CKD Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 in AMG Line launched at RM476K

                PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today announced the availability of the locally assembled GLE 450 4MATIC AMG Line.

The seven-seat SUV is priced at RM475,501.

With a turbocharged six-cylinder engine generating a thunderous 367hp, this GLE variant is powered by a 3.0-litre engine with the extended DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes. Also, the new SUV is built with the latest developments in the air suspension system AIRMATIC with enhanced damping system ADS, a 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission, state-of-the-art driver assistance systems and the new MBUX.

Featuring an AMG Line exterior, the GLE 450 dials up its expressive and sporty character to the highest level. Its body styling features the iconic diamond radiator grille with chrome pins, sporty aprons all-round with large air inlets, MULTIBEAM LED headlamps and 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels.

The full-sized luxury SUV features the AIRMATIC package, an adaptive damping system that meets modern air suspension resulting in an intelligent comfort suspension which is able to adjust automatically to the driving conditions, speed and load.

The interior is spacious and conveys exclusivity and wellbeing. Fully digital instruments visually float on a linear-themed dash.

Open-pore oak wood trim elements flow door-to-door and into a console integrating prominent twin grab handles and anthracite.

The GLE features the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) NTG 6 with two 12.3 widescreen displays that includes a digital touch screen media display. Other class-leading highlights and innovation includes the Burmester Surround Sound System and the 64-colour ambient lighting. Third row seating raises the GLE to a seven-seater.

The GLE 450 4MATIC AMG Line is also equipped with best-in-class safety and driving assistance systems including Active Distance DISTRONIC, Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and a 360-degree camera for all-round visibility.


PLUS rubbishes claims it is offering 50% toll discount for Johor voters

                PETALING JAYA: Highway concessionaire PLUS Malaysia Bhd has denied rumours that it is offering a 50% toll discount for those travelling back to Johor to vote.

“PLUS denies issuing a media statement offering a 50% toll discount for those who travel back to Johor to vote, which went viral recently," said the operator of the North-South Expressway.

“PLUS views the illegal use of the company logo in the false statement to mislead the public seriously and is working with relevant authorities for action against the perpetrators.

“Aside from reliable media agencies, all media statements from PLUS are disseminated through the company’s official channels, including its social media pages,” the statement read.

The purported press release claimed that PLUS would halve the tolls starting March 11 for all highway users returning to Johor to cast their votes.


Beijing to limit cars, factories to ensure clean air for war anniversary

                BEIJING: Beijing will limit the number of vehicles on the streets and shut factories to ensure clean air during a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, the government and media said today.

The heavily polluted capital, often cloaked in a choking grey haze, will hold a military parade on Sept. 3, which is likely to centre around Tiananmen Square in the heart of the city.

The parade will be a highlight of a series of events the government has planned for the anniversary of Japan's formal surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

From Aug. 20 to Sept. 3, the city will halve the number of vehicles allowed on the streets, restricting cars according to their licence plate numbers, the People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's official newspaper, said on its microblog.

The city will also impose temporary controls on industry, coal-burning boilers and construction, forcing them either to stop or curb operations during the period, the government said on its microblog account on Weibo.

The capital, which has been enveloped by smog for the past few weeks, often enacts pollution controls ahead of major events such as the 2008 Olympic Games and a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum leaders last year.

The city government said it was drawing from the experience of the 2008 Games and the APEC meeting to ensure "the full protection of air quality during the commemoration".

On Saturday, the Xinhua state news agency said authorities would impose temporary air traffic restrictions over Beijing during the military parade.

Workers will also be given three days off over the anniversary, ostensibly to ease congestion.

Chinese communist and nationalist forces battled Japanese forces that occupied much of China during World War Two.

The Chinese forces later fought a civil war which communist forces won in 1949.


Ducati pays tribute to 916 with limited-edition Panigale V4

                SAN JOSE: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ducati 916, the Italian motorcycle maker is producing a limited edition of the Panigale V4. Only 500 Ducati Panigale V4 25o Anniversario 916 will be produced.

The bike was officially unveiled by champion Carl Fogarty last Friday at Pebble Beach, California, in the lead-up to the US round of the Superbike World Championship at Laguna Seca.

The Panigale V4 25o Anniversario 916 features a new livery and exclusive components.

The Ducati 916 is an iconic sportsbike designed by Massimo Tamburini which was produced between 1994 and 1998. It marked a generation with its elegant, powerful style. On the track, it won numerous Superbike titles in partnership with Carl Fogarty.


Hyundai Motor Group develops smartphone-based Digital Key

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai Motor Group announced the development of a ‘Digital Key’, which allows users to unlock and start their Hyundai vehicle via their smartphone.

Replacing a traditional physical key, the new Digital Key can be downloaded via an app and used by up to four authorized people.

The Digital Key can be downloaded via a cell phone application and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology detects the presence of an authorized Digital Key-enabled cellphone in close proximity to the vehicle door.

The NFC antenna for entry identification is located in the handles of the driver and front passenger’s doors, whilst one for starting the engine is located within the wireless charging pad.

After unlocking the vehicle, the user can start the engine by placing the smartphone on the wireless charging pad in the center console and pressing an engine Start/Stop button on the dashboard.

The user’s preferred vehicle settings are stored in the vehicle. When the key is recognized those settings are adjusted automatically – including the position of mirrors, seats and the steering wheel, as well as controls for the audio, video and navigation (AVN) systems and head-up display.

READ MORE:
Some Hyundai and Kia cars to get solar charge-ups from 2019
Hyundai and Kia unveil driverless car-charging and parking concept
Hyundai reveals world-first driverless fuel cell vehicle

Hyundai’s Digital Key can be used to control selected vehicle systems remotely via their smartphone. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, users can lock and unlock the vehicle, activate the alarm and start the engine. In addition, once the vehicles with autonomous parking features are commercialized, such features are also expected to be remotely controlled.

The level of access to different vehicle functions can be tailored to each user, for a defined period. The vehicle owner can preset the duration of vehicle use or limit the use to only certain features when renting the vehicle. For instance, it can even be used to enable a courier to open the trunk to deliver a parcel.

Once car sharing becomes more widespread, the Digital Key will be further programmed to support hassle free vehicle rental where the owner and the driver won’t have to meet but can transfer the Digital Key via the cell phone application.

As well as making it much easier for a Hyundai vehicle to be included in a car-sharing program, in the future, the Digital Key will be further enhanced to allow for features such as an alarm to be triggered when the vehicle exceeds a defined speed or travels outside a designated area.

For cases such as using a valet service or visiting a repair shop, where handing over a digital key is not feasible, conventional smart key and card type key are also provided.

Hyundai Motor Group aims to gradually implement the technology in its new production vehicles, starting later this year.

NFC is a form of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which boasts a high level of security. The NFC wireless data communication takes place only when the device and the reader are placed several centimeters apart.

“The Digital Key will benefit a very wide range of future Hyundai customers, as well as enabling innovative new schemes for vehicle sharing,” said Ho Yoo, Group Leader of Hyundai Motor Group’s Electronics Development Group.

“We are studying other ways to harness this type of connected-car technology to greatly enhance the driving and ownership experience.”


US opens safety probe into Hyundai Ioniq 5 EVs over power loss reports

                WASHINGTON: US auto safety regulators are investigating nearly 40,000 Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicles over reports of power loss while driving tied to a battery charging issue.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's preliminary investigation covers 2022 model-year vehicles after it received 30 consumer complaints alleging a loss of acceleration. The agency said many consumers reported a loud popping noise followed by a warning displayed on their dashboard, and immediately experienced a loss of power that ranged from a reduction in acceleration to a complete loss.

NHTSA said it learned from Hyundai the failure is related to the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) responsible for powering both the main electric vehicle and low-voltage 12-volt batteries.

A preliminary review indicates too much current within the unit can damage transistors, resulting in the inability to recharge the 12V battery, NHTSA said.

Hyundai said Monday it is launching a service campaign in July that will update impacted vehicles' software and replace the ICCU if necessary. "We value our cooperative relationship with NHTSA and have engaged in frequent, open and transparent dialogue with the agency on this topic," the Korean automaker said, adding it is fully cooperating.

NHTSA conducted several owner interviews confirming a range of loss of power and varying time intervals between the warning message and power loss but did not report any crashes or injuries tied to the issue.

One complaint reported a driver traveling 120kph on a highway using advanced highway assist and "the car became completely unresponsive."

The driver added that there was a semi-trailer truck behind him "and one to my right in the slow lane. The car stopped accelerating, and I was unable to resume driving. I was forced to coast to a stop on the side of the highway."

According to another complaint in February, a driver on a highway in Santa Maria, California, heard a loud pop coming from his car and "within a few seconds my car lost speed rapidly, from 55mph (88kph) to 25 (40) then a second later 22mph (35kph)."


2019 Jaguar F-Type gets new tech and torque vectoring

                LONDON: Jaguar's sensational F-Type sports car is getting a number of updates for the 2019 model year it has been revealed, which are to include a larger infotainment screen, some special paint options, and the inclusion of torque vectoring.

The updated F-Type coupe and roadster will also inherit Jaguar Land Rover's power-related badging system for the first time too. New versions of the entry-level four-cylinder models will now wear the P300 nameplate, while V6 models will come as either a P340 or P380. The 400 Sport trim level has been discontinued, but the high-performance F-Type R and SVR models remain unmolested.

Prices in Jaguar's home market will start from £50,810 (about RM278,000) for a 2.0-litre F-Type Coupe to £118,235 (about RM647,000) for a range-topping SVR cabriolet. Convertible versions of the 2.0-litre entry model also command a premium over the coupe versions of around £5,500 (about RM31,000).

