Casio is releasing three new EDIFICE high-performance metal chronographs – the EQB-1000AT, ECB-10AT and EFS-S590 – which are made with 6K carbon . The new watches were designed with the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team which has had Casio as a partner since 2016 (when the team was known as Scuderia Toro Rosso).
6K carbon is a material woven from bundles of 6,000 carbonfibres, the same sort of lightweight but strong material used in Formula 1 cars. Carbonfibre is 5 times stronger than steel and one-third its weight, making it ideal for applications where weight needs to be kept low without compromising strength. Areas on the racing cars include the wings and floors.
The new EQB-1000AT, ECB-10AT and EFS-S590 mark the second collaboration with the team. The dial and bezel of the EQB-1000AT, the dial of the ECB-10AT, and the inner ring around the dial of the EFS-S590AT are made of 6K carbonfibre. The team’s navy-blue colour sets the overall tone, and their logo is engraved on the dials, case backs, and band loops.
For the Malaysian market, the model versions available are the EQB-1100AT and ECB-20AT, priced at RM2,799 and RM1,699, respectively. They are available at the G-Shock Kiosk at Isetan The Japan Store and authorized dealer stores around the country.
All three models feature robust sapphire crystals, so there should be no worries about breakage. The EQB-1000AT and ECB-10AT automatically calibrate the time when paired with a smartphone using the dedicated app, delivering the precision busy team members need.
Casio EQB-1100AT
There is also an app which allows users to set world time quickly from a preset selection of about 300 cities. This is certainly something useful to the Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 team which will travel to different cities around the planet during the Formula 1 World Championship.
Based on the original slim-profile EQB-1000 chronograph with Tough Solar power system, the watch also allows users to set the time on the main display and inset-dial display to any two cities via the app. The durable Cordura fabric band withstands the toughest conditions. The sporty rotating inner ring that shows the time remaining before the user’s next scheduled event.
The Schedule Timer function which syncs with a smartphone’s calendar app to display scheduled start and end times on the LCD and provide audible alerts. The app can draw data from Android and iOS devices.
The Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 car in action during the 2020 championship.
Aston Martin returns to Formula 1 this year with its own team and racing car – the AMR21. The new contender will be the first works Formula 1 car to carry the famous wings since Maurice Trintignant’s DBR5 crossed the finish line at Silverstone in 1960.
Officially known as the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, the team’s two drivers will be 4-time F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, and rising star Lance Stroll (who happens to be the son of Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman).
Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will drive for the team in 2021.
Not a fresh new team
The team also boasts a strong bloodline, building on the foundations of Team Silverstone which, in its various guises has won 5 GPs, and is coming off the back of a race-winning campaign as the Racing Point Formula One Team, having been revitalized under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll and Team Principal and CEO Otmar Szafnauer.
“I’ve dreamed about this day for a very long time. I’ve always been a car guy and I’ve always loved racing, too. My first dream was to own a Formula One team. My second dream was to acquire a significant shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda. Today is about the merging of those two dreams. So, as I say, today is all about dreams, and it shows that dreams really can come true, in the shape of our new AMR21,” Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman said.
Mercedes-AMG engine
The new AMR21, powered by a turbocharged Mercedes-AMG F1 M12 E Performance engine with hybrid energy recovery, ran for the first time at Silverstone in England during a promotional event today. Next week, the team will begin a full test programme at Bahrain, where the opening round will also be held on March 28.
The AMR21 carries a striking Aston Martin Racing Green livery in recognition of Aston Martin’s traditional racing colours and glorious sporting legacy. It is also bedecked by a host of global partners, led by American IT giant Cognizant, while the chassis features a magenta stripe down the side in reference to the team’s longstanding partner BWT.
Showcase for the brand
The spotlight is also on an energizing shift within Aston Martin as the team is set to become the global showcase for the brand’s engineering and performance capabilities. A new 200,000 square-foot facility will complement the existing Aston Martin F1 factory at Silverstone when completed in the second half of 2022, and the team is well positioned to become an innovation lab to drive forward the brand’s future road car technologies. These will include the suite of mid-engined sportscars, inspired by the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which will become central to the product portfolio through the next decade.
“Today is a truly historic moment for Aston Martin, as we return to the pinnacle of motorsport for the first time in more than 60 years. The Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team will have far-reaching positive effects on the Aston Martin brand, our culture, and the design and technology of Aston Martin road cars. Our return to Formula One will positively and profoundly affect every employee and foremost our customer journey all over the world; and will help us bring a focused, agile Formula One way of thinking to the whole Aston Martin business,” said the CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, Tobias Moers.
