answering request by TuneBoss users, quickshifter kits or
ShiftBoss

will be made available for the Yamaha R25 and Honda RS150R models. The new kit utilises a load sensor for a more precise activation and positive shift feel.

However, this new kit will be priced in the premium side as to offset the cost of parts and does not replace the original ShiftBoss which will still be available. The new
ShiftBoss

kit is estimated to be in the RM600 to RM800 range. A first in the market, a cooling kit featuring an electric brushless water pump that updates the classic cooling system into the 21st century.

Traditional mechanical pumps are dependent to the engine speed, thus unable to give a precise flow rate in conjunction to the workload. Good enough for normal use but not what the performance-oriented rider needs. The
CoolBoss

kit uses smart algorithms that not only controls the speed of the coolant flow but also when to turn the pump on and off according to the engine load and cooling needs. Boil overs will be a thing of past while prolonging the lifespan of the engine and even the engine oil benefits.

Apart from precise coolant flow, the CoolBoss kit also reduces parasitic mechanical drag from the removal of the mechanical water pump. Our testing has shown a 0.3hp to 0.5hp gain across the rev range and better fuel consumption. The kit will only be available early next year for the Yamaha R25 and kits for more models will follow.

Already in the market for a few months now is the TuneBoss Racing Injector. This 370cc injector features super high flow rate with ultra linear control, unlike the normal big injectors in the market which fails to give an even output for high-performance applications. The injector is good for
15hp to 40hp
 applications and compatible with Yamaha Y15ZR (1st model) and FZ150i 2014/2016.

And lastly, TuneBoss is introducing a
Racing Fuel
 kit which includes tank, pump, fuel lines, and injector. This kit was developed specifically for the open drag bike category which let contestants use racing fuel. The stainless-steel tank holds three litres and all the parts come with special treatment to resist corrosion from the use of racing fuel such as the E85R or K2 racing fuel by Elixir Powered, Tune Boss’ racing fuel partner.

All add-on modules or kits mentioned above works in conjunction with TuneBoss ECU. With the help of trusted dealers, all parts have been tested on the Sepang International Circuit, various drag events and even on the road by our test riders before being released for production.

What is TuneBoss?

TuneBoss is an advanced, standalone ECU designed specifically for small capacity motorcycles. Introduced in 2014, TuneBoss was the first mass-market ECU in the world which was fully programmable wirelessly via its integrated Bluetooth technology.

It features accurate fuel and spark timing adjustments, along with user-adjustable RPM limiter. Various upgrade modules are available, including a quickshifter and launch control system. More upgrade modules will be offered soon.

Ease of use was the main consideration, which means installation is a simple Plug and Play affair. Users can easily download preset optimised settings according to their modifications, while more advanced users can access the full tuning capability wirelessly via our Android application.

The TuneBoss Manager Pro Android app not only shows real-time readouts of the motorcycle’s parameters but also take out the guesswork by providing data logging and a built-in diagnostic tool to help decipher fault codes.

By FSR Technology,
About FSR Technology…

FSR Technology was founded in 2011 by Farhan and Sufian, both electronic engineers. Their vision is to build a company based on “Research & Development” for leading product design.

It took them three years for the R&D work to produce TuneBoss ECU which was made possible through self-financing and also supported by a development grant from the Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, an agency under the Ministry of Finance.

Current Product Line-up…

TuneBoss

– High-performance ECU for Yamaha FZ150i, Lagenda, Y15ZR, R25 and Honda RS150R.

ShiftBoss

– quickshifter kit for Yamaha Y15ZR

CamBoss

– High-performance cam and valve spring kit for Yamaha Y15ZR


Porsche unveils the Belgian Legend Edition

Even beyond the realms of Porsche, Jacky Ickx is one of the greatest sportscar drivers to have ever lived. But to the close-knit community of engineers and racers who worked with him in the carmaker’s facility in Weissach, Germany, for the best part of a decade, he is a true icon.

To celebrate the Belgian maestro’s 75th birthday, and his invaluable contribution to Porsche’s sporting success through the 1970s and 1980s, the decision was taken to create a limited edition 911 in Ickx’s honour. The initiative for this came from the Belgian Porsche importer ‘D’ieteren’.

The Belgian Legend Edition is strictly limited to just 75 units, one for each year since Ickx’s birth, and will only be available in Belgium.

First special edition of the new 992

The idea took shape in 2018 with the arrival of the all-new 992. This would be the first special edition of the new model, turning to the talents of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur to produce a unique creation that paid fitting homage to one of sportscar racing’s greatest talents. Experts from Style Porsche and the Belgian Porsche importer D’Ieteren also played a role in designing the latest Legend Edition.

Jacky Ickx, one of sportscar racing’s greatest talents, and the 2020 Porsche Belgian Legend Edition created to honour him.

The decision was made to base the design around Ickx’s trademark blue and white helmet. The car, a 911 Carrera 4S, was therefore finished in a bespoke ‘X Blue’, making this the first 992 to receive Porsche’s coveted Paint To Sample. A badge showing the Belgian flag and Jacky Ickx’s signature on the driver-side B-pillar takes the driver designation already famous in the world of motorsport.

This unique colour has also made its way onto the 20/21-inch Carrera Classic wheels. Offset by subtle white accents, they provide another reference to Ickx’s helmet, which traditionally features a fine white line around the visor. This detail required the use of advanced laser engraving by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

Unique interior features

The cabin is trimmed in black leather with Pebble Grey cross stitching on the dashboard, door panel and rear trim, all of which was painstakingly finished by hand. The ‘X’ shape of the stitching was chosen as another subtle reference to the man of the moment.

Other unique interior features include Pebble Grey piping on the 18-way Sports seats and ‘911’ lettering on the headrests, something that is not available on standard Carrera 4S models. The seat backs are also finished in leather – another unique detail of this new Legend Edition.

Special design elements include a leather central armrest embossed with Ickx’s autograph and the ‘Belgian Legend Edition’ moniker on the car’s carbon door sill guards. Leaving no stone unturned, even the colour-matched key fob features the 6-time Le Mans winner’s signature.

Visit
www.porsche.com.my
 for information on new and pre-owned models available in Malaysia.


Update on fuel prices – June 13 to June 19, 2020


Will Alfa Romeo be allowed to live under the new FCA+PSA merger?

The new company formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group will see 14 brands – mainly European – coming under one group. That’s a lot of brands to manage and in an age when economies of scale are paramount, there’s the big question mark of whether some brands will be discontinued. Or if they are retained, will they lose their uniqueness and be just badge-engineered products that are needed for certain regions where the brand has been popular?

Carlos Tavares (currently PSA’s chief), who will be the CEO of the new combined company, has said that no brand will be axed while acknowledging that it will be a challenge to manage so many brands. But these are early days and the new company has not even started business; once the new management starts to look at the numbers and formulates long-term plans, it may be necessary to make the hard decisions and cut off some brands that just cannot deliver revenues.

