With many accidents occurring due to a driver not seeing another vehicle or motorcyclist in his vehicle’s ‘blind spot’, many carmakers have installed blind spot monitors which scan along the sides of the vehicle. When the sensors detect another vehicle nearby, the driver is alerted by warning lights on the door mirrors, or on the mirror mount inside the vehicle. Some systems may also use sound although this is often found to be too intrusive and irritating.
Honda has a good system called Lane Watch which uses a small camera on the left (or right) side of the vehicle to show real-time imagery. The image is displayed on the screen in the dashboard and the advantage of this is that the driver does not have to turn the head so much. With a mirror-mounted warning system, the driver has to have his head turned to the right to notice the flashing light.
Now Kia has gone further with such a driver aid with its new Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) technology. This ‘second pair of eyes’ for drivers is designed to enhance driving safety by providing a good view of both the left and right blind spots of the vehicle. The view is shown within the instrument panel so the driver does not need to swivel his head.
This advanced driving assistance feature, activated whenever the driver uses the turn signal, displays a high-resolution video feed on the left or right side of the TFT-LCD instrument cluster. The video of the blind spot briefly takes the place of either the speedometer or tachometer display while still showing the driver the vehicle’s current speed.
The video feed comes from discreet wide-angle, high-resolution cameras, one hidden in each of the door mirror housings. These provide a wider viewing angle than the mirrors themselves to give drivers a clear view of other vehicles or motorcyclists coming up alongside
The BVM is one of a range of functions on the fully-digital ‘Supervision’ 12.3-inch instrument cluster of the latest Sorento. Other systems include a Surround View Monitor and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, along with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist.
The ‘Supervision’ digital instrument cluster is designed to deliver information to the driver as clearly as possible. With a high-definition 1920 x 720-pixel display, the digital cluster replaces conventional speedometer and tachometer dials with a single, seamless display, incorporating pin-sharp digital dials for road and engine speeds.
A multi-function display between the dials displays turn-by-turn GPS navigation instructions, audio information, and in-depth trip information, as well as vehicle diagnostics alerts, and pop-up notifications linked to the car’s various active safety and driver assist technologies.
Following the announcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) recently, several automotive brands under the Naza Group have resumed operations. The companies representing the various brands are Naza Italia Sdn Bhd (Ferrari), NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd (Mercedes-Benz/Mercedes-AMG), Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Kia), Nasim Sdn Bhd (Peugeot), and Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd (Citroen and DS). Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd, which deals in multiple brands, has also resumed its operations.
The Naza Group is mindful of providing the highest priority on the health and safety of its employees and customers during this critical period. Strict safety measures and operating procedures enforced by the local authorities will be adhered to at the premises of each company. This would include the necessary hygiene and social distancing practices for customers’ peace of mind.
NZ Wheels is operating strictly on appointments only at its Klang Autohaus, KL North-East Service Centre and Johor Bahru Autohaus outlets. Customers who wish to visit the service centres are required to contact the respective outlets to make book an appointment.
NZ Wheels Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Klang, Selangor
Naza Kia Malaysia is resuming full operations at its authorised outlets in stages. It has initiated the ‘Kia Promise’ programme which ends in June 2020 as an added assurance to customers that the MCO will not affect aftersales aspects.
This means that all existing warranties will remain valid even if scheduled maintenance service could not be performed during the MCO. The programme also covers vehicle warranties that end during the MCO as well as those unable to get warranty repairs performed on their vehicle during that period. Customers are also given an additional grace period of 2 months or 2,000 kms (in moderation) beyond the standard 6 months or 10,000 km service interval to service their vehicle following the end of MCO.
Owners should call the service centres in advance to book an appointment.
Owners of cars purchased from Nasim and Naza Euro Motors are also required to call in in advance to book an appointment for servicing. All warranties for the brands they handle will still be honoured if service appointments or due dates fall within the MCO period.
Naza Motor Trading has resumed regular business hours at the Naza Automall PJ in Selangor from 9 am to 6 pm. It has a variety of models from various brands available.
These are stressful times for many people all over the world with uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. There are concerns about personal health, employment and other issues.
Those who own a Kia vehicle will be pleased to know that the manufacturer of your vehicle wants to do something to help. And the way Kia Motors Corporation will help is to offer the ‘Kia Promise’, a global warranty extension program.
The Kia Promise is designed to support Kia customers whose movements may be limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be offered in 142 countries – including Malaysia – for all vehicles with original Kia warranties that are to expire between February 1 and April 30, 2020.
