Audi’s  Skysphere Concept is an electric car that expands and contracts

                LOS ANGELES: The all-electric Audi Skysphere Concept car is the first of three “sphere” concepts Audi will present in the coming months.

The all-electric Audi Skysphere Concept car is the first of three “sphere” concepts Audi will present in the coming months.

Audi has unveiled the first of an upcoming trio of concept vehicles, the Audi Skysphere.

An all-electric roadster with carriage-style doors and oversized wheels, the Skysphere’s most notable characteristic is that it can shorten or elongate its wheelbase with the push of a button.

Skysphere presages two other concept cars planned for debut this year: The Grandsphere concept, due out next month, and the Urbansphere concept, which will debut in 2022.

“This is the first piece in how we are foreseeing the future,” said Henrik Wenders, the head of brand for Audi AG, at a private preview of the vehicle Aug 9 at a studio in Hollywood.

“The present is offering everything we need for the future … and we had better hurry up.”

News of the concept comes as Audi reports its best-ever first six months in the 52-year history of the modern iteration of the brand, with net cash flow between €4.5 billion to €5.5 billion, up from €3.5 billion to €4.5 billion previously.

In July, parent-company Volkswagen AG lifted its forecast operating return to as much as 7.5%, thanks in part to big double-digit margins at Audi. Closer to home, Audi of America increased deliveries by 92% in Q2 over the same period in 2020. Year to date sales in North America are up 60%, Audi reported in July.

Meanwhile Audi has committed €15 billion to electrification across its entire fleet, said Hildegard Wortmann, the member of the board of management for sales and marketing for Audi AG.

By 2025, Audi will offer 20 different electric cars across its global portfolio. Audi’s hybrids and EVs are already profitable and best-sellers in Europe, Wortmann said.

In the United States, 30% of sales will come from electric vehicles by then, a spokesperson said. The hybrid Q5 already comprises 12% of total Q5 sales. So the electric concept series fits right according to plan, she said.

“We are not going to do this by half,” Wortmann said. “We want to go the full way. We want to be the leading sustainable premium brand.”

Best of both worlds

The variable wheelbase of the Skysphere offers owners two options for transport: the elegant comfort of a longwheel-base grand touring car and the sporty handling of a sports car. When in 5.19-metre longwheel-base form, the car operates on level four autonomous driving and offers maximum, extensive legroom.

The shortened form shrinks the length of the car by 250mm, lowers it by 10mm, and reveals a steering wheel, pedals, and shifting column from underneath the dashboard. Only in shortened form is the vehicle drivable like conventional modern vehicles.

"It’s about a different way to travel—not just getting from A to B but the space in between,” said Gael Buzyn, the head of Audi’s Malibu Design Loft, at the preview.

“As a designer, I design for experience first, and the car follows.” Buzyn said such a transformational structure would never have been feasible on a chassis built for internal combustion. “Electrification is the best thing that has happened to car design,” he said.

An electric motor at the rear of the car delivers 465kw (623hp) of power to the 1,800kg car. If tested in real-world conditions, acceleration from 0 to 100kph would be four seconds, according to Audi.

Total range in GT mode is 500km, the brand said in notes accompanying the car, although brand brass declined to say whether it would ever be made in production form.

The interior of the Skysphere is oriented to support level four autonomous driving—the level at which drivers can delegate complete movement responsibility to the car without having to give any inputs like hands on the wheel or feet on the brake. Seats come in microfiber fabric while eucalyptus wood accents make it feel warm and welcoming, like a private lounge.

The pièce de résistance inside the cabin is the large touch monitor that spans 1,415mm across the dashboard; it can screen movies, connect to the Internet, or host conference calls. To cap it all off, the space behind the drivers’ seat holds two grey cashmere blankets for open-air driving during cooler temperatures.

Audi will debut the Skysphere in public Aug 13 during Monterey Car Week in Carmel, Calif.


'Miami Vice' Ferrari up for auction

                LOS ANGELES: The white 1986 Ferrari Testarossa used extensively in the classic 80s cop show will be going under the hammer at the Mecum Daytime Auction in Monterey this August.

The star of Miami Vice wasn't Don Johnson, or Philip Michael Thomas, it was the bright white Ferrari Testarossa that the undercover cops raced through the streets on the trail of drug dealers and other miscreants.

Famously the car was black when it arrived on set but director and executive producer Michael Man decided to have it repainted white so that it could be seen clearly during night-time scenes - unwittingly sparking a trend for white supercars in the process.

And unlike its co-stars who have gone on to appear in a number of films and TV shows, the Testarossa has been sitting in storage since the show finished in 1989 and was only unpacked earlier this year for a full engine-out service.

It has 26,000km on the clock and has been authenticated by Ferrari Classiche, and while Mecum is yet to place an estimate on the car, a standard, immaculate Testarossa can easily fetch over US$150,000 (RM573,000) at auction. But for a car as iconic as this the figure could be 10 times higher.


Avoid using retreaded tyres, say police

                PETALING JAYA: The use of retread tyres is seen as highly risky in causing accidents on the highways, said Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Mahamad Akhir Darus.

He said the use of retreaded tyres was not recommended because it might easily be detached compared to the original tyres, and that it would put other road users at risk.

"We (the police) are looking at this seriously because retreaded tyres easily detach and will result in serious accidents. Summonses can be issued to those using these retreaded tyres. "In addition, the lorries carrying woods must also ensure the loads are sealed to avoid from falling off onto the road and endangering other users," he told reporters when met during an integrated operation at the Sungai Buloh Lay-by (Southbound) at KM 453.8 of the North-South Expressway, near here, on Saturday.

He said heavy vehicles were prone to using retreaded tyres due to its cheaper price compared to original tyres.
"The treads of these tyres will not last long. It will detach and endanger road users such as motorcyclists," he said.


Do not help crashed Olympics vehicles, Beijing police warn

                BEIJING: Police here have warned residents not to help any Winter Olympics vehicle if it is involved in a crash - to avoid breaching the Games' strict bubble against the coronavirus.

China's capital will host next month's Olympics in a "closed loop" ensuring no athletes or other participants come into contact with the public.

Authorities closed up the bubble last week meaning thousands of staff, volunteers, cleaners, cooks and coach drivers will be cocooned for weeks with no access to the outside world.

The measures - part of China's bid to maintain its zero-Covid strategy - are so strict that Beijing police issued a statement saying locals should not even rush to help an Olympics vehicle should it crash.

"In case of traffic accidents with special vehicles for the Winter Olympics, please pay attention to maintaining a safe distance," Beijing's Traffic Management Bureau said in a post on the Twitter-like Weibo.

"Do not make contact with vehicles or personnel in them and wait for professionals to arrive at the scene."

China, where the coronavirus emerged toward the end of 2019, has pursued a zero-tolerance strategy and is taking the same approach to limit the pandemic's impact on the Feb 4-20 Olympics and subsequent Paralympics.

That contrasts with the Covid-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics, which allowed some movement in and out for volunteers and other personnel.

The global media and roughly 3,000 athletes are expected to start arriving in the Chinese capital in the weeks ahead and will remain in the bubble from the moment they land until they leave the country.

Anyone entering the bubble must be fully vaccinated or face a 21-day quarantine when they touch down and everyone inside will be tested daily and must wear face masks at all times.

The system includes dedicated transport between venues, with even closed-loop high-speed rail systems operating in parallel to those open to the public.

China's strict rules to prevent a possible coronavirus outbreak linked to the Games will be tested by the emergence of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

The country has so far reported only a handful of Omicron cases but officials are struggling to stamp out virus clusters in several cities with tens of millions being tested and millions under lockdown.

Olympic organisers have dismissed claims that a Spanish athlete tested positive for Covid-19 and escaped the bubble to visit central Beijing, after the allegation received millions of views on Chinese social media.

Police said they arrested a woman for "spreading false rumours", without referencing this incident.


How Google wants to improve the in-car experience

                SAN FRANCISCO: At the latest edition of its annual developer conference, Google unveiled a number of new features designed to help drivers make better use of time spent in the car.

Whether it's finding a charging station for your electric car with Waze, jumping into Zoom audio meetings or even watching YouTube videos while parked, the driver experience looks set to be greatly enhanced.

New updates have been announced for vehicles compatible with Android Auto, as well as for cars that already have Google Automotive integrated. The idea is both to assist the driver and to entertain them, depending on whether they are driving or parked.

In the near future, Android Auto will make it possible to participate in meetings without having to take your eyes off the road. In partnership with Microsoft (for its Teams tool), Cisco (Webex) or Zoom, Google will soon offer the possibility to easily join pre-scheduled meetings, via audio, directly from the car's onboard display, and all while driving.

For their part, car manufacturers will now be able to offer YouTube in cars equipped with Android Automotive, the operating system directly integrated into their dashboards.

Thanks to a simple software update, it will soon be possible to enjoy the video platform directly on the car's main screen, but only when the car is stationary, of course. Another new feature coming to Android Automotive is the ability to leave automatic messages for incoming calls thanks to suggestions from Google Assistant - including sharing the arrival time - with a simple tap on the screen.

This feature will be available in the coming months in cars with an integrated Google system.

Finally, the Waze navigation application will soon be available in all cars equipped with Android Automotive, including the possibility of locating public charging stations nearby or along a predefined route.

By the end of 2023, Android Auto should be available in nearly 200 million cars worldwide. Meanwhile, the number of cars equipped with Android Automotive is expected to double by that time. Note that this includes models from Chevrolet, Honda, Polestar, Volvo and Renault.


Lotus Eletre launched, partnership with Gentari announced

The Eletre was launched this morning with Gentari announced as Lotus'  charging partner.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Lotus Eletre is launched in Malaysia today.

The all-electric Hyper-SUV is available in three variants and a choice of two powertrains of 603hp and 905hp.

The base Eletre is priced from RM578,000; the Eletre S from RM648,000; and Eletre R from RM798,000. The car is available as a five-seater by default but it can be specified as a four-seater as well.

Lotus Cars Malaysia said it has secured 140 bookings out of 200 units allocated for Malaysia this year.

The unit at launch is a pre-production Eletre S. Local deliveries of the production model will start in Q4 of this year.

