Much of the Klang Valley (Selangor and WP Kuala Lumpur) will continue to be under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) which has been in force since October 14. Penang can resume its Recovery MCO (RMCO, except for the sub-districts of Barat Daya and Timur Laut which will be under CMCO until December 20. Other states and regions will have varying levels of MCO depending on the number of cases.
There will no longer be roadblocks but the police will be checking on SOP compliance.
Speaking on behalf of the National Security Council, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that, from Monday December 7, there will be no roadblocks at state borders as the public can travel between states.
The number of passengers in vehicles will also not be limited to two or three but depend on the permissible seating capacity of the vehicle. A 7-seater can therefore have 7 people on board and will not be stopped by the police. This should be a relief for those with big families who wish to go out together although restrictions are still in force at restaurants with regard to the number of people at a table.
The number of occupants in a vehicle can be up to the maximum number permitted for the vehicle type.
What is important is to practice social distancing and not gather in groups, and to wear a face mask when in public areas. You should also make it a point to use hand sanitizer frequently and wash your hands with soap and water as well. Do make it a point to have your temperature checked, and scan the QR code or provide your contact details at shops or other places as this is important information in case contact tracing is necessary. You would want to know of a possible case at a place that you had visited, wouldn’t you?
R-Reforged, the 2-year old Swiss company, has created two models to celebrate Zagato’s centenary. They are referred to as the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged. Making their debut are the first pair of TWINS, which are prototypes specified by Andrea and Marella Zagato and reserved for the private Zagato collection.
Exclusively available as a pair in Coupe and Speedster form – each pair costing £1.75 million (about RM9.6 million) – just 19 customer sets will be built for sale. Each pair will be hand-assembled in the company’s factory in the UK. Each car takes a team of 12 craftspeople 16 weeks to assemble and will receive over 500 new components.
2011 Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Coupe
Styled at Zagato’s Milan headquarters, the iconic Italian design house has evolved the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage V12 Zagato Coupe form into a new, pure Speedster twin. Sharper, cleaner and highly collectible – thanks to their limited run and significance in Zagato’s history – both are now fully clothed in carbonfibre.
The design changes run from the nose, which incorporates a new splitter and front wings, through to the sleeker tail, now with active aero that transforms the cars’ balance but retains the defined Zagato lines.
The TWINS can be specified as matching or individual designs, and owners will be able to discuss with the car’s designers and engineers to personalise virtually every element.
“The essence of this project was to create a perfect ‘garage’, comprising two desirable and collectable cars; Coupe and Roadster,” said Andrea Zagato. “Limited to just 19 pairs, a significant number, recalling the year Zagato was formed, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged mark a remarkable milestone for the Milanese atelier.”
“Despite having created over 450 models since our formation, we chose Aston Martin, which has surely been our most prestigious partner over the last 50 years, to mark this celebration. The cooperation with R-Reforged ensured that we could create an instant classic,” he added.
The partnership between Zagato and Aston Martin started in 1960 with the DB4 GT Zagato.
The 19 owners of this rare and special series, licenced by Aston Martin, will also experience the significant transformation to vehicle performance delivered through a series of meaningful engine and dynamic improvements.
The potent 5.9-litre V12 has been uprated to produce close to 600 bhp, which is 80 bhp more than standard. This is, in part, due to a performance aluminium air intake and titanium exhaust. The lean stance of the cars is enhanced by the 10 mm ride height reduction and 20 mm stretched track.
R-Reforged can also offer a full body ‘visual carbon’ finish as a further option. The 400-hour process requires extensive and careful preparation so as not to disturb the carbon weave. Then begins the application of a bespoke lacquer providing UV stability prior to tuning both the colour and density of the tint to any shade requested.
The superior quality of materials and attention to detail are evident in every facet of the car’s build with R-Reforged’s team ensuring that the cars truly worthy of marking Zagato’s centenary. Inside are sensory-rich materials with an almost infinite range of colours, bespoke patterns and textures.
A close look inside will reveal colour matching the horn button on the steering wheel, the first time in the Vantage’s history that has been done. Other examples include a sleeker, longer windscreen for the Speedster and retooling the entire carpet boot moulding, which required a significant investment, purely because the original material and form did not meet R-Reforged’s stringent standards.
Underlining that ownership is about more than just buying the cars: owners will also receive a series of special tailored gifts that starts with a TWINS carbonfibre presentation case, cataloguing specification details using scale models and samples. They will then continue to receive a stream of themed gifts, invitations and experiences throughout their ownership.
