The limitations of the COVID-19 notwithstanding, work still goes on at Rolls-Royce building cars and at the Bespoke department, the specialists continue to create exclusive cars for customers. One such project for a customer in the Middle East is the ‘Wraith – Inspired By Earth’, commissioned through Rolls-Royce Abu Dhabi.
The latest creation takes its design cues from the entire Solar System, and our own beautiful planet as seen from space. The exterior is finished in Royal Blue, representing the 75% of the Earth’s surface that is covered by water. There is also a hand-painted Emerald Green coachline incorporating the Sun and the eight planets of the Solar System – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The most striking feature, however, is the bonnet artwork, which depicts a satellite’s view (or that of an astronaut on the International Space Station) of the Middle Eastern region. Centred on the United Arab Emirates, the panorama extends across the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, all meticulously air-brushed by hand – not just an artwork pasted on – in a process that took over 100 hours to complete.
By contrast, the interior aesthetic focuses on the Earth’s surface and the human and natural life that inhabits it. The seats are made from Moccasin leather to mimic the sands of the Emirates’ deserts; Navy and Cobalto Blue accents are suggestive of rivers and lakes and Emerald Green piping symbolises nature in all its forms. Arctic White ‘RR’ monograms and stitching hint at clouds and translucent running water.
The rear waterfall features a spectacular scene of atmospheric clouds rendered in minutely detailed embroidery using Photoflash technology. On the fascia, the Piano Milori veneer is embellished with a satellite image of the Middle East, so realistic that it appears to be a photograph but in fact is skilfully air-brushed.
The customer’s chosen theme is ideal for having the Bespoke Starlight Headliner overhead. Often showing constellations in the night sky, the headliner in this Wraith is embroidered to illustrate all the planets of Solar System, centred on the Sun.
Other Bespoke details include treadplates, a clock with metal radial background, and inlays showing the planets in silver, with planet Earth accentuated in gold.
“We’re used to clients bringing us grand visions for their Bespoke Commissions, but this provided a new perspective altogether. In our response to the brief, we’ve worked at both the ‘macro’ level, referencing the Sun and planets of the whole Solar System, and the much more personal ‘micro’ level, centring our view of the world on the place the customer calls home,” explained Michael Bryden, Lead Bespoke Designer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The Bespoke department is where customers’ most ambitious and personal visions are brought to reality by a collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople. Today, almost every car that leaves the Rolls-Royce factory has also been enhanced and personalised by the specialists Bespoke.
Those who have booked a Mitsubishi XPANDER can expect their new 7-seater crossover soon. The first units have been completed and will soon be leaving the plant at HICOM Automotive Manufacturers Sdn Bhd in Pekan, Pahang. Malaysia is the third country to locally-assemble the XPANDER, following Indonesia and Vietnam.
The plant location would be familiar to Mitsubishi Motors as the Pajero (and earlier models of Mitsubishi pick-ups and vans) used to be assembled there in the 1990s. Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has its own dedicated area for assembling the XPANDER at a rate of 6,000 units annually.
MMM invested in setting up an all-new Body Shop, Painting Jigs and Tester Line at the plant. The Paint Shop is said to be one of the most advanced in ASEAN. Complete immersion and coverage with protective primer paint is achieved during the Electro-Deposition (ED) process with the 360-degree rotation of the vehicle in the tank. Conventional ED processes usually just dip the body at one orientation.
Robots are used for consistent application of multiple coats of paint to ensure a high quality finish. To ensure that the XPANDERs assembled in Malaysia meet the high standards set by Mitsubishi Motors, there are auditors from the Japanese manufacturer who constantly carry out checks.
“We ensure all our customers that each unit of the XPANDER undergoes extensive quality control tests before it is shipped out. Every inch is checked by human-eyes and cutting-edge technology,” said the CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.
Mr. Shinnishi said that the XPANDER is being assembled locally to achieve a more competitive and attractive price, with better specifications providing customers more convenience and comfort. “The XPANDER is a significant model for MMM and we are confident that it will be a favourite among many Malaysians,” he added.
