In the world of high endurance 4×4 Jungle Adventure Expedition of the Rainforest Trophy Malaysia 2018, it’s all about power, skill, and toughness. Powered by Petron Turbo Diesel Euro 5, the Rainforest Trophy calls for teamwork, endurance, and some mad off-road driving skills from its participants in the jungles of east coast Malaysia. (more…)
It was only last month when we were invited to compete in the third round of 2018 Proton 1-Tank Adventure challenge in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The goal is to cover the planned route whilst driving as economically as one can and we (together with our co-driver from Autobuzz.my, Adrian Chia) triumphed in the media category for the Proton Saga category. (more…)
Kia Motors Corporation revealed for the first time, its next-generation Separated Sound Zone (SSZ) technology that allows each passenger of a vehicle to experience an audio stream tailored to their individual needs, including music, hands-free phone calls, and vehicle alerts, whilst maintaining a headphone-free social space where passengers can converse freely.
SSZ technology creates and controls the acoustic fields of the car, allowing the driver and each passenger to hear isolated sounds. The many speakers installed in the vehicle feature technology that uses scientific principles to reduce or increase audio levels of sound waves. This negates the overlap of sounds being heard in each seat, creating the same effect as current noise cancellation systems, but without the need for headphones.
“Customers in the autonomous navigation era will demand increasingly customizable entertainment options within their vehicles, which includes technological innovations such as the Separated Sound System,” says Kang-duck Ih, Research Fellow at Kia’s NVH Research Lab. “I hope by providing drivers and passengers with tailored, independent audio spaces, they will experience a more comfortable and entertaining transportation environment.”
People’s musical tastes vary, so some passengers choose to use headphones during a journey to isolate their audio stream, but this also creates an unnecessary social barrier when interacting with other passengers. When travelling in a vehicle equipped with next-generation SSZ technology, each passenger can connect their smartphone via Bluetooth and listen to their own music without interference from, or interfering with other passenger’s audio streams. When the SSZ is utilized, hands-free phone calls can also be isolated to individual passengers, ensuring privacy when having important phone conversations on the move.
Furthermore, this ground-breaking technology can eliminate unnecessary sounds for the passenger, but provide them for the driver. Navigation sounds, or various alerts allow the driver to focus on controlling the vehicle, while the SSZ system isolates these sounds, maintaining a quiet area for the other passengers. This has a particularly strong application for drivers with a sleeping child in the vehicle.
SSZ technology has been in development since 2014, and the completed mass production system is expected to be ready for installation in vehicles within one to two years.
For the video of Separated Sound Zone technology described above, please visit https://youtu.be/lokXL8qyu1c.
BMW Malaysia has unveiled the New BMW i8 Coupé, the new iteration of the ground-breaking BMW i8 that epitomises the revolutionary combination of extreme power and absolute efficiency, not to mention absolute silence, as seen in the launch video below…
Mr. Raymond Tan, Head of Sales of BMW Malaysia (below, left) said, “In 2014, BMW redefined the concept of a supercar with the BMW i8. In its looks and appeal, the sports car arrived from the future but more than this, the BMW i8 told a bold and ambitious story of the BMW Group in shaping the future of the automotive industry with Electro Mobility.”
The BMW Group’s position as a leading global provider of premium electrified mobility is underscored by the outstanding growth in the deliveries of its electric cars. Globally, the BMW Group delivered over 100,000 electrified vehicles last year. Today, year-to-date sales of electrified BMW and MINI vehicles totalled over 71,000, with a 40.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The BMW Group remains well on course to achieve its aim of selling over 140,000 electrified vehicles in 2018.
Locally, BMW Group Malaysia has been leading the charge (pun intended) with year-to-date deliveries of electrified BMW and MINI vehicles accounting for over 55% of total vehicle deliveries. In tandem with the BMW Group’s global plan to strengthen the future of mobility, BMW Group Malaysia is committed to achieving the same promise with its plan to drive e-mobility forward. This is proven through the company’s initiatives to drive innovation, local assembly capabilities, awareness on new and clean technology for the automotive industry as well as changing the infrastructure for premium vehicles in the country.
