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Interstate travel permitted, no limit on number of occupants in vehicle

Much of the Klang Valley (Selangor and WP Kuala Lumpur) will continue to be under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which has been in force since October 14. Penang can resume its Recovery MCO (RMCO, except for the sub-districts of Barat Daya and Timur Laut which will be under CMCO until December 20. Other states and regions will have varying levels of MCO depending on the number of cases.

PDRM Roadblock — *There will no longer be roadblocks but the police will be checking on SOP compliance.*

Speaking on behalf of the National Security Council, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that, from Monday December 7, there will be no roadblocks at state borders as the public can travel between states.

The number of passengers in vehicles will also not be limited to two or three but depend on the permissible seating capacity of the vehicle. A 7-seater can therefore have 7 people on board and will not be stopped by the police. This should be a relief for those with big families who wish to go out together although restrictions are still in force at restaurants with regard to the number of people at a table.

*The number of occupants in a vehicle can be up to the maximum number permitted for the vehicle type.*

What is important is to practice social distancing and not gather in groups, and to wear a face mask when in public areas. You should also make it a point to use hand sanitizer frequently and wash your hands with soap and water as well. Do make it a point to have your temperature checked, and scan the QR code or provide your contact details at shops or other places as this is important information in case contact tracing is necessary. You would want to know of a possible case at a place that you had visited, wouldn’t you?

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged

R-Reforged, the 2-year old Swiss company, has created two models to celebrate Zagato’s centenary. They are referred to as the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged. Making their debut are the first pair of TWINS, which are prototypes specified by Andrea and Marella Zagato and reserved for the private Zagato collection.

Exclusively available as a pair in Coupe and Speedster form – each pair costing £1.75 million (about RM9.6 million) – just 19 customer sets will be built for sale. Each pair will be hand-assembled in the company’s factory in the UK. Each car takes a team of 12 craftspeople 16 weeks to assemble and will receive over 500 new components.

*2011 Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Coupe*

Styled at Zagato’s Milan headquarters, the iconic Italian design house has evolved the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage V12 Zagato Coupe form into a new, pure Speedster twin. Sharper, cleaner and highly collectible – thanks to their limited run and significance in Zagato’s history – both are now fully clothed in carbonfibre.

The design changes run from the nose, which incorporates a new splitter and front wings, through to the sleeker tail, now with active aero that transforms the cars’ balance but retains the defined Zagato lines.

The TWINS can be specified as matching or individual designs, and owners will be able to discuss with the car’s designers and engineers to personalise virtually every element.

“The essence of this project was to create a perfect ‘garage’, comprising two desirable and collectable cars; Coupe and Roadster,” said Andrea Zagato. “Limited to just 19 pairs, a significant number, recalling the year Zagato was formed, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged mark a remarkable milestone for the Milanese atelier.”

“Despite having created over 450 models since our formation, we chose Aston Martin, which has surely been our most prestigious partner over the last 50 years, to mark this celebration. The cooperation with R-Reforged ensured that we could create an instant classic,” he added.

*The partnership between Zagato and Aston Martin started in 1960 with the DB4 GT Zagato.*

The 19 owners of this rare and special series, licenced by Aston Martin, will also experience the significant transformation to vehicle performance delivered through a series of meaningful engine and dynamic improvements.

The potent 5.9-litre V12 has been uprated to produce close to 600 bhp, which is 80 bhp more than standard. This is, in part, due to a performance aluminium air intake and titanium exhaust. The lean stance of the cars is enhanced by the 10 mm ride height reduction and 20 mm stretched track.

R-Reforged can also offer a full body ‘visual carbon’ finish as a further option. The 400-hour process requires extensive and careful preparation so as not to disturb the carbon weave. Then begins the application of a bespoke lacquer providing UV stability prior to tuning both the colour and density of the tint to any shade requested.

