Latest Tesla Model 3 photo of cabin creates a stir

                PETALING JAYA: A photo of the Tesla Model 3 has leaked online, showing the interior of the electric car prototype being driven on a public road in Fremont, California, for the first time.

It's doubtful the spartan dash would look like what is shown in the photo above as Tesla boss Elon Musk had said before that the final interior of the 5-seater would be different from that of the concept.

He had also pointed out that the turn signals and other steering controls would be shaped like a "spaceship" and that he had decided to drop the square-shaped steering wheel as seen in the concept.

The photo released on the Internet was from an Instagram user identified as Richard Hennessy. When we checked his Instagram account today, the photo had been taken down.

Whether the 3 will get a digital meter cluster or be autonomous is still up in the air but it looks like Tesla will put in its trademarked centre infotainment screen albeit in a horizontal format to collate most of the controls in one place for a simple, hi-tech look as befits an electric car. In contrast, the huge screen in the S and X are in portrait orientation.

The US$35,000 3 prototype was unveiled on March 31, and the interest in the car was so high that Tesla received more than 115,000 reservations in the first 24 hours. By May, that figure had soared to 373,000 orders.

The Model 3 is expected to offer at least 346km per charge - for a start. Tesla is always stretching the goal post so the range could be extended by the time customers get their cars towards the end of 2017.

Tesla aims to ramp up total production to 500,000 cars by 2018 with the bulk of orders coming from Model 3 and the rest from S and X.


Morgan EV3 to go into production in 2018

                BIRMINGHAM: It's not too often a brand new car that's yet to go into production gets a major update just before it goes into production, but that's what appears to have happened with Morgan's first all-electric model, the EV3.

The car was first revealed back in 2016, but Morgan has now announced a technical partnership with industry leaders Frazer-Nash Energy Systems. Morgan has also admitted this will see the EV3 delivering better performance, rapid charging technology, proven reliability, a lower center of gravity and faster acceleration than was originally expected.

Understandably, most automakers are getting heavily involved with electric and hybrid cars at the moment, but Morgan may be one of those least expected to go down the EV route so soon.

Thanks to the new partnership, the eventual production version of the EV3 that's set to start rolling off the production line next year will feature all-new more robust architecture, enhanced levels of torque, a stiffer chassis and an underslung battery beneath the skin of the car to help with lowering the center of gravity.

Inside the tubular space frame chassis is a 21 KWh lithium battery and a liquid-cooled 34.8 kW (41.8kW peak) electric motor driving the rear wheels. Morgan's first venture into the world of electric cars will boast a range of 193km and is set to provide the kind of exhilarating driving experience not normally associated with relatively affordable electric vehicles. When the EV3 is finally in production, it's expected that it will deliver comparable performance figures to its gasoline-powered sibling.

Morgan's managing director, Steve Morris, said of the partnership, "We are delighted to announce our technical partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems as we enter this exciting phase of EV3 production. The greatest challenge lies within introducing EV technology into our factory work flows, customer experience and supporting dealer network in a robust and most importantly safe manner. Frazer-Nash Energy Systems offer us every confidence in achieving this."

After testing and development, production of the EV3 is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2018 at Morgan's Pickersleigh Road factory in Malvern near here.


Nine Honda cars to be won by Malaysians in new campaign

                PETALING JAYA: Nine Honda cars are offered as prizes for lucky Malaysians in a Road to 900,000th Unit Milestone campaign.

This campaign commemorates Honda Malaysia’s milestone of achieving sales of 900,000 units in the third quarter of 2019.

The campaign will be running at all 90 Honda sales dealerships as well as through the Road to 900,000th Unit Milestone campaign nationwide tour from August to September 2019.

To join the campaign, you need to visit a Honda dealership and take part in activities to earn giveaway tickets.

These activities include spotting and taking pictures of a hidden Honda car name emblem, test driving Honda models and servicing Honda cars at any authorised Honda dealers.

Those who book or register their Honda cars on August 1 till September 22, 2019 are also entitled to the tickets.

The more tickets collected, the higher the chance to win the Honda cars.

"Lucky Malaysians will get to win models such as Jazz, City, BR-V, HR-V, City Hybrid, HR-V Hybrid, Civic, CR-V and Accord. This initiative is also an opportunity for Honda Malaysia to say thank you and reward our customers for making us the top non-national car brand in Malaysia," said Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Toichi Ishiyama.


The Rolls-Royce electrification prediction from a century ago

                LONDON: While Rolls-Royce never made any production electric cars, the brand's founders fascination with electricity and electrified vehicles go way back before the company's establishment in the late 19th century.

Co-founder Sir Henry Royce was one of the world's first electrical engineers,.

After the electric company which he was chief electrician folded in 1884, he struck out on his own making electrical appliances such as doorbells, lamps, fuses and switches.

 Royce.

As business thrived, the company soon produced larger and more complex devices including dynamos, electric motors and winches.

In 1902, Royce supplied electric motors for Pritchett & Gold, a London-based battery-maker that had diversified into building electric cars.

Though Royce himself never built or owned an electric motor car, he created internal combustion engines that delivered the driving experience associated with today's electric propulsion: effortless torque, silent running and the sensation of one continuous, powerful gear.

His technical expertise and pioneering achievements underpin the marque's historical claim as a world leader in electrification in both luxury and social settings.

 Rolls.

Meanwhile, another co-founder Charles Rolls was also a highly gifted engineer but his enthusiasm for electricity began even earlier in life.

When he was just nine years old, he rigged up an electric bell between his bedroom and the stables at The Hendre, the family's ancestral home in Monmouthshire.

He also planned and supervised the installation of electricity in the servants' quarters; deploying the powers of salesmanship that would later make him world-famous, he persuaded his father, Lord Llangattock, to pay for it.

In 1896, aged 18, he travelled to Paris and bought his first car, a 3¾hp Peugeot Phaeton.

Two years later, while still an engineering student at Cambridge, he acquired his only electric-powered car, an American-made vehicle called The Columbia Electric Carriage, imported into the UK by Paris Singer (heir to the sewing machine dynasty) and sold as the City & Suburban car.

Rolls regarded this as the best then available.

In an interview published in The Motor-Car Journal in April 1900, Rolls described electric propulsion, in terms that, over a century later, carry the ring of prescient prophecy:

“The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable – at least for many years to come,” he said.

However, Rolls made his own small contribution to solving the range problem, by providing a battery-charging station at his car showroom on Lillie Road in Fulham for the private or rentable electric Broughams that were all the rage in London at the time.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive officer Torsten Müller-Ötvös said Rolls, made a prescient prophecy about automotive electrification.

“Move forward over 120 years to when I made a public promise, on the record, that we would bring the first fully-electric Rolls-Royce to market within the current decade.

“And, right now, our company is embarking on an historic undertaking to create the first, super luxury car of its type. This will happen, sooner than many thought possible, through the incredible skills, expertise, vision and dedication of our engineers, designers and specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce.

As electrification has long been promoted as the future of automotive propulsion, mainstream manufacturers are increasingly embracing hybrid and battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology, supported by the expansion of national charging infrastructures.

To date, Rolls-Royce said its electrification strategy would be that:

• The marque will introduce an all-electric car this decade (2020 - 2030).
• This car will be a pure BEV, not a hybrid of any kind.
• It will be launched only when the time is right, and every element meets Rolls-Royce's technical, aesthetic and performance standards.

 102EX.

In 2011, the marque released Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), codenamed 102EX; a fully operational and road-legal batery-electric version of its pinnacle product.

Phantom EE was never intended for production, serving instead as a working test-bed for clients, VIPs, the media and enthusiasts to experience electric propulsion and share their experiences, thoughts and considerations directly with Rolls-Royce designers and engineers.

The car's 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine and gearbox were replaced with a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear sub-frame, connected to a single-speed transmission with integrated differential.

This system gave a maximum power output of 290kW and torque of 800Nm, compared to 338kW and maximum torque of 720Nm, delivered at 3,500rpm, for the V12 Phantom of the time.

While Phantom EE drew widespread acclaim for its technical accomplishment, particularly its near-total silence and impressive torque delivery, its limited range, long charging cycles and three-year battery life remained significant hurdles that Rolls-Royce would need to address in order to satisfy the expectations of its clients.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Vision Next 100 (103EX), a radically innovative concept car set out to define the marque's long-term vision of luxury mobility featuring individualised and an immersive emotional and sensory experience.

 103EX.

Its coach-built bodywork will allow clients to commission a car that reflects their personal vision while a virtual assistant and chauffeur powered by artificial intelligence offer an effortless journey.

The interior creates a Grand Sanctuary, crafted from rare and exclusive materials.

With its size and scale – 5.9m long and 1.6m high – the car ensures a grand arrival.

The vehicle is fully autonomous and is built on an advanced lightweight platform and powered by a proprietary, all-electric drive train.

The EX-suffix confirms that 103EX was a purely experimental car and never destined to enter production.

Following a spectacular debut in London, the car embarked on a three-year world tour, returning to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in 2019.

In addition, Rolls-Royce also paid tribute to three men who helped the company in its early years.

Henry Edmunds

A colleague of Royce in Brush Electrical Engineering Company Ltd, Henry Edmunds was the company engineer who earned his place in history when, on May 4, 1904 at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, he announced: “Mr Royce, may I introduce you to Charles Rolls”.

 Edmunds.

Said to be "The Godfather of Rolls-Royce," Edmunds is also a friend of Joseph Swan (the inventor of the incandescent
lightbulb) and Thomas Edison, and was present at both the first successful sound recording and telephone call.

He also brought into being the world's first electrified underground railway, when he persuaded the engineer in charge of London’s City & Southwick Railway (now the City branch of the Northern Line) to operate trains powered by electricity rather than steam.

