Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd is back with a brand new contest that offers lucrative prizes to appreciate its customers. Known as the MUDAH MENANG CONTEST, it is open to all valid BHPetrol eCard members at participating BHPetrol service stations. The contest starts this month and will end on May 30, 2021.
To participate in this contest, customers only need to spend a minimum of RM30 on petrol or biodiesel products at any BHPetrol service station and/or purchase any items from participating BHPetromart stores during the contest period. Each purchase must be swiped with a valid registered eCard or scanned with the eCard mobile application. Each accumulated expenditure amounting to RM30 is entitled to 1 entry.
A total of 51 winners will receive prizes consisting of the Grand Prize of RM33,333 in cash plus 100,000 ePoint points for 3 winners; the Consolation Prize of RM3,333 Cash; and 30,000 ePoints for 3 winners. There are also Weekly Prizes of 100,000 ePoints points for 3 winners per week.
Additionally, there are Monthly Prizes specially for customers who use the eCard online application during the contest period. Two winners are eligible to receive one unit of iPhone 12 (64GB) or one unit of iPad Gen 8 each.
“At BHPetrol, we always strive to provide the best to our customers by offering the best quality fuel, a wide selection of attractive items at BHPetromart stores and adequate public facilities. Through this Mudah Menang contest, it is our way of showing appreciation to all customers for their continued support. In addition, we hope that more customers will take the opportunity to become eCard loyalty members to enjoy various privileges every time they refuel or shop at BHPetrol,” said BHPetrol General Manager of Marketing. Lawrence Chuah.
To obtain the free BHPetrol eCard application, visit the Apple Appstore or Google Playstore. After installation, registration as a member can be made.
To know more about BHPetrol products and services as well as the location of service stations, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.
Since 1996, the Official Safety and Medical cars have been supplied by Mercedes-AMG for each round of the Formula 1 World Championship. This year, a new era starts with cars from Aston Martin taking on the important roles (for a certain number of races), coinciding with the return of the British marque to Formula 1.
Aston Martin will supply the FIA with a Vantage for the Safety Car which was the Mercedes-AMG GT R in recent years. The Vantage Safety Car is specially equipped for the critical role of intervening and controlling the pace of an event involving the fastest racing cars in the world. It also has chassis and aerodynamic improvements for high-speed driving as well as a few additional modifications to make it FIA-compliant, like all racing cars in international motorsport.
Mercedes-AMG has been supplying the Official F1 Safety Car and Medical Car since 1996 (above and below),
The Safety Car will still be driven by Bernd Maylander (DE) who has been doing the duty for over 20 years. Th Aston Martin will remain on standby in the pit lane throughout the race and when deployed by Race Control in the event of bad weather or an accident, the former race driver, accompanied by co-driver Richard Darker, will speed to the head of the field to safely control the pace of the pack, neutralizing the event and allowing any incident to be managed safely by the circuit’s officials.
In the event that the racing cars must follow the Safety Car for a period of time, the speeds cannot be low as tyre temperatures can drop when they are running at sub-optimal speeds. These fast lap times are essential and the Safety Car must have the performance to maintain this.
When necessary, the F1 Safety Car is deployed during the race to lead the racing cars in convoy but the speed has to be fast enough for the F1 car so that their tyres do not cool down too much.
To have this capability, the Vantage provided has had its power has increased by 25 ps to 535 ps, delivered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 685 Nm of peak torque. Interestingly, this is the same ‘heart’ as the previous Safety Car as the M177 engine is supplied by Mercedes-AMG to Aston Martin for some of its models.
The torque curve has been adjusted to allow for longer sustained maximum output. With additional work on the transmission means the driver has a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts.
The Vaned grille coupled with a new front splitter creates 155.6 kgs of downforce at 200 km/h – more than 60 kgs than the production model produces at the same speed. Modifications to the suspension, steering and dampers have also been undertaken, with further detailed underbody bracing modifications to increase front structural stiffness.
Having already developed a cooling system that proved effective in extreme conditions and temperatures on the multiple championship-winning Vantage GT4 racing car, Aston Martin engineers transferred this technology into the Safety Car, along with the addition of extra vents in the bonnet to support further cooling.
It runs on standard Pirelli road tyres (but with a lower profile) and has the same carbon-ceramic brakes found on the production Vantage, with additional brake ducts hidden within the front grille to aid cooling.
The F1 Safety Car has prominent FIA Safety Car livery and noticeable external equipment. There are bodyside mounted radio antennas, an LED rear number plate and a bespoke, roof-mounted LED light-bar, developed by Aston Martin.
The light-bar sits on a carbonfibre plinth, raised above the roofline. Bright orange lights on the outer edges of the light-bar illuminate when the Safety Car is in action. A centrally positioned amber flashing light then illuminates once it in position ahead of the race leader – indicating that no one should overtake.
