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Lamborghini launches its first collector’s digital stamp

Everything is going digital these days and collecting stamps seems to be following the trend. Lamborghini, together with Bitstamps, is launching a digital stamp via an App designed to create and collect digital stamps. Each stamp is a ‘single’ digital object: its history and uniqueness are guaranteed by Blockchain technology. The stamp can be purchased, collected, or resold exactly like a paper stamp.

First Lamborghini digital stamp
The first collaboration is dedicated to the Huracan EVO RWD Spyder, a new model Lamborghini unveiled at the beginning of this month, following the company’s reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown. The Huracan EVO RWD Spyder stamp is available from today by downloading the Bitstamps App, and will be issued in a limited and numbered edition of 20,000 pieces.

The stamp is part of a themed series dedicated to the history of the Italian sportscar maker. Over 20 of its most iconic cars will form the Automobili Lamborghini Collection.

Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Spyder — *The recently-launched Huracan EVO RWD Spyder is the first model to be used for the digital stamp collection.*

Within their collection album, Lamborghini fans will be able to admire their stamps, check the progress of their collection and the stamps not yet acquired, decide whether to give them as a gift by sending them with an e-card, or resell them on the Marketplace that will open in the next few months.

About Bitstamps
Working for a long time in the philatelic field, it was not difficult for Nicola Archilli, the CEO of Bitstamps, to notice how the trade in stamps evolved from negotiations in niches to specialized stores, to auction houses and subsequently to web sales. Specialized platforms now have millions of specimens on offer and the market is very dynamic, even if not referred to the rarest and most expensive specimens.

In the digital collectibles sector, there are innumerable types of products offered ranging from clothes for virtual dolls to plots of land where you can build digital cities, but what made him think a lot and land with confidence on the digital stamp was the choice of the largest producer American baseball players card.

In April 2012, the company came out with a new app through which it is possible to buy the digital cards of baseball players. This diversification of the product has led the company, which still continues to print paper cards, to double its turnover by dividing it more or less equally in the two sectors. The new product was a success without going to the detriment of the paper ‘competitor’ and allowed a strong expansion

The Bitstamps App can be downloaded at Google Play and Apple App stores.

Lamborghini debuts Huracan EVO RWD Spyder using Augmented Reality

Safe practices implemented at all authorised Honda dealerships for customers’ peace of mind

All authorised Honda dealerships throughout Malaysia are now fully operational with regards to both showrooms and service centres. Earlier, only service centres had been permitted to resume operations but under the less restrictive Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), the full range of services can now be provided. However, areas such as children’s play area and cafes will remain closed.

Adhering to the Health Ministry’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), all dealerships will conduct temperature screening for customers and require the use of hand sanitizers (to be available at the facilities). Individuals recording temperature of 37.5 degrees C. and above or are exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath will be advised to leave the premises to immediately seek medical attention.

The customer flow at all dealerships has been arranged to have only one entrance and one exit for a more effective check-and-control measure. High traffic or frequently used areas such as the door handles and washrooms are sanitized and disinfected on a regular basis every day. Upon entrance into the showroom, face masks will be provided to the customers. Both customers and Honda sales advisors are required to wear face masks before engaging in any discussion.

All display cars in the Honda dealerships will be cleaned using certified sanitisers regularly every day. Sales advisors are required to adhere to the recommended social distance of 1 metre from customers during the explanation on the exterior of the Honda models. During the demonstration and explanation of interior features of the car, the sales advisors will sit in the rear seat to maintain social distancing at all times.

The same practices will apply during test-drives, with gloves also being provided for use by customers, with the vehicles being sanitized before and after each test drive session, with particular attention to the areas and accessories that are frequently touched. Honda Malaysia encourages the use of contactless payments using electronic transfers.

With regards to hand-over of new vehicles to customers, Honda Malaysia says that in view of the current situation, customers are advised to limit the number of people present to ONE person to avoid having a large crowd in the showroom.

As reported earlier, customers requiring aftersales services must make an appointment first. The number of customers present at any one time for vehicle service in the dealership is limited at minimum capacity.

For those concerned about their vehicle warranties, the company has made special considerations in view of the restrictions caused by the MCO. Warranties which expired between March 18 and May 12, 2020 are extended until June 11, 2020. Scheduled servicing which was required between March 18 and May 12, 2020 can be done before July 11, 2020.

