Even with the highways being so congested and traffic moving bumper to bumper in many sections, there are still motorists who can exceed the speed limits. Perhaps they let off the frustration of having been stuck in the long jam when they finally can start going faster.
According to the JPJ, over 5,000 vehicles were caught by the 29 AWAS (Automated Awareness Safety System) cameras that are installed along highways last Friday. The locations of the cameras are known to regular travellers but even for those who are not familiar, there are big yellow warning signs (at least three) before the camera location to alert motorists.
There are usually a few signboards positioned before the AWAS cameras so motorists should be aware of them ahead.
The JPJ also said that of the 236,671 vehicles which passed through traffic lights on the same day, 966 were caught by the 16 AWAS cameras when they continued through while the red light was showing.
5 offences cannot be compounded
Normally, these two offences are compoundable, meaning the motorists admit they broke the law and they pay a pre-determined fine. However, as a deterrent, the two offences – along with three others – cannot be compounded while Op Bersepadu is on between April 29 and May 8, 2022. Offenders will be required to go to court to have their cases heard and then charged accordingly. Apart from the fine, it can be inconvenient too as the court may be in another town.
Besides exceeding speed limits and not stopping at red lights, the other offences are driving on the emergency lane, using a mobile phone while driving and changing lanes recklessly.
Police also have Op Selamat
Besides some 2,200 personnel from JPJ being deployed during the Op Bersepadu period, around 3,000 police personnel will also be on duty nationwide during the PDRM’s Op Selamat 18/2022 which will be on before and after the Hari Raya holidays.
Although the police had earlier said they will detain motorists (and take them to a police station) with outstanding summonses and warrants of arrest, this will not be the case. According to Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) Director, Datuk Mat Kasim Karim, no action will be taken ‘as the police want to ensure road-users return home to their families safely’.
The world’s first automobile, built by Karl Benz, was able to travel at a maximum speed of 16 km/h. That would certainly have been very fast in 1886 when he first drove it along rough tracks in Mannheim, Germany. But before long, the challenge of building ‘the fastest car’ was taken up by many and Land Speed Records began to be listed.
The first person on the list was Frenchman Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat who took an electrically-powered Jeantaud Duc to a speed of 63.13 km/h. As an indication of how fast technological advances were taking place, just one month later, Belgian Camille Jenatzy reached 66 km/h in a GCA Dogcart. No, it was not powered by dogs but by electricity as well, like the car it beat.
By 1909, the fastest speed achieved was around 200km/h, a speed so fast that there were people who believed it would be impossible to survive because you’d simply not to be able to breathe! The challenge of going faster and faster did not diminish and in the 1920s, the British asserted dominance.
Among those who pushed cars to the limits was a mechanical engineer by the name of George Eyston. In the late 1920s, he was seriously engaged in developing and running cars that broke records. His car, called the Thunderbolt, established 3 new land speed records between 1937 and 1939. The records were set on the wide expanse of the Bonnevile Salt Flats in the American state of Utah where such events have been held for decades.
While the Thunderbolt was powered by two 37-litre, V12 Rolls-Royce aero engines, the Wraith uses a 6.6-litre V12 with an output of 632 ps and 870 Nm of torque.
His projectile-shaped machine had 3 axles, 8 wheels and weighed 7 tonnes (and that was even with the body being made from aluminium). The Thunderbolt was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R supercharged 37-litre, V-12 aero engines, each producing well over 2,000 horsepower. Less than 20 of these engines were ever made; so rare were they that the Thunderbolt’s engines had actually been used earlier in the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6.B seaplane that would lay the foundations for the legendary Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War II.
Inspiration for the Landspeed Collection
The story of Eyston’s dauntless, fearless, pioneering spirit and his Thunderbolt served as inspiration for the Rolls-Royce Land Speed Collection, a series specially designed and built by the company’s Bespoke division. The two cars are Black Badge versions of the Wraith and Dawn and of the 35 units of the Wraith available, one was acquired by a customer in Malaysia.