No matter how much effort a manufacturer puts into quality control, there will be some occasions when some parts which are not perfectly made slip through the system and get into the market. When that happens, responsible manufacturers will quickly identify where the faulty parts are and take remedial measures to replace them.
In the case of manufacturers like Toyota, recalls to replace or rectify faulty parts are not common but do happen. And because of concern for customers’ safety, the carmaker acts quickly to recall affected vehicles by having a Special Service Campaign in collaboration with its distributor; in the case of Malaysia, that would be UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT).
Special Service Campaign
The distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia has announced a Special Service Campaign (SSC) for the Toyota Avanza MPV to replace the fuel pump. This SSC is an expansion of an earlier campaign.
Based on the information received from Toyota Motor Corporation, there are 3,923 units affected and they were manufactured from October 2017 to June 2019, and distributed nationwide.
Faulty fuel pump
The fault in the fuel pump may stop it operating and if this were to occur, warning lights and messages may be displayed on the instrument panel. This may be accompanied by engine power hesitation which could result in the vehicle stalling and being unable to restart.
UMWT will officially notify all its affected vehicle owners to being their vehicle to an authorised service centre to replace the fuel pump unit. The owner will not have to pay anything for all costs related to the exercise.
If you are not the original owner
It is possible that some of the units may have owners who were not the ones who originally purchased the vehicles. In this case, they might not receive the notification as the contact details UMWT would have in its database might only be for the original owner. Nevertheless, if the vehicle is among those being recalled, the current owner can still get the support at no charge.
For further information, Avanza owners may contact any authorised Toyota Service Centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).
Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON) has formed a strategic partnership with myTukar, a used car online selling platform, for vehicle trade-in activities. Under the agreement, myTukar will facilitate the end-to-end trade-in process for EON’s customers via certified myTukar inspectors performing vehicle inspections on-demand for its customers.
EON, a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad, operates dealerships for several brands namely Proton, Mitsubishi Motors, Audi and Volkswagen, via EON, EON Automart, Euromobil and HICOM Auto, respectively, through a network of 20 branches nationwide.
myTukar inspection centre.
Enhancing services to EON customers
Fong Hon Sum, myTukar CEO believes the partnership will benefit from EON’s established distributor network, while providing EON the opportunity to enhance their service to customers. “myTukar is honoured to embark on this partnership journey with one of Malaysia’s most diverse conglomerates with a comprehensive automotive business,” he said.
“ The collaboration will enable EON to leverage on myTukar’s proprietary technology-enabled platform to provide EON’s customers with instant and transparent valuations for trade-in vehicles. This will enhance customer experience at EON’s network because they are now effectively a one-stop solution centre,” added Mr. Fong.
EON is a subsidiary of the DRB-HICOM Group and is associated with a number of automotive brands.
Win-win situation for both parties
Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Group MD of DRB-HICOM, echoed Fong’s belief, stating that the partnership is a win-win situation that provides both parties with tremendous potential and possibilities.
“There is great synergy in this partnership and we are very pleased indeed to have found a like-minded partner in myTukar. Trade-ins has always been a sore point for car buyers, who today are increasingly demanding a more transparent and simplified process in their transactions. We believe myTukar’s innovative trade-in system will help boost sales of new automobiles across our branches, and more importantly enhance the overall customer experience at all our outlets. This will lead us to create more value for our customers,” said Tuan Syed Faisal.
The collaboration with EON will cover on Peninsular Malaysia initially. However, myTukar has been on an aggressive expansion drive this year with the opening of 7 new branches throughout the country. Further expansion to East Malaysia, starting with Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, is also in the pipeline, which should be beneficial to EON in the future.
myTukar is the first within the used car online trading platform in Malaysia to be awarded an ISO 9001:2015 Certification for Quality Management Systems. The certification is part of myTukar’s continuous effort in ensuring the highest levels of quality, trust and transparency throughout all stages of car selling on the innovative technology-enabled platform, to complement its ongoing expansion.
Perodua tonight launched the all-new Ativa compact SUV which can be regarded as the spiritual successor of the Kembara, its first SUV sold from the late 1990s till the mid-2000s. While the Ativa (taken from the Portuguese word for ‘active’) is adapted from a Daihatsu model, as the Kembara was, the involvement of Perodua in the development of this new model was far greater. In fact, a team of 54 Malaysian engineers went to Japan in 2018 to be part of the development team for the new model being developed by Daihatsu which would also be shared with Toyota.
The Kembara – Perodua’s first SUV which was sold between 1998 and 2006.
This is significant because it meant that the requirements of Malaysian customers would also be considered in the overall design, whereas for the Kembara before, the model was already completed and then Perodua only adapted it cosmetically. The Ativa is the result of the first truly smart partnership between Perodua and its technical and technology partner and shareholder, Daihatsu.
