With 1.5 million vehicles using PLUS highways each day, interaction between motorists and PLUS personnel is inevitable. As such, the highway concessionaire is reminding highway users that they must strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (KKM). These procedures include wearing of facemasks in public areas and social distancing in areas where there are a lot of people.
This reminder comes in light of the increase of COVID-19 cases in certain states where PLUS highway network operates. Its is especially critical at this time to adhere to the SOPs to prevent further spread of the coronavirus by protecting each other.
Kita Jaga Kita
“We urge our highway customers to please follow the established SOPs set by the government. In the spirit of ‘Kita Jaga Kita’, the onus is on us to take good care of each other every step of the way. Every single PLUS employee, from our CSA, PLUSRonda Officer to Toll supervisors are fully compliant to the SOP’s of facemasking in public and maintaining a safe 1-meter physical distance when interacting with you our customer, we ask the same of you. Please reciprocate by doing the same when we serve you on the highway,” implored Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.
Under the New Normal practices by many organisations that manage premises which are open to public, customers are denied entry/transactions if face masks are not worn. PLUS is also adopting the same. There must also be 1-metre physical distancing when at the R&R areas, lay-bys as well as interacting with PLUS personnel at the toll lanes and toll plazas.
Remember to wear a facemask and stand 1-metre apart when visiting R&R areas along the highways.
SOPs strictly observed at R&R areas
All PLUSRonda personnel are required to wear face masks and practice 1-metre physical distancing when attending to highway emergencies. From compulsory body temperature checks at each R&R and contact tracing via MySejahtera, PLUS prioritises food hygiene as well as the cleanliness at all the R&R premises as well as lay-bys and toll plazas via regular routine cleaning and periodical sanitisation.
Honda has announced that it will not participate in the Formula One World Championship as a power unit supplier after the 2021 season ends. The carmaker, which was the first Japanese manufacturer to participate in Formula 1 in the 1960s and a regular name in the decades that followed, made the decision in order to concentrate corporate resources on research and development of new power units and energy technologies.
Why Honda is stopping
“At this time, Honda made a decision to further accelerate such initiatives and strive for the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050, in order to realize a sustainable society. To this end, our current goal of electrifying two-thirds of our global automobile unit sales in 2030 will become a checkpoint we must pass before we get to the 2050 goal, and therefore we must further accelerate the introduction of our carbon-free technologies,” said Takahiro Hachigo, President, Representative Director and CEO of Honda Motor Co.
“For the future realization of carbon neutrality, as a part of this change, we decided to allocate our energy management and fuel technologies as well as our human resources amassed through F1 activities to research and development of advanced power unit and energy technologies. Under such an enhanced R&D system and capability, Honda will focus on the creation of advanced power unit and energy technologies and the realization of carbon neutrality in the future,” he explained.
Racing is in Honda’s DNA
Declaring that ‘racing is in Honda’s DNA’, Mr. Hachigo said that the company will continue to be passionate about taking on challenges and striving to become No. 1 in all categories of racing in which Honda participates.
“Ever since our founding, Honda has been advancing its technologies, developing its engineers and nurturing its strong passion for victory through challenges we have taken in motorsports,” he said. “We still have 7 more races this season, and we are introducing a new power unit with improved performance for the next season. In order to fulfil expectations our fans place on Honda, we will work together with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to continue competing with our utmost effort and strive for more victories all the way to the end.”
Honda had resumed its involvement in F1 in 2015 after a 9-year absence, but it did not enjoy the sort of great successes as it did in earlier years. In 2019, it scored three wins last season and has had two wins so far in the 2020 season. The victory of Scuderia AlphaTauri at this year’s Italian Grand Prix was the first time a power unit manufacturer had won with two different teams since the start of Formula One’s hybrid era in 2014.
Commenting on the announcement, Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, said: “As a team, we understand how difficult it has been for Honda Motor Company to reach the decision to step back from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season. The shifting focus within the automotive industry has led to Honda’s decision to re-deploy their resources and we understand and respect the reasoning behind this. Their decision presents obvious challenges for us as a team, but we have been here before and with our strength in depth, we are well prepared and equipped to respond effectively, as we have proven in the past.”
“Scuderia AlphaTauri and Honda have built up a very good and professional relationship since we started to cooperate in 2018,” said Team Principal, Franz Tost. “We enjoyed great success together in the last few years, winning a race and finishing on the podium twice, with one second and one third place. It’s unfortunate that Honda has decided to stop their commitment in Formula One, because their Power Unit’s performance has been improving constantly and dramatically to become one of the best engines on the grid in a short period of time, since they returned to the sport.”