Since its launch in Indonesia, some 270,000 units of the XPANDER (including the XPANDER Cross variant) have been sold across ASEAN. It will be in showrooms next month and come with a 1.5-litre MIVEC engine. Pricing has not been revealed but is expected to be under RM100,000. Visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my to locate a showroom to view and test-drive the XPANDER and other Mitsubishi models.
Besides the XPANDER, MMM also assembles two SUV models in Malaysia – the Outlander and ASX – at the Tan Chong plant in Kuala Lumpur. Its most popular model, the Triton, is imported from Thailand in CBU form.
The early electric vehicles (EVs) were often small, partly because they had to be as light as possible to move on the limited electrical energy. Today, as battery and powertrain technology have advanced substantially, EVs are as big as sedans with petrol or diesel engines.
For small and young customers
Hyundai, it seems, is going back to the ‘roots’ of EVs with a mini EV that is its smallest yet. In this first glimpse of the vehicle, it is clear that it is very small. The one-of-a-kind EV features Emotion Adaptive Vehicle Control (EAVC) technology and is something that Hyundai wants to use to offer a unique mobility experience to young (and small) customers.
Styling based on 45 EV Concept
The exterior style is based on the ‘45’ EV concept that Hyundai displayed in 2019 at the Frankfurt Motorshow. The designers have adapted the signature ‘kinetic cube lamp’ design of the ‘45’ along with its angular yet smooth profile to create this yet-to-be-named EV that sports a Performance Blue exterior finish with orange accents.
This ‘little engine that could’ has two DC motors that can propel it to a top speed of 7 km/h, so it is only for the bravest souls! To boost driver confidence behind the wheel, the designers took inspiration from motorsports by placing just one seat in the middle of the 1.38-metre long car.
In keeping with the 45’s design heritage theme, Hyundai has built this unique passenger vehicle out of a traditional eco material – wood. There’s no officially rated driving range yet but the driver’s laughter is believed to be able to fuel the vehicle to travel further based on its Emotion Adaptive Vehicle Control (EAVC) technology.
It’s certainly an intriguing little vehicle that we look forward to learning more about in due course.
Online racing or sim racing has been growing over the years and this year, its popularity has accelerated (or at least activity) due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As people around the world were forced to stay home and large-scale activities like motor racing were not permitted, the alternative very quickly became racing online. There were already some popular series running and some manufacturers began to also create their own championships.
One of them has been Toyota which has been stepping up its presence in motorsports through Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR). One of the new activities created was the GR Supra GT Cup ASIA 2020, a regional event which would see the best sim racers from 5 countries – Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and India – competing against each other.
Organized by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, it was the first virtual motorsport racing championship in Asia. Each country has held its own series to find three of the best racers, and these were the ones who represented the country. The 15 contestants challenged each other using identical GR Supra RZ20 racing cars on the PlayStation platform, watched by millions of viewers worldwide… certainly way more than a real-world race.
Three races, 15 competitors
The event comprised 3 races, starting at the Fuji Speedway in Japan. At the end of this race, A. Aleef from Singapore led the pack with a strong 6-second lead. He was followed closely in second and third place, respectively, by Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad Suji and Taj Aiman, both from the Malaysian team.
The second race was an exciting 5 laps through the night ‘Shuto’ expressway of Tokyo – obviously only possible in the virtual world! Lap 5 saw one of the most exciting duels of the race as Suji, Tanapat (Thailand) and Shaz (Singapore) race 3-wide through the long straight to compete for P7 in a one-lane turn. But it was Aleef who again finished with a strong first place, followed closely by N. Sirigaya (Thailand) and T. Lallave (Philippines).
Nurburgring was where the final battles took place. This circuit runs over 20 kms and has more than 150 turns, requiring a mandatory pitstop and tyre change. After 3 intense laps, Taj Aiman came in first with an incredibly close second from Sirigaya and Aleef in third.
