Home - Piston.my

EFKON Asia Assures 4 Million Malaysians That SmartTag Services Will Remain Following RFID Implementation

EFKON Asia Sdn Bhd, the Austrian technology provider of the Infra-Red Toll Collection System on Malaysian highways, has assured the more than four million users in the country that the company will continue to provide sales and service support for the system popularly known as SmartTAG. Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd had recently announced that it would stop selling SmartTAG devices through its channels.

By October 2018, EFKON Asia plans to have in place a nationwide sales and service network to ensure wider availability and convenience to highway users who wish to purchase or service the Infra-Red TAG device. Moving forward, the Infra-Red TAG device will be available under various brands which will be fully compatible with the current Malaysian toll system. MaxTAG by Sigma Technology Sdn Bhd is already on sale on the e-commerce platform, www.lazada.com.my. In a firm endorsement of the device’s effectiveness, EFKON’s product has been incorporated as a built-in device in several new car models by major automotive manufacturers in the country at a rate of hundreds of thousands of units a year. The TAG, which is manufactured in Malaysia, is also exported to Vietnam and Indonesia with a fast-expanding user community.

Developed in 1997 and rolled out across the country in 2005, the Infra-Red Toll Collection System developed by local companies together with EFKON has proven to be the most reliable and efficient system in facilitating traffic flow on Malaysian highways. According to EFKON Asia director Helmuth Blasch, the company’s Infra-Red Toll Collection System is also ready and suited for multi-lane traffic free flow.

EFKON Asia director Helmuth Blasch (left) & Sigma Technology Exec Director Yap Kiak Wee

“In Germany, a similar Infra-Red System has proven to be effective and reliable in multi-lane traffic free flow environment for speeds above 120 km/h. We have also successfully replicated this test in Malaysia. In contrast to simple solutions, the Infra-Red DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) System also provides high security and protection from cloning the TAG for misuse. We are confident that this Infra-Red TAG System with its 13-year track record and more than four million satisfied customers in this country, will continue to prove its worth as an efficient, convenient and cost-effective cashless toll collection system,” he said. For more information, kindly visit www.efkon.com or send your requests to e-tag@efkon.com.

UMW Toyota Introduces Upgraded Fortuner, Hilux & Innova, Plus A New Colour Option

In line with Toyota’s philosophy of kaizen or constant improvement, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has announced that the Toyota Fortuner, Innova and Hilux have received upgrades and enhancements. Order taking for the models commences from 3 September 2018, with the sales launch and deliveries to customers to take place later in September.

Joining the colour range for the Innova and Fortuner is a new colour – Phantom Brown –a new exterior finish that Toyota introduced for the models internationally. The addition of this dark and bold colour gives Fortuner buyers up to six different choices while Innova buyers can choose from seven. Toyota is also striving towards the realization of the ultimate goal of a mobile society – zero casualties from traffic accidents. As a leading automobile manufacturer supplying millions of vehicles globally each year, Toyota has been ensuring that they are equipped with safety features and systems, which will help to make driving safer and reduce accidents.

In connection with this, the Fortuner has received upgrading in safety specifications with advanced driver assistance systems, now standard for all four variants. Specifically, the systems are Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist (BA), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Active Traction Control (A-TRC). While VSC, BA and HAC have been available for many years, A-TRC is a more recent development that provides more effective traction control in slippery conditions. It is therefore especially valuable during drives in off-road conditions when there may be muddy terrain. A-TRC detects wheel spin and distributes torque between front and rear wheels to suppress unnecessary wheel spin and control skidding.

The system can detect when one or more wheels have lost traction and automatically applies the brakes to the wheel with no traction, allowing it to send power to the wheel with traction. This way, the vehicle’s stability is maintained and the driver can safely drive around a turn. Developed under the same Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) program, the Fortuner, Innova and Hilux shares the common DNA of toughness, durability and reliability. Their engineering draws on experience in making vehicles that can provide safe and comfortable transport in all types of conditions around the world.

The Fortuner and Innova comes with a spacious cabin that can fit 7 persons and up to 8 persons for the latter. This latest generation has more convenience features such as power-operated rear cargo doors and cruise control (for Fortuner only), Smart Entry & Start system, LED headlamps and 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat. The infotainment systems with large touchscreen displays also have extensive features, including connectivity to compatible smartphones and to the internet while on the move (connection to internet is required).

The Hilux, with a 50-year history, is the King of every terrain. The latest generation is the best ever developed as it combines rugged engineering that has given the pick-up a long-lasting reputation with modern technologies to make driving more enjoyable and safer. The technology enhances the 4×4 capabilities of the Hilux and give the driver more confidence and control over any terrain.

