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HardKhor Motorsports Report: Malaysian Team Viper Niza Racing wins TCR race ProAm class in Belgium

This report was contributed by the late Gary Khor, a motorsports enthusiast who was also very much involved in the sport in various roles. Gary, who passed away in early 2020, wanted to create more awareness of the success of Malaysian drivers overseas, and gave us reports of events that they took part in.

It was 10 pm Saturday night in Malaysia and 4 pm in Spa, Belgium as the inaugural TCR SPA500 race started. This 500-lap race was a round in the international TCR series and run set in the famous but treacherous Spa circuit. Drivers and crews could expect intense activity for at least 23 hours.

Spa is famous for its unpredictable weather and the recent World Endurance Championship round held there saw rain, hail and even snow during the race! The race is run by the Endurance Racing promoter Creventic and is well known for its ‘Code 60’ replacement for the traditional Safety Car. In the case of an incident during racing, a ‘Code 60’ is issued which is like a full course Yellow except that all cars are required to slow to a 60 km/h speed limit by a certain time whilst maintaining the gap to the car in front. This way, cars are not bunched up in the restart making race resumptions safer.

2019 TCR SPA500 — *“It was so nice to have the locals welcoming us and asking for our autographs,” said Douglas Khoo, team principal of the Viper Niza Racing Team.*

In this race, Malaysian team Viper Niza Racing led by team principal Douglas Khoo in #65 Seat Cupra was vying for the TCR Nations Cup along with teams from China, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.

The team had help from some old team mates -Dominic Ang, Farique Hairuman and Melvin Moh – from the PETRONAS Syntium Team which won multiple championships in the Japanese SuperTaikyu Series. Dominic and Melvin, in particular, have much experience in long-distance endurance racing having competed in the Dubai 24Hours, FujiTec 24Hours and Sepang 12Hours.

After over 100 laps, the SPA500 was into its 6th hour. #65 started with Douglas in 16th and pitted for a driver change during a Code 60 when the leader hit the barriers at Eau Rouge.

Farique was lucky to pit for fuel during another Code 60, double stinted and brought #65 up to 10th before handing to Dominic who also pitted for fuel during yet another Code 60 (but could only take on half a tank of fuel according to regulations).

Dominic then managed to be one of the quickest drivers on the track and brought #65 to 2nd in the ProAm class & 4th overall before coming in after another double stint to hand over to Melvin who had since caught the front runners and bringing #65 up to 2nd overall and was leading the ProAm class !

More than 250 laps had been completed and the inaugural TCR SPA500 was halfway through. The Malaysian team was now 3rd outright and still leading the ProAm class! Farique was behind the wheel after Dominic handed over the car from Melvin earlier on. It appeared during Melvin’s stint that an issue occurred and the car had to be pitted for a check but soon went out again albeit after losing time and laps. It was a pity as Melvin had brought the car up to 2nd overall at one point in the night.

But ultimately, Team Viper Niza Racing did it – winning the ProAm class in this inaugural TCR SPA500. Congratulations to Douglas Khoo, Dominic Ang, Melvin Moh, Farique Hairuman, Nico and all his boys and also Rueben Wong. You have all done us and Malaysian Motorsports proud!

Pekema Academy launched in Cyberjaya

The folks from Pekema (Association of Malaysian Automobile Importers and Traders) has officially launched their latest Pekema Academy. Located at the Wisma Yayasan Pekema in Cyberjaya, Selangor, the special institution provides training for Pekema members, AP holders, and franchise owners across Malaysia. (more…)

Explosions that prevent electric shocks in electric vehicles after accidents

Explosions are normally associated with something negative or bad as they generate a lot of energy which can be damaging. However, there are also some explosions which can save lives – these are tiny explosions which reduce the risk of electric shocks after a vehicle has an accident.

With more and more electric cars on the road, many drivers are increasingly uncertain what they should do or not do in the event of a collision. Electric motors also present rescue crews with new challenges. In fact, like any other vehicle, electric vehicles are equipped with safety features for such events.

Deactivating electrical circuits right away
For example, Bosch semiconductors help prevent the risk of electric shock after an accident. Specially designed microchips deactivate the vehicle’s power circuits in a fraction of a second. This enables rescue crews to set to work immediately and ensures that first responders and the vehicle’s occupants remain safe.