A struggle to be kept in existence

One brand that many worry about is Alfa Romeo. The sporty Italian brand has a history spanning over 100 years and has a strong following of
alfisti
 all over the world. Fiat acquired it in 1986 but struggled to get it to make money for the past 20 years. When former FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne was alive, he tried to boost the brand but three efforts still failed. His successor, Mike Manley, was less sentimental about the brand and had announced decreased investments for it.

There is a glimmer of hope for Alfa Romeo though, simply because 61-year old Tavares is a true car guy. His first job after university was as a test driver at Renault and apart from a strong  personal interest in cars, he also goes racing on many weekends (though that may have to be sacrificed in future). So while he is also known as a cost-cutter like his former boss (Carlos Ghosn), he may well make a decision ‘from the heart’ and keep the Italian brand going somehow.

Carlos Tavares, who will be the CEO of the new combined company, is a real car-guy. And like Akio Toyoda, he also goes racing!

Trying unconventional ideas like the SZ

He may look at unconventional ideas to breathe new life into Alfa Romeo, as Vittorio Ghidella, President of Fiat in 1986, did when he initiated the ‘Experimental Sportscar, 3.0 litre engine (ES30) project. Ghidella specified a puristic coupe with the sporty performance and sensational design as the target for the development contract.

Three teams took care of the second point of the task description in parallel – the Alfa Romeo design department, Fiat Centro Stile and design studio Zagato (responsible for some of the most spectacular and most successful models from Alfa Romeo in racing). This team of three was also given a low weight and the most efficient aerodynamics including ground effect possible, as in a Formula 1 racing car, which was supposed to suck the finished model onto the road through the wind.

The result was an avant-garde design with narrow, square triple headlights, a distinctive wedge shape with a high beltline and a short hatchback. The ES30 was undoubtedly the most radical thing there was at the time as a production vehicle. The coupe corresponded entirely to the aesthetics at the time of Italian design in furniture and fashion.

The elaborate body was made of a glassfibre-reinforced synthetic resin. A new process ensured a particularly smooth surface. A steel skeleton served as the load-bearing structure, which, in addition to high torsional rigidity, also guaranteed low weight. The light metal aluminium was used for the roof skin. The finished car would finally weigh a comparatively low 1,256 kgs.

The drag coefficient of 0.30 was also excellent for the time. Wind tunnel tests indicated a top speed of 245 km/h and a time of 7.5 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h. In order to achieve the required ground effect, however, the body had to have such a low ground clearance (around 6 cm) that it would have led to problems with, for example, driveways. The solution was an electrical level control, with the help of which the body could be raised by 5 cm when necessary.

Alfa Romeo 75 technology

As the other requirement was to keep the development costs low, the team used the proven technology of the Alfa Romeo 75. However, the chassis with the gearbox on the rear axle (transaxle design) was in some places know-how the Alfa Romeo racing department adapted to the desired performance. The torsion spring bars on the front axle gave way to conventional McPherson struts, stiff Uniball joints instead of the conventional rubber elements, eliminating inherent movements in the chassis.

The technicians selected the V6 petrol engine with 3 litres displacement from the 75 America model as the drive source. They increased its output to 210 bhp through sharper camshafts and newly programmed engine electronics (Bosch Motronic).

Zagato even developed a racing version of the ES30, which appeared in its own one-make cup in 1993 as part of some Formula 1 races. But the comfortable driving behaviour also proved itself in everyday life, even long tours were a pleasure in the two-seater coupe.

After just 19 months of development, just in time for the planned world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989, the ES30 project was ready for production. Since production at Zagato was to take place in the Milan suburb of Rho, the company remembered a legendary combination of letters – SZ for ‘Sprint Zagato’. Despite the relatively high base price, 1,036 cars were sold between 1989 and 1993.


3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour to be livestreamed this Thursday

Put that date and time in your reminders so you won’t miss the 1st Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia. Malaysia is the first host country in Asia to be selected as host, with Art of Speed as the host.

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour, now in its third year, is a global search for the next fan-made custom car to be made into a Hot Wheels die-cast model. The livestream of the digital tour will be on the Hot Wheels Facebook livestream (
www.facebook.com/HotWheels
) and will feature the winning Malaysian car.

Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2019 was an epic tour which saw more than 110,000 participants, more than 5,000 entries, 18 finalists and 1 extraordinary winner! This year, the event has gone online in view of the pandemic situation, and one of the new stops is Malaysia in search of a winner for the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.

67 entries from Malaysia

The virtual tour began on September 25 and ran till October 15, 2020 where fans submitted photos and videos of their custom builds for the chance to have their design included. The  top Malaysian entries were shortlisted and we’ll know which one is selected on November 12, 2020 (that’s this coming Thursday).

Similar to all Legends Tour stops, the judges will consider creativity, authenticity and garage spirit when selecting the finalists and the winner. A variety of vehicles, representing the breadth of the Hot Wheels in all aspects of car culture, are included.

Art of Speed’s Asep Ahmad (left) will be the host with Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’ – Tengku Djan Ley – as a Special Guest at the event.

According to Art of Speed, 67 entries were submitted from Malaysia. Out of all the entries, the Legends Tour judges have selected 12 top finalists. The finalist from the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia’s virtual stop will join all other Legends Tour finalists at the Virtual Global Finale in Los Angeles in November for a chance to have their car immortalized as an iconic Hot Wheels diecast model. Only one lucky custom build will be immortalized as a diecast car and shared with fans across the globe.

9th Annual Art of Speed Malaysia

The 9th Annual Art of Speed Malaysia will also be held at the 1 Utama New Wing in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor,
from December 30, 2020 to January 3, 2021
. Entrance is free to the event which will be from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on the first two days, and up to 10:30 pm on the remaining three days.

For more information about these two events, visit
www.artofspeedmy.com
 or go to
www.facebook.com/ArtOfSpeedMY
.


Porsche 917 Concept – new hypercar in the works?

Many are still talking over the beautiful Porsche 917 Concept which was just introduced a few weeks back. Well, the German premium vehicle manufacturer revealed more jaw-dropping photos of the concept and it is our sworn duty to share it with the rest of you motorheads.

The Porsche 917 Concept might look modern, wild, edgy, and all the other cool adjectives known to man but surprisingly, the concept was actually birthed way back in 2014. It’s just that it was never released for the public eye. Until now, of course.

Set to become Porsche’s next hypercar, the Porsche 917 Concept promises a lot of things and has huge shoes to filled after the extremely amazing Porsche 918 Spyder. Judging by the looks offered from a variety of new angles, we think it can indeed pull that off.

According to Porsche’s Chief Designer, Michael Mauer, “If you launch a new hypercar, then you can go extremely modern in your thinking or maybe just go back to our sports car roots and take inspiration from some of the many icons in our history. When you look at the 917 Concept then, personally, I love it. You look at it, and you immediately make the connections.”

We for now can only confirm that there will be a new successor to the 918 and Porsche is already in progress on developing it as we speak. There’s no telling what sort of powertrain they’ll use but one thing is for sure, Porsche has the formula to do so in outstanding fashion.


