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The origin of the camouflage comes from a military tactic used on ships during World War I, known as the ‘Dazzle Camouflage’. It consisted of painting ships with black and white geometric patterns to blur their shapes and confuse the enemy. “The story goes that the artists who designed these camouflage patterns drew inspiration from Cubist paintings,” explained Edgar Aneas, an expert in vehicle camouflage.

Since the 1980s, carmakers have also used the same principle to camouflage their prototypes, especially when the vehicles need to be driven on public roads. Initially, the camouflage was simple – just black film taped onto the vehicle to conceal special styling elements. Sometimes, extra panels might be added to alter the shape and mislead competitors as to the actual design of the new model.

2020 SEAT LEON camouflage

Over time, there was a need to make the camouflage more effective because computer software was becoming sophisticated and the design under the simple camouflage could be made more visible. This led to the patchy type of camouflage, not unlike that used for military clothing to reduce visibility of a soldier in the jungle or desert. Each brand uses its own camouflage and some even patent the design.

Inspired by Modernism and Barcelona
SEAT, the Spanish carmaker in the Volkswagen Group, has been using a unique camouflage for its all-new Leon model which will have its global premiere today. Official and unofficial pictures have shown the car wrapped in a broken tile vinyl inspired by Modernism and the city of Barcelona, the home of SEAT.

“The new SEAT Leon has a lot of personality and is very difficult to camouflage because it’s a sculpture on wheels that expresses SEAT’s emotional nature. The Leon was born here and because of the special relationship we have with Barcelona, we looked to the city for inspiration,” explained Jordi Font, head of SEAT’s Colour & Trim Development.

2020 SEAT LEON camouflage

Developing a new design – the challenge
“This is the first time we didn’t use conventional camouflage. It was a challenge, because the main goal is to distort the shapes of the car. We worked on several versions to blur the lines but send a clear message – that we are Barcelona, that we are Mediterranean, and that we are colourful. We want to give meaning to our sculpture,” he said.

Not only does the camouflage have an aesthetic function but it must also withstand extreme weather and driving conditions. The material used is a special cast vinyl that resists these conditions.

2020 SEAT LEON

“The cars are camouflaged so that they can be tested in different weather situations, sub-zero temperatures, long exposure to the elements, rain and desert heat. This vinyl is made with a very durable material and has special characteristics that prevent it from peeling off or deteriorating,” noted Aneas, the camouflage expert.

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Chinese New Year is a time when many homes have an Open House, welcoming visitors to celebrate the beginning of a new year together. This forms an important fabric of Malaysia’s multi-racial culture which is enjoyed by everyone.

At Lexus Malaysia too, there will be an Open House this weekend (February 1 & 2) with all Lexus Centres nationwide welcoming visitors to their showrooms from 10 am to 4 pm. Omotenashi (hospitality) is a dominant element in Lexus culture and visitors will experience it as they are invited to partake in the merriment, fun and festive activities prepared exclusively for them.

All visitors to Lexus CNY Open House celebrations will also receive an exclusive door gift and be treated to a Lion Dance performance.

Lexus CNY

Lexus CNY

While at the Lexus Centre, it would be a good opportunity to also find out more about the Lexus models available and even experience them on a test-drive. The Lexus range today offers premium sedans, SUVs and sports coupes, all engineered to the superlative standards that have defined the brand for 30 years.

Those who take test drives will receive a gift as a token of appreciation from Lexus Malaysia. Should they be convinced that they want to own a Lexus, there are exclusive deals throughout the duration of the event.

Lexus CNY

All the new models sold by Lexus Malaysia come with a comprehensive warranty 5 years with no limit on mileage travelled after registration. Complete aftersales support is available at authorised Lexus dealerships across Malaysia with professional technicians having received extensive training by Lexus at the service centres.

For more information and to locate a Lexus Centre in Malaysia, visit www.lexus.com.my.