E A Claremont

Claremont was a partner in F H Royce & Company, Joint Managing Director of F H Royce & Company Limited, Chairman of Royce Limited and the first Chairman of Rolls-Royce Limited; and together with Royce were also Members of the Institute of Electrical
Engineers.

 Claremont.

Royce himself wrote, "I was induced to found... a small company in my own name' and none but his was ever used.

Claude Johnson

As the self-styled 'Hyphen in Rolls-Royce,' Claude Johnson quit his role as secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain & Ireland – whose members included Edmunds – to work for Paris Singer's City & Suburban Electric Carriage company in 1903.

After less than a year, however, Johnson left to join C S Rolls and Co, later becoming managing director of Rolls-Royce Ltd.

 Johnson.

He was responsible for much of the company's early publicity and in advertisements produced for the UK and US markets where he described Rolls-Royce as 'a petrol car as smooth and quiet as an electric'.

And to complete the symmetry, Paris Singer became the world's first owner of a Rolls-Royce motor car.


Next-generation Renault Clio seen testing

The current fourth-generation Clio.
 PARIS: Despite a lot of focus on new SUVs that will be coming to market in 2019, there's still a great deal of interest in new models that aren't actually high-riding crossovers. That's why it's big news that an all-new Renault Clio has been seen in prototype form undergoing testing ahead of an expected reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019.

Already the biggest-selling supermini in Europe, if the pictures, published on Motor1.com are anything to go by, the new Clio will look to distinguish itself from the competition by packing even more advanced technology into its compact form than its current and upcoming rivals. The idea is for it to be the most technologically advanced car in its class when it finally arrives in showrooms, and from what has been seen of it so far it also appears to be borrowing more than hint of its exterior and interior styling from the larger Megane.

Offering increasingly large amounts of advanced tech and a more premium style is part of a concerted bid by Renault to maintain its supermini's place at the forefront of the sector. This is an especially tough task as the Clio faces a growing sales onslaught from the compact SUVs these more traditional small cars are beginning to lose out to.

 The new Clio is set to follow the touchscreen-dominated interior design of the Megane.

The new model is set to be based on an updated version of the current Clio's CMF-B platform in a bid to minimise development costs. That means there will still be a conventional range of petrol engines offered, which are likely to include the company's new turbocharged 1.3-litre along with an updated version of the familiar 0.9-litre turbo-three.

Considering how much extra they cost and the current market trend away from diesel engines, it wouldn't be too much of a shock if Renault chose not to offer the Clio with any of its dCi powerplants, although it shouldn't be ruled out at this point.

It appears the fifth-generation Clio in now entering the final stages of prototype testing, and it's being reported it will complement its modern, honed exterior design with a dramatic new interior dominated by a large infotainment screen reminiscent of a Tesla and will also offer a degree of semi-autonomous driving.


Proton X90: Primed for big success

                The Proton X90 should be another hit for the national automaker, if its price tags can strike a chord with those who want a large, powerful and premium three-row SUV (sports utility vehicle) loaded with nice features.

Bookings have opened, and the SUV is due to be officially launched very soon.

The motoring media had a taste of the refined qualities and handling characteristics of the X90 recently on a brief drive from Shah Alam to Genting Highlands.

For perspective, the X90’s three-row SUV rivals are the Mazda CX-8, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, Nissan X-Trail and Peugeot 5008.

Like the Proton X50 B-segment (flagship variant) and X70 C-segment SUVs, the X90 has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder DOHC turbocharged mill, with direct fuel injection, which produces 177PS at 5,500rpm and 255Nm at 1,500 to 4,000rpm.

Power is routed to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Based on the Geely Haoyue, the X90 is also Proton’s first mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) with a 48volt electric motor synergy (EMS) system.

A five-year warranty is offered on the 48V lithium-ion battery.

The 48V EMS technology delivers an additional push of 13PS and 45Nm of torque for a total system output of 190PS and 300Nm.

Proton claims fuel efficiency is also improved by up to 15%.

It’s also worth noting that, unlike other markets where the Haoyue gets a rear torsion beam suspension, the X90 has a rear multi-link set-up tuned on Malaysian roads.

Proton highlighted that after extensive testing, the more costly and complex multi-link suspension was chosen as this provides better driveability and value.

There are four X90 variants, starting from the base Standard, followed by the Executive, Premium and Flagship.

The Flagship is a six-seater with captain seats and pilot headrests for the second row, while other variants are seven-seaters.

Only the top two variants get items such as the Advanced Driver Assistance System, 19-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather seats, a front passenger powered seat, wireless charger for mobile phones and Auto Park Assist.

Our test drive unit for the trip to Genting Highlands, was the seven-seater Premium variant, and we found sufficient leg and elbow room in the third row.

The third row does not feel cramped, and headroom is more than enough for 1.7-metre people.

We like the comfort of having ceiling-mounted air-conditioning vents for both rear rows, as well as the convenience of two USB charging ports (six in the car) for each row.

These include a USB-C port for the second row.

This meant all four of us (three writers and a Proton executive) had no issue keeping our mobile devices charged.

The interior looks classy with high-quality plastics, smooth chrome surfaces and dark leather upholstery.

The centre console’s storage box is deep and provides generous storage space, and there are numerous cup holders and bins on all doors.

Dominated by a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, the dashboard has a clean and uncluttered design, with switches to control the air-conditioning.

While the audio system delivers crisp and high-quality sound quality, there are no knobs for the front passenger to fiddle with audio volume - this has to be done via the touchscreen menu or voice command system.

On the centre console, there’s a gear knob and also, a rotary dial to change drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport) as well as buttons for features like the 360-degree camera and hill descent control.

The engineers did a good job in the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) department, and during the drive, we enjoyed a smooth ride and a hushed, comfortable cabin environment for interesting conversations.

Equipped with Continental EcoContact 6 tyres sized 235/50 R19, the X90 Premium variant handled well for such a large SUV, and the steering felt well-tuned, accurate and responsive.

We found adequate power on tap when we wanted to accelerate fast, and on highway bends, the SUV felt direct and stable.

Acceleration is smooth and low-end torque is sufficient although there was a very brief pause before power kicked in when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal for faster sprints or uphill climbs.

The comfort-oriented suspension did well in soaking up road imperfections.

Brake bite and feel are good and we found the X90’s stopping power reassuring.

We were somewhat amused with the aggressive nature of the active steering intervention’s Centering Control function which insisted on keeping the SUV in the centre of the lane, but this can be adjusted easily via the touchscreen menu - just tap on Lane Keep Assist and select either Warning Only, Departure Prevention or Centering Control.

Each writer took turns driving the X90, and the first driver change was done after the Gombak toll plaza.

On the twists and turns of the uphill climb, the X90 is agile enough for its size and did not feel too ungainly.

Based on the brief drive, the X90 delivers a refined and premium motoring experience and should be high on the shortlist of three-row SUV buyers.

SPECIFICATIONSProton X90Standard (Base specification)
> 1.5 TGDi engine with Mild-Hybrid
> 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission
> Full LED Headlamps
> 18-inch Alloy Wheels
> Fabric Seats
> 12.3-inch Infotainment Head Unit
> Reverse Camera
> Colour Options: Snow White, Armor Silver, Jet Grey

Executive (Upgrades from Standard)
> Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
> Power Tailgate
> Leatherette Seats
> Driver Power Seats
> Front Ventilated Seats
> 360 Camera with 3D Display
> Additional Colour Options: Cinnamon Brown, Red Ruby

Premium (Upgrades from Executive)
> Rear Collision Warning (New)
> Rear Cross Traffic Alert (New)
> Traffic Sign Information (New)
> Advanced Driver Assistance System
> 19-inch Alloy Wheels
> Nappa Leather Seats
> Front Passenger Power Seat
> Wireless Charger
> Auto Park Assist
> Additional Colour Options: Marine Blue

Flagship (Upgrades from Premium)
> Panoramic Sunroof
> Front Passenger Power Seat with ‘Boss’ Switch
> Second Row Captain Seats


Hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo set for launch in South-East Asia

                SHAH ALAM: Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) are developing plans to distribute the flagship Nexo - a crossover fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) sport utility vehicle (SUV) within the South-East Asian region.

Such plans emerged following the sale of two Nexo units to Sarawak Energy Berhad earlier in May and are currently undergoing trials.

The SUVs will be used for the Sarawak Energy's hydrogen production plant and refuelling station project in Kuching.

The refuelling station will be the first of its kind dedicated for transportation in South-East Asia.

The SUV is currently HMC's spearhead to further the development of zero-emission vehicles and is touted to possess 163PS of power and a range of about 670km (based on Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) with a fully charged battery and three of its 156-litre tanks fully filled.

Power is drawn from a fuel cell stack located under the bonnet where oxygen from the surrounding air is combined with hydrogen stored in three 52-litre high-pressure tanks that take a few minutes to refill.

An electric charge is then produced to power the 163hp / 400Nm motor and as a byproduct, water vapour is produced which exits the exhaust pipe at the rear.

Additionally, the SUV has been equipped with an air purification system that filters out 99.9% of fine dust particles as small as PM2.5 (atmospheric particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres) which is roughly 3% the diameter of a human hair.

Also, the SUV has been awarded the UL Bio Environmental Seal because it uses bio fibres from sugar cane waste and vegetable plasticisers for the headliner and carpet areas.

Additional bioplastics from sugar cane and corn waste are used in the door, seat, pillar and console trims while bio paint has been extracted from rapeseed and soybean oils for the dashboard and centre console.


Maxus T60 pick-up truck may enter Malaysia

                SHANGHAI: SAIC Motor is aiming to grow its vehicle sales in the Asean region, with joint ventures and partnerships in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In Malaysia, SAIC Motor has a partnership with the Weststar Group which has been selling Maxus V80 vans and more recently, the China-built G10, a 10-seater premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) priced at RM137,888 on-the-road.

