With Singapore being just a short drive across the two connections over the Straits of Johor, Malaysians have long been driving into the republic for holidays or business purposes. Daily too, thousands of Malaysians enter Singapore to work as well. As in Malaysia, possession of a valid driving licence is necessary to drive a car around Singapore and it has been fortunate that the Malaysian driving licence has been accepted and Malaysian-registered vehicles can also be driven in for short periods.
For those who are staying there for much longer periods (more than a year), it is necessary to have a Singapore driving licence. To make things a bit more convenient, the Singapore authorities now allow applications for conversion of the Malaysian licence to a Singapore one to be done online. For now, it is a trial program which is aimed at reducing the waiting and processing times at the Traffic Police headquarters in Singapore.
As with the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) which has applied for online, the move is also in consideration of these times where physical interaction should be minimized to avoid spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus. By moving processes online, the time that people have to spend face to face can be reduced.
The online application is only the first step in the process, but it is useful to ensure that all conditions are met before actually going to the office. Thus the applicant’s time won’t be wasted, and the police also will not waste their time. If all conditions are satisfied, then the applicant will have to personally deliver copies of relevant documents and make payments. This will only be after a period of 10 days from submitting the application and a specific time and date will be provided.
If everything goes well, successful applicants should get their Singapore driving licence within 10 days. It is also possible to obtain a Digital Driving Licence for those who have a SingPass account. This is valid as a licence for inspection so you can start driving more quickly.
Incidentally, all applicants must also have a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) which Malaysians can obtain from the JPJ. The IDP is valid for one year and can be used in almost all countries. Applicants must also sit for the Basic Theory Test (BTT) at any of the driving centres in Singapore
Formula E was in New York City this week for Round 12 and it was also the fifth year that the all-electric single-seater series was in the city fondly known as ‘The Big Apple’. The Brooklyn Street Circuit has served as the racetrack on 8 occasions in the past and season titles have been decided by e-Prix in the shadow of Manhattan’s skyline.
This year, for Round 12 of the ABB Formula E World Championship Season 8, it was Antonio Felix da Costa who led lights-to-flag to bring home his and DS TECHEETAH’s maiden win of the season. Chasing him across the finish line was Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes EQ Formula E Team), eating away at the points advantage of ROKIT Venturing Racing’s Edoardo Mortara at the top of the standings.
The Portuguese driver sprinted away from Julius Baer Pole Position and fended off the attentions of contenders early on before Vandoorne applied the pressure later in the race. However, the Mercedes-EQ driver could find no way through, to challenge da Costa and beat him to the chequered flag.
Vandoorne’s second spot was more than enough for one of Formula E’s most consistent scorers to leave the city with a smile on his face – especially with Drivers’ World Championship leader Mortara managing just a point at 10th spot, after a brake-by-wire issue in qualifying had marooned him at the back of the grid.
Jaguar TCS’s Mitch Evans wound up third, holding on to a mid-race half-spin as he tried to break into the top three by Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing). The Jaguar TCS driver hit a bump in the Turn 6 braking zone and just managed to catch a huge sideways slide to keep it out of the wall. Fortunately, he dropped only to fifth and, by the end of the race, had fought his way back to third ahead of Sims.
Evans’ team mater, Sam Bird was able to scrap to fifth position from 16th on the grid. His impressive drive reignited their Teams’ World Championship push. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns rounded out the top six in the Audi-powered racing car, with Nyck de Vries, the other Mercedes EQ drive, in seventh.
With just 4 rounds left, Vandoorne is back at the top of the Drivers’ World Championship, now with an 11-point margin to prior leader Mortara. Evans is 5 points further back in third with Jean-Eric Vergne (DS RECHEETAH) unable to score again.
The race
With the summer sunshine a change from the rain of the day before, da Costa fired away to an advantage of almost a second over Sims and Vandoorne. The Porsche of Andre Lotterer failed to get away at all, with the pack squeezing to avoid contact and the German sliding to 11th.
Come Lap 5, the chasing pack, led by Sims, had closed in on da Costa to within half a second while Vandoorne followed the same distance back just ahead of his teammate de Vries. Dan Ticktum in the NIO 333 Racing was the big mover in the early stages, up to 11th and a gain of 6 spots by Lap 7 with some very fast laps.
