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Aston Martins join Mercedes-AMG Official Safety and Medical Cars at F1 races

Since 1996, the Official Safety and Medical cars have been supplied by Mercedes-AMG for each round of the Formula 1 World Championship. This year, a new era starts with cars from Aston Martin taking on the important roles (for a certain number of races), coinciding with the return of the British marque to Formula 1.

Aston Martin will supply the FIA with a Vantage for the Safety Car which was the Mercedes-AMG GT R in recent years. The Vantage Safety Car is specially equipped for the critical role of intervening and controlling the pace of an event involving the fastest racing cars in the world. It also has chassis and aerodynamic improvements for high-speed driving as well as a few additional modifications to make it FIA-compliant, like all racing cars in international motorsport.

*Mercedes-AMG has been supplying the Official F1 Safety Car and Medical Car since 1996 (above and below),*

The Safety Car will still be driven by Bernd Maylander (DE) who has been doing the duty for over 20 years. Th Aston Martin will remain on standby in the pit lane throughout the race and when deployed by Race Control in the event of bad weather or an accident, the former race driver, accompanied by co-driver Richard Darker, will speed to the head of the field to safely control the pace of the pack, neutralizing the event and allowing any incident to be managed safely by the circuit’s officials.

In the event that the racing cars must follow the Safety Car for a period of time, the speeds cannot be low as tyre temperatures can drop when they are running at sub-optimal speeds. These fast lap times are essential and the Safety Car must have the performance to maintain this.

*When necessary, the F1 Safety Car is deployed during the race to lead the racing cars in convoy but the speed has to be fast enough for the F1 car so that their tyres do not cool down too much.*

To have this capability, the Vantage provided has had its power has increased by 25 ps to 535 ps, delivered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 685 Nm of peak torque. Interestingly, this is the same ‘heart’ as the previous Safety Car as the M177 engine is supplied by Mercedes-AMG to Aston Martin for some of its models.

The torque curve has been adjusted to allow for longer sustained maximum output. With additional work on the transmission means the driver has a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts.

The Vaned grille coupled with a new front splitter creates 155.6 kgs of downforce at 200 km/h – more than 60 kgs than the production model produces at the same speed. Modifications to the suspension, steering and dampers have also been undertaken, with further detailed underbody bracing modifications to increase front structural stiffness.

Having already developed a cooling system that proved effective in extreme conditions and temperatures on the multiple championship-winning Vantage GT4 racing car, Aston Martin engineers transferred this technology into the Safety Car, along with the addition of extra vents in the bonnet to support further cooling.

It runs on standard Pirelli road tyres (but with a lower profile) and has the same carbon-ceramic brakes found on the production Vantage, with additional brake ducts hidden within the front grille to aid cooling.

The F1 Safety Car has prominent FIA Safety Car livery and noticeable external equipment. There are bodyside mounted radio antennas, an LED rear number plate and a bespoke, roof-mounted LED light-bar, developed by Aston Martin.

The light-bar sits on a carbonfibre plinth, raised above the roofline. Bright orange lights on the outer edges of the light-bar illuminate when the Safety Car is in action. A centrally positioned amber flashing light then illuminates once it in position ahead of the race leader – indicating that no one should overtake.

Two centrally positioned green lights are illuminated once it is safe for the F1 cars to pass. The headlamps and taillamps also flash to aid the safe deployment of the car. The rear numberplate displays ‘SAFETY CAR’ illuminated by LEDs, making it clear to drivers in the cars behind in all weather conditions. A rear-facing camera is also fixed to the light-bar that feeds a live image into a second rearview mirror located inside the cabin, allowing the co-driver to monitor any activity at the rear.

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

In the cabin, the standard seats have been replaced by FIA-approved racing seats equipped with a 6-point safety harness, the same as those found in the F1 cars. Two screens are mounted on the dashboard, providing the driver and co-driver with a live television feed and a variety of customizable information displays, including live lap timing and the track positioning of all active racing cars.

The centre console has been modified significantly. The rotary dial has been moved back to where the cupholder was positioned and in its place sits a switch control system used to execute a number of actions, including activating the siren, radio communications and controlling the light-bar LEDs. The ‘Marshalling System’ is integrated into the instrument cluster and the dashboard, allowing both the driver and co-driver to see which colour flag is being shown on the track, by the illumination of the same coloured LED light. This is a similar system to that also used by regulation in all F1 team cars. TV cameras are also mounted on top of and inside the car, to provide live TV footage.