The overall winners were determined by their total points at the end of the three races. Aleef had the highest score of 36 points, while Taj Aiman came second with 33 points, and Sirigaya was in third with 25 points.
Overall winner faces global challengers
Aleef won US$6,000 in cash and a coveted spot to race in the global final GR Supra GT Cup 2020 in December. He will this represent Asia against the best of class e-Motorsport challengers from around the world.
Taj Aiman, placed second, received US$3,000 while Sirigaya, who came in third, won US$1,500 USD. All three winners were also awarded trophies.
“It has been a phenomenal year for me, having won the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship, given the honour to represent Malaysia and going on to finish second in the GR Supra GT Cup Asia, What an incredible experience!” said Taj Aiman. “Coming in second and just 3 points short of an overall victory is tough but that’s racing, and it is what it is.”
Malaysian event inspiration for GR Supra GT Cup Asia
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) continues to be the first, and remains as the only car company in Malaysia to be associated with e-Motorsport activities. The company has run three seasons of the Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship, which was also instrumental in inspiring the very first GR Supra GT Cup Asia series.
The Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship has been held in Malaysia over the last three years.
“With simulator racing becoming more competitive and also regarded as an important stepping stone for some of the world’s best real-life racers and teams, it is important that Malaysian virtual racers are also given the opportunity to compete at regional as well as international levels. At Toyota, we are delighted to be able to provide them with this exposure,” said Akio Takeyama, GAZOO RACING Malaysia’s Chief Motorsport Officer.
President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K., said the company’s contribution to Malaysian motorsports will continue both on the racing track and in the virtual world as it aspires to bridge both disciplines and bring motor-racing to the masses.
“It’s amazing to see how far virtual racing has come and, in many ways, today becoming an important element in accelerating the learning and development of a driver on the track. Virtual racing has also been instrumental in growing the interest and appreciation for motorsports and moving forward, UMWT will continue to invest in its potential,” he said, adding that part of UMWT’s initiatives include the recent launching of a GAZOO RACING Young Talent Development Program which is aimed at allowing both young karters and simulator racers to transition into real racing.
Much has already been revealed about the new Proton X50 in the weeks leading up to today, the carmaker having released information in stages. From virtually every aspect, this new SUV positioned below the X70 is destined to be a success like its big brother. In fact, being younger in the ‘evolutionary ladder’, it benefits from newer technology and more features that make it even better value for money.
As expected, the price levels are going to draw many people away from other offerings in the market. Even the extensively equipped Flagship variant, one of four variants available in the X50 range, is priced at RM103,300 (excluding insurance and sales tax). And at the other end, the Standard variant goes for RM79,200.
Assembled in Malaysia from start
For this model, Proton has gone right into local manufacture from the first unit, unlike the X70 which was initially produced at a Geely factory in China. It is actually more efficient because the X50 is the world’s only righthand drive version of the Geely Binyue/Coolray model from which it has been adapted. To do it in China in a limited volume before transferring it to Malaysia would have incurred high costs without the economies of scale.
The X50, like the X70, is made at the Tg. Malim factory in Perak. Though about 20 years old, the factory underwent renovation and upgrading after Geely came into the picture to add more modern manufacturing processes that can make cars with higher productivity and more importantly, quality. It has plenty of capacity (in fact, the planning in 1999 suggested up to 500,000 units a year capacity) and in time, the original factory in Shah Alam will cease production and all Proton production will be at Tg. Malim.
The X50 has been adapted in the same way as the X70 but with the benefit of more experience and understanding of the market needs, testing and development have been more focused. Contrary to what the man on the street may imagine, the X50 is not just a ‘badge-engineered’ version of the Geely model. While the basic structure and platform are similar – and every manufacturer shares such core elements – many other parts are unique to the X50.
A project on its own
This is even more so as it is the only righthand drive version in the world. So what may have been designed for the lefthand drive variants may not necessarily suit the X50 application, eg dashboard, power window switches, centre console and even the seats. And for every item, engineering must test and validate all aspects so it is like developing a new model, except that the expensive and time-consuming parts are already done. Still, the prototypes had to be tested thoroughly in local conditions and some 1.9 million kilometres were put in to adapt the SUV to the climate and road conditions found here.