“Our semiconductor technology plays a vital role in the safety of hybrid and electric vehicles,” said Jens Fabrowsky, Member of the executive management of Bosch’s Automotive Electronics division. Bosch supplies vehicle manufacturers with semiconductor chips for incorporation in special systems that safely disconnect the battery in the event of a collision.

“Faced with the growing number of electric vehicles that could potentially be involved in collisions, such systems are absolutely essential if we are to fulfil our mission of helping and rescuing victims of road accidents as rapidly and safely as possible,” added Karl-Heinz Knorr, Vice-President of the German firefighters association.

Higher voltage than home electrical outlets
For a lot of people, damaged cables as the result of an accident are a cause for concern: the current from the battery pack could leak into the metal bodywork of a hybrid or all-electric car. After all, these batteries are designed to deliver a voltage of 400 to 800 volts (the voltage from your home electrical outlet is 240 volts and that’s already dangerous). But they can rest assured because Bosch semiconductor chips ensure that the high-voltage battery is automatically disconnected, so that nobody at the scene of the accident – vehicle occupants, rescue crews, first responders – comes into contact with current-carrying components.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class PHEV — *New models like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Plug-In Hybrid variant have a lot of high-voltage cables and systems which must be shut down to avoid causing harm to rescuers.*

The semiconductor devices are part of a pyrotechnical safety switch system, or pyrofuse. These systems ‘blow out’ whole sections of the cable connection to the high-voltage battery by means of miniature explosive charges, thus quickly and effectively shutting off the power circulation. Bosch semiconductors play a decisive role in these systems. If, for example, the airbag sensor detects an impact, the tiny devices – measuring no more than ten by ten millimetres and weighing just a few grams – trigger the pyrofuse. This sets off little explosions that drive a wedge into the high-voltage cable between the battery unit and the power electronics, disconnecting the two. By cutting off the flow of current this way, the risk of electric shock or fire is eliminated.

Reliability in millions of applications
The CG912 integrated airbag system IC used in the pyrofuse system is an application-specific integrated circuit or ASIC. The specific application in this case is automotive safety. “Our ASICs, which are no bigger than a fingernail and yet populated with millions of transistors, are custom-designed to activate safety functions reliably within a fraction of a second,” Fabrowsky said.

Originally developed by Bosch to trigger the release of airbags, the CG912 has performed reliably millions of times in this application. Modern vehicles contain dozens of ICs to control not only safety features such as airbags and belt tensioners but also cruise control, distance sensors, high-beam assist, lane-keeping support, rain sensors, and driver drowsiness detection. “Nowadays, there is hardly any area of automotive engineering that does not involve the use of microchips,” he noted.

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WEC/Round 2: 1-2 finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in Fuji 6-Hours

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing maintained its perfect record in the 2019-2020 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season with a 1-2 victory on home ground in the 6 Hours of Fuji which just finished this afternoon in Japan. The reigning World Champions won at Fuji Speedway for the seventh time in 8 years, this year with the #8 TS050 HYBRID of Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley earning victory from pole position.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez finished second, leaving both car crews tied on the same points in the lead of the World Championship. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing leads the teams’ standings by 35 points from Rebellion.

Penalties for championship leaders
The new success handicap system was implemented for the first time this weekend, imposing lap time penalties on LMP1 cars based on World Championship position and its effects became clear in the opening laps.

As championship leaders, they incurred the maximum success handicap of 1.4 seconds per lap, while Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley in the #8 TS050 HYBRID were penalised by one second per lap. The success handicaps come in addition to the established Equivalence of Technology, which meant the TS050 HYBRIDs were both up to 108 kgs heavier than their non-hybrid LMP1 rivals, who additionally were allowed to use up to 61% more fuel.

With Sebastien at the wheel, the #8 TS050 HYBRID, which carried a one second per lap handicap, held off a strong challenge from the #5 Ginetta to lead from the start while Kamui in the #7 car, with a 1.4 seconds lap time penalty, had an exciting fight for second.

Kamui lost out to Rebellion #1 through the first corners but, after a Safety Car came out (due to an accident involving GT cars), on 4 consecutive occasions, he overtook at the end of the lap only to be re-passed before Turn one. That was due to the Rebellion’s top speed advantage, a consequence of fuel and hybrid boost restrictions imposed by the success handicap system on the TS050 HYBRID.