Big, bold and American – The Jeep Cherokee Overland

New Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland lives up to the hype about American SUVs

No one quite makes SUVs like the American’s do. The Germans do a grand job but charge you a very pretty penny; the Koreans almost offer it all but lack the all important finesse you want in a big car. Now the American’s know how to very nearly get it right, but you expect them to, being the purveyors of big accomplished cars that they are.

There really is nothing quite like a good balance of power and smoothness, but throw in a brilliant suspension and you have perfection.

Take this Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland for example, it is a classic big, grand SUV with a plush suspension, acres of space and some quality fittings. It does not quite feel like an accomplished RM480,000 SUV, but it has its draws, the kind that keep you looking back at it after parking.

With such a hefty price tag, this Jeep falls into the domain of some very credible competition like the BMW X5, Mercedes ML, Volkswagen Touareg, and the mighty Land Rover Discovery. But it has tricks to hold its own even in such accomplished company.

Take the design of the car for example, those iconic vertical lines have been part of the Jeep Cherokee design for eons now, and still looks good. The squared headlights and that massive front end give the car a very commanding presence, the kind that makes people want to sramble to get out of the way. This big car makes you feel big inside as well, and is a brilliant ego stroker.

The interior though is simple and will not blow you away, but it has everything you will want of a car with this price tag. Spaciousness is a given, but it is a strict five-seater with plenty of room in the boot but no extra seats. No fancy automatic flattening seats or anything of that sort here either. The big, comfortable seats are leather clad with the Overland crest stitched into the back rests. The overall theme is minimalistic with most buttons and controls centred around the centre stack. Quality is just so too, Chrysler still has a ways to go to catch up with the competition when it comes to making half a million Ringgit cars.

Creature comforts are pretty standard for this day and age; a 8.4-inch multi-view display dominates the central dash area, it is connected to a nine speaker Alpine premium audio system that offers USB, AUX and bluetooth connectivity. And not like you would need it for this country but there are heated seats all around and a heated steering wheel. More relevant for Malaysians are the ventilated front seats, and the powered tailgate and other grand features, but this Cherokee Overland is so much more than just the features it offers, the real magic of this Jeep is in the drive.

Under the bonnet is a mighty Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 VVT engine that puts out an impressive 284hp and 347Nm of torque. Though it weighs over two tons, you really don’t feel the heft. Power is available whenever you want it, comfortable highway cruising speed is close to the twin century mark and thanks to the eight-speed automatic transmission, you get silky smooth shifts which you can also control via steering mounted pedal shifters.

There really is nothing quite like a good balance of power and smoothness, but throw in a brilliant suspension and you have perfection. And that is exactly what the Grand Cherokee Overland offers with its ‘Quadra-Lift Air Suspension System’ – perfection in motion. The intelligent suspension system does a fantastic job of soaking up nearly everthing the road has to offer, and when it can’t absorb it, it does well at ensuring you feel very little of it in the cabin. The Quadra-Lift system also automatically raises and lowers the car for maximum ground clearance, and to make it easier to get in and out of the car. It is also intelligent enough to know when to raise itself from back to front to keep the headlights focused down on the road.

The interior is serene at almost any speed, the suspension keeps the ride plush and the engine ensures you are never left wanting of power. The full time four-wheel-drive system ensures you always have maximum control. The overall interior quality is not really up there with the best, but the best does not have this Jeep’s superb ride quality and its grand design, and that is why this American SUV is still up there with the greatest. And with most people flocking to BMW, Mercedes and Land Rover, it is about time to stand out from the crowd, especially in a car that arguably looks better than the competition.

Gallery


Mercedes-Benz EQC campaigns with The Weeknd – “Enjoy Electric”

There’s a new marketing campaign for the all-electric
Mercedes-Benz EQC
 and what a way to kick things off than by doing a collaboration with one of the hottest music acts today, The Weeknd. The teaser video was released a few days back gives us a taste of their full campaign which will start today on their website,
www.mercedes-benz.com
.

Several videos promoting the new all-electric era for Mercedes-Benz will be released to showcase the EQC’s ability to move as well as inspire the future of mobility. The videos will also see The Weeknd (real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) as the main protagonist in the brand’s campaign called EQC Webspecial to promote the EQC’s all-electric prowess and the lifestyles surrounding it.

According to Bettina Fetzer, Vice President Marketing for Mercedes-Benz, “This is a special moment for the entire Mercedes team: with the campaign on the EQC we are entering the era of electric mobility. The campaign takes emotional experiences of our customers with iconic Mercedes vehicles and shows how we are reinterpreting them in the electric EQC in the present day. A completely new driving feel, pioneering spirit and sustainable, modern luxury are at the core of our EQC communications.”

“We are delighted about the collaboration with Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd. The cooperation was inspiring and gave us lots of new and creative impetus. Abel’s talent as the creative director and performer is the right combination for this unique Mercedes moment on the road to an electric future,” added Fetzer.

The EQC Webspecial at
www.mercedes-benz.com
 presents the all-electric SUV with a series of specially created images, while the product page describes the features and services from 29 November 2019 onwards and trust us, you won’t want to miss them.

Mercedes-Benz EQ Range unveiled in Malaysia


All-electric Porsche Taycan sets a drift world record (w/VIDEO)

Just like the performance of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) kept rising as the technology evolved and advanced (and continues to do so), the same has been happening with electric cars. Considered only suitable as golf course buggies initially, today’s electric cars can match ICE cars in many aspects of performance though the most powerful are still at the expensive upper end due to the more advanced technologies which are more costly.

The Taycan – Porsche’s all-electric sportscar – is one example and those who have driven it have been amazed by its performance. Now that is further demonstrated by a Guinness World Record for the longest drift with an electric vehicle.

55 minutes of drifting

The record was set at the Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) in Hockenheimring, Germany. Porsche instructor Dennis Retera did 210 laps on the 200 metre-long drift circle without the front wheels ever pointing in the same direction as the curve. In 55 minutes, the sideways expert covered a total of 42.171 kms.

By completing this marathon distance, Retera secured the world record for the longest continuous drift in an electric car. The average speed was 46 km/h. The record was achieved with the rear-wheel drive version of the Taycan (on sale in China).

The attempt took place under the supervision of Guinness World Records official record judge Joanne Brent on the irrigated driving dynamics area of the PEC. “We’ve had some drift records but with an electric sportscar, it’s something very special for us too. Here Porsche has done real pioneering work,” said Brent, who has been supervising record attempts of all kinds for Guinness World Records for over 5 years.

Record meticulously documented

The Guinness representative meticulously documented the record with a whole range of technical aids and other independent experts. This included a local land surveyor who measured the 80-metre diameter area of the drift pad with millimetre precision. GPS and yaw rate sensors within the vehicle were used for documentation purposes, as was a camera installed on the roof of the track’s control tower, with which the record ride was filmed.