It is the sharing of the core elements – typically the most expensive areas of any new model – that has made possible the pricing. In earlier years, Proton’s stubborn insistence on being independent meant that it didn’t have the economies of scale to bring production costs down. That approach proved to be a drain on the company’s resources, making it difficult to develop new models and remain competitive. It’s not the way the big global players do it but now, being in the Geely group, there is the opportunity to share design and engineering resources.
Apart from being good for business, customers also benefit. Lower production costs mean that more features and technology can be put in, better materials can be used, ultimately making the product more attractive and better value for money.
Engine developed by Volvo and Geely
The powertrain, for instance, is a very expensive area of development but Proton can share a very advanced unit that was originally developed by Geely and Volvo. It’s a 1.5-litre unit with 3 cylinders, turbocharged, and offered with two outputs. The one with direct injection produces 177 ps/255 Nm and is only available with the Flagship variant. The other three variants have multi-point injection and the output is lower at 150 ps/226 Nm. For both engines, peak torque is available from 1,500 rpm which means strong acceleration from take-off as test-drive sessions at the end of September showed.
Proton’s testing indicates that the fuel consumption is virtually identical – 6.4 litres per 100 kms (15.6 kms/litre) for the more powerful engine versus 6.5 litres (15.4 kms/litre), but the actual consumption an owner gets will depend on many different factors, of course. The economical running means that the fuel tank does not have to be big so it has a volume of 45 litres, saving weight. Both engines also come with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
Generous equipment levels
Equipment levels can be considered generous – even with the lowest-priced variant – although all the high tech is available mainly in the X50 Flagship. Typically, the advertisements highlight the ‘wow’ features and to get them means paying more money but hey, nothing comes for free (although Malaysian consumers often have their expectation).
Apart from the more powerful engine with direct injection, the X50 Flagship gets the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which will help the driver to avoid collisions and even activate the brakes if the driver is ‘dreaming’ and the car is about to ram into the vehicle ahead. The ADAS system, which works with a camera and radar, also has Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep, Blind Spot Monitor and Intelligent High Beam Control.
The SUV will also maneuver itself into a parking bay at the touch of a button, with the driver only having to manage the power. That should be really welcome by anyone who finds it challenging parking!
5-star safety
However, Proton has also made sure that the basic levels of active and passive safety are high, and these days, ‘basic’ is a lot more advanced than when the company was selling models like the Wira and Satria. Systems like ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Traction Control, Stability Control and even Hill Descent Control are standard across the range, along with a Reverse Camera. Except for the X50 Standard which has 4 airbags, the other variants have 6 airbags.
The high safety standards, which of course include a strong body structure, have earned the X50 ASEAN NCAP’s full score of 5 stars in Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection and Safety Assist.
Feature-wise too, the more you pay, the more you get – which is the way it should be. However, as mentioned earlier, the differences are not as wide as before between the cheapest and most expensive variants. You get a panoramic sunroof, an auto-dimming mirror and sensors for the windscreen wipers only with the X50 Flagship, but with the rest of the variants, there are still many great features.
These include LED headlights and rear lights, pushbutton starting/stopping for the engine, remote engine starting, rear air vents, USB ports and even a N95 air filtration system to clean the cabin air.
‘Hi Proton’ improved
The infotainment system has been a highlight of the X70 and the same goes for the X50. It uses a newer generation of the Geely Key User Interface, or GKUI 19. This has more processing power and includes a graphic processing unit so responsiveness is quicker. Voice commands are a key feature, and to interact with the system requires just saying ‘Hi Proton’. The two top variants have additional commands available but generally, many actions can be requested in all the variants.
Besides connectivity to smartphones, the system is also connected full-time to the internet so it’s possible to get other information like weather reports and music streaming. In fact, if the driver is alone, the GKUI may prove to be a ‘chatty’ companion!