The Torino-designed G10 has been a hit with sales of over 600 units to date.

The recently launched Maxus T60 pick-up truck might also make its way into the Malaysian market in the near future.

SAIC Motor Corp Ltd is the leading automaker in China, thanks to its joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.

Last year, SAIC Motor sold a staggering 6.49 million vehicles.

Its self-owned auto brands namely passenger marques Roewe and MG, and commercial vehicle marque Maxus has seen strong sales growth in recent years.

PATAC test track in Guangde, Anhui province

On a recent media familiarisation trip, journalists visited China’s largest proving ground, capable of conducting 67 driving conditions over 60km of test roads.

The 5.67 sq km Guangde Proving Ground in Guangde County, Anhui was built by General Motors (GM), SAIC, Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC).

The 1.6 billion yuan (RM1bil) proving ground was opened in late 2012, and can accommodate up to 140 vehicles for testing simultaneously.

To simulate different driving conditions, the proving ground has an oval track, long straights, ride and handling loop, and test areas for vehicle dynamics, noise, durability, corrosion and hilly drives.

 Roewe RX5.

Journalists briefly test drove vehicles such as the Roewe RX5 SUV with 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired with a TST 6-speed double clutch transmission.

The Roewe RX5 has a spacious interior, thanks to a 2,700mm wheelbase and cabin kit includes a 7-inch trip info screen, 10.4-inch LCD touchscreen display with voice commands for air-conditioning, navigation, radio, and even sunroof operation.

There was also an MG GS unit, which shares its SUV platform and powertrains with the Roewe RX5, armed with self-driving technology as well as a Roewe eI6 executive sedan with a 1.0-litre turbo engine and hybrid powertrain.

 MG GS.

Meanwhile, one highlight here was the Maxus T60 pick up truck, which has a 2.8-litre VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The T60's 2.8-litre VGT engine outputs 148hp at 3,400rpm and 360Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,800rpm.

Fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litre per 100km, and the T60 has a wheelbase of 3,155mm.

Depending on variant, the T60 can be specified with LED lights, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Around View Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, and Driver Fatigue Monitor, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and six airbags.

READ ALSO: Westar Maxus G10 SE variant: More premium kit at RM157,888
READ ALSO: Maxus G10 MPV selling well in Malaysia
READ ALSO: Maxus G10 features top technologies from SAIC Motor
READ ALSO: Weststar Maxus launches 10-seat G10 people moverMaxus T60 pick-up truck (Photo gallery)


BMW, Daimler in talks to share key car parts

                MUNICH: Daimler AG and BMW AG are considering joining forces on making key automotive components, a move that would tie the traditional luxury-car rivals more closely than ever before and reflect the fundamental changes sweeping the industry.

The German manufacturers are exploring options such as joint vehicle platforms, batteries and autonomous-car technology, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Collaboration would be restricted to technology that’s not brand-specific, but deliberations are in their early stages and the timing of any decisions are unclear, the people said. Daimler and BMW declined to comment.

Under pressure to invest in self-driving, electric cars, automakers are increasingly reaching out to competitors in an effort to cut costs. Volkswagen AG is in negotiations with Ford Motor Co. to cooperate on vans and potentially autonomous vehicles. Partnerships are also a way to become more agile in the race to dominate digital services such as ride hailing to counter cash-rich technology giants like Alphabet Inc.

Strains have been evident and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and BMW have both cut profit targets this year, blaming trade tensions as well as rising development investments. Daimler is adding a suite of 10 electric vehicles over the next four years, while BMW said it will offer 12 battery-only models by 2025.

Partnership hurdles

Joining forces on automotive technology would significantly deepen Daimler and BMW’s existing cooperation efforts. The German manufacturers already work on components purchasing and bought digital-mapping company HERE Technologies for 2.5 billion euros (RM12bil) in 2015 together with Volkswagen AG’s Audi.

This year, the pair agreed to combine their respective car-sharing platforms Car2Go and DriveNow -- a deal which received regulatory approval in the U.S. on Wednesday.

The merger of their mobility operations includes plans to add other services and has boosted prospects for more initiatives, the people said. Relations had soured last year after allegations surfaced that German carmakers had potentially breached cartel rules in Europe. The ongoing probe into suspected collusion between BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen may complicate new cooperation projects, one of the people said.

Given the complex nature of product and technology cycles, the eventual payoff from a partnership could take years to realize, the people said. Building new cars can involve decade-long planning, making cooperation notoriously difficult. In 2013, General Motors Co. sold its stake in PSA Group after failing to find savings through joint purchasing and product development, while an alliance of Volkswagen and Suzuki Motor Co. broke down in 2016.

BMW currently works with Toyota Motor Corp. to jointly make the Z4 and Supra sports cars, as well as conduct research on hydrogen cars. Daimler, meanwhile, has a cross share-holding with Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. involving engine sharing and joint vehicle production.


Fifth-generation BMW electric drivetrain being tested on iX3 SUV

Prototype production of future fifth-generation e-drivetrain: electric motor, transmission and power electronics are combined in a separate, compact e-drive component.
MUNICH: The BMW Group is currently developing the fifth generation of its electric drivetrain and the first model to receive it will be the iX3 from 2020.

BMW said the Gen 5 drivetrain will see the electric motor, transmission, power electronics and battery being further optimised. Integrating the electric motor, the transmission and power electronics also helps the company to drive down costs. Furthermore, the electric motor does not require rare earths, enabling the BMW Group to reduce its dependence on their availability.

The iX3 will be the first all-electric SUV from BMW and will be produced for the world market in Shenyang, China.

Based on the same platform as the current X3, the iX3 is expected to have a 400km range as it will be fitted with the biggest BMW battery ever - a 70 kWh battery - which is double the 33 kWh pack in the new i3. The i3 has a range of 183km.

The rear-wheel drive iX3, currently undergoing testing, will have an electric motor producing around 270hp.

Meanwhile, over 10 new or revised models equipped with fourth-generation electric drivetrain technology are expected to roll out by the end of 2020 ahead of the Gen 5 introduction.

This wide range of electrified models on offer will be made possible by highly flexible vehicle architectures and an agile global production system.

Going forward, the BMW Group will be capable of manufacturing models with all-electric (BEV), hybrid-electric (PHEV) and conventional (ICE) drivetrains on one production line. The ability to integrate e-mobility in its production network will enable the BMW Group to respond even more flexibly as demand grows.


RessQ60min sends car technicians to you 24/7

                KUALA LUMPUR: With mobile car service technicians, RessQ60min aims to ease the life of car owners by offering 24-hour onsite normal and emergency car servicing.

"RessQ60min operates 24 hours a day, unlike traditional service centres that only operate till 6pm,” said RessQ60min founder and chief executive officer Suman Mathevan.

The mobile delivery platform provides significant time savings for consumers and is initially focused on tyres, engine oil, batteries, brake pads, car wash, car and towing (this represents the bulk of independent repair shop revenues).

“RessQ60min also provides emergency services, including for battery problems and even flat tyres," said Suman.

"RessQ60min’s battery change service now comes with a nationwide battery warranty. We will be able to provide support should you need a replacement, no matter wherever you are. RessQ60min aims to provide assistance within 60 minutes."

"Furthermore, the dispatched technician or call centre will continuously update their current position to the car owner every 15 minutes to assure the car owner of their imminent arrival. Presently, with our partnership with MyAssist, there are 82 certified service technicians and over 400 panels in peninsular Malaysia, with car battery and tyre replacements being our most popular services," he says.

 Suman (left) with MyAssist head Zulhelmi Othman.

Other services offered by RessQ60min include changing brake pads, lubrication oil, jump-start services, towing and car wash.

Not having a physical shop, and using portable tools and battery-based power sources, are what make RessQ60min flexible.

Also, Suman says not needing to pay rent for a physical service centre means a reduction of service fees by between 10% and 15%.

It also allows outstation/dispatching charges to be waived.

A car wash service is targeted to be launched next month, with charges as low as RM18 (depending on the car’s model).

The car wash service will not need a water source, as it utilises the dry-cleaning method.

This means customers need not worry about a messy lawn or carpark caused by the service.

Regarding tyres, there are 15 brands for the customer to choose from based on their budget and requirements.

Currently, RessQ60min’s 24-hour helpline has gone live, and a mobile application is scheduled for release in July.

RessQ60min call centre number : 03-77648188


Tesla wants to turn its cars into mobile game consoles

                AUSTIN: Tesla already offers video games in its cars (here, the Model S), but the announced arrival of Steam could bring many more gaming options. Tesla already offers video games in its cars such as the Model S, but the announced arrival of Steam could bring many more gaming options.

The news comes directly from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who wrote on Twitter:

"We're making progress with Steam integration. Demo probably next month."

Here, the idea seems to be to integrate Valve's famous online gaming platform into the onboard system of some Tesla cars. So could we one day be playing "F1 22" at the wheel of our Tesla, while it's charging, for example?

Tesla looks set on integrating a strong video games offer into its in-car entertainment system.

And the American carmaker seemingly intends to do so by integrating the Steam platform. This will give Tesla owners the opportunity to play much more advanced games than those currently available, evidently within the strict limits of what's legally possible or advisable in terms of safety.

The forthcoming demonstration mentioned by Elon Musk will offer insight into the effectiveness of this integration and, especially, it will give users an idea of what will really be on offer.

It will also allow Tesla to demonstrate the computing power of its on-board system, as some games can be particularly intensive to run.

Through its latest Model S and Model X, Tesla has already announced the presence of an AMD Ryzen chip with a computing power of 10 teraflops, which, on paper, is comparable to Sony's PS5 games console!