BMW Group Malaysia is moving forward with a firm commitment to Electro Mobility in line with the National Electric Mobility Blueprint which outlines the plan to make Malaysia the regional hub for Electric Vehicles by the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation, BMW Group Malaysia’s partner for its 360° ELECTRIC programme.
For the first time, the premium automaker will also be the Electro Mobility partner at the upcoming Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018. It is to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 17th to 22nd September where all the major energy companies will meet and share new ideas on the future trends of the energy industry.
With the theme “Reimagining Utility of the Future”, the event will also feature the Head of Product Management BMW i, Dr. Alexander Kotouc as a keynote speaker, who will be sharing on the BMW Group’s plans and vision as a leader in automotive sustainability and progressive mobility. BMW Group Malaysia’s participation signifies its timely support of the government’s renewed commitment on the climate change agenda to explore and implement viable alternatives for green energy use.
The retail prices (on the road, with 0% GST, without insurance and SST) for the New BMW i8 Coupé are:
| Peninsular Malaysia | – RM 1,310,800.00 |
| East Malaysia | – RM 1,313,992.00 |
| Langkawi | – RM 862,800.00 |
For the FULL spec sheet, click to download this: The New BMW i8 Coupé Spec Sheet_Pen Malaysia
More on the new BMW i8: The spectacular design of the New BMW i8 Coupé: Emotional appeal meets functionality.
The New BMW i8 Coupé is yet another iconic BMW i model that will redefine Plug-in Hybrid vehicle technology. The New Generation of a Vision features a brand new LifeDrive vehicle architecture which will represent all BMW i models to come, which offers a horizontally split structure comprising an aluminium chassis and a CFRP passenger cell to offer an exceptional degree of design freedom. The visionary styling of the BMW i8 Coupe therefore succeeds in expressing not just the car’s dynamic performance credentials, but also its outstanding efficiency.
The BMW Group’s effort to realise visionary mobility is propelled by the technological prowess, proven once again by the crowning achievement of BMW i8’s fourth consecutive win of the International Engine of the Year Award since 2015. It is a well-deserved recognition of BMW i8’s supremely designed drivetrain, which combines its three-cylinder combustion engine and electric motor in a most innovatively efficient manner, putting itself in a league of its own.
A string of prestigious accolades, including the iF Design Award and the Red Dot Award, testify to the quality and allure of the brand-new LifeDrive architecture for BMW i models. Its horizontally split structure comprising an aluminium chassis and suspension plus all drive components at the bottom, and a CFRP occupant cell at the top, offers an exceptional degree of design freedom. This clever engineering trick enables the optimal positioning of the necessary drive components to ensure the best possible handling, in addition to ensuring a noticeable weight advantage with the carbon passenger cell.
The 2+2-seater stands out with its proportions, lines and surface design mark. The flat bonnet, visible aerodynamics measures, short overhangs, a long wheelbase, large track widths and an elongated roofline create an aura of dynamism, lightness and efficiency. The streamlined and flat silhouette of the New BMW i8 Coupé is combined with a pronounced wedge shape to give the car its classic sports-car look – an impression that is accentuated by its unmistakable scissor doors that open forward and upward in the most stylish gesture.
The New BMW i8 Coupé’s optimised aerodynamics means that air is channelled extremely effectively as it hits the car, due to the combined effects of the low bonnet, air flap control system, Air Curtains in the front apron, sealed underbody, contoured side skirts, “Stream Flow” lines of the car’s flanks, and air ducts between the rear lights and roof frame. The flow of cooling air at the front has now been rerouted. Instead of rushing out through the outlet in the bonnet, the air escapes at the sides of the car near the wheel arches and into the underbody. The New BMW i8 Coupé is fitted with the 20-inch BMW i light-alloy wheels in radial-spoke style and 516 jet black paint.