Colour choices/upholstery
There are up to six colour choices for the X50 range, with Passion Red being exclusively for the X50 Flagship which also has a dual-tone exterior finish and roof rails. The X50 Standard has only three colour choices. Inside, black is the standard colour theme for all variants. The X50 Standard has fabric upholstery while the X50 Executive has leatherette. The Premium and Flagship variants get additional red stitching on the leatherette.
No more ‘wait and hear’
An important indicator of how public perception of Proton, especially in quality and reliability, has changed in recent years is the number of orders received even before the model was officially launched today. Before, there was some hesitance and people seemed to prefer to ‘wait and hear’ how a new model performed once it was on the roads, and then deciding if they wanted it.
These days, a new Proton generates much excitement and even before the full specifications are released, Proton said that over 20,000 Malaysians had placed bookings. It reflects the trust that the brand has regained where people will put their money down in advance because they know that it will be a reliable SUV, and from the atmosphere at dealerships, the experience can be expected to be very good.
Check out the new Proton X50 at all Proton dealerships and for the early customers, the carmaker is offering special launch packages such as free labour servicing, data packages and low interest rates for H-P loans.
Introduced in the mid-1990s, the Honda City has become a household name among Malaysians and has been the first Honda model owned by many. Over four generations, the model has grown from being a popular choice to being among the best-selling cars in Malaysia. Not only has it been a leader in the B-segment for 5 consecutive years but it has also been the best-selling model among the non-national brands.
Although the City has become a successful and desirable car for Malaysians, Honda Malaysia has continued to find out how they can make it better. With the all-new 5th generation, the City is once again a game-changer with advanced technology as well as stronger performance. This is in line with the company’s aim of leading the way with Next Generation Advanced Technologies to bring more benefits and value to customers.
Growing up, growing bigger
Just as the Civic ‘grew up’ and has become a larger car in many aspects (compare today’s generation to the first Civic sedan of the late 1970s), so too has the new City grown. Now measuring 4553 mm in overall length, it is 111 mm longer with 54 mm added to the width to broaden it to 1748 mm. The roofline is also lower by 10 mm, giving a sleeker profile for the lengthened body.
With a new design, the exterior gains a more distinctive profile with striking details. Sharp character lines add sportiness which are complemented by the projector headlights incorporating LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and LED tail lights. For the City 1.5L V, the headlights have LED illumination too.
Chrome adds distinction to the front grille with a Shark Fin Antenna on the roof giving a sporty touch. There are also newly-designed multi-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels fitted, with larger 16-inch units for the 1.5L V version.
For those who want sportier looks, Honda dealers offer the Honda Modulo Package which consists of a front under-spoiler, side under-spoiler and bootlid spoiler. Additionally, there are Urban and Utility packages to add high-quality accessories to the car.
Proven powertrain
The 1.5-litre all-aluminium i-VTEC engine with 16 valves and dual overhead camshafts has proven to be a reliable and durable powerplant. Improved for the new City, it produces 121 ps of power at 6,600 rpm with 145 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. Already well known for its fuel efficiency, the fuel economy can be enhanced with the use of ECON mode at the press of a button.
Honda Malaysia began popularizing the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) almost 20 years ago and it is today well accepted by Malaysian motorists. Over the years, Honda engineers have continued to refine the transmission and in the new City, it offers high fuel efficiency, with smoothness that makes driving even more enjoyable. And with paddle shifters, the driver can enjoy the best of both worlds, making manual selected of gears when desired.
Going Beyond B-segment
While the exterior dimensions of the City place it in the B-segment, interior spaciousness is actually more than what a typical car in this segment provides. Legroom for the rear passengers is generous and with the extra width of the new generation, shoulder room is also more comfortable.
A more premium image is apparent just looking into the cabin with its two-tone theme, and experienced when seated inside. Plush fabric covers the form-hugging front seats and for the 1.5L V version, there’s even leather upholstery as standard. This version also gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter cover.