The superior quality of materials and attention to detail are evident in every facet of the car’s build with R-Reforged’s team ensuring that the cars truly worthy of marking Zagato’s centenary. Inside are sensory-rich materials with an almost infinite range of colours, bespoke patterns and textures.

A close look inside will reveal colour matching the horn button on the steering wheel, the first time in the Vantage’s history that has been done. Other examples include a sleeker, longer windscreen for the Speedster and retooling the entire carpet boot moulding, which required a significant investment, purely because the original material and form did not meet R-Reforged’s stringent standards.

Underlining that ownership is about more than just buying the cars: owners will also receive a series of special tailored gifts that starts with a TWINS carbonfibre presentation case, cataloguing specification details using scale models and samples. They will then continue to receive a stream of themed gifts, invitations and experiences throughout their ownership.

Advice for motorists travelling in East Coast during monsoon period

The concessionaire of Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) – LPT2 Sdn Bhd – urges motorists who are affected by flooded roads during the monsoon season to make use of its highway.

“We encourage the public travelling on the East Coast to use our LPT2 highway as it is a safer, more convenient and easier route. Our highway provides not only clean rest areas but also a force of 60-strong LPT2Ronda officers and 30 highway patrolling units to assist,” said LPT2 Regional Business Manager, Roszi Ibrahim.

*A Rest & Service area along the highway.*

In case of any emergencies, motorists can make stop at any of the Rest & Service Areas in Perasing, Paka and Ajil. However, remember the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are in force which require social distancing (at least 1 metre apart) and use of face masks in public areas, especially where there are many people.

The 24-hour LPT2 Helpline is 1-800-88-0220 and provides highway users can obtain the latest traffic updates and emergency assistance along the 184-km stretch that runs from Jabor to Kuala Terengganu.

Quality pre-owned Mazda vehicles available at the new Mazda Anshin website

The sale of pre-owned (not pre-registered) vehicles by franchise holders of various brands has been going on for some time. In fact, the first one in Malaysia might have been Federal Auto, which set up its own division to handle used cars as far back as the early 1970s. Other companies have also had used car divisions although most have not focussed greatly on this business, leaving it more to used car dealers.

These days, there is greater demand for pre-owned vehicles (a nicer term for used vehicles) and a number of companies, even premium brands, have invested in the business more substantially. They give more attention to the condition of the vehicles they offer, ensuring that the safety aspects are not compromised. In some case, they recondition the vehicle to ‘almost as good as new’.

Peace of mind purchase
Bermaz Motor, which handles Mazda, has also been dealing in pre-owned vehicles since 2015 through its Mazda Anshin centre in Glenmarie, Selangor. ‘Anshin’ is a Japanese word for ‘peace of mind’ so a selling point to customers is that they can have peace of mind buying from Mazda Anshin.

Many businesses are going online these days, partly due to the COVID-19 situation which has put limitations on interactions between people. As far as possible, companies now make it easier and safer for customers to view and know about what they offer before the need to actually be at the showroom.

Bermaz now as a website for its Mazda Anshin business and this serves as a one-stop platform for customers to sell or buy Mazda vehicles. It offers many company demo vehicles as well as those owned by customers who may have trade-in for a new model.

*Every vehicle has to go through a thorough inspection and be certified before being offered for sale on the website.*

111-point inspection to be certified
Regardless of whether the vehicles were previously demo units or in the company fleet, or a customer’s vehicle, every vehicle must undergo a comprehensive 111-point inspection. This is done by trained technicians at two authorized Mazda Service Centres in Selangor.

Owners who have this inspection done are charged a minimal fee of RM200. After the inspection, the owner will receive the best Mazda Anshin Certified Valuation and recommend selling price.

Mazda Anshin’s quality standards require that the pre-owned vehicles have had no major accident damages, no frame damages, and never been through a flood.

3 simple steps
Customers shopping for Mazda vehicles can browse through the Mazda Anshin website for the best- -value, best-quality models available, all with Mazda Anshin Certification. The existing warranty, if still in effect, will still be available to the new owner, as well as the free scheduled service based on from the original registration date.