With the Kia Promise, the warranty of all eligible vehicles will be extended to June 30, 2020. The carmaker believes that more than 500,000 customers worldwide could benefit from this extension.
Kia models purchased from authorised dealerships in Malaysia qualify for the warranty extension.
With many countries and businesses taking precautionary measures to counteract the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kia Promise aims to help customers who may be unable to visit a workshop during this time due to regulations restricting movements. The program also helps customers who are not able to bring their car in for servicing.
“By extending Kia’s comprehensive warranty cover to customers who may be affected by the pandemic, Kia Motors hopes they have one less thing to worry about during this time. Our goal is to help to alleviate any concerns our customers have about vehicle maintenance during periods of social distancing,” said Sangdae Kim, Senior Vice-President and Head of Global Customer Experience Division at Kia Motors Corporation,
Prioritizing the safety, health and well-being of its customers, business partners and employees, Kia Motors continues to closely monitor COVID-19 developments in communities where it does business. The company continuously strives to prevent infections at its facilities while working with government and local authorities, complying with all standards set by those entities.
Following the release of the first official pictures of the all-new Kia Sorento that will have its global debut next month, the Korean carmaker has now revealed details of its new platform and powertrains. The latest Sorento will be the first SUV to use Kia’s new platform when production commences later this year.
The overall length of new Sorento is 10 mm more than its predecessor while the wheelbase is lengthened 35 mm to 2815 mm. The cabin is now claimed to provide more room than in many other midsize SUVs with intelligent packaging offering class-leading cargo space.
When the first-generation Sorento was launched in 2002, it sat on a robust body-on-frame chassis, a typical approach for most SUVs at that time. The shift to a monocoque structure – similar to passenger cars – for the second generation Sorento in 2009 marked a major change on-road character and behaviour.
Kia’s new midsize SUV platform represents a similarly important leap forward for the next-generation Sorento, allowing new standards to be set in its segment for space, practicality, efficiency and quality. The new platform positions the battery pack beneath the passenger cell so there is no impact on cabin or luggage space.
For Korea, Europe and North America, the structure and layout of the platform accommodates the new Smartstream turbocharged hybrid powertrain. Representing the first application of electrified power in the Sorento line-up, the new powertrain comprises a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine, and a 44.2 kW electric motor which draws energy from a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The electrified powertrain produces a combined total output of 230 ps power and 350 Nm torque, with high levels of performance but low exhaust emissions.
There is also a new 4-cylinder 2.2-litre Smartstream diesel engine producing 202 ps/440 Nm. This is paired with Kia’s new 8-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT), developed to offer the smooth shifting characteristics of a conventional automatic while enhancing efficiency over dry clutch DCTs.
Another powertrain option is the Smartstream 2.5-litre T-GDi engine (281 ps/421 Nm) which is also paired with the new 8DCT. This turbocharged petrol engine combines direct injection and multi-point injection technology, enabling it to subtly adapt its combustion cycle at different engine speeds to enhance performance and efficiency in everyday use.
Additional powertrains will be announced in future, including petrol engines and a powerful new plug-in hybrid variant.
In addition to its new platform and powertrains, the new Sorento introduced a range of high-tech safety and convenience features said to differentiate it further from other midsize SUVs. It will have Kia’s first Multi-collision Brake system which can mitigate the severity of secondary collisions. This system automatically applies vehicle brakes when the airbags (up to 8 available) have been deployed after an initial collision, further protecting occupants from secondary frontal or side impacts.
In some markets, the Sorento will also have a remote smartphone Surround View Monitor option. This allows users to check the vehicle’s surroundings with their smartphone in conjunction with the in-vehicle Surround View Monitor to maximize parking convenience.
One of the earlier SUV models from the Korean carmaker, the Sorento enters its 4th generation this year, with the global debut to be at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. The Sorento sits at the heart of Kia’s reinvigorated global SUV line-up which also includes the Seltos, Stonic, Sportage, and Telluride.
It is the result of a global collaborative effort between all Kia’s design network which has studios in Korea, Europe and North America. For this new generation, the designers adopted the concept of ‘refined boldness’, maintaining the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations.
All-new platform with new design
The fourth-generation model sits on an all-new platform that is said to raise standards in the midsize SUV segment for space, practicality, efficiency and quality. The latest design incorporates sharper lines and uninterrupted surfaces, making it noticeably more sculpted than its more round-edged predecessor.
Besides more contemporary geometric details and swept-back, elongated proportions, the assertive ‘face’ of the Sorento has evolved too. There’s a new interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille. It’s wider and more expansive, wrapping organically around the integrated headlamps on each side. The headlamps themselves feature a new ‘tiger eye’ LED daytime running light, adding extra focus to the design by depicting the intense impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes.
