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Hyundai Motor Group uses automotive expertise in design of Supernal eVTOL vehicle

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.

2022 Hyundai IONIQ 6 — 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.

AirCar’s flying car completes first ever inter-city flight (w/VIDEO)

Limited editions of BMW 320i/330i M Sport launched

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.

‘The Boss’ BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport gets extra safety features, priced from RM457,498.37

From Model TT to Ranger – the story of Ford trucks

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Next Generation Ranger Set To Debut At The End of This Month!

All-new 6th generation Honda CR-V makes first appearance in America

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.

Honda’s electrification plans will still include hybrid models, at least until 2035

Beam e-scooters offer a practical solution for ‘first and last mile’ transport in cities

Back in the 1970s, as traffic congestion in many cities increased, the idea of ‘park and ride’ was promoted. Motorists were encouraged to park their cars at bus stations or train stations and use public transport to travel into the city. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the restricted road network within the city and thereby reduce congestion.

The idea works to varying degrees in different cities. Where the public transport is efficient and desirable, many will ‘park and drive’ as it would make sense. However, there are places where the public transport system may have a network that is not comprehensive enough, and people find it inconvenient to get to stations or get from stations to their destination.

This is where a solution to cover the ‘first mile’ and ‘last mile’ is necessary. One solution offered by Beam Mobility is the share e-scooter service that is now available in Malaysia. The service is said to solving the everyday issue of completing first and last mile journeys when using public transport.

The e-scooters, which are for a single person, are for use within the city and apart from being useful for motorists entering the city, it would also be good for tourists and urban dwellers who want to get around without having to sweat it out.

Complementary service
Beam’s service thus complements the existing public transport ecosystem, reducing dependency on private vehicles. In a recent poll among micromobility riders in May 2022, almost 50% of the 1,800 Beam riders surveyed said that access to e-scooters for the ‘first or last mile’ of a journey had made them more likely or much more likely consider using public transport as an option for long journeys rather than using cars or ride-hailing services. This attitude flows into real behaviours, with 77% of regular riders saying they always, usually, or sometimes use an e-scooter to connect to or from public transport.

The surveys illustrate that Malaysians urban dwellers and visitors are open to the possibility of shared e-scooters operating in their city, with just 9% of the 1,544 interviewees saying they felt any degree of negativity to the idea. This number halved once the safety features, convenience, and environmental benefits of shared e-scooters had been explained to them.

Environment-friendly too!
Apart from being an easier and quicker way to move around, the Beam e-scooters are also good for the environment. According to the company, for every 10 kms that an e-scooter travels, it can save 2.65 kgs of carbon dioxide emissions which a car would generate over the same distance.

Anyone should be able to use an e-scooter and Beam incorporates technology to ensure users’ safety. Underneath the e-scooter’s sturdy aircraft-grade aluminium chassis is an efficient electric powertrain with a high-grade IoT (Internet of Things) communications device. The battery packs that are used for the e-scooters are certified to the very highest standards of fire safety as well.

User-friendly features include Beam’s proprietary virtual parking technology which encourages proper use and return of e-scooters, while its speed-limiting technology (capped at 25 km/h) keeps users from going too fast – even when riding downhill.

No worries about restricted areas
You may have read news reports about e-scooters being banned but this only applies to certain areas. The public can still use them in other areas and with the geofencing technology in each e-scooter, users will not stray into restricted zones. If they do, there will be an alert sound and if no action is taken the e-scooter will stop (the operations team will also be aware).

Using a smartphone app, the various locations where the e-scooters can be collected can be found. Like rental cars, they have to be returned to designated locations. The charge is 60 sen a minute, which is paid using a credit card. If the user does not return the e-scooter to a designated spot, there will be a penalty charge.

The Beam app for smartphones shows where e-scooter parks are for collecting and returning them. The QR code on the e-scooter unlocks the machine for use.

“Beam’s e-scooters are built for convenience and to encourage people to opt for greener commutes within the city centre. With its growing availability in key transit points and destinations around the Klang Valley, the ability to quickly hop on and off an e-scooter to travel door-to-door in minutes gives Malaysians an easy and convenient solution to the first and last mile challenges of public transport usage. Moving between places that are too far for a comfortable walk, and too short a distance to drive, is solved with our e-scooters,” said Taty Azman, Head of Public Affairs, Beam Mobility Malaysia.

Toyota Mobility Foundation’s CATCH offers two solutions to address Kuala Lumpur’s mobility and city planning challenges

Hyundai N Vision 74 combines BEV and FCEV technologies for higher performance

Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology is not new to Hyundai Motor. In fact, the company was already carrying out R&D on such vehicles, which use hydrogen, from the early 2000s. By 2013, it was able to commercialise a FCEV in the form of the iX35, the first carmaker to do so.

Since then, development on FCEVs has advanced further and the company has accumulated even more experience and feedback through the use of its FCEVs over millions of kilometres in many parts of the world.

Hyundai N, the performance arm, is also looking at FCEV technology for the future and has developed the N Vision 74 as a high-performance hydrogen fuel cell hybrid rolling laboratory. While it is the first such high-performance rolling lab for Hyundai N’s engineers to use, it is not the first time for N where FCEV technology is concerned.

In 2015, the company also created the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo with the launch of the N brand to envision the future of hydrogen-based high performance. The futuristic N 2025 was conceived to represent Hyundai in the Vision Gran Turismo program, a series of fictional concept cars for the Gran Turismo videogame by Polyphony Digital. While it was never produced as a real-life running model, it had advanced technologies that gave extremely high performance which gamers could experience.

For the N Vision 74, Hyundai’s engineers developed a hybrid structure of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in combination with an FCEV system, placed in an all-new layout. By having a fuel cell system and battery-electric system powering the car together, the cooling efficiency is improved.

The two different power sources can be used together or independent, depending on different driving conditions. This fine-tuned logic system enables better torque vectoring by twin motors on the rear, allowing a precise and responsive cornering experience. Moreover, the N Vision 74 explores the balance between the performance and cooling with a 3-channel cooling system.

Measuring 4952 mm long, 1995 mm wide and 1331 mm tall on a 2905 mm wheelbase, the design of the concept car is inspired by the Hyundai Pony Coupe concept of 1974. This concept car developed by the designer Giorgetto Giugiaro was a proposal for a sportscar based on the very significant model in Hyundai Motor’s history. The concept car was then built into prototypes for what was to be Hyundai’s first production sportscar. Although it could not reach production in the end, the daring attitude set the tone for the entire company.

The N Vision 74 inherited the pure surface, dynamic proportioned profile and the unique B-pillar from the Pony Coupe concept. In addition, the lighting units have Parametric Pixel lighting, a feature which is seen on the latest models.

“N Vision 74’s future-oriented design reflects the respect and appreciation we have for the dedication and passion that went into the Pony Coupe concept,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice-President and Head of Hyundai Design Centre.