So could we one day imagine one or more passengers playing an elaborate game online? The idea is that anyone in the car can play, thanks to wireless controllers.

In addition to video, music and podcasts, video games could be a popular source of entertainment in autonomous vehicles under certain conditions.

Today, the American carmaker's customers can already enjoy its own gaming platform, Tesla Arcade, which consists of relatively basic games. From an economic and strategic point of view, Tesla could offer "packs" of games to its customers.

Currently, the Steam catalogue has more than 50,000 titles available.


Toyota Alphard and Vellfire 2016 launched

                SUBANG JAYA: The all-new premium MPVs from Toyota, the Alphard and Vellfire, is now available with two variants for the Alphard - the standard 3.5 litre (RM419,900) and 3.5 Executive Lounge (RM519,900) - one variant for the 2.5 litre Vellfire (RM355,000).  All prices are on-the-road with insurance and GST.

This marks the first time the Vellfire is officially distributed by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole authorised importer and distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, while the previous generation of the Alphard had already been offered here.

 (From left) Akio, Kenichi and Ismet at the launch event.
“UMW Toyota Motor has been selling the previous generation Alphard in Malaysia. However, we did not promote it extensively as the available stocks are limited and were often taken up quickly. From this encouraging demand, it became clear that the time is right for us to give more attention to marketing the premium MPVs.

“Customers who buy from official distributor like UMW Toyota, enjoy many benefits including a full 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage. We also have an extensive aftersales service outlet with well trained technicians to service these vehicles. Furthermore, customers also have 10 years guaranteed of Toyota Genuine Parts availability after the model run-out, giving them a peace of mind when it comes to car maintenance,” said UMW Toyota Motor president, Datuk Ismet Suki at the launch event.

Also in attendance was UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama and Toyota Motor Corporation executive chief engineer of Alphard and Vellfire, Kenichi Yoshioka.

The new Alphard and Vellfire has been specifically catered for the Malaysian climate and thus, the new vehicles operate optimally during long distance travelling coupled with the hot weather.

The all-new Toyota Alphard is eqipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to a a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual mode featuring Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) and produces 271PS and 340Nm of torque.

The Toyota Vellfire has a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine which also features Dual VVT-i. The output consists of 180PS and 235Nm of torque, with a 7-speed CVT (continuously-variable transmission).

Four colour choices are available for each model: Luxury White Pearl CS. GF., White Pearl CS., Silver Metallic and Black for the All-new Alphard, and Burning Black CS. GF., White Pearl CS., Silver Metallic and Black for the Vellfire.

 The interior of the Toyota Vellfire 2.5.

 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 - Captain Seats.

 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 - LED Headlamps with Daytime Running Lights.

 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 - Rear Seat Entertainment.

 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 - Optitron Meter Combination.

 Ceiling Illumination - Toyota Alphard 3.5.

 The interior of the  Toyota Alphard 3.5.

 Toyota Alphard 3.5 - 3-zone Auto Air-conditioner with nanoe.

 Toyota Alphard 3.5 - LED Headlamps with Daytime Running Lights. Toyota Alphard 3.5 -Twin Moonroof.

 Walk-in Switch - Toyota Alphard 3.5 EL.

 Stowable Table - Toyoat Alphard 3.5 EL.

 VIP Seats - Toyota Alphard 3.5 EL.

 Toyota Alphard 3.5 EL- Rear Seat Entertainment with Blu-ray Disc player.

 Switch Cluster - Toyota Alphard 3.5 EL.


China to allow multi-brand car dealerships to boost retailers' competitiveness

A man walking at a car dealership in Shanghai. — Reuters
BEIJING: China will allow car dealers to sell brands from multiple manufacturers under new rules that go into effect on July 1, commerce ministry officials said today, aiming to boost vehicle retailers' competitiveness as economic growth slows.

The rules, largely unchanged from a draft issued in January 2016, forbid manufacturers from signing deals that prevent the dealers from selling other brands of cars or parts, among a wide variety of protections for dealers and consumers.

"The rules break up the singular nature of brand licensing in car sales, allowing for licensed and unlicensed sale methods in parallel, to break up brand monopolies and ensure fair market competition," Hu Jianping, a deputy supervisor in the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Market System Development, said at a media briefing.

The policy will also prevent manufacturers from imposing stock and sales targets upon dealers without agreement, tactics that many dealers have complained force them to bear the cost of high inventories as the market slows.

BMW AG paid US$820 million to Chinese dealers in early 2015 over complaints of burdensome inventories, with dealers for Hyundai Motor Co, Kia Motors Corp and Audi AG following suit in demanding compensation for similar issues.


'Rocket League' admits one 'Fate of the Furious' car

                LOS ANGELES: A tie-up between one of the hottest video games and one of the hottest film franchises of recent years sees a heavily customized Dodge Ice Charger from "The Fate of the Furious" admitted to the pantheon of vehicles for RC-car soccer crossover "Rocket League."

Led by Vin Diesel and reaching its tenth installment, "The Fate of the Furious" is heading for theatrical release the week of April 14.

Previous franchise entry, 2015's "Furious 7," shot to a global box office of US$1.5 billion USD, doubling the total of "Fast & Furious 6" and making it not only the highest-grossing film in the series, but also the third highest-grossing film of that year, behind only "Jurassic World" (US$1.6bn) and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (US$2bn.)

Vin Diesel's character, Dominic Toretto, is known for favouring customised classic muscle cars and in "Fate of the Furious" — until December 2016 known as "Fast 8" — will drive a jet-engine powered, ice-surface modified Dodge Charger.

If previous films are anything to go by, it's probably going to get wrecked during the course of "Fate of the Furious," and "Rocket League" players will be able to hurl it about from April 4 when it and six custom decals are made available as part of a US$1.99 package across versions of the game for PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One, Mac OS X and Linux.

"Rocket League" studio Psyonix had previously linked up with Universal Pictures to recreate the DeLorean from the "Back to the Future" franchise in 2015, the film's 30th anniversary year, and with Warner Bros for the Batmobile from "Batman v Superman" in March 2016 when the corresponding movie released.

An August 2015 update added a two-pack that included the Dominus, a fictional vehicle whose appearance, name, and corresponding activity-based achievement referenced Dominic Toretto and his preference for tuned muscle cars, an indication of the studio's appreciation for the "Fast & Furious" franchise.

Previously in "Fast & Furious" promotional matchmaking opportunities, the "Furious 7" film had teamed up with Xbox and Turn 10 studios for March 2015's Xbox One and Xbox 360 standalone expansion "Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious."


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Suzuki imagines the future of fun

The Suzuki e-Survivor concept,
TOKYO: At the 45th Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki will be taking the wraps off a host of new concept and production vehicles that were all built to the same brief: "Excitement for everyone in (sic) everywhere."

The company's star concept car for this year's show is the e-Survivor, a compact SUV that attempts to imagine Suzuki's design language and vehicular personality 100 years from now.

A two-seat open top car reminiscent of the original Jeep, the concept is all-electric and uses an independent electric motor in each of its four wheels for genuine all-wheel drive.

 Spacia Custom Concept.

Returning to the current decade, the Spacia Concept is a compact minivan with sliding rear doors, an unusually high roof line and very low, flat floor.

The idea behind it is to offer families something that's easy to drive during the week in urban environments and something that's fun and practical for the family at the weekend.

Taking things up a notch is the Spacia Custom Concept which imagines the Spacia as a compact competitor to established luxury car brands. So it has a highly stylized front grille akin to those that adorn current-generation Audis, two-tone paint work, alloy wheels and premium interior appointments.

Both concepts are based on an existing Suzuki model — the Spacia — on sale in Japan and by the looks of the effort that has gone into the XBee (pronounced cross bee) concept — three distinct models -- it could well be joining the Spacia in Suzuki's model lineup.

 Spacia Concept.

Described as a vehicle that takes the best elements of a wagon and a traditional SUV and fuses them together, the XBee, so Suzuki claims, represents a new genre of vehicle.

What it means is that it has the clever interior packaging of a minivan or station wagon, but also boasts a high driving position and a wheel at each corner so that it really can go off road when the need arises.

It will be unveiled in three different guises in Tokyo: as a pure, vanilla edition devoid of extraneous external design flourishes; as an Outdoor Adventure edition complete with larger wheels, a color scheme that blends in with nature and an interior aimed at couples that like to go camping; and finally, in Street Adventure trim, complete with three-tone paint — luminous yellow around the front spoiler and door sills, liquid black for the majority of the body and white on the floating roof.

The 2017 Tokyo Motor Show opens its doors on Oct 25.

 Xbee Street Adventure.


Huge global disparities in electric car ownership, says German study

                MUNICH: Europe and China dominate the world market for electric cars, but there are still very few electrified vehicles on the roads in large markets like Russia, South America and Africa, according to a study conducted by the Munich Mobility Show.

Europe sold more new electrified vehicles than China for the first time in 2020 and between them the two markets are home to more than 70% of the 9.9 million electrified cars sold so far, the study shows.

Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the European Union almost trebled to over 1 million vehicles last year, accounting for more than 10% of overall sales. read more

The Munich Mobility Show - the revamped and expanded successor to the Frankfurt auto show, which is slated to be held in September this year - examined vehicle registration data from a number of sources and found that through 2020, China had 4.2 electric vehicles on the road, Europe had 3.2 million and the United States had 1.7 million.

New electric vehicle sales rose in all major markets in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, except for the US market where sales fell 6%.

While 80% of the electrified vehicles sold so far in China and 79% of those sold in the United States were battery electric models, only 54% of those sold in Europe - including the European Union, European Free Trade Association countries and the United Kingdom - were battery electric, as the continent is still fairly reliant on sales of plug-in hybrids.