So the next time you want a pre-owned Mazda, consider the offerings at the Mazda Anshin website. After all, it’s the company that knows Mazda best.

Click here for other news and articles about Mazda and Bermaz Motor.

Hyundai Motor Group unveils Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP)

While still improving and innovating its technologies for models with internal combustion engines, the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is also investing substantially in battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology. Such vehicles will grow in numbers in coming years and HMG has been developing core technologies for them.

One of these is the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which is specifically for BEVs. The E-GMP is ready to be used and from 2021, the E-GMP will support a range of new BEV models. These include the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia’s first dedicated BEV. The platform will be used for as many as 23 BEV models in HMG with the sales target of more than 1 million BEVs worldwide by 2025.

The E-GMP provides various advantages compared to the Group’s existing platforms which have engineering oriented towards internal combustion engines. With a brand new approach that is dedicated to the electrified powertrain, there is increased development flexibility, stronger driving performance, increased driving range, strengthened safety features, and more interior space.

“Today our front-wheel driven Hyundai and Kia BEVs are already among the most efficient ones in their segments,” declared Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division for Hyundai Motor Group. “With our rear-wheel drive E-GMP, we are extending our technological leadership into segments where customers demand excellent driving dynamics and outstanding efficiency.”

*EV variants of the Hyundai Kona (left) and Kia Soul (right) are currently available in some countries.*

Maximizing development flexibility
The E-GMP reduces complexity through modularization and standardization, allowing rapid and flexible development of products which can be used across most vehicle segments. Moreover, flexible development can satisfy various customer needs for varying levels of vehicle performance.

The new platform will also enable the company to enlarge its EV line-up over a relatively short period through modularization and standardization. This will satisfy consumer expectations of variety and choices.

Driving performance and safety
With optimal weight distribution between front and rear, a low centre of gravity thanks to its low-mounted battery pack, and the adoption of electric motors, handling can also be enhanced. A 5-link rear suspension system, which is typically used for medium and large vehicles, and the world’s first integrated drive axle enhance ride comfort and handling stability.

The platform secures battery safety through a battery support structure made of ultra-high strength steel. Hot-stamped steel components surround this structure for additional rigidity. Collision energy can be absorbed efficiently by energy-absorbent sections of the body and chassis, effective energy load paths, and a central section of the battery pack tightly bound to the vehicle body.

The battery pack itself – mounted between the front and rear wheel axles – will be the most power-dense system that HMG has ever created. It has enhanced cooling performance with a new separate cooling block structure which helps make the battery pack more compact. With energy density enhanced by around 10% compared to existing EV battery technology, the battery packs are lighter, can be mounted lower in the body, and liberate more cabin space.

From the early 1980s, the industry moved towards front-wheel drive which offered space-saving benefits. The E-GMP, however, will have rear wheel drive although there can also be all-wheel drive (with an additional electric motor).

Charging System
Most existing EVs and the fast-charging infrastructure provide 50 kWh ~ 150 kWh charging for EVs equipped with a 400V system; however, the development of 800V infrastructure, with up to 350 kWh charging, will gradually enable even more fast-charging.

In line with this trend, Hyundai Motor Group has invested in IONITY, Europe’s leading high-power charging network, as a strategic partner and shareholder. IONITY operates 298 high-power charging (HPC) stations – using a charging capacity of up to 350 kWh – along highways in European countries. The company plans to increase this number to 400 HPC stations by 2022, including 53 currently under construction.

The E-GMP offers 800V charging capability as standard and enables 400V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters. The multi-charging system is a world’s first patented technology which operates the motor and the inverter to boost 400V to 800V for stable charging compatibility.

A BEV using the E-GMP will be capable of a maximum range of over 500 kms with a fully charged battery pack. If the pack is completely empty, it can receive a high-speed recharge up to 80% capacity in 18 minutes; up to 100 kms of driving range can be available with a recharge of just 5 minutes.