The changes are pretty subtle to say the least this year, although the news that torque vectoring will now be a standard feature across the entire range is likely to be widely welcomed. The newly-badged P380 version of the F-Type is also set to benefit from the addition of a limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers to enhance performance and handling

Technology upgrades bring the inclusion of Jaguar's 10-inch InControl Touch Pro infotainment screen as part of the car's standard equipment, but there still being no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity does appear to be something of an oversight. On the upside, a Jaguar Land Rover spokesperson has confirmed that both are due to be included later in the year. On the inside there's also some new trim for the air vents, and a frameless rear-view mirror has also been added.

On the aesthetic front, the F-Type will now be available with as many as 18 new paint options for buyers to choose from. Many of them are going to be available with a matte finish, courtesy of the company's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, but that does come at a hefty additional cost of some £6,000 (about RM33,000).


Harley-Davidson to open in JB

                PETALING JAYA: Good news for riders down south as Johor Bahru will have it’s own Harley-Davidson sales and service centre managed by Goh Brothers Motorcycles Sdn Bhd, a company under Goh Brothers Capital and approved by Harley-Davidson Motor Company USA.

The new 12,000sq ft centre is located along Jalan Skudai and is expected operational at the beginning of the third quarter this year.

The new dealership will offer Harley-Davidson entire range of bikes, showcasing Harley-Davidson general merchandise, genuine parts and accessories.

“We continue to believe in the Harley-Davidson brand and take the opportunity during this period to construct and invest in both hardware and software, the latter being very important as we cultivate the mindset of our people to be even better in terms of system and processes while we seek more new talents to add value to our organization," said chairman of Goh Brothers Capital, Goh Kian Sin.


After conquering China, Cadillac sets its sights on Europe

                NEW YORK: After years of playing second fiddle to the likes of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes in luxury car circles, but following 17 consecutive months of sales growth, the once formidable car brand is firmly back on track in the US and China and is getting ready for its biggest challenge yet — cracking the European market.

The growing demand for Cadillacs is "further elevating our standing as a major luxury automaker," said company president Johan de Nysschen as he revealed the company had sold 33,092 cars in October and 289,705 vehicles in the year to date. "We are building a strong foundation for Cadillac's long-term success and will continue to increase our momentum with the introduction of the XT4 crossover in 2018," he continued.

Over the past year, the US has been overtaken by China as the company's biggest market, accounting for 44% of all sales compared with 41% in its homeland.

And now that it has reasserted itself in its domestic market and with well-heeled Chinese drivers, it's turning its attention to the toughest market of all — Europe.

But while its luxury sedans may now be a match for anything from BMW with an ‘M' badge or any AMG-infused Mercedes, challenges still lie ahead.

"While we are undoubtedly playing on an even level in terms of performance, technology, refinement, safety and comfort features we still consider ourselves to be a challenger brand with a much smaller model portfolio compared to the more established, predominantly German premium brands," said the company's head of European public relations, René Kreis.

Therefore, the firm is banking on the exploding demand for SUVs as its way into the market.

This offensive will start with the XT5 and will be followed early next year with the premium compact XT4 crossover, which the company says will attract a younger, aspirational demographic.

"Starting with the launch of XT4, a new Cadillac will be brought to market every six months, a total of five carlines in the space of two years," said de Nysschen.

But rather than simply flood the European market with crossovers and off-road vehicles, Cadillac has set up a dedicated base in Zurich, staffed by experts who are looking at the best ways to achieve organic growth in Europe, be it through service levels, powertrain options or even how the brand is packaged and presented to the public.

And the first step in attempting to achieve a full brand metamorphosis will be the official launch of Book by Cadillac in Munich. Since its pilot launch in New York, the company has been overwhelmed with the response. It's a service that gives users access to any Cadillac, whenever they want, for as long as they want for a monthly subscription fee.

The service has been running as a very select pilot scheme (i.e., via invitation only) in Munich for three months as a way of understanding European drivers' needs and ensuring that the service mirrors them — for example, Europeans will also be able to borrow Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette models — and once all of the data and feedback has been analysed the service will launch officially at the beginning of 2018.


Kia customer day this weekend

                KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with the on-going Power Deals campaign, Naza Kia Malaysia will be having a Kia Customer Day from November 6 to 8, 2015 at all Kia outlets nationwide.

Kia Customer Day will be held at Kia outlets nationwide as well as Naza Kia Malaysia Glenmarie and Kia Red Cube Petaling Jaya in the Klang Valley.

“We want to close out the year by rewarding year-end bonuses on our highly-acclaimed range of cars to our customers. Kia Customer Day and the Power Deals Campaign go hand-in-hand in providing the best value for customers in terms of price and amazing offers. The campaign benefits both current and potential Kia customers who are looking to own a new Kia,” said Datuk Samson Anand George, group chief operating officer of Naza Automotive Group.

In addition to the Power Deals and Trade-In Programme, visitors can enjoy RM500 service vouchers and a free portable Wi-Fi device upon registration within the first month. There will also be a 15% discount on parts.

For a limited time, buyers can enjoy up to RM12,000 rebates and 3 years free maintenance service when they purchase a Kia as part of the Power Deals Campaign. The 3 years or equivalent of 60,000km free maintenance service covers parts and labour.

The six Kia models under the campaign are the Kia Picanto, Kia Rio, Kia Cerato, Kia Optima K5, Kia Sportage and Kia Sorento.

Current Kia owners can also take part in the campaign by way of the Trade-In Programme.

Owners can upgrade their older Kia models while at the same time benefiting from the up to RM12,000 rebates and 3 years free maintenance service.

An additional RM3,000 will also be given on top of the current overtrade campaign.


New MINI Countryman launched from RM240k

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Malaysia has introduced the second generation MINI Countryman (F60) sport activity vehicle (SAV) in two variants, namely the entry-level Cooper Countryman and the more potent Cooper S Countryman.

The Cooper Countryman has been priced on-the-road with GST without insurance at RM239,888 while the Cooper S Countryman is at RM269,888.

Both variants are available in British Racing Green, Chili Red, Light White, Melting Silver, Midnight Black and Moonwalk Grey as well as newly added Chestnut and Island Blue colour schemes, while Thunder Grey is exclusively for the Cooper S Countryman.

Since Jan 1, 2016, all MINI vehicles come with a 4-year unlimited mileage warranty with complementary free scheduled service for vehicles registered and purchased from any MINI authorised dealer.

The new Countryman's dimensions have changed, now with a wheelbase of 2,670mm, it is 4,299mm-long (+200mm), 1,822mm-wide (+30mm) and 1,557mm-tall.

The entry-level Cooper Countryman is powered by a 1.5-litre (1,499cc)  three-cylinder turbocharged engine - producing 136hp from 4,400 to 6,000rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1,400 to 4,300rpm, and is managed by a six-speed automatic Steptronic transmission.

This means it'll get from 0-100kph in 9.6 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 200kph, but have the frugality of consuming 6.0L/100km on the combined cycle.

As standard, the Cooper Countryman is fitted with 18-inch Pair Spoke light alloy wheels with run-flat tyres and has been equipped with roof rails, side sills, power-folding external mirrors with MINI logo projection and LEDs for the automatic headlights, daytime-running lights, fogs and rear light cluster.

Inside, the cabin is accented with a combination of chrome, Carbon Black and Hazy Grey inserts while the seats are upholstered in Cloth Firework upholstery in matching Carbon Black as well.

Other features include electronic parking brake, electro-mechanical power steering, auto start-stop functionality, hot climate version, cruise control with braking function, keyless entry with toggle-start switch, sports leather steering wheel and three MINI Driving Modes of Green, MID and Sport.

Additionally, it also comes with a powered tailgate with hand-free operation - gaining access to the 450-litre boot with just a wiggle of the foot under the rear bumper while the key FOB is in the pocket. The boot is expandable to 1,390 litres with the 40:20:40 split rear seats folded down.

There's also automatic wipers, dual automatic climate controls and white indicators, while entertainment comes from a 6.5-inch LCD display with five-key controller, radio MINI visual boost, on-board computer, MINI Connected, USB port and Bluetooth connectivity.

In terms of safety, the three-cylinder Countryman gets five airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake assist, cornering brake control, electronic brake-force distribution, dynamic braking light, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, electronic differential lock control and pull-away assist, flat tyre indicator and ISOFIX rear-seat anchor points.

As for the Cooper S Countryman, it uses a more potent 2.0-litre (1,998cc) four-cylinder turbocharged engine - producing 192hp from 5,000 to 6,000rpm and 280Nm of torque from 1,350 to 4,600rpm, while mated to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission with paddle-shifters.

While rolling on larger 19-inch Burnish light alloy wheels (from MINI Yours Masterpiece) with 225/45 series run flat tyres, it'll sprint from 0-100kph in 7.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 224kph, while fuel consumption on the combined cycle is bumped up to 6.5L/100km.

Inside, the seats are wrapped in leather with the front pair now powered with memory function and lumbar support, while the driver gets a leather-wrapped John Cooper Works multi-function sports steering wheel and a unique fold-out-from-boot Picnic Bench has been added as well as an Active Sound Design for the audio system.

MINI Cooper S Countryman

MINI Cooper Countryman


2019 Bangkok Motor Show: Mitsubishi Triton Absolute

                BANGKOK: The Mitsubishi Triton Absolute concept pick-up truck made its debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2019.

It is billed as embodying the rugged, brutal and uncompromising nature of Mitsubishi Motors' flagship pick-up truck.

"This is the icon for the Triton. It is "Absolutely Beyond Tough", and designed with the concept of "Build-up Robustness", said Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co Ltd president and CEO Morikazu Chokki in a statement.

The Triton Absolute concept features a rugged-looking exterior, and celebrates the success of the latest version which has sold more than 13,000 units since its global launch in Thailand in November 2018.


Light up in the haze, Miros tells motorists

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has advised the public to be more careful when driving to avoid road accidents during the haze.

Its director-general, Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak (inset, top pic), said the risk of accidents in such condition was high because of low visibility.