The Wraith Landspeed is presented in a specially created two-tone finish which marries Black Diamond Metallic with a new Bespoke colour, Bonneville Blue. This specially developed hue bears particular significance to the Collection, with a colour that transitions under sunlight from light blue to silver, illustrating the reflections of both the vast sky over Bonneville and the crisp salt flats on the Thunderbolt’s aluminium body.
However, Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, suggested a change in the colour scheme which the customer agreed to. Instead of the light coloured flanks and dark bonnet, there is a reversal of the colours with Bonneville Blue on the bonnet instead. To add to the unique difference, the grille is also in chrome instead of black, which is the usual colour for Black Badge versions.
To associate the Wraith with the Thunderbolt, the Bespoke team of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen read everything they could about the record-breaking events that took place on the desert-like salt flats in the 1930s. In particular, they learnt about how, while rocketing over the ground, Eyston had to hold the car on a very precise course – to deviate even slightly would be disastrous at the extreme speeds. To help him guide the car, his team painted darkened track lines on the salt surface for Eyston to follow – effectively his sole means of keeping the Thunderbolt straight at over 560 km/h.
This simple yet ingenious idea is recalled in the Wraith by perforated line in the upper-centre of the steering wheel, which continues through the centreline of the driver’s seat and can also be seen on the rear right seat. It is subtle and is only evident when the left seats are compared to the right ones.
A cracking dashboard?
Then there’s the fascia to the right of the classic analogue clock. At a glance, it seems like the surface is cracking… which would be shocking to see on a Rolls-Royce! But it is not actually a defect in the material: the ‘cracks’ are reproductions of those on the surface of the dry and dusty salt flats. The tiny fissures form a distinctive texture that was digitally retraced from the surface itself, onto the wooden veneer of the fascia (and console lids as well).
Records commemorated for all time
The interior references continue with the Thunderbolt’s unique silhouette, and the records it achieved, depicted on the polished, anodized aluminium surface of the Landspeed Collection’s front tunnel.
According to the record books, Eyston’s third and final land-speed record of 575.57 km/h stood for 341 days. In the Landspeed Collection Cars, it is commemorated for all time, engraved into the housing of the clock alongside the name ‘Bonneville’, in homage to where the record was set. Based on the instrument dials from the Thunderbolt, with yellow and black details, the black-tipped hands of the clock are inspired by the arrows painted on the original car’s exterior.
Recreating the night sky
The Bonneville Salt Flats are so vast, open – and with no artificial light – that they are an ideal place to look at the stars in the exceptionally dark night skies. In the Wraith Landspeed, the Starlight Headliner on the ceiling perfectly recreates the skies as they appeared over the Flats on September 16, 1938, the date on which Eyston and his Thunderbolt set their record. The constellations are precisely marked using 2,117 individually placed fibreoptic ‘stars’, the largest number of stars in a Rolls-Royce Wraith Starlight Headliner ever featured.
Paying tribute to the man himself, Eyston’s military honours are marked with a subtle detail in the driver’s door, made in the same Grosgrain weave silk and colours to match the original medal ribbons. The armrests on both the passenger side and below the ribbon detail are specially padded to give them the comfortable ‘club armchair’ quality that Eyston favoured in his driving seats, much to the amusement of his fellow racers.
The Thunderbolt was originally left unpainted, which caused an unexpected problem. During the first record attempts, the photo-electric timing equipment was unable to detect the polished aluminium body against the searing white of the Salt Flats’ surface, making accurate timing impossible. Eyston’s brilliantly simple solution was to paint a large black arrow with a yellow circle on the side, to heighten visibility when travelling at great speed. Hence, the yellow inserts around the inlets on either side below the front bumper.
