Toyota Archives

A Toyota GR Yaris that runs on hydrogen is under development

Since May this year, a special Toyota Corolla Sport run by the ROOKIE Racing arm of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has been competing in the Super Taikyu Series 2021. Its engine doesn’t run on petrol but uniquely, on hydrogen. This is not the same as the powertrain in the Mirai EV which has its electric motors powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. For the engine in the Corolla Sport, a prototype, the combustion process uses hydrogen.

Combustion in a hydrogen-fuelled engine occurs at a faster rate than in petrol engines, resulting in a characteristic of good responsiveness. While having excellent environmental performance, hydrogen engines still have the typical character of a combustion engine, especially ‘familiar’ sounds and vibrations. Except for the combustion of minute amounts of engine oil during driving, which is also the case with petrol engines, hydrogen engines emit zero CO₂ when in use.

*Prototype Corolla Sport with hydrogen engine racing in Super Taikyu series in Japan.*

Moving to the next steps
As the R&D engineers gain increasing experience and feedback from running the engine in the harsh conditions of motorsport in Japan, they are progressing towards the next steps. This is demonstrated in an experimental hydrogen-powered GR Yaris which shares same powertrain as the prototype Corolla Sport racing car.

*Second generation of the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) which uses hydrogen in a process that generates electricity.*

The car’s hydrogen fuel, fuel tanks and refuelling process are the same as those found in Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) which is now in its second generation. The hydrogen combustion engine technology is still in the early stages of conceptual development and experimentation, having started in 2017, and is not yet ready for commercialisation. Nonetheless, Toyota’s experimental hydrogen-powered Corolla Sport is already delivering high performance at motorsport events in Japan with almost zero tailpipe emissions.

Modified GR Yaris engine
The engine modified to run on hydrogen is the G16E-GTS, 1.6-litre, in-line 3-cylinder, turbocharged unit used in production versions of the GR Yaris, but with a modified fuel supply and injection system for use with hydrogen as fuel.

*GR Yaris 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (version in production model shown) has been modified to run on hydrogen.*

Toyota has been strengthening its efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality, such as by aiming to promote the use of hydrogen through the popularisation of FCEVs and numerous other fuel-cell-powered products. By further refining its hydrogen engine technologies through motorsports, it intends to aim for the realisation of an even better hydrogen-based society.

Motorsport as a testing ground
The uses of motorsport as a testing ground reflects the firm belief of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, that sporting competition is a driver for progress. In March 1952, he said: “Japan’s auto industry must succeed in building passenger vehicles. To this end, manufacturers must participate in auto-racing to test their vehicles’ durability and performance and display their utmost performance. With competition comes progress, as well as excitement among motoring fans. The aim of racing is not just to satisfy our curiosity, but rather to enable the development of the Japanese passenger vehicle industry.”

“We’ve taken the first step to compete with and develop our hydrogen-powered engine with the mindset of taking on the challenge. I imagine things will look a little different 10 years from now, and I hope people will look back and see how we took on the challenge with positivity and enjoyed every moment of it,” added Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation as well as grandson of Kiichiro.

Transitioning to electric vehicles is one approach Toyota is taking to help create a carbon-neutral society. To achieve this goal, it is developing multiple electrified technologies, including hydrogen, which it views as one of the key building blocks for CO₂ reduction.

Second generation fuel cell modules
To help expand its hydrogen technology from cars to more diverse applications, it has repackaged the advanced fuel cell system used in its Mirai saloon into compact fuel cell modules. From January 2022, Toyota will start production of these second generation modules.

The new system has been packaged into modules that are more compact, lighter in weight and provide greater power density. They are available in two formats: a cube and a flat, rectangular shape, allowing greater flexibility and adaptation for different applications.

Toyota began fuel cell development in 1992 and has since continued to refine its hydrogen technology. The second generation fuel cell modules will be assembled by a manufacturing team at Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) R&D centre in Belgium. The new facility houses a pilot assembly line combining advanced technology content with high-quality assembly techniques.

Toyota chose Europe as the location for its second generation fuel cell module assembly as it sees demand growing significantly across the region. Working with businesses interested in using Toyota’s technology in their applications, TME’s Fuel Cell Business Unit will offer the necessary engineering support for integration. Proximity to its partners and the ability to closely monitor emerging business opportunities will allow the company to scale up supply quickly.

