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Honda Malaysia offers two extra benefits for new vehicle purchasers until the end of 2021

Honda Malaysia has announced two programs for new customers who purchase new Honda vehicles from authorised dealers. One is enhanced coverage with the Customer Car Loan Protection Program and the other is a Vaccinated Customer Program, both running till the end of 2021.

The Customer Car Loan Protection Program is available to all customers who register a new Honda vehicle between October 1 and December 31, 2021. For a period of 1 year after the purchase, they will be able to receive a RM12,000 subsidy if they lose their job (terms and conditions apply). The subsidy to support the customer for the monthly instalments is a 100% increase compared to previous insurance coverage.

*During the first year of vehicle ownership, Honda customers will be subsidised for their loan repayments if they lose their job.*

Additional benefits
Additionally, the Customer Car Loan Protection Program includes death or permanent disability coverage of RM20,000, which has also increased by 100% compared to the previous insurance coverage. There is also Burial or Cremation coverage of RM2,000 and Repatriation Expenses of RM5,000. With a total coverage amounting to RM39,000, coverage and benefits are more extensive than normal vehicle insurance coverage.

“We are mindful that having an ownership of a personal mode of transport to commute safely with one’s family is an important need for most Malaysians. By introducing the enhanced Customer Car Loan Protection Program, we aim to help our customers by providing them with some financial support to ease their monthly instalments should the customer be unexpectedly out of employment. This enhanced personal accident insurance initiative is to protect the car loan of new Honda customers so that they can continue to enjoy their new car with peace of mind and without disruptions,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Madoka Chujo.

Vaccination has extra benefits
Under the new Vaccinated Customer Program, all new Honda customers will be entitled to a service voucher worth RM250 with a 1-year validity (terms and conditions apply) if they are registered for the national vaccination program. Those who have received vaccination confirmation and an appointment, or have been vaccinated either partially or fully, also qualify for the benefit.

The customer is required to complete the new car registration within the program period from October 1 to December 31, 2021. They will be required to show proof of their participation in the vaccination program via the MySejahtera mobile application.

*Purchasers of new Honda vehicles during the program period that runs till the end of this year will receive a service voucher worth RM250 if they are vaccinated for protection against COVID-19.*

“This program is an initiative by Honda Malaysia to support the Malaysian Government’s vaccination program and to encourage people to get vaccinated in an effort to achieve herd immunity. We strongly believe that these programs that we have initiated will help support our customers to tide through this difficult period and more importantly, we wish to share with them the joy of owning a Honda car,” said Ms. Chujo.

Authorised Honda dealerships nationwide have commenced operations with strict compliance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). In September 2021, all Honda dealerships nationwide participated in the ‘I’m Vaccinated’ campaign and all personnel on duty at showrooms and service centres are already fully vaccinated.

For more information on the enhanced Customer Car Loan Protection Program and new Vaccinated Customer Program, visit any authorised Honda dealership or call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020. Information and location of showrooms can also be found at www.honda.com.my.

New Honda models to be launched in Malaysia before year-end

Lamborghini Countach in ‘The Cannonball Run’ listed in US National Historic Vehicle Register

Who would have thought that a car in a movie about breaking laws would be considered historically significant that is would enter the National Historic Vehicle Register of the United States Library of Congress? That honour has been given to the 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S that was one of the stars of the ‘The Cannonball Run’.

Only 30 cars to date are considered of national importance for the USA and listed in the register. From now on, all the information regarding the car, its history, a 3D scan of it and copies of all its documentation will be preserved in the Library of Congress.

Actual car used in movie
The car displayed is not just a replica but the actual car that was used in the movie with chassis number 1121112. It was first sold to Lamborghini’s distributor in Rome, Italy, and immediately exported to the USA and sold in Florida. In 1980, Hal Needham, the movie’s director was able to get a Countach to use in the film as the owner of the car was his friend and willing to loan it for the purpose. The Countach was then modified to look even more dramatic than it already was. A front spoiler and twin spotlights were added, along with 3 antennas – and 12 exhaust pipes.

