During the Movement Control Period (MCO), virtually all business activities were suspended in Malaysia and for motorists, things like roadtax renewal or transfers of vehicle ownership could not be done as the JPJ (Road Transport Department) was closed.
However, for vehicles that had expired roadtax during the MCP period, the government said that there will be no penalty and the owner could continue using the vehicles on public roads (the same applied to expired driving licences). But insurance coverage is needed at all times.
With the Recovery MCO implemented, the Transport Ministry is telling motorists that they need to renew their expired driving licences, roadtax and insurance as quickly as possible. JPJ records show that over 2 million vehicles registered in Malaysian have expired roadtaxes so there is going to be ‘congestion’ as owners apply for renewals.
To help address this as well as an alarming number of uninsured vehicles on the road, Zurich General Insurance Malaysia Berhad is collaborating with Finology Sdn Bhd and their affiliate partner PayLink Global (M) Sdn Bhd (Payquik) to provide roadtax renewal services and motor insurance purchase via Payquik’s network of kiosks which are the first of its kind in Malaysia.
Through this strategic collaboration, motorists will be able to review their roadtax or purchase motor insurance coverage easily for cars and motorcycles. There are approximately 250 Payquik kiosks available nationwide, located primarily in the offices of utility companies, shopping malls and government buildings so Malaysians can access them while running errands such as paying bills or grocery shopping.
Junior Cho, Zurich General Insurance’s CEO, said: “We are constantly seeking fresh solutions that would meet the market’s evolving needs. Modern lifestyles have fueled the growing demand for convenience and ease of purchasing goods and services. As economic activities resume, we understand the importance of roadtax renewal, as well as motor insurance so Malaysians can commute to work with peace of mind as the renewal exemption period ends. This three-way collaboration with Finology and Payquik will provide wider access for drivers as well as riders to obtain the service and protection they need in a fast and easy manner.”
According to the 2018 statistics from JPJ, there are about 29 million registered vehicles in Malaysia. Out of this, only 19 million vehicles have their roadtax renewed every year and about 95% of those with expired roadtax are motorcycles.
”One might ask why a service kiosk is necessary if people have the option of paying online now. The reality is that there are still customers who prefer to pay with cash or who do not own a credit card. This means that these people do not have sufficient access to the necessary financial services online,” explained Jared Lim, MD of Finology. “Enabling motor insurance purchasing and road tax renewal through kiosks is a great alternative to paying online or over the counter. Plus, these kiosks are available 24 hours, allowing customers to make purchase or renewal at their convenience.”
The latest collaboration is a joint effort to promote financial inclusion and offer Malaysians comprehensive coverage while on the road. In 2019, Zurich and Finology collaborated to offer customers end-to-end online insurance quotation and purchase services via Finology’s platform.
Earlier in the year, the 2020 Honda Civic was launched (along with the 2020 Accord) but as it came out about 20 days before the government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) that suspended all business operations in the country, sales were limited. Nevertheless, according to Honda Malaysia, over 2,900 units have already been delivered nationwide, with more than 6,500 booking received up till the end of June.
Today, it has been announced that the Civic – the leader in the C-segment and Honda’s third bestselling model in Malaysia – has been upgraded with Next Generation Advanced Technology. The top variant now has Honda SENSING as well as Honda LaneWatch.
First introduced in the CR-V (in Malaysia), Honda SENSING is an integrated suite of 8 active safety systems that help the driver to avoid accidents. The systems use cameras and radar to monitor the presence of other vehicles ahead and prevent collisions, as well as lane markings to alert the driver if the car is moving out of the lane (or even off the road).
LaneWatch is a very useful feature that provides the driver with a view along the blind spot on the left side of the car. It uses a small camera in the door mirror on the left side (pictured above left) and the real-time image is displayed on the screen on the dashboard (above right), coming on whenever the left signal is activated.