“As with many of the cars I bring to Malaysia, I try to make them unique. Not only do we have some of the most discerning customers here who appreciate true luxury, I also believe in the mantra: “Rolls-Royce is Bespoke, Bespoke is Rolls-Royce.” The Wraith Landspeed is Bespoke Luxury of the finest order, craftsmanship and an unwavering dedication to achieving the very highest levels of excellence,” declared Encik Anas Zawawi Khalid.
Law enforcement authorities use various devices to capture evidence of motorists breaking laws and during the coming Hari Raya holidays, the JPJ (Road Transport Department) has over 120 cameras which will be used to catch offenders. And these cameras will not be in fixed locations as they will be on mobile patrol motorcycles which can be anywhere.
The JPJ officers will have GoPro Max 360 cameras mounted on their helmets as they patrol areas identified as hotspots. They will be looking out for 9 specific offences which are found to be the causes of fatal accidents on the road. These include not wearing a seatbelt or crash helmet, overtaking on double lines, not stopping at red traffic lights, using a mobilephone while driving, overtaking on the left side, using the emergency lane on highways, and overloading (although heavy commercial vehicles are banned on certain days).
The camera-equipped officers are involved in Op Musim Perayaan Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2022 which will be on until May 9. Video footage collected will be used as evidence for charging motorists with offences, but the JPJ will first summon them for questioning. As mentioned by the Transport Minister earlier, certain summonses will not be compoundable even if the offenders admit guilt and want to just pay the fine. They will have to go to court to have their case heard, which can be an inconvenience.
Using a mobilephone while driving is a serious offence. If found guilty, there can be fines of up to RM1,000 or up to 3 months in jail. Get caught for the same offence a second-time and the fine can go up to RM2,000 with jail time of up to 6 months as well. The offence is non-compoundable and must be heard in court.
Meanwhile, the police have changed their mind about detaining motorists who are found to have outstanding summonses or warrants of arrest. The Deputy IGP had earlier said that the police would use the iCOPS devices to run checks on motorists who are stopped. Those with warrants of arrest and outstanding summonses will be immediately detained on the road and taken to the nearest police station for the process of bail documentation and would then be asked to attend court for further action,” he said.
Then a few days later, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) Director, Datuk Mat Kasim Karim, said that no action would be taken during Op Selamat ‘as the police want to ensure road-users return home to their families safely’.
“We would like to stress that detaining or arresting a person is not the aim of JSPT during Op Selamat this time,” he said. “The police have many ways of detaining an offender, but the timing has to be appropriate.”
Anyway, regardless of whether or not action will be taken on the spot or later, the important thing is not to commit any offences. Everyone needs to do their part to ensure road safety so observe speed limits and other laws.
Have a safe journey and remember that being late is better than not arriving at all.
There’s a segment of the global auto market which is not generally known to most people outside the industry although the vehicles in this segment would have been generally termed as ‘light commercial vehicles’ or LCVs before. Now they are referred to as Purpose-Built Vehicles or PBVs, and this segment has been growing significantly. From a sales volume of 320,000 units in 2020, it is expected to increase to 1.3 million units in 2025.
While the PBV functions essentially like a vehicle for commercial purposes, its role is far more diverse due to modern mobility requirements. Thus it has to be more optimized for different purposes moving people or cargo. Mobility services such as car-sharing and ride-hailing are expanding as consumers’ mentality changes from owning a car to using mobility. A global market research company predicted that the mobility sharing service will grow from 1.2 million units in 2021 to 4.9 million units in 2030. For this reason, PBVs specialized in mobile services are trending.
Kia’s PBV strategy and product plans up to the 2030s.
At the same time, the demand for logistics has also rapidly increased, partly due to the huge growth in e-commerce that has taken place over the past 2 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, the PBV will be an important link in last-mile mobility for people as well as goods.
The Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is therefore giving much attention to development of PBVs as future mobility solutions. While investing in R&D on electrification and autonomous driving technology, it is also developing PBV-related technologies, such as developing core parts, producing various types of vehicles, and researching platform-based body module assembly technology.