“Even as our dealers commence operations in full, we will continue to emphasise customers and associates’ safety by practising social distancing as well as following the safety practices and guidelines. We have implemented strict precautions for everyone’s wellbeing,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

“Honda Malaysia emphasises that the company is monitoring the development of the situation in the nation closely and working hard to ensure a safe environment in all its operations including dealerships to provide customers with peace of mind when visiting a Honda dealership,” he added.

Honda Malaysia and SOCAR offer cars for use by frontliners

AWD variant added to Mazda CX-30 range in Malaysia

In recent years, as the popularity of SUVs (especially the smaller ones) increased, many importers have focussed more on variants with only 2WD. These are usually cheaper, and customers don’t really care about whether two or all four wheels are powered. They’re more interested in the high seating position and perhaps the ground clearance, as well as interior utility.

However, there are also those who feel that 4WD or All-Wheel Drive (AWD) should be present in SUVs, just like they were in earlier years. Never mind that they might not actually go off-road, the presence of AWD added a degree of stability and grip, especially on wet roads.

When Bermaz Auto introduced the Mazda CX-30 at the beginning of this year, it offered only FWD versions with either SKYACTIV petrol or turbodiesel engines. Now, the range will include an AWD variant which is priced at RM176,059 (Peninsular Malaysia price, without insurance) for those who must have all four wheels powered.

The price is RM12,000 more than the high grade CX-30 which has the same 2-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine. This is not surprising since the i-ACTIV AWD system, which is quite sophisticated, adds cost, apart from the fact that the CX-30 is imported from Japan as a CBU (completely built-up) model.

The features and specs are the same as the CX-30 High Grade and you have a choice of 8 exterior colours – Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver, Snowflake White Pearl, Titanium Flash and Polymetal Gray Metallic.

How Mazda i-ACTIV works
The AWD systems in today’s SUVs vary in sophistication and for Mazda’s i-ACTIV AWD system, the engineers redesigned the system’s hardware and software, taking a proactive approach to controlling drive to all four wheels,

A fully-autonomous AWD system, i-ACTIV AWD constantly monitors surface conditions in real-time, watching for tiny variations in wheel speed that a driver would never notice. Proactively controlling the distribution of torque, which can range from full front-drive through to full 4-wheel-drive, the system not only provides solid and predictable handling for all-road performance, it makes driving on poor road surfaces more efficient by all but eliminating wasteful tyre-slippage.

Using a wide range of sensors to ‘paint’ a highly accurate picture of the overall driving scene, including road conditions and the driver’s intentions, i-ACTIV continuously calculates and adjusts the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels.

The perfect amount of torque is calculated and transferred to the rear wheels instantaneously (as and when needed). This is done by the AWD coupling unit which sends the appropriate drive force to the rear wheels. The system minimizes torque to the rear wheels when on dry road surfaces with good traction. The result is secure take-off, acceleration, cornering and braking, without the tyres slipping in any direction.

The sensors monitor for rain by watching the wipers and the external temperature gauge. The system can also measure how slippery the road surface is by comparing steering torque with the amount of current running through the electric power steering and the gradient of any slope by the degree of acceleration. In addition, the system precisely measures the speed of all four wheels and detects warning signs that indicate the wheels may be in danger of slipping. Along with engine driving force (applied to the front wheels), this is used to understand the driving conditions.

The i-Activ AWD system also has an Off-road Traction Assist system. The system works by distributing the driving force to the tyres that are in contact with the road surface to maximize traction performance.

Additionally, a Torque Control System that allows a lag-free, near-instantaneous response. In order to help the rear-wheel drive unit respond more quickly, the Torque Control System transfers a very small amount of torque to the rear even in front-wheel drive mode. This is known as ‘stand-by torque’ and it helps the system make a smooth and instantaneous transition to AWD drive mode when the command is received to send torque to the rear wheels.

Proven SKYACTIV-G powertrain
As for the powertrain, this uses the proven SKYACTIV-G Direct Injection petrol engine. For the CX-30, the displacement is 1998 cc with a maximum output of 162 ps/213 Nm. Mazda engineers have been able to raise the compression ratio of 13:1 to enhance output without knocking issues even when using RON95 petrol.

Only a SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission is available but using paddle shifters, the driver can also manually select any of the 6 forward speeds if preferred. While the driver can get sportier performance with a SPORT mode, the AWD system operates entirely on its own with no need for driver involvement.