Another independent expert was Denise Ritzmann. Prior to the record attempt, the engineer confirmed the standard and roadworthy condition of the Taycan on behalf of testing organisation DEKRA. Ritzmann knows all about drifting – she was European drifting champion in 2018 and 2019 and was also responsible for ensuring the Taycan remained in a permanent drift throughout the record attempt.”

“You can see at a glance whether the front wheels are pointing in a different direction to the curve. As long as this is the case, the car is drifting,” she explained. Together with Brent, she also counted the laps completed during the record attempt.

“When the driving stability programmes are switched off, a powerslide with the electric Porsche is extremely easy, especially of course with this model variant, which is driven exclusively via the rear wheels,” said Retera, the man behind the wheel of the Taycan. “Sufficient power is always available. The low centre of gravity and the long wheelbase ensure stability. The precise design of the chassis and steering allows for perfect control at all times, even when moving sideways”.

“Nevertheless, it was also very tiring for me to keep my concentration high for 210 laps, especially as the irrigated asphalt of the drift circuit does not provide the same grip everywhere,” he admitted. “I concentrated on controlling the drift with the steering – this is more efficient than using the accelerator pedal and reduces the risk of spinning.”

The new record set by the Taycan joins over 53,000 Guinness World Records. Every year, about 8,000 new records are added from around the world.

Already setting other records

The Taycan has already set other records as well. One of them is a gruelling 24-hour endurance run over 3,425 kms on the high-speed track in Nardo, Italy; the best time in its class on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife, and 26 sprints from a standing start to 200 km/h at an airfield.

Click here to read more about the Porsche Taycan.


New 3rd Generation Porsche Cayenne 2019 – More Photos, Tech Info & Videos!

We just realised that we didn’t actually show the rear of the new 3rd generation Porsche Cayenne earlier, so here you go! Featured image of its backside, just for you. Also, we just opened up a whole bunch of really nice photos of the new 2019 Porsche Cayenne on a thumb-drive that somehow fell into another interstellar dimension of space and time for the past 24-hours, and just had to share them with you! Feast your eyes on these!
Videos
 after the jump…

Also if you’d like to know ALL about the new 3rd Gen Cayenne, you can download this PDF, sharing is caring:
The new Cayenne press information

Here’s the new Porsche Cayenne in action during its launch in Greece recently…

And one more…

And another…

Okay one last one….


Fuel Prices For April 11 – April 17, 2020


Revised prices for Volkswagen models in Malaysia

Here are the revised prices of Volkswagen models distributed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) which will be effective
from June 15, 2020
:

Note: Prices do not include registration fees and insurance premiums.

♦ For locally-assembled models, the exemption of Sales Tax is 100% of the 10% rate. The Volkswagen models applicable are  the Polo, Vento, Tiguan and Passat. These are assembled at the plant within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers complex in Pekan, Pahang.

♦ For models imported in completely built-up (CBU) form, the exemption of Sales Tax is 50% of the 10% rate, which is 5%. Models which are CBU are the Golf R-Line, Golf GTI and Golf R.

♦ The Sales Tax exemption is only applicable to 2020 models and will be allowed up till December 31, 2020.

♦ All the models listed come with 3-years of free maintenance, a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty and 5 years of complimentary roadside assistance (terms and conditions apply).

Current promotion

On top of the price reduction, customers can also get additional savings such as the
 first 6 months of H-P instalments covered by  VPCM
. This offer is applicable to the Tiguan SUV and new vehicles must be registered
by June 30, 2020
. There are additional rebates and free home delivery service for customers when using the Volkswagen eShowroom to book online.

For more information or to locate an authorised Volkswagen dealership in Malaysia, visit
www.volkswagen.com.my
.

Customers who buy Volkswagens can have new vehicle delivered to their homes


Prices of three Honda models up by between 5% and 9%

Honda Malaysia has announced an immediate increase in the prices of three of its models by around 5% to 9% (depending on model and variant). The revisions apply to vehicles sold in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak but apparently not the duty-free areas of Langkawi and Labuan.

There will be many who question why there is this increase when there was earlier news about ‘
no increases in locally-assembled completely knocked-down (CKD) models’ during 2020
. In fact, we mentioned this possibility because the ‘no increase’ only applied to the revised Open Market Value (OMV) calculation. If there is any vehicle affected by this specific issue, there will be 100% exemption on the increase incurred until December 31, 2020, the Finance Ministry assured.

Honda Malaysia has clarified that the prices have been raised due to the review to the customized incentives for CKD models. This is a different matter and it is likely that the company would have looked for ways to absorb the increases but found them to be too much and has to revise the prices.

The customized incentives are provided for carmakers that make investments to assemble some of their models locally. These incentives are very important in order to offset the production cost and high taxes so that the cars can have lower retail prices.
Honda Malaysia has not given details of how the customized incentives have changed to affect their retail prices. It could be that some incentives have been withdrawn or altered, we won’t know because
the government is not sufficiently transparent about the incentives it gives to each company. It is never clear if a similar basis (not criteria) is used for determining incentives. Potential investors are usually asked to come for private meetings to discuss incentives, rather than submit proposals for their investments based on an openly known set of incentives available. MITI has, however, included the criteria for qualifying for incentives in
the latest NAP
 (shown below).

Finance Ministry gives firm assurance that new reporting methodology will not increase vehicle prices during 2020


Flux offers a new way of car ownership without the usual commitments and hassles

‘
In a state of flux…
’ is a term that relates to constant change though not necessarily indecisiveness. Appropriately, a new company in Malaysia has chosen to call itself ‘Flux’ as a way of describing the concept of its business which allows customers to constantly change their vehicles. Flux offers an all-inclusive monthly car subscription service, covering all the benefits of having a dream car without the drawbacks.

To start with, members pay a monthly fee to use a car of their choice without commitment. This means that they don’t have to provide a downpayment nor take a loan that has to be repaid in instalments every month for many years ahead.

Like owning the car yourself

Unlike some other schemes, cars supplied by Flux are like your own, meaning they are parked at your home for as long as your subscription is active. It’s like owning the car, except the financial hassles are omitted. And what’s more interesting is that with the same subscription, customers have access to a range of models which can be requested for use.

The inventory is sourced from reputable automotive groups and retailers in Malaysia. At this time, the Flux collection includes models such as the Honda CR-V, BMW 6-Series, Toyota Yaris, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and the latest Toyota Camry.

Monthly or mileage subscription plans

Once a person has registered to be a member (starting an account costs nothing), he or she can then select a vehicle and a subscription plan which starts at month-to-month for total flexibility or up to 3 years for best value. The subscription plans indicate how long members intend to use the Flux service, not a specific car as they have the privilege to switch throughout their subscription which starts from RM814/month for a Kia Picanto.

Two of the models offered by Flux to members. There are new as well as pre-owned units in the inventory.

Members also choose a mileage package between Lite, Standard and Unlimited with monthly maximum mileages of 1,250 kms, 2,000 kms and cap-less mileage, respectively. The Lite package is offered at no additional charge.