Another difference is that the Ativa has a higher level of localisation than the Kembara, which has helped bring costs down. In fact, at 95%, it has the highest local content rate for any Perodua model right at the time of launch.
Prices shown exclude insurance and 10% sales tax (until June 30, 2021).
“The Perodua Ativa’s competitive pricing was made possible by its 95% localisation rate. Even the engine and transmission are locally manufactured,” Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, adding that it is also the first model under the Perodua Smart Build blueprint.
According to Dato’ Zainal, the Ativa brings Perodua’s collaboration with Daihatsu to a new level and allows Perodua and its suppliers to commonise components and processes for maximum cost efficiency. “This close collaboration allowed us to include the Malaysian automotive ecosystem in the development of this model, and the suppliers rose to the challenge and were able to reduce their costs,” he added.
As a result, Perodua has been able to push the prices down a bit more and the actual retail prices are lower than the estimated range of RM62,500 to RM73,400 announced earlier. The three variants will be priced between RM61,500 to RM72,000 (excluding insurance premiums in Peninsular Malaysia, with full exemption of sales tax until June 30, 2021).
“We have so far received some 5,000 bookings for the Perodua Ativa since we began collecting orders on February 19. We thank the public very much for their support. Deliveries will begin tomorrow (March 4), and we aim to deliver an average of 3,000 units a month,” said Dato’ Zainal.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW PERODUA ATIVA
First turbocharged model
The Ativa’s powertrain has a number of firsts for the brand. One is the 1-litre 3-cylinder engine (1KR-VE) has turbocharging and direct fuel injection, delivering a maximum output of 98 ps/140 Nm, with strong torque coming in at the lower range. Considering that the kerb weight is 1,035 kgs, thanks to weight-saving measures, the performance should be zippy even with a full load.
The Ativa is also the first model to use a Continuously Variable Transmission (D-CVT) which has 7 ‘virtual speeds’ (manual transmission is not available). With the efficient engine and CVT, the claimed fuel consumption is 18.9 kms/litre, which qualifies the model as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) in Malaysia.
The Ativa’s 1-litre turbocharged engine and 7-speed D-CVT (right).
DNGA Platform
The Ativa shares the same platform used for the Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize, the models from the same joint development program that Perodua participated in. This platform is referred to as DNGA or Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) that encompasses not just the platform but also many other structural aspects of the vehicle. It is a highly rigid platform for enhanced handling, stability and comfort. With DNGA, the structure is optimized and high tensile steel is used in many areas to save weight without losing strength.
Dimensions of the Ativa
The Ativa has compact dimensions that position it below the Aruz. Its overall length is 4065 mm while the overall width is 1710 mm and it stands 1635 mm tall. The wheelbase is 2525 mm and unlike the Aruz, there are only two rows of seats in the cabin. There are two storage modes for the cargo area which give 303 or 369 litres of space and as with most SUVs, the rear backrests can be folded down individually to expand the floor length for longer items.
Advanced safety features
Since the 3rd generation of the Myvi, Perodua has been introducing progressively more advanced safety systems in its models. Many of these are integrated as the Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) system which helps the driver avoid accidents. For the Ativa, the system has reached the third generation which works at higher speeds (up to 120 km/h for vehicles, up to 60 km/h for pedestrians), and can now detect 2-wheeled vehicles as well as function at night.
ASA 3.0 consists of Pre-Collision Warning and Automatic Braking, Front Departure Alert, and Pedal Misoperation Control. ASA uses a camera at the top of the windscreen to monitor the road ahead and assess conditions. In the event of a collision, the driver will first be warned and if no action is taken to reduced speed or brake, the brakes will activate automatically. This would certainly avoid an expensive repair job or even if the collision cannot be avoided (due to the road surface conditions), the pro-active braking would have reduced the speed and effects of the impact.
Front Departure Alert will remind the driver that the car in front has moved off, while the Pedal Misoperation Control can prevent the car from accidentally being driven into a wall due to pressing on the accelerator pedal inadvertently (it does happen). Additionally, complementing ASA are Lane Departure Warning and Prevention.
The top AV variant gets additional systems which give semi-autonomous (Level 2) capabilities to the Ativa while driving. These are Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Control and Blind Spot Warning. You would have heard of these systems which are found in cars costing more than the Ativa, and it’s impressive that Perodua can offer them as well – even if in the most expensive variant only.
The Adaptive High Beam (red car) can adjust the areas of illumination to avoid blinding oncoming drivers while still maximising coverage.
Even more amazing is the standard provision of an Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) system for the upper two variants. ADB allows better illumination of the road ahead but can also selectively dim certain areas where there are oncoming cars so as not to dazzle the drivers. It’s intelligent technology and even cars a few price classes higher do not have such technology.
