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Tips for driving during this rainy season and what you should do if your car is damaged by flooding

This time of the year usually sees a lot of rain as the northeast monsoon blows through Southeast Asia. It seems that the amount of rainfall has become greater, with recent data showing it to be the highest Malaysia has received. As a result, we see a lot of flooding, even on the west coast which used to be shielded by the Main Range of mountains.

For motorists who have to drive around in rainy conditions (better if you do not), here are some tips that can save your vehicle from any potential damage that could result in massive repair bills.

1. Avoid driving or parking in low-lying areas
Low areas or certain basement parking lots can get flooded during heavy downpours. Your vehicle may then become partly submerged and the water can cause heavy damage to your car, especially to the engine, electrical systems, and interior. So if you can do so, avoid such areas.

2. Avoid driving through tunnels
Do not follow roads into tunnels that lead underground. We don’t have many but there are still some here and there. The risk of being caught in a flash flood is higher when driving into an underground tunnel as you are approaching lower ground that rainwater is flowing to. The speed at which the water level can rise will be surprising and many motorists are often caught by it.

3. Maintain a steady slow speed
If you do attempt to drive through a flooded area, assess the situation or surroundings first. If the level is below half your vehicle’s tyre, make sure to wade through at slow speed by engaging low gear. This helps to create a small bow wave which will prevent the surrounding water flooding into the engine bay or flowing into the exhaust pipe. However, it is also important to not assume that a road you are familiar with is safe as you may not be able to see cracks or sinkholes that have opened up under the water.

4. Your safety is the utmost priority
If your car engine stops suddenly and you are stranded in the car, turn off the engine, gather your belongings and leave the car immediately. Do not try to start your car again as it will lead to more major damage. Quickly move yourself to higher ground or a safer area and stay there until help arrives. Your own safety is more important than the car.

5. Don’t start the car immediately after it has been submerged
If a car has been submerged up to the window level, water would most likely have seeped into the engine, transmission, and fuel delivery system. Don’t start the engine as you’ll just make the damage worse. Immediately seek professional advice after the flood water has subsided or tow your car to your trusted workshop or authorised service centre for your vehicle’s brand.

6. Disconnect your vehicle’s battery
Do not leave your vehicle in accessory mode with the electronics running when you are stuck in a flood. Turn off the engine, open the bonnet and disconnect the battery. Do so only if it is safe as there may also be strong water currents. When the vehicle can be recovered, have the battery examined by a mechanic who can test it to see if the battery is functioning properly.

*Be sure the battery is checked by a professional before continuing to drive.*

7. Does your vehicle have flood insurance?
Flood damage is not typically covered in motor vehicle comprehensive insurance policies. Therefore such damage will not be compensated by the insurance company. However, owners can add on coverage for flood damage for an extra fee. Many motorists often think that it is not worth spending that little bit of extra money as they may feel that being caught in a flood is unlikely. But you never know and with the change in weather patterns recently, it may be an option to include.

Don’t overlook brake fluid when servicing your vehicle!

UMW Toyota Motor announces Toyota Flood Assist Program for owners affected by the floods

Although UMW Toyota Motor operates nationwide, its home base is in Shah Alam, Selangor, and this is where severe flooding has taken place over the weekend. So it is especially aware of the effects on people in area surrounding its head office.

As an immediate response, the company has announced a special Toyota Flood Assist Program to help Toyota vehicle owners impacted by the flood. It’s already bad enough to have a vehicle damaged by being trapped in a flood and to help give some peace of mind, the Toyota Flood Assist Program offers a 25% discount on the total bill for repair work done at an authorised Toyota service centre. This includes parts and labour charges as well as free towing service to the service centre.

The vehicles will be inspected and a quotation provided on the expected repair cost which includes parts removal. Needless to say, only genuine parts will be used for all replacement or repair work.

“While nothing can fully compensate the loss and distress suffered by those affected by the flood, we hope that our Toyota Flood Assist Program will provide some sort of relief to our fellow Malaysians. Our customers are very valuable to us and through this program, we want to ease some of their burden, even if it’s just by a little, to help those impacted get back on their feet quickly. We sincerely hope for the quickest possible recovery of these communities and the team at Toyota extends our heartfelt prayers for the safety of all Malaysians,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K.

Toyota owners can be assured of aftersales support for their vehicles damaged by the flood as all Toyota Service Centres and Body & Paint centres will remain open during this critical period. Additionally, Toyota owners can contact Toyota’s 24SEVEN Road Assist for further assistance if needed. The service is available to all Toyota owners and operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Should a vehicle be too badly damaged and the owner would like to get a new Toyota vehicle to replace it, the company has an interest-free ‘Easy Payment Plan’ for eligible customers.

Toyota owners requiring assistance or information the Toyota Flood Assist Program can visit ant authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Toll Free Line at 1-800-8-869682 (1-800-8-TOYOTA).