Functionality with convenience
The redesigned dashboard has the same functionality that characterized the previous City. The combination of analogue and digital displays ensures that the driver is shown necessary information in a way which is easily absorbed.
Attention has been given to helping the driver keep his or her eyes on the road ahead for safety so controls and switches are designed to be intuitively operated. There are controls for the audio system on the steering wheel and a handsfree telephony system. Cruise control is available to reduce fatigue when driving on highways for long periods.
Even starting and stopping the engine is convenient and requires just the press of a button instead of inserting a key. In fact, the engine can be started remotely (away from the car) with just a press of the button on the key fob. This allows the air-conditioner to be activated prior to entering so that the cabin can be cooled down.
New for the 5th generation is the provision of additional vents behind the centre console box. These bring cool air closer to the rear passengers, enhancing their comfort. While the cool air would be appreciated most of the time in our hot climate, the vents can also be shut off if desired.
Needless to say, there are USB ports for recharging personal devices as well as a conventional 12V power socket to power devices like dashcams. However, for a neater arrangement, authorized dealers can provide an optional Honda-recommended Digital Video Recorder which will be installed professionally.
5-star safety plus LaneWatch
With its strong G-FORCE CONTROL (G-CON) body structure, the latest City has been awarded the maximum of 5 stars from ASEAN NCAP. It comes with a comprehensive range of active and passive safety systems and features that will help the driver to avoid an accident and reduce injuries if the accident does occur. ISOFIX points are provided at the rear seat so owners can install compatible childseats which are now required by law.
Being aware of the surroundings is important for safe driving and besides a Multi-Angle Reverse Cameras, the new City 1.5L V now has Honda LaneWatch. This is an innovative camera-based system which provides the driver with a real-time view of the blind spot along the left side of the car. The advantage of this system is that the driver does not need to turn the head so much to see the traffic situation (unlike having to turn a lot to see the door mirror). The LaneWatch display automatically comes on whenever the signal indicator is activated.
Worried about being rammed from behind when you have to brake hard suddenly? Honda has a way to reduce this danger with the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) system. In the event of the brake pedal being depressed suddenly and with greater force than usual, the brake lights will come on instantly and the hazard warning lights will also begin flashing. This will give immediate warning to drivers behind who can then take action of their own to brake or slow down quickly.
High quality finish
Customers can choose from a range of up to five colours for the exterior finish. The colours are Passion Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl. The painting is done at Honda’s own assembly plant in Melaka using advanced equipment. The processes at the assembly plant ensure high quality which enables Honda Malaysia to offer a 5-year warranty with no limit on mileage travelled.
To find out more about the new Honda City and experience it, visit any authorized Honda dealer nationwide. The locations can be found at www.honda.com.my or by calling 1-800-88-2020.
As the biggest model in the MINI range, the Countryman has been an ideal support vehicle for the X-raid Team. This is the team that is currently the incumbent overall winner of the Dakar Rally, that gruelling event which takes place annually.
Dakar dominance
For a decade, MINI and the X-raid Team have taken on the Dakar Rally – with much success. From 2012 to 2015, the X-raid Team achieved overall victory for MINI 4 times in a row. An additional overall success followed in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit. This time, the marathon rally covered thousands of kilometres over the sands of Saudi Arabia.
The MINI ALL4 Racing in one of the Dakar Rallies.
With its ALL4 all-wheel drive and robust construction, the Countryman has already demonstrated its performance in extreme conditions and over the toughest terrain. Now MINI customers can also benefit from the experience of the successful off-road specialists with the MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid.
Chassis modifications
The MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid is a truly authentic vehicle, epitomising not simply the flair of 5 victories in the Dakar Rally but also the technology that contributed to these triumphs. The chassis modifications of this 5-door model are derived directly from rally sport experience. There’s a significant increase in ground clearance, and particularly resilient wheel rims and tyres with higher flanks as prominent features of the upgrade.