At the launch, Lotus also announced it has tied up with Gentari to offer a "special charging package" for Eletre owners. Details of the package would be announced soon.

A Gentari official said a 120kW DC fast charger is likely to be installed at the sole Lotus showroom in Malaysia but discussions are still ongoing.

Gentari has about 150 chargers nationwide with 500 more to be installed this year.

The Eletre delivers several firsts for Lotus – the first model outside sports car segments, the first lifestyle electric vehicle (EV) and the most "connected" Lotus ever.

It features a cab-forward stance, long wheelbase of 3,019mm and very short overhangs front and rear.

The Eletre is built on Lotus’ all-new and highly versatile 800v Electric Premium Architecture (EPA) with an integrated, high-voltage power distribution system. This architecture uses aluminium and high-tensile steel for optimum structural rigidity.

The flat "skateboard-style" battery pack and electric motors are close to the ground to create a low centre of gravity that delivers on the Lotus promise of outstanding dynamic performance.

The versatile platform can also easily adapt to accommodate C+ to E+ vehicle class battery sizes, motors, component layouts and intelligent driving technologies. The platform will be the basis for future premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles from Lotus.

A signature element of the design is its "porosity" – the aerodynamic principle of air flowing through the car as well as under, over and around it. Most obvious are two exit vents on the bonnet that channel air from under the car’s leading edge.

Other examples can be found ahead of and behind the front wheel arches, behind the rear wheels, and even at the top of the D-pillar. Together, they enable less resistance in cutting through the air while delivering more efficiency in terms of improved vehicle range, speed and performance.

The Eletre comes with a choice of two powertrains, each with two electric motors, one driving the front wheels and another driving the rear wheels to deliver all-wheel-drive (AWD) capabilities.

The Eletre and Eletre S are powered by a single-speed system to deliver 603 hp and 710 Nm of torque with 0-100 kph performance of 4.5 seconds and 80-120 kph in less than 2.2 seconds. Both variants are capable of achieving top speeds of 258 kph and a maximum WLTP driving range of 600 km.

The flagship Eletre R comes with a dual-speed system that offers an impressive output of 905 hp and 985 Nm of torque. Capable of delivering a century sprint time of just 2.95 seconds and an acceleration of 80-120 kph in less than 1.9 seconds with a top speed of 265 kph, it is currently the world’s fastest dual-motor pure electric SUV. Maximum WLTP driving for the Eletre R is 490 km.

All three variants have a 112 kWh battery and a 350 kW charger that enables a rapid charging time of 10-80 percent in just 20 minutes. It also comes with the ability as standard to accept 22kW AC charging.

The front of the Eletre has a very sharp and crisp leading edge that reveals a clear lineage with the Emira and Evija.

The rear features a unique floating D-pillar engraved with the Eletre wordmark and an innovative "air blade" which reduces drag.

A full-width LED light strip that can appear in four colours not only indicates battery charge status but plays a role in the car’s theatrical unlocking – the exterior lights run through a short sequence, the active front grille breathes and the flush door handles deploy.

Other styling cues include an aggressively raked windscreen, narrow glass area and muscular haunches that dominate the profile view.

Overall, there is a visual lightness to the car, creating the impression of a high-riding sports car rather than an SUV.

Other standard exterior features include Matrix LED headlamps with high beam spot, LED daytime running lights, LED side lights, LED fog lights, an LED reverse light, welcome home lighting, powered hands-free tailgate with opening height memory, heated washer jets and a fixed gloss black aluminium roof.

The Eletre S and Eletre R add on auto-dimming side mirrors, rear privacy glass and soft door close. The Eletre R also gets a Carbon Pack as standard.

The Eletre rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres with 22-inch 10-spoke silver diamond forged alloy wheels. The Eletre S comes standard with Pirelli P-Zero tyres and 22-inch 10-spoke grey diamond forged alloy wheels. The Eletre R is fitted with the Pirelli P-Zero Corsa performance tyres and 22-inch 10-spoke gloss black forged alloy wheels. For more personalisation, customers can opt for different wheels with five designs to choose from.

All variants come standard with lightweight brake discs and six-piston callipers – in standard black colour for the Eletre and with a choice of colours for the Eletre S and Eletre R.

A front and rear multi-link suspension with air suspension, Continuous Damping Control (CDC), torque vectoring by braking, an active front grille and a "floating" split roof spoiler all combine to deliver optimal aerodynamics, ride and handling.

Eletre’s active front grille is a network of interconnecting triangular petals offering aerodynamic benefits.

Intricately designed, they remain closed when the car is at rest or when there’s a need to reduce drag during driving and open in a distinctive pattern to feed air into the radiator, allowing the Eletre to "breathe" when cooling of the electric motors, battery pack and front brakes is required.

The standard exterior colour for Eletre and Eletre S is Kaimu Grey, while the Eletre R comes in stunning Solar Yellow. At launch, there are six exterior colours to choose from – Natron Red, Galloway Green, Stellar Black, Kaimu Grey, Blossom Grey and Solar Yellow.

Inside, the Eletre is available in four individual seats or layout for five seats along with a fixed panoramic glass sunroof for a bright and spacious feeling.

The interior uses premium feel and highly durable man-made microfibres on the primary touchpoints, and an advanced wool-blend fabric on the seats.

It is 50% lighter than traditional leather, allowing for further weight savings, while hard materials are carbon fibre that are recycled fibres trimmed from the edge of the weave.

The driver-focused cockpit and high centre console are inspired by the Lotus Emira and Evija, creating a cossetted feeling.

Centre display is the latest in OLED touch-screen technology, a 15.1-inch landscape interface which provides access to the car’s advanced infotainment system.

Information can also be displayed to the driver via a head-up display featuring augmented reality (AR) technology, which is standard for all variants.

Every element of the Eletre can be controlled digitally with 95% of functionality available within three touches of the main screen. Voice control through advanced speech recognition technology is also available.

Lotus is also partnering with HERE Technologies to deliver integrated navigation services for the Eletre. The service includes EV Routing, EV Range Assistant and Predictive Routing, and can be updated via OTA updates.

In terms of audio system, the Eletre and Eletre R come standard with a 1,380-watt, 15-speaker KEF Premium setup with Uni-QTM and surround sound technology that delivers a more coherent and hyper-realistic sound experience. For more fun driving, the Eletre R also offers drivers the option of switching to sports motor sound.

The Eletre S is equipped with a 2,160-watt, 23-speaker KEF Reference system with Uni-Q, Uni-Core and surround sound technology that enables high-level performance while reducing the subwoofer or speaker volume significantly.

The Eletre is equipped with a comprehensive suite of intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), many of which are designed to be future-proofed so new features can be enabled via OTA updates.

All variants are available with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a driver monitoring system, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning / Prevention (LKA+), Blind Spot Detection, Traffic Sign Information (TSI), Front and Rear Park Assist, Visual Park Assist and Lotus Intelligent Dynamic Chassis Control.

The Eletre is also equipped with the world’s first deployable LIDAR system to support end-to-end autonomous driving technology and is future-proofed for further development, achievable because of the hardware that’s already integrated. Further capability can be added via OTA software updates, as and when allowed by local market regulations.

The  Eletre is backed by a five-year / 150,000 km manufacturer’s warranty, while the battery is covered by an eight-year / 200,000 km warranty.

All Eletre customers have further opportunities to customise their cars to their requirements using option packs.

Those available at launch include the Lotus Dynamic Handling Pack, Ceramic Brake Pack, Executive Seat Pack, Comfort Seat Pack, Carbon Fibre Pack, Extended Carbon Fibre Pack and Interior Carbon Fibre Pack. Many options from the packs are also available individually.

Two Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Packs are also available – the Parking Pack and a Highway Assist Pack.

Meaning "Coming to Life" in some Eastern European languages, the Eletre's naming convention follows the long line of Lotus rod cars whose names starts from ‘E’.

As of Jan 31, Lotus had received more than 5,000 Eletre orders worldwide.

Last month, Lotus Technology Inc delivered its first Eletre in Shanghai in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Lotus brand.

The first Eletre delivery marks a key milestone in Lotus'transformation into an advanced, fully electric, intelligent, and sustainable luxury mobility provider ahead of its 80th anniversary in 2028.

The company, owned by China's Geely, is now rolling out further deliveries across China, and will begin delivery in the UK and EU later this year.

LOTUS ELETRE SPECIFICATIONS


Drop the chalk: US motorist wins appeal over tickets

                DETROIT: Parking scofflaws unite!

A woman with 14 tickets has won a major decision in a dispute over whether a Michigan city violated the US Constitution by chalking her car tyres without a search warrant.

It's a novel argument. Alison Taylor's lawyer said the Fourth Amendment’s ban against unreasonable searches was triggered when a Saginaw, Michigan, parking enforcer applied chalk marks and returned two hours later to see if the car still was there.

Saginaw cited an exception to the Fourth Amendment, but a federal appeals court said it doesn't fit.

"For nearly as long as automobiles have parked along city streets, municipalities have found ways to enforce parking regulations without implicating the Fourth Amendment,” judge Richard Griffin said in a 3-0 opinion Wednesday.

"Thus, tyre chalking is not necessary to meet the ordinary needs of law enforcement, let alone the extraordinary,” he said.

Parking enforcer Tabitha Hoskins would take notes and sometimes chalk tyres in areas where there was a time limit but no meters. The city said chalking was a signal to motorists that vehicles were being watched.

"The city has significant interests that are furthered by enforcing its parking ordinances through the use of chalk, and these interests greatly outweigh the minimal intrusion that a chalk mark creates,” Saginaw said in a court filing.

The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a ruling in favour of Saginaw and sent the case back to US district judge Thomas Ludington for the next steps.

It was Taylor’s second trip to the appeals court.

Attorney Philip Ellison wants to make the lawsuit a class-action open to other drivers whose tyres were chalked in Saginaw even if they didn't get a ticket.

He has similar lawsuits pending against Bay City and Ann Arbor, where the chalking of tyres also occurred.