She urged motorists to turn on their headlights even in daytime to increase their visibility to other road users.

“Avoid using high beam because water particles in the air can absorb and reflect that light. Use high beam only when necessary. If visibility is really bad, turn on the fog lights also, ” she said here on Thursday.

In addition, she said, the limited visibility means drivers must be more alert to their surroundings and must drive slower than usual for sufficient braking distance in case of an emergency.

“The safe driving distance between cars should also be increased. Depending on the situation, the distance should be maintained from four to 12 seconds. The safe driving distance is important to give time for drivers to react and avoid potentially dangerous situations.”

She also advised motorcyclists to wear bright reflective jackets and stop at safe zones such as Rest and Service (R&R) areas if they feel it was not safe to travel.


NY sets 2035 zero-emission passenger car goal

                NEW YORK: New York governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed into law a bill that sets a goal for all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks to be zero-emission models by 2035, joining the state of California in attempting to eliminate gasoline-powered vehicles.

The law directs setting regulations requiring higher numbers of zero-emission vehicles with a goal of "100% of in-state sales by 2035", and a similar target for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045 if feasible.

The US government is seeking to promote the sales of electric vehicles to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and help meet global goals to slow human-caused climate change.

In August, US President Joe Biden took a step towards his goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions with an executive order aimed at making half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 electric, a goal made with backing from the biggest US automakers.

But Biden has repeatedly refused to endorse proposals to phase out the sale of all new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, despite pressure from some Democrats in Congress.

Last year, California governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that set a goal of banning the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger vehicles starting in 2035.

In April, New York, California and 10 other states asked Biden to set standards to ensure that all new passenger cars and light duty trucks are zero-emission by 2035.

New York City said on Wednesday that to meet its climate goals it would need 400,000 of the city's 2 million vehicle owners to switch to EVs by 2030. The city vows to install a network of 10,000 curbside charge points by 2030.

The state of New York said it was proposing regulations requiring an increasing percentage of all new medium- and large-trucks sold in New York to be zero-emissions beginning with the 2025 model year.

The legislation signed Wednesday also seeks to require all off-road vehicles be zero-emission models by 2035.


Mazda CX-9 unveiled

                SHAH ALAM: Bermaz Auto Bhd (BAuto) has revealed the new Mazda CX-9 seven-seat family sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Selling price is RM316,788 (2WD) and RM333,129 (4WD) OTR with insurance. The CX-9 is the first Mazda to feature the breakthrough SkyActiv-G 2.5T petrol engine.

Featuring i-ActivSense safety technologies and lots of premium passenger comforts, the CX-9 is presently introduced in Australian specification.

The CX-9 with Malaysian specifications will be introduced in the third quarter of this year.

The CX-9 Australian specification is available in 2WD and AWD, in 5 colour choices: Sonic Silver, Deep Crystal Blue, Snowflake White Pearl, Machine Grey and Jet Black.

It has a petrol-powered 2.5-litre turbo in-line 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC engine with direct injection, producing 228hp at 5,000rpm and 420Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. Transmission is a 6-speed automatic.

It runs on huge 255/50 R20 tyres, and is fitted with EPAS (electronic power assisted steering) and all-round disc brakes.

On-board kit includes leather seats, 12 @ Bose surround sound system, Mazda Connect with 8-inch LCD display and Commander Control, reverse camera, auto cruise, LED front fog lamps and head and tail lights, powered sunroof with sliding and tilt glass, auto dimming rear view mirror, remote operated powered tail gate, rain sensing wipers, i-STOP (idling stop technology), i-ELOOP (brake energy regeneration), smart keyless entry with push-start ignition, head-up display, and GPS Navigation.

Safety kit includes Smart City Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, traction control, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and 6 airbags.

READ ALSO:
Mazda CX-9 tested


Geely-Proton targets making 280,000 cars for China and SEA markets

                TANJUNG MALIM: The government aims to produce 280,000 units of cars for the China and Southeast Asian markets through the strategic partnership between Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group and Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton).

Second minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the automotive market in Malaysia was small, where last year sales of various brands recorded 580,000 units compared to China at 28 million units.

"At 28 million units, China wants to assist us in securing one per cent of this amount," he added.

He said to reach this target, Proton needs a strategic partner, as research as well as world class design is very important to compete on the international stage.

"Geely can provide the support from the aspect of outstanding research as we (Malaysia) need a big change. At present, all the automotive companies are racing to produce fully self-driven cars.

"So, Geely with Proton needs to build a plant here in the next five years. When ready, cars will enter the China and Southeast Asian markets with the latter being an important destination with a population of 600 million," he added, after officiating the Ekspo Tanam Tuai here today.

Ong, who is also the Tanjung Malim Member of Parliament said the manufacture of Proton cars will be still at Tanjung Malim, with a bigger segment maintained at Shah Alam, Selangor.

"Tanjung Malim will also witness a major change when new jobs are expected to be created in the near future, resulting from the economic spillover in the district.

"We are taking the opportunity to plan for the construction of an electronics plant in Tanjung Malim as cars use a lot of electronics. What is important is that it will open up more job opportunities for the youth, so that they need not migrate to the big cities," he added.


New Mitsubishi Outlander arriving next year

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia will be launching the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander SUV early next year.

“We are excited to introduce a seven-seater SUV to the Malaysian market very soon. The Mitsubishi Outlander SUV is MMM’s first model to be introduced with the ‘Dynamic Shield’ concept, and it comes with an array of safety and premium features,” said Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia chief executive officer Yang Won-Chul.

The dynamic face expresses powerful performance and reassuring sense of protection shared by generations of Mitsubishi vehicles.

The Outlander is a stylish and versatile vehicle with plenty of interior space.

Powered by Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system (MIVEC) engine, the Outlander will also come with seven airbags, Active Stability Control (ASC), electric tailgate, sunroof, LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and many other features.

The Outlander recently won “Best Value on Road” at the 12th annual Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year awards held in Chandler, Arizona.

In its 12th year, The Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year programme recognises cars and trucks that best meet the needs of people with active lifestyles.


The suspension system that automatically adjusts when faced with potholes and rough roads

                PARIS: Tesla's latest update allows owners of a model with adaptive suspension to have the system settings adjust automatically in relation to the road conditions, boosting comfort while helping to prevent damage on rough surfaces.

Through its latest over-the-air update (2022.20), Tesla is introducing a new feature that analyses road conditions and adjusts ride height accordingly.

This means that models with an adaptive suspension system will be able to avoid damage from potholes and other irregularities on the road surface.

Over time, this will allow Tesla to develop a sort of "map" of road conditions, in order to automatically trigger the adaptive suspension in its vehicles when necessary.

This feature will obviously only work in vehicles with adaptive suspension technology, i.e., the latest Model S and Model X.

To activate it, go to Controls, Suspension, Adaptive Suspension Damping, and then choose the Comfort or Auto setting.

In addition to improving the comfort of the driver and their passengers, this technology is intended to protect all of the vehicle's components, which can be damaged by rough roads.

Note that Ford launched a similar system a few years ago, as an option on some models.

This notably allows the suspension to adapt when approaching a pothole.

However, the sharing of data and the size of the Tesla fleet involved, especially in the United States, could make a significant difference.

Other features of the update include a warning chime when a traffic light turns green or the car in front moves forward, faster seatbelt tensioning in the event of a collision, detection of speed limit signs, and the resetting of tire settings after replacement.


In happiest place on Earth, a startup is targeting car addiction

                HELSINKI: The idea is simple: a transport service that’s so good, you’ll never need a car again.

It’s what Finnish startup MaaS Global Oy has been working towards since 2015. The company has developed a mobile app, Whim, that’s already being used in several European cities and in Tokyo.

In the capital of Finland, the world’s happiest country, 12% of users already say it’s prompted them to give up their cars, with as many again saying they plan to.

MaaS Global, whose investors include BP Plc, Mitsubishi Corp. and Toyota Financial Services, says its app can fix urban congestion and reduce pollution. That’s as research shows that living in an environment with cleaner air contributes measurably to happiness and wellbeing.

Chief executive officer Sampo Hietanen says creating a world in which it’s more convenient not to have your own car is an obvious way to cut carbon emissions in the transport sector. In the US alone, transport accounts for almost 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other industry.

“Realistically, if we want to tackle transport’s CO2 emissions, we have to come up with a way to preserve our freedom of movement in the same way that owning a car does,” Hietanen said in an interview.

Whim, which just merged with Wondo, a Spanish rival founded by infrastructure company Ferrovial SA, offers users the option of planning and paying for a trip via a single app.

It provides access to a range of services such as electric scooters, city bikes, public transport and even fixed-price taxis over short distances. The services vary from city to city, with as many as 300,000 people using Whim around the world.

Both Whim and Wondo work as route planners, suggesting the best way to get from A to B, and offer the option of buying tickets or booking vehicles within their apps. On top of pay-as-you-go plans, Whim has monthly subscriptions - much like Netflix for entertainment.

“We’ve learned that the pricing model needs to be pay-as-you-go initially, because people first want to try this out before they commit to subscriptions,” said Hietanen, who is also the company’s founder.

But recent studies in the UK and the Netherlands suggest people are very attached to their cars, and that such services tend to appeal mostly to commuters who already use public transport.

“The value of MaaS is not in beating the convenience of the private car, which is rather unrealistic, but in creating a multimodal travel option that offers the opportunity to people to be part of an initiative designed to create more liveable, socially inclusive and sustainable futures,” Elena Alyavina, Alexandros Nikitas and Eric Tchouamou Njoya at the University of Huddersfield in the UK wrote in a research report.

For Hietanen, it’s clear the industry is still in its infancy, and the real promise of mobility-as-a-service will become apparent when it’s combined with shared self-driving (hopefully electric) vehicles that can spread the potential market beyond urban centers to rural areas.