Hydrogen clusters
The expansion of a European hydrogen economy will be a key element in achieving the Green Deal’s objective of net-zero global warming emissions by 2050. The European Union has stated that, to meet this challenge, industry will need ‘climate and resource frontrunners’ to develop the first commercial applications of breakthrough technologies in key industrial sectors by 2030. The emergence of hydrogen clusters in Europe sees different sectors uniting and bringing their skills, technologies and applications together, such as truck, bus and taxi fleets and H2 infrastructure, to create viable business opportunities. This will allow them to flourish and become the nucleus of larger-scale activities.

GR Supra A91-CF Edition – the most exclusive Mark 5 Supra to date

If the way the GR Supra looks is not sporty enough for you and you live in North America, there’s an opportunity to get one which is more exclusively styled and also limited to only 600 units. It’s the GR Supra A91-CF Edition which is said to be the most exclusive Mark 5 Supra to date. Customers can choose either a 3-litre or 2-litre engine, the former an inline-6 and the latter, an inline-4.

On the outside, the A91-CF Edition has handmade carbonfibre on the front splitter with larger canards, while its carbonfibre rockers define the sides. Around the back, the carbonfibre treatment continues, with a duckbill spoiler catching the air as it flows off the rear glass, and larger, lower canards doing so down below.

This aero kit isn’t just for looks; its functional purpose improves downforce and stability during both everyday drives and hot laps around the track. Additionally, unique 19-inch wheels sport a matte-black texture that complement special edition’s matte-grey Phantom paint colour, besides Absolute Zero White and Nitro Yellow which are other colour choices. Additionally, depending on the version, there are also colours like Nocturnal, Renaissance Red, Tungsten and Turbulence Gray.

The cockpit is also given an exclusive touch with refinements throughout. A red-and-black theme is used and there’s Alcantara and leather trim. The sport seats have red stitching details with 14-way power adjustment as well as heating. Carbonfibre is also used inside for some interior trim, while the 3-spoke steering wheel is leather-wrapped and sport pedals are standard.

For the 2021 model year, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing engineers boosted output of the Supra’s turbocharged 3-litre 6-cylinder inline-six from 335 to 382 bhp, a 14% increase after just one year on the market. Torque has been increased by very slightly to almost 500 Nm and peaking 500 rpm higher.

The 2-litre 4-cylinder engine shares much of its technology with the 3-litre unit, including a twin-scroll turbo, direct fuel injection and continuously variable timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. It delivers up to 255 bhp/400 Nm to take the Supra from standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a claimed 5 seconds. An 8-speed transmission is standard for both engines.

The Supra 3.0 chassis was also tweaked heading into its second year of production. Lightweight aluminium braces were added to increase lateral rigidity, along with front and rear bump stops and new damper tuning. Revised programming for the electric power steering, Adaptive Variable Suspension, Vehicle Stability Control and Active Differential have improved stability through quick transitions, such as compound turns.

To purchase a GR Supra in Malaysia, click here to locate a GR Garage.

UMW Toyota Motor announces Toyota Flood Assist Program for owners affected by the floods

Although UMW Toyota Motor operates nationwide, its home base is in Shah Alam, Selangor, and this is where severe flooding has taken place over the weekend. So it is especially aware of the effects on people in area surrounding its head office.

As an immediate response, the company has announced a special Toyota Flood Assist Program to help Toyota vehicle owners impacted by the flood. It’s already bad enough to have a vehicle damaged by being trapped in a flood and to help give some peace of mind, the Toyota Flood Assist Program offers a 25% discount on the total bill for repair work done at an authorised Toyota service centre. This includes parts and labour charges as well as free towing service to the service centre.

The vehicles will be inspected and a quotation provided on the expected repair cost which includes parts removal. Needless to say, only genuine parts will be used for all replacement or repair work.

“While nothing can fully compensate the loss and distress suffered by those affected by the flood, we hope that our Toyota Flood Assist Program will provide some sort of relief to our fellow Malaysians. Our customers are very valuable to us and through this program, we want to ease some of their burden, even if it’s just by a little, to help those impacted get back on their feet quickly. We sincerely hope for the quickest possible recovery of these communities and the team at Toyota extends our heartfelt prayers for the safety of all Malaysians,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

Toyota owners can be assured of aftersales support for their vehicles damaged by the flood as all Toyota Service Centres and Body & Paint centres will remain open during this critical period. Additionally, Toyota owners can contact Toyota’s 24SEVEN Road Assist for further assistance if needed. The service is available to all Toyota owners and operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Should a vehicle be too badly damaged and the owner would like to get a new Toyota vehicle to replace it, the company has an interest-free ‘Easy Payment Plan’ for eligible customers.