Bugatti teases Divo again ahead of full reveal

                PARIS: As teaser images go, the latest ones from Bugatti of its €5 million Divo hypercar don't exactly give a lot away. Even so, they're sure to ramp up the anticipation ahead of the car's full reveal scheduled for Aug 24 at The Quail Motorsports Gathering.

In case a "regular" Chiron doesn't quite have the performance a buyer is looking for, the Divo will be a track-focused hypercar from Bugatti concentrating on ultimate handling and cornering achieved through shedding weight and producing lots of downforce.

Along with a handful of images, the manufacturer has also released a short teaser video showing the rear lighting of the Divo to be significantly different to that of the Chiron. The Divo's tail lights look to be made up of multiple LED elements, which create an almost three-dimensional element to the design.

One of the images shows a vertical fin at the trailing edge of the car's front wheel arch, which is covered in carbon fiber and has a French tricolour motif incorporated into one of the vents. And of course, there's no hiding the fact the Divo will boast a very large rear wing. Although there's no disputing the fact the car is an evolution of the existing Chiron, there appear to be plenty of styling and aero elements that will easily distinguish the Divo from the Chiron.

There's no getting away from the fact this will still be a frighteningly fast car in a straight line, but unlike the Chiron and Veyron before it, the Divo will signal a marked change in direction as this Bugatti will be more concerned with handling than purely focusing on straight-line speed.

Of course, as the new model is expected to share the Chiron's staggering 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 powerplant, there will be no lack of performance on offer from the Divo. The maximum power output should be somewhere in the region of 1,479bhp, with a maximum torque rating of a staggering 1600Nm. Even with the extra downforce to aid handling, the Divo will still be capable of a top speed beyond 370kph, and its 0-100kph time should still be around the 2.5-second mark.

The production run of the Divo will be limited to just 40 units, and the first time the world will get to see it will be in Monterey, California towards the end of August.

> Check out the Divo teaser video on Twitter.


Tesla’s Musk: Fracking threatens electric cars

                DETROIT: Tesla founder Elon Musk warned Tuesday that the fracking boom is a deep threat to the nascent electric car industry, because of its impact lowering gasoline prices.

Musk, who has blazed a trail for all-electric cars with his expensive but popular Teslas, said the oil and gas resources that fracking could potentially release could be 10 times the current available hydrocarbons worldwide.

That could spell low prices for generations.

“The potential harm to the climate is much greater than it was before,” he said in Detroit.

Musk said it was now “more urgent” that mainstream automakers step up investment in electrics as low oil prices prove an incentive to buyers of conventional cars.

“I think we are really going to regret the amount of carbon we are putting in the oceans and atmosphere,” he said.

“If we can maybe go electric sooner, that would be much better for the world.”

Musk, meanwhile, said Tesla was on track despite sales problems in China and the delay to the eagerly-awaited Model X crossover. He said the company would release the gull-winged Model X in the early second half of this year and is aiming to produce half a million electric cars by 2020, up from more than 30,000 in 2014.


Ticket sales for land and air VTL suspended from Dec 23-Jan 20

                JOHOR BARU: The sale of bus and air tickets to Singapore under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) has been suspended following the island republic’s decision to freeze cross-border travel due to the rising number of imported Covid-19 cases.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said ticket sales for VTL-Land and VTL-Sea travel are suspended effective Dec 23 until Jan 20.

“Travellers who have already purchased tickets and fulfil the conditions for VTL-Land and VTL-Sea travel can go ahead with their journey under the special travel lane initiative.

“The sale of tickets for VTL travel will resume on Jan 21 after risk assessments regarding the current Covid-19 situation in Malaysia and Singapore are done.

“However, the ticket quota will be reduced from the existing quota,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the Transport Ministry and International Trade and Industry Ministry have been updated on the instructions regarding Malaysia-Singapore travel.

“The Health Ministry urges all travellers to be responsible and follow the conditions and standard operating procedures outlined for the VTL.

“Perform a Covid-19 self-test routinely to ensure your own safety and (reduce) the risk of infecting other individuals,” Khairy said.


Quality now a key concern for car buyers, says survey

                DETROIT: New research from JD Power finds that more US consumers in the market for a new vehicle have started focusing on a brand's reliability when making a buying decision.

According to JD Power, 55% of the 26,500 people polled cited reliability as a leading reason for purchasing their current car. The percentage of consumers worried about reliability has been steadily rising over recent years; in 2013, 48% of respondents said that it was a serious issue. As this focus increases, so do the number of consumers that say they're actively avoiding certain cars because of their perceived reputation (17%, up from 14% in 2015).

And this is even though interior and exterior styling are still the two biggest reasons why people go for one car over another.

"With so many auto recalls in the news and challenges with the introduction of new technology, consumers are even more attuned to the expected reliability of new vehicles. This impacts which models consumers avoid and which ones they ultimately purchase. Bad news can tarnish an automaker's reputation in an instant, yet, can take years to build back up," said Dave Sargent, vice president, quality practice, JD Power.

The perception of a brand's reliability versus the reality is why it took Audi years to re-establish itself as a marque in the US after accelerator pedal problem allegations in the late 1980s and why, according to JD Power's study, 24% of those avoiding a car because of reliability issues are avoiding an American vehicle. However, the reality is that most mainstream US cars, particularly Buicks, are as reliable as Japanese or European competitors, according to JD Power ratings and indexes.

"Though vehicle reliability and durability have improved significantly over the years, they remain a vital consideration for consumers," said Sargent. "Automakers need to convince consumers of the true reliability of their vehicles so it is not a reason to avoid selecting a particular model."

Still, all carmakers, mass-market and premium can take heart from the fact that on the whole consumers are still loyal to one brand. The top reason for switching to a competitor given in the study was "I simply wanted to try something different."


Toyota's research unit seeks to understand human behaviour and decision making

Bell will head the MAC programme.
SAN FRANCISCO: The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) plans to tap into Machine Assisted Cognition (MAC), a new initiative to develop and demonstrate artificial intelligence tools that can understand and predict human behaviour and how they make decisions.

“A key pillar of TRI’s charter is to explore ‘what’s next’ for Toyota, and MAC is another way TRI can apply its AI expertise to help humans perform better,” said Eric Krotkov, TRI’s Chief Science Officer.

“Our vision is to create a human amplification system for Toyota where people and machines work together synergistically to make better predictions, forecasts and business decisions, and do so more quickly.”

MAC is expected to be scalable, leveraging on the size of the available data or decision-making group.

TRI said its work would be transparent and it would strive to uphold privacy in the collection and use of data.

TRI has hired Franziska Bell as senior director to manage the MAC programme.

She is hiring a new team of interdisciplinary researchers including behavioral scientists and will have oversight of the Accelerated Materials Design and Discovery (AMDD) program led by Brian Storey.

Bell joins TRI from Uber where she served as the Head of Platform Data Science and created working teams around forecasting, anomaly detection and conversational AI.

The MAC team would initially build and test fundamental capabilities. They would study cases that could have a generally applicable solution for many different business functions.

Once a proof of concept has been developed, the group would explore specific capabilities that can support the needs of Toyota users in different parts of the organisation such as sales, product planning, engineering and R&D.

TRI said it hopes that MAC would also contribute to a deeper understanding of human behaviour and help make the world a better place to live in.


Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello: Having a ball

                PETALING JAYA: Over the weekend, Didi Group, the official local distributor of the Moto Guzzi, and Piaggio Asia Pacific hosted the Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Asia Pacific Regional launch at Motoplex Petaling Jaya complete with all the razzle and dazzle.

Motoring journalists from 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region were here in Kuala Lumpur to test-ride the new V100 Mandello.

I was among the journalists invited for the ride, starting from Moto Guzzi Malaysia home at Motoplex Petaling Jaya and heading to Genting Highlands.

The V100 Mandello is a roadster with plenty of tourer characteristics, and boasts a compact liquid-cooled 1,042cc, 90-degree transverse V-twin engine with a six-speed transmission, delivering 115 bhp and 105 Nm of torque.

Its impressive features include a six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, traction control, quickshifter, and the first of its kind in the world -active aero wings.

The standard variant has a Kayaba manual-adjust suspension setup, aero wings, an electrically adjustable screen, four rider modes, LED lights with the iconic winged DRL.

The S, meanwhile, adds tyre pressure monitoring, smartphone integration, and an up/down quickshifter, along with Öhlins semi-active suspension.

I had the opportunity to ride both variants.

Despite its weight of 233kg, the bike's slim design made it easy to manoeuvre through traffic from Motoplex Petaling Jaya to the foothills of Genting Highlands.

It maintained excellent composure at low rpm in the city.

The V100 Mandello is priced at RM99,900 and the S variant is at RM115,900 (prices are not inclusive of registration, road tax and insurance).

On the Karak Highway towards Genting Highlands, the bike provided an exhilarating ride.

My favourite mode was Sport, one of the three available riding modes along with Tour, Road, and Rain.

With every twist of the throttle, the bike effortlessly surged forward.

The torque was amazing and pleasant.

The riding position was comfortable, thanks to the wide and firm seat and handlebars, perfect for long rides.

The gears and clutch worked in unison offering a flawless transition from the first to the sixth gear and vice versa.

It handles corners and bends with ease, offering a smooth highway experience.

In the scenic Genting Highlands, the bike truly shined.

It effortlessly conquered sweeping corners, twisties, and hairpins. I confidently navigated corners, appreciating the outstanding performance of the Öhlins suspension.

The Kayaba suspension on the standard variant was commendable, with no complaints.

The V100 Mandello line-up is fitted with active aero winglets on the fuel tank that reduce wind blasts to reduce rider fatigue, especially during long-distance riding.

I was lucky to experience this, where the winglets effectively popped out to deflect raindrops while riding in the rain mode — a cool feature.

While riding in the mountains, an unexpected encounter with another rider coming into my path forced me to engage in emergency braking.

My heart stopped for a second, but the Brembo brakes and the ABS brought the bike to a stop with ease, and only then I realised that the front callipers bite harder compared to the rear.

My only concern during uphill riding was the bike's weight and it took me about 20 minutes before I could dance with the V100 Mandello in the highlands.

Overall, Moto Guzzi has nailed it with this bike.