The advantage of having LaneWatch is that the driver’s head does not need to turn so much, compared to turning considerably to look at the left mirror. The head needs to just turn a bit to see the display screen which is in the middle of the dashboard. Guidelines embedded in the image provide reference points to indicate the distance of another vehicle or motorcyclist.
There are different wheel diameters and designs for each of the three variants.
All variants are equipped with standard safety features such as 6 airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, Agile Handle Assist , Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, ABS, Brake Assist, Auto Brake Hold, ISOFIX points in the rear seat. The parking sensors in the front bumper are also said to be new.
The Civic continues to be available with a 173 ps/220 Nm DOHC VTEC 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as well as a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine (141 ps/174 Nm). Both engines are paired with a CVT and can bring the car up to a claimed top speed of 200 km/h.
“The New Civic now sets an even higher benchmark in the C-segment, offering a complete technologically advanced sedan that continues to be well-received by young adults, young urban families, professionals and tech-savvy individuals. With the PENJANA initiative [exempting sales tax], this model now receives a substantial reduction, giving customers more reason to own the New Civic,” said Toichi Ishiyama, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO.
Unlike the Japanese market, where demand for the Civic has been so low that the company has withdrawn it from the domestic range, the model has been consistently popular in Malaysia. With high demand, there is a waiting period which the company says is presently one month.
You can add Modulo accessories designed for the Civic to have sportier looks.
The White Orchid Pearl colour (which incurs extra cost) appears to be the favourite among customers, representing 42% of the overall sales for the latest Civic. So if you want your car faster, maybe you should choose from the other four colours, or tell the sales representative that you’ll take whatever colour is readily available.
The new Civic is available in three variants, with the 1.5-litre engine powering two of them. Prices without insurance range from RM109,326.51 to RM134,661.28 and the reduced prices will be available until December 31, 2020. More information and the locations of showrooms for viewing and test-drives can be found at www.honda.com.my.
Two years ago, Suzuki and Toyota agreed to work together on joint projects for technological development, vehicle Production, and market development. Apart from the mutual supply of vehicles for the Indian market, where Suzuki has a strong presence, the two companies have also worked on sharing models.
For Toyota, it would mean a higher volume for a model and help push production costs down while for Suzuki, it would mean having a new model without the high cost of developing it. A win-win situation.
The first model to be shared is Toyota’s latest RAV4 which has been supplied to Suzuki and sold as the ACROSS. While the ‘double octagonal’ RAV4 design is evident, Suzuki’s stylists have given their SUV a different frontal look from Toyota’s model. Under the front bumper is silver garnish that underlines the off-road image of the vehicle.
The front end of the Suzuki has a different look from the Toyota RAV4 (below).
For European market
Intended for sale in the European market from the third quarter of 2020, the ACROSS has also uses the same Plug-in Hybrid system as that for the RAV4. The powertrain consists of a front electric motor producing 134 kW/270 Nm and a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine, both of which are Toyota items.
Suzuki is offering the ACROSS only as a PHEV for sale in Europe which has tough emission regulations that a hybrid powertrain can meet more easily.
Electricity storage is in an 18.1 kWh (50.9 Ah) high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack mounted beneath the floor. The engine functions as a charger for the battery pack and provides power assistance to the electric motor during high-speed driving if required.
The hybrid powertrain helps Suzuki to meet the tougher carbon dioxide emission regulations as well as offer high fuel efficiency.
Electronic 4×4 system
The Across also has Toyota’s E-Four electronic 4×4 system for additional capability in off-road or slippery conditions. The system uses an independent 40 kW rear motor that works in conjunction with the front motor to provide front:rear torque variation ranging from 100:00 to 20:80.
Benefits of this system include enhanced stability during take-off on slippery surfaces such as snow-covered roads, and more stable handling when cornering on varying road surfaces. A ‘Trail Mode’ uses an automatic limited-slip differential control to ensure the best possible grip and control on slippery surfaces.