The founder of the sunscreen brand Hawaiian Tropic, Ron Rice, was around during filming and he fell in love with the Lamborghini, buying it over on the spot when it was no longer needed. He kept it till 2004, when it was sold to another person in Florida as well.

Hagerty Drivers Foundation, which manages the National Historic Vehicle Register of the United States Library of Congress, tracked down the car and arranged for it to be displayed this week inside a glass case on the National Mall in Washington DC.

About the movie
‘The Cannonball Run’, released in 1981, was based on the real-life secret race that had taken place for several years between the east and west coasts of America. Those were the years in the USA when a speed limit of 55 mph (88 km/h) was in effect and where the police were constantly catching people for speeding on the freeways. The speed limit was considered repressive, and a group of passionate motorists decided to challenge the system by racing across the continent in the least amount of time. The start was from downtown Manhattan in New York to a marina on the Pacific Ocean at Redondo Beach in California.

The plot for the movie was fictional and it was intended to be a comedy, although it would later be regarded as being of importance in the history of American culture, particularly the car culture that has always been strong. For the movie, the most representative cars of the era were used with the Countach being the winner in the end. The case including famous names likes Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Junior, and Farrah Fawcett.

Suzuki Jimny returns to Malaysian market as fourth generation, priced from RM168,900

Following the Suzuki Swift Sport that marked the return of the Suzuki car brand to Malaysia, Naza Eastern Motors (NEM), the official distributor, has now begun importing the Jimny compact SUV. Equally iconic as the Swift, the Jimny has a long history and its first generation predecessor was on sale in Malaysia as far back as the 1970s.

The first generation Jimny was truly a mini SUV, measuring about 3.2 metres long and 1.4 metres wide. With an 800 cc engine, its kerb weight was only 787 kgs which was advantageous on soft ground. Contractors loved it as it was ideal for going around construction sites and could even take rough terrain with its simple 4×4 system.

*An advertisement in the 1970s for the first generation*

Later versions of the first generation with various bodystyles, including a high roof, broadened the popularity of the model. However, by the third generation, the price had jumped significantly and although it was available, the numbers sold were very small.

The latest 4^th generation has been around for about 3 years and when it was launched, many saw its appearance to be like a mini G-Wagen (the Mercedes-Benz SUV). In fact, there are aftermarket accessories to make it look like the German SUV. The price went up even more and NEM is offering it at RM168,900 (excluding sales tax) and for those who wonder, the price of the first generation was around RM17,500.

Of course, the Jimny has come a long way technically and has many modern technologies. It no longer uses a kei-class engine but a K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine. NEM is importing on the version with a 4-speed automatic transmission but you do get 4×4. And like the traditional SUVs, there’s even a transfer case with 2WD/4WD high range and 4×4 low range that enables very low speeds in difficult terrain.

The construction also follows traditional SUVs with a body-on-chassis (BOC) frame. Suzuki could probably have used a monocoque approach but may have used the BOC method for ‘traditional’ reasons. There’s nothing wrong with the BOC structure which is better for heavy loads though it may be slightly less comfortable. The coil spring suspension is a simple layout with a3-link rigid axle layout.

The size of the latest Jimny, which has only 2 side doors, has grown to 3.6 metres long and 1.6 metres wide. It has generous ground clearance of 210 mm, with good clearance angles for better off-road capability. It has also become heavier, with a kerb weight in the region of 1,095 kgs.

The original Jimny was a pretty bare vehicle with uncovered metal panels around the cabin. Today’s Jimny is, however, as comfortable and well equipped as a passenger car (which partly accounts for why its costs so much more). The 4-seater space is snug but has air-conditioning, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and a touchscreen infotainment system which supports Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth, handsfree telephony and audio functions.

Like all SUVs, there are practical storage spaces but the compact external dimensions will already indicate that you can’t have a lot of cargo space. Nevertheless, the rear seats can be folded to 830 provide up to 820 litres of volume.