The X-raid Team is familiar both with the features of the Countryman that are specific to the model and with the tough conditions besetting competitors and materials alike in endurance rallies. The know-how is used not only for the development of the winning vehicles but also into continuously optimised preparation of the service vehicles.
One thing that was learnt was that increased ground clearance and measures to avoid flat tyres are vital. This enables the service vehicles of the team to travel along tracks with countless potholes and sharp-edged rocks that are typical of the Andean highlands between Argentina and Chile. The same conditions were also found in the burning deserts of Saudi Arabia.
More off-road capability
Increasing the ride height of the car and the large diameter for the wheel rims and tyres easily raise the ground clearance for the Countryman by up to 40 mm. As a result, the fording depth and the ramp angle are significantly better than the standard cars.
The wheels developed specially for rallying provide effective protection against tyre damage. A robust rim ring ensures that it is not necessary to change the entire wheel if damage is sustained on rocky ground. It also creates a powerful visual impact and masks the high tyre flanks.
How would you like Dato’ Yasmin Yusuff to be your co-driver – everytime you drive your car? That’s now possible if you have Waze, the popular GPS route guidance app on smartphones. In fact, Yasmin has been ‘available’ for some time now if Waze users went to the app’s voice options section. There is an option ‘Bahasa Malaysia – Yasmin’ which sets the voice to be that of the multi-talented entertainment personality.
Malaysian flavour to guidance
Yasmin’s voice is one of the only two options available for voice navigation in Bahasa Malaysia, the other being ‘Shahdan’, a male voice. Once ‘Yasmin’ is chosen as the ‘voice’ of the app, you will get turn-by-turn navigation directions as well as safety tips (like a reminder to strap on your seatbelt or slow down at the sign of the red lights). And what’s even nicer is that some of the advisories are very Malaysian in flavour. Like ‘alamak, miss!’ when you’ve missed an exit you should have taken, or ‘lubang lagi’, a relatable grouse for when a pothole is ahead.
“As I happen to be a professional voice-over artist, and also the original voice of the LRT, I thought it would be fun to do Waze too! All it took was for me to offer my voice in the Waze Malaysia Facebook group, and before I knew it, I was contacted, did an audition tape, and voila – I’m the Bahasa voice of Waze!” Yasmin said.
Like many Malaysians, Yasmin is also irritated by the pronunciation of our street names by Waze and perhaps she will also do them for the app later on. “I only did turn-by-turn instructions this time, but maybe one day I can do the street names too,” she added.
The former Miss Universe Malaysia is no stranger to voice-overs throughout her illustrious career in entertainment, which also includes being a radio presenter for Radio 4, crooning several songs in the late 70s to early 80s, acting in TV dramas and movies, talent managing, and producing several musicals to name a few. Her richly sweet yet authoritative voice could be heard over dozens of radio and TV ads over the years, and now motorists get to hear her voice again on their journeys.
Record your own Waze voice!
Prefer the sound of your own voice? Waze can do that too! Just go to the Menu and Settings and select Voice & Sound. Tap Waze voice and then tap Record new voice. You can select the type of direction you’d like to record and when finished, you can give the voice a name.
Safety first
Waze reminds motorists to use the app as it is intended when driving. It should be placed in a dock or on the dashboard and the hands-free functionality should be used. If you hold the smartphone in your hand while driving, you will be committing an offence.
Today is the final day for the Peraduan Jom! Cuticuti Malaysia Bersama BHPetrol contest where, for just a spend of RM30 at participating BHPetrol stations, you could win a holiday package worth up to RM4,000.
90 prizes to be won
The contest, which has been running since August 18, 2020, has a total of 90 prizes. The Grand Prize for 30 winners consists of 3 days/2 nights for 4 persons to Cherating/Kuala Lumpur/Pulau Pinang/Seremban with meals, tours, RM1,000 pocket money and BHPetrol vouchers worth RM300.
There are also 30 consolation prizes of RM1,000 BHPetrol vouchers and 10,000 ePoints (worth RM100). Additionally, during each week of the contest period, there have been tour packages for 3 lucky customers each week. Most of the weekly winners have already been announced and to see if you are one of them, click here.