Toyota recognised for winning the most 5-Star awards from ASEAN NCAP

Nico Rosberg’s RXR team overall winner in first season of Extreme E off-road series for electric SUVs

Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 World Champion in 2016, can add another title to his name – the first champion of the Extreme E series. His team (but he did not drive) – Rosberg X Racing (RXR) – claimed the title after finishing fourth in the season-ending Jurassic X Prix in the UK recently. Despite finishing level on 155 points with Jurassic X Prix winners X44, RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor took the championship due to having more X Prix victories, with 3 wins from 5 events.

Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez finally took their first Extreme E win at their fifth attempt, as well as 5 extra points for being fastest through the Continental Traction Challenge at the wet and muddy course.

With 5 cars vying for position to get the best traction and grip off the line in the final, the start was crucial. It was the championship contenders who got the best getaway, with X44’s Gutierrez flying into the lead ahead of RXR’s Taylor, and then JBXE’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s Laia Sanz fighting for positions behind.

As Gutierrez began to pull away from the chasing pack, the tension began to grow in the RXR team as Taylor fell into the clutches of those behind, losing places to Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Munnings to slip back to fourth, just ahead of Sanz in fifth place. This was dangerous territory for RXR, who needed to finish fourth or higher to claim the title.

The battle for third place in the standings was similarly competitive – with just a point separating JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E ahead of the Jurassic X Prix. Their closely fought contest continued as Munnings closed in on Ahlin-Kottulinsky, but there was drama as they both attempted to enter the Driver Switch Zone, with contact between the pair sending Munnings into a spin.

Fortunately, she was able to get going again and retain third place, such was the pace advantage the leading trio had over RXR and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. The order was maintained after the driver switch, with Loeb preserving X44’s lead over JBXE’s Kevin Hansen in second and Andretti United Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen in third.

The stage was set for Kristoffersson and Carlos Sainz Snr. to fight it out for the title-deciding fourth place finish, but it was a battle which fizzled out after problems in the Driver Switch Zone meant ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team lost ground. This gave RXR breathing space in their bid to score the crucial points needed to seal the championship.

“We are really happy with the first Extreme E season. It has not been easy in the middle of a pandemic, but we have delivered five X Prix events, and the Finale in Dorset, UK produced some spectacular racing. Since our first event in Saudi Arabia, we have had a lot of eventful and incredible moments ending in a brilliant title decider today,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E. “We are now looking forward to what we hope will be a fantastic Season 2.”

*Although having same number of points as the X44 team, RXR is the overall winner due to having more X Prix victories, with 3 wins from 5 events.*

Drones provide a more exciting perspective of motorsports events like Extreme E

4th generation Kia Carens – made in India for India

The Kia Carens, first introduced in 1999, was one of the early MPV models from the Korean carmaker, along with the Carnival launched into the market a year earlier. It was a compact size suitable for developing and emerging markets. In Malaysia, Naza even adapted it to sell under its own brand as the Citra in 2005.

Three generations have passed and it has just gone into a fourth generation, with India being the debut market (and where it will also be made). The new model has moved from being a MPV to something more recreational, a sort of crossover with undertones of an SUV.

*First generation of the Carens was also made by Naza for the Malaysian market and sold as the Citra (Rondo versions shown).*

Why India as a launch market? “India is diverse, and the people here have different preferences. I believe this is the most exciting insight we tried to unlock while developing the Carens. It’s safe, feature-rich, has artistry in its design, and is comfortable and classy; it packs everything a modern Indian family would want in their vehicle,” said Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director & CEO of Kia India.

Like other recent new models, the new Carens uses ‘Opposites United’, the carmaker’s latest design philosophy. It has gained edgy character lines with a bold side profile. Kia designers believe the modern and high-tech design will appeal to millennials.

Still present is another interpretation of the ‘Tiger Nose Grille’ which Peter Schreyer introduced to the brand in 2006 when he was its new design head. It has been a signature element of all models and is complemented by horizontal chrome garnish in the upper grille and the frame-type chrome garnish in the lower bumper.

Attention is drawn to the new signature lighting concept – The Star Map. This is made up of LED DRLs and Crown Jewel LED headlamps to give a futuristic appearance.

The car looks sleek and dynamic with its slim daylight opening graphic along the sides. At the rear, the combination lamp on the robust sections makes the Carens look wide and strong, and the lighting units also have the Star Map LEDs.

Using an extended Seltos platforn, the Carens is said to have the longest wheelbase in its class (2780 mm), while its body dimensions measure 4540 mm in length and 1800 mm in width. That makes it slightly larger than a Mitsubishi XPANDER but noticeably shorter than a Toyota Innova. The ground clearance is quite generous at 195 mm.

The MPV will be offered with a choice of two petrol engines – 1.4 litres with turbocharger and 1.5 litres, with outputs of 140 bhp/242 Nm and 115 bhp/144 Nm, respectively. There’s also a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel which produces 115 bhp/250 Nm. A 6-speed manual transmission is fitted to the base version, with a 7-speed, dual-clutch and 6-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions also available.

While India is a big car market, the products being sold in the high-volume segments have been criticised for inadequate safety levels. Crash tests have resulted in poor ratings, and the manufacturers are beginning to realise that they cannot have differences in safety in different markets.

