Note the backdrop here and when you view the other photos down below.
Yesterday
I went to a cycling event, the RHB-Shimano Highway Ride. This was a night
cycling event and it was held on the LEKAS Highway. A stretch of the highway was closed to
motorists from around 5.00pm to 3am earlier today. This must have caused some traffic jams in the surrounding area as some would have forgotten to bypass this stretch. Anyway, there were at
least a couple of thousand people at around starting time (about 8.00pm) with participation from at least 16 countries. Volvo Car
Malaysia, in conjunction with their authorised dealer, Clear Marque
Sdn Bhd and the event organisers, Go Sportz Sdn Bhd were there. They showed off the Volvo V40 with their newly advertised 'Adventure
Package' and also to launch a unique water based reflective spray
paint called Volvo Life Paint.
First
off is the launch of the Volvo Life Paint. The Life Paint is made in
collaboration with Swedish start-up company Albedo100. It is aimed at
increasing the visibility and safety of cyclists on the road. It is a
reflective spray that is invisible in daylight yet very light
reflective in the dark. It is designed to react to car headlights as
it reflects light back in the same direction as the light source.
Thus, if a headlight hits an area sparay painted with Life Paint, it
will light up in the dark.
The
Life Paint works best of textiles or fabric. You can apply them on
clothing, shoes, helmets, prams, bikes, backpacks and even to your
own cars. On pet collars or even on any other surface actually. The
best thing about this is that the paint can be washed off with just
soap and water. It will not affect the original coating or surface of
the material sprayed upon and will last for about one week after its
application (depending on the surface). You can see in the pics
herein. The paint will light up the whole area also which was covered
with it due to free spraying of the paint on the night ride's
participants. Note the Volvo people who were wearing black and were spraying the paint are so luminous when the flash from the camera hits it.
Note how easy it is to see where the paint has coated the surfaces and where it has not.
This special paint is part of Volvo's road safety philosophy. The people at Volvo
emphasis that road safety at Volvo is not only limited to making its
cars safer but is also put on improving the safety of all road users
too. As such, the Volvo Life Paint complements what active safety
systems that their cars have. An example would be the Intellisafe -
Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection System which automatically detects
and avoids collisions with pedestrians or cyclists. The latest
version of the Intellisafe system was first seen in the newly
launched Volvo XC90 SUV that was recently launched here in Malaysia.
The
Life Paint was made available to members of the public at the night
cycle event at a promotional price of RM110 (down from RM138). If you
are interested in this special spray paint you can order it through
Clear Marque Sdn Bhd and other authorised Volvo dealers nationwide
with customers ordering from Clear Marque given a priority for the
moment (I suppose it is fair since they opened up to the idea first). I see the Life Paint is Volvo Car's corporate social responsibility (CSR) which does actually work. If you used this you could be a beacon of light on the highway. When the headlights of a car hits you of course.
Now
aside from the paint, Volvo had launched an Adventure Package for the
Volvo V40 hatchback. This very good to drive car has quite a
comprehensive accessories option list for its owners to choose from.
This Adventure Package options features accessories aimed at owners
with an active lifestyle.
There are frame mounted bicycle carriers
(RM435), V40 roof load carriers (RM 2,101) needed to mount the
bicycle carrier), dirt cover for the rear bumper/hatch loading area
(RM352) and load compartment mats (RM776). There are other options
for the V40 like the R-Design styling package (full body kit, 17inch
wheels, sports steering wheel & pedals – RM18,640), aero body
kit (RM15,777), park rear camera with keyless go (RM5,050), Satnav,
(RM6,967) and more. These optional accessories are available at the
price stated until September 2016.
The other car that was on display was the Volvo XC90. The whole batch of completely built up (CBU) units have been sold out. It has been quite a sales success since its
Malaysian launch at the end of last year. The final units have been
delivered at Volvo Car is now getting the CKD or locally assembled
models ready for sales that should being in the third quarter of this
year. The XC90 sold here will be one hybrid only model to take
advantage of the Malaysian EEV tax incentives – with a sub
RM500,000 pricetag or thereabouts, cheaper than its usual size
competitors yet as powerful and more economical. It brings back a lot
of Volvo heritage and good looks together with one of the most
innovative yet realistic hybrid solutions for motorised
transportation to date. It has electric motors powering the rear
wheels and a 2.0liter turbocharged petrol engine powering the front
wheels with a computerised system ensuring they work in cohesion. Six
intelligent systems are powered up when the car is unlocked. Imagine
that!
I
love how the SUV looks. The front end is what a Volvo should promote
– strength and a sense of grandeur. This is the correct look that
Volvo needs to have in order for it to return to the forefront of the
category of premium vehicles which it was in waaaay back in the
1990s.
So
did I participate in the cycling event? Me? The only time I would
cycle even a kilometer or two would be if my life depending on it. Trying to outrun
an angry buffalo or a bear maybe. But for fun? I grew up in Taiping.
I used to cycle to school, cycled to the Taiping Lake Gardens, cycled to my friend's houses every day from when I was six years old to
about sixteen. I used to cycle everywhere in and around Taiping town.
It was transport. A means to get me from A to B and I used to cycle
for miles and miles before it people called it and every other hobby a
'Lifestyle'. So I believe I have paid my dues and have that 'been there done that' attitude when it comes to cycling. These days I write about cars, buses and trucks. So the
bicycles I have are just sitting around for now unless I just get a bit bored. Makes perfect sense
yes?
LEKAS Highway with no cars at around 6.00pm on a Saturday.
Spray Paint on the arm....
See? Nothing at all.... Also note the Volvo backdrop at the rear...
..but later at night....when the flash light hits....and note the backdrop
This chap's wheels are coated with the Life Paint
Thousands of people riding non-motorised machinery...Looking at this is tiring. I went home just as the first group pushed off. Whaddya expect from a hardcore motorhead?
No comments:
Post a Comment