Extras for the base version
With the latest shipment of CX-30 2.0G version, Bermaz Auto has included a couple of new features – Mazda Advanced Keyless entry and Walk-Away Lock – for added convenience. Though priced at RM145,759 or RM18,300 less than the High Grade version, this version still has a very comprehensive list of equipment and features that justify the price. And as we noted during a test-drive, the CX-30 also has high quality in every aspect which gives a very premium image.

Visit www.mazda.com.my to know more about the CX-30 and other Mazda models in Malaysia.

First driving impressions: All-New Mazda CX-30

The phenomenal aerodynamics of the Lotus Evija hypercar explained

Aerodynamics are one of the crucial elements in achieving high performance. Designers and engineers spend thousands of hours running simulations and then testing prototypes in wind tunnels to get the air to flow optimally around the bodywork.

This is the work of Richard Hill as chief aerodynamicist at Lotus Cars, where he has been for more than 30 years. Drawing on his experience and knowledge, the highly experienced senior engineer guided this critical element of the Evija all-electric hypercar to give phenomenal downforce. When asked how the Evija compares to regular sportscars, he replied: “It’s like comparing a fighter jet to a child’s kite.’’

The overall philosophy behind the Evija’s aerodynamics is about keeping the airflow low and flat at the front and guiding it through the body to emerge high at the rear. Put simply, it transforms the whole car into an inverted wing to produce that all-important dynamic downforce.

“Most cars have to punch a hole in the air, to get through using brute force, but the Evija is unique because of its porosity. The car literally ‘breathes’ the air. The front acts like a mouth; it ingests the air, sucks every kilogram of value from it – in this case, the downforce – then exhales it through that dramatic rear end,” explained Hill.

And what role does that deep front splitter play? According to Hill, it’s designed in three sections: the larger central area provides air to cool the battery pack – which is mid-mounted behind the two seats – while the air channelled through the two smaller outer sections cools the front e-axle.

“The splitter minimises the amount of air allowed under the vehicle, thus reducing drag and lift on the underbody. It also provides something for the difference in pressure between the upper and lower splitter surfaces to push down on, so generating downforce.,” he said.

Venturi tunnels through the rear quarters are part of the porosity. They feed the wake rearward to help cut drag. “Think of it this way – without them, the Evija would be like a parachute but with them, it’s a butterfly net, and they make the car unique in the hypercar world,” the engineer explained.

To have active aerodynamics, the Evija’s rear wing elevates from its resting position flush to the upper bodywork. It’s deployed into ‘clean’ air above the car, creating further downforce at the rear wheels. The car also has an F1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS), which is a horizontal plane mounted centrally at the rear, and deploying it make the car faster.

Lotus pioneered the full carbonfibre chassis in Formula 1, and the Evija is the first Lotus road car to use that technology. The chassis a single piece of moulded carbonfibre for exceptional strength, rigidity and safety. The underside is sculpted to force the airflow through the rear diffuser and into the Evija’s wake, causing an ‘upwash’ and the car’s phenomenal level of downforce.

The Evija is set to be the world’s lightest EV hypercar but weight does not actually affect aerodynamic performance. Hill said that the car’s weight has no effect on overall aerodynamics. However, the lighter the car, the larger the percentage of overall grip is achieved through downforce and the lower the inertia of the car to change direction.

Richard Hill’s full title is Chief Engineer of Aerodynamics and Thermal Management, and he has worked at the company’s Hethel HQ since 1986. His role involves collaborating with the exterior designers of all new Lotus vehicles, from the early concept phase of a programme through to testing pre-production prototypes.

Lotus Evija Revealed! Facts & Figures + Video of the world’s most powerful series production road car

Entire Nissan sales and aftersales network now open for business

The authorised Nissan showroom and service centre network in Malaysia is now fully operational, following closure due to the earlier Movement Control Order. With the revision to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), many businesses, including those in the auto industry have been allowed to resume their operations.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) says that while all their outlets have reopened, there are revised operating hours. The hours of operation for each outlet can be found at www.nissan.com.my or www.tceas.com (for service outlets).

SOPs at outlets
In line with the CMCO standard operating procedures (SOPs), the outlets will conduct temperature checks for all staff and customers and require social distancing as well. All staff will wear face masks, and customers can also obtain face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers at no charge while they are on the premises.

Frequent disinfecting will be carried out at the showrooms and service centres throughout the day covering every touchpoint including display and test drive vehicles. Customers are also assured that their vehicles will be disinfected before and after service. During this period, ETCM encourages contactless payments to be used.

