AN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (AAM) PUBLICATION
Vol 29#10 w July/Aug w PP 314/12/2010(025776) w www.aam.org.my
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Children fatalities and injuries in road
accidents in residential areas on the rise
AAM’S ROAD
SAFETY BLOG
‘HAVE YOUR SAY’
Check out the all-new Automobile
Association of Malaysia (AAM) road
safety blog!
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various road safety issues and post
your comments and opinions. Road
safety awareness is a communal effort
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2
AAM offices
AAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CHAIRMAN
Y.M. TUNKU DATUK MUDZAFFAR TUNKU MUSTAPHA
DKYR, PSD, PJK, HON. COMP. IMI-UK, TUNKU KECHIL
BESAR
VICE CHAIRMAN
WAN ZAHARUDDIN WAN AHMAD
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
l AHMED ISMAIL B. HAJI AMIN
l YUSOF BIN ABU OTHMAN
l LEONG CHOO KONG
l DR ABDUL MALIK BIN MD YUSOFF
HEAD OFFICE
Block E-7-4, Megan Avenue 1, 189 Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : (03)2162 5777 (GENERAL) Fax : (03)2162 5358
(03)2161 0808 (24-HOUR BREAKDOWN SERVICE)
MRU UNIT: (03) 2698 1932
E-mail : mru@aam.org.my
SUBSIDIARIES
l AAM Travel
Tel : (03)2163 5210 E-mail : travel@aam.org.my
l AAM Motorsports
Tel : (03)7710 9121 E-mail : motorsport@aam.org.my
While every care is taken in the compiling of this issue of the
Drive Magazine, the Automobile Association of Malaysia
assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from
errors and omissions. The opinions of the writers or contributors
are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of the AAM.
Editorial contributions are welcomed but must be accompanied
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Wan Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad
EDITOR: Harris Iskandar Taib
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MARKETING & PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT
l Vinod Kesavan
Marketing & Promotions Manager
PUBLISHER: The Automobile Association of Malaysia
Correspondence and enquiries, please send to:
The Automobile Association of Malaysia
Block E-7-4, Megan Avenue 1, 189 Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2162 5777 • Fax: 03-2162 5358
E-mail: mru@aam.or.my
by return postage. Such materials will be handled with reasonable
care. However, the Publisher cannot be HELD responsible for
the safety of artwork, photographs or manuscript. Publication of
an advertisement or a product write-up does not imply that the
service or product is recommended by the AAM, unless stated
so.
from the chairman
Road safety covers three very
important parameters: driver
safety, vehicle safety and
road infrastructure, with many
accidents occurring as a result
of a combination of more than
one of these three factors
Malaysia continues to work tirelessly to
reduce the increasingly alarming number of
road accidents, injuries and fatalities.
In gist, road safety covers three very
important parameters: driver safety,
vehicle safety and road infrastructure, with
many accidents occurring as a result of a
combination of more than one of these three
factors.
Driver safety relates to an individual’s
attitude, his ability to drive responsibly, his/
her level of experience and competency
behind the wheel of a vehicle to his/her
understanding and respect for the traffic
regulations and other road users. A large
degree of road accidents that occur relate
closely to the attitude of the driver, from
speeding, driving beyond one’s ability,
showing blatant disregard for the traffic
regulations to cases of driving under the
influence of alcohol, becoming distracted
or falling asleep at the wheel. Driver safety
also involves common sense. For example,
slippery roads, heavy rain or questionable
road conditions mean one should slow
down as opposed to tailgating the vehicle
in front or driving beyond the permitted
speed limit. Wearing and properly fastening
one’s helmet meanwhile, can also be the
difference between life and death.
Vehicle safety demands that as an
owner of a vehicle, one must be responsible
in ensuring that his/her vehicle remains in
road worthy condition at all times. This at
the end of the day, boils down to car owners
carrying out periodic maintenance which
is merely adhering to some elementary
monitoring of one’s vehicle and in being able
to recognize tell-tale signs that a problem
may be developing. While the proposal
for mandatory annual vehicle inspections
have been met with strong resistance
and opposition from the general motoring
public, it would be grossly dangerous and
irresponsible for motorists to put a vehicle
that is unworthy of being on the road for
safety reasons. Primary components
such as tyres, brakes, suspension parts
for example, must not be taken lightly as
these are critical towards safeguarding an
occupant’s safety and that of other road
users.
Road infrastructure meanwhile,
covers every aspect from road design and
engineering, the implementation of traffic
calming systems, the use of modern safety
barriers, to the removal of road hazards,
installation of signages and construction of
dedicated lanes for motorcyclists, cyclists
and pedestrians. The introduction of
dedicated motorcycle lanes and the proper
maintenance of such facilities for instance,
can help to greatly reduce the number
of casualties and fatalities on the road
involving motorcyclists.
As a caring motoring organization,
the Automobile Association of Malaysia
(AAM) remains committed to educating
motorists, ensuring that all segments of
road users understand the importance of
and embrace the highest degree of road
safety awareness. These efforts and those
undertaken by the various authorities and
agencies, as well as other corporate and
non-governmental organizations however,
will be rendered meaningless if motorists
themselves are unwilling to change in
favour of helping to make our roads safer
for everyone.
Y.M TUNKU DATUK MUDZAFFAR BIN
TUNKU MUSTAPHA
DKYR, PSD, PJK, HON.COMP.IMI-UK
TUNKU KECHIL BESAR.
3
4
AAM noticeboard
AAM-TOC COLLABORATION TO GIVE
THE MOTORSPORTS INDUSTRY A BOOST
The Automobile Association of Malaysia
(AAM) in June made an exploratory
visit to The Automotive College (TOC)
in Petaling Jaya to learn more about
the institution’s Diploma in Motorsports
programme to see how it can contribute
its expertise.
TOC is currently the only institution
of higher learning in the country to offer
such a programme in motorsports. The
visit was headed by AAM Chairman
Yang Mulia Tunku Mudzaffar Tunku
Mustapha and Vice Chairman Wan
Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad.
“The AAM has been invited to look
into the course with the possibility of
endorsing it. This is something we will
be considering after closely studying the
curriculum that is currently offered by
TOC,” said Tunku Mudzaffar.
“While these courses do not require
the endorsement of the AAM, as the
national governing body for motorsports
in Malaysia, the AAM would like to
contribute our experience and knowledge
in motorsports with the intention of
helping TOC fine-tune its programmes.
In congratulating TOC for
introducing such a specialized
programme, Tunku Mudzaffar said the
end result would be to produce graduates
who not only had the prospect of a
sound career in motorsports, but more
importantly, a pool of local talent who
will be able to contribute towards the
national agenda of building an economy
based on innovation, technology and
creativity.
“What the industry needs are
qualified people, people who are
knowledgeable, quick thinking and
competent – not theorist.
“While motorsports in Malaysia dates
back to more than 40 years, the industry
side of it is still very much in its infancy
stages. It is however, a rapidly growing
industry and if you look around, there
is enormous talent in the automotive
industry as a whole today. Workshops
today no longer offer purely servicing
and repair works, but many have evolved
into vehicle modifications, tuning and
upgrading.
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e-mail : autocentre@aam.org.my
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AAM noticeboard
5
AAM
helmet distribution
PROGRAMME
More than 20,000 adult and children
motorcycle helmets as well as bicycle
helmets have been distributed
nationwide since the Automobile
Association of Malaysia (AAM) embarked
on its campaign to reduce road accidents
and fatalities involving motorcyclists and
cyclists.
Of the 20,000 helmets distributed
over the last two years, 70% were given
to adults motorcyclists, 20% comprised
of child motorcycle helmets, while the
remaining 10% were in the form of
bicycle helmets. On average, the AAM
distributes approximately 500 helmets
at each of the 14 states it organizes the
campaign.
The campaign, organized in
cooperation/partnership with the
Department of Road Safety, Road
Transport Department, Royal Malaysian
Police, the Ministry of Education
and the Malaysian Institute of Road
Safety Research (MIROS), is aimed at
inculcating the importance of proper
helmet wearing in an effort to combat
road accidents and reduce fatalities on
two wheels.
“The campaign underlines the
importance of not only wearing a
helmet, but also fastening it properly,
which is something that is often taken
for granted, especially by the younger
generation of motorcyclists,” said AAM
Chairman Yang Mulia Tunku Mudzaffar
Tunku Mustapha.
“Motorcyclists make up for the
largest number of fatalities and road
accidents in the country and this is a
concern the AAM is working closely to
address with all the relevant authorities
and agencies.”
In ensuring that that the helmets
were distributed to and benefited the
right target audience, the AAM and
MIROS had jointly-identified areas
that were most prone to motorcycle and
bicycle accidents especially those that
had resulted in fatalities. Most cases
were pinpointed to rural areas.
In its most recent campaign,
the AAM distributed some 200
helmets to the orang asli
community in the district
of Tapah. Those presented
with helmets were
earlier put through
a three-month
motorcycle theory
and practical
programme
conducted by the
Road Transport Department
and funded by the Malaysian
Department of Aborigines
Affairs.
Approximately 60% of
traffic fatalities in Malaysia
involve motorcyclists and an
average of 17 motorcyclists and pillion
riders lose their lives on the road
everyday. Fatalities have also increased
by 3.9% to 6,527 cases in 2008, compared
with 6,282 fatalities in 2007 of which
motorcyclists and pillion riders made
up 80% of accidents, casualties and
fatalities. Meanwhile, research has also
revealed that only 25% of motorcycle
helmet dealers in the country were
selling helmets approved by the local
standards and industrial research
institute and this has also resulted in
sub-standard helmets being outlawed.
6
AAM noticeboard
AAM TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance policies or protection
is specially designed to address
emergencies, inconveniences and
untoward incidents that may occur
during one’s travel, and provides
extensive coverage from the moment an
individual leave for his vacation/travel/
holiday to the moment he/she returns
home.
Whether it is lost or misplaced
luggage, canceled, delayed or postponed
flights, medical emergencies, or other
unwanted inconveniences, a travel
insurance safeguards the policy holder –
be it an individual or a family – against
the unexpected during a journey.
Ensuring that our members travel
secured with the utmost peace of mind,
the Automobile Association of Malaysia
(AAM) offers a travel insurance scheme
that extends coverage to both individuals
as well as families.
The AAM Travel Insurance scheme
is applicable for short trips, extended
family holidays, single-journeys and even
available as an annual coverage allowing
for multiple trips.
The policy among extends the
following privileges and coverage:
MEDICAL BENEFITS
• Medical and accidental dental
expenses applicable for babies to the
age of 70
• Alternative medicine coverage
- Chinese medicine, Osteopath,
pysiotherapy and chiropractor
• Daily hospital income plan
• Double hospital income benefit for
those admitted into the intensive care
unit (ICU)
EVACUATION AND
REPATRIATION BENEFITS
• Emergency medical evacuation &
repartriation of mortal remains
• Compassionate visit (due to
hospitalisation of insured person or
person’s death)
• Reimbursement of economy travel
fare expenses to accompany the
insured person’s children
PERSONAL ACCIDENT BENEFITS
• Accidental death and permanenet
disablement
deposit and/or fares, travel delay,
travel reroute, travel overbooked,
travel misconnection, baggage delay,
baggage damage during air control
common travel carrier, damage or
loss of personal effects, loss of travel
documents, and loss of money.