Ray 1-seater van
In 2020, Kia (part of HMG) announced its mid-to-long-term future strategy, ‘Plan S,’ and declared that it would transform from an automaker to a future mobility solution provider by expanding its businesses such as electric vehicles, mobility services, and PBVs. It also revealed that it would respond early to the market with PBVs based on existing cars by 2023, with the Ray 1-seater vans and 5-seater full-flat models to satisfy the growing national demand for small cargo delivery services.
Now comes the Niro Plus, its first PBV which is being offered in Korea as a general model and zero-emission taxi. The carmaker has modified the first generation Niro EV to make it suitable for the demands of modern-day car-hailing.
To meet the demands of Korean operators, the length and height of the Niro Plus taxi model have increased by 10 mm and 80 mm, respectively, to give occupants more space inside the cabin. Slimmed-down structures have also contributed to the greater cabin space, and the seats and door trim have been thinned down.
First generation of Niro from which Niro Plus has been developed.
The Niro Plus can offer more sustainable means of working and travelling, so Kia is planning a general version of the Niro Plus for private ownership. This can be used for many business and recreational purposes including car-hailing services. One usage scenario could be where a small business owner uses the Niro Plus for work during the week and when it’s the weekend or a holiday, he or she can use the same vehicle for leisure activities such as camping or touring the countryside.
“Kia is transforming its business strategy to focus on popularizing EVs, and introducing new mobility products that are tailored to the needs of users in markets around the world. The Niro Plus is our first step into the world of PBVs, a market that holds great potential for future development,” Sangdae Kim, Head of Kia’s eLCV Business Division.
As the PBV market grows, Kia plans to gradually expand its range from micro to large PBVs that can potentially offer an alternative to public transportation or even be used as mobile offices. A general, non-taxi version of the Niro Plus will be made available in some overseas markets in the second half of this year. In addition to the battery electric vehicle (BEV) version, there will be plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains to meet specific market conditions.
Kia aims to become a market leader by 2030 and to achieve this, it is developing a dedicated platform upon which PBVs of different shapes and sizes can sit, meeting evolving customer needs and market trends. The first Kia dedicated PBV model will be launched in 2025, by which time the global PBV market is expected to mature. It will be similar in size to a mid-sized vehicle, with inherent scalability.
Batteries are one of the most crucial parts of an electric vehicle (EV); without it, the electric motors won’t run and the vehicle won’t move. So it’s not surprising that battery technology is continuously being advanced. It could be even more advanced, had the EVs which were around over 100 years ago remained popular but the drawbacks of batteries then meant that the combustion engine gained more favour and killed the EV.
In the 21st century, the EV’s popularity has been ‘forced’ by regulations which aim to address climate change as quickly as possible. Thus, advancement of battery technology has to be accelerated to provide better storage capacity and greater efficiency. Within a year, batteries can make big leaps in performance to give better range, an important factor in EV acceptance.
An example is with Volvo, which is almost entirely focussed on EVs. Its Recharge T8 models now have improved plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains with better performance and driveability. This comes from a new long-range lithium-ion battery pack of 18.8 kWh, up 62% from 11.6 kWh. The increased capacity is due to the addition of a third layer of cells. The resulting extension in a claimed electric-only range of between 70 and 90 kms, almost double the previous maximum range of 49 kms.
Improved driving performance comes from a new rear electric motor generating the equivalent of 145 ps, which is almost 65% more than the previous motor’s output. Overall system output, in combination with the petrol engine, has been boosted to 462 ps, which is 55 ps more than before.
The improvements are also beneficial to the environment as being able to drive longer distances in pure electric mode means less emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas that is causing global warming.
In Malaysia, the new Recharge T8 powertrain will be available for the 60 and 90 models, ie XC60, S60, V60, XC90 and S90.