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Reports of the Dakar Rally usually highlight the achievements of the competing teams in cars and motorcycles but there is also a category for big trucks which weigh more than 3,500 kgs. In this category, the trucks can be entered to compete or as support vehicles for the teams. Like the competing cars, the huge trucks are also prepared for extreme conditions and terrain which this year, was in Saudi Arabia.

An optimum set-up of the truck is vital and over the past years, the Dakar has been seen teams finishing less than one hour apart after 12 full days of close racing. KAMAZ, a Russian manufacturer, holds the greatest number of wins in the Dakar – 17. Over the years, the team has built up a lot of technical know-how which was not totally advantageous this year as the environment was entirely new. Nevertheless, they quickly got familiar with the conditions and could hit full throttle up to 140 km/h on the straights.

KAMAZ 2020 Dakar Rally

While the trucks can be modified in many ways, the rules require the use of only standard tyres developed for normal daily operations and available commercially. The Goodyear OFFROAD ORD tyres selected by the winning KAMAZ-master team are normally used by trucks in tough off-road operations such as mining at quarries. Their tread pattern with massive blocks, along with the optimized compound, provides high resistance to tearing and cutting, keeping uptime at an optimum.

From the start in Jeddah and at each stage of the rally-raid, the trucks encountered a large variety of challenges from tricky desert tracks with hidden stones to rocky canyons and riverbeds with sharp objects. In these conditions, it was crucial to monitor the heat in the tyres. The cabin crews made smart choices to keep up the speed and managed to keep the tyres intact in order to finish. The tyre pressure needed to give a good balance between grip/traction, speed and durability.

KAMAZ 2020 Dakar Rally

KAMAZ 2020 Dakar Rally Goodyear tyres

“On the outside, the scenery was magnificent, however inside the truck we had to stay focused every second and work hard,” recalled Andrey Karginov, driver of the winning truck. “This year’s race included hazardous sandy dune stages and misleading labyrinths covered with sharp stones. We encountered many risky situations, but the Goodyear tyres kept us going and were extremely robust.”

Goodyear tyres are also used by competitors in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. This is enabling the company to take its development process to the next level. Extreme testing conditions stress the carcass to cope with deformation and extreme forces on the tyre caused by jumps like in the Dakar as well as cornering at high speeds. The result is the advanced Goodyear carcass technology offering enhanced durability and robustness, ultimately having a positive effect on fuel efficiency across the full portfolio including on-road long-haul and regional haul, mixed-services, off-road as well as bus and coach tyres.

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“The car of the future must question existing notions and inspire with radical and ground-breaking technology ideas”, was how Mercedes-Benz studio engineer and visionary Johann Tomforde saw the evolution of the automobile back in 1972. Since then, the carmaker which is associated with the world’s first car has worked on a concept of a purely urban vehicle whose powertrain needs to be not only electric, but also a solution for future urban mobility challenges.

Its smart brand, in combination with progressive design and intelligent connectivity, offers a sustainable and comprehensive concept for urban mobility today. In 2007, the brand returned to its origins with the systematic switch to emission-free, battery-electric powertrains. Since then, smart has offered an all-electric option in every generation.

2020 smart EQ

2020 smart EQ
2020 smart fortwo and fortwo cabrio
2020 smart EQ forfour
2020 smart EQ forfour

With the new fortwo and forfour models, the time has finally come where the brand is switching to emission-free, battery-electric powertrain technology across the board. “As a pioneer of urban mobility, it has always been part of smart’s credo to rethink things. The switching of the entire product range to all-electric powertrains marks the start of a new chapter in the story of the smart brand. In concert with innovative sharing concepts and digital services, we are the first manufacturer to switch completely and systematically from combustion engines to solely electric powertrains,” said Daniel Lescow, Head of Brand and Product Management smart.

2020 smart EQ

2020 smart EQ

Already appealing for its fun-to-drive character, the all-electric driving experience offers a new dimension in driving enjoyment to smart owners. With 160 Nm of torque available instantly, the new electric models accelerate far better than the 60 kW (82 bhp) of the synchronous motor in the rear might suggest.