• Child education fund – paid upon the
insured person’s accidental death
who has a dependent child up to the
age of 25
TRAVEL INCONVENIENCE
BENEFITS
• Reimbursement of irrecoverble travel
cancellation, travel curtailment,
travel postponement, lost of travel
OTHER TRAVEL RELATED
BENEFITS
• Covers the insured personal liability
• Credit card indemnity
• Home protection of household
contents loss or damage
• 24 Hours worldwide AIG Travel
Assistance of pre-trip service,
medical service, emergency medical
evacuation and repatriation services,
lost/stolen luggage service, legal
referral service and general service
AAM noticeboard
7
8
news
LEXUS LFA CHIEFT TEST DRIVER
KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION
Hiromu Naruse, chief test driver and one of the key engineers
behind the birth of the Lexus LFA sportscar was recently killed
in a head on collision in Germany.
Naruse was behind the wheel of the LFA Nurburgring
edition when the car reportedly veered into the oncoming lane
and crashed into two other test drivers driving a BMW. Also
killed was another Toyota test driver who was in the car with
him.
The 67-year-old was also the personal driver to Toyota
President Akio Toyoda, and an important figure in the
development of Toyota’s sporting cars which dates back to the
2000GT. He joined Toyota in 1963.
WOMEN GOING RACING IN PALESTINE
Motorsports is alive and well in
Palestine, news of eight Palestinian
women racing drivers competing in the
local series is certainly a breath of fresh
air and departure from the continuous
controversies experienced by this
embattled nation. Calling themselves
Speed Sisters, the eight have emerged
as icons to a certain degree, inspiring
others to break tradition by competing
in what is relatively a male-dominated
sport. Racing in Palestine is said to have
started five years ago and takes place
in the outskirts of Ramallah on dusty
makeshift tracks. The involvement
of women in the sport was the result
of some funding and special training
offered by the British Consulate in Arab
East Jerusalem.
news
ALL-NEW HYUNDAI SONATA
HONDA CONDUCTS DREAMS
FUND WORKSHOP TO
SHORTLIST NEW SCHOLARS
A number of activities were lined up for the 60 shortlisted candidates of the
Honda Dreams Fund (HDF) workshop which is took place from June 10-13, 2010.
The 4-day motivational and assessment workshop entitled “Dare to Dream” was
the platform to seek the final 20 youths to be awarded the HDF scholarship for
2010. The scholarship which is in its fourth year since it was first introduced in
April 2007, opened for applications in January 2010 and attracted a total of 1,700
applications. The Honda Dreams Fund has to date brought hope into the lives of
60 scholars, who have become an example and an inspiration to the people around
them, especially the youths in their villages and hometowns. Three of the HDF
scholars have since graduated.
9
The all-new Hyundai Sonata is now
available in Malaysia.
Offered as a 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre
four cylinder engine, the sleek and
sporty Sonata which inherits a strong
European design, comes with a 6-speed
SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission
with manual selection. The 2.4-litre is
rated with a maximum power of 175nhp
and a maximum torque of 227Nm while
the 2.0-litre variant weighs in at 164bhp
with 197Nm. The 2.0-litre standard
model is priced at RM135,888, the highspec model at RM143,888 while the 2.4litre high-spec model comes with a price
tag of RM163,888.
Available through Hyundai-Sime
Darby Motors (HSDM), the Sonata is
offered in five colours: white, silver,
black, blue and red.
SCRAP PRODUCES
FINNJET
The Finnjet, a car which had taken
more than 10 years to build from scrap
or discarded parts sourced from 40
different vehicles was recently put
on sale in eBay for US$950,000. The
diesel-powered vehicle, measuring 22
feet in length, weighs 7,500-pounds and
clocks a commendable fuel consumption
of 25 miles per gallon, is fitted with
a stove, microwave, freezer, TV, two
air-conditioning units and a sauna. The
Finnjet is based on two Mercedes-Benz
station wagons that have been welded
together to form a limousine. “I have
been driving this car to Canada every
summer from Florida. It is a very reliable
car,” said its designer and builder Antti
Rahko, from Florida “The reason I am
selling is that I am now over 70 years old
and a little sick. I am feeling that I can’t
keep up with these cars anymore. It has
been a lot of joy building this car and it
has a lot of memories for me. I collected
parts to this car from all over the world
for over 10 years.”
10
news
ROAD SAFETY FROM
AROUND THE WORLD
BUDGET ROAD SAFETY
ADVERTISEMENT A WORLDWIDE HIT
The emotional internet road safety
advertisement Embrace Life had cost
just £47,000 pound sterling to produce
yet has become a global YouTube hit
with more than 12 million viewers.
It was recently been awarded a Gold
World Medal at the New York Festival
International Advertising Awards.
The one-and-a-half minute film made
for Sussex Road Safety Partnership
was up against 120 glitzy commercials
in the Digital and Interactive category
including promotions for top brands like
VW, Nike and Chanel.
It is set to make a massive profit
from licensing deals with driving schools,
government organisations and road
safety bodies.
The United Nations plans to buy it
along with the US military service for
use in training recruits, and countries as
far as Argentina, Australia and Albania
want it for road safety campaigns.
“This really is a great honour. I’m
delighted that it has connected with so
many people around the world,” said
Bafta award-winning director Daniel Cox
after the awards were announced.
Producer Sarah Alexander said
she has been inundated with emails
from viewers saying that they now use
seatbelts on every trip.
“That makes it all worthwhile,” she
said.
The slow-motion sequence set to
poignant piano music shows a dad
miming what happens in a car accident
before his wife and daughter throw their
arms around him like a human seatbelt
to save his life.
CINEMAS
IN INDIA TO
SCREEN
ROAD
SAFETY
MESSAGES
The Union Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting
(I&B) has decided to make the
screening of road safety films
mandatory in all cinema halls in
the country.
Cinemas have been advised
to show road safety films before
screening commercial films. The
ministry has also asked cinemas
to display hoardings on road
safety rules, do’s and don’ts at
important locations, preferably
in government buildings, railway
stations, bus stations and
airports.
These efforts are in
conjunction with a national
road safety campaign by the
International Road Federation
(IRF) and the Indian Ministry
of Road Transport & Highways
to reduce road accidents in the
country.
As part of the campaign, two
special films of three minutes
each on road safety have also
been made depicting the dangers
of driving under the influence
of alcohol, and one that calls for
accident victims to be taken to
hospital by anyone without any
fear of police harassment.
news
DRIVERS MAYBE BLAMED
FOR ALL BIKE ACCIDENTS
In Scotland, motoring organizations have
expressed anger at plans to put the onus of
guilt on drivers who collide with cyclists.
They fear the presumption that the
fault lies with the motorist in the event of
an accident will put up insurance costs for
drivers.
The reaction came after the Scottish
Government said it would investigate
whether cyclists should be given greater
legal protection in the event of a road
accident in order to increase their safety.
Under proposals published yesterday
in the Government’s Cycling Action
Plan, roads authorities would also be
given greater freedom to issue traffic
orders without consulting communities
and prevent motorists from parking on
pavements in order to encourage children
to ride bikes.
The package of measures has
been designed to bring about a cycling
revolution over the next decade, upping
the proportion of bike journeys from 1% of
all trips made to 10% by 2020.
Though road safety is improving,
the number of cyclists killed or seriously
injured in road accidents has increased
from 132 five years ago to 156 last year
and is cited as a major factor in deterring
more people from taking up the bike.
Ian Aitken, chief executive of Cycling
Scotland, welcomed the proposals. He said:
“It seems to work well in lots of European
countries, and I think it would send out
a strong message about the importance
of active travel modes like cycling and
walking.
“The proposal is not suggesting a
‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ for cyclists, where
they become blameless in all accidents, it’s
about ensuring the least vulnerable road
users act with a duty of care towards the
most vulnerable.”
However, motoring groups were less
enthusiastic, claiming the change would
skew personal injury claims and increase
driving insurance.
Adrian Tink, motoring strategist at
the RAC, was also sceptical. “I do think
motorists need to be more aware of cyclists.
The difficulty with this is that it’s a shared
road, so there are shared responsibilities.
To make any party automatically liable is
unfair – there are good and bad drivers as
well as good and bad cyclists.”
11
ENERGY ABSORBING
ROAD SAFETY
BARRIERS BEING
DEVELOPED
A new generation of energy-absorbing
road barriers is being designed at
Queensland University of Technology
(QUT), with funding from the Australian
Research Council to reduce the fatal
impact of high-speed crashes.
This is aimed at replacing current
safety equipment and road barriers that
are deemed to be inefficient in lessening
the impact of road crashes as they are
too rigid to absorb a threshold level
of crash energy from vehicles and to
protect passengers and road users. Road
accidents claim some 1,600 lives a year
The new generation of high-energyabsorbing road safety barrier uses a
combination of composite materials to
provide better protection for all road
users. It will also be more efficient in
absorbing crashes from vehicles traveling
at speeds of between 60km/h to more
than 100km/h.
These barriers are destined to be
installed at high accident zones and
would save lives by reducing the severity
of accidents involving road barriers.
12
news
JAMAICAN ROAD ACCIDENTS COSTS BILLION
Jamaica’s health sector spends nearly
J$2 billion annually to treat traffic
injuries and although roads have
improved tremendously to allow for
faster and more comfortable travel across
the island, poor driving habits and skills,
were transforming the highways into
death traps.
Chairman of the Jamaica Automobile
Association (JAA), Earl Jarrett, appealed
to motorists to act more responsibly,
particularly when driving on high-speed
roadways.
Jarrett emphasized that the high
incidence of road fatalities was causing
the country to lose vital intellectual and
economic resources.
During the past ten years, Jamaica
constructed two highways — Highway
2000, stretching from Kingston to
Clarendon; and the North Coast
Highway, which speeds up travel from
Negril to Portland. Both have seen
multiple tragic crashes.
“Road traffic injury is a major health
problem,” Jarrett remarked.
“It costs the health sector nearly
$2 billion annually to treat injuries
resulting from crashes, with lower and
middle income countries worldwide
paying out about US$65 billion.”
Although road fatalities have fallen
approximately 30 per cent so far this
year when compared to the same period
in 2009, the incidence remains too high
for comfort, and traffic collisions are
second only to murder, as the leading
cause of violent and sudden deaths in
Jamaica.
LIFE SENTENCE JAIL TERM PROPOSED
FOR STREET RACERS IN AUSTRALIA
Life in prison is being proposed in
South Australia under a legislation to
make street racing a criminal act.
If this new legislation goes through,
street racers could face a maximum
penalty of up to three years’ jail or a oneyear loss of licence for a first conviction.