Central to the E-Four system is the highly sophisticated AWD Integrated Management (AIM), which controls not only drive force distribution, but also engine throttle control, transmission shift scheduling, Electric Power Steering assistance and braking, according to the driving conditions.
Same interior as RAV4
The interior environment is pretty much similar to the RAV4’s and not surprisingly shares the same high-quality materials with soft padding on the dashboard and door trims.
While cabin space is designed for the comfort of occupants in both the first and second rows, cargo space has been maximised in the spacious rear compartment. It has a 490-litre volume with the rear backrests up and up to 1,604 litres with both backrests folded down.
Advanced safety/technology features
To meet the demanding safety expectation of consumers in Europe, the ACROSS comes with a package of safety systems to help the driver. These include a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Tracing Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Crossing Traffic Alert.
If the systems sound familiar, they are the same as what it found on the RAV4, which again saves Suzuki money as they do not have to incur development costs to make their own safety systems.
In Europe, new vehicles are also required to have eCall, a feature which automatically alerts emergency services with a phone message when the vehicle is involved in a traffic accident. The message includes the precise location of the vehicle, helping the emergency services to reach it faster.
The practice of one manufacturer making and supplying models to another is not new and has been going on for quite some time. In fact, it is quite common in Japan. With the market becoming more and more challenging and competitive, it only makes sense to share models and reduce cost. Each brand will have its own loyal base of customers who will be happy to have an extra choice, even if it is not made by the company.
The government’s move to exempt the 10% sales tax on new locally-assembled vehicles is aimed at helping the auto industry to recover after the many weeks of being forced to suspend operations. Hopefully, it will encourage people to buy at a time when many are concerned about the future.
The move seems to be working as most companies have reported seeing more orders coming in. No. 1 brand Perodua has reported a sales volume of around 21,250 vehicles for the month of June. That’s the highest figure it has registered so far in 2020 and nearly triple of the May volume (although showrooms were open only after the middle of the month). Its total volume after the first 6 months of 2020 is in the region of 74,000 units; in the same month a year ago, the volume was 121,782 units.
Note: June sales volume is approximate, pending release of data by the Malaysian Automotive Association.File photo of a Perodua showroom
Of course, Perodua has usually been slightly behind the supply curve – not necessarily a bad thing – as it has had a backlog of orders due to the popularity of its models. The suspension of business for many weeks would have reduced the backlog somewhat although new demand should fill the order books again before long.
Perodua managed to deliver 8,601 vehicles in March before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into effect on the 18th day, halting the carmaker’s nationwide operations for two months. The carmaker officially restarted nationwide on May 19 and delivered 7,886 vehicles before the month ended.
“The government’s sales tax exemption move has had many benefits. Buyers can enjoy reduced vehicle prices – in Perodua’s case, 3%-6% less – until the end of 2020,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
On the aftersales side, operating hours have also been extended (at selected service centres). “Customers looking to service their vehicles are invited to secure an appointment with their service centre of choice,” said Dato’ Zainal.
As always, Perodua does not forget the need to help suppliers who were impacted by the MCO. According to Dato’ Zainal, the company purchased nearly RM500 million worth of local components in June alone. “The sizeable volume increase we’ve had as a result of the increased sales allows us to help the supplier and dealer ecosystem in this time of need,” he said.
“We reiterate our commitment to the government, as Malaysia’s biggest carmaker by volume, to help the industry and ecosystem wherever we can, including sustaining employment, so that we can all get through this difficult time,” he added.
Launched in 2016, Volkswagen’s most popular model – the Tiguan SUV – has been updated and refreshed for 2020. The new model, launched today, is electrifed, digitalised and networked. It gets a new plug-in hybrid drive but the big news is that the SUV line will now also include a Tiguan R variant for the very first time.
At this time, full technical data on the Tiguan R is limited. But it is known that under the bonnet will be a turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine tuned to deliver about 318 ps/420Nm. The power will flow through a 7-speed DSG and a new all-wheel drive with selective wheel torque control for this new high-performance variant.