Toyota owners requiring assistance or information the Toyota Flood Assist Program can visit ant authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Toll Free Line at 1-800-8-869682 (1-800-8-TOYOTA).

Toyota to step up investment and development of fully electric vehicles during this decade

While Toyota has expressed a view that suggests it will not stop producing internal combustion engines so quickly – to provide customers with greater choice and not leave any customer behind – it is no less committed to electrification of its products in the quest to achieve carbon neutrality. As a pioneer in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology, having introduced the first mass-produced car with a hybrid powertrain in the late 1990s, the carmaker has naturally been promoting the technology which also contributes to reducing toxic exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.

Long history of EV developments
However, in the longer term, fully electric vehicles are going to become mainstream products, beginning with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and progressing to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). In fact, the company has an EV development division since 1992 and an early production EV that went on sale in 1996 was the RAV4 EV, Today, besides a wide range of HEVs, Toyota already offers BEVs and even FCEVs, the latter now in the second generation with the Mirai.

*Toyota sold (in limited numbers) a fully electric model – the RAV4 EV – in 1996 and today, it has even begun selling electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells like the Mirai (below).*

The crucial technology
Battery technology is obviously crucial for every carmaker and Toyota will invest greatly in R&D for this area as well as in the supply system. The carmaker has had a subsidiary fully involved in battery development and manufacturing and has aimed to bring about cost reduction of at least 50% per vehicle during this decade. At the same time, safety, longer service life and high quality will be advanced.

*Battery technology is a crucial area for electric vehicles and Toyota will be spending heavily to develop more advanced technologies as well as push battery cost down.*

“Over the past 26 years, we have invested nearly 1 trillion yen and produced more than 19 million batteries. We believe that our accumulated experience is an asset that gives us a competitive edge. Going forward, we will increase our new investment in batteries from the 1.5 trillion yen announced in September to 2 trillion yen, aiming to realize even more-advanced, high-quality, and affordable batteries,” said Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, at a press conference in Tokyo this afternoon.

*1 trillion yen = approximately RM37.2 billion*

*The bZ4x is the first of the new range of BEVs and production is now underway with sales set to begin in 2022.*

*Toyota’s range of BEVs by the end of the decade will look something like this.*

As long as Akio Toyoda is leading Toyota, we will still get sportscars – even if they run on electricity instead of petrol (although the company is now exploring use of hydrogen as a fuel in combustion engines).

Sales volume of BEVs raised
Besides outlining the company’s BEV strategies, Mr. Toyoda also revealed 16 Toyota and Lexus BEV models that it is readying for market launch, starting with the Toyota bZ4X which has already had been shown in production form and will begin sales in 2022. By 2030, the company is going to roll out 30 BEV models and is anticipating sales of 3.5 million BEVs globally. This is an increase of 75% on the previous annual sales projection of 2 million BEVs mentioned in May this year. The Lexus brand aims to have BEVs, which will be in every segment, account for 100% of the total sales in Europe, North America, and China by 2030.

*Lexus will develop a full range of electrically-powered models, including sportscars that may look like the one below.*

*Lexus RZ BEV prototype during development testing. First teaser image of production model shown below. It will go on sale in 2022.*

In this diversified and uncharted era, it is important to flexibly change the type and quantity of products produced while keeping an eye on market trends. At the same time, energy plays a critical role in achieving carbon neutrality. For this reason, Toyota wants to provide a diversified range of carbon-neutral options to meet whatever might be the needs and situations in every country and region.

*Just like today, Toyota will have something for every segment of the market to suit different requirements and conditions.*

Markets and customers decide
“It is not us but local markets and our customers who decide which options to choose. As for why we try to keep so many options, in terms of business management, one might think it would be more efficient to focus on fewer choices. However, we believe that quickly adapting to changes in the future is more important than trying to predict the future, which is uncertain. That is why we want to keep options available for our customers until the right path is clear,” said Mr. Toyoda.

Toyota recognised for winning the most 5-Star awards from ASEAN NCAP

Toyota’s ultimate goal is to reduce fatalities from traffic accidents to zero, and to realize this, the company has been developing its vehicles with safer systems to help drivers avoid accidents and also to protect the occupants if an accident does occur. This has been ongoing for decades, and numerous advances in automotive safety have been developed to make vehicles in the Toyota Group as safe as possible – even to other road-users.