Road Safety Minister Jack Snelling
said offenders will be treated like serious
criminals.
“Of all the deaths that occur on our
roads, those that occur from street racing
are the most inexcusable,” he said.
“People that engage in this behaviour
are a public menace and deserve to be
treated as the criminals that they are.”
“I look forward to bipartisan support
in the speedy passage of this legislation.”
Snelling hopes the push will help
teach drivers about their responsibilities.
“Idiots will always be idiots and for
some people it doesn’t matter what the
penalties are they will still engage in this
behaviour,” he said.
“But I do hope that the changes to the
laws will have an educative effect.”
news
13
STEERING CLAMPS FOR
DANGEROUS DRIVERS
Tasmanian police in Australia say the introduction of steering wheel clamps have been
successful in ridding dangerous drivers off the State’s roads.
Police have clamped or confiscated more than 430 cars since a legislation came into
force six months ago. The legislation empowers the police to clamp or confiscate cars
driven by reckless or disqualified drivers, or by people trying to escape police. Most cars
were confiscated from the 15 to 19 year age group.
Since then, 104 cars have been clamped and 21 confiscated when the drivers were
caught hooning. Another 83 cars have been clamped and 22 confiscated because people
were driving while disqualified. The southern district recorded the most incidents with
almost 170 cases of either clamping or confiscation.
“There is a greater deterrent factor because if you haven’t got the vehicle you can’t
continue on your dangerous and irresponsible behaviour,” said acting Police Commissioner
Darren Hine .
YOUNG DRIVER WHO STOPPED FOR
DUCKS KILLS TWO MOTORCYCLISTS
A Canadian driver in her early 20s
faces two charges of criminal negligence
causing death after she came to a
complete stop on the left lane of a
highway to allow a family of ducks to
cross, causing a collision that killed a
teenaged girl and her father.
Andre Roy, 50, and his 16-yearold daughter, Jessie, were riding a
motorcycle on the highway when they
slammed into the car that stopped ahead
of them.
Roy was killed on impact, while his
daughter, who was pinned beneath the
car, later died in hospital. Roy’s wife,
Pauline Volikakis, who was riding a
second motorcycle, also collided with the
vehicle and suffered serious injuries.
“On the highway, you are not
supposed to stop a car. You have no
place for that. If you have to stop to
make an emergency stop you have to
do it in the right lane,” said Surete du
Quebec Sgt. Ronald McKinnis.
McKinnis said police are
investigating to determine if the
motorcyclists were simply unable to
swerve past the parked car on the right,
or if they were traveling too close and
unable to stop in time.
WOMAN CRASHES
CAR INTO CANAL
AFTER SEEING A
VAMPIRE
A woman from the State of Colorado in
the United States who crashed her car
into a canal blamed a vampire for the
accident.
The woman was driving on a dirt
road about 11pm when she said she
spotted a vampire in the middle of the
road and put her car in reverse.
Police and State troopers who arrived
at the scene of the accident found the
woman’s car in the canal but could not
find the vampire.
14
news
ELDERLY DRIVERS IN CANADA COME
UNDER SCRUTINY
Elderly drivers in Canada are coming
under close scrutiny with pressure
groups even calling for the introduction
of a retirement age for driving in an
effort to reduce road accidents involving
driving senior citizens.
According to the Canadian Study
on Health and Aging, 70 per cent of
people age 85 and older have a cognitive
impairment or dementia.
A person’s crash rate, per kilometre
travelled, starts to increase at the age
of 65. By the time someone turns 75 or
80 years old, their crash rate equals or
surpasses that of teenage drivers.
As well, drivers with cognitive
impairments — caused by a head injury,
stroke or dementia, for example — might
lack the insight to take corrective action
even after they have a collision caused by
that impairment.
“The reality is we are outliving our
driving ability — statistically from six
to 10 years,” said David Dunne, director
of road safety operations for the B.C.
Automobile Association Traffic Safety
Foundation.
“Before, we died early and drove until
we dropped. Now we’re living longer but
our functional abilities decline.”
The worry therefore, is not the
age of elderly drivers, but the medical
conditions that typically accompany old
age and can interfere with safe driving.
More than 480 Canadian seniors
died and more than 16,000 were injured
in motor vehicle collisions in 2005,
according to Transport Canada. Elderly
people in a car crash are also 3.5 times
more likely than younger drivers to die
or suffer protracted injuries because of
their age-related fragility. By 2036, the
number of senior citizens in Canada are
expected to more than double from 2009.
In Canada, there is no standard
approach to testing seniors for driving
fitness. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick there is no age at
which an older driver must be re-tested
or have a medical exam for driving. In
the Yukon, the age requirement for a
medical exam starts at age 70 and in
Alberta, Quebec, Nunavut, Northwest
Territories, and Newfoundland and
Labrador, it starts at age 75. In Ontario
and B.C., an 80-year-old driver must
submit to a medical fitness exam.
Similar to planning for job
retirement, doctors, health-care
authorities, charities and community
groups have also voiced their opinion
that there should also be a plan for
drivers to retire. The thought of not
being able to drive however, may be
simply too traumatic.
“People have said they would prefer
to get a diagnosis of cancer than to be
told they couldn’t drive anymore,” Dunne
said.
“How crazy is that? The perception
of some people is, ‘Cancer can be beaten,
but if I can’t drive anymore, and there’s
no alternative, you might as well kill me
now.”
news
central system for
MOTOR INSURANCE NO
CLAIM DISCOUNT (NCD)
All motor insurance and takaful
companies in Malaysia have integrated
their systems with the ISM No Claim
Discount (NCD) system for reference of
eligible NCD for their motor insurance.
The integration of the various point-ofsales systems (PoS) will result in better
service for consumers and better control
for insurance and takaful companies.
The integration includes all
companies and Malaysian Motor
Insurance Pool (MMIP) and involves all
distribution channels such as counter,
agency, car dealers and POS Malaysia.
The integration will benefit both
consumers and insurers in the RM6
billion motor insurance business
in Malaysia. With the new system,
consumers no longer need to show
proof of their NCD when buying motor
insurance as all systems are linked to the
central database and will automatically
provide the eligible NCD to the consumer
based on the effective date of the new
policy.
To ensure better transparency
consumers may verify their NCD
online at www.carprices.com.
my (free) or via SMS by sending
ISMNCD<space><VEHICLE
NUMBER><space><IC Number> to
36600 (RM2.00).
Mr. Carl Rajendram, Chief Executive
Officer of ISM “advised consumers to
check their NCD via the ISM system
and inform their insurer to update the
system if there are any discrepancies in
their information or NCD”. “A complete
list of insurers and takaful company
customer contact numbers are also
available via the ISM website”, added
Rajendram.
NCD FOR PRIVATE CARS
1 year / 12 months without any claims
2 years / 24 months without any claims
3 years / 36 months without any claims
4 years / 48 months without any claims
5 years / 60 months or more without any claims
25% Discount
30% Discount
38.3% Discount
45% Discount
55% Discount
NCD FOR MOTORCYCLES / COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
1 year / 12 months without any claims
2 years / 24 months without any claims
3 years / 36 months or more without any claims
15% Discount
20% Discount
25% Discount
15
16
greener motoring
HIGH-VOLTAGE SLS BY
MERCEDES-BENZ
Mercedes-AMG is accepting the
challenges of motoring of the future:
the SLS AMG E-CELL is evidence of
the state-of-the-art development of an
exciting super sports car featuring a
zero-emission high-tech drive. Boasting
a power output of 392 kW and 880 Nm of
torque, the technology vehicle from AMG
is able to offer exceptional performance.
The gullwing with electric drive is part
of the company’s AMG Performance
2015 strategy which aims to continually
reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Finished in fluorescent “AMG
lumilectric magno” paint, the SLS AMG
E-CELL gullwing offers the prospect of a
possible small series production run and
at the same time reflects the innovative
strength and development competence of
the AMG performance brand.
“We take social responsibility very
seriously and with the SLS AMG
E-CELL we are demonstrating a further
milestone in our AMG Performance 2015
strategy. It is our goal to continually
reduce the fuel consumption and
emissions of new models in the coming
years, while at the same time
enhancing the core brand
value of performance”,
explained Ola
Källenius, chairman
of the board of MercedesAMG GmbH.
The ground-breaking drive system
of the technology vehicle boasts some
outstanding features: powerful
traction is provided by four synchronous
electric motors with a combined peak
output of 392 kW and a maximum
torque of 880 Nm. The four
compact electric motors each achieve
a maximum rpm of 12,000/rpm and
are positioned near to the wheels. As a
result, compared with wheel-hub motors
the unsprung masses are substantially
reduced. One transmission per axle
transmits the power.
When it comes to dynamics, the
electric-powered SLS AMG makes a
statement - it accelerates from 0-100
km/h in four seconds which almost puts
it on the same high level as the SLS
AMG with 6.3-litre V8 engine developing
420 kW (571 hp), which can accelerate to
100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Further exciting touches are provided
courtesy of the agile accelerator response
and the straight-line performance: unlike
the combustion engine, torque build-up
with an electric motor is instantaneous
– maximum torque is available virtually
from a standstill. The spontaneous
torque build-up and confident power
delivery - which does not suffer from
any interruption of tractive power are combined with engine running
characteristics which are
totally free of vibration.
Four motors, four
wheels: the
intelligent and permanent all-wheel
drive of the electric SLS guarantees
driving dynamics at the highest level,
while at the same time providing the
best possible active safety.
The SLS AMG E-CELL drive
incorporates a liquid-cooled highvoltage lithium-ion battery featuring a
modular design with an energy content
of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah.
The maximum electric load potential
of the battery, which consists of 324
lithium-ion polymer cells, is 480 kW,
which is an absolute best value in the
automotive sector. Another technical
feature of this considerable performance
is the intelligent parallel circuit of the
individual battery modules – this also
helps to maximise the safety, reliability
and service life of the battery. The
400-volt battery is charged by means of
targeted recuperation during braking
whilst the car is being driven.
A high-performance electronic control
system meanwhile, converts the direct
current
from the high-
greener motoring
voltage battery into three-phase
alternating current which is
required for the synchronous
motors and regulates the energy
flow for all operating conditions.
Two low-temperature cooling
circuits ensure that the four
electric motors and the power
electronics are maintained at
an even operating temperature.
A separate low-temperature
circuit is responsible for cooling
the high-voltage lithiumion battery. In low external
temperatures, the battery is
quickly brought up to operating
temperature with the aid of an
electric heating element.
The purely electric drive system
was factored into the equation as early
as the concept phase and it is ideally
packaged for the integration of the highperformance, zero-emission technology.
The four electric motors and the two
transmissions can be positioned as
close to the four wheels as possible and
very low down in the vehicle. The same
applies to the modular high-current
battery, whose modules are located
in front of the firewall, in the centre
tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages
of this solution include the vehicle’s
low centre of gravity and balanced
weight distribution – ideal conditions
for optimum handling, which the
electrically-powered SLS AMG shares
with its petrol-driven sister model.