Click here for other news and articles about Hyundai.

Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale is on until this Sunday

Sime Darby Motors Malaysia (SDM Malaysia) is having a virtual sales carnival offering new as well as pre-owned vehicles until this Sunday (December 6). The brands present are those which Sime Darby’s automotive arm handles (in Malaysia) – BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, Motorrad, and Volvo.

The Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale powered by Carlist.my offers great deals, exclusive freebies, attractive financing packages, and high trade-in values on a wide range of vehicles. Pre-owned models from other brands are also available through Sime Darby Auto Selection.

Extras with booking or purchase
Each brand is also offering some extras, eg Sime Darby Auto ConneXion offers those who book a new Ford vehicle during the event period a free Petronas fuel card and tinting (first 50 orders only). One lucky purchaser will also win a BMW G310R motorcycle (terms and conditions apply).

Interactive features
Other interactive features of the online event include as live chat, door-to-door test drives, online booking, collateral downloads, video display and a payment gateway. It offers an opportunity to shop for new or ore-owned vehicles from the comfort of home or office, or even the mamak stall.

Commenting on the inaugural Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale, Jeffrey Gan, MD of SDM Malaysia’s Retail and Distribution said: “We are excited to provide this unique, exceptional access to automobile enthusiasts nationwide from the comfort of their homes. While it is a challenge to replicate the energy of the physical event, we have worked closely with Carlist.my to design this exclusive five-day virtual sales carnival to be as interactive as possible”.

“With the exemption of sales tax ending on December 31, 2020, now is the best time for consumers to seize the opportunity to own their dream cars with great savings and be rest assured knowing that their sales and after-sales needs will be taken care of by our passionate professionals, who are dedicated to providing world-class service,” Mr. Gan added.

Corporate customers can also take this opportunity to sign up for Sime Darby Motors Corporate Programme which entitles a company’s directors, employees and their spouses to enjoy fleet membership entitlements. These include discounts of up to 10% from a vehicle’s recommended retail price on their next purchase from SDM Malaysia.

The Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Final website is located at www.simedarbymotorsgrandfinale.com. Showrooms of authorised dealerships of the respective brands also have special offers available.

Hispano Suiza adds a second, more exclusive, hypercar to its Carmen range

Hispano Suiza, the Spanish manufacturer with a history going back to 1904, has launched a second model as a follow-up to its Carmen all-electric hypercar which debuted last year. The new model is the Carmen Boulogne, a sportier evolution of the Carmen, and it also fully electric.

The current plan is to build only 5 units for sale, each priced from 1.65 million euros (about RM8.2 million) and take approximately 12 months to complete. 14 units of the Carmen will be available, with the first unit to be delivered in 2022.

A name from 1921
The ‘Boulogne’ name dates back to 1921, when Hispano Suiza made a racing version of its high-performance H6 Coupe and entered it in the George Boillot Cup, an endurance race lasting more than 3½ hours around the French city of Boulogne. There, Hispano Suiza achieved three consecutive victories with its H6. The Carmen Boulogne pays tribute to these historic motorsport victories

Its powertrain produces 1,114 ps – 95 ps more than the Carmen – and it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.6 seconds, with a maximum speed limited to 290 km/h. Its weight of 1,630 kgs is 60kgs less than the Carmen, achieved by optimisation of structural elements such as the suspension and carbonfibre subframe. There are also new CNC parts and a carbonfibre roof, among other things.

Visible carbonfibre bodyshell
The entire carbonfibre bodyshell of the Carmen Boulogne is visible under a clear varnish that emphasizes its sportiness and preserves the timeless elegance of this model. It sports the same semi-circular headlights and aggressive ‘scowl’ as the Carmen, with the difference of an imposing copper-coloured grille.

The five customers can fully customize the model with the assistance of the brand’s ‘Unique Tailormade’ department. The sleek interior features suede or black Alcantara on the bulkhead and door panels.