4 awards to Toyota
The efforts have been recognised by ASEAN NCAP – the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries – which has evaluated many new vehicles from the safety point of view. At its 10^th anniversary celebration, the Toyota Brand received 4 awards including two for ‘THE MOST 5-STAR CARS 2012-2020’. The other awards were for ‘BEST ADULT OCCUPANT PROTECTION 2017-2020’ (for the C-HR crossover), ‘BEST SAFETY ASSIST 2019’ (for the Majesty and Granvia). The awards were among those presented by ASEAN NCAP under the ‘Decade of Safer Vehicle Awards’.

The awards were given to Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM), which is Toyota’s regional headquarters for engineering and manufacturing functions for Southeast and South Asia. TDEM was originally established in 2003 as the Toyota Technical Centre Asia Pacific and was then integrated with Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in 2007. From April 2017, the company was renamed Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. And based in Thailand (separate from Toyota Thailand).

*Toyota has received the most 5-star ratings over the past 10 years, with the maximum rating even given to models like the Hilux pick-up truck.*

“Toyota has a long history in Asia, wherein we have been recognized by our customers as the foremost brand for QDR – Quality, Reliability and Durability – and safety. We started production activities in countries such as Thailand and Malaysia as early as the 1960s and over the last 6 decades, we have strived to develop the best products not only to suit our ASEAN customers’ needs, but also to improve and adopt safety technologies as part of our fundamental responsibility as a mobility company, prioritizing the improvement of road and traffic safety in this region,” said Prasanna Ganesh, Executive Vice-President of TDEM. “We are very honoured and humbled to be recognized across various categories on the occasion of ASEAN NCAP’s 10th Anniversary, and are committed to make our products and technologies ‘ever better and ever safer’ when compared to the past.”

Focus on ASEAN models
ASEAN NCAP is the ninth new car assessment program in the world that performs independent assessment on the safety performance of new passenger car models released in the market. Its main objective is to promote and enhance vehicle safety standards and rating system in the ASEAN region.

MIROS PC3 — ASEAN NCAP has its own crash test facility in Melaka and has tested some 110 models and variants over a period of 10 years. Additionally, it also collaborates with safety organisations in some other Asian countries to test certain models.

The safety assessment initially began with test phases in which the first phase of the assessment, comprising 8 models, was funded by Global NCAP. After 10 years, the organisation has tested some 110 models and variants and has produced 137 ratings. During this period, ASEAN NCAP has also developed three roadmaps (for the periods 2012 – 2016, 2017 – 2020 and 2021 – 2025) to provide the industry with guidance for development of vehicle safety systems.

*In 2012, the Honda City was the first car tested by ASEAN NCAP at its crash-test facility.*

Under the current roadmap for 2021 – 2025, there are 4 assessment domains comprising Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Safety Assist and Motorcyclist Safety. This roadmap marks a significant milestone for ASEAN NCAP in which there was the development of an assessment pillar that ensures the assessed vehicle avoids collision with vulnerable road-users, particularly motorcyclists.

Helping make cars safer
“When we first began our work in 2011, there were not many people who had such high confidence in us. We heard people say that we will only last for 3 months. Because of this assumption, we were determined to go against all odds to prove them wrong. I was blessed with a group of dedicated young people who were eager to learn about crash testing and, of course, their perseverance towards road safety research, which was a fairly new area at the time. Now I’m proud to see all our hard work have resulted in astounding achievements and we are making significant impact to the automotive industry with consumers safety is being placed huge importance in vehicle development,” said MIROS Director-General who is also ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General and Acting Chairman, Hon. Assistant Commissioner (CD) Adjunct Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim.

*With a large number of accidents involving motorcyclists, ASEAN NCAP’s roadmap has given greater attention to protecting this group of road-users.*

“The ‘Decade of Safer of Vehicle Award’ is our way of giving credit where it is due and also provide recognition to manufacturers who have consistently adhering to our protocol to ensure that their vehicles obtained 5-Star ratings. My wish is that the Award serves as a catalyst to encourage other manufacturers to continuously research and improve their respective vehicles by putting safety first in the development of the cars,” he added.

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Cumulative sales over 11 months for Toyota and Lexus 26% higher than in 2020

Toyota and Lexus sales in Malaysia mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV. However, demand for the two brands distributed by UMW Toyota Motor remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.

The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups). For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.

Toyota Vios and Hilux bestsellers
Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the bestselling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.

*Toyota’s bestselling models in Malaysia – the Vios and Hilux.*

“The continued growth of the market is a sign that we are steadily progressing towards recovery. The New Normal means that some things have to be done differently and we have to be conscious of SOPs, and at Toyota, we have adapted our processes accordingly. Customers can visit our showrooms or send their vehicles to authorized service centres with peace of mind that they are protected health-wise,” said UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K.

“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models. Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.

Countdown to hybrid launch
Preparations are being finalized for the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle in the near future. This will be the new Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

“Since we opened for bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid, response has been good and we are happy to see that many Malaysians are keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology. Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

ASSB Bukit Raja, Selangor — *The ASSB plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor is now assembling the first Toyota hybrid model in Malaysia, alongside the Vios and Yaris.*

“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect. And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Mr. Takeyama added.

The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty. Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit. Customers can also extend their warranty for a further 2 years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.

Toyota Yaris impresses on first-ever appearance in Sepang 1000KM race

The Toyota Yaris which was entered in the Sepang 1000KM endurance race (S1K) recently was the first ever appearance of the model in a local race and it was a ‘baptism by fire’ on all accounts. Competing in the top MTC Production Class, the Yaris, driven by the pair of 16-year old Hayden Haikal and 24-year old Timothy Yeo, had taken the chequered flag 3 laps ahead of their nearest rival. However, a post-race penalty reclassified the duo to third position in class and fourth overall.

Three Toyotas occupied the top 5 front positions on the starting grid for the 9-hour/181-lap race laps around the 5.534-km Sepang International Circuit. The number #39 Yaris had been the highest-placed Toyota on the starting grid, qualifying second with a time of 2 min 38.932 seconds. They were followed by Wing Hin Motorsports team mates and the pair of Boy Wong and Dannies Ng in the number #38 Vios.

Two entries from GAZOO Racing Malaysia
Backing them up were the trio of Tengku Djan Ley, Naquib Azlan and Akio Takeyama from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia in car number #37 (another Vios) which was fifth fastest. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia fielded a second entry, another Vios crewed by a trio comprising celebrity Zizan Razak, and young drivers Jwan Hii and Mika Hakimi in the SP2 Production Class in car number #36. Despite qualifying 30^th , they went on to finish 20th in class and fifth in the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.

With three Toyotas in contention for overall victory, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s number #37 Vios, the number #39 Yaris and the number #38 Vios showed their dominance from the beginning to the final hours of the race. Four cars traded places for the lead throughout the race, but no one expected a huge turn of events that was to unfold in the closing laps.

Bad luck for #38 Vios
The number #38 Vios’ hopes of a podium finish were essentially erased due to technical issues, forcing it to rejoin 6 laps down but still managing to finish fourth overall and in Class. The number #37 Vios, meanwhile, was well poised for victory until 26 laps to the finish when the front left wheel was ripped away, dropping the team to 11th in Class.

Their misfortune left the race for the taking of car number #100 driven by Mitchell Cheah and Brendan Paul Anthony, but their hopes of a victory too came to a crushing end when mechanical problems 10 laps from the finish put them into retirement.

Yaris takes podium finish on debut
As all this unfolded, the charging #39 Yaris kept piling on the pressure and clocking consistent lap times right up to the chequered flag. “The Yaris performed impeccably, not putting a foot wrong! This is a huge testament to the car’s performance and reliability under extreme conditions, and to finish on the podium in the prestigious S1K race on its debut is, without a doubt, an amazing result,” said a happy Mr. Takeyama who is also GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer.

“We would like to have won and seen two or all three cars on the podium but unfortunately, in racing, nothing is ever certain until you cross the finish line, and this is a disappointment we will have to graciously accept despite running very competitively until the final hours,” he said.

“The S1K is a challenging test of nerves not only on the reliability and durability of the car, but also the physical and mental strength of the competing teams and drivers,” he said, with his personal experience of racing in the event. ”As a team, we have proven to ourselves that we are competitive, and this setback has certainly fuelled our desire to come back and be even stronger next year.”

The Yaris’ third place finish, however, was made that much sweeter with one of the drivers (Hayden) being a competitor and the youngest ever champion in Toyota’s Vios Challenge racing series. In fact, eight of the drivers in the top 4 cars in contention for the race win had competed in the one-make series which has run for 4 seasons.

“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival and Vios Challenge will next year enter its fifth successive season and we hope that it has not only made a huge impact towards enhancing the profile of Malaysian motorsports by bringing it to the masses, but also in creating a strong foundation for the development of existing, new and especially young drivers. We are committed in making an impactful contribution to Malaysian motorsports and this is an initiative we intend to continue to expand on moving forward,” Mr. Takeyama promised.