In profile, the proportions of the SUV are subtly adapted to make it appear longer, with shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase. Its new proportions also extend the length of the bonnet, drawing the A-pillar 30 mm further back from the front axle for a more ‘cab-rearward’ design.
The trailing edge of the bonnet wraps around the front wings and turns into a single, strong character line which extends along the side of the Sorento and flows into the new vertical taillights.
Most high-tech Kia model to date
Inside, the upscale cabin has a sophisticated new design incorporating cutting-edge infotainment, supreme practicality, and premium-grade materials. It is described as one of the highest quality interior spaces found in any Kia to date. The progressive technologies available in the new model also make it the most high-tech vehicle Kia has ever put in showrooms.
Blending metallic trims, leather upholstery and embossed wood-effect surfaces, the interior also subtly integrates other technologies to enhance connectivity, driver assistance and infotainment. Its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with audio-visual navigation system is complemented by a new 12.3-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation have debuted a new virtual reality (VR) design evaluation system at the brands’ global design headquarters. The new system, introduced to the Namyang Research and Development Centre in South Korea, demonstrates a heightened focus on enhancing vehicle development processes through the implementation of VR technology.
The technology uses several development applications, enabling teams of designers and engineers to carry out vehicle design quality assessments and development verification processes. It is part of the 15 billion won (about RM53 million) investment in the Namyang Research and Development Centre announced by Hyundai and Kia in March 2019.
Faster development times, reduced costs
Through the complete implementation of the virtual development processes throughout R&D and pre-production stages, Hyundai and Kia anticipate a 20% reduction in vehicle development times and a 15% reduction in annual development costs. In addition, these new virtual technologies are expected to increase profitability and trigger a cycle of continuously increasing R&D investment for Hyundai and Kia.
“The virtual development process is a necessary step for responding quickly and reacting with agility to the needs of customers and paradigm shifts within the automotive industry,” said Albert Biermann, Head of Research and Development Division for Hyundai Motor Group. “Through reinforced virtual processes, we will enhance quality and profitability, ultimately increasing investment in R&D to secure competitiveness in future mobility.”
20 simultaneous users
VR headsets allow the brands’ vehicle designers and engineers to virtually enter developmental simulations, with 36 motion tracking sensors detecting and tracking the locations and movement of all users, enabling each to participate accurately in real time. The new VR design evaluation system can currently support up to 20 simultaneous users, enabling greater cross-team collaboration than ever before.
As a result, the new cutting-edge facility allows the designers to more efficiently review a multitude of design concepts earlier in the developmental process and in ways that were previously physically impossible. The system simulates interior and exterior design elements, lighting, colours and materials, and even virtual environments.
Testing individual components
VR also enables development teams to simulate operations of individual vehicle components, such as doors, bootlids, bonnets, and windshield wipers. Furthermore, the system enables testing of vehicle ergonomics and aerodynamics more efficiently.
Hyundai HDC-6 NEPTUNE Concept
Hyundai first used this system during the design assessment stages of the HDC-6 NEPTUNE Concept Class 8 heavy-duty truck that was revealed in October. Kia also plans to expand the design assessment capabilities of the facility for developmental use on future models.
Additionally, plans to establish remote VR design assessment capabilities will enable real-time virtual collaboration between each brand’s design centres in Europe, America, China and India, along with an enhanced virtual development process through the implementation of AR (Augmented Reality), among other technology. There are also plans to introduce VR technologies in production and assembly lines to create more ergonomic, efficient and safe working environments.
A new generation of the Kia K5 sedan is due for launch in Korea next month and as a prelude to the launch, the carmaker has released the first official pictures. They show the new model as having a sportier fastback profile with a new design direction for the brand.
Like other Kia models over the past 12 years, the ‘Tiger Nose’ has been a permanent feature which has been presented in various interpretations. For the new K5, it is imposing and referred to as the ‘Tiger Nose Evolution’. It has a wide, three-dimensional design which integrates the grille and headlamps more organically than before. Above the grille is the deeply-contoured bonnet and characteristic lower bumper, emphasizing the smooth lines on the front of the car and enhancing the K5’s on-road presence.
The texture of the grille is modelled on the texture of shark skin which has powerful and sporty image. The grille is made with a matrix of interlocking details to give the K5 a classy and dynamic look. The K5’s new front headlamps feature a distinctive ‘heartbeat’ daytime running light signature.