The Carmen Boulogne is powered by four permanent-magnet synchronous motors, two on each rear wheel. The torque of each engine is controlled through sophisticated vectoring systems developed in-house with the expertise gained in Formula E.

1,600 Nm of torque from standstill
From 0 to 6,500 rpm, the engines are capable of generating up to 1,600 Nm of torque, allowing for the sizzling acceleration. The lithium-ion polymer battery pack that provides ‘fuel’ has a capacity of 80 kWh and is claimed to enable driving range of up to 400 kms.

The batteries are designed and produced in-house, including a complete temperature control system to ensure that the cells can operate optimally. The fast-charging capability at more than 80 kW DC is said to require 30 minutes to charge 30 – 80%.

*The 2021 Carmen hypercar gets its name from the founder’s daughter, with design inspiration from Hispano Suiza’s iconic 1930s design called the Dubonnet Xenia (top car).*

*Hispano Suiza has a long history going back to the early 1900s and was a well known name in motor racing.*

A closer look at the new Hyundai Elantra

The all-new Hyundai Elantra will be officially launched in Malaysia shortly and while Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) still won’t tell us the price, they have shown us the new car and provided some insights into the new design and features.

This time round, for the seventh generation of the 30-year old model line (also called Avante in some countries), HSDM is not having it assembled locally – at least for now. This is perhaps why the model can be launched in Malaysia just 9 months after its global debut. Normally, models that are assembled locally need additional time as the plant has to be set up and suppliers need to also start producing parts.

The HSDM people were first shown the new model in 2019 and then made the decision to combine with Brunei and Singapore on ordering, thereby having a bigger volume that could mean better pricing. However, that also meant that the specifications had to be common as well, so Malaysia too would have to take cars made in Korea. And that is how the new Elantra has reached us so fast and not in 2021.

From the preliminary specifications available, it appears that there will only be one variant offered and in order to get the latest technologies, HSDM opted for the 1.6-litre SmartStream powertrain rather than stick to the older 2-litre unit.

Parametric Dynamics
Hyundai’s design philosophy in the early part of this decade was known as ‘Fluidic Design’ which evolved into ‘Fluidic Sculpture’. Its inspiration was drawn from nature, with organic shapes, flowing lines and curvaceous forms. However, as a new decade starts, the philosophy has changed again and is now going for geometric shapes. Hyundai calls it ‘Parametric Dynamics’.

The company used advanced digital design technology to bring the Parametric Dynamics design language to life. Having three lines meet at one point is the main element of Parametric Dynamics and this formation has actually been avoided in car design. So the new Elantra aims to be a ‘disrupter’, an approach that is popular these days.

Parametric Design is evident in the grille with its honeycomb-like structure as well as on the sides and even in the tail light units. However, Parametric Design is applied to details and it is not a return to an overall wedge form which was popular in the early 1980s. Hyundai designers favour a coupe-like profile even for sedans, which is helpful to aerodynamics apart from having a sporty appeal.

There are a lot of intersecting lines and grooves around the car and while they make for an interesting view (especially when light is shining across the car), we wonder about the implications on bodywork repair. With the plastic parts like the bumper and grille, there’s no choice and they just have to be replaced completely. But owners might still prefer to repair metal body panels like the doors and boot compartment.

More interior space available
Generally, the new body is longer, lower and wider with improvements in occupant space within the ‘Immersive cocoon’ cabin. Structural elements within are wide but low and intelligent packaging has freed up more space.

Interior designers often like to use an aircraft cockpit as the theme for the driver’s area and this is the case for the new Elantra. A large interface consisting of two connected expansive touchscreen displays will give that sort of feel. While there is no Head Up Display (HUD) like a fighter jet, the TFT LCD Supervision cluster provides a lot of information about the car’s operation, including the air pressure in each tyre. The meter display is available in three different presentations, each giving more emphasis on certain information.