Two centrally positioned green lights are illuminated once it is safe for the F1 cars to pass. The headlamps and taillamps also flash to aid the safe deployment of the car. The rear numberplate displays ‘SAFETY CAR’ illuminated by LEDs, making it clear to drivers in the cars behind in all weather conditions. A rear-facing camera is also fixed to the light-bar that feeds a live image into a second rearview mirror located inside the cabin, allowing the co-driver to monitor any activity at the rear.
In the cabin, the standard seats have been replaced by FIA-approved racing seats equipped with a 6-point safety harness, the same as those found in the F1 cars. Two screens are mounted on the dashboard, providing the driver and co-driver with a live television feed and a variety of customizable information displays, including live lap timing and the track positioning of all active racing cars.
The centre console has been modified significantly. The rotary dial has been moved back to where the cupholder was positioned and in its place sits a switch control system used to execute a number of actions, including activating the siren, radio communications and controlling the light-bar LEDs. The ‘Marshalling System’ is integrated into the instrument cluster and the dashboard, allowing both the driver and co-driver to see which colour flag is being shown on the track, by the illumination of the same coloured LED light. This is a similar system to that also used by regulation in all F1 team cars. TV cameras are also mounted on top of and inside the car, to provide live TV footage.
The Official F1 Medical Car is the Aston Martin DBX (above), the brand’s first SUV. The role of this vehicle is to speed to the scene of an accident to provide medical assistance as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. This was demonstrated last year when Romain Grosjean had a horrifying crash and his car caught fire; the Medical Car arrived quickly and the crew was on the spot to provide immediate medical support before other medical personnel arrived.
Like the Safety Car, the Medical Car is finished with Lime Green accents as well as the prominent FIA medical car livery, along with the LED rear numberplate and roof-mounted LED light-bar which sits upon the roof rails. It also has the AMG-supplied V8 engine, also found in DB11 and Vantage, tuned to deliver 550 ps/700 Nm, clearly enough to allow the Medical Car to reach any spot on a track quickly.
There is a substantial amount of equipment including a large medical bag, a defibrillator, two fire extinguishers and a burn kit – all of which can fit into the 632 litres of boot space.
While the interior trim is similar to what customers get, the central rear seat has been removed, and the remaining four seats have been replaced with sport bucket seats, each equipped with a 6-point safety harness. These provide seating for the driver, Alan van der Merwe, and Dr. Ian Roberts – the FIA Formula 1 Medical Response Coordinator, as well as a Local Doctor, leaving one spare, in case an incident requires a racing driver to be driven back to the pit lane.
Much like the Safety Car, two screens have been mounted onto the dashboard to provide live race footage. An additional screen is used to read live biometric data delivered via technology in the drivers’ gloves, which in the event of an accident, provides critical information on their condition. The ‘Marshalling System’ and the rearview mirror camera display have also been installed into the Medical Car.
The Official F1 Safety and Medical Cars have similar colours as the Aston Martin AMR21 racing cars.
The development of the two cars was carried out by the engineering team at Aston Martin. There was endured significant testing, which included high-speed durability assessments and aggressive circuit driving at Aston Martin’s own facility, clocking almost 15,000 kms collectively. The cars have also been tested in a dyno climate chamber to ensure they will perform in all race conditions.
The two Aston Martins in action will be visible to the public for the first time during the 3-day pre-season test at Bahrain (March 12 – 14), and then again during the opening round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship at the same venue 2 weeks later. The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 will be broadcast live on March 28 from 7 pm Bahrain time (midnight Malaysian time).
Perodua has always been in a challenging position as an entry-level carmaker in Malaysia. Although its models are priced at the lowest levels in the market, it has had to also provide features that are expected by Malaysian consumers, regardless of how cheap the car may be. Where, in other markets, an entry-level model can have minimum features – and customers accept it – Malaysians are often not happy if, say, there are no power windows.
Thus, the challenge for Perodua has been to keep its production costs as low as possible so that it can still provide all the ‘must-have’ features in its models. Being affiliated with Daihatsu Motor (which is part of the Toyota Group) has made it easier as there is a lot of sharing of technology and components, so economies of scale push costs down.
Higher safety standards with ASA 3.0
Apart from its services being a much higher standard than would normally be expected of a brand in the entry-level segment, Perodua has also been pushing ahead in the area of safety. With the third generation of the Myvi, Perodua introduced its Advanced Safety Assistance (ASA) system with, among other active safety features, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Unlike ABS, this is something that is not common in all cars yet but Perodua customers have it.
With the new Ativa, the company has raised its safety standards further with ASA 3.0 which has even better capability. ASEAN NCAP, the independent safety assessment organisation, has also tested the Ativa at its own facility in Melaka. It released a statement that commends the company for making ‘a remarkable performance by achieving 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating with a total score of 83.40 points’.
