Piston.my

Latest News

BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

Sir Henry Royce once said: “Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing.” This has clearly applied to the motorcars of the brand for decades and even when scaled down, perfection is still a must.

As daily driving pleasures have been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some other of life’s little luxuries have come to the fore. An authentic 1:8 scale replica of a full-sized Cullinan, the first Rolls-Royce SUV, is now available. Reproduced with absolute perfection, each is more than a mere model. Every miniature Cullinan is individually and painstakingly crafted by hand, to the client’s specification, from over 1,000 individual components. This process can take up to 450 hours – over half of the time required to build a full-sized Cullinan.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

The replica is then hand-painted using Rolls-Royce colour-matched paint, hand-polished to the marque’s exacting specification; the coachline is even applied using a fine brush, just as it is on the original.

Customers may choose from a palette of around 40,000 ‘standard’ colours, or replicate their own personal Bespoke finish. The fully-functioning exterior lights are operated by a Cullinan-branded remote control, while under the bonnet is a perfect likeness of the ‎iconic 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

On opening the coach doors, illuminated treadplates are revealed, leading to an interior designed and executed with the materials, skill and attention to detail lavished on Cullinan itself. From the headrest embroidery and wood finishes to seat piping and stitching, these Bespoke creations allow owners to recreate their full-size vehicle with astonishing accuracy, or even envision future Cullinans to add to their collection.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

Presented in a display case at almost a metre in length, the replica is set on a gloss-black base mounted on a plinth allowing it to be appreciated from all angles. The Perspex window can be removed enabling the minutiae of the doors, luggage compartment and engine bay to be viewed in detail.

“This scale replica brings a new dimension to Cullinan’s Effortless, Everywhere philosophy. Our super-luxury SUV is now as perfectly at ease in the serene surroundings of its owner’s residence as it is in the most challenging and hostile terrain on Earth.” Said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“It demonstrates, and reminds us as a company, that Inspiring Greatness applies at every scale. It is not just about the big things: we seek and achieve greatness in everything we do, down to the smallest item and minutest detail,” he added.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The full-sized Cullinan is priced from RM1.8 million (before including tax).

There are already scale models of the Cullinan being sold online but none would come anywhere close to the quality of this one made by Rolls-Royce. And certainly nowhere near the price which is believed to be around £14,500 (about RM74,500)!

Stay in your state

PISTON.MY

Human interaction has continuously changed over time but now the change has accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. We now have to be conscious of social distancing – standing at least a metre apart – and be aware that even shaking hands can be risky as the virus can be transmitted.

Fortunately, we have technology to help us with the changes we must make socially and also in the business world. The ability to connect is still present and in the business world, chatbots have been an integral component of customer engagement for airlines, healthcare, telecommunications, retail, financial services, F&B as well as the news media.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad’s ‘PUTRI’ or PLUS Texting Realtime Interface is one such example, and it can be considered the highway industry’s first ever chatbot. PUTRI is designed to interact with PLUS highway customers and over time, the interactive conversations through its Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning model will allow PUTRI to handle over 70% of the 1,500 calls which PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC) receives averagely daily. The majority of the calls are request for standard highway information, which a chatbot can answer right away.

PLUS PUTRI
Two of the ways that the public can interact with PUTRI, instead of waiting for someone from the Call Centre.

With PUTRI’s support, PLUS TMC service levels can be enhanced by allowing the personnel to focus more on emergency calls, and conduct speedier and swifter coordination to assist customers in distress during traffic incidents. The PUTRI Chatbot is easily accessible and more convenient as it provides better speed in providing responses and could reduce the waiting period for callers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated our lives to become more digitally dependent and tech-savvy. The increase of bandwidth usage in the country and the world over is a sure sign that we are embracing the use of more gadgets and the communication experience is today more robust. Hence, our PUTRI will provide real time interface to the thousands of enquiries on straightforward highway information,” said PLUS Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid.

“PUTRI will be able to attend to multiple and simultaneous queries pertaining to PLUS highway service, toll fares, real-time traffic information, inquiries on PLUSMiles, product, facilities, promotions as well as events,” he added.

PLUS highway users can interact with the Beta version of PUTRI throughout the current public pilot phase (launched April 27 2020 on the PLUS website) and the PLUSMiles portal, as well as since  May 11 for the PLUS Mobile App. It will soon be available on social media platforms and WhatsApp applications with bilingual capability.

Between and the full completion date during the third quarter of 2020, PLUS invites users to interact with PUTRI and provide feedback which can assist the development team to identify issues and work on solutions to enhance its technical capabilities.

Stay in your state

PISTON.MY

ASEAN NCAP – the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries – is taking precautionary measures in support of efforts to break the spread of the virus and minimising effects on the community. Understanding that due to current restrictions and the possibility that ASEAN NCAP Inspectors may not be allowed to travel to conduct crash test assessment, the organisation has come up with some solutions. This is in view of crash tests and assessments that have been scheduled to take place.

For new vehicles with kerb weights of 1,400 kgs and below, it is advisable for the test to be conducted at MIROS Provisional CRASE Crash Centre (PC3) laboratory in Melaka, Malaysia. Tests that are conducted at MIROS PC3 will be witnessed by ASEAN NCAP Inspectors.

ASEAN NCAP PC3

For new vehicles with kerb weight of 1,400 kgs and heavier, the test may be performed at other facilities that serve as official laboratories for ASEAN NCAP. The facilities are as stipulated in the Guideline for Crash Laboratory Selection. The tests can be conducted without the presence of ASEAN NCAP Inspectors as witnesses.