For connectivity, there’s Android Auto/Apple CarPlay to bring the apps on the smartphone to the 9-inch display panel in the middle of the dashboard. 4 electrical outlets are available for charging or powering devices and there’s also a wireless charging pad for those smartphones that have the capability.

CBU instead of CKD
Getting the cars from the Korean factory in CBU form is good and bad from the point of specifications. If the model is assembled locally (referred to as ‘CKD’), HSDM can ‘customise’ a bit to meet its target pricing but if it is CBU, then it may be forced to take more than it would like to. For instance, while there is no sunroof, the Elantra we get has heated seats, a heated steering wheel and heated door mirrors and these are probably part of a package that includes some other items HSDM really wanted. The same sometimes applies to wheel sizes; if you want 20-inch wheels, you must take a sunroof as well as well and that may mean extra cost.

Of course, it’s usually good for the customers as there are more features available. Furthermore, some of the features might not be available if the model is assembled locally as a more ‘basic’ system might be used instead.

There are many convenience features that come with the new Elantra, apart from the keyless entry and pushbutton engine starting/stopping. It doesn’t have the ‘kick the bumper to open’ (our term, not an industry term) feature but the bootlid can still open automatically with the Smart Trunk feature besides pressing the button on the key fob.

Another way of automatic boot opening
The Smart Trunk feature works on the same concept as keyless entry and you must have the key fob (which has the electronic security code) on you for it to work. The boot does not open right away when within close range but after a certain time standing behind the car, then it will open. This is a security measure to avoid unwanted opening.

While the ‘kick the bumper’ method is also convenient, it does mean that a person will momentarily stand on one foot. That might not be good as the person may lose balance, especially if carrying heavy items in both hands. So Hyundai’s idea may offer a safer way of handsfree opening.

Hyundai SmartSense
On the subject of safety, the new Elantra follows the industry trend with integrated safety systems that work together and use common sensors – a camera on the windscreen and a radar in the grille. The Korean carmaker’s system is known as Hyundai SmartSense and consists of 8 active safety systems. These are in addition to the usual ABS, EBD, ESC, Traction Control, etc.

There is Forward Collision Warning with scanning at junctions as well, Lane Keeping, Driver Drowsiness Monitor, Smart Cruise Control Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Blind Spot Warning, Safe Exit Warning (when opening doors), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert when reversing.

The Smart Cruise Control is adaptive and adjusts the speed to ensure there is a safe gap with the vehicle ahead. The additional feature it has – usually found on more expensive models – is Stop & Go which allows the speed to be adjusted right down to zero. This means that you can operate on cruise control and even follow a car through a toll plaza. If the car stops, the Elantra will also stop and resume moving when the car ahead starts to move off. It’s as good as autonomous driving!

The new Elantra sit on Hyundai’s third-generation vehicle platform and besides weighing less, this new platform also allowed the engineers to lower car’s centre of gravity, which should enhance handling. For passive safety, there’s a strong structure and up to 6 airbags within to provide cushioning during an accident.

Click here to read other news and articles about Hyundai.

Proton sales and export volumes higher in 2020 in spite of pandemic

In November, Proton added another 11,411 units (including export sales) to its cumulative volume for 2020, bringing the total to 96,410 units. Compared to the total 11-month volume in 2019, the increase is 7.5% while the comparison of monthly volumes shows this year to be 18% higher.

“Malaysian car sales are continuing to outperform market projections from earlier in the year as we estimate Total Industry-Volume (TIV) to be more than 56,000 units for a third consecutive month. A lot of this can be accounted for by traditional end-of-year deals offered by car brands, but this year we can include PENJANA incentives and the launch of popular new models such as the Proton X50 as volume growth drivers,” said Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, Proton Edar, adding that the brand’s market share is estimated at 20.1%.

While sales for other Proton models for the month were slightly down compared to October, deliveries of the X50 SUV began to gather momentum. 1,756 units were delivered, which Proton says makes it the best-selling B-segment (5-seat) SUV in Malaysia. Added to the 2,157 units of the X70, Proton lays claim to being the market leader in SUVs.