Das WeltAuto, Volkswagen’s global used car programme, has started a campaign for Volkswagen owners in Malaysia. The Trade-Up campaign offers Volkswagen owners the opportunity to trade-in their current vehicles with extra support for the purchase of a brand new Volkswagen model.
The campaign is targeted at existing owners of the Touran, Cross Touran, Sharan, Passat CC and Passat B7. With this campaign, owners will receive an additional RM3,000 trade-in support for all models, including the all-new Arteon R-Line, Tiguan Allspace variants (R-Line and Highline), and the Passat Elegance.
The latest Tiguan Allspace which was introduced to the Malaysian market in August this year.
Campaign inspired by response to R-Line
“From all the positive feedback we received, we understood the need to provide our loyal customers with the possibility of upgrading while remaining in the Volkswagen family. With the support of Das WeltAuto, owning a new Volkswagen is even more convenient as all processes are handled and managed at our dealerships. We are confident that this campaign will entice owners of some of our older models to upgrade to our latest products,” said Erik Winter, MD of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), adding that that the campaign has been initiated due to the overwhelming response on the new R-Line range.
Das WeltAuto is available at 8 authorised Volkswagen dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia. All models are accepted for trade-in and will undergo a strict and thorough 133-point check by Volkswagen technicians to determine their condition.
Some of the models available at Das WeltAuto.
Benefits of buying from Das WeltAuto
Customers who purchase a vehicle from Das WeltAuto enjoy a 1-year extended warranty and 1-year roadside assistance and peace of mind as the vehicles are fitted with genuine parts. They are also accident-free and come with complete proof of service at authorized Volkswagen service centres.
Visit Das WeltAuto for more information and to get the location of a nearby Volkswagen dealership.
MYEG, the online service which provides e-government services, is adding new services provided for the JPJ (Road Transport Department) with the introduction of online renewal of Motorcycle Road Tax and Competent Driving License (CDL).
Scheduled to be available from October 9 (October 16 for CDL renewal), these new services will complement other existing JPJ-related services that Malaysian vehicle users have utilised for their transactions.
Insurance renewal also available
Besides easier renewing of motorcycle roadtax and CDL online, registered users will also be able to access an array of related value-added offerings on MYEG’s portal. These include motorcycle insurance renewal and delivery services for the roadtax and CDL right to the doorstep of the user.
As the concessionaire for the Malaysian e-Government services, MYEG has been JPJ’s Service Provider for multiple online services since 2007. It offers services ranging from renewal of Motorcar Road Tax, Summons Checking and Payment, Computerised Drivers’ Theory Testing and Transfer of Vehicle Ownership.
MYEG’s online services have been especially valuable nowadays with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By using online services, the public do not have to visit the JPJ or other government agencies for many transactions, thereby avoiding social closeness that can allow the coronavirus to spread.
Have you renewed you roadtax/driving licence?
Incidentally, if your vehicle’s roadtax or your driving licence have expired since the beginning of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March, you should be aware that the allowance for non-renewal ended on September 30. The government had allowed it in view of the restrictions and to reduce crowding at JPJ offices.
Now that all vehicles and motorists must have valid and renewed roadtax and licences, the police and JPJ enforcement teams are conducting checks at roadblocks. So if you need to do the renewal, you can do so right away by going to the MYEG website to do so.
Like many other carmakers, Kia Motors knows that the future is electric. Tougher regulations in Europe and America and growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China are forcing manufacturers to develop and launch electrically-powered vehicles as quickly as possible.
For Kia Motors, the future direction includes a global EV business strategy that aims to put the brand in a leadership position. To achieve this, Kia will launch a diverse range of dedicated BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and partner with EV charging companies worldwide.
Kia is already selling all-electric models such as the Niro (left) and Soul.
100,000 BEVs already sold
“Kia has sold more than 100,000 BEVs worldwide since the introduction of our first mass-produced BEV in 2011, the Kia Ray EV, ” said Kia President & CEO Ho Sung Song. “Since then, we have started to introduce a range of new BEVs for global markets and announced plans to accelerate this process in the years ahead. By refocusing our business on electrification, we are aiming for BEVs to account for 25% of our total worldwide sales by 2029.”
Under Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy, announced at the start of 2020, the brand plans to expand its BEV line-up to 11 models by 2025. Over the same period, it is aiming for BEVs to account for 20% of the brand’s total vehicle sales in advanced markets such as Korea, North America and Europe.
The first of seven BEVs, code-named ‘CV’, will be revealed in 2021. It will be the brand’s first dedicated BEV, destined for many regions globally.
The Imagine concept by Kia is a proposal for an all-electric future sedan.
