Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation to debut at Le Mans

                LE MANS: As part of Aston Martin's DBZ Centenary Collection, the British carmaker's DB4 GT Zagato Continuation will make its public debut at the world's oldest active sports car race in endurance racing - 24hrs of Le Mans.

The DBZ Century Collection will be priced at £6mil (RM32mil) including taxes with deliveries to customers starting in the third quarter this year. Deliveries for the upcoming DBS GT Zagato will commence in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The production model of this track-only DB4 sports car - one of 19 cars being made, will be unveiled at Aston Martin’s VIP hospitality facility alongside the famous French circuit and will be on show throughout the gruelling 24-hour race.

As with all Continuation cars, the Zagato is being built at Aston Martin’s Heritage Division headquarters in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England and is the go-to restoration facility in the world.

The car on show in France this weekend represents the proud continuation of the brand's association with the Italian coachbuilder and design house, Zagato for more than 50 years.

The Finished in Rosso Maja red paint, the car’s exterior colour has been matched to original masters created by Max Meyer & ICI - the paint suppliers for the original cars.

Inside, the car is trimmed in Obsidian Black leather, which covers the pads in the carbon fibre race seats; door cards, headliner and rear environment.

Black Wilton carpets bound in Obsidian Black leather trim cover the floor, stitched in matching Obsidian Black thread.

The new model boasts a larger capacity 4.7-litre version of the straight-six petrol engine found in the DB4 GT Continuation and, in this guise, is producing in excess of 390bhp which gets sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and limited slip differential.

Continuation specification instrumentation and interior equipment such as a full FIA-approved roll-cage as standard including the Borrani silver painted wheels and polished lips.

This particular DB4 was originally built to take the fight to Ferrari during the 1960s.

The 2019 DB4 GT Zagato Continuations are meticulously crafted, staying true to those original Zagato-bodied DB4 GTs produced by Aston Martin and Zagato in the 1960s.

Each car is being constructed using a blend of Sir David Brown-era old-world craftsmanship and the application of modern engineering advancements as well as performance enhancements.

The body panels started as flat sheets of 1.2mm-thick aluminium and have been hand-finished with the same techniques that were used some 60 years ago.

Originally built as an evolution of the short-chassis DB4 GT, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation follows the same recipe, with those thin-gauge aluminium body panels dressing a lightweight tubular frame in a chassis optimised for the track.


Refreshed Honda Wave Dash adds more power and fuel efficiency

                PETALING JAYA: Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd’s first launch for the year came in the form of the refreshed Wave Dash, which sports Honda’s legendary PGM-F1 fuel injection system.

Targeted at the young at heart who likes to go fast, the 109cc Wave Dash comes in three variants, with the top of the range model sporting Repsol livery and disc brakes at front and rear.

According to Honda, the new variant gives 5% more horsepower and 12% better fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor when tested according to the ECE R40 cycle.

Translated into the real world, it means the Wave Dash F1 can cover 200m in 13.5 seconds, as opposed to 13.7 seconds previously. Combined with a slightly larger fuel tank of four litres (versus 3.7 litres), the better efficiency of the fuel injected bike (58.7km per litre versus 52.5) allows it to cover 235km before it needs refuelling.

 The arrival of a disc brake for the rear wheel is very much welcome, though the entry level Type S still sports a drum brake at the rear.

Safety is also improved, with the blinkers now positioned in a more visible location, while reflectors are installed on both sides of the bike, as per UNECE rules.

Three variants are available, with the Type S sporting a drum brake at the rear, while the Type R and Repsol Edition comes with discs at the front and the rear.

At the launch in Kuala Lumpur last week, Boon Siew Honda’s CEO Koji Onishi said the Malaysian motorcycle market had seen a contraction of 19% since GST was implemented.

“Motorcycle registration data from April to December 2015 showed 261,851 units, compared to 324,180 units in the same period for 2014. The market also recorded slower retail sales in October, November and December 2015, averaging 6,600 units per month.

In a nutshell, the motorcycle market is shrinking due to the economic downturn,” said Onishi, who revealed that Boon Siew Honda will be launching more affordable models this year to counter the downturn.

On the Wave Dash FI, he said the product is the result of development that took into account market sentiments.

“It is a product which I can recommend with full confidence as the specifications are based on customers’ valuable feedback.