A key benefit of Flux is the freedom to switch cars after a minimum of 1 month of use with just a standard switching fee. Following a switch, members pay the monthly rate for the newly chosen car. Flux says it is the only service able to offer such flexibility at the prices charged.

Members can switch to another model while their subscription is active.

Maintenance handled by Flux

Flux’s concierge service will help manage all car-related administrative and maintenance matters. This includes yearly document renewals alongside planning and execution of periodic service and repairs. In other words, maintenance of the vehicles is handled by the company throughout the subscription period.

Flux gives assurance that the vehicles, new and pre-owned alike, are independently inspected to determine that each and every one is maintained to the highest standards and free of major accidents and flood damage. The vehicles are, of course, fully insured and for safety and security, should the vehicle be involved in an accident, the installed telematics system will alert emergency services so assistance can be sent to the location.

Flux also takes care of all the maintenance needs, ensuring that the vehicles are serviced at the scheduled intervals.

In the event of an accident, the installed telematics system in the Flux vehicle will alert emergency services to send assistance.

Flux allows both Malaysians and non-Malaysians to become members. They must have a credit card from a Malaysian financial institution for charges to be made to, a mobile contact number and be above 25 years of age. They would, of course, need to possess a full driving licence and international driving licences are also accepted.

“I founded Flux to challenge the status quo and offer a better alternative to the conventional car loan, here at home in Malaysia. At Flux, we are excited to pioneer a new means to access all the benefits of having a car in your driveway, without the costs. We are proud to challenge the conventions of car ownership, working collaboratively with the leading local automotive groups. Together, we offer you freedom of choice, at unparalleled convenience. In short, Flux is the simpler way to ‘own’ your perfect car,” said Aziz Ayman, Founder & CEO of Flux, which also has former Bank Negara governor, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, as co-founder.


AMB 001 – Aston Martin’s first motorcycle, priced from almost RM500,000!

At the end of last month, we tipped you off on a new partnership between Aston Martin and Brough Superior, a motorcycle brand with a history going back to 1913. The two companies would collaborate on creating ‘a piece of automotive art for the motorbike connoisseur’. The first product has now been unveiled at EICMA, the Milan Motorcycle Show which is on this week.

First deliveries will begin during the fourth quarter of 2020 with each unit built and hand-assembled in the Brough Superior factory in France. Prices start from 108,000 euros (equivalent to RM494,000).

As the first chapter of the new partnership, the motorcycle known as the AMB 001 will be strictly limited to just 100 units and will be for track use only. The AMB 001 is a unique, modern, lightweight and powerful sports bike concept, boasting exclusive technical features, including a chassis configuration with a double wishbone front fork and structural carbonfibre body.

Taking their inspiration from the new series of mid-engined Aston Martin cars, the Aston Martin Design team worked on clear principles of form and function, where design and engineering had to work together, resulting in a motorcycle that is a high performance work of art.

In keeping with its track-inspired pedigree, the AMB 001 is presented with ultra-lightweight Aston Martin wings, which sit under the lacquer of the bodywork on the nose and the tank.  These are the same 9-micron stainless steel wings that adorn the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Presented in the traditional Aston Martin Racing colours of Stirling Green and Lime Essence with Matte Black wheels, forks and brake assemblies, the AMB 001 features a sublime combination of paint and bare carbon fibre that accentuates the lines of this collectors’ item. As befits the Aston Martin and Brough Superior brands, all of the components have been specially designed using the best processes and materials, including carbon fibre, titanium and billet aluminium.

The machine boasts a strong, sculptural body form, beautifully accented by a carbonfibre fin – the design of which is derived from the side strake on Aston Martin cars – that runs along the full length of the Stirling Green tank, passing under the saddle and out onto the rear, creating a flowing form along the top of the bike. As the fin passes under the saddle, it can be seen through breaks in the Oxford Tan leather pads of the hand-stitched saddle, which combines old techniques and modern technology in one swooping area that is a perfect fit for the human form.

The AMB 001 has been designed to display a level of elegance that isn’t normally found on racing bikes. Beauty and power are the order of the day for this track-only racer. Aerodynamic wings attached to the cowl on the front of the bike take their direction from the S-Curve on the front of an Aston Martin, providing aerodynamic downforce.

The turbocharged V-twin is an 8-valver with water and oil cooling. Its output is 108 bhp with huge torque (not specified) generated over a wide rpm range. Timing is driven by a short Morse chain and a geartrain, a compact conception for precision and reliability. The engine covers are machined from plain by aeronautical suppliers. The transmission includes an extractible 6-speed gearbox with APTC Clutch, and final drive is by chain. The exhaust manifold is made from Inconel, a superalloy chosen for its thermal and mechanical properties.

“This is what we believe a cutting-edge motorcycle should be and we are very proud to see the Aston Martin wings on a motorcycle for the first time. In addition to applying the skills we have developed for cars such as the ground-breaking Aston Martin Valkyrie, we have also been able to bring our special expertise in the traditional craft techniques to this project. The finished product is a truly beautiful motorcycle; a design and engineering work of art,” said Aston Martin Executive Vice-President and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.


Advanced Modern Apprenticeship at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy now open for applications

As the auto industry in Malaysia keeps growing, the need for a bigger workforce grows likewise. However, there has to be a pool of human resources from which companies can draw from, and in order to build this pool. Some companies provide training programmes to incubate young Malaysians who aspire to start a career in the auto industry.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) is one of them and has a Training Academy which has been in operation since 1984. More  than 900 apprentices have graduated from this academy and they are working with the brand’s authorised dealers in various positions across different specializations. On average, the programme has been receiving 500 applicants annually since 2017.

“As the technology of Mercedes-Benz vehicles continues to evolve, gearing for Battery Electric Vehicle readiness and the acceleration of dealer network expansion locally, we want to continue training and growing our skilled workforce to meet this demand,” said Edmin Naidoo, Vice-President of Customer Services, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Malaysia & SEA II.

One of the programmes is the Advanced Modern Apprenticeship, a 3-year course which covers a wide range of globally approved syllabuses and training guidelines by Mercedes-Benz Global Training with Mercedes-Benz Competence elements to ensure trainees continue development with the brand. The programme incorporates International Qualifications up to Level 3 and is recognised by the Department of Skills Development under the Ministry of Human Resources.

With electric vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz EQA now being introduced, the academy will also include training for Electric Vehicle Specialists.

As part of the brand’s strategy and global direction to lead in electric, Mercedes-Benz has developed a new profile for the Electric Vehicle Specialists, known as Expert in High Voltage (EHV) which will make its debut in the programme this year. This new syllabus will be added on the existing modules as part of the brand’s efforts to train and equip talents to be future-ready for the demands of mobility of tomorrow.

By the end of the Advanced Modern Apprenticeship programme, participants will gain certification in NDTS Level 3, C&G VRQ Level 3, Qualified Maintenance Technician (QMT), Qualified System Technician (QST)/Qualified Service Advisor (QSA)/Expert in High Voltage (EHV), depending on the specialisation chosen. They will also be fully equipped wide range of skills including presentation, critical analysis, decision-making, systematic thinking as an automotive technician for systems and high-voltage technology.