The installation of the drive
components required no changes
whatsoever to the gullwing model’s
weight-optimised aluminium
spaceframe. And there were just as few
constraints when it came to maintaining
the excellent level of passive safety and
high degree of long-distance comfort that
are hallmarks of Mercedes cars.
The additional front-wheel drive
called for a newly designed front axle:
unlike the series production vehicle with
AMG V8 engine, which has a double
wishbone axle, the SLS AMG E-CELL
features an independent multilink
suspension with pushrod damper struts.
This is because the vertically-arranged
damper struts in the series SLS had
to make way for the additional drive
shafts. As is usual in a wide variety of
racing vehicles, horizontal damper struts
are now used, which are operated via
separate push rods and transfer levers.
The vehicle is also aided with AMG
ceramic composite brakes, available
as an optional extra for the series
production model, which boast extremely
short stopping distances, a precise
actuation point and outstanding fade
resistance, even in extreme operating
conditions. The over-sized discs –
measuring 402 x 39mm at the front
and 360 x 32mm at the rear are made
of carbon fibre-strengthened ceramic,
feature an integral design all round and
are connected to an aluminium bowl in
a radially floating arrangement. The
ceramic brake discs are 40% lighter
in weight than the conventional, grey
cast iron brake discs. The reduction in
unsprung masses also not only improves
handling dynamics and agility, but also
ride comfort and tyre grip.
In terms of exterior design, the
vehicle features dynamically shaped fullLED headlamps with integrated daytime
driving lights that immediately catch
the eye and have been designed to help
optimise the vehicle’s energy efficiency,
since they require less power compared
with regular bi-xenon light systems.
The wider radiator grille also has a
new look, and now comes with transverse
slats instead of a diamond-pattern grille.
The air outlet openings on the bonnet
and the vehicle sides have also been
modified for enhanced aerodynamics.
All trim and detachable parts, which are
finished in chrome or silver shadow on
the standard SLS AMG, are now finished
in matt black.
The front apron has not only been
brought further forward, but also helps
to guarantee an optimised airflow in the
area of the underbody.
An extendable front splitter enhances
this effect: in parallel with the automatic
17
rear spoiler, extending downwards
by seven centimetres at speeds above
120km/h and helps to further accelerate
the air which travels beneath the car.
The vehicle’s AMG 10-spoke light-alloy
wheels featuring a new, smooth-surfaced
design are fitted with 265/35 R 19 (front)
and 295/30 R 20 (rear) tyres.
On the interior, the transformation
from petrol to electric super sports car
called for some specific changes and as a
result, the AMG instrument cluster and
centre console in particular both feature
a new design. The new AMG instrument
cluster provides information on speed,
charge status of the battery and the
estimated range. The newly designed
centre console also houses a 25cm
touchscreen, which driver and passenger
can use to conveniently operate all of the
audio, climate and navigation functions,
and also obtain information on the flow
of power from the four electric motors.
The AMG Drive Unit, which is angled
towards the driver, houses buttons
for starting the motor, and the ESP
functions, the AMG memory function
and the extendable front splitter and
rear spoiler. Using three new buttons,
the driver can switch simply between P,
R and D. The park setting is also enabled
automatically by switching the electric
motors off.
18
greener motoring
DRIVING A GREENER INITIATIVE
- MOTORING ORGANISATIONS
WORLDWIDE COME TOGETHER
TO PROMOTE MOBILITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY
The ’50 by 50’ Global Fuel Economy
Initiative (GFEI) is gaining momentum
with representatives of motoring clubs
from across the world in June gathering
in Italy to discuss issues of mobility and
sustainability and how it might affect
their 100 million members.
After an introduction to the Global
Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) and
the 50by50 fuel economy campaign, the
delegates heard a range of presentations
from clubs which are working in
partnership with the FIA Foundation
and others to promote sustainable
mobility in their countries. The theme
of the session was ‘learning from each
other’, with the emphasis on the practical
ways in which Clubs can promote fuel
economy and sustainability to their
members and more widely.
The initiative, led by the FIA
Foundation together with three
major international agencies the UN
Environment Programme (UNEP),
International Energy Agency (IEA),
International Transport Forum (ITF),
has launched a roadmap towards greater
global fuel economy that would halve
greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
In a report, the GFEI revealed how
annual savings of six billion barrels of oil
and 2 gigatonnes of CO2 – equivalent to
half the total current annual emissions
of the EU - are achievable through an
ambitious world wide programme. It
went on to state a path to a reduction in
fuel consumption per kilometre of 50%
by 2050 – with intermediate goals in
2020 and 2030 - in line with suggestions
made by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC). As the
worldwide car fleet is set to triple by
2050 – 80& of this growth of which will
take place in developing economies
- it would have serious implications
in addressing climate change unless
reducing transport emissions and
improving fuel economy becomes an
urgent global priority. A move across
the global fleet towards far better fuel
economy could also potentially save over
6 billion barrels of oil per year by 2050
“We have to find ways to reconcile
legitimate aspirations for mobility,
an ambitious reduction in CO2 from
cars worldwide, and global economic
recovery. In confronting the economic
recession this is a real opportunity for
governments to combine support for the
auto industry with measures to achieve
environmental and energy policy goals.
The faster we can move on this, the more
benefits will accrue,” said Nobuo Tanaka,
Executive Director of the IEA.
David Ward the Director General of
the FIA Foundation meanwhile, said the
initiative can have a huge impact on the
motoring public.
“Through tax incentives and
information campaigns it would help
encourage consumer demand for more
fuel efficient cars. This is not an agenda
for some point far off in the future. Our
50% fuel efficiency target requires us
to change direction and take important
actions right now.”
With the vehicle industry now
shifting its attention to providing the
alternative of cleaner and more efficient
cars, the GFEI’s agenda in moving
forward the cause will focus on costeffective technologies such as better
engines and drive trains, more efficient
components such as tyres, and lighter
materials.
Among the numerous objectives
lined up include political engagements
with regional groupings and individual
countries, starting pilot projects in
different regions of the world to support
countries with the development of
national fuel economy policies, and
engaging policy makers at the G8 and
United Nations.
greener motoring
19
electric megacity
BMW recently unveiled to the media the
first image of its concept electric vehicle
dubbed the Megacity Vehicle (MCV
scheduled to be launched as early as 2013.
The planned four-seater is to feature an
all carbon-fibre structural and body parts
which will reportedly half the weight of
steel equivalents, and is 30% lighter than if
it were to be constructed from aluminium.
“The Megacity Vehicle is a revolutionary
automobile. It will be the world’s first
volume-produced vehicle with a passenger
cell made from carbon,” said Klaus Draeger,
Member of BMW’s Board of Management
for Development.
“Our LifeDrive architecture is helping
us to open a new chapter in automotive
lightweight design. Indeed, this concept
allows us to practically offset the extra
250kg to 350kg of weight typically found in
electrically powered vehicles.”
The electrification of a vehicle is said to
require new concepts in vehicle architecture
and body construction in order to exploit
the potential of the new emission-free
drive system to optimum effect. With the
revolutionary LifeDrive concept, the BMW
Group engineers are developing the car’s
architecture from scratch and adapting it
to the demands and conditions of future
mobility. The goal: to offset the additional
weight of an electric vehicle and instead
focus on the use of innovative high-tech
material such as carbon fibre reinforced
plastic (CFRP).
The LifeDrive concept consists of
two horizontally separated, independent
modules. The Drive module integrates the
battery, drive system and structural and
crash functions into a single construction
within the chassis.
Its partner, the Life module, consists
primarily of a high-strength and extremely
lightweight passenger cell made from
CFRP. Furthermore, the new vehicle
architecture opens the door to totally
new production processes which are both
simpler and more flexible, and use less
energy.
The BMW Group is also aiming to be
the force behind the best drive systems
over the years ahead – systems boasting
outstanding efficiency, performance and
smoothness, even if it is electricity rather
than fossil fuels that are converted into
propulsion. To this end, the BMW Group
is vigorously driving forward the technical
development of electric powertrains.
“The drive system remains the
heartbeat of a car, and that also applies to
electric vehicles,” said Draeger.
“Powertrains also remain a core area
of expertise of Bayerische Motoren Werke.
Electromobility and the hallmark BMW
driving pleasure make an excellent match,
if you go about things the right way.
For this reason we are developing the
powertrain for the Megacity Vehicle inhouse – that includes the electric motor, the
power electronics and the battery system.”
The BMW Group’s centre of expertise
for electric drive systems brings
together development, manufacturing
and procurement specialists under one
roof. All their efforts are focused on the
implementation and typically BMW
interpretation of the new generation of
drive systems.
Ultimately, electric vehicles not only
provide a zero-local-emission and low-noise
form of propulsion; their ability to deliver
a totally new and extremely agile driving
experience is also impressive.
The Megacity will ultimately be built at
Leipzig, joining the X1 and 1 Series but on a
new, dedicated production line.
20
road safety
Black may be elegant but
worldwide studies have
revealed that black cars are
the most often involved in
crashes.
In coming to this
conclusion, a Swedish
study also reported
that pink cars are
involved in the
fewest accidents.
In New Zealand
meanwhile, a
study found
that there was
a significantly
lower rate of
serious injury in
silver coloured
cars; with road
accidents more
often identified
with darker
colours that
include brown,
black, and
green cars.
personalty and crashes
The two-year study based on crash data
conducted by a team of New Zealand
epidemiologists concluded that Brown
vehicles were 110% more likely to be
involved in an injury accident than white
cars. Black was almost equally bad at
100% more likely and green cars were
80% more likely.
The results of the study pointed out
that occupants of silver cars were less
likely to be involved in injury accidents
than those riding in cars of another
colour.
In another Vehicle Colour Study
conducted by Monash University
Accident Research Centre (MUARC)
and published in 2007, it was found that
in daylight, black cars were 12% more
likely than white to be involved in an
accident, followed by grey cars at 11%,
silver cars at 10%, and red and blue cars
at 7%, with no other colours found to
be significantly more or less risky than
white. The university had analysed
855,258 accidents occurring between
1987 and 2004 in the Australian states of
Victoria and Western Australia.
At dawn or dusk the risk ratio for
black cars jumped to 47% more likely
than white, and that for silver cars
to 15%. In the hours of darkness only
red and silver cars were found to be
significantly more risky than white, by
10% and 8% respectively.
Similarly, many studies have also
been carried out worldwide to ascertain
the relationship between a car and the
personality of the owner of the car.
Drivers of black cars have been
revealed to be more aggressive and often
even dangerous drivers while silver car
owners are synonymous with calm and
cool persons and are less involved in
accidents. Red meanwhile, is the color of
romance, vitality and high energy and
therefore red car owners also tend to be
faster drivers and known for taking more
risks. Blue car drivers on the other hand,
road safety
21
to receive speeding tickets than cars of
other colors. The study has looked into
speeding tickets issued over a 22-month
period in suburban areas.
According to a World-Wide Auto
Colour Survey by DuPont, a global major
automotive paint supplier, white is the
most popular colour in North America.