The Official F1 Medical Car is the Aston Martin DBX (above), the brand’s first SUV. The role of this vehicle is to speed to the scene of an accident to provide medical assistance as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. This was demonstrated last year when Romain Grosjean had a horrifying crash and his car caught fire; the Medical Car arrived quickly and the crew was on the spot to provide immediate medical support before other medical personnel arrived.

Like the Safety Car, the Medical Car is finished with Lime Green accents as well as the prominent FIA medical car livery, along with the LED rear numberplate and roof-mounted LED light-bar which sits upon the roof rails. It also has the AMG-supplied V8 engine, also found in DB11 and Vantage, tuned to deliver 550 ps/700 Nm, clearly enough to allow the Medical Car to reach any spot on a track quickly.

There is a substantial amount of equipment including a large medical bag, a defibrillator, two fire extinguishers and a burn kit – all of which can fit into the 632 litres of boot space.

While the interior trim is similar to what customers get, the central rear seat has been removed, and the remaining four seats have been replaced with sport bucket seats, each equipped with a 6-point safety harness. These provide seating for the driver, Alan van der Merwe, and Dr. Ian Roberts – the FIA Formula 1 Medical Response Coordinator, as well as a Local Doctor, leaving one spare, in case an incident requires a racing driver to be driven back to the pit lane.

Much like the Safety Car, two screens have been mounted onto the dashboard to provide live race footage. An additional screen is used to read live biometric data delivered via technology in the drivers’ gloves, which in the event of an accident, provides critical information on their condition. The ‘Marshalling System’ and the rearview mirror camera display have also been installed into the Medical Car.

2021 Aston Martin AMR21 F1 — *The Official F1 Safety and Medical Cars have similar colours as the Aston Martin AMR21 racing cars.*

The development of the two cars was carried out by the engineering team at Aston Martin. There was endured significant testing, which included high-speed durability assessments and aggressive circuit driving at Aston Martin’s own facility, clocking almost 15,000 kms collectively. The cars have also been tested in a dyno climate chamber to ensure they will perform in all race conditions.

The two Aston Martins in action will be visible to the public for the first time during the 3-day pre-season test at Bahrain (March 12 – 14), and then again during the opening round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship at the same venue 2 weeks later. The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 will be broadcast live on March 28 from 7 pm Bahrain time (midnight Malaysian time).

Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team returns British marque to the starting grid

New Perodua Ativa awarded maximum of 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP assessment

Perodua has always been in a challenging position as an entry-level carmaker in Malaysia. Although its models are priced at the lowest levels in the market, it has had to also provide features that are expected by Malaysian consumers, regardless of how cheap the car may be. Where, in other markets, an entry-level model can have minimum features – and customers accept it – Malaysians are often not happy if, say, there are no power windows.

Thus, the challenge for Perodua has been to keep its production costs as low as possible so that it can still provide all the ‘must-have’ features in its models. Being affiliated with Daihatsu Motor (which is part of the Toyota Group) has made it easier as there is a lot of sharing of technology and components, so economies of scale push costs down.

Higher safety standards with ASA 3.0
Apart from its services being a much higher standard than would normally be expected of a brand in the entry-level segment, Perodua has also been pushing ahead in the area of safety. With the third generation of the Myvi, Perodua introduced its Advanced Safety Assistance (ASA) system with, among other active safety features, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Unlike ABS, this is something that is not common in all cars yet but Perodua customers have it.

With the new Ativa, the company has raised its safety standards further with ASA 3.0 which has even better capability. ASEAN NCAP, the independent safety assessment organisation, has also tested the Ativa at its own facility in Melaka. It released a statement that commends the company for making ‘a remarkable performance by achieving 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating with a total score of 83.40 points’.

Click here to read the full ASEAN NCAP assessment report.

New, tougher protocol
The Ativa is the first model ASEAN NCAP has assessed under its new and tougher 2021-2025 protocol. In this first assessment using the new assessment protocol, the Ativa obtained 37.48 points over 40.00 points for the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category, 17.36 points over 20.00 for the Child Occupant Protection (COP) category, 18.57 points over 20.00 for Safety Assist Technologies (SAT) category, and 10.00 points over 20.00 for the Motorcyclist Safety (MS) assessment category.