New, tougher protocol
The Ativa is the first model ASEAN NCAP has assessed under its new and tougher 2021-2025 protocol. In this first assessment using the new assessment protocol, the Ativa obtained 37.48 points over 40.00 points for the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category, 17.36 points over 20.00 for the Child Occupant Protection (COP) category, 18.57 points over 20.00 for Safety Assist Technologies (SAT) category, and 10.00 points over 20.00 for the Motorcyclist Safety (MS) assessment category.
Detection capability of the third generation of the Perodua Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) system works at higher speeds – up to 120 km/h for vehicles; up to 60 km/h for pedestrians); and it can now detect 2-wheeled vehicles as well as function at night.
Many standard safety systems
ASEAN NCAP noted that the new compact SUV offers as standard fitment on all its variants items such as SRS airbags(6 in total), Electronic Stability Control, ABS, Seatbelt Reminder System for both front and rear occupants, Autonomous Emergency Braking City, AEB Inter-Urban and AEB Pedestrian.
In addition to these technologies, other advanced safety assist technologies are also available either as standard or optional fitment (depending on the variant). These are Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Warning System, and Lane Keep Assist (LKA). These are systems which you would find in more expensive high-end models nowadays but the Ativa is priced no more than RM72,000 (excluding insurance).
The model has successfully met the items requirement under the new MS assessment pillar in which it offers Blind Spot Detection and Auto High Beam as optional equipment and a Pedestrian Protection technology or vulnerable road-user as standard fitment.
“We would like to congratulate Perodua Ativa for being the first car model to be assessed under the new ASEAN NCAP 2021-2025 protocol. As the motorization industry advanced, ASEAN NCAP has ensured the new protocol will enhance the safety performance of the vehicles in the ASEAN region,” said MIROS Director-General who is also ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General and Acting Chairman, Adjunct Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim.
“With this protocol, we are not only protecting the safety of the vehicle occupants but also taking into consideration the safety of other vulnerable road- users especially motorcyclists as statistics showed a high number of fatalities amongst this group of road-users in the South East Asian region,” he said.
“Thus, we are proud our own local manufacturer has stepped up to the challenge and true to their words, they have successfully claimed the 5-Star rating under this newly stringent protocol. We hope the achievement by Perodua Ativa will be an example for other new vehicle manufacturers to follow in their development process of producing safer cars for the ASEAN road users,” he added.
Volkswagen has been rolling out is all-electric ID. range of vehicles but by 2026 – that’s just 5 years away – the carmaker will go further with its electric vehicles. This will be the outcome of Project Trinity which will see an electrically powered sedan that will set new standards in terms of range, charging speed and digitisation. It will also have autonomous driving capabilities higher than what is currently available.
The project name ‘Trinity’ is derived from the Latin ‘trinita’ and stands for the ‘tri-unity’. Accordingly, Trinity stands for three crucial themes: a newly developed electronics platform with state-of-the-art software, the simplification of the supply structure, and fully networked and intelligent production at the main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany.
The all-electric Volkswagen ID. family is already appearing in showrooms.
“Trinity is a sort of crystallisation point for our ACCELERATE strategy, a lighthouse project, our software dream car,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “The newly developed vehicle architecture will set standards in terms of range, charging speed – charging as fast as refuelling – and digitalisation.”
Greater autonomy, less driver involvement
In addition, Trinity will make autonomous driving in the volume segment possible for many people. By the planned start of volume production in 2026, Trinity will already reach Level 2+ and be technically ready for Level 4. With this level, human interaction is not required so the driver does not have to maintain a view of the road ahead or surroundings. It is expected that the artificial intelligence will be advanced enough to assess more complex situations, and take action to avoid an accident. This is already available now with Automatic Emergency Braking but the driver still needs to give attention.
Autonomous driving for more people
“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many people and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet – for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” said Mr. Brandstatter. “Trinity thus gives people time and saves them stress. After a long highway trip, you arrive at your destination relaxed – because you have been driven by a ‘chauffeur’ to your vacation or to your home after work. Trinity therefore becomes a kind of ‘time machine’ for our customers.”
With the production of the new model, the Wolfsburg plant will become a showcase for state-of-the-art, intelligent and fully networked production processes. “We will completely rethink the way we build cars and introduce revolutionary approaches. Digitalisation, automation and lightweight construction play an important role here,” added Mr. Brandstatter.
Future vehicle models such as Trinity will be produced with considerably fewer variants, and the hardware will be largely standardised. The cars will then have virtually everything on board and customers will be able to activate desired functions ‘on demand’ at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car. This will significantly reduce complexity in production.
New business models
By developing the automobile into a software-based product, Volkswagen is creating the conditions for new, data-based business models. Entry barriers to individual mobility are to be lowered while, at the same time, offering even more attractive usage packages.
Volkswagen intends to generate additional revenue in the usage phase – for charging and energy services, for software-based functions that customers can book as needed, or for automated driving. “In the future, the individual configuration of the vehicle will no longer be determined by the hardware at the time of purchase. Instead, customers will be able to add functions on demand at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car,” Mr. Brandstatter predicts.