It also has R-Performance Torque Vectoring which is said to enable totally new SUV driving dynamics by distributing the drive power variably between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels.
New face with visual links
Design-wise, the Tiguan gets a new ‘face’, with the radiator grille having visual links to the larger Touareg and US-market Atlas Cross Sport. The bonnet is more concise in its appearance and the new radiator grille with LED headlights is wider, with the new Volkswagen badge positioned centrally at the front.
The bumpers have also undergone a makeover. At the rear, the Tiguan lettering is now in a prominent central position below the VW badge. As would be expected, the Tiguan R is 10 mm lower than other Tiguans, with 21-inch Estoril wheels at each corner.
Inside the new Tiguan
The new steering wheel generation features touch controls and the interior designers have also digitalised the climate control functions by means of touch sliders and touch buttons. Also coming in the new Tiguan is a third-generation modular infotainment matrix (MIB3) that extends the online connectivity for the SUV. The optional 480W sound system comes from Harman Kardon.
Assisted Driving up to 210 km/h
Volkswagen is steadily moving towards autonomous motoring and those who use the Tiguan will be able to experience it with the new Travel Assist system. It is capable of providing assisted driving at speed up to 210 km/h. The system relies on systems including Adaptive Cruise Control (longitudinal guidance) and Lane Assist/lane keeping (latitudinal guidance).
For legal and safety-relevant reasons, drivers must permanently monitor the system – for this purpose, they must have at least one hand on the steering wheel. Thanks to new capacitive sensor technology in the steering wheel, it is sufficient if drivers merely touch it. However, if they let go of the steering wheel for more than 15 seconds, visual and audible warning signals and a braking jolt are issued and implemented. The driver must react by this point at the latest and touch the steering wheel, otherwise Emergency Assist is activated and the vehicle is brought to a stop.
The new Tiguan will be available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain as part of Volkswagen’s electrification strategy.
As the Tiguan is assembled in Malaysia, it can be expected that this updated one will eventually be in local showrooms – although the R variant is unlikely to be a regular offering.
Visit www.volkswagen.com.my to know more about models available in Malaysia and the latest promotions.
Over the past few years, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has been transferring its own branch outlets to dealers and other interested parties to take over retail operations. The move, as explained in October 2017, has been to enhance operation excellence.
UMWT would increase intensity on high value-added upstream activities such as product development, marketing and dealer network support, while the dealerships would have greater focus on customer-related activities.
The Malaysian car industry has been dominated by distributor-owned outlets for decade, somewhat different from other markets where dealerships are more independent. This new move departs from that business model and has been ongoing for UMWT.
The 3S outlet at Section 19 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, is now operated by Laser Motor instead of UMWT.
Two more of its branch outlets in the Klang Valley have been transferred to dealers with effect from today. The dealers are established companies with a long association with Toyota and UMWT. They are Laser Motor which takes over the Section 19 outlet in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and Fokus Sentral which takes over the outlet in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
“It is essential for UMWT to continue achieving high customer satisfaction standards,” said Ravindran Kurusamy, President of UMW Toyota Motor. “I am extremely excited about working even more closely with our dealers to realise a shared vision for UMWT, which is to promise the concept of ‘Best In Town’, meaning more focused one to one customer engagement. Although this arrangement signifies an important change for UMWT, our customers should rest assured that our service will not be compromised, but get even better in the future.”
For customers, the transition won’t make any difference and it will be ‘business as usual’.
For UMWT’s significant customer base of Toyota owners, the change should have no effect – apart from the promise that things will be even better in coming years. In other words, it’s ‘business as usual’. The transition is seamless but allows for a strong entrepreneurial spirit to create more value that benefits the local economy. As businessmen, the dealers want to succeed and build their business so they will give their best efforts, which is of course good for Toyota owners.
When Formula One returns to racing this weekend in Austria, it will do so in a world that has changed profoundly since the teams last gathered in Melbourne in early March for what was to have been the opening round of the 2020 championship (it was cancelled).