With no inspector present for tests conducted at facilities other than MIROS PC3, vehicle manufacturers, crash laboratory representatives and ASEAN NCAP Inspectors may conduct a video conference to perform modifier assessment on the tested vehicle.

For blind spot tests, manufacturers are allowed to submit in-house data. ASEAN NCAP will not delay the implementation of its 2021-2025 assessment protocol.

Although there are changes in the way the assessment is conducted, the same assessment fee still applies as per guidelines.

PISTON.MY

BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

For many years now, Polyphony Digital’s Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) driving simulation title, Gran Turismo SPORT, has attracted the interest of a number of carmakers who have developed concept models for it. The Gran Turismo Sport title is certified and promoted by the FIA (the world motorsports governing body) as an official platform of digital motorsport.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

From this May 22, a new addition will be the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept virtual racing car. This new model will automatically grant seed rights to participate in the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championship (World Tour) that will be held in various locations around the world in the 2020 season.

The RX-Vision GT3 Concept is based on the Mazda RX-VISION which was displayed in 2015. It is modified in accordance with FIA GT3 vehicle regulations. The RX-VISION took on the challenge of achieving the most beautiful front engine rear wheel drive (FR) sportscar that Mazda could conceive, based on the ‘KODO -Soul of Motion’ design theme.

2015 Mazda RX-VISION concept
The RX-VISION concept was unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motorshow.

The RX-VISION was selected as the ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year’ in the 33rd Festival Automobile International held in France in January 2016.

At that time, Mazda said it could be equipped with a next-generation ‘SKYACTIV-R’ rotary engine (RE) which naturally excited rotary fans and enthusiasts who await the return of the ‘RE’. Mazda has not ruled out the possibility and said the concept represented ‘the vision of a sportscar that Mazda hopes to make a reality in the future’.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

The GT3 project started in the fourth quarter of 2019 and an image sketch was released at the venue for the world final of the FIA Gran Turismo Championship held in Monaco in November last year. It was announced that the racing car would be added to the 2020 update of Gran Turismo SPORT. From then on, the teams at Polyphony Digital and Mazda Design worked to refine the model using 3D modelling.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

Taking advantage of the original concept’s long-nose/short-deck form, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept has a wider tread. The front midship and transaxle rear wheel drive configuration achieves an ideal 48:52 weight distribution, with excellent aerodynamic characteristics optimized for handling performance and tyre management.

Like the RX-VISION, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept will use a SKYACTIV-R 4-rotor rotary engine with a maximum output of 570 ps (the output and weight may change due to balance of performance (BoP) adjustments depending on the race). Its suspension consists of a double wishbone front and multi-link type rear layout.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

Each function within the cockpit is arranged with an emphasis on ease of operation during the race. In particular, the steering wheel uses a special design that improves operability. The interior layouts of all Mazda models are developed in the pursuit of superior ergonomics. Similarly, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept prioritizes aspects such as seat shape, driving position, pedal arrangement and visibility during driving as essential items to providing a ‘human-centered’ cockpit.

SPECIFICATIONS
Length x Width x Height (mm) : 4590 x 2075 x 1120
Wheelbase (mm) : 2700
Front / rear tread (mm) : 1720 /1760
Vehicle weight (kgS) : 1,250
Engine displacement (cc) : 2600
Maximum output (ps/rpm) : 570/9,000
Maximum torque (Nm/rpm) : 540/7,500
Tyres and Wheels : Michelin – 310 / 700 – 18

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

COVID-19

PISTON.MY

BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

As expected, with the whole country virtually shut down during the month of April, new vehicle sales did not take place at all. The latest summary of April data from the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) shows that only 141 vehicles were delivered, of which 131 were passenger vehicles. We’re not sure how these were delivered with the Movement Control Order (MCO) active but they would have been units already registered earlier since the JPJ was closed.

This is the lowest ever volume in the history of the industry; even in the first year of local assembly in 1967, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) was 16,615 units. The only time there would have been such a massive fall would probably have been during World War II!

APRIL 2020 MAA
Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association

The MCO was activated on March 18 so there were at least some two weeks for sales and deliveries, and the TIV for that month was 22,478 units, about half the number sold in February. There’s obviously no point comparing the TIV of April 2020 to that of 2019 but if you want to know, for the same month last year, the TIV was 49,935 units.

Production likewise fell since factories were ordered to shut down although at a later stage of the MCO, limited production was permitted – but only for vehicles to be exported and not for the domestic market. Only 275 vehicles were produced, of which 240 were passenger vehicles.

Production MAA
Source: Monthly reports of the Malaysian Automotive Association

Of course, there was no point assembling for the domestic market anyway since the showrooms were closed and dealerships could not operate so they would not have needed new stocks. Production for the domestic market has only resumed recently and only for the high-volume brands would there be a need to meet outstanding orders made prior to the MCO starting.

At the beginning of this year, the MAA forecast the 2020 TIV as 600,000 units but in view of the massive contraction, it has revised the number by 33% to 400,000 units. That’s a TIV level almost similar to what was achieved 19 years ago in 2001. Analysts in some companies do not think it will be that bad and forecast a range of between 8% and 16.5%. However, the MAA normally makes it forecasts based on input from its members, the car companies, who would have a better sense of the market.

Showroom and e-showroom
It may be some time before showrooms see meaningful customer traffic. In the meantime, some companies (like Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia) are bringing their e-showrooms into homes.

With only 141 units in April, the TIV can’t really go any lower so May should see a higher number. But with the impact of the pandemic on the country and the financial strains on consumers, there may be reluctance to buy new vehicles in the immediate future. Many will have reduced incomes if they have not lost their jobs altogether, and there is still much uncertainty about the future.

Stay in your state

PISTON.MY

 

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube