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Land Rover reassigns its New Defender media fleet to help in pandemic

With the many decades that Land Rover has been in existence, the name has been associated with many supporting activities during times of crisis. After all, its 4×4 vehicles have the capabilities to go into the roughest terrain, making it possible to bring vital supplies and rescue personnel to areas hit by a crisis like an earthquake or a flood.

Now Land Rover is again providing its vehicles in what is a global crisis – the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which began sweeping across the world since the beginning of the year. As the world faces an extraordinary challenge, Land Rover is focusing efforts towards supporting global communities in the fight against COVID-19 by providing vehicles and expertise to emergency services and organisations like its partners, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The fleet of new Defenders which had been meant for use on media drives has been reassigned to a new duty with emergency services and organisations. It is understood that the fleet numbers 105 Defenders with another batch of around 30 to be made available in due course.

Click here to read more about the new Defender.

Priced from around £40,000 (about RM206,000), the new Defender was launched at the Frankfurt Motorshow last September and was rolled out progressively in various markets from January. However, now that the UK is under lockdown due to the pandemic, business activities would have come to a standstill.

Red Cross Experts Push New Land Rover Defender Prototype To The Limits In Desert Testing

Racing Simulator Instead Of real-world DTM

BMW works driver Philipp Eng is a talented all-rounder behind a steering wheel. He has won Formula races, as well as in a host of different BMW racing cars, including the M4 DTM, M8 GTE and M6 GT3. He has also been a sim racing expert for many years and in today’s difficult situation, virtual races are the only opportunity for racing drivers to practice their craft.

While actual race weekends are unthinkable at the moment, the sim racing calendar is growing all the time. Last weekend, 4 major races were held and Eng was in action in two of them. On Saturday, he made it through to the final against a top-class field in ‘THE RACE All-Stars Esports Battle’. One day later, he finished third in the ‘F1 Esports Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix’, the first sim race officially staged by Formula 1.

“I am glad I have my race simulator at home at the moment. In these times, when everyone has to avoid moving about in public as much as possible, it is basically my ‘substitute racing drug’,” said Eng. “The virtual races help me to stay in race mode, particularly mentally. Although the simulator doesn’t feel exactly the same as reality, my instincts are the same as on an actual racetrack. It allows me to keep them sharp. For me, sim racing is more than just fun, it also really helps me to improve as a professional racing driver.”

Additional pillar in the BMW Motorsport programme
BMW Motorsport identified the benefits of sim racing and its increasingly important role at an early stage, making it an additional pillar in its motorsport programme. “In my opinion, BMW Motorsport’s intensive involvement is currently giving sim racing another huge boost,” he said. “When a major manufacturer like BMW gets involved to such a degree, the general public picks up on it and the perception of sim racing changes in a positive way.” As far as Eng is concerned, sim racing has already earned the right to be regarded as a motorsport in its own right, particularly in the future. “I see it this way: as a motorsport fan, watch the DTM race at the Nürburgring in the afternoon and then why not watch the livestream of the sim race in Sebring in the evening,” he said.

First simulator stuck in place with tape
Eng was just a teenager when he first ventured into the world of virtual racing. “I was 17, I think, and my simulator was such that I had to shift my exercise books to one side, clamp my steering wheel on my desk, and fasten the pedals to the floor using tape,” he recalled. “The way sim racing has developed since then, and particularly in recent months, is very impressive.” Today, Eng no longer has to use tape for his pedals. His equipment is of the highest standard – as is his driving in the simulator.

Despite that, professional racing drivers still cannot quite compete with the best sim racers in the world. Eng has an explanation: “That is mainly because of the incredible amount of time that these guys have spent on simulators over the years. I like to compare it with fitness training. If I train regularly and do, let’s say, 350 kilometres per week on my bike, then I will be pretty fit. If, however, I have two weeks off because I am away somewhere racing, then my fitness level drops again. That is exactly the difference between me, who is not regularly in the simulator during a normal season, and a professional sim racer – who is also very talented.”

Sim racer in the real world
Eng does not necessarily believe that a top sim racer would automatically make a good racing driver in the real world. “I am sure that the best have the necessary technical know-how and driving potential. However, in a real race car, they must first learn to deal with the fact that they could get hurt if they make a mistake. I notice that with myself. I always take more risks in the simulator than I do in a real racing car.”

Unlike driving a real race car, a simulator offers the opportunity to do a lot of testing and gain experience without any risks, in a controlled environment, and without it costing too much. For that reason, simulations also play a huge role in all BMW Motorsport’s actual racing projects. The BMW Motorsport simulator in Munich is used intensively for vehicle development and race preparations.

“The simulator I have at home is pretty good, for something that ordinary citizens can buy. However, it is miles away from what the BMW Motorsport simulator can do,” says Eng. “As the BMW Motorsport simulator moves on a flexible platform, you, the driver, feel every kerb and bump, just as you would do in reality. For me, the way the car handles is barely different to reality.”

BMW Drivers Will Be Racing At Super Sim Saturday With Races All Around The Virtual Globe

Toyota outlets to remain closed but support still available during MCO period

With the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has announced that all authorised Toyota and Lexus dealerships will continue to remain closed.

However, the company reiterated that it continues to be contactable to all customers for any emergencies or enquiries during this period on its existing helplines as well as 5 additional helplines created for this period of time. Customers may contact the following numbers throughout the duration of the MCO.

Additionally, it was announced that all vehicles purchased from UMWT or their authorised dealers with existing warranties that are valid and expiring during this period will enjoy a 30-day extension calculated from the last day of the MCO.