As the traffic lights turn green, the smart EQ fortwo coupe will certainly surprise as it zips off the line, reaching 60 km/h in just 4.8 seconds – and almost noiselessly too. Energy comes from a compact high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack which encloses three HV modules and a total of 96 HV cells. It has a capacity of 17.6 kWh when fully charged, sufficient for a range claimed to be up to 159 kms.

For daily driving, this corresponds not only to several times the average daily kilometres driven in Germany but above all, to a generous range in the metropolitan environment where energy can be recovered through recuperation. Radar-based recuperation in the city is a particularly convenient feature. It allows the smart to slow down automatically behind a vehicle ahead. Coasting and braking phases are perfectly coordinated to enable the maximum amount of kinetic energy to be returned to the battery.

2020 smart EQ

Powertrain and battery pack temperatures are crucial in electric vehicle. Staying cool is important for optimum performance and the engineers gave special attention to temperature management. While generously sized air cooling is enough for the electric motor, its flange-mounted power electronics are liquid-cooled.

The battery pack also gets cooling. When needed, it is integrated into the cooling circuit of the powertrain to remain in the optimal temperature range under high permanent load or during fast charging, for example. The same is true when temperatures are extremely low, which is just as bad as high temperatures. A battery heater enables warming up the battery for optimal performance and efficiency.

2020 smart EQ

To make recharging as easy as possible for drivers, smart offers comprehensive charging options. With the optional 22 kW on-board charger with rapid-charging function, the battery pack can be charged from the 10% to 80% range in under 40 minutes and without having to rely on rare DC charging stations if 3-phase charging is possible (depending on local conditions). Should charging be done from a conventional household socket at home, recharging for 6 hours would provide enough energy for average daily driving.

3 clicks instead of 45 pages
Simplicity was a key concept in the smart when it was conceived. With the new generation, that continues not just in the design and engineering but also the equipment level structure. With just a few clicks, instead of 45 pages of specs, the car can be easily configured. There are three equipment lines, and each line can be combined with one of three equipment packages. Once that is done, all the customer has to do is pick a colour and his or her new smart is complete.

2020 smart EQ forfour

2020 smart EQ

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Human beings have two eyes to view their surroundings as they drive, sending images to the brain which then makes the necessary decisions to brake or avoid hazards. When an on-board computer takes over the entire job of operating an autonomous car, two ‘eyes’ are not enough and a third sensor is needed. The first two eyes – already in use – are the camera and radar and the third is a long-range lidar sensor for light detection and ranging.

Bosch has a production-ready lidar system that is suitable for automotive use. This laser-based distance measurement technology is indispensable for driving functions at SAE Levels 3 to 5 (the different levels of autonomy). The new sensor will cover both long and close ranges – on highways and in the city.

Lidar

By exploiting economies of scale, Bosch aims to reduce the price for the sophisticated technology and make it affordable for the mass market. “By filling the sensor gap, Bosch is making automated driving a viable possibility in the first place,” said Bosch Management Board Member, Harald Kroeger.

Alert to all automated driving situations
Only the parallel deployment of three sensor principles ensures that automated driving will offer maximum safety when it is available. This has been confirmed by Bosch analyses, where developers investigated all use cases of automated driving functions – from highway assist to fully automated driving in cities.

For example, if a motorcycle approaches an automated vehicle at high speed at a junction, lidar is needed in addition to camera and radar to ensure the reliable sensing of the two-wheeler. In this instance, radar can struggle to detect the bike’s narrow silhouette and plastic fairings. Moreover, a camera can always be dazzled by harsh light falling on it. As such, there is a need for radar, camera, and lidar, with the three technologies complementing each other perfectly and delivering reliable information in every driving situation.

