The current premium SUV market here in Malaysia is currently higher than ever with many offerings from different manufacturers. With so many Malaysians looking into upgrading their present lifestyles, SUVs seem to be the popular go-to option and Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has its feet deep within this game thanks to their popular 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI Highline. (more…)
Tata Motors will soon offer EVs (electric vehicles) with its own state-of-the-art technology which will be launched during 2020. Known as ‘ZIPTRON’, the EV powertrain technology is a building block towards the Indian carmaker’s strive for commonality so as to drive economies of scale. Pursuing this strategy will help to make new technologies affordable for Indian consumers.
While full details have not been released, the new technology embodies important characteristics such as an efficient high voltage system, zippy performance, long range, fast charging capability, a battery pack with warranty of 8 years, and adherence to IP67 standard which relates to protection from water.
In-house development
Speaking at the announcement recently, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD of Tata Motors said: “We are proud to present this state-of-art technology brand – ZIPTRON – which has been designed in-house while utilizing our global engineering network. At the heart of our future EV line-up, this technology will deliver a thrilling driving experience to our customers aspiring to go-green. Rigorously tested across 1 million kms, ZIPTRON technology is well proven, advanced and reliable. With this technology, we hope to usher in a new wave of eMobility in India and accelerate faster adoption of EVs, supporting the government’s vision.”
The ZIPTRON powertrain has a highly efficient permanent magnet AC motor providing superior performance on demand. It is claimed to have best-in-industry protection against dust and water, an important requirement for Indian motoring conditions. Furthermore, ZIPTRON technology has smart regenerative braking to charge the battery while on the drive, enhancing the range.
In the coming months, Tata Motors will be starting a campaign to introduce ZIPTRON technology as well as educate consumers on EVs.
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has reminded everyone that by the year 2020, the use of child seats for private cars carrying children will be mandatory and punishable by law if ignored. For all you parents out there, do take note because we’re going into October and that’s just two months away! (more…)
♦ A 1-2 finish for Ferrari in Singapore and for Sebastian Vettel to stand at the top of the podium – which he has not done since August last year.
♦ ‘Unfair’ was how Charles Leclerc felt when the Ferrari team allowed Vettel to undercut him and come into the pits one lap earlier, resulting in Leclerc losing his lead.
♦ Lewis Hamilton managed only fourth among the finishers but his strong points lead still gives him a comfortable buffer for the remaining rounds.
♦ Although his qualifying time got him eighth place on the starting grid. Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified and dropped to last position. This was due to the MGU-K of the Renault exceeding the power limit during the qualifying session.
Next race in Russia on September 29
The grand finals of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Velocity Esports Championship concluded its epic weekend here in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Regarded as Malaysia’s biggest national Esports racing event, spectators at Pavilion KL witnessed champions being crowned in this new era of motorsports. (more…)
The F1 races in Malaysia and Singapore have always been physically the toughest due to the high temperatures and high humidity. This year, the drivers must also cope with the haze though it does not seem to have been mentioned as much of a problem.
The steel beams underpinning the concrete of the Esplanade Bridge are magnetised and the magnetic fields created are strong enough to interfere with some sensors on the cars. Therefore, teams replace some sensors with special sensors that are less susceptible to interference. In order to prevent the magnetic field impacting the hydraulic valves in the gearbox, they are shielded with what’s called ‘mu metal’ (a special nickel alloy which is effective against magnetic fields) – only used in Singapore.
The first ever F1 race at night was run at the Marina Bay Circuit in 2008. There were concerns about whether the lighting conditions would be good enough to ensure safety, especially on a narrow street circuit. The organisers installed 1,600 lighting projectors around the circuit and no one has ever complained of conditions being unsafe due to inadequate illumination.
Drivers can lose around 3 kgs of weight through sweating over the course of the race, due to the incredibly high temperatures and humidity. Fluid loss is also a factor for team members, so keeping hydrated is crucial. The recommended amount of fluid intake on a hot day ranges from three to five litres.
Drivers change gear about 62 times during one lap of the Singapore circuit, the second most number among current circuits. In the 2018 race, Lewis Hamilton completed 3,100 gear changes and Valtteri 4,140.
The drivers and crews do not change their ‘body clock’ to Singapore time, which means that when the race starts in the evening, it will be like their usual afternoon timing in European events. Therefore they stick to European time and routines, having breakfast at midday and lunch around 6 pm. Dinner times vary depending on the day and workload but are usually from 1 am onwards. The drivers will go to bed around 6 am to get 8 hours of sleep.
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