Fastest pit work
Once established at the front, both TS050 HYBRIDs steadily stretched their advantage, helped by the fastest pit work in the field, although the #7 was unable to challenge for the lead due to the 0.4 second-per-lap difference in success handicap.

With two hours gone, late in the first stints of Mike and Brendon, light rain started. An hour later, the track surface became too slippery so both cars switched to hybrid intermediate tyres, with Jose and Kazuki taking over their respective TS050 HYBRIDs.

When conditions improved enough for a switch to slick tyres, the #8 car’s lead stood at around a minute but that was reduced to less than 30 seconds with 2 hours remaining when Kazuki was forced to take a drive-through penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit.

Sebastien took over the race-leading #8 for the final 90 minutes with Kamui giving chase in the #7. The gap remained stable as the end approached and Sebastien took the chequered flag in the TS050 HYBRID’s final race in Japan, 33.955 seconds ahead of Kamui. The #1 Rebellion finished two laps behind in third.

The result marked Sebastien’s 16th outright WEC victory, extending his series record, and the fourth time Kazuki has won his home race, while Brendon stood on the top of the podium for the first time as a TOYOTA GAZOO Racing driver.

Following the team’s second 1-2 finish of the season, the success handicap on both cars will be increased for the next race in Shanghai next month, although the lap time penalty will be identical for each car as both TS050 HYBRIDs have the same number of World Championship points.

This weekend’s race marks the final time for the TS050 HYBRID to compete in Japan. Fuji Speedway has a special place in the history of Toyota’s most successful endurance racing car as the location of its first victory, in 2016 when Kamui Kobayashi took a tense victory alongside Mike Conway and Stephane Sarrazin. The car, which has won a total of 14 WEC races since then, remains undefeated at the Fuji Speedway.

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Abarth 695 70th Anniversario special edition comes with a variable spoiler

It’s been 70 years since Carlo Abarth founded Abarth & C., following the collapse of Cisitalia where he worked as a sporting director of the factory racing team. From acquiring the assets of Cisitalia, he was able to build some racing cars and then began the business of producing and selling accessories and performance parts for Fiats, Lancias and other Italian cars. In 1951, his company allied itself with Fiat and Abarth cars began to have a presence on racing tracks.

Abarth & C. was sold to Fiat in 1971 and eventually came to be the Fiat Group’s racing department. It prepared well known rallycars like the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally and 131 Abarth, and was also involved in the development of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 racing car which won the 1980 World Championship for Makes and the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes.

This month, Abarth (now an independent unit in the Fiat Group) celebrates the 70^th anniversary of the original company’s founding with the new Abarth 695 70th Anniversario special edition. Only 1,949 units will be produced, priced at £29,695 (about RM153,300) in the UK.

Manually adjustable rear spoiler
The 70th Anniversario edition is equipped with the new ‘Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile’ for improved grip and stability at high speeds and increases overall performance. The spoiler is manually adjustable, just like in races of old where it was not uncommon to see the pit mechanics make adjustments to allow the driver to change the set-up of the car according to the track. It can be adjusted in 12 different positions between zero and 60 degrees. In the maximum setting, the spoiler increases the aerodynamic load by up to 42 kgs at a speed of 200 km/h, greatly improving vehicle dynamics and stability.

Abarth 695 70th Anniversario special edition — *The manually adjustable rear spoiler at maximum and minimum angles to increase or decrease downforce over the rear end.*

The new ‘Spoiler ad Assetto Variabile’ is a tribute to the founder’s performance focus, which went beyond the quest for pure power, top speed and acceleration, focusing on the search and development of innovative technical solutions. It is precisely this continuous research that made him one of the pioneers and visionaries in the field of tuning.

The new Abarth 695 70th Anniversario was tested in the full-scale wind tunnel located in Orbassano, south of Turin, where Abarth tests all its vehicles. The facility was built in the 1970s and has been continually updated to implement the latest technologies. This is the only wind tunnel in Italy, capable of allowing full-scale testing and high air speeds of up to 210 km/h.

Exclusive features on bodywork
On its bodywork,, the Abarth 695 70th Anniversario features some iconic style cues from the past and present such as the Monza 1958 green livery, a tribute to the colour of the first 500 Abarth that set 6 international records at Monza. Campovolo grey details, an exclusive body kit, mirror caps, scorpion decals on the bonnet and the chequered sticker on the roof complete the look.