“We’re like Netflix when it was still mailing DVDs to people,” he said.

What’s more, the service will only be as good as the underlying transport network, and the cities where such apps are offered tend to already have extensive public train and bus lines in place.

Whim is currently available in Helsinki, Vienna, Antwerp, in the Birmingham region in the UK and in the greater Tokyo area. On June 1, it launches in Switzerland, the first time a MaaS service will span an entire country.

Wondo operates in Madrid with plans to expand in Spain and Portugal, Hietanen said.

MaaS Global is hoping to use Ferrovial’s existing network to eventually take its service to the US and South America, after its plans to open in Miami, Vancouver and Chicago last year were scuppered.

“Creating the service model is the key to a gigantic business opportunity,” Hietanen said. “But it’s also the key to resolving cities’ traffic problems and its environmental impact.”


G-7 venue Cornwall crowned as Europe’s most pinned road trip destination

LONDON: Cornwall has been revealed as the most "pinned" road trip destination in Europe, according to a new study.

The research conducted by Honda used Pinterest data to look at more than 650 popular destinations across Europe.

The study ranked the most "pinned" road trip locations based on the number of boards made for each place, as inspiration for future travel.

Cornwall in south-western England was revealed as the most "pinned" destination for road trips with 78 boards dedicated to the coastal county.

The picturesque coast has also seen a surge in Google searches, with a 50% increase in people searching for "Cornwall" from January 2021 to March 2021. Whether that surge was due to the fact the G-7 summit is being held there was not mentioned.

 North Coast 500.

The 47th G-7 summit is scheduled to run from June 11–13 in Cornwall. The G-7 comprises the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Tuscany came out second in the research, attracting visitors with its architecture, history and renaissance art. Italy topped the list for having the highest number of road trip locations feature in the top 15 with Amalfi, Rome, Sicily and Florence also appearing as top road trip locations.

Within the UK, Scotland’s North Coast 500 is another popular choice with 18 Pinterest boards dedicated to the 833km Scottish route. It beats the likes of Iceland’s Ring Road and the fairy-tale-like Romantic Road in Bavaria. The Scottish road trip also went viral on TikTok, with multiple hashtags accumulating over 16 million views.

 The HR-V eHEV hybrid.

The research on the top road trips comes as Honda is set to release the new HR-V in November.

“After a year of putting our travelling plans on hold, we wanted to provide some inspiration for when restrictions ease," said Honda communications head Olivia Dunn.

“Using Pinterest, we were able to analyse some of the most picturesque post-lockdown holidays that can be taken by car for those looking to explore some of Europe’s most beautiful destinations

“We hope this list provides some well-needed wanderlust for all travel enthusiasts that can’t wait to get back to exploring new places!”
The top 5 "pinned" road trip locations:

Cornwall (78 boards)

This peninsula, sometimes known as the Cornish Riviera, comprises wild moorlands and stunning beaches with crystal clear seas.

Tuscany (52 boards)

Boasting architecture, history and renaissance art in its capital, Florence, to its diverse countryside with beautiful mountain ranges and fields of olive trees, Tuscany offers a variety of opportunities to explore new and exciting places for every kind of traveller.

Amalfi (30 boards)

Set below dramatic cliffs on the Italian southwest coast, Amalfi is a stunning coastal town on the Tyrrhenian Sea with plenty of history and scenery to explore, with the Sant’Andrea cathedral in the heart of the town to the medieval shipyard that has now been turned into an exhibition space.

Pyrenees (22 boards)

Stretching across the border of France and Spain, the Pyrenees mountain range provides hiking trails to ski resorts as well as breath-taking scenery.

North Coast 500, Scotland (18 boards)

Starting and ending at Inverness Castle, this 833km route around the North Coast of Scotland takes you through some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the UK with Caribbean-blue waters, wildlife, and mystical castles. The route truly has some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes.

 Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland.


New prices for Porsche cars in Malaysia: 50% drop on sales tax

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) has released new prices for Porsche cars, with sales tax for CBU vehicles reduced by 50% from June 15 until Dec 31.

The new base price of the current Porsche models enjoy savings ranging from RM13,000 up to RM48,000.

For example, the Macan with a new base price of RM439,351 has a price adjustment of RM15,649.

“With the inclusion of our standard four-year manufacturer’s warranty and free maintenance package, peace of mind ownership associated with trouble-free motoring is within grasp. This includes complimentary service, parts and labour, as well as our dedicated Porsche Roadside Assistance,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of SDAP.

Bookings made from now up to 30 June 2020 will be entitled to an additional 1-year warranty extension, and up to additional 2-years free insurance, depending on the Porsche model.

SDAP also offers the new Porsche 360 Financing+, applicable from now up to December 31, 2020.

This new extension of SDAP’s current 360 Financing programme offers customers a more flexible ownership option.

Starting from as low as RM 6,300 a month (based on a 5-year loan tenure and a maximum of 90% margin financing), the new Porsche 360 Financing+ offers up to 30% reduced monthly repayments compared to conventional financing for the Macan.

The new Porsche 360 Financing+ provides better cash flow management with an even shorter financing tenure and maximum financing of up to 90% of the vehicle value.

Starting from 12 months up to 60 months, customers are able to select their preferred financing period.

Customers have the option to return the Macan even within the first 12 months of the loan tenure through the new 360 Financing+.

Customers have full control over the decision to either return or upgrade to a new Porsche without the worry of residual value through the Assured Resale Value of the Macan.

To find out more about our vehicle pricing update and the new Porsche 360 Financing+, please visit the Porsche Dealer websites:

> Porsche Centre Sungai Besi
> Porsche Centre Penang
> Porsche Centre Ara Damansara


BMW Motorrad gets comic-al

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad is now on the path of fiction after having confirmed a collaboration with publisher Panini Verlags GmbH for a graphic novel that's entitled “Riders in the Storm”.

The novel is currently being created and its publication is being planned for release in October.

The text and story are being provided by Croatian author and illustrator Darko Macan, with illustration of this limited-edition work by Italian Riccardo Burchielli.

Burchielli has worked for more than 15 years as a comic book artist for major publishers in the United States, which includes DC Comics, Marvel and Dark Horse.

“Many of us have been familiar with comics since childhood, and we have seen superheroes and fantasy worlds adapted for the big screen, too. The people behind these stories are equally fascinating. Riccardo Burchielli is a motorcycling enthusiast himself and through him we are able to provide insights into how a comic story comes into being. And of course we ensure his heroes are equipped with suitable bikes,” said BMW Motorrad head of marketing and product management Dr Ralf Rodepeter.

So who are the heroes battling against evil on their motorcycles?

Terror - inspired by real-life tattoo model and human work of art Makani Terror - is a policewoman.

Her companions are a wolf with exceptional powers, the passionate racing rider Eve and the rather out-of-the-ordinary street artist Nikki Animah.

Then there are the mysterious Black Riders of course - they too are inspired by real-life characters.

“This is a very special project for us, and it’s a great honour and pleasure to be able to collaborate with BMW Motorrad,” said Panini Verlags managing director Hermann Paul.

“The author and illustrator are having enormous fun, and we very much look forward to overseeing this extravagant and stylish blend of fantasy, adventure and mystery. The comic is conceived as a limited edition, so it will be a really great item for collectors worldwide,” added Paul.

“Riders in the Storm” is very special to Burchielli at a personal level, too: in addition to his passion for illustration, the Italian is also an avid motorcyclist.

His hobby provides him with inspiration for his stories, which often take place in unusual settings where the heroes are initially confronted with dark forces before ultimately rising like a phoenix from the ashes to enter a whole new world.

 Illustrator Riccardo Burchielli

As Burchielli himself says, motorcycling is all about “how you relate to your natural surroundings and the landscapes you pass through. It's a feeling of freedom that comes from your ability to move freely in the world like a cowboy. It’s also about your connection with your motorcycle, which is rather like a loyal friend. And not least it’s about total relaxation. When you’re riding your bike, that’s all you’re focused on. There’s no room for anything else in your head - you’re totally free at that moment.”

In “Riders in the Storm” he is able to bring his two great passions together for the first time: illustrating and motorcycling.

BMW Motorrad and Panini will be presenting their project for the first time at Comic Con Germany in Stuttgart from June 25 to 26.

Tattoo model Terror will be in attendance at the Panini Verlags trade fair stand, and there will be an exclusively designed Art Bike of the new BMW G 310 R on show, while Burchielli is available for autographs at the upcoming BMW Motorrad Days from July 1 to 3 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.


Toyota to make long-range electric cars after all, says daily

The Corolla could be used as the base to create Toyota's first long range EV.
TOKYO: Toyota is looking at mass-producing long-range electric vehicles (EVs) that would hit the market around 2020, the Nikkei newspaper reported today, in what would be a dramatic reversal in strategy for the world's top-selling automaker.

Even as rivals such as Nissan Motor Co and Volkswagen AG have touted pure electric cars as the most viable zero-emission vehicles for the future, Toyota has said it would reserve EVs for short-distance commuting given the high price of rechargeable batteries and lengthy charging times.

By adding longer-range EVs to its product range, Toyota would be changing its tune from promoting plug-in petrol-electric hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) as the most promising alternative to conventional cars.

The Nikkei business daily, without citing sources, said Toyota would set up a team in early 2017 dedicated to developing electric cars that can travel more than 300km on a single charge.

Plans under consideration include using an existing vehicle platform such as that of the Prius hybrid car or Corolla for the EV, the Nikkei said.

The paper added that Toyota aims to begin selling its first long-range EV in 2020 in Japan, which will host the summer Olympics that year, as well as other markets such as California where automakers are required to sell a certain portion of zero-emission cars.

Toyota said it would issue a response to the report later today.

Battery-run cars like the Nissan LEAF have short driving ranges and require long charging times, reducing their attractiveness for customers planning to drive longer distances frequently.