The latest Lamborghini to be announced, with deliveries starting later in 2021, is the Huracan STO (Super Trofeo Omologata), a road-homologated super sportscar inspired by Lamborghini racing cars. These include the Huracan EVO Super Trofeo developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corsa for the brand’s own race series, as well as the Huracan EVO GT3, 3-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona and 2-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring.
With its 640 bhp/565 Nm naturally-aspirated V10 engine, the rear-wheel drive Huracan STO is said to take just 3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, reaching 200 km/h in another 6 seconds, and on to a claimed top speed of 310 km/h.
As with other Lamborghini models, it has racing car DNA with superior aerodynamic efficiency, extensive use of lightweight materials, and first-class braking performance.
‘Made in Lamborghini’ design solution
The term ‘Cofango’ derives from the fusion of two Italian words: cofano (bonnet) and parafango (fender), created by Automobili Lamborghini to describe the design solution in which the bonnet, fenders and front bumper are integrated into a single component.
This innovative system created by Lamborghini engineers was inspired by the Miura and the more recent Sesto Elemento; applied to the STO, it is made entirely of very light carbonfibre. The key for opening the fastenings on the STO’s Cofango is unique: it was developed in-house by the R&D team and made using an innovative 3D printing technique.
Incidentally, the confango is one of over 2,750 components that make up the latest Lamborghini model.
Dynamic pit stop in just 3 seconds
There is not much that can be changed in 3 seconds, but the set-up of the Huracan STO is one. Three new driving modes – STO (normal driving), Trofeo (race mode) and Pioggia (raining or wet) – adapt the set-up of the car to match high-performance driving environments. The Huracan STO allows the driver to experience a dynamic pit stop, as if a team of mechanics were right there!
3 times around the world in simulator tests
Lamborghini’s R&D team drove a distance equivalent to 3 times around the world in simulator tests before even covering the first kilometre of the Huracan STO’s road tests. State-of-the-art simulator technology allowed the engineers to save time on quality control, lead times, and emissions by verifying that every part of the car fully complied with standards during different stages of the STO’s development, certifying and testing.
25,000 lines of code
Connectivity is a big thing nowadays and the occupants must be provided with various ways to connect to the infotainment system, The Huracan STO also has connectivity in the form of an advanced connected telemetry system. This link between car’s on-board cameras, Connected Cloud Lamborghini and the App Lamborghini UNICA allows, thanks to an intuitive data analysis system and videos enriched with dedicated widgets, to transform the exclusive App dedicated to Lamborghini customers into a real track engineer. The development of this technology on the Lamborghini UNICA App required more than 25,000 lines of code.
“The extensive technical solutions and intelligence gained from both our Super Trofeo and GT3 programs have been refined and embodied in the Huracan STO, allowing the driver to experience the emotions of a racing driver, daily, in a road-legal Lamborghini super sportscar able to set lap records,” said Maurizio Reggiani, Chief Technical Officer, of the car which costs 249,412 euros (about RM1.21 million).
As electric vehicles move into the mainstream, tyremakers are slowly focussing R&D on developing tyres which are more specifically engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements. This will be especially so with the new generation of electrically-powered sportscars like the Porsche Taycan. Issues like weight and rolling resistance will have a great priority.
Specifically for electric sportscars
Michelin’s Pilot Sport EV is the first tyre from the French company which is designed to address the specific demands made by electric sportscars. It is the result of the unique experience acquired by Michelin’s involvement in the all-electric single-seater Formula E racing series.
Michelin, as the tyre supplier for the all-electric single-seater Formula E championship, has developed tyres specifically for the racing cars.
Technological experience from Formula E
A founding partner of Formula E, Michelin proposed a specific solution for the championship’s racing cars that is similar in its concept to a road tyre. The Michelin Formula E tyre is capable of racing in any weather conditions, while its size – 18 inches – is consistent with current road-car norms.
One example of how the Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over 6 seasons in Formula E is the ElectricGrip Compound technology. This features a hard compound for the centre of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tyre.
Additionally, MaxTouch Construction maximizes the tyre’s contact with the road and evenly distribute the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering – delivering longer tread life without sacrificing performance.
Quieter and further
Electric cars run quietly so the tyres will also have to be as quiet as possible. To achieve this, Michelin engineers have cut out 20% of road noise using the company’s Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise.
There is the promise of optimal grip on dry and wet road – irrespective of the tyre’s level of wear – taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sportscars. Resistance to wear is also tailored in response to the high torque and acceleration forces generated by electric powertrains.
The tyre’s low rolling resistance is claimed to extend operating range by up to 60 kms. This has been calculated in a Rolling Resistance internal study comparing a 255/45 R19 Pilot Sport EV (6.7 kg/t) with the same-sized Pilot Sport 4 SUV (8.8 kg/t). In the case of an electric vehicle weighing 2,151 kgs with a range of 540 km, the difference (2.1 kg/t) equates to more than 60 kms of additional range, or more than 10% of the original range.