Detection capability of the third generation of the Perodua Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) system works at higher speeds – up to 120 km/h for vehicles; up to 60 km/h for pedestrians); and it can now detect 2-wheeled vehicles as well as function at night.

Many standard safety systems
ASEAN NCAP noted that the new compact SUV offers as standard fitment on all its variants items such as SRS airbags(6 in total), Electronic Stability Control, ABS, Seatbelt Reminder System for both front and rear occupants, Autonomous Emergency Braking City, AEB Inter-Urban and AEB Pedestrian.

In addition to these technologies, other advanced safety assist technologies are also available either as standard or optional fitment (depending on the variant). These are Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Warning System, and Lane Keep Assist (LKA). These are systems which you would find in more expensive high-end models nowadays but the Ativa is priced no more than RM72,000 (excluding insurance).

The model has successfully met the items requirement under the new MS assessment pillar in which it offers Blind Spot Detection and Auto High Beam as optional equipment and a Pedestrian Protection technology or vulnerable road-user as standard fitment.

“We would like to congratulate Perodua Ativa for being the first car model to be assessed under the new ASEAN NCAP 2021-2025 protocol. As the motorization industry advanced, ASEAN NCAP has ensured the new protocol will enhance the safety performance of the vehicles in the ASEAN region,” said MIROS Director-General who is also ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General and Acting Chairman, Adjunct Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim.

“With this protocol, we are not only protecting the safety of the vehicle occupants but also taking into consideration the safety of other vulnerable road- users especially motorcyclists as statistics showed a high number of fatalities amongst this group of road-users in the South East Asian region,” he said.

“Thus, we are proud our own local manufacturer has stepped up to the challenge and true to their words, they have successfully claimed the 5-Star rating under this newly stringent protocol. We hope the achievement by Perodua Ativa will be an example for other new vehicle manufacturers to follow in their development process of producing safer cars for the ASEAN road users,” he added.

All-new Perodua Ativa SUV launched with three variants, priced from RM61,500

Volkswagen’s Trinity project to produce more capable electric cars by 2026

Volkswagen has been rolling out is all-electric ID. range of vehicles but by 2026 – that’s just 5 years away – the carmaker will go further with its electric vehicles. This will be the outcome of Project Trinity which will see an electrically powered sedan that will set new standards in terms of range, charging speed and digitisation. It will also have autonomous driving capabilities higher than what is currently available.

The project name ‘Trinity’ is derived from the Latin ‘trinita’ and stands for the ‘tri-unity’. Accordingly, Trinity stands for three crucial themes: a newly developed electronics platform with state-of-the-art software, the simplification of the supply structure, and fully networked and intelligent production at the main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany.

*The all-electric Volkswagen ID. family is already appearing in showrooms.*

“Trinity is a sort of crystallisation point for our ACCELERATE strategy, a lighthouse project, our software dream car,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “The newly developed vehicle architecture will set standards in terms of range, charging speed – charging as fast as refuelling – and digitalisation.”

Greater autonomy, less driver involvement
In addition, Trinity will make autonomous driving in the volume segment possible for many people. By the planned start of volume production in 2026, Trinity will already reach Level 2+ and be technically ready for Level 4. With this level, human interaction is not required so the driver does not have to maintain a view of the road ahead or surroundings. It is expected that the artificial intelligence will be advanced enough to assess more complex situations, and take action to avoid an accident. This is already available now with Automatic Emergency Braking but the driver still needs to give attention.

Autonomous driving for more people
“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many people and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet – for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” said Mr. Brandstatter. “Trinity thus gives people time and saves them stress. After a long highway trip, you arrive at your destination relaxed – because you have been driven by a ‘chauffeur’ to your vacation or to your home after work. Trinity therefore becomes a kind of ‘time machine’ for our customers.”

With the production of the new model, the Wolfsburg plant will become a showcase for state-of-the-art, intelligent and fully networked production processes. “We will completely rethink the way we build cars and introduce revolutionary approaches. Digitalisation, automation and lightweight construction play an important role here,” added Mr. Brandstatter.

Future vehicle models such as Trinity will be produced with considerably fewer variants, and the hardware will be largely standardised. The cars will then have virtually everything on board and customers will be able to activate desired functions ‘on demand’ at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car. This will significantly reduce complexity in production.