Just one mandatory ATTACK MODE activation for Round 12, and Ticktum was the first to blink. The leaders waited for one another to jump first – and it was de Vries and Sette Camara who went for it on Lap 11. The top two went through the loop a lap later and Vandoorne was able to jump them both to briefly take first.
Bird was another climber in the opening third of the race. The Jaguar driver had started from 16th position and had made it as high as eighth by Lap 13, before Dennis swept after taking his 30 kW ATTACK MODE boost.
On Lap 16, an error from de Vries saw his Silver Arrow 02 sideways and the door open for Evans behind. The Kiwi took his chance and crucially sat right behind fellow title challenger Vandoorne in fifth spot. The top five sat one behind the other with leader da Costa heading Sims, Vandoorne, Evans and de Vries, all within two seconds. Frijns was the next man back after dispatching Dennis with a regulation pass up the inside at Turn 1 on Lap 21.
Vandoorne was next to spy an opportunity, catching second-placed Sims out at Turn 6 with a rapid switch to the inside of the Mahindra on Lap 23. A lap later at the same spot, Evans tried to make it back by de Vries for fourth after the Mercedes-EQ had jumped him at the hairpin last time around. Evans almost lost his car over a bump on the brakes but produced an amazing piece of car control to hold on and, more importantly, also staying fifth.
Inside the last 10 minutes plus one lap, the field started to bunch back up again – the top 10 split by just 6 seconds. On Lap 30, de Vries got caught at the same bump as Evans had a couple of laps earlier while trying to make it beyond Sims for third and slipped wide at Turn 6 to hand fourth back to the Jaguar driver.
Unbelievably, on the very next lap, de Vries hit the same spot while defending from Bird, with the sister Jaguar able to profit and pinch fifth – an astonishing climb from fifth on the grid at lights out. Heading into the final couple of minutes, da Costa still had control and was eager to capture a first win of Season 8. Vandoorne couldn’t make FANBOOST count but behind Evans was able to dispatch Sims with a smart move at Turn 6 – after which his team said energy would now need conserving. Two positions gained after that big save.
With two laps to go, di Grassi got turned around at Turn 7 causing a bit of a traffic jam. In that mix, Vergne fell from the points to 19th position, which could prove costly in the championship battle. One point, minimum, slipping through his fingers.
From there, da Costa was able to bring it home for a first win for the Portuguese and DS TECHEETAH this season. Vandoorne followed for a strong haul and Jaguar’s third and fifth-placed finish, with Evans winding up third and Bird fifth had the British team’s mechanics jumping for joy.
After New York City, the series goes back across the Atlantic Ocean to London for another two rounds at the end of the month. The season-closing rounds will be held in Seoul, Korea, on August 15 and 16.
We can give up waiting for the ‘Malaysian Flying Car’ which received RM20 million of government funding and after being developed under great secrecy, it was to have been launched at the end of 2019. However, that never happened and even when there was a demonstration scheduled, the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) did not allow the flight. Anyway, we won’t see what the RM20 million of taxpayers’ money produced, and the minister who promoted the project is also no longer talking about it.
But in other countries, vehicles which can travel on the road and also take off into the air have been making much progress – and their developments are not Top Secrets either. Such vehicles are seen as alternatives for short-haul travel and even Air Asia is looking at offering them as a ‘flying taxi’ service.
Integrating automotive capabilities
There are many companies already having prototypes and one of them is Supernal, which has just revealed its initial eVTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) vehicle cabin concept at the Farnborough International Airshow in England this week. The concept provides the first look at how Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is integrating automotive capabilities for use in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market.
Supernal is developing a family of electric air vehicles to connect more people to more places. Through a network of connected ground hubs called ‘vertiports’, passengers will board eVTOLs and be flown to their next destination.
Supernal partnered HMG’s design studios to create the cabin concept as the company works to certify its eVTOL vehicle for commercial use in the USA starting in 2028, and in the EU and the UK shortly after. Beyond the vehicle, Supernal is collaborating with external partners and the Group’s more than 50 affiliates – which span automobiles, automotive parts, construction, robotics and autonomous driving – to responsibly co-create the expansive AAM value chain.
Scaling up for commercialisation
“In order for Advanced Air Mobility to become a wide-spread mode of transportation, every detail – from the passenger experience to regulations and infrastructure – needs to be addressed from the start and work in lockstep with one another,” said Jaiwon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “Leveraging Hyundai Motor Group’s mobility capabilities, Supernal is investing time and resources upfront to ensure the industry can scale to the masses in the coming decades and reach its exciting potential.”