Plug-in hybrids face an uncertain future in the EU as policymakers are considering regulations that could make them uneconomical for carmakers to produce.

The Munich Mobility Show's study also showed vast disparities in electric vehicle ownership.

Norway, with a population of 5 million and strong support for electric cars is an unparalleled success, with a cumulative total of 433,609 electric cars sold so far and new sales of more than 105,000 units in 2020.

But Russia, with a population of around 145 million, only sold 1,760 electrified cars through 2020.

Cumulative electric car registrations through 2020 in South America, a continent with a population of more than 420 million, were below 18,000.

And the only registrations in Africa, a continent that is home to 1.2 billion people, were exclusively in South Africa and totalled just 1,509 cars through 2020.


GM's Indonesia closure highlights automakers' emerging markets woes

                DETROIT: General Motors Co's decision to shutter a car factory in Indonesia comes as global automakers rethink the timing and scope of investments in emerging markets once touted as engines of growth.

Global automakers poured billions into Brazil, Russia, India, China and other emerging markets during the past few years. For now, some key emerging markets are a drag on sales and profits.

Ford Motor Co (F.N), General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp and Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp said slumps in Brazil, Russia, India and other emerging markets dented profits last year.

Ford took an US$800 million one-time charge to fourth-quarter earnings in an accounting change because of the volatile currency in Venezuela. GM wrote down US$194 million of the value of its assets in Russia, and cut production there.

Toyota says vehicle sales in Asia fell 11 percent in the latest quarter, mainly because of weak demand in Thailand and Indonesia.

India has suffered a two-year decline in sales since Ford and Renault-Nissan announced big investments in the country.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV had planned to launch its Jeep brand in India in 2013. Now, the company says it plans to wait until the third quarter of this year.

“India is just waking up,” says Vikas Sehgal, global head of automotive at investment bank Rothschild.  He says India will grow in the long run.

Industry executives say they still expect emerging markets to drive global vehicle sales growth in the long run, an inevitable outcome of growing population and rising incomes.

“We want to expand sharply in emerging markets,”  Ford Chief Executive Mark Fields said during a recent presentation to analysts. Ford has two new car plants in India, and it plans to launch four more in the Asia-Pacific region, including two in India and two in China.

GM says more than half of global vehicle sales growth by 2030 will come from emerging markets. IHS forecast that sales in India, Brazil and Russia will rise 40 percent by 2020 to more than 12 million vehicles. The company also has said that the bulk of about $700 million in restructuring costs forecast for this year will be spent in South America and in Asia-Pacific operations.

"These are not investments made with a four-year perspective," says Xavier Mosquet, managing director at Boston Consulting Group. "You have to make it with a 20-year perspective."


Perodua braces for challenges

                PETALING JAYA: Despite gearing up for record-high sales this year, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) is bracing for a challenging 2015.

According to Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, there will be a number of “key success factors” that will determine the performance of the national carmaker this year.

One of the biggest challenges for Perodua is that its customers don’t get their loans approved – this is especially the case for many of its entry models.

Since 2012, this issue has been compounded by Bank Negara’s responsible lending guidelines, whereby loans are approved based on net income compared with gross income previously. The impact has been the highest for the company’s Viva models, especially the entry level ones, whereby rejection rates ranged between 40% and 45%.

The Viva has been replaced by the Axia, which, according to Aminar, has not been impacted greatly by loan approval issues.

“This is because most of the purchasers are additional car buyers, who don’t have no credit issues,” he said at a briefing last week.

According to Aminar, many of the Axia buyers already have a primary vehicle, and are buying it for their children or using it as a secondary car.

Additionally, he said the company would not be affected by higher foreign exchange.

“Our exposure is more in terms of the yen, rather than the US dollar. Furthermore, the localisation level of our models is also quite high,” said Aminar.

He also said healthy gross domestic product (GDP) growth would be a key success factor for Perodua vehicle sales to remain steady this year. At Budget 2015 last year, the Government had projected GDP growth of between 5% to 6% this year.

Aminar also said Perodua would strive to ensure its vendor network continue to remain strong, and that its supply chain would not be disrupted.

The national carmaker has allocated a capital expenditure of RM632.1mil from RM1.32bil in 2014, to improve its production facilities.

Perodua has set a year-on-year sales target growth of 6% to 208,000 units for 2015, its highest ever, underpinned by continued strong demand for its Myvi and recently launched Axia models.


Most-anticipated SUVs coming in 2018

PARIS: Many people would like to see 2018 being the year of the green vehicle, with sales of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles outstripping those of traditional combustion engine-powered models, but SUVs and crossovers are likely to remain the preferred choice for buyers.

Here's a look at some of 2018's most exciting SUV newcomers.

At the more affordable end of the SUV spectrum, the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai will see a number of new and refreshed rivals, including the new version of the Jeep Compass that's already doing pretty well in America. The Jeep is a good-looking model, but will probaby not significantly challenge the Nissan's European sales figures.

 The Audi SQ8.

Japanese brand Mitsubishi, once one of the big names in SUVs with the Shogun, has fallen way behind in recent years. In an attempt to become relevant again, the company is introducing the Eclipse Cross, a striking midsize crossover with competitive pricing. It might be something of a dark horse, but its innovative styling could prove popular.

Even supercar manufacturers find themselves obliged to get in on the SUV act these days. The recently-unveiled Lamborghini Urus will be with us in March as part of a new breed of super-SUVs. With stunning styling, 641bhp and a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.6 seconds, this really will be an SUV to be reckoned with.

Bentley will be launching its first-ever electrified model in the shape of the Bentayga PHEV, with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain that will also make an appearance in the Continental GT. The Bentayga PHEV will definitely be a milestone vehicle, but not one you'll see many of on the roads.

Meanwhile, in the more mainstream area of the luxury market, BMW and Audi will slug it out late in 2018 with the all-new BMW X7 and the Audi Q8. The Audi will eventually be made available as an SQ8 hot hybrid variant.

Although some of the finer detail are yet to be revealed, the end of next year will see a raft of environmentally friendly SUVs, including the Hyundai Kona-E, the returning Honda CR-V Hybrid, and even a brand-new hydrogen SUV from Hyundai.


BMW M340i xDrive arrives at RM402K

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia introduced its latest M340i xDrive and it's Malaysia’s first locally-assembled (CKD) M Performance vehicle.

Priced at RM402,354 (on-the-road with sales tax exemption, without insurance) the M340i is covered by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service and bookings can be made on BMW Malaysia's online site for RM1,000.

The M340i xDrive will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide starting Oct 24 and comes in four colour options including Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Sunset Orange, and Portimao Blue.

READ: New BMW 330e M Sport arrives at RM265K

The colours can be complemented by either Leather Vernasca upholstery in Black or Cognac with black décor stitching.

Power comes from a 3.0-litre (2,998cc) inline-six engine producing 387hp from 5,800 to 6,500rpm and 500Nm of torque from 1,850 to 5,000rpm.

The "twist" is managed by an eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission with an M Sport differential for its rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

This allows it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.4 seconds and onwards to an electronically limited top speed of 250kph. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.7 litres per 100km and emissions at 177g/km of carbon dioxide.

Externally, the M340i is fitted with BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, welcome light carpet, powered glass roof and a pair of automatic BMW Laser Light with high beam assistant.

For "bling", the M340i is fitted with staggered 19-inch (8JJ - front and 8.5JJ - rear) M lightweight Double Spoke 792 M Bicolour wheels wearing 225/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) run-flat tyres.

The wheels obscure the M Sport braking system with ‘M’-designation that uses four-piston (front) and single-piston (rear) callipers - both painted in blue.

Two trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes flank the bottom rear of the bumper while the front ornamental grille gets painted in Cerium Grey for the front left/right air inlets, M aero body parts, external mirror caps and the M rear spoiler.

The electronically adjustable adaptive M Sport suspension is able to lower the M340i by an additional 10mm compared to the standard 3 Series.

Catering to the purists is a variable sport steering system that's been tweaked for improved feedback, including a 12.3-inch BMW Live Cockpit Professional instrument display that's linked to a heads-up display.

Inside, the cockpit is furnished with an Anthracite roofline from BMW Individual, illuminated front door sill finishers as well as a combination of Aluminium Tetragon with Pearl Chrome highlight trim finishers and Vernasca leather upholstery.

"M" parts for the cabin include the multifunction sports steering wheel, front power-adjustable sports seats with driver memory function.

Also added as standard are keyless-entry with push-start button, automatic wipers, hands-free boot operation, Parking Assistant with rearview camera, tri-zone climate controls and 11 predefined ambient lighting colours round up the comfort and convenience list.

Entertainment comes from a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system with a 10.25-inch BMW Navigation System Professional touchscreen display that has BMW ConnectedDrive services including Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices, BMW Digital Key and Intelligent Personal Assistant.

For safety, the M340i xDrive comes fitted with six airbags with seat-occupancy detection, Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).

This includes Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Dynamic Braking Lights with flashing function and crash sensor with closes the windows and folds the exterior mirrors.

BMW's Driving Assistant further bolsters safety with Lane Change Warning, Crossing Traffic Warning at the rear, Rear Collision Warning, Speed Limit Assist, Lane Departure Warning with active steering intervention, as well as the Forward Collision Warning with brake intervention function.

"We are proud to introduce the All-New BMW M340i xDrive and expand our portfolio of locally-assembled models in the country. The move also underlines, our commitment to continue driving local assembly capabilities and expertise in Malaysia,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl

With BMW Malaysia's Dynamic financial programme, budding owners can opt for the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM4,468 (based on estimates of an 80% loan over a five-year tenure).


Interesting EV sounds come from Jean-Michel Jarre and Renault

                PARIS: Musician Jean-Michel Jarre will help Renault develop a unique audio experience for its future electric models. The idea is to develop a perfect audio system, but also to offer a sound atmosphere characteristic to each journey.