The COVID-19 pandemic and various tough actions taken by almost all countries saw movements restricted, and all motorsports were suspended. While that impacted racing teams, the manufacturers they represent as well as the sponsors greatly, there has also been another development which has become an almost global social issue.
Discrimination is not acceptable
In the past five weeks, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has shone a searching light on how much we need new measures and actions in the fight against racism. In sports especially, discrimination of any form is not acceptable. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has spent the past weeks listening to the perspectives of its team members, to learn and to reflect on the team as it is today and how they want it to be in the future.
“It’s so important that we seize this moment and use it to educate ourselves whether you are an individual, brand or company to make real meaningful changes when it comes to ensuring equality and inclusivity. I have personally experienced racism in my life and seen my family and friends experience racism, and I am speaking from the heart when I appeal for change,” said Lewis Hamilton, who is the first and still the only black driver in F1. “When I spoke to Toto [Wolff] about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was so important that we stand united.”
Lewis Hamilton is the first and still the only black driver in F1. He says he has personally experienced racism so this initiative by his team matters a lot to him personally.
Looking inwards at itself, the team could see that there is a lack of diversity: just 3% of its workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups and only 12% are women. “ This lack of diversity shows that we need to find new approaches to attract talent from many areas of society we do not currently reach. We know that our team will be stronger if we can attract talents from the broadest possible pool and we are committed to achieving this through positive action,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
For the 2020 season, the team has therefore chosen to race in an all-black base livery as a public pledge to improve the diversity of the team. It is a clear statement of the team’s stand against racism and all forms of discrimination. The call to ‘End Racism’ will feature on the halo of both cars, and the united F1 initiative #WeRaceAsOne will be featured on the mirrors of the W11 racing car.
The racing cars will be predominantly in black, a change from the light colour sheme they started off with at the beginning of the year (below).
Diversity and Inclusion programme
“Before the end of this season, we will announce a Diversity and Inclusion programme that will include but not be limited to: continuing to listen to and raise the awareness of our team members; forensic analysis of our recruitment and development processes; collaboration with the sport’s key stakeholders to improve accessibility to our sport; and targeted education initiatives to encourage and support talented people from under-represented backgrounds who aspire to reach F1,” Wolff explained.
“We know that it will take time to build the right strategy, and consistent effort and investment year on year, and decade on decade, to make a measurable difference; our commitment to doing this is irreversible,” he declared.
At the highest levels of Daimler AG, which funds the team, there is also full support for its actions being taken. Markus Schaefer, Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG, Responsible for Group Research and Non-Executive Chairman of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team said: “In recent weeks, events around the world have reinforced the importance of continuing to fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. At Mercedes, we know that the strength of our organisation lies in the diversity of our people, and we are proud to be able to use one of our most prominent global platforms to signal our commitment to this fundamental principle of our society and our business.”
Just 3% of the team’s workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups and only 12% are women. That’s going to change.
Speaking up for respect and equality
Expanding on the subject, Wolff said: “Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, our sport or our team: this is a core belief at Mercedes. But having the right beliefs and the right mindset isn’t enough if we remain silent. We wish to use our voice and our global platform to speak up for respect and equality, and the Silver Arrow will race in black for the entire 2020 season to show our commitment to greater diversity within our team and our sport.”
“We will not shy away from our weaknesses in this area, nor from the progress we must still make; our livery is our public pledge to take positive action. We intend to find and attract the very best talents from the broadest possible range of backgrounds, and to create credible pathways for them to reach our sport, in order to build a stronger and more diverse team in the future. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank our parent company Mercedes-Benz and our family of team partners who have supported and encouraged this initiative,” he said.
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, which is based in England, will strive to have more diversity in its workforce.