The 17-inch SuperSport alloy wheels and red Brembo brake calipers are also standard. The Brembo brakes are fitted with 4-piston aluminium calipers and 305 mm discs at the front and 240 mm discs at the rear, both self-ventilated. The Record Monza exhaust, limited slip differential and Xenon headlights are also standard fitment for every car.

Inside, there are exclusive ‘Sabelt Tricolore’ seats developed specifically for this special edition. Each of the 1,949 units will have a numbered plaque, making the 695 70th Anniversario an authentic collectable.

The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers 180 bhp/250Nm and enables the car to reach a claimed 223 km/h top speed after accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

Chevrolet to include a hardtop convertible in new Corvette Stingray range

The all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe goes into production in late 2019 but before the first units head for showrooms, Chevrolet is already announcing that there will be a Stingray convertible as well. This builds off that heritage as the first hardtop and mid-engine convertible in Corvette history.

Open-air driving has always been a part of the Corvette’s heritage. In fact, when the sportscar debuted in 1953, it was available only as a convertible. “We put the world on notice when we introduced the first mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette a few months ago, and now we’re raising the bar with the first-ever hardtop Corvette convertible,” said Brian Sweeney, Chevrolet US Vice-President. “And the convertible will be priced only US$7,500 more than entry 1LT Stingray coupe.”

First and foremost, a convertible
The mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray was engineered first and foremost as a convertible. The convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the Stingray coupe.

The team engineered the hardtop to stow seamlessly into the body, maintaining the Stingray’s impressive ability to store two sets of golf clubs in the boot even with the top down. The convertible also keeps the coupe’s front storage compartment, which can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag.

The hardtop provides a quieter cabin, increased security and a cleaner look compared to the previous soft-top designs. “Our goal from the beginning was to make sure customers didn’t have to sacrifice any functionality, performance or comfort when choosing the hardtop convertible,” said Josh Holder, Corvette program engineering manager. “We managed to keep the same design theme as the coupe, as well as the exceptional storage capacity and track capability.”

Inspired by jets
Like the coupe, the Stingray convertible’s design was inspired by fighter jets. The tonneau cover features aerodynamically shaped nacelles influenced by the housing used for jet engines. The nacelles, which were also used as inspiration on the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (CERV) I and II, as well as the Corvette SS and SR2 concepts, help reduce air recirculation into the cabin and provide a remarkably exotic profile with the top up or down. The tonneau also provides a rear power-adjustable window and a vent for mid-engine cooling.

The two-piece top can be activated at speeds up to about 50 km/h and retract in as few as 16 seconds. It is powered by 6 electric motors (a Corvette first) and uses encoders for precise control. Switching to electric motors from hydraulic systems helps increase reliability. A body-coloured roof is standard, while Carbon Flash metallic-painted nacelles and roof are optional.

Careful attention was paid to make sure the engine could breathe when stored underneath the tonneau cover. The sheet-molded composite top stows in a compartment made from lightweight composite panels and heat shields to manage heat from the engine.

A divider glass window in the middle of the vehicle can be power adjusted with the top up or down. The glass has been optimized to reduce air recirculation and wind noise in the cabin for improved quietness. The roof system design, combined with the same rear spoiler used on the Stingray coupe’s Z51 Performance Package, results in identical drag between the coupe and convertible with the top up.

Most horsepower and torque for any entry-level Corvette
Like the Stingray coupe, the convertible is powered by the next-generation 6.2-litre Small Block V8 LT2 engine, the only naturally-aspirated V8 in the segment. It will produce 495 bhp/637 Nm when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry-level Corvette.

The LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, said to provide lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, directly connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.

Incidentally, just as Ford decided it was time to offer factory-built righthand drive variants of the latest Mustang generation, Chevrolet has also engineered a righthand drive variant that will be built in the same factory, expanding the reach of one of America’s famous sportscars.

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Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 can help to make driving healthier

Most of us spend a lot of time driving, which means being inside the car for long periods almost every day. As we drive, we go through various conditions which can have an effect on our wellbeing and how we feel. The common conditions would be fatigue and drowsiness, which some cars now have systems to detect by the way the car is being driven. In fact, 10 years ago, Mercedes-Benz introduced the drowsiness warning system ATTENTION ASSIST as a world first. This assistance system can recognise typical signs of fatigue and prompt drowsy drivers to take a break.