It has been the favorite in the United
States for years, but its lead over black is
steadily shrinking. In 2003 for example,
31% of vehicles were white, but this has
declined to 17.8% in 2009. Black, silver,
and grey trailed white in North America,
but not by much.
Statistics averaged for the rest of the
world however, put silver clearly in the
lead, followed by black, white, and gray.
Blue and red were rated the fifth and
sixth most preferred colours respectively
in the United States and across the
world, while brown, green, and yellow/
gold came in seventh, eighth and ninth
respectively. As a matter of interest,
green is Russia’s second most popular
automotive colour while red is India’s
third most favorite colour.
are said to have calmer personalities and
are therefore quiet and more cautious
drivers. Yellow is often reserved for
the more joyful and young at heart
drivers.
A market research survey of
nearly 2,000 Americans about
their car colors — and their moods,
results indicated that those who
drove conservatively colored vehicles
in shades such as silver are the most
even-tempered. Those who drove
bright red, orange or yellow vehicles
meanwhile, tend to be the most extreme
in mood swings. These findings were also
consistent with psychological studies
that single out red as being associated
with movement and excitement and
therefore people surrounded by red often
find their heart beating a little faster.
In a study by the University of
Missouri Psychology Department in
the United States, the frequencies of
speeding tickets by car colour were also
compared with the frequencies of cars on
the road by colors. It was found, that red,
grey, and brown cars were more likely
22
road safety
PROPER
WEARING OF
A SEATBELT
ensures safety for
pregnant women
and their foetuses
If you are pregnant, the safest place
to sit is in the left and right rear
seat of a vehicle, although expecting
mothers are reminded that they too are
not exempted from having to wear a
seatbelt.
It is also perfectly safe to be driving
or seated in the front passenger seat
provided pregnant women buckled
up properly. Pregnant women are
not recommended/advised to sit in
the middle of the rear seats which is
normally not fitted with a three-point
seatbelt in most vehicles and instead
substituted with just a lap belt as
fatality risks of pregnant women
and their foetus is higher when
using lap belts.
In a review on Safety of
Pregnant Occupant Travelling
With or Without
Restraint in a Passenger
Vehicle conducted by the
Malaysian Institute of Road
Safety Research (MIROS), it
was concluded that pregnant
women who correctly use the
three-point seatbelt at anytime
in the vehicle while driving,
occupying the front seat or even the
rear seat, would not be endangering
their unborn child.
In fact, there is currently no
scientific evidence worldwide to support
the fear that pregnant women who
travel in a vehicle wearing seatbelts
risked endangering their unborn babies.
“Most women misleadingly believe
road safety
23
and fear that seatbelts would apply
excessive pressure against the abdomen
during car collision that may injure the
foetus or even causes a miscarriage.
Nevertheless, there is no scientific
evidence to support this,” said MIROS
Director-General Professor Dr Ahmad
Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
“Due to concerns that the seatbelt
strap might injure their baby, some
pregnant women choose to protect the
unborn child by not wearing a seatbelt.
On the contrary, the proper use of a
interviewed said they wore a seatbelt
every time they were on the road.
However, many felt the need to adjust
their seatbelt while driving so that the
seatbelt strap restrained their body
comfortably.
Some women interviewed even
complained about feeling the pressure
of the strap and that they felt
uncomfortable in the last trimester in
which the baby tends to move more often.
This led some to use a seatbelt strap
stopper for more comfort. This however,
can reduce the effectiveness of a seatbelt
pre-tensioner for vehicles equipped with
International findings also suggest
that a seatbelt worn improperly across a
pregnant woman’s abdomen, can cause
placental abruption (when the placenta
separates from the uterus and disrupts
the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the
foetus) and cause other internal injuries
to the chest, abdomen and uterus in the
event of a crash.
And while there is currently no
regulation requiring a car to be fitted
with a three-point seatbelt for the
middle rear seat in Malaysia, the United
Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) Regulation No 161 will
soon make it compulsory for the rear seat
seatbelt potentially lowers the risks
for pregnant women and their unborn
child. It is therefore recommended
that pregnant women use the seatbelt
whenever they are in a car, while driving
or occupying the front seat or even the
rear seat.”
Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan
said many international researchers
concluded that injuries suffered by
pregnant women or their foetuses were
the result of them not being buckled
up in the event of crash. Research
worldwide has shown that unbelted
pregnant women were 2.8 times more
likely to be exposed to a foetal death, 1.3
times more likely to experience low birth
weight infants and twice as likely to
experience excessive maternal bleeding.
In the survey undertaken by MIROS,
most pregnant Malaysian women
airbags and may cause serious injury in
the event of a crash.
In one international study, it was
revealed that after the sixth month
of pregnancy, the uterus lies below
the position of the steering wheel of
a vehicle. Unbelted pregnant drivers
involved in frontal crashes during their
last trimester will experience direct
loading to the uterus by the steering
wheel. The foetus can also be injured
when an unbelted pregnant woman
makes contact with the dashboard (in the
event she is a front seat passenger) or if
the abdomen was directly and abruptly
hit by the vehicle’s airbags.
“The primary way to protect the
foetus is to protect the mother, and the
best way to protect the mother in car
crashes or to minimize injury is by using
the seatbelt.”
of vehicles to be equipped with threepoint a seatbelt.
The proper use of the three-point
seatbelt by pregnant women is as follows:
1. Wearing the seatbelt (both the lap
portion and shoulder strap seatbelt)
whenever in the car
2. Place the diagonal strap between
breasts, moving the strap around the
side of the abdomen
3. Make sure the lap portion of the
seatbelt strap sits comfortably under
the abdomen
4. Make sure there is a significant gap
between the mother’s abdomen and
steering wheel
5. Sit as far away from the front airbags
as you can; move the seat backward
as much as possible. For drivers
make sure there is still sufficient
reach to the foot pedals.
24
road safety
BMW PIONEERS SYSTEMS
FOR SAFE AND FREEFLOWING ROAD
TRAFFIC
BMW in collaboration with 28 partners
from the automotive industry – ranging
from electronics, telecommunications
and software companies to research
institutes and highways and transport
authorities – have come together in a
German research initiative known as
Aktiv that will pioneer systems for same
and free-flowing road traffic.
Aktiv stands for “Adaptive und
Kooperative Technologien für den
Intelligenten Verkehr” (Adaptive and
Cooperative Technologies for Intelligent
Traffic).
With the aim of making traffic of the
future safer and smoother-flowing, the
partners involved have initiated 15 subprojects to develop new driver assistance
systems as well as solutions for efficient
traffic management and appropriate
Car2x communications.
With the Active Safety project, the
experts from BMW Forschung und
Technik GmbH have made an important
contribution to improving road traffic
safety. In addition, specialists from
the BMW Group brought to the Traffic
Management project their insights
about smooth traffic flow and developed
innovative navigation functions. Also,
in dialogue with industry specialists,
they established the basis for acceptance
and implementation of the road traffic
technologies and applications.
One of the initiatives focuses on the
active safety elements of a vehicle which
is essentially the best protection a car
designer can give the driver on the road
against accidents.
“From official statistics and from our
own analyses of accident databases in
the project, we know that many accidents
are attributable to a driver reacting
inadequately, too late or not at all,” said
Dr Peter Zahn, Project Manager with
BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH in
the Aktiv research initiative.
“Every tenth of a second’s reaction
time gained makes a crucial contribution
to accident avoidance if a vehicle thinks
for itself with lightning speed in critical
situations and can itself react during a
momentary lapse of attention on the part
of the driver.”
The fundamental challenge,
therefore, he added, was to intervene as
soon as an unexpected accident threatens
in order to safeguard the driver, without
at the same time “nannying” him in
his attentive, independent conduct at
the wheel. This is why, in the Active
Safety project, the specialists from BMW
Forschung und Technik GmbH have
developed an assistance system called
Active Hazard Braking.
Active Hazard Braking goes beyond
limiting the consequences of a collision,
which existing emergency braking
systems are chiefly designed to do. Its
aim is, as far as possible, to eliminate
nose-to-tail impacts altogether. To
achieve this, laser scanners on the
vehicle monitor the road situation ahead
and to the side, while radar sensors
provide surveillance of the area to the
rear. In addition, the driver’s behaviour
in a particular situation is evaluated.
“If the sensors recognises the threat
of a collision, the driver is appropriately
alerted to the situation and, if necessary,
the brakes are applied fully to avoid an
accident,” explained Philipp Reinisch of
BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH.
Another important area of focus for
the BMW Group’s research subsidiary is
Car2x communications, the name given
to the exchange of data between one
road safety
vehicle and another or between a vehicle
and the traffic infrastructure. The focus
here extends beyond cars, and within
the framework of BMW Motorrad’s
ConnectedRide strategy also brings
motorcycles into the communication
network. The data from other road users
captured via the Car2x communication
system provides a basis for a driver
assistance system developed in the
Intersection Assistance subproject.
If this assistance system discovers
that the motorist giving way is probably
misjudging his approach, the system
warns him of a potential collision
through a visual and audible signal.
During the response time, the system
also activates approximately 30% of the
maximum braking force for one second
– a palpable indication to the driver to
apply the brakes himself. In parallel
with this, a motorcycle with right of way
deliberately attracts attention to itself:
full beam headlights, additional LED
side warning lights and the hazard lights
are activated to broaden its silhouette. In
the case of acute danger of collision the
motorcycle’s horn also sounds.
Meanwhile, under the label
Adaptive Navigation, the BMW Group
demonstrates a development aimed
at bringing together different sources
of information. Today, the market
already has various providers of traffic
information who are opening up evernew sources of traffic data. Examples of
these are loop data, Floating Car Data,
Extended Floating Car Data, mobile
phone data and historic traffic load
curves.
In the Aktiv project, the BMW
Group has developed a fusion logic
which combines the various information
sources and allows them to be used by
the customer through routing. In this
way, as soon as the customer starts his
journey, he is presented with a precise
picture of what he can expect while
driving and when he will reach his
destination under typical conditions,
but also in the best or least favourable
circumstances.
“The future will bring us a wealth of
new information sources. In particular,
aggregators like Google and the virtual
communities of Facebook, Twitter or
MySpace will exploit their strengths to
flood the market with information offers,
some of them free of charge.
“But in all of this, one thing will
tend to be generally overlooked: the
customer’s desire for reliable, highgrade information. The challenge lies
in creating a unique body of high-grade
information from diverse data sources,
25
each with a small but known value,”
explained BMW’s Dr Irina Matschke.
Meanwhile, in the Cooperative
Cars project, specialists have been
investigating the extent to which mobile
phone technologies such as UMTS
are suitable for the targeted realtime exchange of data between traffic
management and driver assistance
systems. BMW Forschung und Technik
GmbH is researching the performance
of these mobile phone technologies in a
test vehicle as well as in simulation, and
assessing how far they can be used in
cooperative assistance functions such as
Intersection Assistance.
Other sub-projects within the Active
Safety project are the development
of Integrated Lateral Assistance,
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety and the
crossover project Driver Awareness and
Safety.