Drivers will use their high profile
At the heart of the team’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination are its high-profile drivers, and most prominently 6-time world champion Hamilton. He recently announced the formation of the Hamilton Commission, a research partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering dedicated to exploring how motorsport can be used to engage more young people from black backgrounds with STEM subjects and ultimately employ them at Mercedes teams or in other engineering sectors. He and his partner, Valtteri Bottas, will race in black overalls for the 2020 season, with helmet designs adapted as well.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Toto and the Mercedes Board for taking the time to listen, to talk, and to really understand my experiences and passion, and for making this important statement that we are willing to change and improve as a business. We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport, and if we can be the leaders and can start building more diversity within our own business, it will send such a strong message and give others the confidence to begin a dialogue about how they can implement change,” he said.
It seems that during the ‘downtime’ when movements were restricted in Malaysia and many other countries, the people at Waze spent the time updating and improving the popular app. Now that people are back on the roads motoring and commuting, they have a new version with a refreshed brand identity and new features.
According to Waze, the latest brand refresh ‘reinforces inclusivity and connection into every journey on the road, empowering each user to share how they are feeling with the Waze community’.
Waze was founded on the simple idea that by working together, the community could help make motoring better. When a Wazer hits a pothole and reports it, or when one of Waze’s volunteer Map Editors adds toll prices to the map, the shared community of drivers all benefit – encouraging more people to participate and help make the road a less lonely place.
For example, in Malaysia, the community of Map Editor volunteers is helping to collect and input toll price information on Waze – enabling users to view and compare the prices while driving along tolled routes.
Moods feature evolved
The Moods feature has been evolved, providing more clarity and hilarity than ever. Whether it’s Happy, Wild , Zombified, or anything in-between, there’s a Mood for everyone to express how they feel in traffic, in all the different moments on their journey, and make people smile, even when there might not be much to smile about. The evolved feature is said to enable better self-expression.
Beyond Moods, a new bold colour palette reflects the joy and uniqueness of users, with a new visual language based on roads and maps. This will be seen in multiple places, including the Waze website, emails, and social channels.
Enhanced graphics
‘Block by block’ is a graphic system inspired by maps and city streets. It uses an assortment of simple, geometric shapes to provide bold, branded graphics, divide compositions, and organize information. And much like Waze itself, it does all of that while creating some playful pit-stops along the way.
“Waze is home to the world’s largest community of drivers, and we’ve always used the power of our people to transform the road into a happier, more humane place,” said Jake Shaw, Waze Head of Creative. “This brand refresh encapsulates that unique Waze experience visually, with a new grid format based on our map, new Moods to capture the infinite array of emotions we all feel while driving and a lively colour palette that celebrates the joy that we always try to bring to the road, and the magic of our community and the way we work together for better.”
“As a crowdsourced app, Waze is incredibly vibrant and dynamic,“ added Kelvin Sim, Country Lead of Waze Malaysia “We wanted to build a strong, flexible visual identity that would support the brand and its users while allowing them to authentically express themselves and have fun. Waze is about working together to make the smoothest drive possible, but also observing and sharing the world around you.”
Online shopping has been growing in popularity over the past few years and with the COVID-19 pandemic, its growth has accelerated. These days, you can get almost anything online and now, the list includes Toyota vehicles.
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has opened online stores at two of Malaysia’s e-commerce platforms – Lazada and Shopee – to reach further. Being online, the Toyota Malaysia Flagship Stores are open 24/7 so they can be visited at any time of the day, making it convenient for shoppers.
“As online shopping is now part of daily life, UMW Toyota Motor is also establishing a presence on the popular ecommerce platforms of Lazada Malaysia and Shopee with the Toyota Flagship Stores. We want to make it as easy as possible for customers to buy Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, especially if they are looking for great money-saving deals. This follows the earlier introduction of the Toyota Online Showroom which was very well received,” said Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Online-only special deals
From time to time, car-buyers will find special deals on selected Toyota models, with booking fees as low as RM250. And just like purchasing other goods online, payment can be made the same way, ie by credit card or electronic fund transfers from banks. Chat support is also available at the online stores (Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm) for customers who may have queries.
One of the deals currently offered at the Toyota Flagship Store.