For the lowest-priced variant, there is still the convenience of an Auto High Beam which means that the driver does not have to keep switching between high and low beams. Whenever the headlights of a vehicle are detected, the high beams will automatically be switched to low beams, reverting when there is no longer a vehicle approaching. Imagine if all companies in Malaysia were like Perodua and provided this as standard, night driving would be less tiring without the glare of strong headlights.
Incidentally, all variants have LED headlights which usually have a longer service life. They are also equipped with a follow-me-home function that keeps them on for a while after the car is locked. This provides illumination of the ground ahead for peace of mind.
The top two variants also get a reverse camera but the Ativa AV gets Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) as well. Again, this is a feature that has yet to be found in models of this price class. RCTA uses the rear sensors to monitor the situation on either side as the vehicle is reversing out of a parking bay. The driver might not be able to see due to adjacent cars blocking the view, but if the sensors pick up approaching vehicles, an alert will be sounded so that an accident can be avoided.
Besides the A.S.A. and active safety systems, the Ativa also comes with a very comprehensive list of other safety items – standard for all variants. These include 6 airbags (4 at the sides), Vehicle Stability Control, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist and Hillhold Assist. ISOFIX points are, of course, provided since parents must now have put small children in childseats. ISOFIX-compatible childseats are convenient to install and stay securely in place.
Infotainment and connectivity
These days, every model has to have a capable infotainment system with good connectivity to provide the driver with more useful features as well as connect to smartphones. The top two variants come with a 9-inch LCD touchscreen with a bright and spacious display. There is also Smart Link (for Android devices) and Voice Recognition that allows active voice commands for certain functions.
Storage and convenience features
The interior designers have made sure that everyone in the cabin has spaces to keep their stuff and there are also USB ports that can provide power to recharge devices. Some clever ideas for storage spaces – a slot by the side of the gearlever housing, and slide-out cupholders in front of the vents on either side of the dashboard (good for keeping drinks cool!).
All variants have Smart Entry and Start/Stop System which does not require using a key or even pressing on the remote (but it has to be in the pocket or handbag). The doors can be unlocked by touching an electrostatic button on the door handle, and the engine can be started or stopped with the press of a button.
Instrumentation
While the Ativa X comes with a conventional instrument panel, the Ativa H and AV have a customisable display to change how the information is presented to the driver. The speed is always shown as a digital display while the fuel level is a bar graph. However, the tachometer can be configured in one of four graphic styles. Additionally, there is also a Reminder Display which will flash reminders on special days.
GearUp accessories
As with every Perodua model currently on sale, there is also a range of specially developed accessories to go with the adventurous looks. The items include a bodykit, front and rear seat upholstery, luggage tray, bumper protectors, luggage net, high quality coil mats and even an insulation kit for the bonnet. Prices range from RM80 to RM2,500 (in Peninsular Malaysia).
The GearUp accessories include a bonnet insulator kit which has pads that can be inserted in cavities in the bonnet panel. These pads can absorb engine noises to give a quieter ride.
There are also many other general accessories, all of which have been evaluated by Perodua so you can be sure they are of high quality, Furthermore, for the GearUp accessories that have to be installed, these are by Perodua’s own installers so the job will be professionally done. And the cost of all the extras can be included in the total loan for the vehicle if you specify them at the time of the purchase. That means the extra cost is also repaid over a number of years… something which no accessory shop would be give you.
To locate a showroom to view, test-drive or buy the new Perodua Ativa, visit www.perodua.com.my.
Pump prices at petrol stations will be announced on Wednesdays, instead of Fridays, starting from today. The change of the day reverts to the same day in March 2017 when the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ministry then switched from monthly to weekly revisions.
The new cycle starts from tomorrow, March 4 and will be effective for one week till March 10. The government will continue to use the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) formula which determines the retail price based on a number of factors besides global oil prices.
However, while RON97 petrol is no longer subsidized, the government will continue to offset higher retail prices for RON95 petrol and biodiesel to protect consumers from the effects of rising real oil prices in the global market, according to a statement by the Ministry of Finance.
The ministry statement added that the government will continue to monitor the impact of changes in world crude oil prices and take appropriate measures to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people continue to be protected.
This means that the price per litre for RON95 petrol will be capped at RM2.05 while biodiesel will not rise beyond RM2.15. The retail price of RON97 and RON100 petrol will, however, fluctuate in accordance with global oil price trends.
Retail prices after midnight today will therefore be:
For the cleaner Euro5 biodiesel, an additional 10 sen will be charged per litre to cover the additional processing costs to reduce the sulphur content very significantly.