Transition to electrification
Kia Motors’ ‘Plan S’ is a mid to long-term future strategy that has a focus on BEVs and mobility solutions. It calls for a company-wide transformation which will see a new design philosophy embracing progress, diversity and a rich composition of contrasting elements.
Kia is innovating its vehicle planning, development and production to actively reflect diverse customer needs from the product planning stage. To respond to market demands, there will be diverse product types, with a range of models suitable for urban centres, long-range journeys, and performance driving. Its new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) will enable engineers to develop vehicles with best-in-class interior spaciousness.
Aftersales services
In addition, Kia Motors plans to expand its global aftersales infrastructure for EVs. In its home country, there will be more dedicated EV work bays at service centres, ricing from 600 in 2020 to 2,000 by 2023. There are plans to develop in-house programs to train EV maintenance professionals.
Kia Motors sees the expansion of electric charging infrastructures as a pre-condition for the popularization of EVs and continues to explore activities worldwide to improve charging accessibility for drivers. In Korea, its business activities will directly lead to the construction of a charging infrastructure.
Worldwide, Kia is setting up more than 2,400 EV chargers in Europe and around 500 in North America, partnering with its dealer networks. It plans to continue to increase its charging infrastructure in line with the growing market for EVs.
The Volvo 240 was the Swedish carmaker’s first model to be a production ‘multi-millionaire’ and it was a major revenue-earner for the company in the 1970s. It was part of the 200 series which sold very well in America, a market that at one point accounted for over 50% of Volvo’s export sales.
Most people remember that 240 as a solid and safe car. However, it was not only in safety that this model gained a reputation as it was also one of the cars which was on the starting line of the age of powerful and efficient turbocharged engines 40 years ago. As the 245, It was also the first stationwagon with a turbocharged petrol engine.
Volvo’s engineers used their expertise with turbocharged engines, which was accumulated from 1954 when the brand’s L395 Titan truck went into mass production. Today, modular turbocharging forms the basis for all Volvo Drive-E engines in order to generate different power levels with the same cubic capacity.
The Volvo Turbo
40 years ago, there were some sportscars with turbocharged engines and such engines were also used in Formula 1 cars. But the 240 with a turbocharged petrol engine marked the beginning of a new era with the Volvo B21ET 4-cylinder petrol engine. It had a turbine that could spin at 110,000 rpm and produced up to 155 bhp from a displacement of 2.1 litres.
While a higher output usually meant higher fuel consumption, the 4-cylinder engine consumed less fuel than the bigger V6 engine in the 264. Performance-wise, a 0 to 100 km/h time of just under 9 seconds put the 245 Stationwagon briefly in pole position among the world’s fastest stationwagons.
In the USA, Volvo advertising even compared ‘The Turbo By Volvo’ with Italian supercars. What was important to Volvo was the acceleration and not the maximum speed. After all, the speed limit on US highways during that period was 55 mph (88 km/h) due to the energy crisis so Volvo did not highlight any top speed capability in its advertisements.
Advertisements for the 240 Turbo in America in the late 1970s.
Innovative technology
With around 2.7 million units sold in almost 20 years of production, the 240, introduced in 1974, became an icon of Volvo cars. Its design gave the car a recognisable identity with the massive safety bumpers.
The 240 Turbo made its debut in 1977 and the 3-year lapse was because the engine was subjected to a stress test in everyday work by Swedish police authorities. The result was so convincing that the later production version of the 240 Turbo was used by police authorities in many countries. Even Pehr Gyllenhammar, then CEO and President of Volvo, personally tested the model with its higher performance before approving start of production.
The mode of operation of the somewhat small turbocharger (for that time) was revolutionary. Because it was already boosting the charge at 1,400 rpm (just above idling speed) the turbo in the B21ET engine reached maximum boost at a low 2,600 rpm, then the wastegate valve opened at a pressure of 0.72 bar.
The idea of downsizing engines in favour of maximized efficiency was also accelerated by the 240 Turbo. There was a 1.9-litre turbo 4-cylinder unit (B19ET) available for certain markets where a capacity below 2 litres was advantageous tax-wise.
Engine construction with racing expertise
Motorsport often drives technical developments and Volvo developed a R-Sport turbo kit for those who wanted to participate in the one-make series Volvo Turbo Cup in 1982. In the same year, the FIA introduced new regulations that made it possible for the car to be entered in the Group A touring car categories.
The specially developed 240 Turbo Evolution, produced in the required 500 units, had a larger turbocharger, a modified engine control system and water injection, an invention patented by Volvo. At the opening race of the new German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in 1984, the 330 ps racing car that became famous as ‘The Flying Brick’ took overall victory. A year later, a 240 Turbo dominated the racing series in Europe and not only secured the title in the DTM, but also in the European Touring Car Championship.
