Although Daihatsu is better known by Malaysians for its involvement with Perodua, the company also has its own business activities which are carried out through its own subsidiary, Daihatsu Malaysia Sdn Bhd (DMSB) which was established in the early 1980s.
Just as Mitsubishi Motors withdrew from marketing passenger cars when it tied up with Proton, Daihatsu also stopped selling its popular cars when it became Perodua’s technical partner. DMSB focussed on light commercial vehicles and built up a strong business in the segment, especially among the pasar malam traders.
It currently sells the Gran Max which has been in the market for over 10 years and has been constantly improved. This year sees a minor update to the model with added features for the convenience of the occupants. The updates are power windows, a multimedia system, reverse camera and 12V/24V Fast Charging USB port.
Pricing starts from RM73,888 and DMSB accepts bookings online at its website. The company also provides engineering services for the bodywork and accessories required by customers for their type of business.
“Daihatsu Malaysia aims to provide an overall driving experience in providing comfort, reliability, safety and above all convenience and practicality in every drive.” said Arman Mahadi, Managing Director of DMSB. “Convenience and practicality are one of the strongest consideration aspects for commercial vehicle usage. Thus, the concept behind the Gran Max Minor Change (MC) is to honour the hardworking workforce behind every successful business, particularly the men and women behind the wheel of the Gran Max”.
The power windows are on both doors and for the convenience of the driver, the passenger’s side window can also be operated from the right door. Part of the reason DMSB has decided to p[provide power windows is also to improve safety: the driver needs almost no effort to raise or lower the windows and can give more attention to driving.
Some vehicle operators spend long hours on the road and would appreciate having some music for their journey. With the multimedia system installed in the Gran Max, they will have infotainment and connectivity that will help the hours pass by faster. With touch controls, the driver can easily manage functions for entertainment or other features.
The multimedia system used the Android 10.0 operating system which has an interface familiar to most people as it is similar to what is on many portable devices. It has a double-DIN head unit player with tuner and can also obtain media from other sources using the AUX jack and USB port.
The multimedia system also has Bluetooth which allows pairing with mobile devices, specifically smartphones. It can enable driving mode for mobile phonebook syncing on calls and music playback, and can accept or end calls, even while driving.
Additionally, there’s Android and iOS PhoneLink for use with cable mirroring. This allows smartphone displays to be transferred onto the display of the infotainment system. This means that GPS route navigation systems can now be viewed on the larger screen, another benefit to motoring.
The multimedia system is linked to the reverse camera which displays its images on the 7-inch display. The availability of a reverse camera will certainly improve safety. Even though the Gran Max is compactly sized (for a commercial vehicle), there are still areas behind the vehicle which the driver cannot see. With the camera, parking and reversing can be done more easily and confidently in tight spaces.
Hopium is a French car brand you probably never heard of. In fact, before October 2019, it never existed and was established in that month by Olivier Lombard, the youngest winner in the 24 hours of Le Mans (LMP2 class). Hopium is the brand of Hydrogen Motive Company which will make high-end hydrogen-fuelled vehicles (FCEVs).
Now 31 years old, Lombard starts off with 7 years of personal experience with such vehicles and has assembled a team of experts as well as business partners to develop the car of the future. While the transport sector alone is responsible for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, Hopium is positioning itself as a player in the fight against climate change.
Prototype developed in record time
The development work began in October 2020 and by June 2021, the first prototype was produced in record time. It has been known as Alpha 0 and is used to certify the reliability of the fuel cell system. After the design and architecture phases, followed by the implementation of the various components within the vehicle, the prototype went through lab and track tests. It has already reached a maximum speed of 200 km/h, the performance level which is promised for the Machina, as the production model is to be known.
Over the past 12 months, the next phase following the rolling prototype has been underway and has led to the completion of the Machina concept car which gives a preview of the design features. Conceived by automotive designer Felix Godard (previously at Porsche, Tesla and Lucid) has a sleek aerodynamic form with an imposing grille in the ascending fuselage to optimize fuel cell cooling.
Inspired by water
The lighting signature is distinctive and also serves as the emblem of Hopium. The lines replicate the stratification of hydrogen and the movement of waves on the surface of water. In fact, much of the design has been inspired by water, which is a harmless by-product of the reaction in the fuel cell to generate electricity.
The platform has the fuel cell system installed up front, generating electricity that is stored in battery packs that are optimised in size and efficiency. The hydrogen storage tanks can contain over 6 kgs of the gas which will take only 3 minutes to fill with high-pressure pumps. The performance targets for the Machina are 500 ps, 230 km/h and 1,000 kms of range.