New business models
By developing the automobile into a software-based product, Volkswagen is creating the conditions for new, data-based business models. Entry barriers to individual mobility are to be lowered while, at the same time, offering even more attractive usage packages.

Volkswagen intends to generate additional revenue in the usage phase – for charging and energy services, for software-based functions that customers can book as needed, or for automated driving. “In the future, the individual configuration of the vehicle will no longer be determined by the hardware at the time of purchase. Instead, customers will be able to add functions on demand at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car,” Mr. Brandstatter predicts.

Highlights of the Lamborghini Huracan STO (w/VIDEO)

The latest Lamborghini to be announced, with deliveries starting later in 2021, is the Huracan STO (Super Trofeo Omologata), a road-homologated super sportscar inspired by Lamborghini racing cars. These include the Huracan EVO Super Trofeo developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corsa for the brand’s own race series, as well as the Huracan EVO GT3, 3-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona and 2-time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

With its 640 bhp/565 Nm naturally-aspirated V10 engine, the rear-wheel drive Huracan STO is said to take just 3 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, reaching 200 km/h in another 6 seconds, and on to a claimed top speed of 310 km/h.

As with other Lamborghini models, it has racing car DNA with superior aerodynamic efficiency, extensive use of lightweight materials, and first-class braking performance.

‘Made in Lamborghini’ design solution
The term ‘Cofango’ derives from the fusion of two Italian words: cofano (bonnet) and parafango (fender), created by Automobili Lamborghini to describe the design solution in which the bonnet, fenders and front bumper are integrated into a single component.

This innovative system created by Lamborghini engineers was inspired by the Miura and the more recent Sesto Elemento; applied to the STO, it is made entirely of very light carbonfibre. The key for opening the fastenings on the STO’s Cofango is unique: it was developed in-house by the R&D team and made using an innovative 3D printing technique.

Incidentally, the confango is one of over 2,750 components that make up the latest Lamborghini model.

Dynamic pit stop in just 3 seconds
There is not much that can be changed in 3 seconds, but the set-up of the Huracan STO is one. Three new driving modes – STO (normal driving), Trofeo (race mode) and Pioggia (raining or wet) – adapt the set-up of the car to match high-performance driving environments. The Huracan STO allows the driver to experience a dynamic pit stop, as if a team of mechanics were right there!

3 times around the world in simulator tests
Lamborghini’s R&D team drove a distance equivalent to 3 times around the world in simulator tests before even covering the first kilometre of the Huracan STO’s road tests. State-of-the-art simulator technology allowed the engineers to save time on quality control, lead times, and emissions by verifying that every part of the car fully complied with standards during different stages of the STO’s development, certifying and testing.

25,000 lines of code
Connectivity is a big thing nowadays and the occupants must be provided with various ways to connect to the infotainment system, The Huracan STO also has connectivity in the form of an advanced connected telemetry system. This link between car’s on-board cameras, Connected Cloud Lamborghini and the App Lamborghini UNICA allows, thanks to an intuitive data analysis system and videos enriched with dedicated widgets, to transform the exclusive App dedicated to Lamborghini customers into a real track engineer. The development of this technology on the Lamborghini UNICA App required more than 25,000 lines of code.

“The extensive technical solutions and intelligence gained from both our Super Trofeo and GT3 programs have been refined and embodied in the Huracan STO, allowing the driver to experience the emotions of a racing driver, daily, in a road-legal Lamborghini super sportscar able to set lap records,” said Maurizio Reggiani, Chief Technical Officer, of the car which costs 249,412 euros (about RM1.21 million).

SC20 by Lamborghini Squadra Corse – a road-legal track car

Michelin to introduce Pilot Sport EV for electric sportscars next month

As electric vehicles move into the mainstream, tyremakers are slowly focussing R&D on developing tyres which are more specifically engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements. This will be especially so with the new generation of electrically-powered sportscars like the Porsche Taycan. Issues like weight and rolling resistance will have a great priority.

Specifically for electric sportscars
Michelin’s Pilot Sport EV is the first tyre from the French company which is designed to address the specific demands made by electric sportscars. It is the result of the unique experience acquired by Michelin’s involvement in the all-electric single-seater Formula E racing series.