Toyota has promoted FCVs as the most sensible next-generation option since they have a similar driving range and refuelling time to conventional cars, but the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations poses a major hurdle for mass consumption.


Does filling tyres with pure nitrogen give better performance and fuel economy?

                This is a question that has been asked many times over the years.

The short answer is: Yes, it does.

But the answer is slightly complicated as many factors can affect the characteristics mentioned.

By and large, the benefits nitrogen has over plain air from petrol stations or auto workshops are marginal in day-to-day applications but may be exploited in certain applications such as in aviation and motor racing.

As earth's atmosphere is already made up of 78% nitrogen with the remainder being oxygen (21%) and of all other gases (1%), the only parts that can make a difference accounts for less than one quarter.

Some points raised in favour of inflating tyres with pure nitrogen are indeed indisputable.

For instance, the molecular size of nitrogen is bigger versus oxygen (0.305 versus 0.299 nanometers), this means it is harder for it to escape thus giving your tyres a more constant pressure over time.

US consumer watchdog, Consumer Reports, conducted a test on pressure loss between both gases and found that there was only a 1.3psi (0.089 bar) difference between the two over a period of one year.

Another point is that oxygen affects the tyre’s pressure and performance when heated, however, a tyre filled with nitrogen will also heat up but to a marginally lesser degree.

The benefits of using nitrogen in tyres can be proven in lab conditions but such gains can be difficult to quantify meaningfully in day-to-day use, bearing in mind that the purity of hydrogen inflated into the tyres also plays a role.

Meanwhile, other real-life factors also can also play into loss of pressure like tyre fitting on the rim, valve and measuring equipment tolerances so the best way is to always check your tyres regularly. — C.Y. Lee


Karak Highway closed on Oct 13 to Kuantan-bound traffic for Le Tour de Langkawi

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway (Kuantan-bound) will be closed to traffic to make way for the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycling event from 1.45pm to 4pm on Oct 13.

Anih Berhad in a statement said that the closure for two hours and 15 minutes starts at the Gombak entrance to the highway.

The public is reminded to consider the short closure to plan their journey to avoid any inconvenience.


VW CEO warns a delay in shift to EVs could cost 30,000 jobs, say sources

                BERLIN: Volkswagen's CEO Herbert Diess told a supervisory board meeting in September that the company could lose 30,000 jobs if it transitioned too slowly to electric vehicles (EVs), two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Competition from new entrants to Germany's market, like Tesla, has pushed the company to speed up its transformation, Diess is said to have told attendees.

The US EV maker plans to produce 500,000 cars a year in Germany with 12,000 employees, while Volkswagen's 25,000 produce just 700,000 cars at its Wolfsburg plant.

A company spokesman confirmed Diess' position that Tesla and others' presence in Germany heightened the urgency of transitioning to EVs, but denied that specific calculations had been made on how many jobs could be lost in the process.

"There is no question that we have to address the competitiveness of our plant in Wolfsburg in view of new market entrants," Volkswagen spokesman Michael Manske said, pointing to Tesla and new Chinese automakers making inroads into Europe.

"Tesla is setting new standards for productivity and scale in Grunheide," he said, referring to a Tesla factory under construction near Berlin which at peak capacity will produce 5,000 to 10,000 cars a week - more than twice the German battery-electric vehicle (EV) production in 2020.

"A debate is now under way and there are already many good ideas. There are no concrete scenarios," Manske said.

The statement by Diess was first reported by Handelsblatt.

A spokesman for Volkswagen's workers' council said that while they would not comment on whether Diess made the remarks, "a reduction of 30,000 jobs is absurd and baseless".

Another union spokesman from the region of Lower-Saxony, which is Volkswagen's second-largest shareholder, said such cuts were "out of the question".

EVs have far fewer parts than an internal combustion engine car and so require fewer workers to produce. According to one estimate, 100,000 jobs in the German autos industry could be lost by 2025 as a result of electrification.

Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant, the world's largest with over 50,000 employees, does not currently make EVs, but the company plans to produce an electric sedan there from 2026 under a plan named "Project Trinity".

Diess has previously said Tesla would fuel competition in Germany.

The German autos giant is also considering listing its car charging and energy business in addition to existing IPO plans for its battery division, chief technology officer Thomas Schmall told Manager Magazin in an interview published on Wednesday.

Schmall said nothing had been decided yet and it would probably take up to two years before the new companies were established and ready for the stock market.


Honda Accord compared with Tesla Model 3

                AUSTIN: A new comparison chart in the United States pits the upcoming Tesla Model 3 against the latest Honda Accord. While the two vehicles are substantially different from a powertrain perspective, they are surprisingly similar in terms of wheelbase, cargo capacity, kerb weight, and performance.

The comparison chart was created by HondaPartsOnline.net to show how similar the Model 3 and Accord EX-L are.

In terms of pricing, the comparison shows that the Accord EX-L with the 2.0T and 10-speed automatic will come in under the Model 3 by about US$3,000 (RM12,700). However, this does not account for any tax credits available to buyers of the Tesla Model 3. This is intentional as it's hard to tell how the tax credit situation will shake out for Model 3 buyers.

The comparison chart does not address vital metrics such as resale value and reliability because no one has any idea how Tesla will rate on either of these metrics yet. US customers outside of Tesla have yet to take delivery of the Model 3, with the electric car maker saying the first customers will get their cars in late October. Production of the Model 3 has been held up because some suppliers did not deliver parts on time.

Full details here (external link).


GM may revive Hummer as an electric car

The Hummer H3.
NEW YORK: A zero-emission Hummer sounds as paradoxical as non-alcoholic whiskey, but General Motors Co. is mulling over the idea of building an electric vehicle that would bring the defunct petrol-guzzling brand back to life.

For now, it’s just an idea GM is considering as it plans which vehicles will be included in a fleet of electrified SUVs and trucks, say people familiar with the matter.

The Hummer name has surfaced as way to tap growing demand for rugged SUVs with off-road capabilities, while avoiding the petrol-burning image that made the brand something of a pariah a decade ago, said the people, who asked not to be named because the conversations are private.

Electric Hummer chatter comes as GM is looking to transform itself from a conventional, petrol-powered-vehicle maker into what chief executive officer Mary Barra calls an "all-electric future.”

Hummer is one of many options GM is exploring as it races to develop the next generation of battery-powered vehicles. Several other car companies also are rushing to produce commercially viable electric-powered models.

When asked about it, GM president Mark Reuss was unconvinced. "I love Hummer,” Reuss said on the sidelines of a press conference on June 12. "I’m not sure. We’re looking at everything.”

Building an electric Hummer may never come to pass. Internally, the company looks at the idea as a "What If" exercise when planning which models GM will build with its truck battery pack, say the people familiar with the discussions. Without electrification, GM would have a tough time selling a traditional Hummer in an era when emissions rules have become much stricter than in the brand’s heyday.

BEV3 project

GM is currently working on two major battery-electric vehicle programmes. The first is its BEV3 project, which will develop passenger cars, crossover SUVs and a variety of other small and mid-sized models. That’s part of the automaker’s pledge to put 20 EVs on the road globally by 2023. The second programme would make electric pickups and other full-size vehicles, some of which can go off-road.

In its family of brands, GM has large SUVs — such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade — as well as hulking GMC vehicles including the Sierra truck and Yukon SUV. GMC also has Denali-labeled models that denote luxury and an AT4 brand for off-road capable trucks. Any of those potentially could be offered with electric powertrains, Reuss said.

"It’s massive. There might be places where we go first that are not just heavy-duty work trucks but more style and capability for off-road,” he said. "There are lots of things that are very attractive.”

GM kept Hummer after its 2009 bankruptcy but halted sales in 2010. Back then, the 23.5 l/100km Hummer H2 made the brand a symbol of automaker indifference to global warming. The vehicle was so heavy its weight placed it beyond the reach of federal government rules for fuel-economy tests, further enraging environmentalists.

Hummer’s death knell came when oil soared past US$100 (RM418) a barrel, spiking gas prices and sinking sales.

GM bought the brand in 1998, six years after AM General debuted it as a civilian version of the armoured Humvee military vehicle made famous for its role in the Gulf War.

 Hummer H2. - Image source via Wiki

Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was an early and very public advocate for the brand and its first model, which later became known as the H1. GM sales started with the H2 model in 2002, a US$60,000 (RM251,000) SUV made using some parts from Chevy pickups and SUVs. It was a smash hit among buyers looking for brawn and bling, prompting the Detroit automaker to follow up with the mid-sized H3 SUV and H3T pickup truck.

Demand for Hummer vehicles peaked in 2006 with US sales of 71,524 vehicles, but fewer than 4,000 were sold by 2010, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Over the past few years, GM has been watching the growth of Jeep, the crown jewel and moneymaker of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, and wondering if Hummer might win a piece of that market, said the people familiar with the brand discussions.

GM sees an opportunity to compete with Jeep for off-road vehicles that have creature comforts commanding high premiums, two of the people said. The company’s designers have done work with Hummer concepts and have experimented with Hummer styling cues on future GMC brand models.

Years away

Even if GM goes through with a plan to make an electric Hummer, it would be years away.

GM’s planned electric-truck project is well under way, but those models aren’t expected to launch until after the debut of the BEV3 architecture for smaller vehicles. Cadillac or one of the higher-volume brands would probably get some of the first models on the larger electric-truck-based platform.

Earlier this year, GM was negotiating to form a joint venture with Rivian Automotive Inc., a startup electric-truck maker based outside Detroit. When the deal fell apart, GM accelerated development of its own battery-powered pickup and SUV programme.

It’s not alone in thinking there’s latent demand for large and luxury-market vehicles. When the GM deal died, Ford Motor Co. invested US$500 million (RM2bil) in Rivian with plans to build an electric pickup.