Additionally, the XC60 and S90 PHEV models will also have One-Pedal Drive settings which are useful in stop-and-go traffic. A feature used in Volvo’s BEVs (battery electric vehicles), One-Pedal Drive is claimed to enable more effective battery regeneration and higher regenerative power that can improve fuel efficiency. The animation below shows how One-Pedal Drive works.
Using One-Pedal Drive, the driver uses the accelerator pedal predominantly to manage the car’s speed. Each time the foot is lifted off the pedal, regenerative braking activates automatically. This differs from the conventional approach that requires depressing the brake pedal before regeneration can take place. It would therefore be especially effective in slow-moving traffic, allowing the battery to be more frequently topped up.
“Our new line of PHEVs will transform the way our customers experience electric driving,” said Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia. “The improved powertrain lets our customers drive sustainably at a longer distance, at the same time providing them with range confidence that fits the needs of their everyday lives.”
Mr. Frump also said that there will be price adjustments across the range from next week. The adjustments will start with current models of the XC40 T5, XC40 Recharge T5, XC60 B5, and XC90 B5. The new line-up of the 90 and 60 models will be sold at a ‘new price point’ when they exit from the assembly plant in Shah Alam, Selangor. The price for the current Recharge T8 models remains the same and will be sold while stocks last.
Up till 2001, Proton had entered many markets around the world, with over 210,000 cars exported to 51 countries. However, after that, the number fell and although recognizing that exports were vital as its protection in the home market diminished and competition increased, Proton did not have a strong export business.
The number of exported vehicles dwindled to only 248 units in 2017 but over the past few years, the Malaysian carmaker has been slowly rebuilding its presence overseas and even having models assembled in some countries. Volumes are seeing a gradual upturn and last year, 3,018 Proton vehicles were exported, more than double the number in 2020. For 2022, the International Sales Department is targeting to grow export sales exponentially to 10,000 units.
As it has a bigger focus on righthand-drive models, it has obviously given more attention to countries where motorists drive on the left side, like us. The latest new market is South Africa, although it is not unfamiliar to Proton as the brand had a presence there up till 2012. It will return with the X50 and X70 this September, followed by the latest Saga.
It will be represented by the CMH (Combined Motor Holdings) Group, an investment holding company which has been active in the motor business since 1987. Proton joins a long list of global brands that CMH represents, some of which are Ford, Chery, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Mahindra, Peugeot and Citroen.
SUVs to grow export sales
Proton’s growth will be achieved not only by entering more new markets but also increasing local assembly (CKD) operations overseas. Currently, the carmaker has CKD operations in Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh with Sri Lanka set to begin in the second half of 2022. The company currently exports cars to 13 overseas markets, with South Africa becoming the fourteenth one.
As a percentage of Malaysia’s overall vehicle exports, Proton’s numbers are becoming increasingly prominent. From 12.8% of total exports in 2019, the number grew to 30.2% in 2020 and hit 60.9% in 2021. That put the brand at the No.1 position, an achievement in spite of the global pandemic.
Proton SUVs help brand image
Proton’s improved model range has helped in export sales, especially as it has the two SUVs jointly developed with Geely. The SUV segment is the most active globally and the sales success enjoyed in Malaysia by the X50 and X70 has been largely replicated in other markets. This helps to establish the brand, paving the way for more models to be exported.
“Our new model range offers advanced features that are on par with many competitors from other brands. In many of our markets, the Proton X50 and Proton X70 sit near the top of their class in terms of specifications yet are sold at prices equivalent to or less than their direct rivals. This helps to draw in the upper echelon of local car-buyers and helps build brand equity in these markets, making it easier for our other products to then be accepted in the future,” said Steven Xu, Director of International Sales.
“PROTON’s long-term goals require exports to play a major role to grow the company’s overall sales as the annual Total Industry Volume in Malaysia is expected to remain flat. So, we are exploiting the strength of our new products, our brand and even the links Malaysia has with other countries to establish a foothold in many new markets. This is then bolstered by establishing CKD operations where possible, which also helps to grow local economies,” he added.