Owners of the Fortuner, Innova and Hilux can enjoy peace of mind with a generous 5-year warranty. For the Fortuner and Innova, there is no limit on the mileage within the 5 years. Owners of all Toyota vehicles distributed by UMWT are assured of complete aftersales support through a nationwide network of authorised service centres.

The prices of the new Fortuner, Innova and Hilux, inclusive of Sales & Service Tax (SST) for Private Registration, without insurance are as follow:

Toyota Fortuner (4 variants) – from RM 170,500 ~ RM 195,600

Toyota Innova (4 variants) – from RM 107,280 ~ RM 132,400

Toyota Hilux [Double Cab] (5 variants) – from RM 100,000 ~ RM 138,000

Members of the public may visit www.toyota.com.my for more information on the models offered or locate the nearest Toyota showroom in Malaysia.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: FEATURE – The 2018 Cavalcade Classiche Brings The Timeless Charm Of Ferrari To Sardinia! [+Video]

What a sight to behold! Seeing one classic Ferrari is a treat, but how about seeing seventy of them at one go? Yup, more than 70 classic Ferraris from all over the world gathered in Sardinia recently for the second edition of the Cavalcade Classiche.

The event, which attracted clients from over 20 different nations, was created to allow Ferrari owners to share their passion for driving the cars that wrote some of the most glorious chapters in the history of the Prancing Horse.

A fantastic celebration of cars and driving not only for the owners themselves but for all of the enthusiasts that had the opportunity to admire some of Ferrari’s most famous masterpieces on the roads of Sardinia: the 500 TRC, the 340 America, the 250 Europa, the 750 Monza and the 250 California SWB to name but a few of the historic models that made up the exclusive field.

Staged between September 18^th and 22^nd, the Cavalcade started out from Valle dell’Erica and then explored various areas of beautiful Northern Sardinia each day, from Alghero to the Valle della Luna, from Castelsardo to Porto Cervo and the island of Caprera.

After covering over 800 km, the Cavalcade ended, as per tradition, with a spectacular parade and official presentation of all the cars to the public of Maddalena.

3M Malaysia Launches DIY Car Care Range & Announces Official 3M Automotive Flagship Store on Lazada

3M Malaysia, the global science company known for its cutting-edge automotive solutions, today launched its car care range of DIY products that enables car enthusiasts, restorers and do-it-yourselfers to economically preserve the aesthetics of their vehicles with professional grade products.

Additionally, in an effort to make its products more accessible to Malaysians, 3M Malaysia also announced the launch of its first official 3M Automotive Flagship Store on Lazada. The store on the e-commerce site will feature past and current car care product ranges that are simple to use and gets the job done.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Parameswaran Nair, Managing Director of 3M Malaysia said, “3M has always been at the forefront of automotive science and innovation, and today, we are pleased to introduce our new range of car care products that brings decades of scientific development right in your hands. Our DIY car care kits are easy to use and delivers exceptional results at the fraction of the cost. We are also very excited to launch our first official 3M Automotive Flagship Store with Lazada to make our products more accessible digitally to consumers,”

Lazada Malaysia CEO Christophe Lejeune said: “We are pleased to have 3M Malaysia onboard with us on LazMall (see below photo gallery) with their automotive-focused flagship store, as we are driven to continuously elevate our customers’ experiences by diversifying our product portfolio and services. With the recent introduction of LazMall, we are able to offer users a brand-new shopping destination and services with carefully curated international and local brands on the Lazada platform.”

Hazy lights mean risky nights – improve the brightness of your headlights…

Headlights play a critical role in ensuring optimal visibility especially at night, and it is important to maintain them. Unfortunately, the plastic headlight covers that millions of Malaysian cars have, tend to haze or turn yellow over time. If left unchecked, it considerably reduces the light output from the headlamp, which makes for a dim and dangerous driving experience at night.

However, fixing dull headlights does not have to be a complicated process. The 3M™ Headlight Restoration Kit features four simple steps that improves the brightness of plastic headlights. The Trizact™ Abrasives feature microreplication that are reproduced and uniformly distributed to remove yellowing, dirt build-up and small scratches without damaging the lens itself. The kit also comes equipped with a sachet of synthetic wax for added protection against the elements for long lasting results.

Removing light to medium scratches…

Getting scratches on a car or motorbike is a fact of life for any vehicle owner. Scratches on car door handles and from minor accidents can add defects in the auto paint finish that can dull a vehicle’s appearance. To effectively remove scratches, the 3M™ Rubbing Compound smoothens and cleans surfaces, making it a dual-purpose product. The product also removes oxidation and other stains and blemishes.