Visitors to the Viva Technology show here will be able to discover the beginnings of this work in the Scénic Vision concept today.

The rise of electric cars is completely changing our relationship to sound, both outside and inside the car.

And that's where Jean-Michel Jarre comes in, since the musician will be creating the new sound signature of Renault's future models.

This sound signature covers various things, including a welcome sequence when entering the car, the audio system in its entirety (components, location, algorithms), as well as the exterior sound emitted by the electric vehicle when traveling below 30kph, in order to alert pedestrians to its presence.

A first demonstration is unveiled with the Scénic Vision, which is billed as a pioneering concept car in terms of sustainable development.

The firm's "less is more" approach — or how to do better with less — is here applied to the sound experience, with the ambition to develop an audio system using a minimum of components, while delivering a new onboard experience.

In the Scénic Vision, this is achieved by a mid-bass speaker in each door, complemented by a system of so-called Sound Bubbles installed in each headrest. Passengers thus benefit from high quality, immersive and individual acoustics.

In addition, Jarre will participate in the creative development of the very first "Sonic Road" algorithm, a sort of ideal soundtrack for the driver's journey, drawing on the driver's musical tastes and contextual parameters such as places visited, landscapes, the weather or simply the time of day.

The Sound Bubbles and Sonic Road concepts are expected to be used in future electric cars.


Five new Ducati bikes launched

From left: Maggiori and Faisal posing next to the new Ducati XDiavel.SUBANG JAYA: In conjunction with the upcoming 2016 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the distributor of Ducati motorcycles in Malaysia, launched five new 2016 Ducati models.The new Ducati models are: Superbike 959 Panigale, Hypermotard 939, Monster 1200 R, Multistrada 1200 Enduro and XDiavel.Prices are RM99,999; RM70,999; RM139,999; RM129,999 and RM135,999 respectively.The Superbike 959 Panigale shares the same innovative stylistic features of the 1299 Panigale but with an engine designed for an enjoyable everyday riding experience as well as on the track. The new twin-cylinder power unit produces 157hp at 10,500rpm. Ducati Hypermotard 939.The Hypermotard 939 is the perfect combination of sportiness and versatility and is available in Hypermotard 939 SP and Hyperstrada 939 variants and all come standard with the 937 cm3 Ducati Testastretta 11-degree twin cylinder engine which produces a maximum power of 113hp.The new Ducati Monster 1200 R delivers 10% more power and 5.5% more torque compared to the Monster 1200 S with 160hp and 131Nm of torque. Ducati Superbike 959 Panigale.The Multistrada 1200 Enduro marks Ducati's entry into a new market segment: maxi-enduro tourers and is bred to take on any terrain. It features a 30-litre fuel tank and has a range that can exceed 450km.The new XDiavel cruiser is built for low speeds, relaxed riding, long journeys and feet forward ergonomics and is characterised by Italian style, refined engineering and performance. It has 60 different ergonomic configurations for the rider to ensure comfortable riding. Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro."Although skeptics might say that the current automotive market is facing a slow down in sales, Next Bike believes a brand as premium as Ducati will always have a steady following. Launching five new models concurrently is proof that Next Bike is adamant in ensuring the ownership experience for any Ducati owner will be as superior as the brand suggests," said Naza World Group of Companies, Group Executive Chairman, Datuk Wira SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.The special launch event was held at EX8 in Subang Jaya and part of the local celebration for Ducati's 90th Anniversary.Also present were Ducati Motors, Market Development Manager, Asia, Gianluca Maggiori. Ducati Monster 1200 R.


Ford report explores Generation Z

                DETROIT: Members of Generation Z – considered the first global generation – are key players in today’s technology-driven culture; these youngest consumers, the oldest of whom are in their teens, already are inspiring attitudes and behaviors among consumers of all ages to enact change for the good.

Expected to account for more than 20% of the world’s population, these digitally savvy, socially conscious consumers, most of whom are still teenagers, are working to help define the trends of both today and tomorrow.

From the growing influence of young, socially conscious consumers, to a greater acceptance of modern-day rebels and a shifting perspective that de-stigmatizes failure, Ford Motor Company’s third annual trend report suggests 2015 will be marked by a broad desire to enact change for the good.

Looking Further with Ford 2015 reveals data and insights about global consumer habits and behaviors expected to shape culture in 2015 and beyond.

“While demographics are invariably a factor in futuring work, what’s driving our report for 2015 is this emerging Generation Z consumer, who is already inspiring attitudes and behaviors in consumers of all ages,” said Sheryl Connelly, Ford global consumer trend and futuring manager.

“We saw similar traits with Millennials, but Gen Z consumers – being much more connected and aware of the options available to them – are the global go-getters who have a link to each of our 10 micro-trends for 2015.”

Looking Further with Ford 2015 highlights the modern-day rebel working to buck convention and set new standards, as well as people who are more motivated than ever to take risks in their search for success, which is beginning to erode the stigma of failure.

In preparing trend reports, Ford experts monitor shifts in social, technological, economic, environmental and political arenas to understand what drives consumer attitudes and behaviors – and how this impacts the automotive category.

The insights gathered guide Ford designers and engineers in developing future Ford products, as well as Ford marketers on what to anticipate in terms of the customer shopping and ownership experience of emerging generations.

“A rich understanding of our customers’ ever-evolving needs, priorities and desires – both today and tomorrow – is key to our everyday business and global product development strategies,” said Connelly.

The 10 trends Ford expects to influence consumers and brands in 2015 and beyond include:

Make Way for Gen Z: With considerable pressure and high expectations, Gen Z’s mantra is simple: “Good things come to those who act.”

Rally for Renegades and Rebels: Society has always loved risk takers, but the marketplace has never been more receptive to those who push boundaries and break molds.

Flaunting Failure: The stigma of failure is quickly eroding; in an era of constant change, the only true failure is a failure to try, to improve, to evolve.

Carryless Movement: Today’s consumers don’t want to carry things and, increasingly, don’t need to. New technologies such as wearable gadgets and smartphone apps are transforming the mechanics of how consumers pay for goods and services, how and where marketers reach their customers, and who people trust with their most valuable information.

No Strings Attached: In a world where innovation moves so rapidly, no one wants to be left behind with a product that has become outdated or obsolete. The result is an emerging a la carte mentality that trumpets access over ownership.

Expanding Next of Kin: As traditional families and communities become less the norm, the concept of family is adapting, expanding and evolving in a most personal fashion.

Give and Take of Privacy: Privacy has become a delicate balancing act, and there is a trade-off between information consumers are willing to share and the benefits they receive in exchange.

Elusive Health: A decentralized effort to inform consumers about healthier lifestyle habits has led to confusion and a global population getting fatter and sicker. Consumers need a clear signal amid the noise to translate the information into action.

Escape Artist: In today’s 24/7 culture, the desire to get away mentally and physically remains compelling. People are increasingly seeking out immersive adventures, elevating escapism to a fine art.

Many Faces of Mobility: In an age of constant innovation, mobility is outpacing the definition of the word as the concepts of transportation and communication converge.


50 Jahre BMW M: BMW M3 and M4 get special edition models

                MUNICH: Today is the 50th anniversary of BMW M. To celebrate the occasion, the motorsports arm of BMW is presenting the M 50 Jahre edition of the M3 Sedan and the M4 Coupe as a anniversary highlight.

The M 50 Jahre edition is based on the current generation of the most successful model series in the history of BMW M.

Worldwide, the model designations M3 and M4 are synonymous with high performance in the premium mid-range segment.

The edition models are powered by a straight six-cylinder engine with up to 510hp, M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-revving characteristics.

Depending on the model variant, its power is transferred to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, or fully variably distributed to all four wheels using M xDrive technology.

The exclusive character of the edition models is the result of a market-specific configuration with unique design features and a strictly limited number of units in each case.

For the exterior paintwork of the edition vehicles, colours from the history of M are being reissued. These are complemented by M forged wheels in a similarly exclusive colour scheme and striking accents in the interior.

In Europe and other selected sales regions, BMW M is offering an exclusive edition of the M4 Coupe to mark its anniversary.

The two-door M 50 Jahre edition comes in the exterior colours Carbon Black, Macao Blue, Brands Hatch Grey, Imola Red and San Marino Blue.

Their expressive appearance is enhanced by 19-inch M forged wheels on the front axle and 20-inch wheels on the rear axle featuring a double-spoke design, which are being offered for the first time in the colours Orbit Grey Matt and Gold Bronze matt.

In addition, a similarly limited number of edition vehicles of the M4 Coupe are being produced for the Chinese automotive market and available in the exterior paint finishes Fire Orange and Stratus Grey.

This colour selection relates to the fact that the anniversary of BMW M is being celebrated in China in the Year of the Tiger. The M forged wheels on these vehicles are finished in matt Orbit Grey and paired with the Fire Orange body colour and in matt Gold Bronze in conjunction with the Stratus Grey exterior paint finish.

In the interior of all edition vehicles based on the M4 Coupe, door sill panels bearing the lettering “Edition 50 Jahre BMW M”, a metal plaque on the centre console with the lettering “M4 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” and a corresponding imprint on the headrests of the standard M sports seats and the optional M carbon bucket seats for driver and front passenger hint at the anniversary.

READ MORE: What BMW in Malaysia is doing

The edition model on the basis of the M3 Sedan was designed exclusively for the US and Canadian automotive markets.

There is a choice of five exterior paint finishes for the 500 models of the four-door high-performance sports car available there, each of which is reminiscent of one of its five predecessors: from Cinnebar Red to Techno Violet, Interlagos Blue and Fire Orange to Limerock Grey.