Using automotive design
Supernal’s 5-seat cabin concept provides clues to how the company is harnessing automotive design processes and materials. At the same time, the vehicle must meet commercial aviation’s highest safety standards. The design embodies biomimicry philosophy – a butterfly in this case – and the company’s pillars of safety above all, human-centered design and environmental responsibility.
“Supernal is partnering with Hyundai Motor Group’s top automotive designers to develop our eVTOL vehicle for manufacturability and widespread public acceptance,” Shin added. “We are taking the time to create a safe, lightweight commercial eVTOL that provides our future passengers with the security and comfort they find in their own cars.”
The team of engineers and designers are utilizing the automotive industry’s reductive design approach to create the lightweight interior cabin, which is made of forged carbonfibre. Ergonomically contoured seats offer a cocoon-like environment for passengers. Deployable seat consoles mimic automobile centre consoles and provide a charging station and stowage compartment for personal items.
Automotive designers in the Hyundai Motor Group are providing their expertise in the development of the Supernal eVTOL’s cabin.
Grab handles built into the cabin doors and seatbacks assist with ingress and egress. A combination of lighting – including overhead lights inspired by automobile sunroofs – adjusts with the various stages of flight to emulate a ‘light therapy’ effect. Finally, the cabin layout draws on automotive space innovation with a minimized bulkhead, which allows for generous headroom and package functionalities.
With sustainability as a priority, the cabin concept incorporates materials such as advanced recyclable carbonfibre reinforced thermoplastic, durable plant-based leather, recycled plastic fabric and responsibly sourced woods. The seat frame also utilizes excess raw material from the airframe manufacturing process.
“The Supernal eVTOL vehicle draws on the competence of the Hyundai Motor Group and the skillset of experienced automotive designers, which allowed us to develop a new air mobility concept that is not only safe and rational but also highly emotional,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of the Hyundai Motor Group.
Air Mobility beyond urban markets
HMG is leveraging its expansive mobility and mobility-enabling capabilities to develop a family of electric air vehicles, as well as the surrounding value chain. Complementing the Supernal battery-powered eVTOL vehicle designed for intra-city passenger journeys starting in 2028, the group’s Korea-based division has been focussing on Regional Air Mobility. For this, it is developing a hydrogen-powered midsized vehicle for regional – city-to-city – cargo and passenger journeys. The division plans to launch service of its hydrogen vehicle in the 2030s.
Supernal and the division are partnering with HMG’s manufacturing innovation teams across the globe to create a robust high-rate, high-quality AAM manufacturing process that will produce electric air vehicles at scale – at an increasingly affordable price-point – over the coming decades.
In mass production, a car model will be produced in thousands of units looking the same way. The most common form of ‘personalisation’ would be in the colour which usually has a number of choices. Many companies also offer accessories that can be added on when ordering the new car, and these too add another level of personalisation.
Then there are also limited editions where a company may prepare a certain number of units with a selection of additional equipment or features. This has been done with the locally-assembled BMW 320i M Sport Limited Edition and 330i M Sport Limited Edition announced by BMW Malaysia today. Prices (without insurance but with BMW Service and Repair Inclusive) for the two limited edition models are RM262,800 and RM304,800, respectively.
The 320i M Sport Limited Edition comes with the M Sport Package which gives an even sportier look to the popular sedan. This is complemented by new 18-inch M light alloy wheels in Double-Spoke Style 790 M. Inside, the limited edition offering is equipped with variable sports steering and M leather steering wheel, along with Individual Roof-Lining in Anthracite.
For the 330i M Sport Limited Edition, there’s an electrically-operated glass roof which brings the sky into the cabin for a brighter and more airy ambience. Motoring journeys will also be more enjoyable with the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System that’s included in the package. Also enhancing the sporting appeal are the 19-inch M light allow wheels in Double-Spoke Style 791 M.
Customers can choose from four body colours for the limited edition models – Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Mineral Grey as well as the M Portimao Blue. The Vernasca leather upholstery is offered only in black.
From RM2,663 a month
For those who require financing for the 320i M Sport and 330i M Sport limit editions, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia has plans that start with monthly instalments from RM2,663 and RM3,237, respectively (terms and conditions apply).