Strong numbers but cautious optimism for 2021
“For Proton specifically, we are continuing to focus on product quality and customer service to deliver a premium product and brand experience. Admittedly, deliveries of the Proton X50 have not ramped up to maximum capacity, but we are being deliberate in our approach to ensure our customers get the best product that meets their expectations, Still, we target to increase our volume each month to shorten waiting times so we urge everyone to please remain patient,” Encik Roslan said.

Export sales increased in 2020
The Malaysian car market can only take so many vehicles each year and Proton has to look to other markets if it wants to keep growing. It has been working hard to have a larger export footprint and 2020 was supposed to be another year of steady growth in this area. However, the plans were affected by the global coronavirus pandemic although, by the end of November, the number of Proton vehicles exported to other countries exceeded the total from the year before.

*A Proton Gen2 in the export shipment to the Middle East market in August this year.*

“Export sales will continue to be one of Proton’s main pillars heading into 2021 and beyond. With our domestic market performance having stabilised and undergoing steady growth, renewed emphasis has to be placed on making Proton a regional and global automotive brand,” he said.

“As a national car company, we represent Malaysia on the global stage and when we grow our export volume, our own local vendor community stands to gain as well. We will have more announcements about overseas market activities in the months and years to come,” added Encik Roslan.

Click here to read more about the Proton X50’s powertrain.

12,997 units of Toyota Hilux and Fortuner recalled for brake booster issue

A certain batch of Toyota Hilux or Fortuner vehicles have an issue with their brake system which requires rectification at an authorised Toyota service centre. The vehicles affected were produced and distributed by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) between July 2018 and January 2019 and number 11,571 units for the Hilux and 1,425 units for the Fortuner. Vehicles produced and sold at other periods are not affected.

The Special Service Campaign that UMWT has initiated to recall the vehicles requires the condition of the resin pistons in the brake booster to be inspected. Where necessary, they will be replaced at no charge to owners. UMWT says that the issue can caused compromised braking performance.

Do not ignore
UMWT will send notification letters to owners of the affected vehicles requesting them to bring their vehicles to an authorised Toyota service centre. As this concerns the brake system, it is a critical safety issue so don’t ignore the notification and act promptly.

In the event that you have a Hilux or Fortuner which you bought from someone else (the original owner) and it was produced during the period mentioned, you might not receive a letter if UMWT does not have your contact details. In this case, you can still get assistance at any authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Freephone 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682). To locate a service centre in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

Click here for other news and articles about Toyota.

Piston.my

English

Interstate travel permitted, no limit on number of occupants in vehicle

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged

Advice for motorists travelling in East Coast during monsoon period

Quality pre-owned Mazda vehicles available at the new Mazda Anshin website

Hyundai Motor Group unveils Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP)

Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale is on until this Sunday

Hispano Suiza adds a second, more exclusive, hypercar to its Carmen range

A closer look at the new Hyundai Elantra

Proton sales and export volumes higher in 2020 in spite of pandemic

12,997 units of Toyota Hilux and Fortuner recalled for brake booster issue

Das Treffen 9: A Celebration of Porsche Passion in Southeast Asia

Heineken is Giving away over RM10,000 Worth of Grab Ride Voucher

Honda Unveils Revolutionary S+ Shift Technology for Next-Generation Hybrids

GWM Haval H6 HEV CKD Production Hits 1,000 Units

Honda and Nissan Reportedly in Merger Talks to Bolster EV Competition

Cabinet to Review Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Toll System Proposal in January

Proton e.MAS 7 Officially Launched – RM4,000 Rebate for the First 3,000 Customers

Penang JPJ Seizes 17 Vehicles in Crackdown on Foreign Drivers

Mercedes-Benz Vans to Usher in a New Era with VAN.EA Platform in 2026

Porsche to Cut Dealer Network in China Amid Declining Sales

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