Additionally, all vehicle registrations and deliveries will resume progressively as JPJ has started providing the necessary services since yesterday.

New Nissan Online Showroom
Those who are unable to visit Nissan showrooms can also get comprehensive information at the Nissan Online Showroom, also at www.nissan.com.my. The website enables interested customers to submit an online form for sales enquiries and to request appointments for testdrives at their home or office.

For those who are planning to buy a new Nissan vehicle for Hari Raya, the company has various money-saving promotions. Monthly instalments start from RM800 for models like the Almera while selected models come free scheduled maintenance for the first two years (terms and conditions apply).

*If you buy a Nissan Almera 1.5L E Auto Black Series before June 30, 2020, you can get a free accessories package as a Raya bonus.*

Additionally, customers who purchase the X-Trail or Serena S-Hybrid before June 30, 2020, will receive a complimentary 1-year FWD Protect Direct Family Takaful protection plan (up to a family of 4 parents and 2 children) with a sum insured of RM100,000.

Currently, ETCM is running the ‘Nissan Buy & Win’ contest and 20 lucky winners will stand a chance to win CUCKOO Healthy Home Appliances worth up to RM128,888. The contest is on until June 30, 2020.

Use the new Nissan Online Showroom to start your purchase process today

BYD to enter premium luxury market in Europe with Han EV model

China’s BYD, which started off in 1995 as a company making batteries, is getting ready to enter the competitive premium luxury market in Europe. And it will do so with its new flagship model, the Han EV. The Han EV is the first full-electric passenger car equipped with BYD’s advanced ‘Blade Battery’ technology said to deliver greatly enhanced safety, improved range capability and a simplified, smaller pack design.

Drawing on its 25 years of developing battery technology, BYD is using its most advanced EV technologies for this model. The Blade Battery pack has been developed by BYD over the past several years. The singular cells are arranged together in an array and then inserted into a battery pack. Due to its optimized battery pack structure, the space utilization of the battery pack is increased by over 50% compared to conventional lithium iron phosphate block batteries.

BYD mentions safety a lot with regard to the battery pack because it has seen that, in the past few years, many EV manufacturers have fallen into a competition for ever-greater cruising range. When the range becomes the prime factor to consider, this focus then leads to ‘unreasonable pursuits of ‘energy density’ in the battery industry’. In the company’s view, this is not a practical focus as safety considerations are diminished in power battery development. BYD’s Blade Battery is said to bring battery safety back to the forefront, a redirection from the industry’s tenuous focus on this crucial aspect.

To this end, it has subjected it to extreme tests. For example, in nail penetration tests, the battery pack emitted neither smoke nor fire after being penetrated, and its surface temperature only reached 30°C to 60°C. Under the same conditions, a ternary lithium battery exceeded 500°C and violently burned, and while a conventional lithium iron phosphate block battery did not openly emit flames or smoke, its surface temperature reached dangerous temperatures of 200°C to 400°C.

Other extreme test conditions included being crushed, bent, being heated in a furnace to 300°C and overcharged by 260%. None of these resulted in a fire or explosion.

The Blade Battery pack can produce a stable current of up to 800 amps. With power from a high-performance silicon carbide motor-control that has improved peak-current capacity of 58%, the Han EV is claimed to be able to go from standstill to 100 km/h time in a claimed 3.9 seconds, with the fully-charged battery pack able to last for up to 605 kms.

The Han EV is also China’s first mass-produced EV equipped with the ‘IPB Intelligent Integrated Brake System’ by Bosch. This system not only brings braking safety with higher precision but also delivers a longer range and improved braking comfort.

While BYD has pursued the tradition of naming its passenger cars after Chinese dynasties, the Han EV has been conceived, designed and manufactured to the standards more in tune with luxury European cars.

The 4980 mm long sedan has BYD’s new ‘EV Dragon Face’ design language, blending elements of a traditional Chinese Dragon with modern European design cues. The curved front-end and Daytime Running Lights evoke the shape of a traditional Chinese dragon’s face. The high waistline evident along the length of the vehicle integrates seamlessly with the sweeping back line of the D-pillar to deliver a strong sense of movement. A tapered rear lighting cluster envelopes the entire width of the car emphasizing a dynamic attitude.