10 years ago, Mercedes-Benz introduced ATTENTION ASSIST which detects driver drowsiness and prompts him or her to take a break. To date, some 14 million vehicles have the system and it is now standard in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Now, the carmaker is going further in helping drivers keep track of their condition while driving. With the vívoactive 3 wearable from Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with Garmin and the new ENERGIZING COACH, an integral health feature of the latest generations of CLA and GLE, intelligent comfort is now achievable.

Interior adapted to wearer’s condition
Via the Mercedes me app, the smartwatch app transmits significant vital data of the wearer to the vehicle. From this, an algorithm derives the wearer’s stress level and recommends the appropriate ENERGIZING (Comfort) program while also taking into account further parameters. When the driver accepts the recommendation, the atmosphere in the interior optimally adapts to his needs.

Behind the sporty, dynamic design is an intelligent everyday accessory that makes optimum use of all that the digital age has to offer. The 3-pointed star on the sophisticated touchscreen watch face was designed exclusively with Mercedes-Benz Designers together with Garmin. It serves as an elegant demonstration of the way in which two pioneers in their respective fields have combined their expertise, know-how and sense of stylish design.

Particularly challenging or long and monotonous routes can also strain even those who enjoy driving and are used to spending extended periods at the wheel. And this is where the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 in conjunction with the new ENERGIZING Packages is able to reveal its full potential. The smartwatch links via the Mercedes me App and the iOS smartphone into the vehicle’s telematics system and transmits the pulse rate on the display.

Vital data such as stress level or sleep quality supplement the accuracy of the intelligent algorithm in the backend, which recommends a situational and individually adapted wellness or activation program depending on environmental, vehicle and vital data. Drivers will also have the option to select potentially less stressful routes directly from the navigation system. Some of the conceivable capabilities of the infotainment system can extend to provide stimulating or soothing music to suit the driver’s mood on the road, new-type seat massages, matching climate control, and the ability to manipulate fragrance and suitable ambience lighting within the vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe — *The vívoactive 3 interfaces with the new ENERGIZING COACH, an integral health feature of the latest generation of the CLA.*

Additional functionality
In some countries, the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 also provides a range of features that prove useful also outside of the vehicle. Apart from monitoring personal fitness levels, the smartwatch is, for example, Garmin Pay-ready, thus able to allow contactless payments. Its compatibility with Android and Apple smartphones via the Garmin Connect Mobile app expands its potential uses to many other areas.

Visually speaking, the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 offers a stylish, yet minimalistic and dynamic look. The 43.4 mm round casing in black or white plastic features a bezel and back in high-quality stainless steel. A silicon strap, colour-coordinated to the casing, ensures that the watch sits firmly and comfortably, whatever the activity. The colour display, featuring a touchscreen made out of tough Corning Gorilla glass, can be set to reflect the wearer’s personal style with one of a range of pre-installed watch faces in an exclusive Mercedes-Benz design. Battery life is up to 7 days but if GPS mode is activated, this will diminish to about 13 hours.

REVIEW: Mercedes-Benz A 250 AMG Line – “German Emotion”

Proton/Bank Rakyat offer special financing packages to graduates and government employees

Buying a new car is a better idea than buying a used one. You get not just a brand new car, never driven before but also a warranty to cover defects over a number of years and (depending on the company), free scheduled service which saves you money. But for many, even though the gap has narrowed, it is still not easy for them to commit to taking a H-P (hire-purchase) loan to buy a new car.

Up to 100% financing
To help those who want to own a new Proton, specifically fresh graduates and government employees, Proton and Bank Rakyat are collaborating to offer special financial packages that can provide up to 100% financing. To be eligible for the packages, the applicants must be Malaysians who are new graduates aged between 20 to 30 years, or government employees aged between 18 to 60 years old.

There are two special packages, which run until December 31, 2019: An-Naqlu 1 – which offers 90% financing starting at an attractive rate of 2.88% per annum; and An-Naqlu 2 – which offers 100% financing starting at 3.30% per annum. Models available for these packages are the Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga.

Special service and insurance schemes
“Under this special scheme, Bank Rakyat offers customers easy financing approval, while Proton makes it more attractive with a free service package of up to 2 years, depending on the models that they choose,” said Fazli Hisham Shukor, Director of Corporate Sales at Proton.