Currently, there’s a special promotion for the Fortuner SUV (limited stocks) worth RM22,760 and it comes with 5 years of free scheduled maintenance (terms and conditions apply). There are other exclusive deals for the Innova, Harrier and Hilux (limited stocks) as well. The deals are available only for online bookings at the Toyota Flagship Stores on both Lazmall and Shopee Mall.
“Online sales of new cars have been gaining popularity in other countries and are more appreciated with the current situation whereby consumers may be reluctant to go to showrooms due to health concerns. We therefore offer online channels through the popular e-commerce platforms as well as our own Toyota Online Showroom so they can be fully informed and then make the purchase conveniently,” added Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.
‘Black’ is mentioned a lot in the news these days and it’s become controversial in the social and political context. But not all black subjects are controversial and the Black Badge family of cars from Rolls-Royce are desirable products for those an emerging generation of super-luxury consumer.
Launched in 2016, the Black Badge cars for a permanent Bespoke range that, in the words of Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, ‘reflects the desires of a distinct group of Rolls-Royce clients: men and women who take risks, break rules and build success on their own terms’.
Appealing to new, younger generation of customers
Since being launched, demand for the Black Badge offering has been growing as the bold theme attracts new – and younger – customers to the marque. It appeals to the new generation of customers – or ‘clients’ as Rolls-Royce refers to them – who would consider the ‘silver badge’ Rolls-Royce too conventional and traditional. The approach is not new to Rolls-Royce as there have been offerings in the past which inverted the ‘silver badge’ to black as a means of creating uniqueness (apparently there was even a ‘red badge’ tried out at one time).
This ‘alter ego’ is codified by the mathematical symbol that represents a potential infinity, placed discreetly within the motor car’s interior. This marking, known also as the lemniscate, was applied to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record-breaking Rolls-Royce-powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane, denoting that it belonged to an insurance class reserved for boats with unlimited and therefore infinite engine power. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars selected this hallmark for its Black Badge cars to reflect its own unrelenting pursuit of power.
Full Black Badge range
Rolls-Royce debuted the Black Badge range with the Wraith and Ghost in 2016, followed by the Dawn in 2017. Today, the family is completed for the first time in Malaysia with the introduction of the Black Badge Cullinan by Rolls-Royce Kuala Lumpur (RRKL). It is rare for a distributor to have the full range but RRKL does, perhaps a reflection of its notable presence in the Rolls-Royce global network.
Introducing the Black Badge Cullinan SUV this afternoon, Anas Zawawi Khalid, Executive Director for Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd, which operates RRKL, said: “We are seeing a distinct change in the Super-luxury arena within Malaysia. Increasingly, we are welcoming younger, adventurous Rolls-Royce customers alongside our more established clientele. We have refreshed our Black Badge range for 2020 and have already seen strong interest from customers who are looking for something very contemporary and bold.”
The Cullinan, which is the first SUV from Rolls-Royce, has been in the market for two years now. It may have been late into the luxury SUV market but then again, a SUV bearing the Spirit of Ecstasy on the bonnet has to be the best in every aspect – including off-road capability – so that would have taken the engineers a while to achieve. The end result is a vehicle that is ‘Effortless, Everywhere’ as the company describes the true ‘Rolls-Royce of SUVs’.
It doesn’t have to be black…
Black is, of course, the dominant theme of the Black Badge Cullinan and while most customers will choose this colour, Rolls-Royce also offers no less than other 44,000 colours to choose from. And if the colour cannot be found, the customer can provide a sample of a colour desired and it will be developed for his or her car.
If you prefer, you can also have your Black Badge Cullinan in white – or any of the 44,000 colour choices available.
Multiple layers of paint and lacquer are meticulously applied and hand-polished 10 times, the most comprehensive surface finish process ever applied to a solid paint colour. The depth and intensity of Black Badge Cullinan’s coachwork serves as the perfect canvas upon which to throw a contrasting hand-painted Coachline into stark relief.