The concessionaire of Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) – LPT2 Sdn Bhd – urges motorists who are affected by flooded roads during the monsoon season to make use of its highway.
“We encourage the public travelling on the East Coast to use our LPT2 highway as it is a safer, more convenient and easier route. Our highway provides not only clean rest areas but also a force of 60-strong LPT2Ronda officers and 30 highway patrolling units to assist,” said LPT2 Regional Business Manager, Roszi Ibrahim.
LPT2Ronda personnelA Rest & Service area along the highway.
In case of any emergencies, motorists can make stop at any of the Rest & Service Areas in Perasing, Paka and Ajil. However, remember the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are in force which require social distancing (at least 1 metre apart) and use of face masks in public areas, especially where there are many people.
The 24-hour LPT2 Helpline is 1-800-88-0220 and provides highway users can obtain the latest traffic updates and emergency assistance along the 184-km stretch that runs from Jabor to Kuala Terengganu.
The sale of pre-owned (not pre-registered) vehicles by franchise holders of various brands has been going on for some time. In fact, the first one in Malaysia might have been Federal Auto, which set up its own division to handle used cars as far back as the early 1970s. Other companies have also had used car divisions although most have not focussed greatly on this business, leaving it more to used car dealers.
These days, there is greater demand for pre-owned vehicles (a nicer term for used vehicles) and a number of companies, even premium brands, have invested in the business more substantially. They give more attention to the condition of the vehicles they offer, ensuring that the safety aspects are not compromised. In some case, they recondition the vehicle to ‘almost as good as new’.
Peace of mind purchase
Bermaz Motor, which handles Mazda, has also been dealing in pre-owned vehicles since 2015 through its Mazda Anshin centre in Glenmarie, Selangor. ‘Anshin’ is a Japanese word for ‘peace of mind’ so a selling point to customers is that they can have peace of mind buying from Mazda Anshin.
Many businesses are going online these days, partly due to the COVID-19 situation which has put limitations on interactions between people. As far as possible, companies now make it easier and safer for customers to view and know about what they offer before the need to actually be at the showroom.
Bermaz now as a website for its Mazda Anshin business and this serves as a one-stop platform for customers to sell or buy Mazda vehicles. It offers many company demo vehicles as well as those owned by customers who may have trade-in for a new model.
Every vehicle has to go through a thorough inspection and be certified before being offered for sale on the website.
111-point inspection to be certified
Regardless of whether the vehicles were previously demo units or in the company fleet, or a customer’s vehicle, every vehicle must undergo a comprehensive 111-point inspection. This is done by trained technicians at two authorized Mazda Service Centres in Selangor.
Owners who have this inspection done are charged a minimal fee of RM200. After the inspection, the owner will receive the best Mazda Anshin Certified Valuation and recommend selling price.
Mazda Anshin’s quality standards require that the pre-owned vehicles have had no major accident damages, no frame damages, and never been through a flood.
3 simple steps
Customers shopping for Mazda vehicles can browse through the Mazda Anshin website for the best- -value, best-quality models available, all with Mazda Anshin Certification. The existing warranty, if still in effect, will still be available to the new owner, as well as the free scheduled service based on from the original registration date.
So the next time you want a pre-owned Mazda, consider the offerings at the Mazda Anshin website. After all, it’s the company that knows Mazda best.
While still improving and innovating its technologies for models with internal combustion engines, the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) is also investing substantially in battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology. Such vehicles will grow in numbers in coming years and HMG has been developing core technologies for them.
One of these is the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which is specifically for BEVs. The E-GMP is ready to be used and from 2021, the E-GMP will support a range of new BEV models. These include the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia’s first dedicated BEV. The platform will be used for as many as 23 BEV models in HMG with the sales target of more than 1 million BEVs worldwide by 2025.
The E-GMP provides various advantages compared to the Group’s existing platforms which have engineering oriented towards internal combustion engines. With a brand new approach that is dedicated to the electrified powertrain, there is increased development flexibility, stronger driving performance, increased driving range, strengthened safety features, and more interior space.
“Today our front-wheel driven Hyundai and Kia BEVs are already among the most efficient ones in their segments,” declared Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division for Hyundai Motor Group. “With our rear-wheel drive E-GMP, we are extending our technological leadership into segments where customers demand excellent driving dynamics and outstanding efficiency.”
EV variants of the Hyundai Kona (left) and Kia Soul (right) are currently available in some countries.
Maximizing development flexibility
The E-GMP reduces complexity through modularization and standardization, allowing rapid and flexible development of products which can be used across most vehicle segments. Moreover, flexible development can satisfy various customer needs for varying levels of vehicle performance.