It is an ideal fit for everyone who is young in mind who expect a motorcycle with more powerful, safer, and fuel efficient performance. Our strong elements are striking and sportier appearance. With the tagline ‘Racing Absolute’, we are confident that the new Wave Dash will continue to dominate the Malaysian market with Honda Racing Spirit,” said Onishi.

The Wave Dash Type S and R are available in three exciting colours: Vivacity Red, Vital Blue Metallic, and Pearl Magellanic Black, while the Repsol-inspired variant comes in Luminous Orange. Prices (with GST) for the S, R, and Repsol editions are RM5,616.94, RM5,881.94 and RM6,040.94 respectively.


Senna: McLaren's new hypercar

                LONDON: The unveiling of a new McLaren is always an exciting event, but it's even more evocative when it also brings back a legendary name from motor racing history at the same time.

That's what we've just been treated to with the revealing of the new Senna, which is the latest hypercar from the British automaker.

But if using the name of the legendary F1 driver is something to stir the soul of any auto enthusiast, the numbers associated with this incredible new road car are perhaps even more stirring.

As it weighs in at just 1,198kg, this is the lightest road-legal car McLaren has produced since the incredible McLaren P1.

When a car as light as this mid-engined, rear-wheel drive beauty is then equipped with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo developing 789hp and 800Nm of torque, it's obvious this is going to be quite a performer.

The engine and the light weight are just the start of the explanation of why this car will get you to 100kph from a standing start in less than three seconds, and onwards to a top speed well in excess of 320kph.

The Senna is built on a carbon-fibre chassis that's as strong as it is lightweight, and everything is then wrapped up in a body shell also made from carbon-fibre that makes the car look every bit as fast as it really is.

Mike Flewitt, the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive, said of the new car, "The Senna is a car like no other: the personification of McLaren's motorsport DNA, legalised for road use but designed and developed from the outset to excel on a circuit.

“Every element of this new Ultimate Series McLaren has an uncompromised performance focus, honed to ensure the purest possible connection between driver and machine and deliver the ultimate track driving experience in the way that only a McLaren can."

The Senna production run will be limited to just 500 units, which will cost £750,000 (RM4mil) each including UK taxes, and every one of them is already spoken for.


Honda Malaysia kicks off GEN H Event to promote hybrid tech

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia's "GEN H Event" campaign will feature exciting activities such as fun fair rides, arcade, test drives, workshop, lifestyle food and beverage bazaar, graffiti art collaboration with local artist as well as an immersive area with fun and interactive activities.

The series of events aims to allow more Malaysians to understand and experience Honda’s hybrid e:HEV technology in its car line-up.

Entrance is free to the on-ground tours and activities at Johor Bahru, Penang and a grand finale to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

For more information on the "GEN H Event" campaign, visit: https://honda.com.my/happening/53/experience-hybrid-the-honda-way

Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Hironobu Yoshimura said, "Honda Malaysia was the pioneer in introducing hybrid technology to Malaysians 19 years ago when we offered the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology in the Civic Hybrid. Response to the IMA technology was positive and we went on to introduce the Sport Hybrid i-DCD in 2017 in the City and Jazz hybrid models which were value for money, fun to drive and performance driven, catering to the mass market. This effectively changed the perception of hybrid cars among Malaysians.”

He added, "Today, the technology has evolved significantly, with the latest in our advanced hybrid technology, the e:HEV, a two-motor hybrid system providing powerful performance and efficiency at the same time while keeping to the fun-to-drive DNA of Honda.”

The1.5L e:HEV powertrain was first introduced to Malaysians in 2020 with the City.

It was a significant launch, as it was also the world premiere of the RS e:HEV variant.

Honda Malaysia then introduced the 1.5L e:HEV powertrain in the City hatchback and HR-V in 2022.

Since the launch of all three e:HEV variants, Honda Malaysia has sold more than 2,800 units of City, over 1,600 units of City hatchback and more than 2,600 units of HR-V.

In November 2022, Honda Malaysia launched an advanced 2.0L e:HEV powertrain in the C-segment Civic.

To-date, Honda Malaysia has sold close to 600 units of the Civic e:HEV.


Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special: Going the distance in sheer comfort

                The Harley-Davidson folks assure that the new Road Glide Special is the best Road Glide so far since its introduction in 1998. Harley Davidson has been mindful that in order to keep the present Harley Davidson community engaged with their new offerings, present trend has been taken into consideration.

The must-mention update on this new Road Glide is it's powered by all the-new Milwaukee Eight where the engine is much smoother, crispier and more torquey. The new Road Glide is a 1,868cc beast with a torque of 166Nm at 3,000rpm.

The machine is upright with a perfect triangle geometry between rider and machine.The saddle is wide and firm. I did about 500km in one day on this machine and felt no aches on my rear end or on my lower torso. The handlebars and the leg rests or better known as the floor boards are spot on. The boards are a bit forward, which gives any riders a much more relaxed sitting position.

However, I had trouble with the toe and heel gear shifter. There was little space between both to place my foot but I was told by a Harley technician that this could be adjusted according to the need of a rider.

From the aesthetic angle, the blacked-out motorcycle exudes raw power and a strong presence. The Road Glide Special has a "shark nose" fairing design unlike the popular "bat wing" fairing. For your information, the shark nose fairing is mounted onto the frame and not the front end like the bat wing fairing. Initially, I did not like the design but it slowly grew on me and I am now convinced it is unique.

At about 180kph, there was no wind buffeting my chest or head, showing the fairing was able to deflect the wind well.

The Road Glide Special is at home on the highway. Every time I squeezed the throttle at any engine speed, the 388kg bike is highly responsive. The first two gears are short. The hand clutch is manageable despite being hard. When caught in a traffic jam, however, the hand clutch was a nightmare. My arm was crying for help. Don’t forget this bike is designed for the open road. However, the gear shifts are smooth — in fact too perfect.

Cruising the highway, the agile V twin engine with a sturdy chassis was able to guide the bike on the tarmac with ease. I could overtake tankers and lorries without feeling the bike being "pushed" by wind turbulence.
The first question that pops up every time I ride a Harley is: “How bad is the vibration?”

This bike does vibrate the minute I thumb the starter or when I am keeping the engine at low rpm. The vibration is noticeable without being discomfiting unlike its predecessor where the vibration is very pronounced.

But the minute the bike is on the move, the vibration fades away. Personally, I feel the vibration is necessary because this is Harley-Davidson's trademark and cannot be eliminated by virtue of the strong low-end torque.

After the first hour of navigating the corners, I managed to settle in. I was then able to manoeuvre the bike through all the corners with ease, while holding the line without difficulty. Every entry and exit of twisties were manageable despite the size and weight of the bike.

The Showa suspension met my expectation where the 5-inch travel on the front fork was able to soak up the imperfections of the road. With rear twin shocks having 2 inches of travel, the suspension there definitely needs improvement for a much comfortable ride.

The front brakes on this big fella is a dual four-piston calipers gripping a dual floating 300mm rotor. At the rear end is a four-piston caliper biting onto a single 300mm rotor. The brakes are easy to handle — light on the fingers and foot. I need not slam on the brakes; progressive braking is advised for smoother braking experience.
I could feel the heat of the engine at the traffic lights. It was bearable but it quickly dissipates as bike and rider get moving. Heat management was decent but could be improved especially when traffic is just crawling along.

To me, a touring machine is not complete without an audio system. This bike is equipped with Harley-Davidson’s Boom! Box GTS infotainment system. It comes with two speakers that have 25 watts per channel, pumping out audio from AM, FM, Bluetooth streaming or connected digital storage sources. The setup also includes a user-friendly navigation system.

Where luggage space is concerned, this touring machine has plenty of it. The hard saddle bags have 75 litres of space, allowing a rider to plan for a long journey. The locking system of the bag is simple; the lid opens with just one press.

The Road Glide Special 2019 is designed to traverse the open road as far and as comfortable as possible. I must say this bike has achieved this compared to its predecessor, offering superior comfort, road handling and power.
SPECIFICATIONSHarley Davidson Road Glide SpecialEngine: Milwaukee Eight V Twin, 1,868cc, air cool
Torque: 166Nm @ 3000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
Front Suspension: Showa 49mm Dual Bending Valve fork; 4.6 in travel, ABS
Rear Suspension: Spring-preload adjustable Showa shocks; 2.2 in travel, ABS
Front braking system: 300mm floating rotors , 4-piston calipers
Rear Braking System: 300mm fixed rotor, 4-piston caliper
Fuel Capacity: 22.7 litre
Wet Weight: 388kg
Features: Hard saddle bags,Cruise control, touch screen, Boom! Box GTS infotainment system, integrated communications system and navigation system, traction control, linked braking and LED


Hybrid working could kill the rush hour

                LONDON: Rush hour could be a thing of the past as commuters turn their backs on traditional working patterns in favour of more flexible and hybrid alternatives, according to the findings of a new UK study released on Thursday.