The programme also guarantees employment upon completion with guaranteed minimum salary in the first year with incremental opportunity thereafter. The entire course will be held at the purpose-built Mercedes-Benz National Training Academy in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor.

Since 1984, more than 900 technicians have graduated from the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy with various specialisations.

Applications are open from now till
July 31, 2022
 and those who are interested can find out more at the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy Open Day happening this June 25, 2022 (from 9 am till 12 noon) at Wisma Mercedes-Benz in Puchong, Selangor. The minimum requirement is 3 credits in SPM or equivalent with a pass in English.

“Education is power and we want to invite and tap into Malaysia’s brightest young talents to join us through our Mercedes-Benz Global Training programme. This is a great platform for us to recruit, nurture and develop talent that will become an integral component of delivering a seamless luxurious retail experience to our customers and further grow our presence in the country. There is a national demand for highly skilled talent in the automotive industry and through this apprenticeship, we are able to offer Malaysians an exciting opportunity and career with us,” said Sagree Sardien, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, and Head of Region, Southeast Asia II.

Mercedes-Benz to have regional After-Sales Logistics Centre in Malaysia from 2024


Human Horizons extends HiPhi X ‘evolvable’ SUV range with premium versions

Human Horizons, the young Chinese technology company (established just 4 years ago), has released details of two more versions of its HiPhi X Super SUV range. The new versions are the 6-seater Creative Extended Range Edition and Intelligent Extended Range Edition which are said to be premium products.

Meeting more differing customer needs

Since being unveiled in mid-May 2021, the HiPhi X has been selling well across China and the development team has been looking at providing vehicles for more differing needs of consumers. Both the Creative Extended Range Edition and Intelligent Extended Range Edition are outfitted as luxury versions, with features such as a 17-speaker Meridian audio system, 19.9-inch entertainment screen for passengers, customizable smart fragrance system by Givaudan, interior light panels, a HEPA biochemical filter, and a driver physical monitoring system.

The HiPhi X has a number of world and industry firsts  among mass-produced passenger vehicles, especially in the EV segment. These include smart PML programmable headlights, smart ISD interactive lamps and lighting system, and the intuitive AI-powered HiPhi Play interactive visual display.

Internet-of-Things technology

The model is also equipped with the world’s first fully-integrated open smart HiPhi service-oriented architecture (H-SOA) for use in a mass-produced vehicle. This utilizes the latest in Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology to connect, control, and monitor the operation of the vehicle. The open architecture acts as an open piece of hardware that third-party developers and regular users can program to create innovative visual displays according to their mood. For this reason, Human Horizons refers to the HiPhi X as the world’s ‘first evolvable super SUV’.

Having been conceived as an EV right from the start, the designers had no constraints as they could develop a layout fully optimised for EVs. Measuring 5.2 metres long, its lightweight hybrid aluminium construction will complement the concept of sustainability with the adoption of vegan leather and the use of recyclable materials.

There are two drivetrain versions of the HiPhi X  – single motor/rear-wheel drive and dual motor/all-wheel drive. The battery pack has a 96 kWh capacity and is said to be able to provide a cruising range of up to 650 kms. It also has 4-wheel steering for easier manoeuvring, while 562 sensors feed real-time data to 4 domain controllers and 6 computing platforms to allow autonomous motoring and even parking.

Growing popularity

To date, over 5,000 HiPhi X vehicles have been delivered in China. The company claims it is the first Chinese brand to top the sales charts for premium luxury cars valued at more than 600,000 RMB (about RM398,000) for any given month. Human Horizons continues to work on expanding the charging network by supplying coverage from over 270,000 charging points across 500 cities throughout China.

HiPhi Z, to make its debut this year, will be the second model from Human Horizons.

Human Horizons HiPhi X being readied for launch at Beijing Auto Show next month


BMW Group Malaysia invites other companies to join in childseat subsidy initiative

Since the year began, the law making it compulsory for small children and infants to be placed in childseats when travelling in cars has come into effect. While the Transport Minister has said that, during the first 6 months of 2020, summonses will not be issued to those who do not comply, it doesn’t mean that the matter should be ignored either.

Meanwhile, one car company has taken the initiative to help in promoting the use of childseats. As reported earlier, BMW Group Malaysia has a
subsidy programme as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative
. In its first phase, the car company, Childline Foundation and Safe ‘n Sound made 150 units of certified infant carrier car seats available at a subsidised price of RM100 each for parents in the B40 income group.

Not unexpectedly, response was great and over 25,000 parents made applications within 2 weeks of registrations being accepted. The infant carrier seats, which retail for RM199, were recently presented to parents from the Klang Valley region, while the remaining seats will be sent to recipients across the nation.

From the big response, it is clear that parents are aware of the need to provide the seats for their little ones. However, one company alone cannot keep subsidising the cost and BMW Group Malaysia invites other companies to join in the initiative. “There is an urgent need for us to come together and take action. The overwhelming response to the first phase of the subsidy programme shows that more parents are now aware of the need for child car seats and are quick to adopt its usage given the opportunity. As such, to all partners and companies who have the means to help subsidise these infant carrier car seats, we welcome you to join in the subsidy programme to prioritise child safety in cars for all,” said Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Malaysia.

Interested parties can be part of the subsidy programme by writing to
bmw@voxeureka.com
 with the name of the participating company and the amount of subsidy (in Malaysian ringgit) they would like to commit by
February 13, 2020
.

150 units of infant carrier carseats available at a subsidised price with BMW Malaysia’s support


Caterham Project V Sneak Peak Before Official Debut

Caterham was a stand-alone corporation until it was acquired by Team Lotus in 2011, resulting in the formation of the Caterham Group. You may remember a group of Malaysians being involved, including a certain Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

Later in 2021, Caterham Cars was acquired by VT Holdings, the Japanese importer of the Caterham Seven since 2009.

Recently, Caterham teased the front end of the Project V, and now we’re getting a glimpse at the back end a week before the complete product makes its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The most recent teaser image and video are constructed in the same method as the previous one and an even earlier profile shot, with nearly no light shining on the car, limiting what we can learn about the body features. However, the shape of the rear lights, which are made of mirrored upper and lower LED elements on each side, is clearly visible.

The light from those LEDs illuminates the region just above them, revealing that the rear panel is slightly recessed and the trunk lid has been curved to form a little lip spoiler. The image further strengthens the sense that this is a neatly formed sports car with almost soft lines, possibly inspired by iconic 1960s sports cars such as the Ferrari 206/246 Dino and Porsche 908.

In the previous teaser, we saw a set of slender DRLs at the front of the car, as well as what appeared to be an air inlet, though it won’t require one because it will be a pure EV. Caterham isn’t stating how many electric motors it will have or the power output of the motor or motors would produce.