“The use of the ultra-safe Blade Battery, as well as BYD’s in-house pure electric platform, body structure design, eco-friendly materials and safety systems make the Han EV the safest electric car currently on the market. We believe that the Han EV combines the best of Eastern wisdom and Western aesthetics,” said Yubo Lian, Senior Vice-President of BYD and President of the BYD Auto Engineering Research Institute.

Due for introduction in China at the end of June 2020, the Han EV will go on sale in Europe in due course. The company is confident it can be a contender in the premium-spec, executive car segment and expects to price it in the €45,000 to €55,000 range (about RM212,000 – RM259,000). It is not known if BYD will produce righthand-drive versions, though.

New VW brand logo design comes to Malaysia

At the Frankfurt Motorshow last year, Volkswagen unveiled a new design of the brand logo which has a history back to 1939. Built on the ‘Vibrant Power’ ethos, the ‘New Volkswagen’ is a representation of the brand’s fresh new vision and new attitude.

One of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns, the international roll-out of the new brand design has been taking place progressively since last year and in total, about 70,000 logos at some 10,000 dealerships in 171 markets in 154 countries will be replaced. Locally, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today announced that authorised dealerships and other facilities are now undergoing the change.

With a strong focus on digital application and human elements, the new visual language is remarkably different from that presented by Volkswagen previously. All visuals are bolder and more colourful, incorporating a vibrancy that is translated to the way the brand is communicated. This also applies to the new brand symbols such as pictograms, typography, colours or layout guidelines.

The symbol and trademark for this change is the new Volkswagen logo which is more modern and simpler. The logo has been reduced to its essential elements and presented as a design that is flat and two-dimensional, and more digitally adaptable. In place of its iconic brand claim, Volkswagen for the first time ever has a sound logo represented by a female voice.

The new visual language of the brand will be bolder and more colourful, with focus on people. Volkswagen will no longer concentrate on perfectionism in vehicle photography. In future, the main objective will be to present realistic situations that customers can identify with.

“We have always been digital first here in Malaysia, having pioneered numerous ground-breaking initiatives, from selling our cars on ecommerce sites to launching our digital showroom. In such challenging times, we recognise the need to be even more customer-centric, and to be able to move to the new brand design completes this transformation for us. The principles of ‘people first, ‘new attitude’ and ‘digital first’ will shape our future direction in better reaching out and creating a new Volkswagen experience for our customers,” Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, said.

In Malaysia, a total of 21 dealerships will be revamped externally and internally in stages, over the coming months. The Volkswagen Malaysia website and all its social media channels have also been revamped in line with the new brand design.

All 21 authorised Volkswagen dealerships in Malaysia will switch to the new brand logo during 2020.

The website now features a simpler user navigation and accessibility for both desktop and mobile, with comprehensive information on the model range, sales and aftersales offerings, test drive bookings, dealer network information, and a stories and newsroom section.

During the online press briefing today, Mr. Winter also mentioned that the company will be adding the Passat R-Line and Arteon R-Line to its range during 2020. He also said that for the safety of customers, all dealerships have initiated contactless processes for sales and aftersales services. These include invoice preparation, cashless payments and pick-up of vehicles at service centres.

Visit www.volkswagen.com.my to know more about the vehicles and services available.

Click here for more news and article on Volkswagen.

Bermaz Auto provides Mazda Contactless Service for everyone’s protection

Like all companies which have been permitted to resume operations after a lengthy shutdown due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), the Bermaz Auto Group has to comply with Standard Operating Procedures for the protection of customers as well as the company’s employees.

The safety standards set by the Ministry of Health will be fully adhered to, particularly in the ‘last-mile’ service to customers. To achieve this, Bermaz will provide Mazda Contactless Service where human contact is minimized.

Two ways to get vehicle serviced
Mazda Contactless Service comes with the choice of Collect & Deliver Service or Mobile Service. The Collect & Deliver Service is available at selected service centres via appointment. The location of the vehicle should be within a radius of 10 kms of the service centre. The Mobile Service, available since 2017 in certain areas, brings the service centre to your doorstep but an appointment is required. Before and after service work, Bermaz personnel will disinfect the interior of the vehicle.

Bermaz Mazda — *File picture of a Bermaz Auto service centre.*

Extension of warranty/free service
Understanding that these are challenging times, Bermaz wants to give its customers flexibility so the company has extended its warranty and free scheduled maintenance for those affected by the restrictions of the MCO. The extension accorded will be equivalent to the same period of time as the MCO being in effect.