The Suzuki designers chose to retain the side-hinged rear door as well as spare wheel mounted on the door, two elements which follow the classic 4×4 SUV look. Over the past 15 years, as SUVs evolved into more passenger-like vehicles, the styling changed and designers switched to a top-hinged door (partly also for safety reasons) and decided that there was no need to add engineering complexity with the spare wheel hung on the door.

The Jimny also has all the safety systems expected of a vehicle today. Electronic Stability Control will be helpful in slippery conditions and of course, there’s ABS and also hill-descent control, the latter letting the computer safely control the vehicle as it moves down a slope. Parents with small children will appreciate the ISOFIX points behind for ease of installing compatible childseats.

Fresh coffee wherever you want it with Suzuki Jimny Beans

ACO Tech rolls out ATLAS next-gen infotainment operating system

ACO Tech, the joint-venture company between Proton Edar, Altel Communications and ECARX Hubei Technology, is the company that is involved in the GKUI software in the latest Proton models. Moving forward, the company has now rolled out its next-gen technology – ATLAS (ACO Tech Local Automotive Services) – an in-vehicle infotainment operating system which has been developed with a RM30 million investment.

Wholly led and developed by a Malaysian team, ATLAS is supported by a complementary mobile application named ATLAS Auto with features that prioritise mobility, convenience, and control. Specifically designed with personal experience in mind, ATLAS offers entertainment with a myriad of content. It is integrated with JOOX, a dedicated music and entertainment platform as well as entertainment provider SYOK. Adding to audio experience are the latest hits from all Astro Radio brands and podcasts that cover a wide range of topics in multiple languages.

Malaysian-oriented voice-recognition
Built with an AI-powered speech solution that has the enhanced capabilities to recognize Malaysian English at varying tones and speed, ATLAS is able to respond positively to various commands. This is not always the case with voice command systems that may not take into account how Malaysian speak.

Drivers can therefore stay focussed while driving and still manage the navigation, entertainment, communication, and other vehicle functions. There is an intelligent notification feature to alert the driver if there is extremely bad weather that could affect safety, or when a tyre puncture is detected (subject to other systems also being present). The ATLAS voice assistant can also be customised based on the owner’s preference.

Native navigation system
The ATLAS Digital Map is a native navigation system developed by ACO Tech that provides real-time traffic information and has safety-related features. The advanced system is not only able to determine potential traffic patterns to assist drivers to plan their journey, but also able to show weather forecasts and conditions at each point of the route and destination.

Offline map data allows continued route guidance even if the GPS signal is weak or cannot be received, or the vehicle is in an area without internet access. For convenience, the drivers can send the vehicle’s location or selected Points of Interest (POI) directly from a smartphone to the vehicle.

You may laugh but there are some people who just do not look at their fuel gauge and are surprised when fuel has run out. ATLAS monitors the fuel level and will provide a prompt to refuel when it detects that there is low fuel remaining. If required, it can also provide guidance to the nearest petrol station (subject to other systems being present).

Easier payment from the car
ATLAS will feature ATLAS Pay, an integrated automotive payment system powered by fintech partner Fass Payment Solutions (Fasspay). ATLAS Pay is the first in-car payment in Malaysia and offers the convenience of not having to get out to make payment. It is available in the ATLAS Auto app and will subsequently be integrated with the vehicle’s infotainment system by the first half of 2022. ACO Tech says that, in the near future, ATLAS Pay will be the payment core that introduces its ‘mobility-as-a-service’ vehicle app ecosystem.

The mobile app
ATLAS Auto, a mobile app, will serve as a universal interface to the vehicle. Value-added features such as ATLAS Mall, ATLAS Discover, and ATLAS Vehicle can generate possibilities from brand partners and communities. Available for Android and iOS, it will be available for download from the respect app stores (as well as the Huawei app gallery) from the fourth quarter of 2021.

“ATLAS is intelligent, proactive, and humanised. The eco-system is not only integral in transforming people’s relationship with their car, in-vehicle or remotely; we believe that it underpins the future of automotive user experience and paves the way for autonomous vehicle in Malaysia,” said Li Pu, CEO of ACO Tech.