Inaugural Vios Enduro Cup
In the inaugural Vios Enduro Cup, Aylezo Motorsports’ trio Mirza Syahmi Mahzan, Zen Low and Aiman Haziq completed 166 laps enroute to collect a cash prize of RM10,000. It was a 1-2 victory for Aylezo with Dato’ Danny Yip, Kenneth Teh and Chang Choon Ming placed second. In third spot was 23 Motors’ Al- Farouk and Abdull Miqail, followed by Toyotsu Racing’s Liew Jo Choon, Tan Chan Wei in fourth.

A total of 10 Toyota cars took to the track for the S1K race which attracted 38 teams, with three cars competing in the MTC Production Class and the remaining seven vying for positions in the SP2 Production Class and the inaugural running of the Vios Enduro Cup.

BAS applies maximum braking pressure for shorter stopping distances

Brake Assist (BA) is a feature which is listed among the active safety systems of many cars today but how it works and why it enhances stopping may not be known by most motorists. BA, which appeared in the second half of the 1990s, is a supplementary brake system which can also be considered a driver assistance system.

A simple explanation of BA would be that it boosts braking pressure to the maximum available as this can have a positive effect on the stopping distance, especially with anti-lock braking systems, better known as ABS.

Helping older people brake better
When Toyota first introduced it in 1997 in the Raum model, it said that one of the reasons for developing BA was to help older drivers. These drivers might not apply full pressure on the brake pedal in an emergency, or may not have sufficient strength. Thus, the system will detect when there is emergency braking, eg sudden pressure on the pedal, and boost the pressure to maximum.

*Brake Assist was introduced by Toyota in 1997 with the Raum model (below).*

Emergency braking can save lives. However, many drivers then step on the brake pedal quickly but not forcefully enough – this is what Mercedes-Benz engineers discovered in the early 1990s during tests in the company’s own driving simulator. Their answer was BAS, considered one of the key links in the chain of important Mercedes-Benz safety developments.

BAS evolved from ESP
Mercedes-Benz introduced their version of Brake Assist, which they referred to as BAS, in late 1996. It was standard initially in the S-Class (W 140) and SL (R 129) and built upon the functions of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), or vehicle stability control as it is also known.

These advanced systems not only use the sensors installed in the car but also state-of-the-art radar technology in order to capture the scene in front of the car and to identify a situation in which an accident is imminent. Mercedes-Benz offers very similar systems for its commercial vehicles known as Active Brake Assist (in the Actros heavy-duty truck).

*BAS was introduced as standard in the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class W 140 (above) and SL (below).*

How well does BAS work?
BAS interprets a certain speed at which the brake pedal is depressed as an emergency situation and builds up maximum brake boost within fractions of a second. This significantly shortens the braking distance – at 100 km/h on dry roads, for example, by up to 45%. Mercedes-Benz investigated its effect in the driving simulator and found that BA was able to mitigate or even prevent rear-end collisions.

It also made an effective contribution to pedestrian protection. In a series of experiments, 55 car drivers drove through a town at 50 km/h when suddenly a child ran onto the carriageway. Only full braking prevented the accident.

*BAS can make the difference between hitting a pedestrian and stopping in time with reduced braking distance due to maximum braking pressure being applied.*

Additional functions with BAS PLUS
The next evolutionary stage by the German carmaker was Brake Assist PLUS which made its debut in the S-Class from the W 221 series in late 2005. Besides warning the driver of an imminent head-to-tail crash by means of visual and acoustic signals, it automatically computes the brake pressure required to prevent the accident.

BAS and BAS Plus are integrated in the PRE-SAFE brake system that is today available in every Mercedes-Benz car. PRE-SAFE can automatically brake the car if a collision is predicted, and the PRE-SAFE brake works together with the BAS PLUS, the latter making its brake boosting effect available as soon as the driver steps on the brake pedal. If the driver does not react to the warning signals emitted by BAS PLUS, the PRE-SAFE brake initiates automatic partial braking to decelerate the car with some 40% of the maximum brake power.

Radar technology made the advanced capability of BAS PLUS possible. It detected the distance to cars ahead, warned the driver of insufficient distance and calculated the necessary braking assistance in the event of an imminent collision. If traffic came to a standstill and the driver actually had to step on the brake pedal, BAS PLUS built up the brake pressure calculated for the respective situation instantly.

BAS PLUS uses two radar systems: a 24-gigahertz short-range radar scanning the surroundings in front of the vehicle with an aperture angle of 80 degrees and a range of 30 metres. In addition, the 77-gigahertz radar of DISTRONIC scans 3 lanes of a motorway up to a distance of 150 metres with an aperture angle of 9 degrees. Tested in the driving simulator, the results were impressive: while the accident rate in tests with conventional braking technology was 44% on average, it dropped by three quarters with the help of BA PLUS.