And Jaguar Land Rover Holdings., which has a strong presence in large and luxury SUVs, will sell a plug-in hybrid version of the Range Rover this summer. The Indian-owned, British brand also has joined forces with BMW AG to work on electric drive.

At its annual meeting on June 11, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk said he is pushing hard to get an electric pickup truck that is capable of work duties but drives like a Porsche. He plans to show the vehicle this summer.

Should GM decide to move forward with Hummer, it would need to rebuild the brand’s marketing and retail strategy. The automaker could sell Hummers in Cadillac or Buick-GMC dealerships — for example in a small, brand-dedicated showroom.

Previously GM gave specific franchises to separate Hummer dealers, who were disgruntled when sales ended. That alone could be a hurdle for greenlighting a resuscitated Hummer brand, one of the people said.

Whatever happens, GM won’t be the first to think of an electric Hummer. Schwarzenegger worked with Kriesel Electric to put a battery and EV motor in his own H1 two years ago — pioneering a zero-emission version of a vehicle that once went by the tagline "Like Nothing Else.”


Ranger buyer Shahrul wins Ranger Raptor in Ford contest

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shahrul Iman Sulaiman (above, right) recently bought a RM125,000 Ford Ranger XLT Plus and ended up winning the high-performance Ranger Raptor.

“Winning the Ranger Raptor was something unexpected and is definitely the biggest win in my life. Thank you Sime Darby Auto ConneXion and Ford – I can definitely drive home in style this Raya," said Shahrul, who hails from Pahang.

He was one of many Ranger buyers who were eligible to take part in the "Buy a New Ranger. Win a Ranger Raptor" contest held by Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

The contest ran from Oct 25 last year to Jan 31 this year in conjunction with the launch of the new Ranger.

Through the contest, customers who had bought a Ranger was in the running to win a Ranger Raptor. Designed by the Ford Performance team and engineered to deliver an adrenaline pumping experience, the Ranger Raptor represents a new and distinctive breed of truck with its bold appearance and extreme off-road performance capabilities.

The RM200,000 Ranger Raptor has a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine that makes 210hp and 500Nm of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It has a 283mm ground clearance and 850mm wading depth.

With the Ranger Raptor, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has opened up a new market for the premium performance pickup truck sector, the first and only in the market.


Honda says domestic output at 40% of capacity, sees improvement soon

                TOKYO: Honda Motor Co said its car factories in Japan have been operating at 40% of capacity in August and September because of shortages of semiconductors and other components caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Honda in a press release on its website said production in early October should rebound to 70% of capacity.

"We are doing what we can to minimise the impact on production, but the situation remains unclear," the Japanese company said.


Grab offering up to RM1,000 sign-up bonus amid driver shortage concerns

                PETALING JAYA: Grab Malaysia announced that it will be offering a sign-up bonus of up to RM1,000 for new driver-partners.

The scheme which started on June 1 will continue until July 31, 2022. New driver-partners are required to fulfil a minimum number of trips to be eligible for a bonus of up to RM1,000 in addition to existing subsidies that will to help alleviate the cost of ehailing regulatory requirements.

Grab said that it hopes the initiative will attract new driver-partners to meet post-pandemic demands.

“As of mid-May this year, the number of driver-partners on our platform is still less than 70% of what it was pre-pandemic. One of the many reasons is the long and costly process imposed on drivers before they get on the road,” Rashid Shukor, Grab Malaysia director of country operations and mobility.

New drivers are required to spend up to RM500 to meet regulatory requirements set by the Ministry of Transport in order to acquire a PSV license that will make them eligible to drive any type of vehicle used to transport paying passengers. Some steps include attending six hours of training, passing vehicle inspections and purchasing insurance.

Existing driver-partners can benefit from a referral bonus programme.

Last month, a number of users took to social media to voice concerns over ehailing providers charging higher fees even for short tips. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the surge in ehailing fares are due to a number of factors including shortage in drivers.

“From the discussion, it is clear that there are two main factors that have led to this surge in ehailing fares; a supply-and-demand imbalance and high traffic volume leading to longer travel times,” said Dr Wee in a report after a meeting with ehailing operators.

Grab Malaysia in a statement on May 24 said its “dynamic pricing model” are in place to ensure driver-partners are compensated fairly for their time and effort while also ensuring that passengers will get picked up.

“When there are more people booking a ride than the number of drivers available in an area, fares will ‘surge’ or go up to encourage more drivers to head to where passengers are,” the company said.


Lexus plans LC convertible and an LC F performance model

                TOKYO: SUVs and crossovers may well be the most popular vehicle formats around at the moment, but sleek, sporty cars still have their place. Or at least Lexus certainly thinks they do as it appears the luxury arm of Toyota has plans in place for a convertible version of the LC, and a performance-focused LC F model.

According to the UK's Auto Express, the company has big plans for expanding the LC range, and the drop-top version of the stunning flagship coupe has already been given the green light by company bosses. Although the high-performance version hasn't been signed off on yet, it sounds as if it's only a matter of time before it does get the official go-ahead.

Although news of these extremely desirable new models will certainly excite Lexus fans, it could be as long as 18 months to two years until either or both of them finally start landing in showrooms.

The convertible LC will certainly address a glaring gap in the current Lexus lineup as there isn't a drop-top in the current portfolio, and Lexus doesn't have much of a pedigree in this area as the likes of the IS C and SC were never particularly well received.

Hopes of a new convertible were raised back in 2014 when the LF-C2 hinted that a convertible version of the RC was in the pipeline, but that model never made it into production, and the company understandably chose to concentrate on SUVs instead.

It seems Lexus now believes a convertible is an essential requirement for its range if it's to be taken seriously as a true challenger to the more established German premium brands. Yoshihiro Sawa, the president of Lexus International, told Auto Express, "I hope that we will have a convertible in the near future. We know the luxury market requires a convertible. We are always studying the possibilities. And yes, technically it's possible."

And as far as a high-performance LC F is concerned, Sawa also admitted, "We are studying many possibilities and more power is another candidate. It's not decided yet but in my mind, a high-performance LC is a good opportunity."


Electric Audi Q5 SUV in the pipeline at Mexico plant, say sources

                INGOLSTADT: German carmaker Audi plans to make an electric version of its Q5 SUVs at its new plant in Mexico, two sources with knowledge of the project said on Wednesday.

Volkswagen AG's luxury car brand is set to open a US$1.3 billion factory in Mexico on Sept 30, its first in the country and eventually slated to be Audi's only source globally for the Q5 models.

The plant in San Jose Chiapa in central Mexico will produce the petrol-powered Q5 at first, but plans to introduce the electric version in the near term, said the sources, who requested anonymity.

"They are training personnel," one of the sources said, adding that the project does not yet have a launch date.

The Q5 is one of Audi's best-selling models worldwide. The plant in Mexico should begin by producing 150,000 cars a year, the sources said.


Bentley Mulsanne final edition marks end of mighty V8 powerplant

                LONDON: Bentley has come up with a worthy tribute to the mighty V8 engine which has powered its luxury cars for decades — a limited edition of just 30 examples.

The Mulsanne 6.75 edition has been crafted by coachwork company Mulliner to mark the production end of the 6-and-3/4-litre engine and also usher in the Flying Spur as the brand's top car.

Mulsanne production is set to end in spring 2020, with all staff to be redeployed to other areas of the business, said Bentley. The V8 will then deleted from the range.

Demand for the big, four-door car is still buoyant but Bentley said it wanted to redeploy its workforce to more future-orientated projects such as petrol-electric hybrid version of the Flying Spur which is in the pipeline for 2023.

The Mulsanne 6.75 Edition will be based on the existing 530-horsepower Mulsanne Speed which is the most driver-focussed of the range.

The car comes with what Bentley called "subtle references" to the engine's heritage, including interior controls capped by miniature and chrome badging in the engine bay.

The same logo will be projected by the LED welcome lamps.

The faces of the clock and minor gauges will feature schematic cutaway drawings of the engine.

The special Mulsanne comes with black bright-ware and the individual customer’s choice of paintwork, but with headlamps and tail lamps wrapped in bright chrome. The wheels feature a machined finish with gloss black pockets.

In various forms the V8 power plant has been at the heart of Bentleys for 60 years. It has been revised down the years to comply with emission regulations.


Proton sales grow for third straight year to 114,708 units in 2021

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton registered a 2021 sales tally of 114,708 units, representing a 4.5% increase over sales in 2020 and a third consecutive year of volume growth.

Comparatively, the overall total industry volume (TIV) for Malaysia is estimated to have shrunk 4.6% to just over 505,000 units.

Proton said in a statement its market share in 2021 is estimated to have stood at 22.7%, which was a 2% improvement over 2020 as it narrowed the gap with market sales leader Perodua.

In December alone, Proton said it registered December sales of 14,147 units, which gave it a market share of 20.6%.

"From a global chip shortage to a spike in Covid-19 numbers that lead to another lockdown to skyrocketing transport costs, there were many challenges for industry players to overcome.

"That is why Proton’s sales growth in a year where the market contracted is significant as it is the result of careful planning and juggling of available resources," said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

Proton is seeing a growing market share in the SUV segments, particularly after the launch of the X50 in October 2020.

"By selling 45,149 SUVs in 2021, Proton was crowned as the best-selling SUV brand in Malaysia, with the number accounting for nearly 40% of total sales volume," said Proton.

The X50 was the best-selling SUV overall with 28,774 units sold, and posted its best-ever month in December with 4,310 units.

The C-segment SUV X70 saw sales of 16,375 units in 2021 and a December sales figure of 1,616 units, placing it third in overall SUV sales.

Leading the automaker's sales, the Saga registered sales of 42,627 units in 2021.

There were 4,035 units of the Exora sold over the year while the Persona and Iriz registered 16,153 and 6,708 units respectively as the chip supply issue improved slightly.