Exclusive core elements
Core elements are in black or black chrome, including the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot (including its mounting plate). The ‘Double R’ badge on the front, flanks and aft invert to become silver-on-black, while chrome surfaces such as the front grille surround, side frame finishers, boot handle, boot trim, lower air inlet finisher and exhaust pipes are darkened. While they appear black, the vertical grille bars remain polished, reflecting the blackened surfaces that surround them to add a frisson of movement that hints at the motor car’s dynamic intent.
The overall effect artfully simplifies and enlarges SUV’s exterior design graphics, further dramatized by all-new 22-inch forged alloy wheels, reserved exclusively for Black Badge Cullinan.
The gloss black and polished design also creates the perfect stage for the marque’s first ever coloured brake caliper finished in high gloss red paint.
Incidentally, many of the core items on a Black Badge model are exclusive. They are not offered by as Bespoke items so customers cannot personalise their car to be like a Black Badge. If they want a Black Badge model, they have to buy the whole car but they can personalise it as much as they want too.
‘Amplified’ V12 engine
The Black Badge Cullinan isn’t just about the dark aesthetics. The boldness of the theme is supported by ‘amplification’ of the 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine. It was deemed unnecessary to make changes to the ample internal capacity but tuning adjustments have generated an extra 29 ps for a total output of 600 ps. The sense of a single, infinite gear has also been enhanced with the addition of a further 50 Nm of torque, bringing the total to a 900 Nm.
There’s also an entirely new exhaust system, announcing the vehicle’s arrival with a deep, authoritative basso profundo. It’s not the sort of sound that will disturb the neighbour’s baby but it will signal the presence of the Black Badge Cullinan.
The drivetrain, ZF 8-speed gear box and both front and rear steered axles work collaboratively to adjust the levels of engagement depending on throttle and steering inputs. Changes to suspension components and settings add to the suite of dynamic technologies that ensure an appropriate balance between dynamism and refinement.
To bolster confidence, the braking bite point has been raised and pedal travel decreased. Redesigned brake disc ventilation also allows consistency in these changes while braking at elevated temperatures.
Whatever the customer wants…
It is unlikely that any two Black Badge Cullinans will have similarly equipped interiors. Apart from a near-infinitely configurable interior colour palette, just about anything a customer wants to install can be done provided it does not compromise safety. For those who prefer to leave it to the professionals, the Colour and Trim designers have created a bold new leather colour, Forge Yellow, to offer as part of the brand’s curated collection.
One increasingly popular feature is the Starlight Headliner and its presence in Black Badge Cullinan intensifies the cabin’s ambience by casting a low light over the whole cabin. Presented in fine Black leather, handwoven with 1,344 fibre-optic lights in the ceiling, it can show the sky at night with 8 brilliant white shooting stars that dart at random around the ceiling. Or the customer can specify a personal design and the tiny lights can be arranged to show it.
A person who is ready to buy a Rolls-Royce is unlikely to be overly concerned about its price but for those who are interested to know, the price of a Cullinan in Malaysia at the time of its launch in January 2019 started at RM1.8 million (without tax). A Black Badge version would be considerably more although the present exemption of 5% of Sales Tax has also brought it down. According to Encik Anas, the Sales Tax exemption – which has obviously meant significant savings for a buyer – has encouraged more people to ‘come through the door’ and discuss a purchase.
The customers, he revealed, are as young as in the early 30s, while the global average is in the 40s. In any case, Rolls-Royce is seeing its clientele becoming younger and has therefore responded with offerings like the Black Badge range.
The full Black Badge family, available in Malaysia.
“This remarkable motor car is creating tremendous amounts of interest amongst younger, affluent customers who are new to Rolls-Royce but who value adventure and freedom of travel without compromise,” he said, adding that RRKL is seeing an increasing number of customers from East Malaysia. As for aftersales support, RRKL has been progressively enhancing its service centre and its practices and services are optimised.