*Brake Assist is also available for heavy-duty trucks like the Mercedes-Benz Actros… certainly crucial for preventing such a big and heavy vehicle from colliding with a vehicle ahead.*

Braking systems remain essential for road safety. In addition, emergency braking systems triggered on the basis of detecting potential accidents are an important foundation for the highly automated vehicles to come, and thus an essential part of the vision of accident-free driving.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia doing battle in Sepang 1000KM Race this weekend

Even before the excitement of the last round of Season 4 of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival/Vios Challenge has faded away, GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Vios racing cars are going into battle again. This time, it is not a one-make races and the team will be up against other models in the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race (S1K) this weekend.

The annual race will also see the running of the inaugural Vios Enduro Cup for privateers and dealer teams competing in the SP2 Production Class.

GAZOO Racing Malaysia will field a two-car entry in the MTC Production Class and SP2 production class. Fighting for outright victory in the MTC Production class will be the trio of 3-time Vios Challenge Super Sporting Class champion and also GAZOO Racing Malaysia Ambassador, Tengku Djan Ley. He will be teamed up with newly-crowned Vios Challenge Rookie Class champion, 20-year old Naquib Azlan, and GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.

The S1K race will be the first for Naquib who, up until last year, had only been racing online behind the wheel of a simulator. He was one of six drivers recruited into the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program and later provided with the opportunity to compete in the Rookie Class for young drivers.

20-year old Naquib Azlan has shown that simulator racing provides some skills that can be used in real racing, and in the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program, those skills were developed further.

The SP2 Production Class, meanwhile, will see the combination of Vios Challenge Rookie Class drivers Mika Hakimi and Jwan Hii partnering Promotional Class driver, actor and Season 4’s first runner-up Zizan Razak. Zizan proved to be a worthy contender in this year’s Vios Challenge Promotional Class races by clinching podium finishes in all races. Being the most experienced racer amongst the SP2 Production Class team, Zizan is expected to bring his A-game and winning attitude as well as flair into the race.

*The recent finale round of Season 4 of the Vios Challenge/TGR Festival was run at night, a first for the series.*

Mika and Jwan finished had third and fourth overall respectively in the recently concluded Vios Challenge, and will also be making their debut in the S1K. Like Naquib, both drivers are also graduates of the GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program. Mika, 17, also has a background of simulator racing while 18-year-old Jwan’s racing experience had been karting before having a chance at cars.

“The two entries in S1K are to fulfill several objectives if you look closely at the driver line-up. Yes, we will be gunning for both outright and class victories; it is also the start of expanding GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s presence in Malaysian motorsports, but the participation is also to provide a platform for new, talented and especially young drivers to race in an even more competitive environment beyond the Vios Challenge,” said Mr. Takeyama, who has also been racing in the Vio Challenge for all 4 seasons.

The Vios Enduro Cup will run concurrently with the S1K and is designed to bring the Vios Challenge race cars and its drivers beyond their traditional hunting grounds. The Cup will offer a first prize of RM10,000.00, while the second and third place winners stand to win RM8,000.00 and RM6,000.00 respectively. A cash prize of RM4,000.00 and RM2,000.00 is also up for grabs for the fourth and fifth place finishers in the race.

Unlike the short races of the Vios Challenge, the S1K is a 1,000-km race which can cover up to 181 laps and take around 9 hours. It is also held at the Sepang International Circuit. In the 11 years that the race has been held (2009 to 2019), Toyota cars have won the race twice with private entries behind the wheel of an AE86 in 2010 and a Corolla Altis in 2011.

Highlights of the Season 4 Vios Challenge Night Races (first night)

This weekend sees the conclusion of Season 4 of the successful Vios Challenge, a one-make series which was part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival. After the first round was held, there was a long period of lockdown which prevented subsequent rounds (and other motorsports) from being run. When the restrictions were lifted, UMW Toyota Motor wasted no time in getting the series going again, with a night race – the first ever for the series – planned for this finale round of 2 races.

After the second round, there was no clear favourites to take the titles in each of the four classes. No less than 5 contenders had a shot of becoming the overall champion in the Super Sporting Class, Sporting Class, and Promotional Class. The same applied to the Rookie Class which is for a young group of new racers from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia’s Young Talent Development Program.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
The most dramatic action this time round came from the Promotional Class. Shukri Yahaya pushed hard from pole position to lead the race from start to finish, as championship contender Zizan Razak struggled to hang on to second spot after having to face increasing pressure from Khai Bahar and Akio Takeyama.