It is safe to use for 2K paint, clear coats and lacquer paint finishes. With just a light rub, the scratches are removed with impressive results. Then finish off with the easy-to-use 3M™ One-Step Cleaner Wax. As a result, dull and tired looking auto body finishes are revived with impressive and immediate results. However, it is best to investigate the scratches on your vehicle first. If they are too deep or wide, the product would not be able to completely remove them.

Fixing your pain-t points…

Got into a minor accident where paint from the other vehicle is transferred to yours? 3M™ Scratch & Scuff Removal Kit allows you to restore the shine and gloss of light to medium scratches and scuffed painted areas of the vehicle quickly, easily and without tools. Inclusive of the 3M™ Rubbing Compound, the kit also features an extremely fine P3000 grit abrasive square which eliminates scuffs and scratches. Then, simply apply and wipe off the 3M™ Rubbing Compound to restore the shine and gloss of your vehicle.

One-stop Shop…

Malaysians love to shop online, and the official 3M Malaysia Automotive Flagship Store on Lazada aims to provide its consumers with a viable and convenient purchase option. The online store will host a range of premium and genuine automotive products such as the 3M™ Complete Fuel System Cleaner, 3M™ Glass Cleaner, 3M™ Leather & Vinyl Restorer and 3M™ Tire Restorer at affordable prices. “At 3M Malaysia, we pride ourselves for always exploring innovative ways such as digital partnerships to ensure that we are continuously offering consumers easy-to-access products and convenience, and we hope that the launch of the online store will also drive awareness of our range of car care products amongst Malaysians” added Parameswaran.

As part of the launch, 3M Malaysia is offering exciting discounts to shoppers on Lazada. From 19 September to 19 October 2018, four special car care bundles will be offered at RM30 off the original price. These four bundles are designed to help solve or prevent some of the more common problems that car users face, and these include:

1 – Those looking to remove scratches can purchase the light to medium scratches bundle for RM99.00. This bundle includes the 3M™Rubbing Compound, 3M™ One-Step Cleaner Wax and a 3M™ Microfiber Auto-Detailing Cloth.

2 – The second bundle is designed to help restore foggy headlights. Priced at RM154.30, the bundle includes the 3M™ Headlight Restoration Kit, 3M™ Headlight Clear Coat and a 3M™ Microfiber Auto-Detailing Cloth.

3 – The third bundle features a collection of products that will help car owners remove minor scratches and paint transfers after minor accidents. The bundle contains the 3M™ Scratch and Scuff Remover, 3M™ One-Step Cleaner Wax and a 3M™ Microfiber Auto-Detailing Cloth for just RM145.20.

4 – To prevent watermarks, the last bundle includes the 3M™ Glass Cleaner, 3M™ Glass Coat Windshield and a 3M™ Microfiber Auto-Detailing Cloth. This final bundle is priced at just RM63.90.

For more information, please head over to the 3M Auto Care Facebook page @3mAutoCareMY or visit the 3M Automotive Flagship Store on Lazada at https://www.lazada.com.my/shop/3m-automotive.

What is LazMall?

LazMall is Southeast Asia’s largest shopping mall, presenting a selection of trusted, leading international and local brands, top-rated online brands and authorised brand distributors. Shopping on LazMall is the highest-quality online shopping experience you can get – just like shopping at your favourite department store and online brands all in one place. LazMall allows consumers to shop with peace of mind from anywhere in Malaysia with the assurance of receiving 100% authentic products and offers the option of next day delivery, with up to 15 days easy return.

Updated Land Rover Discovery Sport Now In Malaysia

The Discovery Sport delivers even more outstanding performance, refinement and efficiency with the newly fitted 240PS turbocharged Ingenium Petrol engine which delivers 340Nm of torque as well as an improved interior for maximum comfort, safety and versatility.

Paired with the ZF nine-speed automatic transmission, the Discovery Sport offers a smooth and responsive drive. The nine closely-stacked gear ratios provide excellent response and allow for a very low first gear, improved mid-range acceleration and a tall ninth gear for reduced engine revs at higher cruising speeds; all of which, reduces fuel consumption, emissions and engine noise.

Not only is the new Land Rover Discovery Sport more powerful, it also demonstrates the breadth of Land Rover’s ability while at maximum passenger capacity, the Discovery Sport continues to offer customers an unrivalled all-terrain capability, without sacrificing comfort.

The interior of the Discovery Sport has been designed to provide versatility and a calming space, one in which every occupant feels equally comfortable. Although the Malaysian version comes with a 5-seater as standard, it is configurable to 5+2 seating* as an option which is unique-in-segment.