Stuck in traffic? Spare a thought for Europe’s capital of chaos

Cars driving by a man in Bucharest on Feb 14. — AP
PRAGUE: It was 8:30am and Valentin Mihai showed a brave face as he inched his Volkswagen Golf past former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s sprawling palace, the largest building on the planet after the Pentagon.

Bucharest was blanketed in a surprise inch or two of snow, but that didn’t make any difference. "At this hour, with or without the snow, it’s just slow,” said Mihai, an Uber driver. "I don’t have the words to describe it.”

Three decades after his demise, the legacy of Ceausescu’s megalomania is to make Bucharest the most congested capital in the European Union for the past three years. The city lags at least a decade behind major European peers in tackling the most pressing issues-traffic and pollution-and they’ve become a a key part of the campaign before local elections.

Nowhere on the continent had such a brutal, chaotic dictator lording over city planning. That was then swiftly followed by a deep love affair with the automobile. Add in a building boom and influx of people to the nation’s economic dynamo, and you have a city that barely moves for hours of the day.

The weight of cars clogging Bucharest streets each day is robbing every driver of nine days and 11 hours of life per year, equivalent to the time it takes for Romania’s main auto exporter to make 15,600 cars.

That’s driving up costs for businesses including delivery, courier and taxi services while the bumper-to-bumper lifestyle is damaging health and threatens to deter investment.

The number of respiratory diseases like asthma alone has tripled in Bucharest during the past five years, especially because of traffic pollution, according to Beatrice Mahler, the manager of the city’s Institute for Pneumology.

Tech giant Ericsson AB would have a hard time choosing Bucharest again for new offices because of the congestion, according to Dragos Rebegea, the Swedish company’s chief in Romania. "We have colleagues who spend two to three hours a day in traffic,” he told local media. "People should come to work with a positive energy, not after being stuck in traffic.”

The Bucharest municipality plans to spend €518 million (RM2.4bil) this year on projects to improve traffic and combat pollution, including maintaining the existing road network and subsidies for public transportation. After buying 400 diesel buses two years ago, it now plans to buy 130 hybrid buses.

There’s also a planned levy, dubbed the "Oxygen Tax,” on higher polluting vehicles. That was due to come into force on Jan 1 and has been postponed as local politicians consider the impact. It would apply to about 13% of the car owners, who would have to pay as much as US$420 a year while one in four cars would be banned entirely from downtown.

Mayor Gabriela Firea, who is vying for re-election this year, has defended the tax, though has floated the option of another postponement following negative reactions. Her critics, such as Ciprian Ciucu, a member of the Bucharest’s local council and a potential challenger for her job, said behavior first needs to change.

"Without urgent solutions, we risk serious health problems,” Ciucu said. "In the longer term, people will up and leave, investors won’t come in anymore and Bucharest will end up as a ghost city.”

From Budapest to Sofia, the most visible influence of communism on getting from A to B are the trams that have always cut through city streets. The most enduring image of Bucharest is a sea of cars, with buses caught up in the bottleneck. The subway’s existing lines only represent 4% of the city’s transportation network and expansion works have been dragging on for 20 years.

Ceausescu was like no other leader in the eastern bloc. His regime was the most repressive and Romania’s economy was crippled by debt. He embarked on huge costly glamor products like the People’s Palace that dominates Bucharest, with public transportation an afterthought.

The country exported whatever it could to pay debt, leading to brutal shortages and even starvation. People had to wait between five and seven years before getting the trademark Dacia car. Gasoline was rationed.

Then came the revolution in 1989 and his execution. Since then, Bucharest’s population has doubled and the number of cars tripled, a status symbol in a country that was deprived of them.

PricewaterhouseCoopers reckons the number of cars reached 1.4 million in 2018, about the size of the city’s population. There’s one parking spot for every five cars, according to Uber.

"The car is part of Romanians’ personal brand, it’s a social label,” said Mihaela Rus, president of the PsihoTrafiQ Association of Psychology and Road Safety.

In the meantime, those who make a living on the Bucharest roads aren’t waiting for congestion to get better anytime soon. The country’s largest on-line retailer, eMag, is among the companies that have resorted to creating their own electronic mapping system that alerts delivery drivers to heavy traffic.

Uber is working on similar technology, gathering its own data points to tackle the challenge of staying on time, said the platform’s local manager, Nicoleta Schroeder.

"There is a crazy amount of cars in Bucharest,” said Schroeder, who said her family has now reduced the number of cars they own from one per person to just one vehicle. "Like everyone, I plan my life around traffic.”


Porsche adds support for Apple Maps EV routing in Taycan

                ATLANTA: Porsche Taycan owners can now use Apple Maps EV Routing to plan their journey.

In conjunction with Apple, Porsche Digital Inc. has enabled the ability for US-based customers to navigate and route-plan using Apple Maps within Apple CarPlay.

That means drivers no longer need to exit the CarPlay ecosystem in order to plot a route that includes charging stops.

Every Taycan comes equipped with the Porsche Charging Planner, which optimises stops based on anticipated state of charge (SOC) upon arrival, traffic conditions, and the average speed.

However, because drivers interact with their vehicles in a multitude of ways, including Apple Maps EV Routing offers more choice in configuring a journey.

“We’ve listened to our customers, and they appreciate flexibility,” says Steffen Haug, Managing Director, Porsche Digital, Inc. “This integration with a product that they are already familiar with gives more options and confidence in how they use their Taycan, both in day-to-day activities and on longer road trips.”

Apple Maps EV routing uses real-time vehicle information to help customers navigate to their destination, recommending charging stops when needed.

By analysing elevation changes along the route and other factors, Apple Maps identifies appropriate charging stations along the way. If a customer drives until the charge gets too low, they are offered a route to the nearest compatible charging station.

Apple Maps EV routing will be available for US-based Taycan owners that have the latest My Porsche app on their iPhone.


How can we make cities more dog-friendly?

                LONDON: People who keep dogs are more likely to own and use cars more, according to a British study.

And that association is observed even more so in cities.

However, some urban planning could be enough to change the situation, reducing the number of times the car is used to take the dog for a walk, a change that would have two benefits, that of reducing CO2 emissions in the air and making one's furry companion happier.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds in England and the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany, published in Transport Findings, shows that there is a strong correlation between the number of kilometres travelled by car per person per year and the number of dogs per household.

According to the research, the more dogs a person has, the more they tend to drive.

So as we try to reduce CO2 emissions in cities, how can we make it easier to be a dog owner who uses the car less?

In the case of cities, it requires making adjustments that take into account animal welfare. In the same way that city centres are increasingly adapting infrastructure to pedestrians and cyclists, certain measures could greatly facilitate the life of dogs and their owners.

A few ideas have been put forward, starting with making cities themselves more dog-friendly.

This requires safe walking areas, far from roads and cars, but also wider, less rutted and better maintained sidewalks. If dog walks in the city are to become more common they must be done in the best conditions, for dog and dog parent.

In addition, there should be more green spaces and potential play areas.

Dogs will thrive much more if they can run and play in a park than if they have to stride across pavement all day long. And if parks are located close to residential areas, this could have a real impact on car travel.

To facilitate outings and to avoid having to depend on the car, dogs should also be welcomed with greater acceptance on public transport, regardless of their size, outside of rush hours.

Finally, at a time when cargo bikes are becoming more and more popular, bicycle solutions adapted to the transport of pets would considerably simplify their outings.


Honda to ramp up sales of electric motorcycles to meet carbon target

                TOKYO: Honda Motor Co plans to launch more than 10 electric motorcycle models globally in the next three years, it said today, part of the Japanese manufacturer's aim to achieve carbon neutrality for motorcycles by the 2040s.

Honda, which dominates the global motorcycle business, faces challenges in shifting to electric, with motorcycles wildly popular in developing economies.

The move to electric may mean heavier vehicles and higher prices, it said, raising barriers to entry for developing market consumers.

Honda said in a release it aims to introduce more than 10 new electric models by 2025 and is targeting annual sales of 1 million electric motorcycles within the next five years.

It also plans to sell 3.5 million electric motorcycles annually, or around 15% of total sales, by 2030.

It added it will equip its electric motorcycles with all-solid-state batteries, which are currently under development.

Along with the push to electric, it said it would not end production for internal combustion engines in its motorcycles.

Instead, it was working on reducing emissions from engines and introducing models compatible with carbon-neutral fuels such as gasoline-ethanol blends.


No self-driving cars yet for Brazil, India, says Ghosn

Ghosn posing with the new Nissan Micra at the Paris show.
PARIS: Autonomous cars will first hit the streets of nations where drivers are “disciplined” and “respect the rules”, the Renault-Nissan group boss said.

In an unequivocal stab at the “flexible” approaches to mapping and driving rules in countries like Brazil and India, Carlos Ghosn said the futuristic vehicles would remain off the cards there for now.

”You need to have a mapping which is precise and reliable... You need to have also driving rules which are being respected, because autonomous cars respect the rules,” Carlos Ghosn told reporters at the Paris motor show last Thursday.

”You know very well that in some cities in Brazil, this is a joke, you live in Brazil, I live in Brazil, at night cars don’t stop at the red light. Nobody stops.”

The Renault-Nissan alliance plans to launch at least 10 driverless cars by 2020.

Ghosn also said that in India’s sprawling metropolis Mumbai, “people don’t always respect the rules.”

He said he believed self-driving cars would come first “to very disciplined driving countries” like Japan, the United States, France or Germany. ”And then little by little we’re going to apply the technology for countries where things are a little bit more flexible.”


Honda Wave Alpha adds new colour, muffler and grab handle

                PETALING JAYA: Boon Siew Honda's top selling model Wave Alpha MMC (Minor Model Change) is now a little more stylish, environmentally friendly and now has better fuel efficiency.

The bike is priced from RM4,535.74 (drum brake and spoke wheels) to RM4,927.94 (disc brake and cast wheels) inclusive of GST and comes with a two-year or 20,000km manufacturer's warranty (whichever comes first).

The bike is now available in a new Pearl Nightfall Blue colour, which expands the usual colours of Pearl Magellanic Black and Vivacity Red.