More muscular profile
The profile of the K5 displays a greater sense of muscularity than its predecessor, with the body narrowing slightly at the midpoint between wheelarches. A distinctive crease runs the length of the body, while a dash of chrome above the car’s new frameless windows adds greater drama to its flowing, fastback roofline.
The rear has a new rear-combination lamp design which provides a sporty silhouette mirrored by the three-dimensional design of the subtle rear wing. The unique rear light signature mirrors the slender ‘heartbeat’ motif found at the front of the car, while the flash of chrome from the roofline loops around the base of the rear screen, unifying the side and rear profile.
Longer and wider
The new K5 is longer and wider, with overall length extended by 50 mm to 4905 mm and the width by 25 mm to 1860 mm. The wheelbase is longer too at 2850 mm while a 20-mm drop in the height nicely complements the sleeker style.
Malaysians know the K5 as the Optima, sold by Naza Kia Malaysia. However, it remains to be seen whether Kia will has developed a righthand drive (RHD) variant for markets where cars travel on the left side of the road. Korean manufacturers don’t necessarily see RHD market volumes as being substantial enough for them to cater to and prefer to focus on the huge lefthand drive markets like China and North America.
Visit www.kia.com to know more about Kia models available in Malaysia.
Given the pressure to reduce costs all the time, many carmakers now prefer to show off concept cars that are ‘near-production’, rather than futuristic showcars that cost a lot to build. But once in a while, we get some extreme designs intended to show what could come. Like the Futuron concept by Kia which the company says has some of its design elements inspired by UFOs and flying saucers!
The Futuron Concept is an all-wheel drive SUV coupe which proposes new designs for future electric vehicles, specifically a SUV coupe. With a design based around the notion of dynamic purity, the Futuron Concept merges elegant proportions with pure shapes and surfaces.
‘360-degree core’
The Kia Futuron Concept is built around a single, strong ‘360-degree’ design notable for its pure, smooth form devoid of ornament. The delicate diffusion of the body’s surfaces creates a series of taut, flowing shapes which twist, expand and contract around the body. The result is a sleek and streamlined shape, creating an aero-efficient profile.
The novel proportions of the car are immediately striking. Its low-profile SUV coupe body is sporty and modern, yet also elegant. At 4850 mm in length, 1550 mm tall and with a 3000 mm-long wheelbase, the Futuron’s elevated ground clearance is matched with a low, lean body to create a dynamic, confident posture.
The fully-electric powertrain makes such a fluid shape possible. A high-capacity battery is mounted low in the vehicle’s body, beneath the cabin floor, providing electrical energy to 4 powerful in-wheel electric motors. The elevated stance of the car is therefore matched with a low centre of gravity and an e-AWD system which delivers lightning-fast responses to driver inputs.
Sportscar on an SUV platform
Combined with comfortable, lean-back seats, the Futuron offers drivers a new type of interactive driving experience suitable for urban city environments. Various elements of the vehicle’s structure and design foster the important connection and interaction between car and driver.
The front fender flows backwards from the front of the bonnet before plunging into the cabin itself, establishing a connection between the driving seat and the road ahead. The concept’s roof is a diamond-shaped panoramic glasshouse which sits atop the 360-degree core, in the best traditions of UFO and flying saucer design.
While flooding the cabin with natural light, it also extends down the bonnet to give drivers an unparalleled view ahead. The glasshouse also incorporates a network of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors capable of providing Level 4 autonomous driving features, enabling hands-off and eyes-off driving in most conditions.
Furthermore, the 360-degree theme is evident in the lighting that illuminates a sharp character line encircling the Futuron’s body. A playful and interactive new feature, this lighting responds to physical gestures and movements made outside the car, eliciting a close connection between car and driver before they even set foot in the cabin.
The new Kia ‘tiger face’
The front of the Futuron features a new reinterpretation of Kia’s ‘tiger nose’ grille, a signature for Kia design now for over a decade. While maintaining the basic principle of the design – a clear outline with tabs in the middle – Kia’s designers have expanded the boundaries, widening the shape across the front of the car to create a restrained, yet elegant ‘tiger face’.
With a wider ‘tiger face’ shape, the grille incorporates the Futuron’s headlamps, an innovative ‘Star Cloud’ design which gives the car a dazzling new night-time identity. The concept’s Star Cloud lighting not only highlights a new design form for the front of the car, but also embodies a new lighting concept for Kia, taking inspiration from nebulae in the night sky to create a geometric patchwork of matrix LED lighting. The Star Cloud is also incorporated into the rear of the car, displaying a distinct light signature to anyone following the Futuron.