New milestones in Volvo Turbo engine development followed. The 760, launched in 1982, made its debut as the world’s most dynamic 6-cylinder turbodiesel, and the 480 which appeared 3 years later combined front-wheel drive with turbocharging.
Then came the 850 in the early 1990s and this combined 4-wheel drive with high-torque turbo power, while the 1.6-litre GTDi engines which were introduced in 2010 in the S60/V60 offered direct injection with turbocharging.
480 Turbo
Future-oriented advantages
With all current Volvo Drive powertrains, modular charging offers different power levels with the same displacement, because the compact design of the highly efficient Volvo motors allows the installation of one or more turbochargers. The fully integrated turbo system developed by Volvo is a globally unique innovation and has been patented by the company.
Many of today’s electric vehicles (EVs) have a battery pack that can store a considerable amount of energy. The energy is used to power the electric motors that move the vehicle, but the battery packs can also be used as mobile power supply units in areas that have experienced natural disasters.
Nissan is exploring such an idea with the RE-LEAF, a working prototype based on its current LEAF EV. The RE-LEAF can be driven into a disaster zone and provide a fully mobile power supply for machinery or other equipment on-site used by rescue teams.
Electricity for all kinds of devices
Alongside modifications to navigate roads damaged or covered in debris, the RE-LEAF has weatherproof plug sockets mounted directly to the exterior of the vehicle. These can be connected to 110V to 230V devices which can be supplied electricity from the car’s high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack.
The integrated energy management system can run medical, communications, lighting, heating and other life-support equipment.
“We’re constantly exploring ways that electric vehicles can enrich our lives, beyond just zero-emission transportation,” said Helen Perry, Head of Electric Passenger Cars and Infrastructure for Nissan in Europe. “Concepts like the RE-LEAF show the possible application of EVs in disaster management and demonstrate that smarter, cleaner technology can help save lives and provide greater resilience.”
Real-world applications
Nissan developed the RE-LEAF to demonstrate the potential of electric vehicles in disaster recovery. Although it’s just a working concept, the technology is already being used in the real world. In Japan, Nissan has used the LEAF to provide emergency power and transportation following natural disasters since 2011, and the company has formed partnerships with more than 60 local governments to support disaster relief efforts.
Natural disasters are the biggest cause of power outages. A 2019 World Bank report found natural shocks and climate change caused 37% of outages in Europe between 2000 and 2017, and 44% of outages in the U.S. over the same period.
When a disaster hits, the time for electricity supply to be restored is typically 24 to 48 hours, depending on the severity of the damage. During that period, EVs can provide zero-emission mobile emergency power.
Portable power station
Acting as a portable power station, the latest LEAF e+ model with a fully charged 62 kWh battery pack can provide enough electricity to power the average European household for 6 days. As a disaster recovery vehicle, it can power multiple devices simultaneously for a period of up to 24 hours.
Some examples which use 230V power are an electric jackhammer, pressure ventilation fan, 10-litre soup kettle, intensive care medical ventilator, and 100W LED floodlight.
Once electricity is restored to the area, the EVs can then be recharged and provide zero-emission transport – up to 385 kms for the LEAF e+.
Nissan EVs can also act as mobile storage batteries to supply homes and society with electricity during non-emergency situations through Nissan Energy Share, creating a distributable energy model that can be used to help stabilize supply and demand.
“Electric vehicles are emerging as one of the technologies that can improve resilience in the power sector,” Perry said. “By having thousands of EVs available on standby, either as disaster support vehicles or plugged into the network through Vehicle-to-Grid, they’re uniquely capable of creating a virtual power plant to maintain a supply of energy.”
The latest Nissan LEAF EV is available in Malaysia. For more information, visit www.nissan.com.my.
The FIA (the international motorsport governing body) has made a breakthrough in motorsport safety through the use of computer simulation to study accident cases known to cause spinal injuries that are commonly reported in Cross-Country competition.
Following a number of cases of spinal injury during a heavy impact or landing that were reported by Cross-Country competitors, the FIA Safety Department conducted extensive research to identify the most significant factors that contribute to the risk of this type of injury. The research project was supported by funding from the FIA Foundation.
Simulations with THUMS
Using a virtual model of the cockpit environment and the Total Human Model for Safety (THUMS) to represent the driver and co-driver, the researchers simulated hundreds of crash cases to examine how the position and restraint of the competitors translated into loading of the spine.