It also features an enhanced emissions filtering system to help improve its overall performance, while a newly designed muffler and rear grab handle (for cast wheel type only) has been added to enhance its overall looks and appeal.

The 98kg (wet) bike still maintains use of its 109cc four-stroke single-overhead cam engine with 8.2hp at 7,500rpm and 8.6Nm of torque at 5,500rpm that's fed by a 3.7-litre fuel tank and managed by a four-speed manual transmission.

The company also recently announced that the Wave Alpha is among its four motorcycle models that have been certified as Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV), making it the first motorcycle maker to have EEV-certified models.


CES 2020: BMW's iNext will have 5G connectivity

                LAS VEGAS: By 2021, BMW will integrate 5G-connectivity into its vehicles, starting with the all-electric iNext SUV.

For BMW, CES 2020 was an opportunity to share its vision for the future technology that will accompany the market's evolution towards electric powertrains and autonomous driving.

In addition to the exhibits on display at the conference, the company revealed that the upcoming iNext luxury SUV will come equipped with integrated 5G applications, implementations that "will make the BMW Group the world's first premium carmaker to offer the new mobile technology in one of its models."

The iNext will be the first model from the brand to don this connectivity when it launches in 2021, with the others in different vehicle segments following soon after.

Because the company will build 5G SIM cards into the cars, customers will be able to benefit from this tech even if their phone doesn't yet support it. According to the company, 5G connectivity is a necessary component to further develop autonomous technology and enable autonomous driving.


Nissan global sales driven by crossover and SUV models

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan's global crossover and SUV sales increased more than 12% in 2017 to more than 2 million vehicles, driven by the all-new Nissan Kicks small crossover, the Rogue, X-Trail and Qashqai compact models, a refreshed Armada full-size SUV and the Infiniti QX30 compact luxury crossover.

Nissan's global crossover and SUV models increased nearly 13%, while Infiniti luxury crossovers and SUVs were up almost 9% in 2017.

In total, Nissan increased global crossover and SUV volume by nearly 230,000 vehicles last year.

The Kicks benefited from its first full year of sales in Mexico, Latin America and China, reaching nearly 109,000 sales worldwide.

The small crossover will launch this year in the U.S. and Canada and is expected to further accelerate Nissan's crossover momentum.

"The improvement in our global crossover and SUV sales made a significant contribution to Nissan's growth in 2017," said executive vice president for Nissan, Daniele Schillaci.

"We increased crossover and SUV sales by nearly 230,000 units last year and expect our momentum to accelerate in 2018 as we expand Kicks availability to the U.S. and Canada, execute the global launch of the new Infiniti QX50 luxury midsize crossover and start sales of the Datsun CROSS in Indonesia."

The Nissan Rogue, X-Trail and Qashqai platform mates generated more than 1.38 million sales worldwide in 2017, an increase of 10%, and ranked as Nissan's No. 1 platform by volume.

A refreshed Nissan Armada in the U.S. and continued strong sales of the Nissan Patrol in the Middle East helped sales of that platform increase 79% worldwide to nearly 80,000 vehicles, proving that full-size, body-on-frame SUVs are still in high demand by customers all over the world.

At Infiniti, sales of the QX30 compact luxury crossover increased 97% in 2017 to almost 32,000 vehicles during its first full year on sale.

The QX80 full-size SUV continued to gain momentum with more than 21,000 sales worldwide.

Overall, Nissan's record crossover and SUV sales were led by a 94% improvement in Latin America and 16% improvements in both North America and China.


Renault updates subscription plans and bolsters online deals

                KUALA LUMPUR: Renault, through its sole franchise holder in Malaysia TC Euro Cars (TCEC), has updated its Renault Subscription and strengthen its E-Store offerings.

Through a virtual media update event, the company announced an expansion of its Renault Subscription Trial Plan and have altered its Subscription Fixed and Switch plans before adding attractive deals for its vehicles purchased via its E-Store.

Subscription and Renault E-Store
With social distancing in place due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the company has updated and expanded its offerings with affordability and flexibility in mind regardless if its for long or short-term usage.

The Renault Subscription Trial plan is now available at all of its showrooms nationwide, after having started with the Captur at RM399 per week, and customers are now able to sign up unlimited times compared to the previous one-time-only offer.

This is to bring affordability to the mix due to the current Movement Control Order (MCO) which started on March 18 and is currently due to end on May 13.

The Renault Subscription Fixed and Switch Plans

The Fixed Plan has been adjusted to now include the Captur and Koleos models into the three-year plan which previously only offered the Megane R.S. 280 Cup.

While all monthly rates under the Fixed Plan are still inclusive of road tax, insurance, regular servicing costs and an annual mileage cap of 20,000km, with the new updates, customers can now top-up for a total 40,000km, instead of the previous 30,000km.

The update also includes the Renault Subscription Switch Plan which now offers the Captur Trophy at RM1,999 per month while the Switch Prime plan now offers the Koleos at RM3,199 per month.

Under this new Prime Plan, customers will have two months of Renault family access.

Both Switch Plans continue to offer all-inclusive costs and flexibility with no mileage cap, wear and tear coverage and the option to cancel at any time with no penalties.

For affordability, the cost can be included in the monthly fee across the subscription duration instead of a one-lump-sum payment.

The Renault Subscription offerings now include Subscription Trial, Fixed and Switch plans as well as the recently launched Pre-Owned Captur Subscription.

The Pre-Owned Captur Subscription was launched on Renault E-Store and Shopee on April 22 and managed to garner more than 100 paid bookings within three days.

Online Exclusive Deals via Renault E-Store

With the Renault E-Store launched in February, it has allowed for greater savings to be experienced by budding owners.

Customers who purchase a new Renault vehicle online via the E-Store from now to May 31 will receive rebates in the form of instalments for six months.

Other online exclusives for new customers include free five-year or 100,000km service and trade-in rewards worth up to RM8,000.

Customers who choose to Subscribe to a new Renault via the Fixed or Switch plan will enjoy a one-month free subscription.

Opting for the Pre-Owned Captur Subscription plan will have customers enjoy a 50% discount for the first six months of their subscription fee.

Regarding maintenance, the company's Easy Life programme will help to provide a seamless end-to-end purchase or subscription process online via the E-Store - from arranging for test drives to taking delivery of the vehicle.

Door-to-door services will be provided for customers who are able to request for delivery of their purchased or subscribed vehicles as well as pick-up and drop-off for serviced vehicles, through online bookings via the e-store (available within Klang Valley).

Other promotions include a 25% discount on tyres (inclusive of balancing) and a 10% discount for vehicle batteries.

An extended warranty will be provided for customers who need additional time to catch up on their servicing needs and extended operating hours for the service centres once the MCO is lifted

The company also took the opportunity to announce an upcoming new app for Renault Subscription for customers that's due to launch in June.

The app is touted to help to customers better manage their Subscription vehicle with key functions that include a Vehicle Dashboard, Location Tracking, Locking / Unlocking function, trip history, car sharing, reminders, emergency calls and Bluetooth connectivity.

Full functionality will be shared with customers closer to its launch date.

To put customers first, the company has also created its Digital Engagement Team that will handle customer relations via personal call assistants to ensure coordination and follow-ups.

“Digital transformation is now key for businesses and brands to stay relevant in an ever more competitive landscape and with the current pandemic and MCO, digital-first has been accelerated and we believe we are headed towards the right direction by future-proofing our business,” said TCEC chief executive officer Wong Hoe Mun.


New Renault Megane GT previewed

SERI KEMBANGAN: TC Euro Cars, the sole franchise holder of Renault vehicles in Malaysia, has unveiled its future offering of its new Megane GT with a preview of what is to come.The GT is touted to offer a whole new world of driving thrills and sportiness to as many motorists and car enthusiasts as possible by providing  an intermediate performance road car offering to the all-out high performance credentials of Megane R.S..Renault Sport technologies’ engineers have fine-tuned the suspension of the new Megane GT to deliver a spirited ride that is still suited to everyday motoring.The technologies they have adopted, including the 4CONTROL system (four-wheel steering)that allows the rear wheels to turn up to 2.7-degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels at speeds of up to 60kph and 80kph when in Sport mode.Beyond those speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, up to 1.0-degree.The 4CONTROL system calculates the angle of the rear wheels 100 times a second and adjusts them as necessary.Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine providing 205PS at 6,000rpm and 280Nm of torque from 2,400rpm onwards, while managed by a seven-speed EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission.In terms of fit and finish, the Megane GT comes with two chrome-plated exhaust tips, a rear diffuser inspired from the world of Formula 1, LED front headlights, GT and Renault Sport badges and 17-inch wheels.Inside, there's the 7.0-inch TFT instrument display portrait-format 7.0-inch R-LINK 2 touchscreen soft-touch foam dashboard, paddle shifters and four driving modes of Sport, Neutral, Comfort and Perso; customisable cabin lighting of red, sepia, blue and purple as well as the R.S. Drive button to activate the more hardcore Sport Mode.Also fitted is an eight-speaker 3D Arkamys sound system keyless entry with push-start button and star, stop and walk away function, automatic wipers and headlights, follow-me-home lighting, reverse camera, automatic dual-zone climate controls, aluminium pedals, and cruise-control with speed-limiter. and star-stop function.FOr safety, there's six airbags, hill-start assist, electronic stability programme with traction control, anti-lock braking system, emergency brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.


S. Korea's wealthy, passed over by pandemic pain, splurge on Porsches and BMWs

A Porsche Cayenne Coupe is seen on display at its dealership in Seoul. — Reuters
SEOUL: Hwang Min-yong, a 37-year-old South Korean businessman, recently received his black Porsche Cayenne coupe with red leather seats after a seven-month wait and took it out for a spin on a scenic road overlooking a river near Seoul.

“Porsche has been my dream car ... I don’t really feel the effects of COVID-19, as my company is less affected,” said Hwang, who owns a small tech firm.

South Korea’s swift handling of the Covid-19 crisis has provided a backdrop for a sharp increase in demand for premium and luxury cars, dealers and officials said, as wealthy people, insulated from many of the pandemic’s worst effects, want to show off on the road.