As with every vehicle sold by authorised BMW dealers in Malaysia, owners of the limited edition models will enjoy a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with a free scheduled service programme, BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW Privileges Card, and BMW Service Online.
A new generation of the Ford Ranger will be launched in Malaysia soon, and given what we know about the new model from the global debut, it’s destined to continue the success story of its predecessors. But it’s not just the Ranger that is a successful truck model for Ford; in fact, Ford trucks have been dominant in the company’s sales for decades – and the bestselling vehicle in the USA.
Over 100 years of truck experience
Ford knows how to build great trucks because it has a history of making them for more than 100 years. Throughout its history, Ford has continuously improved its trucks with new innovations that improve their ability to get the job done. The cumulative experience means that today’s trucks like the Ranger have superior performance and are more durable and reliable than ever.
1917 Model TT – the first Ford truck.
The first Ford truck was created just 9 years after the first Model T began putting the world on wheels. Henry Ford received requests from customers asking for a vehicle that could carry heavier loads and provide greater utility for the work and deliveries which had been done by horse-carriages.
On July 27, 1917, Ford introduced the Model TT and it was able to bring out this new model so fast because it retained the Model T cab and engine. It was an approach that would be used till today where platforms, including powertrains, are shared among models, with the bodywork being different. The Model TT came with a heavier-duty frame capable of carrying one ton of payload.
First F-Series introduced in 1948
The formula for success
Similar to the Fordson tractor introduced in the same year, Ford envisioned a chassis that could accommodate beds and cargo areas that were made by other parties (like today’s commercial vehicle body-builders). By enabling such flexibility to customise the basic design, there would be increased functionality to get work done.
It was a formula for success. By 1928, Ford had sold 1.3 million Model TTs before replacing the truck with the more capable Model AA with a 1.5-ton chassis. Ford marketed its early trucks largely in rural areas, according to Bob Kreipke, a Ford historian. “Model AA trucks in particular had a certain class to them,” he said. “Customers could use them on the farm, yet still take them to church on Sunday.”
1935 Model 50 with Ford flathead V8.
Like the Model TT, the Model AA was available exclusively as a chassis cab offered in two lengths, with new powertrain and axle options for greater capacity. To stay ahead in what had become a hotly competitive business, Ford replaced the Model AA with the even more capable Model BB in 1933. Many were outfitted as mail and freight vehicles, as well as ambulances and other types of commercial vehicles. Two years later, Ford introduced the 1935 Model 50 pick-up truck , powered exclusively by its famous Ford Flathead V8 engine.
1953 Ford F-100
Making trucks more innovative
By 1941, Ford had sold more than 4 million trucks. Changing over to war production resulted in the loss of consumer sales but a gain in experience building heavy-duty military truck chassis and 4-wheel-drive personnel carriers. A year after consumer production resumed in 1947, Ford drew on that knowledge to provide even more innovations for its customers.
“After the war, a lot of rural Americans moved to urban and suburban centres looking for work, and many took their Ford pick-ups with them,” said Kreipke. “Ford saw this as an opportunity, and began work on the next generation of trucks for 1948 – which came to be known as F-Series Bonus Built trucks.”
Ford truck advertisement in 1965
After a successful run with the first generation F-Series, the second generation arrived in 1953 with increased engine power and capacity. The model line was also rebranded, with the F-1 becoming the F-100, while F-2 and F-3 trucks were integrated into the new F-250 line. Meanwhile, the F-4 became F-350 and the larger Class 8 trucks were spun off into a new C-Series commercial truck unit.
Ford trucks became dual-purpose vehicles – for work on weekdays and for family getaways on weekends.
Changing the truck role
Throughout this period, Ford trucks started looking less utilitarian, sporting features like 2-tone paint, automatic transmissions, and improved heater and radio offerings. New standard features debuted with the 1953 F-100, including armrests, dome lights and sun visors. Lower and with a wider cab, the new truck featured integrated front fenders and a more aerodynamic design.
45 years later, in the ASEAN region, the same thing would happen as Ford introduced the Ranger as its idea of the ‘Asian Car’. It came with a stylish look that was rugged, and had the features and convenience of a passenger car. In Malaysia, the timing was just right as local regulations had changed to permit use of trucks as private vehicles rather than only for commercial use.
First generation of the Ranger built and introduced in ASEAN in the 1990s.