Carbon-neutral throughout
The new tyre is also an eco-responsible product and will be CO2-neutral at the point of sale. Michelin has cut CO2 emissions from its industrial sites by 25% since 2010 and aims at their carbon neutrality by 2050.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tyre and address the demands of electric sportscar owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO2 emissions associated with the tyre’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO2 emissions associated with tyre production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely.
The Pilot Sport EV will go on sale from April 2021, starting with the China market, followed by Europe and North America from the third quarter of this year. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in the high-growth markets by a factor of eight.
Shell FuelSave 95 is a high quality, proven petrol with robust capabilities that deliver extra kilometres. Now, with Shell Malaysia’s latest brand campaign – Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometre, Ternyata Berbeza – motorists are invited to take a refreshed look at its Shell FuelSave 95 proposition.
Benefits of Shell FuelSave 95
Designed with DYNAFLEX technology, Shell FuelSave 95 saves fuel with reduced friction by up to 90% in critical engine parts to maximize fuel economy. At the same time, it also keeps the engine clean with up to 95% of deposit formation prevented. Finally, there is the extra protection available against wear, corrosion, and deposit build-up, thanks to its ‘Triple Action’ formula.
These key benefits align closely with the findings from a consumer study which revealed that Malaysians chose ‘better mileage’ and ‘cost-savings’ as their top considerations for a quality maingrade fuel. Taking a leaf from the study, Shell Malaysia embarked on the refreshed brand campaign to give Malaysians what they asked for in top quality maingrade fuels: extra kilometres without extra cost.
Invitation to experience
“We place customers at the heart of everything we do; all our fuels are developed with their needs in mind. With the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting many Malaysian households financially, we resonate strongly with our customers and understand that a little extra goes a long way. Shell FuelSave 95 aspires to deliver instant fuel economy from the very first drop and is the smart choice for customers. But don’t take my word for it, try it today and experience for yourself the difference of Extra!” said Shairan Huzani Husain, MD of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd.
To initiate the launch of the campaign, Shell treated Malaysians to a campaign teaser video showcasing not all fuels are created the same, while highlighting Shell’s promise of Extra. There will be more engaging content in this campaign, including a heart-warming TVC that follows the story of a loving Dad who takes care of his baby, with the help of Shell FuelSave 95.
To make the journey extra rewarding, Shell Malaysia has partnered with BonusLink to give customers up to 4X Points whenever they spend a minimum of RM50 to refuel at Shell.
Honda is taking us one step closer to the day when cars will no longer need our involvement to reach the destination. That day is some way down the road and progressive steps will have to be taken as autonomous technologies continue to advance. Basically, the steps will follow those for autonomous vehicles formulated by the American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and there are 5 ‘levels’, each increasing the degree of autonomy.
At this time, many vehicles can provide Level 2, which offers some autonomous operation such as adaptive cruise control where a safe gap will be automatically maintained from the vehicle in front. Automatic Emergency Braking is also a Level 2 capability where the vehicle’s brake will be activated automatically if the driver fails to respond correctly to an impending collision. Level 2 capability, which uses integrated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is moving down in the vehicle price ranges and even the recently-launched Perodua Ativa has it.
Honda now offers Level 3 in a version of its current Legend model which will be available for leasing only in Japan. As with the Clarity FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle produced between 2008 and 2014, Honda is only making a very limited number of units. Like the Clarity, of which only around 70 units were produced and leased, the same cautious approach is being taken for this advanced Legend variant. Honda says it will offer only 100 units for leasing, each based on a price of 11 million yen (about RM413,585). Limiting the model only to Japan will enable engineers to get to any car that has problems for quick examination, as compared to having to travel to other countries.
With Level 3, the amount of automation is greater and the driver can take his or her hands of the steering wheel for extended periods. With conditional automated driving in a limited area, it can perform more driving functions on its own. More advanced sensors constantly monitor the surroundings to ensure the car can proceed safely.
Honda SENSING Elite
The Level 3 capability is available with Honda SENSING Elite, the most advanced version of the Honda SENSING system that is already available in many Honda models sold in Malaysia. One of the ‘elite’ technologies is the Traffic Jam Pilot function, an advanced technology for which Honda has received type designation from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
Traffic Jam Pilot technology enables the automated driving system to drive the vehicle, instead of the driver, under certain conditions such as when the vehicle is in congested traffic on an expressway. For vehicle control, the system determines the position of the vehicle and road conditions using data from 3-dimensional high-definition maps and the global navigation satellite system (which includes GPS), while detecting the vehicle’s surroundings using several external sensors that provide 360-degree input. The automated driving sensors are around the bodywork, subtly integrated into the body panels of the flagship sedan model for a clean appearance.
Locations of the many sensors on the bodywork. Inside the car, a camera also monitors the driver (below).