“This year will be one of our strongest years,” Porsche Korea CEO Holger Gerrmann told Reuters on Tuesday, as the brand saw sales rise by 46% to 3,433 vehicles as of January-May this year from a year earlier. That compared with 4,285 vehicles in all of 2018, and 4,204 in 2019.

Growing wealth gap

In many ways, experts say, the rising sales of imported cars illustrate the widening wealth gap during the pandemic in South Korea, which already has one of the highest inequality levels among advanced countries.

Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, the monthly average income of the wealthiest 20% of households rose by 6% from January to March, while the poorest 20% of households saw income unchanged.

“The strong sales are testament to the rising consumption power of the top class despite the pandemic,” said Yang Jun-ho, an economics professor at Incheon National University.

He said rich people benefited from rising stock and property prices, while vulnerable workers at mom-and-pop stores lost their jobs. South Korea’s unemployment rate surged to its highest level in more than 10 years in May, government data showed.

But those who can afford it see luxury cars as an alternative to buying property, dealers said.

“In the early 2000s, the price of a BMW 320 was the cost of a Gangnam apartment,” said Ro Chang-whan, a longtime dealer and exporter of used cars. “House prices have gone up enormously since and buying a car is a more realistic choice.”

Sales of imported cars priced over 100 million won (RM352,000) jumped 70% to 15,667 vehicles from January to May this year, compared with a year earlier. Sales of small cars made in Korea fell by 10% from January to April, according to the latest data.

“Porsche and BMW are so popular that there are not enough of them,” said Kim Ryu-bin, a dealer of imported cars.

Strong demand

BMW sales rose 46% to 21,361 vehicles from January to May this year from a year earlier, while Lamborghini sales quadrupled to 115 vehicles during the same period, Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association data showed.

South Korea has surpassed the United States as the top country for sales of the BMW 5 series from January to April this year, according to BMW’s South Korean unit.

“As the virus eases quicker than expected, consumers are going ahead with purchases,” said Kim Hyo-hyun, a BMW dealer in the affluent Gangnam district of Seoul.

Sales of Hyundai Motor’s premium sedan Genesis G80, priced at roughly US$50,000, surpassed that of the US$30,000 Sonata last month and hit a record high.

While demand is strong, supply constraints due to Covid-19 manufacturing shutdowns in Europe and the United States are expected to slow sales, dealers say. Kim said his store expects to see sales fall by one fifth next month.


Nissan ramping up electric cars in China

                BEIJING: Nissan Motor is accelerating the rollout of electric vehicles in China under its main brand and its local, no-frills Venucia marque as it overhauls its strategy in the world’s biggest auto market, say four sources.

Besides the focus on green vehicles, the plan involves using more locally made parts and technologies to reduce costs and help the struggling Japanese carmaker compete better with lower-cost Chinese firms and major global rivals, the sources said.

The China strategy is a key pillar of Nissan’s turnaround, which involves focusing on producing profitable cars for China, Japan and the United States, rather than chasing all-out global growth as it did under disgraced former boss Carlos Ghosn.

“Before we were saying global, global, global, and China was just part of that strategy,” said one of the four people familiar with the plans.

“With regionalisation now replacing globalisation, we have to improve the cost competitiveness of all the components and technologies that go into a car by going totally local,” he said.

Both the Nissan board and the board of its China joint venture Dongfeng Motor Company have backed the plan and some elements of the new strategy will be unveiled at the Shanghai auto show in April, the sources said.

Nissan plans to launch three cars in China this year: the new all-electric Ariya crossover, a significant redesign of its X-Trail sport utility vehicle (SUV) and a hybrid Sylphy compact car using its e-Power technology, the sources said.

At least one new Nissan car will hit the Chinese market each year through 2025, with most either fully electric or hybrids equipped with autonomous and smart driving technology, the sources said. One is likely to be an e-Power X-Trail.

Two of the sources said the plan also involves turning Venucia more into a brand for affordable electric vehicles (EVs), though details are still being worked out. The idea is to price new Venucia EVs well below its current cheapest EV - the e30 mini car - which starts at 61,800 yuan (RM39,000).

All four sources work for Nissan and spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to reporters.

Nissan declined to comment on its future product strategy.

“China is a core market for Nissan and Nissan is getting prepared to launch a slew of technologies including e-Power technology to fulfil customers’ aspirations,” a Nissan spokesman said. He also confirmed the Ariya would be launched in 2021.

‘China-specific cars’

Despite being one of the world’s first automakers to fully embrace fully electric cars with its best-selling Leaf, Nissan has fallen behind Toyota and Honda, analysts said. Both launched a slew of new hybrids in China in 2019 and 2020 which has helped boost their sales.

“Nissan has nothing to show off in terms of green cars in China today,” said Yale Zhang, head of consultancy Automotive Foresight in Shanghai. “That’s hurting their image and, most importantly, sales.”

Nissan’s new China strategy is also a response to growing competition from price-competitive Chinese automakers such as Geely Automobile, GAC Motor, and BYD, two of the sources said.

One of the sources said a new focus on “China-specific” cars designed to appeal to local tastes underpinned Nissan’s more decisive turn towards electrified models. That should mean bolder grilles, sharp-looking headlamps and tail lights as well as richer, softer and more sumptuous vehicle interiors.

Many local brands are now producing better-quality cars and that’s putting pressure on Nissan’s mainstream cars, as well as vehicles produced by other global automakers.

The most critical part of Nissan’s China-specific strategy, however, is to make cars with more parts and technologies procured within the country to slash costs.

After posting its first loss in 11 years, Nissan is scrambling to slash its production capacity and models by about a fifth and to cut fixed costs by 300 billion yen ($2.9 billion) over three years.

Nissan expects to post a record operating loss of 340 billion yen in the year ending March 31.

Two of the sources said there wasn’t necessarily a cost-cutting target for the China initiative.

However, Nissan is worried about the potential hit to profitability from increasingly stringent emissions and fuel-economy rules, as well as a likely rise in the cost of materials such as steel, other metals and semiconductors, they said.

Green-car credits

Under the new China plan, parts engineered and procured locally should go well beyond bumpers, seats and lamps to include more complex technologies such as sensors and electric power inverters, three of the sources said.

Batteries for Nissan’s e-Power models, for example, will be locally developed and sourced from China’s Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co.

Nissan’s new plan is modest in terms of volume growth. It is simply aiming to outpace the overall Chinese market for cars and light commercial vehicles, which Nissan expects to grow by about 10% to 25 million vehicles by 2025, one source said.

Nissan’s previous “Triple One” China plan aimed to boost annual sales to 2.6 million cars by 2022 but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed it. Nissan sold 1.46 million cars last year, down from 1.56 million in 2018 when that plan was unveiled.

While Nissan’s performance in China last year was broadly in line with an overall 6% decline in passenger car sales due to the coronavirus, its Venucia brand fared particularly badly.

Established in 2012 to compete with local brands making cheap, gasoline-fueled cars, Venucia’s sales peaked in 2017 at 143,206 before sliding to 79,000 last year. The plan is to relaunch Venucia more as a brand for affordable EVs though it won’t be going fully electric for now, two sources said.

Carmakers in China need to make enough so-called New Energy Vehicles to win green-car credits which then offset negative points from their production of combustion engine vehicles.

Nissan looks set to fall short of credits so it would either have to buy them from rivals, or step up its EV production. As buying credits would eat into profitability, it is favouring the second strategy, one of the sources said.

Cheaper EVs made locally by global rivals such as General Motors through joint ventures have also proved to be a success story with customers, especially in big cities.

Launched in July, GM’s tiny Wuling MINI EV has already become China’s best selling electric vehicle, knocking Tesla’s Model 3 sedan off its perch.

“We don’t have enough electric cars in China. The new plan for Venucia is all about changing that more decisively,” said one of the sources familiar with Nissan’s plans.


Kia promises fastest accelerating model ever

                SEOUL: A car that goes from 0-100kph in 5.1s should make it the fastest Kia ever.

This is the teaser being flashed out by Kia for its upcoming rear-wheel drive GT model.

It is expected to take the shape of a liftback and could have a top speed of from 244kph to around 280kph.

Several 4-cylinder diesel and petrol engine options will be available in the 2018 model and the range topper is expected to get a biturbo 3.3-liter V6.

The production-ready Kia GT will be unveiled at the Detroit auto show next month.


Perodua enrols first candidates into Malaysian Vehicle Inspection Management System

                RAWANG: Perodua has enrolled the first candidates into Malaysia’s first official Vehicle Inspection Management System (VIMS) course offered at the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics, and IoT Institute (MARii) training facility here.

Conducted by AucNation Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company with Automobile Inspection System Inc., Japan (AIS), the course covers analyses of the condition of used or traded-in vehicles to determine which exterior or interior parts need replacing or refurbishing.

According to its website, AIS was established in 1996 and independently inspects used cars and motorcycles throughout Japan.

“We applaud MARii for bringing this initiative to Malaysia, where the entire automotive industry will benefit from a standardised method of valuating vehicles.

“For Perodua, having certified valuators recognised by the government will fortify our Pre-Owned Vehicle (POV) business as our customers will be assured of international standards,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Zahari Husin.

READ MORE: VIMS new player in used car certification

He said Perodua has enrolled 40 of its valuators in the programme, and that they will be relocated to the company’s sales outlets to assist customers in trading in their vehicles after finishing the course.

“We also have pre-owned Perodua vehicles for sale with limited warranty at the Perodua KL showroom in Jalan Pahang," said Dr Zahari.

VIMS comprises two analyses: visual analysis (VA) and diagnostic analysis (DA). VA covers the vehicle’s exterior, while DA is conducted using an On-Board Diagnostic 2 (OBD2) device that inspects the vehicle electronically.

“This course, offered by AucNation, is open to all OEMs and interested individuals in order to have a more efficient and uniform used vehicle market,” said MARii CEO Datuk Madani Sahari.

“MARii believes that having an independent body which scientifically and objectively determines the health of pre-owned vehicles will give a more accurate indication of their roadworthiness.

“This, in turn, will further shape the end-of-life vehicle initiative."


F1 champion Hamilton launches Extreme E team

                LONDON: Six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has announced he was entering a team in the Extreme E competition, a new electric off-road racing series that aims to shed light on environmental issues.