Built Ford Tough
In 1961 – 44 years after the Model TT – Ford introduced its fourth-generation F-Series. It continued to have innovations that kept it a market leader, eg the revolutionary twin I-beam front suspension which debuted in 1965. An upscale Ranger package appeared in 1967 and advertisements emphasized improved comfort, value and durability, as Ford trucks now offered power steering and brakes, and a lower chassis profile.
Built Ford Tough
By 1977, the F-Series trucks were clear market leaders and sometime that year, a copywriter for a Ford truck magazine is said to have written three simple words that would come to define the brand: Built Ford Tough. It is more than a slogan – it’s a brand promise to owners and the mantra for Ford’s entire truck team.
Developing truck culture
In the years that followed, truck culture became very much part of American life. Trucks had become universal family vehicles; in addition to being only work trucks during the week, people also used them for weekend getaways. Ford trucks thus made American lifestyle more active and in 2022, the same thing is happening in Malaysia with Sime Darby Auto ConneXion’s ‘Ford Ranger Getaways’.
While the F-Series has been dominant in North America, Ford has also used its truck expertise with the Ranger in other parts of the world. Versatile and efficient, the Ranger has built a reputation for being tough and capable, leading it to thrive in diverse markets around the world.
Raptor – the performance truck
And while performance for a truck usually refers to the loads it can carry, Ford also added a new dimension to truck performance in the way that enthusiasts understand it. With the assistance of Ford Performance, the company’s high-performance division, the Raptor was created to enter the specialty truck segment. Inspired by desert racing and designed specifically to meet the needs of off-road truck enthusiasts, the Raptor was the first off-road trophy truck from a major manufacturer.
Developed by Ford Performance, the F-150 Raptor set the bar high for off-road performance. The same formula was applied to the Ranger to also create a Raptor variant that has become the ultimate truck, with no rivals.
To know more about Ford trucks available in Malaysia, especially the next-generation Ranger coming soon, visit www.sdacford.com.my. If you sign up here, you can get an exclusive invitation to a debut event at a city near you as well as receive regular updates to keep you informed.
While attention in Malaysia is on the new Honda HR-V, another new model is capturing the attention of Honda fans in America – the new CR-V. Predictably, the company is starting the launch of the popular SUV in its bestselling market where, along with the Toyota RAV4, it created a new market segment almost overnight over 25 years ago.
While retaining the form of a traditional SUV, the new CR-V adopts the new design language with a large front grille. It’s almost 70 mm longer, with the A-pillar moved back 127 mm and 75 mm outwards. This is to improve forward visibility although, in an SUV, the driver already has a commanding view with the higher seating position than in a passenger car.
Focus on hybrid po
For the North American market, there will be two hybrid powertrains – one with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and the other with a 2-litre engine. Honda says the engines, which are also used in other models, have been refined and for the smaller engine, the 4-2 exhaust port cylinder head helps maintain peak power over a broader range of rpm.
The CVT has been updated to reduce noise and vibration with significant drivability and performance improvements include Step-Shift programming that simulates gear changes at full throttle. An updated Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System improves traction management in slippery conditions and can now send up to 50% of engine torque to the rear wheels.
Civic-themed interior
Inside, the new interior layout has the most cabin and cargo space in CR-V history. While it has functionality, its styling theme is also similar to that of the latest Civic. Body Stabilizing Seats for the front occupants reduce fatigue and improve posture, while there are lots of mut-have tech features for the driver and passenger.
More advanced safety features
The 6th-generation CR-V also gets more advanced active and passive safety technology. This includes the latest version of Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) architecture that has been enhanced for even better compatibility with larger vehicles.
First introduced on the new Civic, the new driver and passenger front airbags can minimize the potential for severe brain trauma associated with angled frontal collisions. The new front driver’s airbag uses an innovative donut-shaped structure to cradle and hold the head to reduce rotation. The passenger-side front airbag uses a 3-chamber design to achieve a similar result, with two outer chambers designed to cradle the head and minimize rotation.
Updated Honda SENSING safety and driver-assistive technology is installed, with a new camera and radar. The camera has a 90-degree field of view while the radar has a 120-degree field of view for maximum coverage of the area ahead.
The new CR-V shown here is for the North American market (where it is also manufactured) and the model which will eventually come to the ASEAN markets (probably in 2023) is likely to have cosmetic and technical differences to suit the region’s needs.