The following companies and
organisations played an active part in
the Aktiv research initiative: Allianz,
Audi, BMW Forschung und Technik
GmbH, BMW Group, Bosch, Germany’s
Federal Highway Research Institute,
Continental, DaimlerChrysler, DDG,
Ericsson Eurolab R&D Germany, Ford,
the Hessen State Traffic Centre, HTW
Saarland, IBEO, IFAK Magdeburg,
MAN Commercial Vehicles, Opel, PTV,
Siemens, Munich Technical University,
Teleatlas, Transver, Hanover University,
Kassel University, Vodafone Group R&D
Germany and Volkswagen. In addition,
numerous universities and other
research institutes, as well as small and
medium-sized companies, collaborated on
the project as sub-contractors.
26
road safety
children fatalities in residential areas a grim
REMINDER THAT
ROAD SAFETY
IS NOT TO BE
TAKEN FOR
GRANTED
Residential areas are becoming
increasingly dangerous going by
statistics which revealed that 75
children up to the age of 15 years old
were killed and another 192 seriously
injured in road accidents in 2008.
Statistics released by the
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety
Research (MIROS) also revealed
that another 424 children
sustained slight injuries from
road accidents that occurred
within residential areas.
Accidents that occurred in
residential areas accounted for
the second highest number of
fatalities and injuries. Another
311 fatalities and 728 serious
injuries were recorded throughout
numerous locations. Meanwhile,
road accidents that occurred at
schools claimed the lives of 22
children and seriously injuring
another 78. Another 15 children lost
their lives in road accidents that
occurred at shopping centres.
“The number of fatalities,
serious injuries and accidents that
occur within residential areas are
indeed a very serious cause for
alarm, especially when residential
areas are often thought to be safe
and generally shielded from the
risks of heavy traffic,” said MIROS
Director General Professor Dr
Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
“These unfortunate incidents
point to what may be a low
level of observance in road safety
awareness on the false assumption that
equates residential areas with safer
motoring.”
According to MIROS, there were
also 73 and 82 fatalities, with another
240 and
228 children
seriously injured from road accidents
that had occurred within residential
areas in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Dr Ahmad Farhan said the highest
number of road accidents involving
children between the ages of 1 and 15
were recorded between the times of
5pm and 7pm where in 2008 where a
total of 1,633 accidents were reported
during these two critical hours. These
are also the two hours when children
are more often found playing outside the
house, indulging in activities within the
residential area or commuting home
from school.
Dr Ahmad Farhan said the false
sense of safety enjoyed within
residential areas was also reflected
in the number of accidents
involving underage and unlicensed
motorcyclists and drivers.
Of the 493 children below the
age of 15 who were killed in road
accidents in 2008, 172 fatalities were
the result of the child either riding a
motorcycle or in some cases, driving a
motor vehicle. Another 226 fatalities
involved passengers while in total,
1,213 children were seriously injured.
From the total fatal accidents in
2008, those between the ages of 11
and 15 were the most at risk, with 213
fatalities reported nationwide. Another
102 killed were those between one and
five years old. Some 2,797 children
suffered slight to serious injuries.
The Federal Territory of Labuan
recorded the highest number of
fatalities involving children between
the ages of 1 and 15, with 84
deaths, followed by Melaka (61),
Kelantan (51), Kedah (49) and
Selangor (48).
The most number of serious
injuries involving children meanwhile,
were recorded in Perak (200), Melaka
(165), Johor (145), Pahang (120) and
Kedah (98).
road safety
27
GPS ANTI-THEFT
SOLUTIONS
to deter and prevent car thefts
When a man wielding a parang carjacked Mr Lim Yoo Wah, he surrendered
the keys to his brand new Perodua Viva
and literally lived to fight another day.
Armed with an AAM Smart Tracker 09
global positioning system fitted in the
car, the 73-year-old with the help of the
police and system operator recovered the
stolen vehicle two days later.
Although traumatized,
the incident had spared
Mr Lim from sustaining
any injury and incurring
further losses.
The incident
happened at 9.30pm
on 31 May 2010 as Mr
Lim was parking his
car at his home in
Taman Kok Doh in
Segambut, Kuala
Lumpur. Two men
suddenly entered
through the front gate,
threatened Mr Lim and
then made off with the car.
Mr Lim immediately called the
system operator Dataran Ganda
Sdn Bhd, who then notified the police.
While the vehicle could be successfully
tracked down, it was not recovered until
two days later as police mounted a sting
operation in an attempt to arrest the
thieves. In accordance with Mr Lim’s
wishes however, the operation was
cut short and the car was recovered.
The vehicle, found parked at a nearby
housing area just a few kilometers away
from Mr Lim’s residence, was intact but
the registration plates had been changed.
Mr Lim’s case was the first theft
recorded since the Smart Tracker antitheft system was launched three years
ago.
Operated by Dataran Ganda Sdn
Bhd, powered by Telekom Malaysia
and endorsed by the Automobile
Association of Malaysia (AAM), Smart
Tracker uses the combination of Global
Positioning Satellite (GPS), Global
System for Mobile Communication
(GSM) and Geo Information System
(GIS), to accurately pin-point a vehicle
anywhere on the ground within three
to five metres. Telekom Malaysia’s GIS
offers nationwide coverage, real time
tracking and congestion free traffic, and
is also acknowledged for having the most
comprehensive maps and street level
information accuracy.
“While the incident has broken the
Smart Tracker’s
zeroincident
and theft record that has
stood
for a good three years, it heralds the
beginning of a new and more significant
one with the first successful recovery of a
stolen vehicle,” said the company’s Chief
Executive Officer Moses Sin Voon Loy.
Providing a comprehensive suite of
anti-theft solutions, Smart Tracker is
also fitted with a spy hardware hidden
within the vehicle which is capable of
immobilizing the vehicle in the event
it is stolen. This automatically triggers
an emergency tracking mode to locate
the vehicle and immobilize it until the
vehicle is recovered by the Police or
customer. In Mr Lim’s case, he had
opted not to install the immobilizer.
Smart Tracker’s Geo-fencing alert
and protection meanwhile, notifies
the customer and call centre when the
vehicle exits Malaysian borders.
Vehicles are also fitted with a
secretly located panic button where when
pressed, alerts the 24-hour call centre
at Dataran Ganda. An alert will also be
triggered in the event of unauthorized
movement (towing) of the vehicle while
the ignition is off. Smart Tracker also
provides customers with a Secure Client
Web Access to constantly keep track of
their vehicle.
The system is compatible with any
make, model and age of car and can be
fitted by AAM technicians at the selected
AAM fitting centres nationwide or at
your home or workplace with a minimum
charge.
The Smart Tracker anti-theft system
features:
The first and only vehicle anti-theft
solution that combines both Global
Positioning system (GPS) and
automobile assistance services.
Real-time tracking – 3 to 5-meter
accuracy
Secure client web access for customer
live monitoring
Smart auto daily health check system
Emergency real time tracking with
intervals every 5 minutes
Live 24 hours monitoring
Geo-fencing alert and protection
An intelligent anti-dismantling
system
Remote immobilizer
Black box with a built-in back-up
battery to last 8 hours
Panic button linked to control centre
and customer handphone
Does not impact on your car’s
performance and appearance.
Affordable cost level.
Professionally installed.
Suitable for all vehicles with no antitheft protection and for new car with
sophisticated alarm systems.
SIRIM approved
For more information, contact
Dataran Ganda Sdn Bhd at 03-6140
7382. Or visit the website at www.
dataranganda.com.my
28
road safety
inside the
VOLVO CARS
SAFETY CENTRE
The Volvo Cars Safety Centre is
designed to carry out advanced crash
tests that contribute to increased
knowledge and the development of safer
Volvo cars. The laboratory makes it
possible to replicate most of the accident
scenarios that occur in real-life traffic.
Opened in 2000, the crash-test
laboratory has a capacity to carry out
more than 400 full-scale tests per year.
In celebrating its 10th anniversary
since it began operations, almost 3,000
crash tests have been carried out in the
laboratory.
The centre is equipped with one
fixed (154 metre) and one movable (108
metres) test track. The movable test
track can be moved from 0 to 90 degrees
to perform crashes such as frontal
impacts, rear end collisions, side impacts,
and collisions between two moving cars
road safety
at different angles and speeds. On the
fixed test track, the maximum speed
for a passenger car is 120km/h. On the
movable test track, maximum speed is
80km/h. The speeds on each test track
can be regulated independently of one
another. On the fixed track it is also
possible to crash-test trucks at speeds
of up to 80km/h.
There are 50 high-speed cameras
installed in the centre. The fastest
camera is programmed to take 200,000
frames per second. The smallest
cameras can be used to study the way
in which small components inside
the cars are affected by the collision
forces. At the point where the two test
tracks meet, there is a 6 metre deep,
Plexiglas-covered pit for filming crash
tests from below. Cameras also film the
tests from above 11 metres above the
point of impact.
Volvo Cars’ also performs crash
tests in a unique crash test simulator
using a reinforced car body with the
actual interior that is to be tested.
The crash simulator can recreate the
tipping, or pitch, in real-life collisions
without destroying the car body. It
can also simulate intrusion into the
passenger compartment, using ten
pistons representing different parts of
the car.
The centre also has 100 crash-test
dummies of different types to represent
men, women and children of different
sizes, weights and ages.
29
30
new car
EVORA
an engineering leap for lotus
The all-new Lotus Evora sportscar was
in June officially launched in Malaysia
with customers being offered a choice of
four distinctive variants.
The Evora represents one of the
biggest milestones for Lotus since the
birth of the Elise in 1995 and seamlessly
brings together the philosophy of
performance through light weight with
new and advanced technologies aimed at
propelling Lotus into a new dimension
globally.
Available in four distinctive variants:
Sport Spec, Tech Spec, Sport & Tech
Spec, and Launch Spec Edition, the end
result is a stunning vehicle that boasts
not only class leading driving dynamics,
fuel economy and emissions but aptly
raises the bar for world class high
performing sportscars.
“Beyond being just a new model, the
Evora is essentially an engineering leap
for Lotus in which it has been able to not
only successfully lift the international
profile of Lotus sportscars, but combine
class leading driving dynamics with
the importance of fuel economy and
emissions for sportscars in general,”
said PROTON Holdings Berhad Group
Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed
Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.
Exterior Design
While the exterior styling is strongly
reminiscent of its predecessors the Elise
and Europa, the level of detailing that
went into the design outstandingly sets
the Evora apart.
The Evora was designed to be
a manifestation of velocity, agility
and sophistication, which is strongly
communicated by its low and wide
stance, muscular rear haunches and
rear cooling ducts that are all signature
elements of a mid-engine sportscar.
Developing a car that is of correct
proportions, Lotus Design paid great
attention to details which took into
account the asymmetric wheel sizes,
shorter rear overhang, longer front
overhang and cab forward visor screen
new car
which all contributed to creating a
bigger, wider, more sleek and aggressive
personality, yet still retaining a degree of
subtlety that is almost gentlemanly.