Future of the Human/Machine relationship
Godard and his designers imagine the future of the Human/Machine relationship inside the Machina. Facing the front occupants is a pillar-to-pillar display with a ‘digital landscape’ of information. It can transform into a full or minimized layout as desired, in a wave-like motion. The haptic console offers a new sensory connection with the interface.
At the back, passengers can enjoy the comfort of a spacious interior with a view of the sky. All the materials used for the interior are of the highest quality, and made to last a long time. The materials will be sourced in Europe to reduce their environmental impact.
Orders for the first 1,000 units of the Machina have been accepted over the past year but the company has not revealed how many there are. It will make its world premiere at the 2022 Paris Motor Show this October.
UKM team completes development of two hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)
China’s auto industry made limited progress in the decades before 1980 and the vehicles its manufacturers produced were technologically outdated. In the mid-1980s when the country opened up and the economy rapidly grew, demand for cars also rose quickly and the young carmakers initially had agreements and joint ventures with foreign companies to acquire modern technology.
At the same time, companies like Chery also worked towards developing its own technology base and reduce dependence on ‘imported’ technology. It was a long journey and by 1999, the company was able to produce its first engine. From then on, with more advanced R&D and greater investments, its engine range widened and evolved. Today, many of its engines are in the third generation and nine of them have been listed among China’s Top 10 engines. To date, the company has made over 10 million engines which power vehicles in China and other countries.
All-Domain Power Architecture
As demand for New Energy Vehicles (NEV) grows with the demand for reduced energy consumption and low carbon emissions globally, Chery is taking its All-Domain Power Architecture – encompassing traditional, hybrid and fully-electric powertrains – to the next developmental stage, to respond to these demands.
Currently, three of the company’s 4th generation engines have completed thermodynamic development and are in the bench calibration phase, and development of the first 5th generation engine has been given the go-ahead. The design of this state-of-the-art engine is expected to be finalised by the end of June 2023 and will be installed in a production model by 2024.
Hybrid powertrain
This new engine is a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, direct fuel injection, an i-HEC 4.0 intelligent high-efficiency combustion system and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation technology. It is said to be able to achieve an industry-leading thermal efficiency of 43.9%.
The preliminary research programme on high-efficiency engines, adopting pre-chamber jet ignition and lean-burn technologies, has met its target of better than 45% thermal efficiency in the laboratory.
Chery has also developed a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) with dual motors, 9 operating modes, 11 gear combinations and twin-shaft drive, making it the first of its kind amongst Chinese brands.
Key R&D project
Earlier this year, a national key R&D project headed by Chery – the ‘new-type, cost-effective, passenger car powertrain development vehicle integration project’ – passed project acceptance in Wuhu, China. The outcome of the project was Chery’s first-generation DHT – 3DHT125 – which found its way into the Tiggo 8 Pro e+.
In March, the company’s ‘dedicated hybrid engine (DHE) development’ project, another national key R&D project, passed the appraisal of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and the jury of experts for project acceptance. This project focuses on research into high-compression ratio deep Miller cycle and high lean-burn combustion to enhance the performance of Chery’s 4th and 5th generation engines.
The company aims to further optimise its 3-speed DHTs for mid-sized plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) while developing a single-speed DHT for compact and sub-compact PHEVs and hybrid electric vehicles.
Having made its debut in the NEV market in 1999, Chery’s powertrain matrix does not end at combustion engines and hybrids. In 2017, the Chery EQ1 battery electric vehicle (BEV) was launched in China and two years later, Chery exhibited its 3rd generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with 30 kW fuel cell stacks that can be topped up with hydrogen in 3 minutes. The range achieved by these vehicles is said to be over 700 kms.
Chery’s All-Domain Power Architecture thus encompasses all types of current and future powertrains that use fossil fuel, electricity or hydrogen. Its technological capability is therefore comprehensive to cover automotive powertrain development during the next 30 years.
Chery Malaysia will return to the Malaysian market with these SUV models
UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) continues to maintain its position in the non-national category with 7,442 units of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in May. Added to the cumulative volume for the first 4 months, this brings the company’s total sales in 2022 to 36,972 units at the end of May.
With almost 37,000 units sold, the cumulative volume for the first 5 months of 2022 is 9% higher than for the same period in 2021 which was 34,026 units. This increase is despite the forecast that vehicle sales in Malaysia will be slow for the rest of the year due to shortage of completed vehicles.
While there was no issue of shortage of semiconductors last year to prevent carmakers from completing vehicles, this is the situation in 2022 is making it difficult to achieve higher outputs to meet demand.