All service appointments scheduled during this MCO period will be rescheduled after the MCO is lifted and when operations resume. It gives assurance to all customers that support, where necessary, will be provided during this period.

Fuel Prices For March 28 – April 3, 2020

Refuelling your car? Remember to take these precautions…

SDAC’s Ford ‘Digital Salesperson’ at your service during this MCO period

If you’re planning on buying a new Ford vehicle but cannot go to the showroom at this time because of the restrictions of the Movement Control Order, you can still start the process using a new service offered by Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC). It’s known as the ‘Digital Salesperson’ and is a dedicated WhatsApp live chat line to address customer queries relating to vehicle purchases.

“In light of the Movement Control Order being extended until 14 April 2020, we are introducing an alternative method of a ‘Digital Salesperson’ which will allow customers to continue conversing with us via digital means. This comes as we understand that there are customers wanting to purchase our vehicles, but unable to walk into our showrooms during this period,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

“After the Movement Control Order ends, we will continue to offer this alternative method as we care and understand that customers may still want to limit public exposure,” he added, saying that the service will be available until the end of June 2020 and extended if it is popular.

*The Ford Digital Salesperson can provide information about promotions.*

The ‘Digital Salesperson’ can respond to product-related queries as well as provide information on any ongoing sales promotions. This service aims to bridge the gap by linking customers to an actual Ford authorised salesperson located nearest to them. Once connected, customers can know about colour and stock availability as well as loan financing options and other information concerning a purchase.

The ‘Digital Salesperson’ by SDAC is available to assist customers from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday. Customers simply need to WhatsApp +6019-204 1200 to start chatting and queries will be attended to within 24 hours.

With the introduction of this alternative option, customers would also be able to transact at their own convenience and pay the deposit for their vehicle – and take advantage of upcoming festive promotions. Once the Movement Control Order is lifted, the necessary documents can be signed and processed.

Ford showroom — *The new Ford 3S centre at Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara, Selangor.*

“When the Movement Control Order is lifted, we welcome customers who wish to come in-person to any of our flagship showrooms located at our latest automotive facility, Sime Darby Motors City, in Ara Damansara, as well as our showrooms at other parts of the country,” Jeffrey Gan, MD for Retail & Distribution, Malaysia, Sime Darby Motors, said.

“We would like to assure our customers that we have taken the necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of our staff and visitors which includes, practicing social distancing. At certain showrooms, we require all visitors to perform temperatures checks upon entering the premise, in addition to supplying hand sanitiser dispensers located in the showrooms.”

For more information on Ford and the latest promotions, customers may also visit www.sdacford.com.my.

Click here for other news and articles about Ford and SDAC.

Refuelling your car? Remember to take these precautions…

Germs are all over the place and they’ve been there all along. Over the thousands of years, the human body has managed to build up defences for some of them or making ‘deals’ that if they don’t kill the human they live in, they can just stay. Medical advances have helped to fight infections too when the defences have failed and we have become sick.

But now we have a new enemy – the COVID-19 coronavirus – which has impacted the whole world, creating a pandemic. It’s not an alien invasion that we have seen in the movies but seems like one with the way it has swept the world and is killing thousands. Worse, it’s an invisible enemy which we cannot see so we don’t know where it is. Droplets of the virus could be on your keyboard, deposited there after you touched a basket at the supermarket and didn’t wash your hands with soap and water after you got home.

A home for germs
Since the virus can be almost anywhere and remains dangerous for hours and even days, precautions have to be taken touching any surface. These include using sanitizing wipes, sprays or gloves as well as hand sanitizers whenever you are away from home (which would be less now). One place where many may forget such precautions is at the petrol station: having pumped petrol countless times in our lives, we just forget that the pump nozzle handle is a home for germs too.

Many different people grip the handle daily. Some may be sick and leave their germs behind and then if you are unlucky, you pick up the germs and then you get sick as well. Perhaps that is how you got the flu the last time, who knows? But fortunately, until now, the danger has been very low to the extent that the need to protect yourself when holding the handle is not that important. More important is that you avoid inhaling the fumes from the fuel which can be bad for you.

Avoid direct contact with your skin
Now, more than ever, you should take precautions when pumping petrol. If you use a credit card and need to enter a PIN, then you might want to either wipe the keypad first with an antiseptic tissue or use some other object to press the keys to avoid direct contact. The PETRONAS Setel system is a contactless system which activates the pump using the mobilephone and some pumps also have wave capability for credit/debit cards.

Next is holding the nozzle handle and for this, you could use gloves, which you should dispose of after use (to conserve your supply, you could probably just use one glove). Disposable plastic gloves (the thin type) are a risk as they could cause static electricity so use only latex gloves.

Or you could get an unused cloth or paper and use it as a glove. The important thing is just to avoid direct contact with the handle so your hand doesn’t pick up any germs.

The final step, if you feel it is necessary, would be to clean your hands using a hand sanitizer which you should have in your vehicle. Try to avoid touching too many areas in the cabin so as not to deposit anything on them and if possible, use antiseptic wipes to clean them (we’ll talk about that in another article).

Petroleum companies also do their part
The petroleum companies also realise the importance of ensuring that the surfaces and points of contact are kept as hygienically clean as possible for the safety of customers visiting their stations. At BHPetrol stations, for example, the staff frequently sanitize and disinfect many areas and also offer filling services for motorists who prefer not to get out to do it.

You probably use your car much less now with the Movement Control Order in effect, unless you are commuting daily because you are involved in one of the essential services. So consumption would be lower and a full tank will last you much longer than usual. But should you have a need to refuel, do keep in mind our suggestions – to protect yourself and your loved ones.