At the same time, the system tracks the condition of the driver using a monitoring camera mounted inside the vehicle. Based on this wide range of information, the main electronic control unit recognizes current conditions, anticipates future conditions and applies a high-level of control to acceleration, braking and steering inputs to assist the driver and achieve high-quality and smooth driving.
1.3 million kms of testing
To ensure maximum safety and reliability, approximately 10 million patterns of possible real-world situations were simulated during system development, and real-world demonstration tests were conducted on expressways for a total of approximately 1.3 million kms. Moreover, the system incorporates a redundant system design to ensure safety and reliability in the event of a problem with any of the devices.
For autonomous motoring to be possible, environmental conditions must also be safe. Lane markings, signage and traffic signals must be clear so that the car’s sensors can detect them and take the necessary actions.
Specific to this model are Honda SENSING Elite indicator lights with carefully selected and visible positions, sizes, colours, brightness and other details, as well as a 12.3-inch full-LCD graphic meter. The equipment provides an intuitive understanding of system operation status, current driving situation and any requests to transfer control back to the driver.
More advanced autonomous systems
While owners of the Civic and Accord would be familiar with Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), the Honda SENSING Elite system has Adaptive in Lane Driving which assists with the driving of the vehicle and following of vehicles detected ahead within a recognized lane. The system drives the vehicle along the middle of the detected lane while maintaining the pre-set vehicle speed.
Active Lane Change Assist with Hands-off Function is also available, and when activated, the system provides throttle, braking and steering inputs necessary to accomplish the lane change. However, the driver must confirm that this is safe to do so, and also activate the relevant turn indicator. If required and conditions are safe, the system can also guide the car to overtaken a slower vehicle.
While driving using the Adaptive in Lane Driving, if the car is in traffic congestion, the system (under certain slow speed conditions) can take control of acceleration, braking and steering while monitoring the surroundings on behalf of the driver. The system will drive, stop, and resume driving within the same lane while maintaining a proper following interval in accordance with the speed of the vehicle detected ahead.
The benefit to the driver is that while the car is under the control of the system, he or she can watch entertainment on the display screen or do other things, instead of having to stay focussed on the road and other vehicles. This will reduce fatigue and stress while driving in a traffic jam and it is likely that once a driver experiences the benefit, he may never want to be without it!
Emergency stopping
In the event that the driver falls asleep or just does not respond to multiple system requests for a handover (the transfer of control back to the driver), the system will initiate deceleration and stopping of the vehicle by making lane change(s) to the outermost lane or the shoulder of the road. The Traffic Jam Pilot/Hands-off Function will be disengaged, and the system will further urge the driver to respond to the handover request using visual, auditory and tactile alerts including escalated alarm sounds and vibration on the driver’s seatbelt.
If the driver continues to be unresponsive, the system will assist deceleration and stopping of the vehicle while alerting other vehicles around using hazard lights and the horn. When there is a road shoulder, the system assists deceleration and lane changes until the vehicle reaches the shoulder of the road for a safe stop.
To know more about Honda models, technology and services available in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.
2020 was undoubtedly a challenging year for the automotive industry, not just in Malaysia but worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted businesses as restrictions on movements not only affected production of vehicles but sales also slowed down as customers could not visit showrooms. Nevertheless, while the first half of the year saw a slowdown, the second half of 2020 made up for the lost sales. New vehicle sales in the Malaysian market closed at 529,434 units, 12% lower than 2019 but well past the forecast of 470,000 made by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
In fact, some companies did even better in 2020 compared to the year before, and Isuzu Malaysia was one of them. While the brand continued its dominance in the commercial vehicle market for the 11th consecutive year, a large contribution came from the new D-MAX pick-up truck which had its first full year of sales (it was officially launched in Malaysia in September 2019).
We talked to Masayuki Suzuki, Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, to get insights into the company’s impressive performance in 2020, in spite of the difficult conditions and limitations due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Extracts from the interview:
Congratulations on another successful year for Isuzu Malaysia! How was it possible to maintain and even improve the business performance in spite of such tough conditions brought on by the pandemic?
Thank you! Yes, Isuzu Malaysia did remarkably well in 2020 with a total number of 8,820 vehicles delivered to our customers nationwide. We were happy to maintain our leading position in the light commercial vehicle segment for the 11th consecutive year but what helped to push our overall numbers up was the D-MAX which had its first full year of sales.
The latest D-MAX range has up to 11 variants to choose from, meeting different needs and budgets.
How many units of the D-MAX were sold and why was it so popular?
We sold 4,031 units, which was around 4% higher than the number sold in 2019. Of course, in 2019, we had a mixture of sales of the previous generation as well as, from September, the all-new model with the 1.9-litre turbodiesel RZ4E engine. The fact that our volume of D-MAX sales rose confirms that the new engine size is acceptable to customers and even moved the position of the model up one place in the pick-up truck segment in Malaysia.
That’s impressive! Certainly, it was a bold move for Isuzu Malaysia to introduce an engine with a smaller displacement as pick-ups have usually used big engines. Why did Isuzu go for a smaller engine when it had the capable and proven 2.5-litre engine?