The strong demand up till now has also been driven by the expectation that sales tax (or GST) will be resumed after the end of June 2022 (although there are now rumours that it could be extended again). This has persuaded many car-buyers to make their purchase before the end of June in order to enjoy the savings.
“As we rev up for the second half of this year, we at UMW Toyota are truly appreciative and emboldened by the support we have received from our customers. It has always been our policy to put our customers first and we are always ready to extend our assistance to the many Toyota fans as we journey out of these uncertain times. We are looking forward to continued confidence in our products and servicing capabilities, backed by our advanced automotive technology and comforted by the security features of all our products. Here’s to a more positive outlook forging ahead,” said Ravindran K, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Continuing with the monthly promotions, UMWT has offers worth RM4,000 for those who want to become owners of the Yaris or Vios. There are also money-saving offers for other models in the form of cash rebates.
UMW Toyota has new models in the pipeline for the second half of the year so they are expecting a further increase in numbers.
The company is also looking forward to running the Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival on June 25/26 at the Sepang International Circuit. While the highlight of the event is the Vios Challenge one-make race, there are also other activities for all the family. Entry is free during the two days but the public should observe social distancing and wear facemasks to protect themselves as well as others around them. Click here to read more about the upcoming Toyota GAZOO Racing Festival.
2022 Toyota Camry 2.5V – more than just a mid-cycle refresh with a brand new engine
The Nissan Serena S-HYBRID was among the first hybrid models to be assembled in Malaysia and up till today, it is still the only locally-assembled hybrid MPV. With this generation of the Serena, not only did Nissan give it a hybrid powertrain but it also upgraded the MPV to be a more premium product. It offers the luxuries that many enjoy in other up-market MPVs for a lot less.
Cosmetic changes up front
Periodically, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) refreshes its models and adds a bit more value, and for 2022, the Serena gets cosmetic changes in the form of redesigned headlamps with daytime running lights, a new V-motion front grille with a distinctive chrome pattern, redesigned front bumper with foglamps.
Besides the cosmetic changes, the Serena S-HYBRID maintains practical and thoughtful convenience features such as a two-section back door and hands-free powered sliding doors on both sides, as shown below.
Versatile interior
The spacious and versatile interior has as many as 13 seating layouts with Captain Seats on the second row. These have individual armrests and extra-long slide adjustment. Front passengers and those in the second row have Zero Gravity Seats, inspired by NASA’s studies in achieving the most neutral posture for fatigue-reduction. Quality materials are used, such as combination Nappa leather for the seats. And there are no less than 7 USB ports so there are unlikely to be any fights over who gets to recharge first!
Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM)
With its 7-passenger capacity, safety is even more important and Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) provides a suite of advanced technologies with both Active Safety and Passive Safety systems. Five smart intelligent technologies have been added to the new Serena S-HYBRID to enhance Active Safety – Intelligent Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Forward Collision Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The Around View Monitor (360o camera) is also standard and gives the driver situational awareness around the vehicle. It uses four tiny cameras to capture images which are then combined to give an overhead view as if a drone was permanently hovering and sending imagery. The system also has Intelligent Moving Object Detection which will detect and alert the driver of moving objects – especially pedestrians – around the vehicle.
S-HYBRID system
The Serena S-HYBRID continues to be powered by the proven 2-litre Twin CVTC hybrid drivetrain. Its ECO (Energy Control Motor) electric motor provides torque assistance on take-off, reducing demands on the petrol engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency. This gives some of the benefits of a hybrid powertrain without the associated high costs.
Two variants are available, with estimated prices starting from less than RM150,000 for the Serena S-Hybrid Highway Star and from less than RM165,000 for the Serena S-Hybrid Premium Highway Star. The prices are for Peninsular Malaysia registration and include full sales tax but not insurance
While the model will have its launch in early July, bookings are now accepted at all authorised Nissan showrooms nationwide. ETCM encourages customers to make their booking early (minimum amount of RM1,000) to secure a unit in the system. It will also help the assembly plant to schedule production more accurately and minimize waiting time as disruptions continue due to semiconductor microprocessor shortages and global shipment delays. Depending on the variants, there are up to four colour choices.
‘Early Bird’ offer
For the ‘early birds’ making bookings, ETCM has a special offer to save money when they are owners. Five free maintenance services (inclusive of parts & labour) will be provided at alternate intervals (10,000 kms, 30,000 kms, 50,000 kms, 70,000 kms and 90,000 kms), and the warranty period will also be up to 5 years with unlimited mileage (terms and conditions apply).
Customers who require more information or locate a showroom can visit the Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my. They can also contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838. A pre-launch leaflet is also available by clicking here.
Click here for other news and articles on Nissan and ETCM,
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