Spend just RM30
To participate in the contest, customers contestants just need to spend a cumulative amount of RM30 on petrol or diesel products at any participating BHPetrol service stations and/or any shop items at the BHPetromart (excluding Touch’nGo reload, ePay reload and car wash) during the contest period. All purchases must be swiped with a valid eCard or scanned with eCard Mobile App.
Every eligible accumulated spending of RM30 will be entitled to 1 entry. Where the contestant has registered for the eCard Mobile App, he or she shall be entitled to 3 entries for every eligible accumulated spending of RM30. [Click here for full terms and conditions]
BHPetrol will select the required number of contestants and those who are selected (using a Winner Selection Software Programme based on random algorithm) will be required to correctly answer 3 questions related to BHPetrol, eCard and/or Royale Chulan hotel correctly to qualify as winners.
Yes, there’s a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on in certain areas of the country, and travel is limited in some cases. But once the situation is back to normal, you can start travelling again and wouldn’t it be nice if you have a holiday package waiting for you to use?
Don’t miss your last chance to win that holiday package!
♦ The first casualty right after the race began was Sergio Perez whose encounter at Turn 4 with Max Verstappen forced the BWT Racing Point driver to head back to the pits.
♦ When the race started, winds were strong and rain was forecast. As the cars completed half a lap of the circuit, the first drops of rain began to fall.
♦ Lewis Hamilton had gotten off to a good start but was overtaken by Valtteri Bottas who was caught by surprise by Carlos Sainz and lost his leading position to the McLaren driver. But Sainz had only a brief moment of glory and lost the lead to Bottas who was hotly pursued by Hamilton.
♦ The Red Bull team wanted Max Verstappen to stay out as long as possible before bringing him in for new tyres, but by the 17th lap, it was clear that he was starting to struggle with tyre issues.
♦ A day of drama for BWT Racing Point with both cars involved in collisions. On the 19th lap, Lance Stroll turned in and collided with Lando Norris, resulting in both cars being damaged enough to have to go into the pits for new wings. The Stewards found Stroll to be at fault and gave him a 5-second penalty.
♦ In spite of complaining about tyres, Hamilton regained the lead on lap 20 and began to try to pull further away from Bottas.
♦ Before the race reached its halfway point, Stroll got another bit of bad news from his team – another time penalty of 5 seconds for driving out of track limits too often.
♦ At the halfway mark, Hamilton was in a steady lead with 8 seconds separating him from Bottas. Charles Leclerc had moved up to third but was not a threat as he was 21 second behinds Bottas. The Ferrari driver managed to slip into the pits to change tyres and lost only one place when he rejoined the race behind Verstappen.
♦ By lap 40, the Mercedes-AMG team decided that Hamilton needed to change his tyres but the British driver seemed reluctant to come in even though he was a comfortable 8 seconds in the lead.
♦ On lap 41, the Stewards decided that Romain Grosjean had been warned enough times about exceeding track limits and gave him a 5-second penalty. Bottas was also starting to get warnings as well. Alexander Albon would also get a warning later on.
♦ A slow puncture was detected on Norris’ car and he began falling back on lap 43, taking care to reach the pits safely for a tyre change.
♦ With 53 laps completed, it looked like the Portuguese GP would see all cars completing the race… but then Stroll came into the pits and didn’t leave again. He was already in last place anyway.
♦ With 10 laps to go, Verstappen decided not to press hard to try to catch Bottas who was about 10 second ahead. He was fairly safe in third as Leclerc was 20 seconds behind, so the sensible thing to do was to make sure he got the car to the finish.
♦ On the 58th lap, Hamilton told his team that he was experiencing cramps… a case of dehydration? But it seemed to do him good as he went on to set the fastest time!
♦ Hamilton took the chequered flag of the 66-lap race with a 25-second lead and that win was his 92nd, which means he holds the record for the most number of wins in F1 history.