Proton service — *Customers will also get free scheduled service for up to 2 years (depending on the model chosen), which helps to save money too.*

On top of this, customers will also benefit from an enhanced insurance package. Designed with Etiqa Takaful and Zurich Takaful, the Proton Insurance Programme provides customers special coverage which includes key care cover, flood relief allowance and also all driver coverage, including a guarantee of zero excess charges for Proton vehicles up to 10 years old.

More information can be obtained at Proton outlets nationwide. Companies interested in fleet programmes can send in their requests to corporatesales@proton.com.

More news and articles about Proton here.

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Recalled Honda vehicles being recalled again

Honda Malaysia is recalling 23,476 units of Honda vehicles to replace the Takata front airbag inflator modules as a preventive measure. According to a statement from the company this evening, these vehicles have been recalled before but the reason for being recalled again is not explained. But whatever the reason, this is a very serious matter so don’t delay in responding to it.

The affected models are shown below:
Models involved in recall for Takata front driver airbag inflator replacement
Civic: 2006 – 2007 & 2009 – 2011
CR-V: 2007 – 2008 & 2010 – 2011
Stream: 2010 & 2012
Insight: 2011 – 2012
City: 2009 – 2013
Jazz: 2012 – 2013

Models involved in recall for Takata front passenger airbag inflator replacement
Accord: 2003 & 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009 & 2011 – 2012
Stream: 2003 – 2005
CR-V: 2002 – 2009
Jazz: 2003 – 2007, 2009 & 2012
City: 2003 – 2009 Civic: 2003 – 2011

2011 Honda Insight — *2011/2012 Honda Insight Hybrid is also on the recall list.*

The company apologises for the inconvenience caused to customers once again. However, it stresses that this replacement is necessary as a precautionary action and urges affected customers to respond as soon as possible.

Honda Malaysia would like to emphasise that all its current selling models are not affected and the company will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls to ensure customer safety. Affected customers will receive notification letters from Honda Malaysia with the details of this recall and stock availability.

Takata stock — *File photo of Takata airbag inflator modules at the Honda Malaysia warehouse.*

The replacement of Takata front airbag inflator stock for these 23,476 units of Honda vehicles will be available in stages and Honda Malaysia is doing its ubest to ensure 100% stock availability in the shortest period of time. The replacement of the defective Takata front airbag inflators is free of charge and all related costs of the replacement will be borne by the company.

More than 249,000 modules replaced in Malaysia
This particular recall phase this year does not significantly change the total number of recalled vehicles as it involves replacement of inflators installed in vehicles previously subject to recall. As at October 1 2019, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 249,000 units of Takata front driver airbag inflator replacements, which translates to 91% completion ratio. The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 537,000 units or 89% completion ratio.

Airbag centres — Honda Malaysia has been the most pro-active company in Malaysia where the Takata airbag inflator module recall has been concerned. It has used many different approached to get owners of affected vehicles to respond, making the process as convenient as possible. Personnel have even visited used car lots to locate affected vehicles and carried out the replacement.

Honda Malaysia appeals to owners of vehicle affected who have yet to have their Takata front airbag inflators replaced to do so urgently as it may deploy with excessive internal pressure when activated. The defective airbag inflator casing might rupture which may result in injury or fatality of the driver and passenger.

If you are not the original owner of the vehicle, Honda might not have your contact details and you may not receive a notification. If you believe that your vehicle is affected, you can check its recall status either by logging on to www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my or by calling Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020. Authorised Honda dealers nationwide can also provide assistance to check.

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Archive

HardKhor Motorsports Report: Malaysian Team Viper Niza Racing wins TCR race ProAm class in Belgium

Pekema Academy launched in Cyberjaya

Explosions that prevent electric shocks in electric vehicles after accidents

WEC/Round 2: 1-2 finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in Fuji 6-Hours

Abarth 695 70th Anniversario special edition comes with a variable spoiler

Chevrolet to include a hardtop convertible in new Corvette Stingray range

Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 can help to make driving healthier

Proton/Bank Rakyat offer special financing packages to graduates and government employees

Recalled Honda vehicles being recalled again

Fuel Prices For October 5 – October 11, 2019

Toyota Expands Hybrid Lineup With The 2025 Crown Signia

Toyota Reveals the 2025 Camry: Hybrid-Only With AWD Option

Honda Malaysia Opens Bookings for 6th Generation All-New CR-V

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Archive

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