All body colours are combined with M forged wheels in Orbit Grey matt and selected BMW M Performance Parts. The components, which are inspired by racing in terms of design and technology and likewise included in the range of equipment available for the anniversary edition, also comprise the BMW M Performance front splitter Carbon, the BMW M Performance rear spoiler Carbon and the BMW M Performance tailpipe trims Carbon/Titanium.

The “Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” lettering on the door sill trims and M stripes on the headrests of the front and outer rear seats characterise the interior.

Moreover, an exclusive seam pattern adorns both the standard M sports seats and the optionally available M carbon bucket seats of the edition vehicles.

A metal plaque on the cupholder cover of the centre console bears the inscription “M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” and the reference “1/500”.

M 50 Jahre edition of the M3 Sedan (below)


New Honda HR-V for US is way bigger

                LOS ANGELES: The Honda HR-V for the US is bigger and looks very different from the new HR-V that Malaysia will be getting soon.

Over there, Honda is pitching the HR-V against the recently launched Toyota Corolla Cross and is based on the 11th generation Civic instead of the third-generation Fit/Jazz of the outgoing HR-V that we are so familiar with.

Honda USA has released exterior photos of the SUV ahead of its launch in a few months. Now puffed up to about a CR-V size, it features a bold new grille, longer hood and sleek roofline.

Naturally, the new HR-V is larger than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and wider stance.

A low horizontal beltline that begins with its extended hood and continues over the swell of the rear fenders gives its flowing forms a sense of motion.

Wide-set LED headlights and taillights emphasize HR-V's athletic stance. A sculpted hatch and functional tailgate spoiler highlight its sporty proportions.

A large greenhouse provides high visibility, enhanced by door-mounted mirrors and HR-V's low cowl. For a cleaner, upscale look, laser-brazing technology eliminates the need for unsightly roof moldings, and HR-V's windshield wipers hide under the hood line when not in use.

Set to launch this summer, the HR-V will feature a more responsive engine and a new independent rear suspension, giving the compact SUV a more confident, refined and fun-to-drive personality.

Honda USA hasn't detailed what engines would drive the new HR-V but it's logical to assume it would be similar to what is available for the Civic sedan. And that includes an e:HEV hybrid.

"By gaining aspirational qualities beyond its segment, the all-new 2023 Honda HR-V will welcome a new generation of customers to Honda and grow in importance as a gateway to the Honda brand," said Michael Kistemaker, assistant vice president of Automobile Sales of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

"This new HR-V will advance its position as the segment leader with young buyers, first-time buyers, and multicultural customers."

Before the Fit-based HR-V came about, the original HR-V based on the Logo model was produced from 1998 to 2006. Honda retired the nameplate for 7 years before resurrecting it in 2013 as the Vezel in Japan and as the global model HR-V from 2015.

More information about the all-new HR-V will be released over the coming months.

 This is the new and smaller HR-V that Malaysia will be getting. The latest iteration is already on sale in Thailand and Indonesia.


VW Golf R Mk7 driven

Let’s cut to the chase. The big news about the VW Golf R is the engine; it’s what anyone ogling the most powerful Golf would be drawn to when the subject matter pops up on the radar.

Under the bonnet lies a caged powerhouse ready to shunt 276 horses and 380Nm of torque to both axles in a display of power, sound and glory. That’s 59hp and 30Nm more than what the Golf GTI can deliver.

For a 1.5-tonne hatch, that’s a lot of firepower on tap. Wait till the next R comes around – we hear a crazy 414hp and at least 450Nm are in the works. That’s a tale for another day.

We had driven the GTI some time ago and it was a fine piece of work. Now good gets better with the potent R. Like the GTI, the R is a niche car. By and large, it looks about the same as the GTI but adds on additional goodies and electronic razzmatazz to shape its character.

The odious point about the R is the steep asking price of RM291,888. But if that doesn’t faze you, well, time to play Golf then.

On the face of it, the R looks unassuming for a powerful sports car and that’s apparently how Volkswagen thinks its target buyers like it.

Unlike the GTI, the R is lower, gets 19-inch wheels and quad exhaust tips, embellished with sportier bumpers, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps and smoked LED tail lights.

A lower-priced three-door version used to be available but no more (also same situation as the 3-door GTI). The five-door hatch – like the one you see here – gets the Tech Pack, offering a long list of bells and whistles such as panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and start, cruise control, rear view camera, automatic headlights as well as front/rear parking sensors.

Since this is a Golf R, the cabin has to exude sporty intent, starting with a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel equipped with paddle shifters. The ambience is further amplified with R-stamped leather sports seats and dark headliners enhanced with soft touchpoints and carbon fibre-like inserts and piano black accents for the centre console.

The R dashboard looks all too familiar if you have just hopped in from a GTI. There’s some variation on the sporty cues to ensure the R cabin isn’t a copy-paste job. These are evident from the colours of stitchings and meter needles to important bits such as the inclusion of a bigger eight-inch touchscreen, 4Motion drive to control all that power and engine start/stop button.

The drive profiles also includes a Race mode for some frisky action when the mood arises.

Proximity sensors in the centre display add a cool touch: as soon as the driver or front passenger moves a finger near to the touchscreen, the system automatically switches from display mode to input mode. Such gesture controls are bound to become more pervasive as they filter across VW’s product lines.

Yet in a nod to practicality, the car can take in five people with sufficient head and legroom especially for those in the rear bench seats. Four cupholders, door pockets, an underseat tray, and ISOFIX points speak to the driver who could be a family man as much as he is a car enthusiast.

Storage space in the rear is adequate and there’s a space-saving tyre on standby in case of punctures. iPhone connectivity via Bluetooth was easy to set up and worked like a charm with the eight-speaker stereo system.

 The availability of Race mode is partly the reason why you would buy the Golf R.

If you have read this far, you would know early on the R packs a wallop. It gallops from 0 to 100kph in 5s and continues on to a top speed of 250kph.

Like the GTI, VW has managed to wring a good measure of practicality from the R, which is easy to live with. While it has the capacity to deliver brutish power, it’s also forgiving on lesser drivers. Multiple drive modes and dynamic chassis control (DCC) turn the car from a pliant city runabout into a roaring beast, displaying acceleration that is impressively quick with high levels of grip.

The DCC system responds continually to changing driving situations, taking feedback from the brakes, steering and throttle. Changing driving profiles is just a push of a button away.

The electrically adjustable damping system adapts automatically to the specific mode, as does the electromechanical power steering, which in the tamer settings feels muted until you flip it to Sport or Race modes. The Race setting shows the R at its most agile, accompanied by a rich throaty rumble that can be addictive.

Great power comes with great responsibility, and the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system assumes it with fervour to ensure reliable traction and stability even in gusty conditions. Cornering at speed is made even sportier and more precise, thanks to the electronic differential lock XDS+, which builds up brake pressure on one side. The stoppers are effective, scrubbing speed quickly, when they kicked in.

You might expect the set of 19-inch wheels to be a bone-shaker but they aren’t. On the contrary, the ride was quite decent in all drive modes.

Overall, the chassis was neutral and compliant to make driving the R that much more involving. Adding to the enjoyment are heavily bolstered front seats that keep the driver and passenger bolted down particularly when the road ahead starts to snake through rustic landscapes.

“Fantastic drive, lah! It’s so damn quick and responsive,” uttered a colleague after taking the car for a spin across Shah Alam.

Having tried the Golf R for the first time, the driver of a BMW 3 Series was looking at the VW with newfound admiration as he handed  back the key.

Volkswagen is asking a lot for this smallish car. But when you think about the heaps of entertainment derived from one of the most competent hot hatches around, the price just goes with the territory.

After all, if you wanna play, you gotta pay.


Ford announces record sales in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ford today announced an all-time record monthly performance in Malaysia with retail sales rising 46 percent from the previous month to 1,818 units.

The record March performance was driven by continued strength in demand for the Ranger, EcoSport and Fiesta nameplates, and capped an all-time record quarter for Ford in Malaysia with sales increasing 24 percent from the previous quarter to 4,611 units.

Strong overall industry momentum in March was driven in part by a surge in demand ahead of the April 1 implementation date of Malaysia’s new GST (Goods and Services Tax).

“We’re pleased that heightened March demand meant more and more customers were attracted to the leading safety, quality, smart technologies and value for money that our global Ford vehicles offer,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.

 The EcoSport.

“We are anticipating some market correction in the coming months due to the pull forward in demand that the GST’s impending implementation created,” explained Westerman.

The Ranger pickup continued as Ford’s most popular nameplate in Malaysia, with March retail sales increasing 42 percent from the prior month to 1,369 units. Overall first quarter sales rose 36 percent to 3,504 units.

“With a class-leading combination of active and passive safety features, the comfort of a passenger car, and the ruggedness and dependability of a pickup truck, the Ranger continues to be embraced for both work and play by Malaysians nationwide,” said Westerman.

The EcoSport compact urban SUV delivered its best sales month since being launched in Malaysia in the third quarter last year. March sales of the EcoSport reached 132 units, helping boost first quarter sales by 11 percent from the previous quarter to 271 units.

Agile enough for both city driving and outstation exploring, the EcoSport is helping define a whole new vehicle segment – a compact SUV that combines small-car practicality with the presence of a SUV.

“The EcoSport is a right-sized vehicle that was developed with the market’s traffic and road conditions in mind. Combine this with its practical smart features like SYNC and Hill Launch Assist, and a very attractive price point, and it’s really starting to create its own space in the market,” explained Westerman.

The sporty Fiesta contributed to the strong March performance with sales rising 38 percent from the previous month to 178 units. Fiesta finished the first quarter with sales of 474 units.

Healthy demand for Fiesta is being driven by its high-performance 1.0L EcoBoost engine that delivers a segment-leading combination of performance, fuel efficiency and emissions levels.