It will be Hamilton's first foray into motorsport team ownership, although he will not drive or be involved in the day-to-day operation of his X44 team — named after his car number at Mercedes.

Competitors will race electric vehicles in five remote locations — arctic, desert, rainforest, glacier, and coastal — that are already damaged or at risk from climate change.

Extreme E is scheduled to begin in January 2021. Electric SUVs will race in Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Greenland and Brazil, with each race being held across two days.

To minimise environmental impact, they will not be open to spectators and the command centre for the championship series will be a ship, modified to minimise emissions.

Britain's Hamilton, 35, who is closing in on a record-equalling seventh F1 title, has been vocal on a range of issues, including the environment and racial injustice.

"Extreme E really appealed to me because of its environmental focus," said Hamilton. "Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact.

"Not only will we visit remote locations facing the front line of the climate crisis, we will also work closely with these locations and leading climate experts to share our knowledge and leave behind a positive legacy in each location which goes far beyond the race track."

Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO at Extreme E, said he was delighted that Hamilton was on board.

"Lewis is hugely passionate about motorsport, but also shares our belief that we can use sport to highlight subjects which are vital to the world, such as climate change and equality," he added.


Your safety is in your hands, drivers told

A university student was killed in an accident along Jalan Tun Razak after his car was hit by a BMW travelling against traffic.
PETALING JAYA: Road users must take responsibility for their own safety at all times, even though authorities are pulling out all the stops to ensure road safety during the festive season.

Some of the most shocking accidents on the road this year involved those driving against traffic flow.

On April 2, a 65-year-old wireman was killed in a head-on collision with a car on the Penang Bridge while he was riding his motorcycle against traffic.

A 26-year-old factory worker died when his car was struck by a 19-year-old girl driving her vehicle against traffic on the North-South Expressway near Permatang Pauh, Seberang Prai, on March 14.

On Feb 16, a 21-year-old university student was killed when a car going against the flow of traffic crashed into his vehicle along Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

Driving in the wrong direction is only one of many dangerous acts committed by some road users.

Statistics provided by Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Road Safety Research Centre (RSRC) showed that dangerous turns, speeding, reckless overtaking, tailgating, beating the red light, failing to use turn indicators and overloading were among the 10 major offences leading to accidents in 2015.

Those offences accounted for 8,182 accidents that year, of which 3,459 were fatal.

There were 23,110 other accidents that did not involve human error.

In the category for accidents caused by mechanical failure, RSRC found that 779 in 2015 were caused by faulty brakes, bald or disintegrated tyres, defective lamps, broken windscreens, faulty steering wheels, and excessive exhaust smoke. Of that, 399 were fatal accidents.

Another 30,513 accidents were caused by other kinds of mechanical failure.

RSRC head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said road users should take the initiative and ensure their own safety, instead of relying on authorities to do the job.

For example, it is safer for road users to make long journeys during the day instead of at night when they are more likely to be sleepy and tired.

If their vehicle breaks down on an expressway, the occupants should stand behind the guardrail, not at the back of their stalled vehicle.

“This is so that the vehicle is visible to oncoming traffic, which could prevent a collision,” Dr Law said.

A particular group of road users that has become a cause for concern is motorcyclists who reportedly account for more than 60% of accidents this year.

Dr Law said motorcyclists, who are 22 times more likely to get into accidents compared to other road users, have to take extra precautions, such as travelling in groups and wearing brightly-coloured clothing, including a reflective vestor white helmet, to increase visibility.

“Another affordable solution is to place reflective stickers on their helmets. This would help increase their visibility to drivers of heavy vehicles in particular,” he said.

Several integrated operations and road safety campaigns, such as Ops Selamat, Ops Bersepadu and Ops Hari Raya, were launched nationwide last week in preparation for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.


Volkswagen CEO sees autonomy transforming cars more than electrification

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen AG is undergoing the world’s largest industrial overhaul for the electric-vehicle age, plotting half a dozen battery plants just in Europe and retooling assembly lines around the globe.

And yet, its chief executive officer sees autonomous-driving technology bringing about an even bigger shift.

“This change will transform the industry more than EVs or the electrification does,” VW CEO Herbert Diess said in an interview for Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum. “The car becomes so different when it’s driving autonomously.”

Diess’s view may surprise some auto industry observers, given the breadth of VW’s electric revamp and the level of disillusionment that’s set in for autonomous-vehicle technology.

While Google’s Waymo LLC started offering driverless rides in robotaxis late last year, the service is limited to the Phoenix suburbs.

Other companies including Tesla Inc. and Ford Motor Co. have made predictions about the technology’s readiness that haven’t panned out. Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. both reached deals recently to sell their self-driving units.

While development is taking longer than many expected, automakers and technology firms are continuing to plow billions into trying to automate driving.

The consulting firm AlixPartners expects the cost of highly and fully autonomous systems to drop at least 60% by 2030 and enable broader use cases.

With probably 10-times more lines of code than what is on a smartphone, cars are already software products and will be “the most sophisticated internet device you can imagine” when they’re rendered driverless, Diess said.

VW is working towards offering autonomous driving in key markets worldwide.

Joint efforts with Ford and affiliate Argo AI LLC in the US are making good progress, Diess said. In China, VW’s largest market, it’s partnered with local tech companies to be among the first to offer autonomous driving, mostly in private cars.

Regulation in Europe has improved recently, Diess said. VW announced last month that it plans to offer a highly automated version of the hippie-era microbus it’s reviving as an electric van and will start test drives in Hamburg this year.

VW is spending about €2.5 billion (RM12.4bil) a year on boosting its software capabilities.

Although Diess acknowledged there’s “still a lot missing” to turn Europe’s largest automaker into a software powerhouse, he argued the industrial giant shouldn’t be counted out.

“We’re in quite a good position to remain a very strong player in this future automotive world, in ‘new auto,’ as we call it,” Diess said.


Lotus Eletre world premiere on March 29

LONDON:  The world premiere of the Lotus Eletre is set to take place tomorrow night.

Eletre – it is pronounced ‘El-etra’ and means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages – is the first lifestyle electric vehicle from Lotus. It is also touted as the world’s first pure electric hyper-SUV.

The name was revealed on Sunday in central London as a bespoke yellow cube containing the car made its way up the River Thames on a specially commissioned boat.

Watch the covers come off live from 19.30 BST (2.30am Wednesday in Malaysia) at www.lotuscars.com or on Facebook or YouTube.


Falken unveils latest ZE914 and SN832i tyres

                KUALA LUMPUR: Stamford Tyres, the exclusive distributor of Falken tyres, has unveiled a pair of tyres that’s designed to suit the needs of small to mid-sized vehicles, namely the Sincera SN832i and the sport-comfort Ziex ZE914.

The Falken Sincera, priced from RM150 to RM380, comes in 33 sizes ranging from 50 to 70 series profiles and can be fitted onto wheels sizes ranging from 12 to 16-inch.

The Japanese tyre maker claims its Sincera tyre is capable of delivering high levels of durability thanks to its widened reinforced internal steel belt for better mileage while providing maximum wear performance.

With an enhanced level of rigidity for the tread’s pattern, the tyre is said to be resistant to irregular wear with a four-rib pattern design to help maintain the size and strength of the pattern blocks.

This helps to optimise its footprint to ensure contact pressure is evenly distributed across the entire tread and with a rounded profile strain on the tyre can be evenly distributed while reducing deformation levels.

The sportier Ziex is currently fitted on the Volkswagen Passat as standard and is currently available in 56 sizes from 35 to 65 series and can be fitted on 15 to 18-inch wheels, while bring priced from RM220 to RM900.

The tyre has been endowed with the comfort of users in mind as well as their safety with a new heat-resistant and silica-rich rubber compound formulation to enhance wet performance with less rolling resistance to help improve fuel economy.

Lastly, the large shoulder block pattern helps increase durability by decreasing shoulder wear and subsequently helps increase the tyre’s resistance to irregular wear.

In doing so, it helps maintain an optimum footprint with an evenly distributed contact pressure across its entire tread.


Peugeot 2008 Allure: Fanged elegance

                Going by first impressions, the latest Peugeot 2008 certainly has killer appeal.

It looks smart and stylish both inside and out, making it quite the desirable car to be seen driving.

For Malaysia, the second-generation 2008 is now locally assembled and its distribution has been rejigged ever since Stellantis decided to take a more hands-on approach.

The changes have seen Bermaz Auto Alliance taking over distribution from the Naza Group, while Stellantis is in charge of assembly after having acquired the Naza plant in Gurun, Kedah, which is the hub for regional export. The 3008 and 5008 are also produced there.

With local assembly under way, the 2008, only available in the Allure trim, is priced more competitively in a crowded segment filled by the likes of Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3, Renault Captur and Proton X50.

Peugeot is quick to point out that the 2008 has been acclimatised to local conditions, having run it through 200,000km of testing in Malaysia.

Clear identity

Featuring a sporty demeanour, the 2008’s front end looks menacing with LED claws as daytime running lights that extend into the bumpers as single fanged lights to confer a sabre-toothed look that’s distinctive and brand specific.

Together with the grille that comprises assorted chrome bits overlaid over one another, the face succeeds in giving the 2008 an overall appearance that’s sophisticated and aggressive.

In profile, short front and rear overhangs give the SUV a sporty stance. An upper crease that forked out at both ends complements a lower chrome bar and contrast-coloured side mirrors to inject dynamism to sheetmetal. While the two-tone 17-inch alloys are attractive, they are smallish and result in large wheel gaps.

The sides lead to a curvy derriere that is no less appealing, echoing the 3-claw signature effect in the slim taillights paired with a beefy bumper.

Plainly innovative

The interior looks avantgarde anchored by Peugeot’s i-Cockpit that is equipped with a 7-inch infotainment screen, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a small steering wheel that looks about right in a compact SUV.

Information is presented in the driver’s line of sight and the 3D instrument cluster projects a hologram-like display that are dynamic and animated.

Interior features include single-zone auto climate control, leatherette seats and Drive Mode selector (Normal, Eco and Sport mode) and mood lighting.