The THUMS model, which was developed by Toyota Motor Corporation, who work in partnership with the FIA, offers a virtual representation of the human body. This is made up of almost 2 million elements, which accurately reproduce the human form, from rigid bone structures to soft tissues and organs.
Real-world case studies
To validate the results of the simulation, the research relied on correlation with real-world cases where the injuries were documented, including an accident during a Cross-Country rally in Qatar in 2018 in which the co-driver suffered vertebra fractures. Significantly, the driver of that car suffered no injuries, which demonstrated to researchers that if the key differences between the driver and co-driver can be quantified, this knowledge could be applied by all competitors to prevent injuries in similar cases.
The results provided by the THUMS model highlighted that rotating the competitor’s seat to a more upright position equated to a 22% reduction in the forces that translate into a fracture of the spine during a heavy landing.
Safety harness installation important
The FIA’s research concluded that the installation of the safety harness is a key factor in mitigating spinal injury during a heavy landing or impact. Changing the angle of the lap strap on the safety harness between the anchorage point behind the seat and the buckle resulted in an 8% reduction in the potential for a spinal fracture in the event of a heavy landing.
The study also found that a heavy landing with a tight safety harness reduced the load on the spine by around 6%, meaning that it is important competitors always make sure their safety harness is properly tightened during the entire event. It was also found that a 10-kg lower mass of the driver or co-driver led to an 8% reduction in the load on the spine.
Adam Baker, FIA Safety Director, said: “Simulation using the THUMS model has enabled us to study a wide range of Cross-Country accident cases in fine detail, improving our understanding of the key factors that contribute to spinal fractures in Cross-Country competition. We would like all competitors and teams to benefit from the results of this research, as even minor changes in the cockpit can prevent injury.”
Since being introduced in Malaysia in 2018, the MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports has been among the more popular variants in the MINI range sold locally. In fact, it accounted for 75% of total MINI deliveries in 2019.
For buyers who want something extra and different with their Countryman Sports and for these customers, MINI Malaysia now offered two limited-edition models. These are the Countryman Sports with Blackline Package and the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof.
The Countryman Sports with Blackline Package has a sportier and more stylistic appearance, featuring previously chromed elements such as the front grille and MINI emblems now in the elegant Piano Black offering.
Available in British Racing Green or Light White, both of which come with Black roofs, only 38 units will be available for the whole of Malaysia.
The Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof lets the sky in during motoring, enhancing the sense of freedom.
MINI TwinPower Turbo
Both cars are powered by the same 2-litre MINI TwinPower Turbo engine which generates 192 ps/280Nm. This output reaches the front wheels through a 7-speed Dual Clutch Sports automatic transmission. Pedal to the floor, the 0 to 100 km/h time can be done in a claimed 7.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 225 km/h.
To improve fuel economy, there’s an engine start/stop function which activates when the car is going to idle for a while. It can automatically restart when it’s time to move off. Additionally, the coasting function in both the MID and GREEN driving modes also helps reduce fuel consumption as the drivetrain is decoupled upon deceleration.
Interior design language
The interior design language employs black as the dominant theme. Besides the Anthracite headliner, there are the Sport Seats upholstered in Cross Punch leather in Carbon Black. A touch of sophistication is offered via the new John Cooper Works Interior Surface in Piano Black.
For those who want high-quality music reproduction, the Countryman Sports comes with a Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System that has no less than 12 high-performance speakers. Enhancement comes from the 360W DSP Amplifier and Class-D technology.
The car also has a built-in 4G SIM card and owners can also connect their iPhone wirelessly and use the MINI Visual Boost to access numerous features on the phone with Apple CarPlay. Wireless Charging is also available for compatible smartphones.
The Countryman is the biggest MINI ever offered which mean it has more space within. The volume of cargo space is generous and with folding rear seats, it can be expanded as needed.
An 8.8-inch MINI Navigation System comes standard to provide route guidance. And with the latest MINI Connected, there is access to a wide range of digital services such as the Intelligent Emergency Call, MINI TeleServices and Remote Services.
What else an owner gets
As with other MINIs sold in Malaysia, there’s a 5-year Roadside Assistance programme with a comprehensive list of services. These include a 24-Hour, 365-days-a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services and when needed (over 200 kms from residential home), Replacement Vehicle, Seamless Mobility, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions as well as Repatriation services.
The Countryman Sports with Blackline Package is priced at RM243.280.38 while the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof is RM247,280.38 (both prices with Sales Tax exemption till the end of 2020 but without insurance).
For those who requiring financing for their purchase, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia offers schemes starting from RM2,778.00 per month, based on estimates of 80% loan on a 5-year tenure (terms and conditions apply).