Isuzu, as you know, has much experience in engines and the reliability, durability and fuel efficiency of our engines has firmly established the brand in many countries, including Malaysia. Traditionally, light commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks have used bigger engines because they are heavier and they also carry heavy loads. The simple solution before has therefore been to just install a big engine which would provide sufficient power and torque.
However, with the beginning of the 21st century, the need to conserve resources and also reduce pollution has been clear. While there is now a trend towards electrification of powertrains, internal combustion engines will still be around for some time and therefore, it was necessary to find new solutions to address the issues. This led the industry to downsize engines and the benefits were many – reduced weight, reduced size, lower emissions, better fuel efficiency and in countries like Malaysia, lower annual roadtax (in Peninsular, the roadtax for the 1.9-litre engine is 52% lower compared to the 2.5-litre engine).
Of course, a smaller displacement should mean less power is developed and that was true in the past. Today, there are many new technologies which our engineers used and with these advanced technologies, the new engine has 10% more power, 9.4% more torque and lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to the 2.5-litre engine. Not surprisingly, it also has as much as 19% better fuel consumption figures.
Isuzu RZ4E 1.9-litre DDi Blue Power turbodiesel engine
What sort of technologies are used in this new RZ4E engine that have made it possible to achieve such impressive improvements?
There are so many and it is the combination of all the technologies that has led to the great achievement for an engine of such a size. Our engineers used Isuzu’s original analytical technology of diesel combustion and designed the pistons and combustion chambers to burn the fuel and air more completely, extracting every bit of energy available. They also worked hard to reduce internal friction levels and these much lower levels increase performance while also enhancing fuel efficiency.
Incidentally, the engine has 4 valves per cylinder so breathing is efficient but just as importantly, fuel delivery is optimised with the high-pressure injection system. The high pressure sends in fuel that is fully atomised and that makes combustion very efficient, so there is no wastage. Using a turbocharger is not new and has been a solution to boosting output for decades. However, the turbocharger installed in the RZ4E engine has variable geometry vanes. This variability gives better engine flexibility with stronger response, even at the lower rpm range. It is no longer necessary to use a large turbocharger for better boost as the variable vanes can adjust the pressures according to operating conditions. This means that the engine can deliver its best performance at all times.
I should add that we also developed a new 6-speed transmission that gives a higher drive force compared to the transmission used before. The new unit comes with two overdrive gears for fifth and sixth – benefitting fuel economy – and a ‘Gear Change Control Learning’ function to adapt its performance to the driving style.
Isuzu 1.9-litre DDi Blue Power turbodiesel engine won an award from Carlist.My. It was received by the CEO of Isuzu Malaysia, Koji Nakamura (left) and COO of Isuzu Malaysia, Masayuki Suzuki (right).
The engine sounds very advanced but what about reliability? Doesn’t a smaller engine have to work harder and that can affect its service life?
As I mentioned earlier, our D-MAX has been well known for reliability and durability, making it one of the more popular pick-up trucks in the region. For years, the dependability of Isuzu engines has meant fleet operators do not have to worry about downtime in the service centre to carry out repairs or change parts. This was something our engineers ensured would be the same with the new engine. In fact, the extensive testing done in extreme conditions showed that the new engine will have better service life, which means reduced cost of ownership and maintenance in the long run.
The Isuzu Blue Power turbodiesel powertrain as well as the rest of the latest D-MAX have been engineered for the most extreme conditions. This capability was proven when standard vehicles (except for safety equipment) completed the gruelling Borneo Safari last year.
The cast iron engine block, for example, is tougher with not only 13% more stiffness than the 2.5-litre engine but also more wear-resistant, thanks to induction hardening. The timing chain is made of steel, and that will last a long time. The valves also used Hydraulic Valve Lash Adjusters to maintain their settings constantly so that operation is kept at optimum.
Overall, therefore, I am confident that the new 1.9-litre engine is a better engine than what we have offered before – with no drawbacks because of its small size. It is also properly tuned for Malaysian fuel quality, including biodiesel (B20 compliant).
What have your customers said about the new D-MAX?
Our products have fundamentally enjoyed a strong appeal in difficult times. There are many factors that customers have always appreciated, such as good value, low operating cost, high dependability and good all-round capabilities. With the new D-MAX, we have added new technologies that enhance all those aspects.
Those who have bought the new D-MAX have been surprised by how it performs. Some reported that it feels quieter and smoother and that is not their imagination. The engine has actually been engineered to run more smoothly and quietly. Driveability is also noticeably better, the feedback tells us, and this is partly due to the new Vehicle Launch Assist Control that increases engine revs when moving off.
Isuzu D-MAX powered by the 1.9-litre DDi Blue Power turbodiesel engine encountered no difficulties travelling over the Titiwangsa mountain range with a full load on board.