The 2.6-metre wheelbase is enough to fit five people in relative comfort though the good legroom in the rear comes at the expense of less thigh support.

At 405 litres, there’s usable boot space that can be enlarged further with rear seats that fold 60:40.

Mind the cons

However, the 2008 shows signs of building to a price. There are no paddle shifters, no rear air-cond vents and no sunroof. In addition, front seats are manually operated and so is the tailgate.

It’s a constant grouse that the glove box is so tiny because of an intrusive fusebox as Peugeot has never gone full hog to do a proper right-hand drive conversion for the few RHD markets that it serves.

The bonnet lock could also be a source of irritation and reflects on build quality. Our 2008 and another test unit — gasp! — had a jammed lock that refused to shut the bonnet tight and only after some amount of jiggling the cable and locking mechanism would it do its job.

So open the bonnet and slam it shut multiple times to check if there’s a problem — even if you do get a strange look from the Peugeot salesman.

Safety-wise, the 2008 comes with a 180° rear view camera, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Electronic Stability Programme and Active Safety Brake aka autonomous emergency braking.

Out and about

A 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged PureTech petrol engine powers the 2008, and is good for 130hp and 230Nm of torque. A six-speed automatic relays power to the front wheels.

For the most part, driving the 2008 is a brisk affair.

It’s a slow starter, but once “in the zone” when peak torque wells up early at 1,750rpm, the SUV is thrust forward at a rapid clip.

The 2008 is up to the task when ascending a hilly road; it should be able to do the Genting climb without huffing and puffing for dear life. And the driver will definitely enjoy it.

Corners are tackled confidently, aided by a precise steering and rigid chassis that smooth out the maneouvre.

In city driving, the 2008 is an amiable and quiet runabout, with a light steering feel that’s right for the occasion.

However, the 2008 can get a little twitchy when ploughing over rutted surfaces, and this may be due to a very firm ride that has a torsion beam holding up the rear end.

Cabin insulation is good up until the 2008 hits triple digit speeds and wind noise starts to seep in.

Verdict

There’s a lot to like about the 2008. It has style and elegance in spades.

If you can get past the tiny glove box, and other foibles mentioned earlier, the 2008 and its RM127K price tag makes it an attractive alternative compact SUV that stands out from the crowd.

SPECIFICATIONS Peugeot 2008 AllureEngine: 1,199cc, PureTech, turbo, 3-inline cylinders, DOHC, 12 valves, Dual VVT
Maximum power: 130hp at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 230Nm at 1,750rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Features: LED headlights, rear combination taillights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, 7-inch centre touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto-ready, 3 drive modes, single-zone automatic climate control, leatherette seats with 60:40 split rear seats, manually-adjusted front seats, reverse camera, six airbags, Electronic Stability Programme, Hill Start Assist, Isofix points, High Beam Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Active Safety Brake
Suspension: Front MacPherson struts; rear torsion beam
Top speed: 199kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 4.5 l/100km (NEDC)
Boot capacity: 405 litres
Price: RM126,753 (OTR without insurance)


Atlas automotive operating system launched, partners announced

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian tech company ACO Tech today launched its Atlas automotive operating system (OS).

It also announced it has partnered with Fass Payment Solutions, UOB Bank and Five Petroleum Malaysia to introduce an in-car payment system called Atlas Pay that will be ready by the end of 2022.

ACO Tech said it has installed Atlas OS in over 10,000 cars.

Among them are the Proton Persona and Iriz. Although the X50 is running on Geely software, Proton is expected to localise the system by switching soon to the Atlas OS, which rides on Android 10.

The latest build has made it more user-friendly. Other future models may adopt the locally made OS.

The launch and partnership ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Transport Dr Wee Ka Siong and ACO Tech chairman Dr Li Chunrong. Dr Li is also Proton CEO.

Atlas is an operating system built as an automotive system solution that runs on the open source Android 10 platform and above.

Specifically designed to integrate the concept of "humanised connected lifestyle into the drivers’ automotive experience", Atlas is a scalable ecosystem that can be customised into the automaker’s development cycle.

Under the partnership, ACO Tech will collaborate with the three partners to jointly provide a car-based digital wallet system and an integrated automotive payment system that are tailored for the in-car environment.

ACO Tech CEO Li Pu said the company is working out a deal with a global audio streaming player, believed to be Spotify, to be part of its ecosystem.

An announcement would be made by the end of June, he added.

At the same event, ACO Tech has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand its
partnership with Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to continuously develop cloud-based automotive solutions on Huawei Cloud for the regional markets.

The extended collaboration will see both companies leverage their technological capabilities to accelerate innovations in software applications for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to further promote the adoption of the smart mobility lifestyle.

“As auto manufacturers strive to deliver a connected and personalised driving experience to the consumers, it is imperative for Atlas to be agile, scalable and ever-evolving," said Li Pu.

"While ensuring our technology capabilities are optimised to rapidly adapt to the demanding needs, building relationships with industry partners continues to be a priority for ACO Tech to provide innovative in-car experiences that make perfect sense to the drivers.

"Essentially, our vision for our technologies is to enrich and complement every part of our users’ lives in the best way possible."

> ATLAS FACT SHEET


Fully-electric Volkswagen ID.3 cheaper than Golf

                WOLFSBURG: The basic version of the fully-electric C-segment Volkswagen ID.3 passenger car will be less expensive in Germany in terms of acquisition and operation than comparable internal combustion models.

The basic version with a range of 330km costs less than 23,430 euros in Germany, following deduction of the environmental bonus.

It is therefore at least as inexpensive as comparable models such as the Golf Life.

In addition, ID.3 drivers in Germany save about 840 euros per year on operating expenses.

Among other items, there is no road vehicle tax, no oil changes are required and the ID.3 is assigned to a less expensive insurance class (class 17).

Energy costs are also lower.

“With the ID.3, the electric car will finally become affordable. This model is entirely fit for everyday use and even costs less than an internal combustion model thanks to the environmental bonus,” says Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for E-Mobility.

”The ID.3 will be introduced to the market in the summer, as announced.”

Silke Bagschick, Head of Sales and Marketing, e-mobility Product Line, says: “The price is no longer an argument against but rather an argument for the electric car. Leasing offers make the changeover easy and reduce uncertainty. In future, the electric car will also be attractively priced even without subsidies.”


Ford offers RM7,000 cash rebate on Ranger WildTrak

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion  is offering a cash rebate of RM7,000 for new buyers of the Ranger WildTrak.

The Ranger WildTrak promotion will be ongoing until further notice.

Customers can also take advantage of the current "Ford Ranger XLT Family Promotion" which ends on May 31  – with  savings of up to RM 9,000 for Ranger XLT 2.2L, RM8,000 for Ranger XLT Special Edition and RM 7,188 for XLT Plus.

All Ranger vehicles come with a full manufacturer’s warranty of three years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first.

Those interested in the promotions can reach out to Ford’s Digital Salesperson from 9am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.

Customers  need to WhatsApp +6019-204 1200 to start chatting where queries will be attended to within 24 hours.

“We know the Ranger WildTrak has always been a crowd favourite. That is why, we are offering a RM7,000 cash rebate starting today, and we hope that this would lessen the financial burden for customers who are considering it,” said Sime Darby Auto ConneXion managing director Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz.


Seasoned biker heading to China in 'Ride For Sight'

Adib posing with his trusty Yamaha FZ150i in Karak.

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Adib, 33, or better known as Adib has planned it all out to ride his motorcycle from Penang to China.

The objective of the long ride is to assist the St. Nicholas Home in Penang. St Nicholas is a non-government body that trains the visually impaired and the blind from age 6 to 77. The home strives to help the blind and visually impaired to be integrated into society through the skills imparted.

Adib's 27-day ride to China is called Ride For Sight and will start from Penang.

“My ride kicks off on Nov 20 and ends on Dec 15,” he said.

 Adib has ticked off Sri Lanka on his list of places to travel to.

The riding route will be from Penang to Thailand to Golden Triangle Border (Myanmar, Thailand and Laos) to Shangri-La to Tibet to Kunming to Laos to Thailand and back to Penang. Adib will be riding his trusted Yamaha FZ150i.

Being no stranger to overland rides, Adib did a solo ride around Peninsular Malaysia in 2013.

In 2016, he continued with the Ride Solo 7 Nations Expedition (Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Laos and Myanmar). Last year, he took part in the Colombo Bike Week in Sri Lanka.

In conjunction with the Ride For Sight, Adib is selling specially designed t-shirts. Details on the t-shirts are available on Adib’s personal FB page – Mohd Adib and Kembara Jiwa.

Adib said 10% of the proceeds from the t-shirt sales would be donated to St. Nicholas Home. Prices are RM50 for short sleeve and RM60 for long sleeve.

For more information, call Adib at 016-4374748. — A. NACHI


New Lamborghini centre opens in Glenmarie, Shah Alam

                SHAH ALAM: Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur has opened a new showroom and service centre in Temasya Industrial Park Glenmarie under a new distributor.

In partnership with SunAgata Supercars Sdn Bhd, the sole authorised dealer and aftersales service provider for Lamborghini cars in Malaysia, the full-service centre is set to deliver high standards of attention and quality. The previous  distributor was JH Italia Sdn Bhd.

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A  had previously announced that SunAgata Supercars was assigned the distribution rights from Jan 1, 2021.

Visitors to the showroom will be immersed in Lamborghini's cutting-edge style characterised by polygons, clean lines and modern architecture.

It also features a state-of-the-art Ad Personam configuration display which brings the personalisation experience to life.

Customers will also get the opportunity to physically touch and customise their own combinations of colours and materials including carbon fibre and soft leather.

A Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae was unveiled for the first time in Malaysia during the centre's opening yesterday.

The latest Aventador version is the final production model and comes with the highest performing standard production naturally aspirated V12 in Lamborghini history.

Automobili Lamborghini region director for Asia Pacific Francesco Scardaoni said the new dealership is a tangible demonstration of Lamborghini's strong and highly-acclaimed global branding.

"We believe that the strong partnership between Lamborghini and SunAgata Supercars will effectively communicate our brand values as well as deliver an unparalleled customer ownership experience," he said.