 The Fiesta.


Nissan to pull out of venture fund with Renault in cost-cutting drive, say sources

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co is likely to pull out from a venture capital fund it runs with alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors, as part of the Japanese automaker’s drive to cut costs and conserve cash, two sources said.

Nissan will formally take a decision on whether to leave the fund, Alliance Ventures, by the end of this month, the two Nissan insiders said, declining to be identified because the information has not been made public.

The likely move comes after Nissan’s junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corp, told an alliance meeting last week that it would no longer continue to inject money into the fund, one of the sources said.

The decision to leave the Amsterdam-based fund was all but a done deal, the other source said, adding: “Of course we’re out. The house is on fire.”

A Nissan spokesman said it was speculation and declined to comment. A Mitsubishi spokesman said no decision had been made.

The move comes as Nissan — which has seen its earnings slump — is now facing a downturn in China, its biggest market, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. China sales plunged 80% last month.

It also highlights the extent of the automaker’s cost-cutting under new CEO Makoto Uchida, who is under pressure for a quick turnaround.

Alliance Ventures is aimed at finding “learning opportunities” for the alliance through investing in startups, and is supposed get up to US$200 million a year from the three alliance partners, although it never achieves that full amount, the first source said.

It was set up under former alliance head Carlos Ghosn, whose dramatic arrest in Japan culminated in an escape to his childhood home of Lebanon in December. Ghosn faces multiple charges in Japan, including of under-reporting earnings and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies.

According to its website, the fund was set up with a US$200 million initial investment and aims for up to US$1 billion by 2023. Portfolio companies include WeRide, a Chinese robo-taxi startup and Tekion Corp, a cloud-based retail platform for cars.

“It wasn’t established by Ghosn as a way to make money. It was for those learning opportunities we get from investing in smart startups,” the first source said.

“But given the tough financial situation we are facing, we are looking at investment return.”


Want a cheap Ferrari? Criminals in Indonesia sell cars with fake ownership titles

Smuggled cars put up for auction by Aceh authorities in October 2017. PHOTO: DETIK.COM.
JAKARTA: Indonesian police is stepping up raids on motorists who use vehicles with no ownership certificates and use bogus licence plates, as it clamps down on rampant theft and smuggling activities in the vast archipelago.

Whether a basic motorcycle, a fancy Harley Davidson or a fast Ferrari, criminal brokers can source a "kendaraan bodong" illegally sought by clients.

The buyers will only need to pay a third of the price at a showroom. Some brokers have even posted ads on social media and a marketplace portal olx.co.id.

With the economy booming and poor public transport, demand for such vehicles is high.

"The demand is always there. This is what makes the kendaraan bodong problem persist," urban planning expert Yayat Supriatna told The Straits Times.

He said the "very negotiable" prices of these illegal vehicles make them attractive to people who want to quickly upgrade their social status, or those who want to impress potential business partners.

Police said last November (2017) that it impounded 30 "kendaraan bodong" from roads in Jakarta.

Many were cars that were purchased by the motorists from a broker. The broker himself got these cars from their previous owners who ran away after failing to service their car loans with finance companies.

In the same month, police nabbed two culprits at a fast food chain outlet in North Jakarta, after plainclothes officers pretended to be potential buyers. The duo had posted an ad on Facebook, selling a motorcycle at a suspiciously low price, alerting the police to a potential criminal activity.

In September last year, police picked up a Lamborghini and a Ferrari on Batam island and a Harley Davidson motorcycle in Bali.

There expensive rides were about to be shipped to Bandung in West Java, where a syndicate would prepare bogus ownership certificates.

A new Harley Davidson is sold in Jakarta for at least 650 million rupiah (RM189, 085), but one with a bogus license plate and ownership certificate could be bought for about 250 million rupiah.

A new Lambhorghini could easily set one back by 10 billion rupiah. Indonesia applies a 125 per cent luxury goods tax on sports cars and motorcycles with engine size above 500cc. This excludes other costs such as a 10 per cent tax rate to apply for an ownership certificate. Buyers must also pay a 1.5 per cent annual tax.

An errant motorist nabbed with kendaraan bodong would have breached at least two laws - evading taxes and driving an unregistered vehicle.

But these illegal sales are popular because the vehicles carry a price tag of as low as a third of the legal ones.

Additionally, if caught, one would just need to pass the vehicle to the authorities and then pay the 500,000 rupiah (RM145) fine.

There are no known case where the offender gets the maximum two months in jail as stipulated by the law.

Police have in recent months broken up a counterfeit motorcycle ownership certificate.

In Bandung city near Jakarta, where customers were charged between 5 million and 6 million rupiah (between RM1,451-RM1,747) for a fake motorcycle ownership certificate, according to Sindonews.

This dark business has also lured rogue policemen.

In January last year, a police chief of Burau in South Sulawesi province was caught selling stolen cars with counterfeit BPKB, the vehicle ownership certificates, to local residents and fellow policemen.

As part of his after-sales service, he told his "customers" to come back to him when the sold car's annual registration certificate (STNK) are up for renewal after a year, as he could help get a new certificate.

The criminal enterprise was uncovered when one of the car buyers opted to file for STNK himself and was told his car was actually not registered in the system.

Said Yayat, the urban planning expert: "Kendaraan bodong are especially rampant in the suburbs and villages where supervision is minimal and law enforcement is sometimes lenient."

Local media have reported cases of stolen motorcycles from cities being transported and sold to errant companies running oil palm plantations in remote areas.


Nissan installed camera to monitor No. 2's home, say sources

Gupta was widely seen as a possible successor to Uchida.
YOKOHAMA: Nissan installed a camera surveillance system at the home of former executive Ashwani Gupta so the automaker's internal security team could monitor him, according to the preliminary findings of an investigation into the surveillance, two people with knowledge of the report said.

Nissan has been investigating a claim that chief executive Makoto Uchida carried out surveillance of the carmaker's second- in-command to acquire leverage to remove him from the company because of Gupta's opposition to some terms in a new partnership deal with Renault, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Nissan directors were briefed on the preliminary findings of the investigation into the surveillance claim by US law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell at a board meeting on June 20 at the company's Yokohama headquarters, the two people said.

The preliminary report said Nissan had installed two sets of security cameras at the entrance to Gupta's house in Tokyo's Shibuya ward, the people said.

It said the first system was for use by a private security firm while the second system was set up for access by Nissan's internal security team to monitor Gupta, the two people said.

The report from the US law firm did not offer a finding on whether the use of cameras by Nissan to monitor Gupta was illegal, nor did it detail whether Gupta was made aware of the monitoring, the two people said.

Reuters was unable to determine when the cameras were installed or the name of the private security company.

Uchida and Gupta, who was still a Nissan director and chief operating officer on June 20, were recused from the board meeting.

A final report on the investigation, which started in late May at the request of Nissan's independent directors, was expected as soon as July, the two people said.

Nissan said it could not comment on ongoing investigations and declined to make the executives available for comment.

Davis Polk did not respond to a request for comment.

Surprise departure

Under Japanese law, a company can monitor communications on corporate phones and computers and investigate an employee's conduct outside work in protecting its business interests, said Akira Takeuchi, a lawyer and certified fraud examiner in Tokyo, emphasising he was speaking in general and not about Nissan.

The preliminary findings presented to the board did not offer a conclusion on the claim by senior adviser Hari Nada in a letter to Nissan's independent directors that Uchida had played a role in the surveillance, the two people said.

Nissan announced earlier this month that Gupta, 52, would leave the company on June 27, the day of the automaker's annual shareholder meeting, to pursue other opportunities.

READ MORE: Nissan will not fill COO position left open by Gupta's departure

Nissan had said in May that Gupta, who had been chief operating officer since 2019 and was widely seen as a possible successor to Uchida, would not be reappointed to the board.

In his April letter, Nada said Nissan reviewed allegations about Gupta's conduct in the week of April 10 and that he had been asked to resign.

Three people with direct knowledge of the matter said this related to an allegation of harassment against Gupta from a female employee.

In his letter, Nada asked for an international law firm to be brought in to investigate the surveillance of Gupta.

He also said the law firm should look into the circumstances around the investigation into Gupta's conduct, whether the result was predetermined and the involvement of Uchida.

In its report presented to the board, Davis Polk told Nissan directors that it appeared the company's audit committee had used its investigative authority in an arbitrary way in taking up the complaint against Gupta in the way that it did, the sources said.

New board

In another report about the allegations about Gupta's conduct presented to the board, Japanese law firm Iwata Godo offered a view on the narrower question of whether the audit committee's actions were lawful, one the people said.

Iwata Godo said there was no evidence the committee or its head, Motoo Nagai, had acted illegally in their handling of the complaint against Gupta, the person said.

Nagai was also recused from the meeting last week at which the surveillance and harassment allegations were discussed. Nissan declined to make him available for comment.

Iwata Godo did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters was unable to determine if either law firm had made any finding about the harassment claim itself, beyond how it was handled. Nada said in his letter he understood that Japanese law firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune had investigated the claim.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has declined to comment.

In February, Nissan and Renault announced the terms of a new partnership under which the Japanese automaker would buy up to 15% of an electric vehicle unit Renault is spinning off while the French carmaker would reduce its 43% stake in Nissan.

Senior Renault executives had viewed Gupta as slowing down or blocking the completion of the new alliance deal, a person with knowledge of Renault's position has said.

On Tuesday, Nissan shareholders elected 10 directors, including Uchida, to the board. Gupta attended the meeting on what was his last day with Nissan.

When a shareholder asked Gupta how he viewed his time with Nissan, Uchida answered on his behalf saying the executive had contributed greatly to projects such as the automaker's strategic plan.