The new platform will also enable the company to enlarge its EV line-up over a relatively short period through modularization and standardization. This will satisfy consumer expectations of variety and choices.
Driving performance and safety
With optimal weight distribution between front and rear, a low centre of gravity thanks to its low-mounted battery pack, and the adoption of electric motors, handling can also be enhanced. A 5-link rear suspension system, which is typically used for medium and large vehicles, and the world’s first integrated drive axle enhance ride comfort and handling stability.
The platform secures battery safety through a battery support structure made of ultra-high strength steel. Hot-stamped steel components surround this structure for additional rigidity. Collision energy can be absorbed efficiently by energy-absorbent sections of the body and chassis, effective energy load paths, and a central section of the battery pack tightly bound to the vehicle body.
The battery pack itself – mounted between the front and rear wheel axles – will be the most power-dense system that HMG has ever created. It has enhanced cooling performance with a new separate cooling block structure which helps make the battery pack more compact. With energy density enhanced by around 10% compared to existing EV battery technology, the battery packs are lighter, can be mounted lower in the body, and liberate more cabin space.
From the early 1980s, the industry moved towards front-wheel drive which offered space-saving benefits. The E-GMP, however, will have rear wheel drive although there can also be all-wheel drive (with an additional electric motor).
Charging System
Most existing EVs and the fast-charging infrastructure provide 50 kWh ~ 150 kWh charging for EVs equipped with a 400V system; however, the development of 800V infrastructure, with up to 350 kWh charging, will gradually enable even more fast-charging.
In line with this trend, Hyundai Motor Group has invested in IONITY, Europe’s leading high-power charging network, as a strategic partner and shareholder. IONITY operates 298 high-power charging (HPC) stations – using a charging capacity of up to 350 kWh – along highways in European countries. The company plans to increase this number to 400 HPC stations by 2022, including 53 currently under construction.
The E-GMP offers 800V charging capability as standard and enables 400V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters. The multi-charging system is a world’s first patented technology which operates the motor and the inverter to boost 400V to 800V for stable charging compatibility.
A BEV using the E-GMP will be capable of a maximum range of over 500 kms with a fully charged battery pack. If the pack is completely empty, it can receive a high-speed recharge up to 80% capacity in 18 minutes; up to 100 kms of driving range can be available with a recharge of just 5 minutes.
Sime Darby Motors Malaysia (SDM Malaysia) is having a virtual sales carnival offering new as well as pre-owned vehicles until this Sunday (December 6). The brands present are those which Sime Darby’s automotive arm handles (in Malaysia) – BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, Motorrad, and Volvo.
The Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale powered by Carlist.my offers great deals, exclusive freebies, attractive financing packages, and high trade-in values on a wide range of vehicles. Pre-owned models from other brands are also available through Sime Darby Auto Selection.
Extras with booking or purchase
Each brand is also offering some extras, eg Sime Darby Auto ConneXion offers those who book a new Ford vehicle during the event period a free Petronas fuel card and tinting (first 50 orders only). One lucky purchaser will also win a BMW G310R motorcycle (terms and conditions apply).
Interactive features
Other interactive features of the online event include as live chat, door-to-door test drives, online booking, collateral downloads, video display and a payment gateway. It offers an opportunity to shop for new or ore-owned vehicles from the comfort of home or office, or even the mamak stall.
Commenting on the inaugural Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Finale, Jeffrey Gan, MD of SDM Malaysia’s Retail and Distribution said: “We are excited to provide this unique, exceptional access to automobile enthusiasts nationwide from the comfort of their homes. While it is a challenge to replicate the energy of the physical event, we have worked closely with Carlist.my to design this exclusive five-day virtual sales carnival to be as interactive as possible”.
“With the exemption of sales tax ending on December 31, 2020, now is the best time for consumers to seize the opportunity to own their dream cars with great savings and be rest assured knowing that their sales and after-sales needs will be taken care of by our passionate professionals, who are dedicated to providing world-class service,” Mr. Gan added.
Corporate customers can also take this opportunity to sign up for Sime Darby Motors Corporate Programme which entitles a company’s directors, employees and their spouses to enjoy fleet membership entitlements. These include discounts of up to 10% from a vehicle’s recommended retail price on their next purchase from SDM Malaysia.
The Sime Darby Motors Virtual Grand Final website is located at www.simedarbymotorsgrandfinale.com. Showrooms of authorised dealerships of the respective brands also have special offers available.