Lidar

Lidar is an essential element
We can think of laser as a ‘third eye’: in lidar systems, the sensor emits laser pulses and captures the laser light that is scattered back. The system then calculates distances based on the measured time it takes for the light to bounce back. Lidar offers very high resolution with a long range and a wide field of vision. As a result, the laser-based distance measurement tool can reliably detect even non-metallic objects at a great distance, such as rocks on the road. This means there is plenty of time to initiate driving manoeuvres such as braking or swerving.

At the same time, using lidar in vehicles exposes the lidar system’s components, such as the detector and the laser, to many stresses – above all, with regard to temperature resistance and reliability over the vehicle’s entire lifetime. Because Bosch can draw on its sensor expertise and systems know-how in the fields of radar and camera technology when developing the lidar, the company can ensure that all three sensor technologies dovetail with each other.

Camera
Lidar will work with the cameras and radar to provide the computer with more comprehensive imagery ,

“We want to make automated driving safe, convenient, and fascinating. In this way, we will be making a decisive contribution to the mobility of the future,” said Kroeger. Bosch’s long-range lidar will fulfil all safety requirements for automated driving as well as enable automakers to efficiently integrate the technology into a very wide range of vehicle types in the future.

Artificial intelligence makes systems even safer
Recently, Bosch engineers succeeded in taking the camera technology used in cars to a new level by enhancing it with artificial intelligence. The camera technology detects objects, categorizes them into classes such as vehicles, pedestrians, or bicycles, and measures their movement. In congested urban traffic, the camera can also recognize and classify partially obscured or crossing vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists quickly and reliably. This allows the vehicle to trigger a warning or an emergency braking manoeuvre as required.

The engineers are also continuously refining radar technology. The latest generation of Bosch radar sensors is even better at capturing the vehicle’s surroundings – even in bad weather or poor light conditions. Their greater detection range, wide aperture, and high angular separability are the basis for this improved performance.

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Many good ideas have started on the back of a napkin… the first laptop, the original Mini and, on the evening of March 3, 2011, the idea for an all-electric single-seater street racing series. These ideas all started out as nothing more than scribbles on a napkin.

Written in just a few words in a restaurant in Paris were the beginnings of what would become the world’s first all-electric international single-seater championship – Formula E. Authored by FIA President Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, the two men developed the series as a means to demonstrate the potential of sustainable mobility to help create a better, cleaner world.

Formula E first season 2014
The first round of the first season was held in Beijing, China in 2014.

Since making its global debut in the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing in 2014, Formula E has grown into a global entertainment brand with motorsport at its heart. Now, with 11 teams and 22 drivers on the grid, the championship has attracted the world’s best motorsport teams and talent.

A new era of racing
In January 2018, Formula E welcomed global technology and robotics giant ABB as title partner of the championship, sparking a new era of all-electric street racing aided by one of the biggest names in electrification.

With a total of 9 manufacturers on board – Jaguar, Nissan, BMW, Audi, DS and Mahindra – Formula E grew in prominence and now serves as a competitive platform for global car manufacturers and mobility providers to test and develop road-relevant technologies.

Formula E in Rome
Who would have imagined single-seater cars racing through the streets of Rome, London, Putrajaya, Jakarta and New York?

Technology transfer for EVs
By racing on the streets, the series acts as a catalyst, helping to refine the design of electric vehicles and improve the driving experience for everyday drivers of road cars. Technology developed for the racing cars can be adapted and commercialised for use in the growing number of electric vehicles that will appear in this decade.

Now, building on over 5 seasons of all-electric city street racing, the championship boasts one of the best sporting calendars in the world, with 14 races in 12 cities across 5 continents. Typically starting during the fourth quarter of the year, the current 2019/20 season sees the series being run on the streets of Seoul and Jakarta for the very first time as well as returning to London for the double-header season finale.

Gen 2 Formula E
The Gen 2 Formula E racing car
Mercedes-Benz EQ
Mercedes-Benz EQ in Formula E

New teams Mercedes-Benz EQ and TAG Heuer Porsche have joined the grid to make the sixth season of Formula E a highly competitive one. This is the new era of racing in the 21st century that will keep growing in popularity with each new season.

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