Revealed for the first time in Shanghai, the Futuron also incorporates Chinese legend in the design and form of its new Star Cloud lighting. The Dragon Skin surface which covers the lighting area emulates the scaled armour that adorns Chinese dragons, both in mythology and modern-day cultural celebrations. The Star Cloud lighting incorporates a kinetic surface, enabling the car to alternate between daytime running lights and full-beam headlamps as the scales open and close.
Seamless interior
The Futuron’s seamless interior also reflects its autonomous driving nature, with surfaces flowing uninterrupted from the dashboard and through the door panels. The doors feature the same Star Cloud lighting and scaled Dragon Skin motif found on the outside of the car, creating a glittering interactive ambient lighting system. The ventilation system is also housed behind Dragon Skin scales, which open and close to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the cabin.
One of the most prominent features of the cabin is the ‘cockpit’ area surrounding the driver. The graphical user interface (GUI) of the cockpit flows out of the driver-side door and wraps around the steering wheel in a seamless arc. This merges the instrument cluster directly with the audio-visual display at the centre of the dashboard and is linked to the display integrated within the surface of the steering wheel itself.
The GUI is operated by artificial intelligence technologies, displaying useful information about the car various autonomous driving, powertrain and navigation features to create a unique user experience. The apex of the cockpit arc sees the GUI lunge forward towards the road, creating an interactive Star Cloud light display at the very front of the cabin.
There are a lot of ways car companies here in Malaysia have been rewarding their loyal customers. As a token of appreciation for their loyalty and support, Naza Kia Malaysia gifted 62 winners of the “Fuel Your Freedom, Discover Malaysia with Kia’ Contest with RM620 worth of petrol cards last weekend at Hilton Kuala Lumpur. (more…)
Following a 4,100-km drive through the world’s most developed electrified car markets, Kia Motors collected data that provides insights into the major trends for electrification in Europe. Referred to as the ‘Electric Mission’, the project was carried out in partnership with automotive research consultancy World Shopper.
The Electric Mission lasted 10 days, with a team of researchers visiting towns and cities across Northern Europe that are shaping the future of electric mobility. The team completed the journey in a Kia e-Niro all-electric crossover, passing through Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
During the road trip, World Shopper’s industry analysts met with more than a hundred decision-makers and stakeholders in the world of vehicle electrification, gathering data and first-hand insights for the Electric Mission report. The researchers also met with consumers, exploring attitudes towards electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, trends for electric vehicle adoption, and how they integrate electric vehicles into their daily lives.
The report suggests that consumers are still put off by the perception of high electric vehicle purchase costs, inadequate vehicle charging infrastructure, and long charging times. Crucially, the report also shows how drivers have successfully switched from petrol and diesel vehicles and incorporated electric vehicles into their lifestyle.
Home charger makes a difference
The report found that consumers can more easily make the transition from fossil fuels to electric power by installing a home charging point. Often subsidised, or offered with the purchase of the electric car, home chargers enable drivers to leave home every morning with a full battery – not a luxury enjoyed by drivers of conventional vehicles.
Owners of the e-Niro, for example, can set off every day with the maximum 455-km range when the battery pack is fully charged – a range significantly further than most drivers cover in a single day. The report found that the average single drive would only require around 4kW of the e-Niro’s 64 kWh battery capacity.
Adapting ‘refuelling’ habits
While the research from Kia and World Shopper highlighted a shift towards charging vehicles at home or at the office, many people have also fit electric vehicles into their lives by adapting their day-to-day charging habits. In Norway, for example, many drivers use vehicle recharging time to have something to eat, have a coffee, or catch up on their email.
The proliferation of fast chargers at service stops on major roads enables drivers to quickly recharge their vehicles sufficiently for a week of commuter driving in the space just 30 minutes. For example, charging a vehicle with a battery pack of 50kWh using a 175 kW fast charger, a driver can recover an 80% battery charge in between 15 and 30 minutes.
Sharing the experiences of others
Kia found during its research that one of the easiest ways for buyers of fossil fuel vehicles to overcome any concerns around electric vehicles was hearing about positive experiences of their friends and family. With vehicles such as the e-Niro making long-distance, zero-emissions transport possible, many drivers just need to hear about the added benefit of lower running costs, maintenance costs and lower vehicle taxes to be convinced. Word-of-mouth remains the number one reason why many people have switched to electric power in certain markets, and the longer driving range of the new generation of electric vehicles is now making them a truly viable choice for the majority of drivers.