The strength of the D-MAX does not need proving any more but as this model has a smaller engine, we decided to demonstrate its capability once again. We did this by loading a Single Cab model to its maximum permissible capacity of a ton and took it over some of the highest accessible hills along the Titiwangsa Mountain Range. It performed well and in total, over 1,000 kms were clocked – and two bars of fuel still remained in the tank at the finish!
By the way, we also provided the latest D-MAX for the Borneo Safari last year. Isuzu Malaysia has been a major sponsor and supplier of official vehicles for this tough off-road event for 13 years. Naturally, with the introduction of the D-MAX with its new 1.9-litre engine, we saw an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities and prove that it can do equally well. It completed the event which had heavily-modified off-road vehicles and certainly was an eye-opener for many people!
Who are the people who buy the D-MAX? Are they mostly bought for private use or for workhorse functions?
In the past – and I am talking about before the 2000s – pick-up trucks were mainly used for commercial purposes to transport goods in rough terrain. That changed as the vehicles became more comfortable with many convenience features added. So the buyer profiles changed from commercial vehicle operators to include private owners as well. I feel it is quite an achievement that one vehicle type can satisfy both types of customers as it obviously ticks all the right boxes!
The D-MAX is a versatile vehicle for private use as well as for tough workhorse duties.
Pick-up trucks have come a long way from their workhorse days and while they do offer very tough and durable characteristics, the level of development also makes them more appealing to a mass market through their sophistication, comfort features and safety.
Besides the 1.9-litre engine, we also offer the 3-litre turbodiesel engine which is required by some customers in East Malaysia. However, it is clear that most people appreciate all the benefits of the smaller engine as it accounted for 85% of D-MAX sales last year. We also saw a spike in sales of our workhorse models such as the Single Cab and low-rider variants.
The Stealth Edition of the D-MAX was a limited edition model and sold out within 2 months of being introduced.
Continuing the tradition of offering limited edition versions, we developed a Stealth Edition for the D-MAX and it was a hit. Within two months of its launch in August 2020, all units were sold out. Incidentally, we assemble the D-MAX at our own plant in Pekan, Pahang.
How do you see the market in 2021? Will Isuzu Malaysia be launching new models or just focus on consolidating its position as conditions hopefully get better?
The Malaysian Automotive Association is optimistic about the market improving and forecasts an 18% increase in the volume of commercial vehicle and pick-up sales. It is still early to say how the market will be but with the good news that the vaccine for COVID-19 is available in Malaysia, we expect that consumer confidence will grow and with it, new vehicle sales will also go up.
Isuzu dealership in Taiping, Perak.
We are always looking at giving customers more variety to choose from, and there are some new models under consideration. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen our network which is especially important to our commercial customers. We will make sure that Isuzu owners are never far from an Isuzu dealership where they can get support and replacement parts.
Visit www.isuzu.net.my to know more about the D-MAX and other Isuzu products and services available in Malaysia.
Casio is releasing three new EDIFICE high-performance metal chronographs – the EQB-1000AT, ECB-10AT and EFS-S590 – which are made with 6K carbon . The new watches were designed with the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team which has had Casio as a partner since 2016 (when the team was known as Scuderia Toro Rosso).
6K carbon is a material woven from bundles of 6,000 carbonfibres, the same sort of lightweight but strong material used in Formula 1 cars. Carbonfibre is 5 times stronger than steel and one-third its weight, making it ideal for applications where weight needs to be kept low without compromising strength. Areas on the racing cars include the wings and floors.
The new EQB-1000AT, ECB-10AT and EFS-S590 mark the second collaboration with the team. The dial and bezel of the EQB-1000AT, the dial of the ECB-10AT, and the inner ring around the dial of the EFS-S590AT are made of 6K carbonfibre. The team’s navy-blue colour sets the overall tone, and their logo is engraved on the dials, case backs, and band loops.
For the Malaysian market, the model versions available are the EQB-1100AT and ECB-20AT, priced at RM2,799 and RM1,699, respectively. They are available at the G-Shock Kiosk at Isetan The Japan Store and authorized dealer stores around the country.
All three models feature robust sapphire crystals, so there should be no worries about breakage. The EQB-1000AT and ECB-10AT automatically calibrate the time when paired with a smartphone using the dedicated app, delivering the precision busy team members need.
Casio EQB-1100AT
There is also an app which allows users to set world time quickly from a preset selection of about 300 cities. This is certainly something useful to the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team which will travel to different cities around the planet during the Formula 1 World Championship.
Based on the original slim-profile EQB-1000 chronograph with Tough Solar power system, the watch also allows users to set the time on the main display and inset-dial display to any two cities via the app. The durable Cordura fabric band withstands the toughest conditions. The sporty rotating inner ring that shows the time remaining before the user’s next scheduled event.
The Schedule Timer function which syncs with a smartphone’s calendar app to display scheduled start and end times on the LCD and provide audible alerts. The app can draw data from Android and iOS devices.
The Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 car in action during the 2020 championship.