Full-width displays on dashboard coming soon to more cars

New fully-electric Rolls-Royce will be called ‘Spectre’, to be launched in late 2023

It seems that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars either cannot contain its own excitement about its new fully electric car or pressure from its customers has persuaded it to reveal more about the new model. Until now, the company has said that the car will be launched during the decade, which can mean up till 2030. However, today CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos has announced that the finished product will have its global debut as early as the fourth quarter of 2023.

Another ‘otherworldly’ model name
The car’s name has also been revealed: Spectre, which perfectly fits with the other ‘otherworldly’ model names like Ghost, Silver Spirit, Wraith and Phantom. “Spectre is a name given to otherworldly beings synonymous with great power and apparition; creatures of an alternative realm that make their presence felt through fleeting manifestation. A spectre forces the world to pause. It dominates the space it occupies. Then, as quickly as it appears, it dissipates, leaving a wake of exhilaration, energy, and intrigue,” explained Muller-Otvos.

“This name perfectly matches the extraordinary Rolls-Royce that we are announcing today – a motorcar that makes its presence felt before disappearing into a world inaccessible to all but the very few. As a quintessentially British brand, we have selected the British spelling; however, the meaning is universal,” he added.

Road-testing to commence soon
Understandably, technical details are sparse at this time and the first two pictures of the camouflaged car do not reveal much although the side view does show a sleek form. Certainly, it will be nothing like the VISION NEXT 100 (103EX) concept shown earlier. The new car will begin testing shortly, which could explain why the company is making the announcement today. “This is not a prototype. It’s the real thing, it will be tested in plain sight,” he said. “We have conceived the most demanding testing programme in Rolls-Royce’s history. We will cover 2.5 million kilometres – a simulation of more than 400 years of use for a Rolls-Royce, on average – and we will travel to all four corners of the world to push this new motorcar to the limit.”

“You will see these test cars on roads, around the world. Look out for them – they will be in plain sight. They will be tested in all conditions and over all terrains on their multi-million-mile journey – that will literally accelerate Rolls-Royce into the future,” he added. Of course, the cars are likely to be heavily camouflaged.

Building up expertise in electric cars
Besides the fact that the founders of the company – Charles Rolls and Henry Royce – were familiar and even experienced electric cars over 100 years ago, the company has also been building up its expertise in electric powertrains for some time. “At Rolls-Royce, we have been experimenting with an electric powertrain for some time. In 2011, we revealed 102EX, a fully operational all-electric Phantom. We followed this in 2016 with our fully electric 103EX, which represented our vision for the marque several decades into the future,” said Muller-Otvos.

*Layout of the electric powertrain in the 102EX.*

“We embark on this bold new future with a huge advantage. Electric drive is uniquely and perfectly suited to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, more so than any other automotive brand. It is silent, refined and creates torque almost instantly, going on to generate tremendous power. This is what we at Rolls-Royce call ‘waftability’,” he added.

Exclusive spaceframe architecture
“In 2016, we debuted Phantom and, with it, the marque’s proprietary aluminium architecture: a scalable and flexible spaceframe that would underpin all forthcoming Rolls-Royce motorcars. This unique technology – developed for Rolls-Royce by Rolls-Royce and reserved for the marque’s exclusive use – was created to form the foundation of not just different internal combustion engine models, as it now does with Cullinan and Ghost, but models with completely different powertrains.”

*Part of the proprietary aluminium architecture with a scalable and flexible spaceframe to be used for the Spectre.*

“To this end, our forthcoming electric car benefits from the Rolls-Royce architecture and therefore the extraordinary experience of a Rolls-Royce on the road. Free of any group platform sharing strategy, we were able to integrate our plans for an electric powertrain into the architecture’s initial design and ensure that this extraordinary new product meets the extremely high expectations of our clients,” he explained.

“With this new product, we set out our credentials for the full electrification of our entire product portfolio by 2030. By then, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will no longer be in the business of producing or selling any internal combustion engine products,” he declared.

Rolls-Royce founders experienced electrified vehicles even in the early 20th century

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