A message from the Executive Chairman
“We are now in an unusual situation, caught in a global pandemic, a time that none of us have ever experienced before. We are now under the Movement Control Order to ensure Social Distancing. I am sure this will put a lot of stress on us and our families because we, as humans, our activities are always centre around family, friends, and colleagues. But we know this is necessary to ensure we curtail this epidemic in our community and reduce the contagion effect,” said Dato’ Sri Ben Yeoh, Executive Chairman of Bermaz Auto.

“We stay at home and practice social distancing but always remember to spread love and care, through constant contact with the people we love. Connectivity can still be practiced even when we are distancing. Modern technology has allowed us to practice the varied uses of mobile devices and their platforms, internet and computer devices. We will pull out of this crisis stronger and more resilient in the future,” he added.

For more information or assistance, visit www.mazda.com.my.

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

Innovation in the steering wheel coming in mid-2020 in Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Since the first motorcar appeared in 1886, its overall shape and many individual elements have evolved over the decades, changing as new technology or new design philosophy was adopted. The steering wheel is one example and though it may seem as if this ‘device’ for controlling the car’s movements has never changed, the degree of change is actually quite significant.

The first step towards the modern steering wheel was taken by the then Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft 120 years ago. The first car in the world, invented by Carl Benz, had managed without a steering wheel. The driver used a simple steering lever or steering crank because at the time, carriage drivers were used to pulling on the right or left to direct the horses in the desired direction.

The first steering wheel as we know it today appeared in 1894 at the world’s first automobile race. A French engineer, Alfred Vacheron, is considered the inventor of the steering wheel. For the race – from Paris to Rouen in July 1894 – he installed a steering wheel instead of the usual steering lever in his Panhard & Levassor, which was powered by a Daimler engine.

Benz Patent-Motorwagen, 1886Benz Patent-Motorwagen, 1886 — *The first motorcar by Carl Benz had no steering wheel at all. But within 8 years, the control device would appear in a car for racing purposes (below).*

This wheel gave him better control because the steering movement of the front wheels could be distributed over several turns of the steering column from a neutral central position until it stopped. This enabled more precise steering and thus higher driving speeds. Although the Frenchman placed only 11th, the steering wheel prevailed.

From then on, the growing number of carmakers would adopt the steering wheel. And while, for many decades, the steering wheel had only a pad or button to activate the horn, it eventually gained buttons to give the driver more functionality. It has become something of a ‘high-tech command centre’ which enables the driver to steer precisely and, at the same time, comfortably and safely operate numerous comfort and assistance systems.

An innovation in steering wheels
In mid-2020, Mercedes-Benz will introduce in its E-Class (W213) a new, comprehensively digitalized generation of steering wheels. Known as the capacitive steering wheel, its rim contains a two-zone sensor mat that detects whether the driver’s hands are gripping the steering wheel. The touch control buttons placed in the spokes also work with digital signals.

Developers and designers have worked closely on this innovative steering wheel. For example, every millimetre of a circuit board determines how elegantly the surface can be designed. It’s all about looks and, above all, haptics (the science of applying touch sensation and control to interact).

“Steering-wheel design is a world of its own and a very special challenge that is often underestimated,” explains Hans-Peter Wunderlich, Creative Director Interior Design at Mercedes-Benz, who has been designing steering wheels for around 20 years.

Mercedes-Benz steering wheel — *How steering wheels have evolved over the decades.*

Physical contact
“Besides the seat, the steering wheel is the only component in the vehicle with which we have intensive physical contact. The fingertips feel little things that we normally don’t notice. If an unevenness is disturbing or the steering wheel does not fit snugly in our hands, we don’t like it. This haptic sensation is sent to the brain as feedback and determines whether or not we like the car. The emotional connection to a car is thus created through the sense of touch,” he says.

With the new generation of steering wheels with capacitive hands-off detection, the sensors on the front and back of the rim register whether the steering wheel is being held. No more steering movement is required to signal the assistance systems that the vehicle is under control.

Touch Control buttons integrated into the steering wheel spokes will also function capacitively. This reduces the mechanical operating surfaces to a maximum. The seamless control panels, which are divided into several functional areas, are precisely integrated flush with the spokes. As with a smartphone, touches are recorded and evaluated via capacitive sensor technology, which enables intuitive operation via swiping gestures and pressing of familiar symbols.

The high-quality materials have been selected in such a way that operation is possible even in an interior heated up by sunlight. The system automatically recognises where the finger is at any given moment.