Emotional factors were seamlessly
combined with practicality and
functionality in creating a distinctive new
and global car for Lotus. Aerodynamic
considerations in relation to drag, down
force and cooling also significantly
influenced the overall form of the Evora,
from the adoption of an aesthetically
dramatic tear-dropped cabin silhouette
Luxury 2+2
Lotus global
sportscar
launched in
Malaysia
to the top exit radiator vent and race carinspired diffuser and new “floating rear
wing” design. The undulating shoulder
line of the Evora meanwhile, evokes
muscularity.
From the front, the Evora’s fluid
surface and fast lines create a sense of
speed even when the car is stationary,
while the rear completes the overall
sense of athleticism from its tapered
cabin, diffuser and fluidly-designed
floating wing to the
centrally
31
mounted twin tailpipes and distinctive
engine bay vents.
Interior Design
Enjoyment for four! Unlike its
predecessors, the single biggest
differentiator in the Evora is that it has
been purpose-designed as a 2 + 2 seater
as opposed to strictly offering driving
enjoyment just for two.
One of the most noticeable
differences in the Evora is the
fact that it is a Lotus that today
not only offers occupants higher
levels of cabin comfort, but also
greater ease in getting in and
out of the vehicle. The design
had taken into consideration
the fact that the less athletic
often found it a challenge in
itself just to get in and out
of models like the Elise,
and this has been aptly
translated into wider,
taller door apertures,
narrower sills and
a higher seating
position. The cabin will
accommodate two 99th
percentile (6ft 5in / 196
cm tall) American sized males in the
front seats. Lotus Design’s sophisticated
and attention-snaring lines meanwhile,
brilliantly disguise the Evora’s ability
to accommodate passengers in the rear
of the cabin, giving the car the external
characteristics of a small, nimble
sportscar belying its real exterior and
internal space.
The interior is undoubtedly Lotus’
most luxurious, and while the Lotus
trademark and philosophy of simplicity
prevails in the Evora, the overall
presentation clearly exudes of elegance.
The cabin is elegantly-styled in
leather and its beautifully appointed
dash boasts tactile details such as flushmounted controls that glow with blue
LED haloes and a stylised speedometer
and rev counter ensuring that controls
are both attractive and accessible.
It incorporates a whole host of
creature comfort features, from the fully
adjustable Recaro Black leather sports
seats, Isofix child seat fastening system
in the rear and a tyre pressure monitor
system to cruise control, rear parking
sensors, rear view camera and electric
windows and power-fold door mirrors.
Other features include remote release
32
new car
glove
box, door storage bins and
integrated cup holders, a 12-Volt
interior accessory socket and a 12-Volt
boot mounted battery accessory socket.
The Evora also comes factory-fitted
with an in-car entertainment
which features an Alpine
advanced touch screen
multi-media system
with
Bluetooth
connectivity,
satellite
navigation, CD/MP3/
WMA receiver, and full speed connection
for iPod touch, iPod nano and all iPod
models with a dock connector. Also fitted
are two 45W High Power Amplifiers and
6” inch 1/4 coaxial 2-way speakers and
dash mounted tweaters.
Performance
In keeping with the great Lotus
tradition, the Evora’s foundation rests
in its innovative lightweight chassis
technology that ensures all-round
dynamic and spirited performance.
The Evora’s construction is made up
of a front-end structure made of a high
tech aluminium “sacrificial” modular
unit, with bolt-on attachment to
the main extruded aluminium
tub. This modular unit is not only
designed to deform for maximum
safety, but also reduces repair
costs in the event of a frontal
impact.
While it weighs in at
1,382kg, the Lotus-tuned
3.5-litre VVT-i V6 engine
empowers the Evora with a
maximum power of 276bhp and
a maximum torque of 342Nm
capable of propelling it from
0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. It
also has a top speed of 261km/h.
The Evora comes factoryfitted with a 6-speed manual
new car
technical
SPECIFICATIONS
transmission. Customers however, have the
option of a close or sports ratio 6-speed manual
transmission.
Ride and handling is derived from a combination
of engineering wizardry and technology. The Evora
is designed with a fully independent suspension
layout with forged aluminium unequal length
double wishbones with integral joints. The front
and rear dampers are manufactured by worldrenowned Bilstein that are fitted with Eibach
coaxial coil springs. An Electronic Differential Lock
(EDL) from BOSCH and a switchable traction
control system meanwhile, allows for the power to
be put down safely. Traction is also maximized with
the use of a staggered wheels (18” inch fronts and
19” inch rears) fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport
LTS tyres.
Stopping power meanwhile, is optimized with
the use of AP racing 4-piston fixed aluminium alloy
2-piece calipers with 350mm front and 332mm
rear ventilated brake discs. It is also fitted with a
BOSCH anti-lock braking system (ABS) with servo
assisted brakes featuring Hydraulic Brake Assist
(HBA) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
Practicality was also built into the performance
of the Evora which boasts an impressive fuel
consumption of 8.7 litres per 100km. It also
produces just 205 g/km CO2 emissions.
33
Body style: 2+2 coupe
Chassis: high tech aluminium modular unit with bolt-on attachment to the main extruded aluminium tub
Wheelbase: 2,575mm
Length: 4,342mm
Width: 1,848mm
Height: 1,223mm
Weight: 1,382kg
Drag coefficient: 0.337
Engine: Mid-mounted, transverse, DOHC VVTi 3.5-litre V6
Displacement: 3,456cc
Transmission: 6-speed manual (optional: sport ratio 6-speed manual)
Maximum power: 276bhp
Maximum torque: 342Nm
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 261km/h
Fuel consumption: 8.7 litres per 100km (combine cycle)
Suspension: Fully independent suspension layout with forged aluminium unequal length double wishbones with integral joint, Bilstein mono-tube gas dampers (front and rear), Eibach coaxial coil springs (front and rear), front and rear anti-roll bars
Handling: BOSCH Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) with switchable traction control
Brakes: AP racing 4-piston fixed aluminium alloy 2-piece callipers with ventilated brake discs (350 mm front and 332 mm rear). BOSCH ABS with servo assisted brakes featuring Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
Wheels/tyres: Silver cast alloy wheel (18” inch front & 19” inch rear) with Yokohama Advan Sport LTS tyres (225/40 ZR18 front and 255/35ZR19 rear)
Pricing:• Sport Spec
RM443,480
• Tech Spec
RM463,650
• Sport & Tech Spec RM472,110
• Launch Spec Edition RM490,210
34
new car
the people have spoken:
LET THE CARS DO THE TALKING
Readers of prestigious German car
magazine “Sport Auto” have voted the
New Lotus Elise (MY2011) and the Exige
S as the “Most Sportiest Car” in their
respective categories in the magazine’s
2010 awards. Stable-mates the Elise SC
MY2011 and the Evora also managed
podium finishes.
The awards come just weeks after the
brand new Lotus Elise MY2011 was
launched to a strong reception from the
media, many of whom chose to focus on
the low emissions of just 149g CO2/km
and the class leading fuel consumption.
The Elise received an incredible 29.8%
of the reader vote in the category of open
sports cars up to € 40.000,-- resulting
in the sought after ‘Most Sportiest Car’
title.
And it’s not only the Elise models
that were recognised in the awards, the
high performance, lightweight Exige
S was also victorious in the category
of Coupes up to € 50.000,--. The Exige
stole an even better percentage of the
vote with 34% of all readers pushing it;
placing it nearly 20% ahead of its nearest
rival in the class.
Lotus cars were nominated in two
further classes: Coupes up to € 100.000,-and Cabriolets up to € 60.000,--. The
Evora finished second in the Coupes
up to € 100.000,-- just missing out on
the top spot by a fraction with the Elise
SC coming in third in the Cabriolets
category just 0.8% behind the second car.
Lotus Chief Commercial Officer,
Andreas Prillmann, said: “The German
market is one of our strongest worldwide
so we are delighted to see that Lotus
cars have been so successful among so
many other well established and highly
competitive manufacturers such as Audi,
BMW and Porsche. To rise to the top
in the German market which is
home to
many
great
car
makers makes the awards doubly
important to us.
“A big thank you goes to all the Sport
Auto readers, industry recognition is
essential but we never underestimate
the power and passion of the customer
which is why awards like this are so
significant to us. We take these awards
as a sign that customers understand
that the combination of lightweight and
green technology without compromise on
performance will be key characteristics
for the clever sports cars of the future –
that’s what Lotus is all about. “
new car
lotus range extender
ENGINE SET FOR PRODUCTION
A collaboration between Lotus
Engineering and Fagor Ederlan will
develop the Lotus Range Extender
Engine for series production.
Lotus Engineering, the automotive
consultancy division of Lotus Cars
Limited, and Fagor Ederlan, part of the
Mondragon Corporation Cooperativa, the
biggest co-operative group in the world,
have completed a joint technical and
market study analysing the best route to
production for the Lotus Range Extender
Engine. The study has culminated with
an agreement for Lotus Engineering to
develop the engine for series production
and sale by Fagor Ederlan for the
global automotive market.
The three-cylinder, 1.2
litre Range Extender
engine from Lotus
Engineering has
been designed
specifically for
series hybrid vehicles
and the production
engine will offer a fast route
to market for manufacturers
wanting to source a dedicated
range extender. The high
efficiency, low mass
design will
enable low
emissions vehicles to be produced
cost effectively across a wide range of
hybrid vehicle applications, as already
demonstrated in both the Lotus Evora
414E Hybrid and the PROTON Emas
concepts, which were shown at the
80th International Geneva Motor
Show this year.
35
36
new car
ALL-NEW 2011 JETTA
delivers sophisticated style
Volkswagen in June announced the
world debut of its all-new 2011 Jetta,
delivering style, precision German
engineering and carefree maintenance.
The Jetta offers best in class rear
legroom, a premium interior and
Volkswagen essentials. It features
clean lines, refined side architecture
and premium style combined with
Volkswagen’s trademark precision
German engineering.
“This marks the beginning of a new
era for Volkswagen and for Jetta,” said
Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen
Group of America, Inc.
“The all-new 2011 Jetta is a classup driving experience with the kind of
styling, design and power under the hood
normally found in more expensive luxury
cars…It’’s a car that is sophisticated, fun
to drive and practical.”
The North American version of the
all-new 2011 Jetta features four engines
including a 2.0-liter turbodiesel direct
injection (TDI) Clean Diesel featuring
common rail injection with 320Nm of
torque. The engine runs as quietly as a
gasoline engine, but yields the power of
a sports car achieving 0-60mph in 8.7
seconds. Additional engines include
the 2.0, 2.5 R5, and as of 2011, the 2.0
TSI. All Jetta engines are available
with a manual and automatic
transmission, while the
2.0-liter TDI and
new car
2.0-liter TSI will be fitted with a 6-speed
DSG transmission.