The battle was clearly between Shukri, Zizan and Takeyama, and even with 2 laps remaining, the race was far from over. It seemed like Shukri’s race but Zizan suddenly shot forward to stage a last-minute challenge and overtook Shukri 3 corners from chequered flag to win!

The victory was, however, short-lived when the officials penalized the actor for exceeding track limits during overtaking. This got him a 5-second penalty, effectively relegating him back to second place with Takeyama rounding up the top three.

“I did my best to get away from Zizan as the battle behind me took place but, in the later part of the race, I did notice him coming on even stronger. It was a good fight to the finish and it was unfortunate that there was a penalty involved, but that’s racing,” said Shukri.

Of the five women taking part in this class, Talitha Tan (in her first year with the series) was the highest place, finishing fifth, followed by Janna Nick and Wany Hasrita.

SUPER SPORTING CLASS
In the battle of the veteran drivers, Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang made the most of pole position to stay ahead from the start of the race. He was followed across the finish line by Laser Motor Racing’s Mark Darwin in second spot, and Prime Pearl Auto’s Tengku Djan Ley in third.

The biggest gainer in the race was Tengku Djan who jumped from 10th on the starting grid to finish third. Despite being second quickest in qualifying, Tengku Djan was penalized and repositioned to the back of the grid due to an incident in the previous round.

“The car was fantastic at night. When we race in the afternoon, the high temperatures cause a lot of inconsistencies due to the heat and you find yourself having to manage the tyres and brakes after 10 laps. At night, the car was just perfect and I could post a lot of fast and more consistent times throughout the race,” said Ang.

For Tengku Djan, the third-place finish puts him back into contention for the overall championship after a disastrous Round 2 where he failed to finish on the podium. “We had a good car throughout the weekend and I needed to drive a clever race. I have to drive smart for the final race as I am back to 40-kg ballast which is a huge disadvantage. It’s a question of trying to make up for all the missed points in Round 2,” said Tengku Djan, also known as Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’.

SPORTING CLASS
Late night drama also unfolded in the Sporting Class where 23 Motors’ Ady Rahimy who had run away with the race from pole position, finishing 12.3 seconds ahead of Dream Chaser’s Bradley Benedict Anthony and Dannies Ng in third position, was later handed a one-position penalty. That promoted Bradley as race winner and Ady had to settle for second.

“I want to thank my team for giving me the opportunity to race for them. I’m quite certain that fitness played a big part in tonight’s race; secondly, I did a lot of simulator training to prepare myself for the race. The team also put in tremendous effort to set-up the car but it was unfortunate that the contact resulted in a penalty. We will definitely try for another podium in the final race,” said 22-year old Ady.

The battle for third had no less than 5 contenders battling for a podium finish. Mirza Syahmi Mahzan of Aylezo Motorsports held on to third for the first 12 of the 20-lap race but came under tremendous pressure from Clement Yeo. Yeo did eventually overtook him but went wide on the exit of the last corner which saw him losing not only third place but dropping to fifth position.

“Racing at night is more chilly with lower temperatures and I tend to be a lot more patient and comfortable,” remarked Ng, who started from 12th position to run a calm and collected race into third position.

ROOKIE CLASS
The battle of the young blood saw 14-year old Putera Adam win the 20-lap race with a 1.3-second lead from Jwan Hii and championship contender Naquib Azlan. Driving a calm and composed race, Putera raced ahead of the pack from pole position, followed closely by Hii and Naquib as Mika Hakimi relinquished his position to enter the pit to fix a technical issue. That stop dropped him to fifth position behind Amer Harris.

“The conditions were fine at night; it was drizzling towards the end of the race and everything worked in my favour. Jwan was right behind me, but he had made a slight mistake shifting gears and that that allowed me to pull ahead,” said Putera.

With the overall season class champions still to be decided, it will all come down to the final and second race tonight. There are no clear favourites with no less than 5 contenders still with a shot of becoming the overall champion in each of the 4 classes of racing being contested.

Besides the strict health measures that are followed at the circuit, UMW Toyota Motor has also implemented additional safety measures which include allowing only critical personnel and guests to be at the event. As before, the racing will be broadcast live online for race fans in Malaysia and the rest of the world. The broadcast will be on the UMW Toyota Motor and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia websites at toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/, and also on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

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