With the new Carens, Kia has made an effort to provide safety features that are already commonplace in other markets, including Malaysia. Its Hi-Secure Safety Package is a first in India and installed as standard in all versions are 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assist System, Tyre Pressure Monitor and disc brakes on all 4 wheels. The better safety measures will certainly be important in protecting the occupants on 3 rows of seats.

Extensive research was undertaken by Kia on the lifestyle and requirements of Indian families and the findings have resulted in a generous list of equipment. There are ventilated front seats, a Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus and Bacteria Protection (very important in these times), Skylight sunroof and a BOSE Premium Sound System with 8 speakers. Surround Ambient Mood Lighting is also provided with a choice of 64 colours.

The infotainment (including navigation uses a High-Definition touchscreen display which is linked to Next Generation Kia Connect. This replaces the previous UVO system and allows for enhancement of OTA (Over the Air) Map and System Updates. This means owners can now update software without visiting the Kia service centre.

The Carens will come equipped with 60+ connected car features and what is more exciting is that the AVNT of the vehicle now supports ten native languages.

Kia Malaysia reveals 5-year plan with 61% of local production to be exported

Perodua offers assistance to flood-affected customers with 50% discount on selected parts

UPDATED: The discount offers on selected parts has increased to 50%

Perodua has often been quick to come to the aid of its customers whenever there have been floods affecting thousands, especially motorists. Perodua owners whose vehicles have been affected by the floods are being offered special support by the carmaker. The assistance includes towing service rebates, discounts on selected spare parts and free inspections to ensure the vehicles are in good and safe running order.

“Our customers are very important to us, and these value-added services are provided to help relieve some of the burden our customers have to deal with during this disaster,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

“While a few of our service centres are also affected by the floods, our customers can still contact any of our service outlets throughout Malaysia for assistance. We are doing our best to resume our operations [at the affected areas] as quick as possible,” he added.

On the assistance given, Dato’ Zainal said Perodua owners can claim for towing service charges up to a maximum of RM300 at the nearest Perodua service outlets (terms and conditions apply). Those who are covered by Perodua Total Protect Plus (PTPP) can obtain the towing services free of charge.

In addition, should parts need to be replaced for repairs due to flood damage, there’s a 50% discount available. The parts include all electronic items, engine overhaul gaskets, vehicle seats, door trim and carpet – typically the items that are damaged when a vehicle is flooded. There will be no charge for labour for repair work (excluding car cleaning and detailing).

“Our genuine spare parts come with a manufacturer’s warranty and we ask our customers to not use any imitation parts as this may affect the performance of their vehicles,” Dato’ Zainal advised.

Perodua owners whose vehicles have been damaged by flood can contact the company’s support line 1-800-88-5555 to get assistance, especially for towing services (terms and conditions apply).

To locate a Perodua service centre in Malaysia, visit www.perodua.com.my.

Lower-priced childseat now offered by Perodua

First Mercedes-Benz Original Tyres & Rims Boutique in Malaysia

When it opened for business in 1895, Cycle & Carriage was a general store offering all kinds of products, from soap to writing paper to screwdrivers and simple machine parts. Four years later, it added bicycles, motorcycles and motorcars. Quite likely, the company would also have sold wheels and tyres during the period at the dawn of motorisation.

122 years later, Cycle & Carriage (C&C) still sells cars – Mercedes-Benz, in particular – and it still also sells Original Tyres and Rims. While all of its outlets can supply the items, it has an Original Tyres and Rims Boutique at its Autohaus in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. C&C is the first and only dealer in Malaysia to have such a boutique to broaden its aftersales service experience.

Optimized for safety and performance
The boutique has the Mercedes Original range of certified original tyres and Mercedes-Benz rims and accessories that are not only styled with good looks but also optimised for safety and performance. Customers can choose from an assortment of tyre and rim combinations with sizes that are suited for each Mercedes-Benz model.

Though made by global tyre companies, every Mercedes Original (MO) tyre is developed and manufactured to the highest quality that meets the stringent requirements of Mercedes-Benz. While the same tyre may also be available in the open market, the MO tyres are the result of a thousand hours of engineering and testing to ensure more specific matching to the cars they are recommended for. This means that the driver can enjoy the full performance levels which the engineers originally designed the car with.

Four types of tyres
The boutique offers four types of high-performance Mercedes Original tyres. Besides Mercedes Original tyres, there are Mercedes Original Extended tyres which enable temporary extended mobility in the case of a flat tyre. There are also Mercedes Original 1 tyres, a selection developed for Mercedes-AMG vehicles and high-performance needs. For customers who want more quietness, there are the Mercedes Original Silent tyres.

The boutique offers an interactive experience where customers can view, touch, and feel the differences of each of the wheels and tyres. Such interactivity allows every customer to learn about the benefits of the products’ effect on performance and driving experience.

“We are excited that our new Mercedes-Benz Original Tyre and Rims Boutique experience can help customers learn more about these high-performance products that add comfort, safety and performance to their vehicles,” said Wilfrid Foo, CEO of Cycle & Carriage. “Being able to offer the Mercedes Original range of tyres and rims at the boutique is an important part of our effort to give our customers the most exceptional journey with their Mercedes-Benz.”