Optimised BMW eDrive technology: more power, increased range – electric driving experience raised another notch.
The acclaimed drivetrain of the New BMW i8 Coupé consists of an electric motor on the front axle and an internal combustion engine on the rear. The engine’s power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed Steptronic transmission, while the electric motor drives the front wheels via a two-speed automatic gearbox.
The high-voltage battery is located centrally in the car’s underbody to provide a low centre of gravity, with an increased cell capacity of 33 Ah from the previous 20 Ah. The electric motor output has increased by 9 kW to 105 kW, and the electric range now extends to 55 kilometres, broadening the reach of all-electric mobility well beyond the city limits.
The turbocharged three-cylinder combustion engine featuring direct injection and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing extracts a maximum output of 170 kW/231 hp from its displacement of just 1.5 litres, plus peak torque of 320 Nm. It is pleasantly refined and generates a distinctive soundtrack that now has an even sportier note. The engine also comes equipped with a particulate filter as standard that effectively absorbs all the particulate matter contained in the exhaust gases.
The combined system output produced by the electric motor and engine acting in unison has also increased to 275 kW/374 hp in the New BMW i8 Coupé. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, with a fuel consumption of 1.8 l/100 km, which equates to 42 g/km for petrol CO2 emissions, and 14.0 kWh/100 km for electric power consumption.
The number of driving situations where the electric motor is solely responsible for powering the car has been significantly increased. By contrast, the combustion engine is only brought into play when accelerating hard and is switched off again far more frequently with a measured driving style.
In eDrive Mode, the electric-only driving mode, acceleration and deceleration can be smoothly executed with the gas pedal only. If the driver takes the foot off the gas pedal, the electric motor assumes the function of a generator that converts the car’s kinetic energy and feeds it back into the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. This process of regenerating brake energy creates braking momentum that effectively slows down the vehicle.
In hybrid mode, the electric motor provides a power boost to assist the engine when vigorous acceleration is required. The electric motor is also able to recuperate energy and feed it to the high-voltage battery on the overrun and under braking. The petrol engine’s high-voltage starter-generator can similarly generate additional reserves of electricity, thereby ensuring that sufficient energy is on tap at all times for the electric drive system in the new BMW i8 Coupé.
The intelligent energy management impresses with its proactive function in optimising efficiency. When the navigation system’s route guidance function is activated, the energy management ensures the electric motor is employed as extensively and as wisely as possible from an efficiency point of view. The system analyses the route in full and prompts the powertrain management to run on purely electric power, particularly over low-speed sections of the journey.
Innovative interior design in a range of new looks.
The interior of the New BMW i8 Coupé continues the progressive design of the exterior with a classic BMW i8 drive orientation in line with the sporty, dynamic concept. The upper centre console to the instrument panel curves toward the driver in a very acute 12-degree angle. All controls and display elements are within perfect reach of the driver and easy to read.
The cockpit is fitted out with the BMW Head-up Display that changes to a sports display that includes revs, gears and shift lights when performing manual gear changes in SPORT mode. The Navigation System Professional features the most up-to-date user interface, including a modern tile display with live mode. It is controlled using the iDrive operating system, comprising both a Touch Controller on the centre console and an 8.8-inch freestanding Control Display screen.
Adding a futuristic touch to the interior are the open-pored CFRP Carbon trim on the centre console, door handle and dashboard inlay, the ceramic controls with an embossed i8 logo on the iDrive Controller, and the ceramic finish on the gear selection lever. The immediately impactful environment gives the driver the impression of being one with the car.
The BMW Connected links the New BMW i8 Coupé with its owner’s digital life, aided by the Remote App – which allows them to check and control their vehicles, and to stay extra-efficient even when they are on the go. BMW Connected offers a range of conveniences, including showing the current charge status, the range and departure time to ensure the vehicle is charged for the next trip, helping the driver search for charging stations and have the location sent directly to the vehicle for them, as well as access to the efficiency rating of the last trip, tutorials for particularly efficient driving and the CO2 calculator. Remote functions such as Remote Door Lock & Unlock, Remote Light Flash and Remote Horn Blow can also be activated.