At an early stage in the vehicle’s development programme, Land Rover designers invited a large cross-section of families to a development centre in the UK. The design team watched on as the families climbed into a variety of SUVs, accessed third-row seating, synced electronic devices, attached child seats to ISOFIX anchor points and placed drinks containers in cup holders. The findings helped shape the Discovery Sport into one of the most versatile premium compact SUVs in the market today.

Sharing a similar design as the Range Rover Evoque, the front architecture of the Discovery Sport includes a magnesium crossbeam for outstanding torsional rigidity and reduced weight. However, the B-pillar rearwards is unique to the Discovery Sport, with thousands of hours invested in ensuring every component is packaged as compactly as possible. The result is maximum interior space, and peerless off-road capability in a surprisingly compact footprint.

Featuring lightweight aluminium chassis components for high strength and reduced unsprung weight, the chassis also helps reduce interior noise and increase occupant space. Coil springs are used on the front suspension, with steel front lower control arms and aluminium suspension knuckles, while the suspension struts use advanced hydraulic rebound stops for excellent refinement.

A compact multi-link rear axle provides numerous benefits. These include exceptional on-road agility, wheel travel and axle articulation – at 340mm – and extremely high levels of composure in on or off-road environments. The rear axle reduces road noise entering the cabin, while the suspension turrets make only minimal intrusion into the luggage area, allowing row-two seating to slide and recline past the turrets for maximum leg-room.

Safety is always a priority in engineering Land Rover vehicles. The Discovery Sport offers a comprehensive occupant safety package which includes driver and passenger airbags, knee airbags, side curtain and thorax airbag are included in the Discovery Sport.

Adding on to the cutting-edge technology of the Discovery Sport is the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system that is offered through a high-definition touchscreen. The touchscreen behaves like a smartphone with customisable home screen and wallpaper as well as the ability to add widgets for shortcuts to favourite features.

The 2018 Discovery Sport is now on sale at Land Rover showrooms nationwide at RM379,800 (excluding road tax, registration and insurance).

All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standards. All Land Rover vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with ‘Land Rover Care’ programme which is based on whichever comes first i.e a 5-year Warranty or 150,000km, 5-year Servicing or 65,000km and 3-year Roadside Assistance. Please visit www.landrover.com.my for more information.

Editor’s NB: This is the news release received in its entirety, with only 3 photos.

Ferrari Malaysia Presents Its First Experiential Showroom – The Ferrari Pop-Up Experience!

Naza Italia, official importer and distributor of the Ferrari brand in Malaysia, has officially launched a unique experiential pop-up showroom at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The Ferrari Pop-Up Experience, located at the main entrance until 28th September, is the first of its kind in Malaysia and part of a regional showcase that offers the public a taste of the Ferrari lifestyle.

“The Ferrari Pop-Up Experience, an expansive open-air showroom that greets the eyes with the brand’s signature red hue, invites the public to explore the lavish world of the Prancing Horse. Ferrari is known to be a very exclusive brand, however on this occasion we are making it more accessible. Situated amongst other luxury brands at Pavilion KL, this experiential pop-up showroom really does offer customers insight into the lifestyle that complements Ferrari ownership,” said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The palatial pop-up showroom features two impressive V8 stallions from the brand’s current range – the Ferrari Portofino and the Ferrari GTC4Lusso T. This is the first time that the Portofino has been made available for public viewing in Malaysia since its official launch in May. The Ferrari Portofino takes its name from one of the most attractive villages on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria Region. The V8 GT is a stylish symbol of elegant daily living, combining luxury, versatility and on-board comfort in a berlinetta coupé that effortlessly converts to a drop-top. It is the most powerful convertible car that Ferrari has ever produced, boasting an ability to unleash a tremendous 600cv and sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

The GTC4Lusso T is the first four-seater in Prancing Horse history to sport a turbo-charged V8 engine, presenting a whole new Ferrari GT concept that’s aimed at owners seeking a car that is sporty, dynamic, and ideal for driving on a daily basis. The grand tourer is further refinement of the shooting brake coupé, reinterpreting the concept with an extremely streamlined, tapered shape that gives it an almost fastback-like silhouette. The car’s 3.9-litre V8 turbo engine has a maximum power output is 610 cv at 7,500 rpm.

The Ferrari Pop-Up Experience showroom, which will stand at the main entrance of Pavilion KL until 28th September, features a car display area, an exclusive lounge and reception space. In conjunction with the Ferrari Pop-Up Experience, Ferrari Malaysia is running a contest on Instagram from 22nd to 28th September. Any member of the public with a valid Instagram account may enter the contest and all they have to do is follow the instructions provided on social media.

More exciting information about Ferrari Malaysia may be obtained from the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ferrarimalaysia.nazaitalia. Follow @ferrari.malaysia on Instagram for the latest updates and offerings of Ferrari and Naza Italia.