International shipments of Proton more than doubled to 3,018 units in 2021, making it the most exported Malaysian automotive brand last year.

Meanwhile, Proton's finance arm, Proton Commerce, recorded 14,550 disbursements in 2021 and grew the number of 3S/4S outlets by seven to 147.

"The growth of Proton’s ancillary businesses such as Proton Commerce and the increase in the number of outlets is directly linked to the number of vehicles we sell.

"As sales have grown, so have our facilities to cater to an increased number of customers," said Roslan Abdullah.


Three decades of racing Ferrari GTs return to the track

                MARANELLO, Italy: Presented to clients at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali and unveiled to the public at Birmingham’s Autosport International event last week, the new Competizioni GT Club will allow owners of Ferrari GT racing cars built over the last three decades to compete at events organised directly by Maranello.

Reflecting the philosophies underpinning the F1 Clienti and the XX Programmes, the Competizioni GT Club will organise events at some of the world’s most evocative circuits, complete with a range of exclusive services to enrich the experience.

Technical assistance will be available at each track, while official professional Ferrari GT competition drivers, who compete in the world’s leading championships throughout the year, will be on hand to advise clients on getting the best possible performance from their cars.

The 12 models that qualify for membership of the Competizioni GT Club range from the 1989 F40 Competizione to the 488 GTE and GT3 currently available to racing clients.

Aside from the basic club membership package, which includes personalised clothing, a set of tyres for every round and a gala event, other special services are also available, not least car transportation, personalised logistics and exclusive one-to-one sessions with professional drivers.

Mugello will host the first event on April 9th and 10th. This will be followed by Indianapolis, where the cars will race on the track used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Fuji in Japan and then Vallelunga just outside Rome.

The Competizioni GT Club will also participate in the 2019 Ferrari Finali Mondiali at Mugello between October 22nd and 27th.


IMI holds its first conference in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: UK-based Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) announced it will be holding its inaugural conference in Malaysia at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur on Nov 30.

The one-day conference will see Over 100 people comprising of senior executives from IMI approved centres, industry leaders and representatives from the education ministry converging to discuss the importance of training and development, as well as leadership and management within the automotive sector.

 Nash

Speakers such as IMI chief executive officer Steve Nash will talk about the importance of up-skilling the automotive workforce to meet the industry’s new demands on technology know-how, especially with the growing popularity of hybrid and electric cars.

IMI return on investment manager Dr Paul Spear will also be present and will share the science of backing winners in business from the perspective of the returns on investment (ROI) on training.

Other speakers include senior industry representatives such as Bermaz Motor CEO Datuk Sri Ben Yeoh, who has been working with the IMI since 2012 to equip employees with world class skills and knowledge benchmarked to global standards.

“The IMI was established almost 100 years ago and has been at the forefront of developing industry-wide standards across both aftersales and sales. Since Malaysia is our most established base outside UK, it gives me great pleasure to hold this inaugural event here to demonstrate the benefits of investing in quality training,” said Nash.

He added that as the automotive industry continues to evolve, it is vital to ensure that highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals are continuously given the most relevant training.

 Spear

By providing internationally-recognised qualifications and accreditations throughout the ASEAN region, the IMI is also helping to boost public confidence towards people in this profession.

As a leading automotive body that helps improve professional standards for the automotive sector, the IMI offers over 250 technical and non-technical qualifications and accreditations through 560 training partners in more than 13 countries around the world.

Currently, an average of 1,500 candidates are trained per year thanks to the IMI and its 24 approved centres in Malaysia that offer qualifications and accreditations, which includes official Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd, official Mazda distributor Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd and The Otomotif College to name a few.

“This conference will also give us an opportunity to share the IMI’s ROI Calculator app that demonstrates to businesses their ROI from their training costs and wages, so there is no more guesswork. Research has shown conclusively there is clear and significant financial return to employers with an average of 200% net return over a three year period,” said Spear.


All-new 2023 Honda Accord for US debuts

                LOS ANGELES: The new Honda Accord for North America has been unveiled.

According to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. the Accord has been America's best-selling car over the last five decades, and the latest version is expected to re-energise the midsize sedan segment with an elegant and sophisticated design, and an available advanced hybrid-electric system that's more responsive for a sporty, exhilarating driving experience.

Accord hybrid models are positioned at the top of the 11th generation Accord lineup and will represent about 50 percent of sales.

"The all-new 11th-generation Accord is essential to our lineup as a critical driver of brand loyalty, and with hybrid models representing 50% of sales, a key part of Honda's electrification strategy," said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

"This is our best Accord ever, a true benchmark in its class, offering an unbeatable combination of style, efficiency, performance and connectivity."

The new 2023 Accord is longer and sleeker with premium proportions and a broad stance, further advancing the new Honda design direction with a low horizontal beltline and a long, powerful front end.

It backs up its sleek new looks with more confident and refined dynamics, improved responsiveness, and a more fun-to-drive personality.

Accord will be available in six trim levels, starting with the turbocharged LX and EX and topped by the hybrid-powered Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring.

With 335Nm of torque from Honda's new 4th-generation two-motor hybrid system, the 2023 Accord hybrids are the most powerful ever.

Inside, a new sporty and modern interior offers fine craftsmanship, high-quality materials and must-have available tech features including Honda's largest touchscreen ever and Honda's first integration of Google built-in for seamless on-the-go connectivity. Accord is also made more comfortable, with new front Body Stabilizing Seats that reduce fatigue on long drives.

Standard class-leading safety features include a new Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology, next-gen front airbags, as well as new front knee airbags and rear side-impact airbags.

The body has grown 7cm longer.

A longer hood and a flowing fastback roofline create a premium silhouette. Along the roof line, Accord uses laser brazing technology, eliminating the need for roof molding for a smooth and clean roof line. Distinctive horizontal LED straight-line taillights accentuate Accord's wide stance.

LX, EX and EX-L trims feature a black grille mesh, body-color side mirrors and standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Sport, Sport-L get even sportier styling with black side mirrors, a black rear spoiler and black 19-inch alloy wheels, while Sport-L models add a unique black rear diffuser. The top-level Touring features unique gloss-black 19-inch alloy wheels along with silver and black exterior trim for a sharp, high-contrast look. All 2023 Accords feature a 0.4-inch wider rear track for a broader stance and improved stability.

Accord will be available in eight exterior colours, three of which are new: Meteorite Gray Metallic, Urban Gray Pearl and Canyon River Blue Metallic.

The 2023 Accord has the most cargo room in its class, with all models providing 472 litres of boot space and standard fold-down rear seats.

All Accords can now receive quick and easy Over the Air (OTA) software updates to nearly all vehicle computer modules, enhancing functionality and capability.

Honda said suspension and steering updates make Accord more fun to drive, while simultaneously improving ride quality. A retuned four-wheel independent suspension provides a more engaging driving experience. New front suspension damper mount bearings and ball joints reduce friction to improve steering smoothness.

Accord also features an updated Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistive technologies enabled by a new camera with a wider 90-degree field of view and wide-angle radar with a 120-degree field of view.

This wide angle improves collision prevention performance via improved ability to recognise attributes of objects, such as a vehicles or pedestrians, as well as white lines, road boundaries like curbs, other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, and road signs.

The wide angle also enables expanded control range for Accord at intersections.

Blind spot information (BSI) has been expanded, now with 25m of radar range. Also new is Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), which is a first for Accord. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) have been updated to feature more natural responses. Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) is also standard, and Low-Speed Braking Control is available on Touring.

Accord features standard Rear Seatbelt Reminder and Rear Seat Reminder, the latter notifying drivers to check the rear seating area for children, pets or other precious cargo when exiting the vehicle. Expanded available standard security features now include a stolen vehicle locator, remote immobiliser, and a Find-My-Vehicle function.

Key 2023 Accord features:

> Sleek and sophisticated all-new exterior design
> 4th-generation two-motor hybrid system (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, Touring) is more powerful, makes Accord more fun to drive
> Sporty, modern, spacious, and comfortable interior
> Standard 10.2-inch digital driver instrumentation display
> 12.3-inch colour touchscreen for top trims with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, Touring)
> Standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility (LX, EX)
> Honda's first integration of Google built-in (Touring), including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play capability with the latest apps and services
> New Over the Air (OTA) software updates to nearly all vehicle computer modules, enhancing functionality and capability
> Enhanced global Honda Architecture supports improvements in ride, handling and overall refinement
> Updated 1.5-litre Turbo engine (LX, EX) adds refinement and responsiveness while remaining fuel efficient
> Standard Honda Sensing system, plus Low-Speed Braking Control, Traffic Sign Recognition system (TSR), and new Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
> Next-gen front airbags designed to reduce traumatic brain and neck injuries
> New standard knee and rear passenger side-impact airbags


Bollywood's Salman Khan guilty in deadly hit-and-run case

                MUMBAI: An Indian judge today convicted Bollywood superstar Salman Khan of killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run after a night out drinking, rejecting his claim that his driver was to blame.

D.W. Deshpande found Khan guilty of culpable homicide after driving his Toyota Land Cruiser into a group of homeless men sleeping rough in suburban Mumbai after spending the evening in an upmarket bar.

One man was killed and several others were injured in the incident.

Khan, the star of blockbusters such as "Dabangg" (Fearless), looked dejected after hearing the verdict, his eyes downcast, according to an AFP reporter inside the court room.

Khan had always denied being behind the wheel, but now faces up to 10 years in prison, potentially bringing the career of one of the Indian movie industry's biggest box-office stars to a shuddering halt.

The trial began in  earnest last year after a series of court hearings and legal hold-ups.

A string of prosecution witnesses, including survivors of the crash, testified that Khan was driving the vehicle when it ploughed at speed into the men sleeping on the street near a bakery in September 2002.

When 49-year-old Khan finally took the stand in March, he pleaded not guilty and told the court that his driver was responsible for mounting the pavement in the upmarket suburb of Bandra West.