The New BMW i8 Coupé’s exterior comes in Crystal White with a Frozen Grey highlight, or the new BMW Individual special paintwork Donington Grey, with the interior in Black Amido or Accaro respectively. The New BMW i8 Coupé will be available at all authorised BMW i dealerships nationwide from Tuesday, 14th August 2018.
BMW i8 Photo Gallery…
Complete Premium Ownership Experience.
Customers of the New BMW i8 Coupé can also experience the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:
Isuzu Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (IMSB) has appointed Atsunori Murata as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). He will be overseeing all operational aspects under the Commercial Vehicle Division.
Revealing the appointment during a recent media event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Koji Nakamura said, “Atsunori Murata has held diverse leadership roles throughout his employment with Isuzu Motors Japan, with experience particularly in sales and business development, product planning and operations. I believe that his extensive experience will prove to be a vital advantage to this organisation, in order to maintain Isuzu Malaysia’s position as No. 1 preferred Commercial Vehicle (CV) in this country”.
Murata has been with Isuzu Motors Limited since 1998. He brings with him 20 years of experience in international sales and business management, having had the opportunity to serve various markets such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, EU countries, and the United Nations. Furthermore, Murata cultivated vast experiences in coordinating business, sales and aftersales planning, corporate finance management and manufacturing coordination for commercial vehicle during his secondment to Isuzu Trucks South Africa in 2010, and Isuzu Motors Sub Saharan Africa in 2015.
Upon returning to serve Isuzu Motors Japan, he was tasked as Chief Coordinator for the Tokyo Motor Show 2017, aside from coordinating other automotive events that required his expertise and knowledge.
“I am thrilled to join Isuzu Motors Malaysia, and look forward to taking on this new challenge. I have been privileged to coordinate and manage automotive business units on a global scale, and I will do my very best to bring Isuzu Malaysia to the next level in the local automotive industry”, he said.
In addition to Murata, new faces who recently joined Isuzu Malaysia, under the After Sales Division (ASD), include Ryo Kakogawa as Chief Operating Officer (COO); Katsushi Shimauchi as Senior Advisor for Service Marketing; and Yuji Shinya as Advisor for Parts Operation.
For more details on Isuzu’s range of vehicles, please call 1-300-88-1133 or visit www.isuzu.net.my .
Ford and its local distribution partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), recently offered safe driver training and road safety awareness to corporate partners and members of the public through Ford’s global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme.
More than 50 licensed drivers from corporate partners comprising telecommunications, highway maintenance and utilities companies participated in a free two half-day workshops at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), more than 43 percent of Malaysian drivers use their mobile phones while driving. This means that close to half of all Malaysian drivers are putting themselves and others in danger while behind the wheel.
As such, Ford and SDAC believe the Ford Driving Skills for Life programme will help drivers be more vigilant while on the road which would in turn, reduce the number of road accidents.
The DSFL workshops aim to address various driver risks, such as dealing with unexpected scenarios, speed and space management as well as raise awareness on distracted driving caused by mobile phone use or tiredness.
“Ford Driving Skills for Life provides Malaysian drivers with the tools and resources needed for safe driving. Road safety is a very serious issue and we take pride in our ability to help reinforce this message among Malaysian motorists,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (below).
The programme is conducted through a mix of classroom and practical training sessions where drivers are offered hands-on driving experience.
An emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or medication was also incorporated as part of the programme. This included having participants wear specially designed goggles that help simulate the experience of driving while movement, coordination and alertness are impaired.
DSFL is Ford’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme funded by the Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of the Ford Motor Company. Globally, Ford DSFL is now in its 15th successful year of training licensed drivers of all ages. To date, the program has trained more than 1 million individuals in safe driving practices.
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