Perfect proportions
The steering wheel is available in three versions: Sport, Luxury and Supersport. “It is the most beautiful steering wheel we have ever built,” says Hans-Peter Wunderlich. “The proportions of the airbag, spokes and rim are absolutely harmonious. The airbag is not concealed but staged as a flattering sphere.”

In the Luxury version, the spokes form a chalice inspired by elegant Callas flowers in a black panel look, in which the sphere floats. For the “Supersport version, it is held by two double-decker spokes in black panel design, reminiscent of the wheel wing nuts of sportscars. The size of the steering wheel has remained the same compared to the previous generation.

Mercedes-Benz owners in Malaysia can now enjoy Mercedes me connect

Toyota commemorates 20th anniversary of Prius hybrid model with special edition

Twenty years ago, with the Y2K computer glitch reduced to the punchline of the year, technology in another corner took a big leap as a small sedan appeared in the automotive landscape in America. It was the Toyota Prius, the world’s first production car with a hybrid powerplant consisting of a small internal combustion engine which worked with an electric motor.

First Generation Toyota Prius — *The original Prius*

The Prius would profoundly change the trajectory of automotive propulsion evolution and prepare motorists for the transition to electric vehicles. Over the next two decades, Toyota would go on to sell more than 6 million Prius hybrids worldwide, with more than 3.6 million total hybrid models (including Lexus) sold in the USA alone.

And so, on its 20^th anniversary in America, Toyota has come out with 2,020 units of a special anniversary version. The cars will be offered in Supersonic Red or Wind Chill Pearl and feature striking black exterior trim and unique features, including a colour-keyed rear spoiler.

There are also black inserts for the 17-inch alloy wheels, black-out headlight components and trim, B-pillars and mirror housings. Also unique to the Prius 2020 Edition, as it is known, are a ‘2020’ insignia key glove/fob and floormats, as well as black shift knob and interior A-pillar trim and smoked air vents.

For the latest Prius, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS) is now available, providing the driver with more assistance that can help avoid accidents. The Pre-Collision System is now enhanced with Low-Light Pedestrian Detection while the forward sensors can detect bicyclists.

The foundation of Prius efficiency is the Toyota Hybrid System II (shown above). It operates much in the same fashion as the original hybrid system but is more compact, more powerful, and more fuel-efficient. Today’s system uses a high-efficiency 1.8-litre 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine working with two motor-generators through an electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The advanced Power Control Unit is the key to extracting the greatest efficiency from the powertrain. In most situations, the Prius launches on battery power alone and then seamlessly starts the petrol engine and blends its output once underway, turning it off when its power is not needed.

After 20 years, the Prius has reached its fourth generation which sits on the Toyota New Global Architecture-K platform (TNGA-K). It is the most efficient and quietest Prius ever offered and is available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as well as an AWD-e variant with all-wheel drive.

Four generations of hybrid power and still moving forward with technology

Piston.my

English

Lamborghini launches its first collector’s digital stamp

AWD variant added to Mazda CX-30 range in Malaysia

The phenomenal aerodynamics of the Lotus Evija hypercar explained

Entire Nissan sales and aftersales network now open for business

BYD to enter premium luxury market in Europe with Han EV model

New VW brand logo design comes to Malaysia

Bermaz Auto provides Mazda Contactless Service for everyone’s protection

Innovation in the steering wheel coming in mid-2020 in Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Toyota commemorates 20th anniversary of Prius hybrid model with special edition

Lamborghini launches its first collector’s digital stamp

AWD variant added to Mazda CX-30 range in Malaysia

The phenomenal aerodynamics of the Lotus Evija hypercar explained

Entire Nissan sales and aftersales network now open for business

BYD to enter premium luxury market in Europe with Han EV model

New VW brand logo design comes to Malaysia

Bermaz Auto provides Mazda Contactless Service for everyone’s protection

Innovation in the steering wheel coming in mid-2020 in Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Toyota commemorates 20th anniversary of Prius hybrid model with special edition

Archive

Review – The New Honda CRV e:HEV Hybrid Is The Real Master of Efficiency

Study Reveals Mixed Reactions to Advanced Tech in 2024 Vehicles

Mechanic and Staff Injured After BMW Owner Drives Off Without Paying RM38,000 Bill

UMW Toyota Motor Announces Order-Taking For The Enhanced 2024 Hilux, Fortuner And GR86

Volvo Car Malaysia Unveils “A Volvo Made for You” Showcase

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