The driver testified in court last month that he had been behind the wheel, and that the crash occurred after the front left tyre burst, making steering and braking difficult.

But the judge on Wednesday found him guilty of all charges including driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Khan is likely to appeal the verdict, while the court was now hearing submissions from his lawyers on the length of sentence to be decided by the judge.

A constable attached to Khan's security detail said in his statement to police that the drunk actor lost control of the car while driving at about 90kph.

"The people were sleeping on the footpath. Salman and (his cousin) Kamaal ran away from the spot," said the constable, who died in 2007 of tuberculosis.

One of the sleeping labourers injured in the accident said in his statement that "Salman was so drunk he fell. He stood but he fell again and then he... ran away".

Khan's lawyers said the action and romantic comedy star had in fact been drinking water all evening and had climbed out of the driver's seat after the accident because the passenger side door had been damaged.

They also said that the victim, Nurulah Mahbob Sharif, was killed during an operation to move the car, rather than the crash itself, when the bumper fell off and landed on him.

Television news channels carried virtually non-stop coverage on Wednesday, with camera crews parked outside Khan's home and surrounding the court.

The Times of India, which carried the front-page headline "Judgement Day for Salman", said the verdict would "bring the curtains down on a case that has riveted the media's attention for 13 years".

Khan, the son of a respected film writer, has starred in more than 100 films and television shows since his first hit "Maine Pyar Kiya" (I Fell in Love) in the 1980s.

But the body-building actor is no stranger to controversy off screen and he spent more than a week behind bars for killing an endangered Indian gazelle in 1998 during a hunting trip.

The verdict has been keenly awaited both by his fans and Bollywood studios who stand to lose millions of dollars if they have to cancel filming for movies he has been signed up to.

One report by the Press of Trust of India said more than $31 million was riding on the verdict.

If he were to be jailed, Khan would become the second big-name Bollywood actor to be imprisoned in the last two years. Sanjay Dutt, the star of a series of gangster movies, is behind bars over possession of weapons linked to several bombings in Mumbai in 1993.


Lamborghini Huracán reaches car #20,000

                BOLOGNA: Automobili Lamborghini has rolled out Huracán number 20,000 which is an STO model in Grigio Acheso Matt for a client in Monaco.

While the Huracán Super Trofeo Omologata (STO) is the pinnacle of Huracán performance in a road car with racing spirit, it heads an extended family of Huracán line-up that have delivered aspirated performance with characterized dynamic handling and driving emotion since its 2014 debut.

The Huracán's success has been maintained over time in a wide range of 12 road and three racing versions.

Since 2014, 71% of customers have chosen the coupé versions and 29% the open-air derivatives.
Top of the markets is the US, where more than 32% of all Huracán versions have been delivered in the last eight years, followed by the UK and Greater China.

This solid success continues also today: Huracán models largely contributed to the 2021 sales record with a strong increase sales up to 2,586 units, due partly to the impetus from the very positive customer response to the Huracán STO.

Automobili Lamborghini chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the Huracán had delivered an evolution of design, technological know-how, driving adventures, track records and sales records since its launch.

“It was designed as a car to provide super sports emotion in every environment, from daily driving to thrilling performance on track.

“Every iteration of the Huracán has stayed true to that Lamborghini philosophy, while in motorsport the Huracán is not only the protagonist of the Lamborghini one-make Super Trofeo series but has proved its dominance in GT3 series throughout the world,” he said.


VIDEO: Jaguar F-Pace tested to extremes

                NEW YORK: From the searing heat and dust of Dubai to the ice and snow of Northern Sweden, the new Jaguar F-Pace has been thoroughly tested to the limit in some of the most inhospitable environments on earth.

As the first performance crossover from Jaguar, the F-PACE offers a blend of performance, design and practicality.

To ensure that every system functions perfectly under the most extreme conditions, the new F-Pace has been subjected to one of the most demanding test programs the company has ever devised.

At the Jaguar Land Rover test facility in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden, average winter temperatures rarely -15°C and often plummet to -40°C.

The 60km purpose-built handling tracks, mountain climbs, inclines, split-friction straights and off-road areas are ideal for optimising the calibration of the all-wheel drive system – including dynamic stability control and all-surface progress control.

The work done ensures that the F-PACE delivers the connected steering feel and agility fundamental to Jaguar dynamics DNA - whether on asphalt, snow or ice

In Dubai, ambient temperatures can exceed 50°C in the shade.

When vehicles are left out in direct sunlight, cabin temperatures can soar up to 70°C, which is exactly what's needed to ensure that everything from climate control systems to infotainment touchscreens function perfectly in extremes of heat and humidity.

In addition to hot weather highway driving, the cooling system of the F-Pace has been further tested under very high load by driving the vehicle in city traffic where the vehicle experienced a combination of high ambient temperatures and low airflow.

For the first time in a Jaguar development program, the F-Pace has also been driven over gravelled mountain passes as part of its validation tests.

Following the tests, the F-Pace will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with North American sales beginning in mid-2016.

"We developed the F-PACE to offer the ride, handling and refinement demanded from a Jaguar car, together with new levels of ability and composure on a variety of surfaces and weather conditions,” said Jaguar F-Pace vehicle program director Andrew Whyman.

“Just as we paid obsessive attention to detail over the engineering of every single component, we've exhaustively tested the F-PACE in the most challenging conditions to ensure that it will exceed the expectations of our customers around the world," he added.


Nio plans new 40 GWh battery plant in China, say sources

                SHANGHAI: Nio plans to build its first battery plant to produce big cylindrical cells similar to those used by Tesla, two people familiar with the matter said, as the Chinese EV maker seeks to cut its reliance on CATL for supplies.

The plant underscores Nio's ambition to ramp up its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) market at home and abroad. The Chinese company is also planning a factory in the neighbouring city of Chuzhou to make budget EVs to sell to Europe.

The new battery plant will have an annual capacity to produce 40 gigawatt hours (GWh) of batteries, which can power about 400,000 units of long-range electric vehicles (EVs), the people said on condition of anonymity as the matter is private.

It will be located next to its main manufacturing hub in Hefei city, in eastern China's Anhui province, they said.

Reuters is reporting the details of Nio's plan for the first time. The automaker did not respond to a request for comment.

Nio's founder and chairman, William Li, had in June said that Nio would start making 800-volt lithium-ion battery packs, which recharge faster, in the second half of 2024, as part of a plan similar to Tesla's to use a combination of self-produced and externally sourced batteries in the long run.

He did not elaborate on the details at the time.

Like other loss-making Chinese EV makers, Nio has been seeking to gain more control over batteries, the most expensive single-piece component, to improve its profitability.

CATL, short for Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, is currently Nio's sole supplier of batteries for cars and battery swapping stations. Nio has a smaller battery-focused plant in Shanghai where it tests batteries.

CATL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Betting on cylindrical batteries

Prismatic batteries, which are rectangular in shape, have become the most common form of auto battery in the past two years as they can be more densely packed, saving on costs.

But proponents of cylindrical batteries, led by US EV maker Tesla, argue the newer larger format cylindrical cells are more cost-effective due to improvements in energy density.

Tesla has said it plans to expand its US$6.2-billion battery plant in Nevada to be able to make 100 GWh 4680 cylindrical battery cells - denoting 46mm in diameter and 80mm in length.

The plant is now able to annually produce more than 37 GWh of battery cells including current-generation 2170 cylindrical battery cells and the smaller 18650 batteries.

Tesla has said it expects the 4680 cylindrical battery cells to lower production costs and improve range versus the 2170.

BMW has also said it would shift to large cylindrical batteries supplied by CATL and EVE Energy to power its new class of EVs from 2025.


2017 Geneva Motor Show: Honda NeuV helps you make more money

                GENEVA: Making its European show debut in Geneva, the Honda NeuV is a pure-electric concept car with a unique ownership proposition and a state-of-the-art "emotion engine" that can learn about its driver.

The NeuV (pronounced “new-vee”), which stands for New Electric Urban Vehicle, was created to take advantage of the fact that privately-owned vehicles sit idle for 96% of the time. So it's ripe for a ride-sharing venture for owners looking to make some money on the side.

The pure-electric concept car can be set up to operate as an automated ride sharing vehicle when the owner is not using the car. It would pick up and drop off customers at local destinations, and could also sell energy back to the electric grid during times of high demand when it‘s sitting idle, further monetising the vehicle’s down time.

NeuV also functions as a helpful AI assistant using an "emotion engine" called HANA (Honda Automated Network Assistant), which learns from the driver by detecting emotions behind their judgments. It can then apply what it has learnt from the driver’s past decisions to make new choices and recommendations.

A full touch-panel interface enables both the driver and passenger to access NeuV’s simple and convenient user experience. Outstanding outward visibility is afforded by a sweeping panoramic windscreen and a dramatically sloping belt line that make manoeuvring simple. Entry and exit from the vehicle is made as easy as possible, even in tight parking spaces, with a complete side panel that opens out and backwards to create a large opening.

NeuV has two seats with luggage space behind, which also stores the ‘Kick ’n Go’ electric scooter concept designed for "last mile" transit. The scooter concept is inspired by Honda’s original scooter of the same name launched in the 1970s. The new design is powered by a detachable battery rather than a chain mechanism, and can be recharged through a connection in NeuV’s luggage space. The new ‘Kick ’n Go’ concept demonstrates that Honda is looking at all aspects of affordable electric mobility that can enrich people’s daily lives.

Honda recently demonstrated NeuV as part of its "Cooperative Mobility Ecosystem" at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, showing the potential power of artificial intelligence, robotics and big data to transform the mobility experience of the future and improve customers’ quality of life. The brand’s exploration into electrification will not stop at cars: Honda’s intention is to develop electrified and efficient power solutions for all of its product areas, including motorcycles and power tools.