*Michelin, as the tyre supplier for the all-electric single-seater Formula E championship, has developed tyres specifically for the racing cars.*

Technological experience from Formula E
A founding partner of Formula E, Michelin proposed a specific solution for the championship’s racing cars that is similar in its concept to a road tyre. The Michelin Formula E tyre is capable of racing in any weather conditions, while its size – 18 inches – is consistent with current road-car norms.

One example of how the Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over 6 seasons in Formula E is the ElectricGrip Compound technology. This features a hard compound for the centre of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tyre.

Additionally, MaxTouch Construction maximizes the tyre’s contact with the road and evenly distribute the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering – delivering longer tread life without sacrificing performance.

Quieter and further
Electric cars run quietly so the tyres will also have to be as quiet as possible. To achieve this, Michelin engineers have cut out 20% of road noise using the company’s Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise.

There is the promise of optimal grip on dry and wet road – irrespective of the tyre’s level of wear – taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sportscars. Resistance to wear is also tailored in response to the high torque and acceleration forces generated by electric powertrains.

The tyre’s low rolling resistance is claimed to extend operating range by up to 60 kms. This has been calculated in a Rolling Resistance internal study comparing a 255/45 R19 Pilot Sport EV (6.7 kg/t) with the same-sized Pilot Sport 4 SUV (8.8 kg/t). In the case of an electric vehicle weighing 2,151 kgs with a range of 540 km, the difference (2.1 kg/t) equates to more than 60 kms of additional range, or more than 10% of the original range.

Carbon-neutral throughout
The new tyre is also an eco-responsible product and will be CO₂-neutral at the point of sale. Michelin has cut CO₂ emissions from its industrial sites by 25% since 2010 and aims at their carbon neutrality by 2050.

In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tyre and address the demands of electric sportscar owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO₂ emissions associated with the tyre’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO₂emissions associated with tyre production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely.

The Pilot Sport EV will go on sale from April 2021, starting with the China market, followed by Europe and North America from the third quarter of this year. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in the high-growth markets by a factor of eight.

Click here for other news and articles about Michelin.

Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometre, Ternyata Berbeza campaign starts

Shell FuelSave 95 is a high quality, proven petrol with robust capabilities that deliver extra kilometres. Now, with Shell Malaysia’s latest brand campaign – Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometre, Ternyata Berbeza – motorists are invited to take a refreshed look at its Shell FuelSave 95 proposition.

Benefits of Shell FuelSave 95
Designed with DYNAFLEX technology, Shell FuelSave 95 saves fuel with reduced friction by up to 90% in critical engine parts to maximize fuel economy. At the same time, it also keeps the engine clean with up to 95% of deposit formation prevented. Finally, there is the extra protection available against wear, corrosion, and deposit build-up, thanks to its ‘Triple Action’ formula.

These key benefits align closely with the findings from a consumer study which revealed that Malaysians chose ‘better mileage’ and ‘cost-savings’ as their top considerations for a quality maingrade fuel. Taking a leaf from the study, Shell Malaysia embarked on the refreshed brand campaign to give Malaysians what they asked for in top quality maingrade fuels: extra kilometres without extra cost.

Invitation to experience
“We place customers at the heart of everything we do; all our fuels are developed with their needs in mind. With the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting many Malaysian households financially, we resonate strongly with our customers and understand that a little extra goes a long way. Shell FuelSave 95 aspires to deliver instant fuel economy from the very first drop and is the smart choice for customers. But don’t take my word for it, try it today and experience for yourself the difference of Extra!” said Shairan Huzani Husain, MD of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn. Bhd.

To initiate the launch of the campaign, Shell treated Malaysians to a campaign teaser video showcasing not all fuels are created the same, while highlighting Shell’s promise of Extra. There will be more engaging content in this campaign, including a heart-warming TVC that follows the story of a loving Dad who takes care of his baby, with the help of Shell FuelSave 95.

To make the journey extra rewarding, Shell Malaysia has partnered with BonusLink to give customers up to 4X Points whenever they spend a minimum of RM50 to refuel at Shell.

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Latest News

Aston Martins join Mercedes-AMG Official Safety and Medical Cars at F1 races

New Perodua Ativa awarded maximum of 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP assessment

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Michelin to introduce Pilot Sport EV for electric sportscars next month

Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometre, Ternyata Berbeza campaign starts

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