Caterham began hyping Project V soon after unveiling the EV Seven as a one-off proof of concept. It includes an electric motor that produces 240hp and 249Nm of torque, allowing it to reach 100km/h in 4.0 seconds. The model is only 70kg’s heavier than the current, combustion-powered Seven 485.


Have fun at home with Mazda Malaysia’s interactive colouring contest

Staying at home more than going for casual outings is the ‘New Normal’ in this age of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the situation in different countries varies, the main thing is to minimize close contact so many of the usual activities we used to enjoy are not possible – for now. In Malaysia, we have been having the Movement Control Order (MCO) for over a year and this has largely restricted leaving the home, except for essential or emergency matters or to go to work (with permission from the authorities).

Fortunately, this is the 21
st
 century where we have the internet, so even though people cannot meet face to face, they can still remain in regular contact via the various online channels. Perhaps it’s just not the same as sitting at the mamak stall with your friends but it is certainly better than 30 years ago when such a situation would have meant isolation and much more boredom. Now you can even go racing with your friends online!

‘Paint’ a digital canvas

For families with little ones, Mazda Malaysia (represented by Bermaz Motor) has an interactive colouring contest which is ideal at this #stayathome time. It’s a digital age activity where children can ‘paint’ a digital canvas on their computer or tablet (a smartphone would be too small).

There are five different drawings to colour, four of them with current Mazda models and one of the Mazda RX Vision concept car. There doesn’t seem to be a limit on the entries that can be submitted so participants can probably choose one or all the drawings offered.

Cash prizes and Mazda Premium Merchandise

The drawing tools are simple to use (like MS Paint) and once completed, they can be printed out as well. To join the contest, the completed image needs to be attached to the submission form available at the website. All submissions must reach Mazda Malaysia
by August 18, 2021
. Cash prizes and Mazda Premium Merchandise will be given as prizes for the entries judged to be the best.

Click here
 to go to the Mazda Interactive Colouring Contest page and if you are interested in knowing more about the models in the drawings, you can get information at
www.mazda.com.my
 as well as take a virtual tour of the Mazda Malaysia flagship showroom in Glenmarie, Selangor.

Mazda x Mizuno driving shoes enhance Jinba Ittai for drivers


Maserati Joins Cash & Rocket Tour 2018

Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

The
 Cash & Rocket Tour 2018
 started earlier this month in San Francisco and Maserati is a proud official partner of this charity road trip along with other luxury brands. Five Levante SUVs in GranLusso and GranSport trims, all in red – the official colours of this unique event – were enlisted in the glamorous convoy of 40 cars. The four-day adventure unites the efforts of eighty influential women from all over the world for a single cause: raising funds and global awareness for three charitable projects in Africa.

Nieves Álvarez

“
We welcome prominent figures from the worlds of fashion, cinema, music, art and business to this stunning event.
Through female solidarity, our aim is to raise money for charities around the world, which will make a huge difference to the lives of many
”, says
Julie Brangstrup, Founder and CEO of
Cash & Rocket Tour
and proud mother of seven
.

Nieves Álvarez

Now in its fifth edition,
Cash & Rocket Tour
 makes its debut in the United States aiming to break the record of 1.4 million euros fund-raised in the previous event that was organised in 2015. Since the inaugural tour in 2012,
Cash & Rocket
 raised over four million dollars with every single cent donated going directly to the chosen charities (below).

Ashley Graham

This year, the
C&R Tour
 raised funds for three charity projects that support the welfare of women and children in the African continent:
The Art of Elysium
,
Shine on Sierra Leone
 and
Sumbandila
.

Among the celebrities who drove the five Maserati SUVs from San Francisco to Las Vegas are the Russian supermodel and Instagram sensation Lena Perminova; the Californian of Iranian origins; Stylebop.com fashion director Leila Yavari; the founder of Majorelle, creative director of Alliance Apparel and influencer from Los Angeles, Rachel Zeilic; the model, fashion designer, blogger and DJ from Spain, Gala Gonzalez; the Spanish top model and television presenter Nieves Alvarez; the American model and body activist Ashley Graham; and the American fashion model Arizona Muse.

Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham

Cash & Rocket Tour 2018
 programme

Following the ”Gold and Glamorous” cocktail party on the night before the drive at San Francisco’s famed Fairmont Hotel, the convoy of red cars hit the road heading to Monterrey. After a lunch break, the next stop was Santa Barbara, where the ladies enjoyed a yoga beach evening and a dinner party, all dressed in white.

Saturday, June 9th, all cars were on display at the iconic Malibu pier. A Press Call will followed in the afternoon at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and the day’s activities concluded with an Auction Gala Dinner at the Peterson Museum of Los Angeles.

June 10th, the
Cash & Rocket Tour 2018
 arrived in its final destination, Las Vegas. The five Maserati Levante SUVs and all the other wrapped in red cars were on display at the Encore Beach Club in the afternoon. The culminating event was the closing party of
Cash & Rocket Tour 2018
in the Encore Wynn Hotel, which featured famous DJ Kygo, with all ladies in red outfits.

Gala Gonzalez;Julie Brangstrup Watts

You can find out more about the
Cash & Rocket Tour 2018
 on the official website
www.cashandrocket.com
.
 For donations, please visit
http://www.cashandrocket.com/donate/

Gala Gonzalez

Cash & Rocket
 Chosen Charities

The Art of Elysium
 is using art as a catalyst for social change. Emerging artists in the fields of fine arts, fashion design, music, theatre and more, are engaged in its programs and share their creativity with distressed people, in special needs education centres, homeless shelters, elder care homes and hospice care facilities.

Shine on Sierra Leone
 currently supports nearly 500 students in Sierra Leone through programmes that integrate sustainable healthcare, education, microfinance and development to ultimately create the future of an inner-dependent country.

Sumbandila
 is currently focused on Limpopo, the poorest province in South Africa, aiming to transform the lives of exceptional children from backgrounds of extreme poverty and help them become leaders who will one day make significant contributions to their own communities and to Africa in general.

Maserati Cash & Rocket Tour 2018 Photo Gallery…

				Nieves Álvarez

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				/;Lilly Beker;Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				/;Lilly Beker;Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Gala Gonzalez

				Gala Gonzalez

				Gala Gonzalez

				Gala Gonzalez

				Arizona Muse

				Arizona Muse

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Tiffany Persons;/;Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Tiffany Persons

				Arizona Muse

				Ashley Graham

				Ashley Graham

				Elena Perminova

				Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham;Arizona Muse;Cody Horn

				Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham;Arizona Muse;Cody Horn

				Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham;Arizona Muse;Cody Horn

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				/;Lilly Beker;Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Ashley Graham;Noor Tagouri

				Lilly Beker

				Lilly Beker

				Lilly Beker

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				Elena Perminova

				Gala Gonzalez;Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Gala Gonzalez;Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Gala Gonzalez;Julie Brangstrup Watts

				Gala Gonzalez

				Gala Gonzalez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Julie Brangstrup Watts;Ashley Graham

				Arizona Muse;Cody Horn

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Nieves Álvarez

				Ashley Graham

				Ashley Graham


Shops at many PLUS R&R/lay-bys to remain closed till March 31

Interstate travel is not permitted during the period of the Movement Control Order (MCO). However, if you are on PLUS highways – and you should have a valid reason for travelling – and want to stop by at a R&R to pick up food or drinks, you should be aware that the shops are closed from today until March 31, 2020 when the MCO ends.