The Jetta features a very pronounced
exterior design. Its new wheelbase and
exterior length are significantly bigger
than its predecessor – resulting in
superior performance, more space and
greater comfort. At 182.7-inches long,
57.1 inches tall and 70.1 inches wide, it
is more than 3.5 inches longer than its
predecessors. The interplay of exterior
dimensions leads to a powerful balance
of proportions. In parallel, the new
Volkswagen ‘design DNA’ sharpens the
car’s styling. This has resulted in clear,
precise lines and athletically muscular
surfaces, which lend a timeless elegance
and dynamic styling to the sedan.
On the front end of the car, the
prominence of horizontal lines defines
the design. The high-gloss black radiator
grille combines with the car’s trapezoidal
headlights to form a styling unit. The
upper front end section shows a powerful
transition from the v-shaped engine hood
to the fenders on the sides providing a
more dynamic and muscular styling.
A great example of the unique styling
characteristics is found in the shoulder
or ‘tornado’ line and the powerfully
emphasized arches of the wheel wells.
Formally, they intersect the large
homogeneous surfaces, conveying a
strong dynamic image. Thanks to wide
track dimensions, the wheel arches also
form a precise transition – as though
cut with a knife – up to the tires, which
could be as much as 18-inches.
With integrated turn signal
indicators, the styling of the outside
mirrors emulates the larger Passat CC
model. Harmonized surfaces and sporty
shoulders meanwhile, dominate the
rear section. Powerful in illumination
and visually distinctive, the taillights
are split into two sections, extending
on either side from the fender into the
tailgate.
A key benefit of the extended
wheelbase is that it resulted in a more
37
comfortable layout of the five-seat rear
seating area. Legroom is now a long 38.1
inches, a 2.6-inch gain from the previous
model.
Engineers also went to work on
the interior down to the finest details,
providing a level of quality and
perfection far beyond other vehicles in its
class. The new steering wheel designs
impress both visually and to the touch.
Further up on the center console are the
newly designed and intuitive controls
for climate, radio and radio-navigation
systems. This console section is slightly
inclined toward the driver for ideal
alignment of the cockpit.
The rear seats feature a 40/60 split
and folding design, increasing the car’s
versatility. The tailgate can also be
opened from inside the car by a remote
unlock switch. Up to six airbags (two
front airbags, two side airbags in front,
two window airbags/thorax airbags in
the area of the front side windows) are
also part of the equipment package.
38
motorsports
PERODUA
ECO-CHALLENGE
a test of youth ingenuity and creativity
In a test of engineering wizardry and ingenuity, undergraduates
from 12 institutions of higher learning took to the racing circuit
in June to be crowned champion of who could travel the greatest
distance in just 1 litre of unleaded fuel.
Bringing out the best of youth creativity, the Perodua
Eco-Challenge involved teams pitting their modified 1,000cc
Perodua ViVa against one another in a race that was held at
the Melaka International Motorsports Circuit. The challenge
was divided into three categories: engineering and design;
manual transmission; and automatic transmission. Points were
also awarded based on the extent of modification done, the
uniqueness and practicality of the design and overall student
participation.
“The objective of the race was to challenge the institutions’
engineering prowess and innovation. We are highly supportive
of the Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) initiative in
producing more creative and innovative local graduates,” said
Perodua Managing Director Aminar Rashid Salleh adding that
the event was also part of the company’s corporate responsibility
to promote the benefits of fuel saving technologies.
The participating institutions were Universiti Sains
Malaysia USM); Universiti Tekonologi Mara (UiTM); Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM); Universiti Malaysia Pahang;
motorsports
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten);
Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP);
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
(UTHM); Universiti Industri Selangor
(Unisel); Universiti Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI);
Politeknik
Ungku
Omar
(PUO);
Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah (PSAS);
and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
(Unimas).
A total of 27 institutions of higher
learning which offer an automotive
engineering course or have an automotive
programme were invited to participate
in the event which was later shortlisted
to 12 based on “innovativeness” and its
impact on fuel savings.
The manual transmission category
was won by Universiti Tenaga Nasional
(UNITEN) whose clever design
39
which incorporated the elements of
aerodynamics and weight savings had
driven the Perodua Viva to 42.7km on
a single litre of fuel. Universiti Sains
Malaysia (USM) of Penang meanwhile,
clinched top honours in the automatic
transmission category recording a
distance traveled of 37.2km on a single
litre of fuel. Universiti Teknologi
Mara (UiTM) emerged winner in the
engineering and design category for its
sleek looking green modified Perodua
Viva.
40
motorsports
motorsports
41
singapore gp launches
the region’s first
“ASIA’S BIGGEST F1™ FAN” CYBER GAME
With just 12 weeks to the world’s only
FORMULA ONE night race, Singapore GP
is launching the region’s first Asia’s Biggest
F1™ Fan cyber game across 25 countries.
Three fans in Asia will win prizes worth
more than S$30,000 including a trip to
Singapore to watch the 2010 FORMULA
1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
(24th to 26th September, 2010).
The interactive game on www.
singaporegp.sg involves a race against time
to complete 25 questions related to the
sport’s history, Grand Prix rules and trivia
on race teams and drivers. 25 highest scorers
will proceed to a final elimination round on
27th August 2010 to vie for the title of Asia’s
Biggest F1™ Fan.
The champion wins a pair of Green
Room hospitality suite tickets worth S$7,490,
a 5D4N stay at Pan Pacific Singapore
valued at S$3,297, exclusive passes to the
Drivers’ Autograph Session during the 2010
FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE
GRAND PRIX race week, and round trip
economy airfare for two. The first and second
runners-up will also each win a 4D3N hotel
stay, roundtrip economy airfare for two,
a pair of Bay Grandstand tickets (worth
S$1,796) and a pair of Stamford Grandstand
tickets (worth S$596) respectively.
“With more Asian Grand Prix venues
being added each year, the popularity of the
sport has seen a significant increase in the
region,” said Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman,
Singapore GP. “With this game, we hope
to recognise our growing pool of local and
regional supporters, and reward the trueblue F1™ fans who know the ins and outs
of the historical legacy, ground-breaking
engineering and exceptional driving skills of
the FORMULA ONE sport.”
Since the inaugural FORMULA ONE
night race was held in 2008 at the Marina
Bay Street Circuit, Singapore GP’s Official
Page on Facebook has grown to over 11,230
fans – the biggest tally of Facebook fans
for any race promoter on the Grand Prix
calendar.
To play the game, log on to www.
singaporegp.sg. 2010 FORMULA 1
SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
tickets can be purchased online (www.
singaporegp.sg) or via the ticketing hotline
+65 6738-6738.
42
motorsports
PROTON R3
MALAYSIA
RALLY TEAM
FINISHES SECOND IN RALLY OF
NEW ZEALAND
The Proton R3 Malaysia Rally Team
registered a spectacular second place in the
recently-concluded the International Rally
of Whangarei which is also the third round
of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship
(APRC).
Alistair McRae and co-driver Bill Hayes
drove a trouble-free rally to secure the best
result in the Proton Satria NEO S2000 this
season after enduring two disappointing first
rounds in Malaysia and Japan. The rally
was won by New Zealander Hayden Paddon
in a Mitsubishi EVO IX.
“The good thing about New Zealand is
that even in the wet, the roads hold up and
we managed to secure a strong result for
PROTON,” said McRae.
“It’s been very busy for us over the past
three months – the team hasn’t had the time
to work on and develop the engine. We’ve
encountered a few problems but hopefully
we can be more competitive and push a bit
harder at the next round which will head to
Queensland in Australia.”
The two-day rally had covered 280km of
competitive special stages in the Whangarei
and Kaipara districts with the heavily
cambered, fast and flowing gravel roads
which surround the rally’s base in New
Zealand’s northernmost city being nothing
short of awe-inspiring.
Team mate Chris Atkinson and co-driver
Stephane Prevot in the second Proton
Satria NEO S2000 experienced mechanical
issues on both days and was unable to finish
despite winning the first special stage on day
two. Atkinson had retired on special stage 3
on the first day with a broken alternator belt.
motorsports
The rally also took its toll on current
APRC leader Katsu Taguchi who went out
with engine problems. He was however, able
to continue on the second day and finished
the rally in sixth position.
The win PROTON lifts PROTON to
third in the Manufacturer’s Championship
behind Mitsubishi and Subaru.
“It has been an extremely challenging
start for the team after two rounds but
we’ve managed to put an end to all the
misfortunes,” said Team Manager Datuk
Abdul Razak Dawood.
“The Satria NEO S2000 has proven that
it is competitive and a worthy adversary
to the more established manufacturers.
Equally important is the fact that the car has
generated plenty of interest overseas and
this augurs well for PROTON in our quest to
establish greater awareness and acceptance
for both the brand and its products abroad.”
proton returns to the
INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE AT THE RALLY OF BELGIUM
After a seven-month break, national car
manufacturer PROTON will make its return
to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge
(IRC) when it competes at the Rally of
Belgium this weekend.
The Proton R3 Malaysia Rally Team will
mount a two-car challenge in the asphalt
rally which will be spearheaded by lead
driver Alistair McRae and co-driver Bill
Hayes, and Chris Atkinson and co-driver
Stephane Prevot. A third Satria Neo S2000
will be driven by a British privateer and teen
sensation, Tom Cave.
The Geko Ypres Rally in northwest
Belgium is infamous for its unique and
demanding stages that consist of long and
flat straights and 90-degree junctions which
can prove even more challenging due to
changing weather and surface conditions.
The Belgium rally will be one of four
European rounds the Proton R3 Malaysia
Rally Team will be competing in this season.
Going into the IRC missing five earlier
rounds of the championship essentially
puts PROTON out of contention to fight
for the manufacturer’s and driver’s titles
this season. Skoda currently leads the IRC
Manufacturer’s title with a commanding
80 points followed by French manufacturer
Peugeot with 46 points.
“Seven months is a long time to be away
from the IRC but we’re optimistic that
with all the development that has taken
place, we’ll be able to field an even more
competitive car in the championship this
time round,” said Team Manager Datuk
Abdul Razak Dawood.
The Satria NEO S2000 had made
its competition debut in the IRC in 2009.
Competing in the championship for the
first time and being in the company of
more established Manufacturer Teams the
likes of Peugeot, Skoda, Fiat, Subaru and
Mitsubishi, the Satria Neo S2000 finished
consistently in the top 10 positions in six
rounds of the championship. The team’s best
finish had been a second placing at the Rally
of Scotland and finishing fourth in the Rally
of Russia.
“We’re not here to fight for the
championship but to evaluate how the car
stacks up against the rest of the competition
especially after it has proven itself as a
worthy challenger in the Asia Pacific Rally
Championship.”
In terms of exposure, Datuk Abdul
Razak added that the IRC ability to attract
a large audience of worldwide television
viewers would be advantageous in promoting
the PROTON brand and generating greater
awareness internationally. The IRC is
broadcast over Europe, Asia, Africa and
America in 59 countries reaching 240 million
television viewers.
“This is very much line with
PROTON’s global strategy to use
motorsports as a platform as a means
of engaging customers and establishing
greater international awareness and brand
recognition.”
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