According to notices which appeared today on the PLUS Facebook pag, the closure of shops are at the following R&R locations in Peninsular Malaysia:

Gelang Patah, Machap, Ayer Keroh, Mambau, Ulu Bernam, Sg. Buloh, USJ and Penanti.

Operating hours at some R&Rs have been shortened to 6 am to 7 pm until March 31, 2020 (picture of R&R at Sg. Perak taken earlier in the year).

Additionally, at the other R&Rs, operating hours of the shops will be from 6 am to 7 pm. They are at:

Pagoh, Seremban, Dengkil, Tg. Malim, Tapah, Sg. Perak, G. Semanggol, Gurun and Rawang.

All stalls and shops at the lay-bys will also be closed from March 21 – 31, 2020.

However, the toilets, parking spaces and petrol stations will still be operational as normal. All suraus at PLUS R&Rs and the LPT2 are, however, closed during the MCO period.

PLUS has also closed all its reload facilities at the Toll Plaza Customer Service Centres and Reload lanes at both its Open and Close Toll highways.

The highway concessionaire explained that these actions of closure are social distancing efforts to  reduce the risk of infection and therefore limit virus transmission.

Reloading of TnG tollcards can be done at petrol station convenience stores such as BHPetrol’s Petromarts.

As such, PLUS advises motorists to plan their journey ahead by reloading their Touch‘nGo card at reload centres nationwide. The reload facilities include Self-Service Kiosks at 67 locations along selected rest and service areas, as well at ATMs of banks. Petrol stations and convenience stores can also provide reload services.

Access roads to Kuala Terengganu closed


BMW Malaysia wants you to use child car seat ‘From Day One’

BMW Malaysia has partnered up with Childline Foundation for their fifth BMW Safety 360° Programme where they are focused on raising awareness child safety and protection. They’ve launched ‘From Day One’ campaign to advocate the use of child car seats, starting straight from newborns.

As part of the campaign, BMW Malaysia and Childline Foundation are also sharing key information parents should know (in the video, below) to keep their children safe during their travels this Balik Kampung season.

As part of the campaign, BMW Malaysia together with the support of Chicco Malaysia will hand out a brand-new child car seat to the first six babies born on Father’s Day at Hospital Putrajaya. These lucky parents will also be educated on travel safety by Childline Foundation’s passenger safety consultants.

These include the right criteria for choosing a child car seat, proper methods for installation, as well as the lifecycle of a child car seat. BMW Malaysia’s initiative goes hand in hand with the government’s plan to make the use of car seats mandatory by the year 2020.

According to Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, “Since 2015, the BMW Safety 360° Programme has aspired to advocate safety values to keep drivers, passengers and road users safer on our roads. With ‘From Day One’, we want parents to realise the urgency of protecting their babies from the moment they leave the hospital. We also hope to educate them on the correct installation and usage of child car seats.”

“This festival season – whether during Hari Raya or the Kaamatan and Gawai Festivals – we want to remind all parents traveling on the road, whether short or long distance to make sure their children are in the right child car seat. This is as important as ensuring we have our seat belts on too, ensuring everyone is safe on the road for the festivities.” said Harald.


F1/Round 10: Preview & Provisional Starting Grid of 2022 British Grand Prix

Race starts at 3 pm in Britain time/10 pm in Malaysia

The British Grand is one of only two events that have been constantly on every season’s calendar since the inception of Formula 1. This weekend’s Round 10 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship will be the 73
rd
 British GP, and the 56
th
 time Silverstone has hosted the race. The other venues have been the Aintree Circuit in Liverpool and Brands Hatch.

Silverstone, built on a former Royal Air Force base 74 years ago, is a true power circuit, and drivers will spend 80% of each 5.891-km lap racing at full throttle. The layout, with 18 turns, is very tough on tyres, especially on left-front tyres which have huge loads imposed on them in Turns 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15.

“Along with Suzuka in Japan and Spa in Belgium, Silverstone places the highest energy demands on tyres all year, which is why the hardest tyres in the range have been nominated: C1 as the P Zero White hard, C2 as the P Zero Yellow medium, and C3 as the P Zero Red soft. This is the third time that this combination has been nominated all year,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsports Director.

Suzuka, which will be back on the calendar later this year (in early October), puts even greater demands on tyres but distributes the loads equally to all 4 tyres as it is the only track on the calendar in the shape of a figure eight. At Silverstone, putting down the car’s energy is firmly focused on

Pirelli’s choice of its hardest compounds to cope with wear rates is based on past experience. However, with the new 2022 racing cars, the tyres are designed to provide less overheating, more stability, and increased driveability within a wider working window. “This year, the compounds and structures are completely different, and there’s no sprint qualifying either – which was a factor in the strategy last year,” Isola added.

The gears and cornering speeds of the Mercedes-AMG racing cars.

According to Brembo technicians, the Silverstone Circuit makes little demand on the brakes, in contrast to the tyres. This does not mean that the brakes are not important on this track. Grip is critical and depends on both the weather conditions and the number of consecutive laps run. As the grip increases, so does the braking power transferred to the ground.

The biggest risk at Silverstone is glazing of the friction material caused by problems bringing the carbonfibre discs and pads to the minimum operating temperature. However, the Brembo material has been specially designed to prevent this problem. There are 9 turns where the brakes are used for a total of 13.5 seconds per lap which amounts to 15% of the whole race.

The hardest one is on turn 6 because drivers come onto it with the throttle full on after turn 5 and reach a speed of 324 km/h. They use the brakes to reduce speed by 50% in 2.4 seconds and cover a distance of 142 metres. To do this, their leg must apply a load of 127 kgs on the brake pedal and undergo a deceleration of 4.2
g
.

Fittingly, Lewis Hamilton has been the most successful driver in the history of the British Grand Prix, the team’s home race. He has won 8 times, which puts him in the same league as Michael Schumacher for the most wins at the same event; the German driver’s record is for the French Grand Prix. Hamilton also has 8 wins at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

A non-British team – Scuderia Ferrari – has won the event the most times. Since its first F1 win in the 1951 British GP, it has won the event 17 times. Current drivers who have contributed to the string of victories are Sebastian Vettel (2018) and Fernando Alonso (2011).

Thanks to a victory in Canada, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen starts at Silverstone with a 46-point lead over team mate Sergio Perez. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who has started the season with so much promise, seems to have had a string of bad luck, dropping him to third place, 3 points behind Perez.

Consistent wins by Verstappen and Perez have boosted Red Bull racing’s lead in the Constructors Championship to 304 points, 76 ahead of Ferrari. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team is in third place, 40 points behind the Italian team.