The poll conducted on behalf of vehicle subscription specialist Wagonex revealed most working age Brits want to work more flexibly in future, splitting their time between the office and working remotely.

This comes on the day the government reveals plans in its Good Work Plan for all employees to be able to request flexible working from the moment they start a new job.

And it follows hot-on-the-heels of an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey that found 85% of those currently homeworking would seek a hybrid of home and office working in future.

But mass flexible working comes with a downside - predicting how, when and where commuters will travel will become more difficult than ever before.

This could lead to an end to the UK’s well established rush hours (6am-9am and 4pm to 6.30pm), with traffic congestion on roads and passenger surges on rail and bus services happening unexpectedly at different times of the day and on different times of the week.

“Commuters who drive to work may find they breeze into the office one day and then are stuck in tailbacks the next and those using public transport may be alone in carriages and on buses one day and packed in like sardines the next,” said Wagonex founder and CEO Toby Kernon.

Conducted by Yonder, the Wagonex survey polled 1,000 working-age Brits.


'Hawa' wins top prize at 2016 BMW Shorties

Tan (right) receiving the top award from Han.
KUALA LUMPUR: Persistence finally paid off when Tan Ce Ding won the top prize at the 2016 BMW Shorties for his short film Hawa.

Tan, who has taken part in the BMW Shorties since 2010, had been placed in the top 10 finalists five times but had never won the competition until last night. He would be receiving a production grant of RM75,000 from BMW Group Malaysia along with guidance and mentorship from the panel of judges to produce his next professional short film.

The 10th edition of the BMW Shorties this year received 115 films, its highest number of entries and shortlisted 12 finalists for contention in the competition.

 The cast and crew of ‘Hawa’ with Han.

Set in a post-apocalyptic zombie-plagued Malaysia, Hawa tells the story of friendship between Hawa, a girl who has been infected by a zombie bite and a carefree boy named Meng. Through the use of symbolism, director Tan communicates the nature of the journey of friendship – focusing on its vulnerability to the toxicity of social issues which is likened to a zombie pandemic in the film threatening the friendship between Hawa and Meng.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Tan said the symbolism used in his latest film could be interpreted as anything that threatens the bond between individuals.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun said that the theme "Journey" this year marked a new milestone for the short film contest in that it proved that there were many Malaysians who could make award-winning films.

The short films from the other finalists can be viewed on the BMW Shorties website.


Honda Malaysia celebrates milestone for Civic

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia recorded a historical milestone with the delivery of the 130,000th Civic to its owner, Fatihah Abdul Kadir.

The 130,000th Civic is a 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged Premium variant in Dark Ruby Red colour, which was delivered to Fatihah at the Honda’s dealership, Botanic Auto Mall Sdn. Bhd.

“I have always been a fan of Honda. Before purchasing this Civic, I previously owned a Honda Stream. I was impressed with the premium and innovative features in the Civic that added more fun to my daily commute. I booked the car early this year and have been waiting expectantly to receive the car.

"To become the 130,000 th Civic owner is really a pleasant surprise! I am truly delighted with my Civic and can’t wait to bring it on-the road,” said Fatihah at the ceremony to receive her new car.

This impressive achievement was an accumulation of Civic sales since the 7th generation was introduced in Malaysia in year 2001.

The Civic is among the popular Honda models in Malaysia, with the 7th generation recording more than 9,300 unit sales, the 8th generation contributing close to 50,400 unit sales followed by the 9th generation with more than 27,000 unit sales.

The 10th generation Civic launched in 2016, which is also the first generation to be powered by a turbocharged engine, is currently the most sought after model, having sold more than 42,200 units.

Honda Malaysia Group Vice President, Jahabarnisa Haja Mohideen said at the handover ceremony, “A heartfelt thank you and deep appreciation to all our 130,000 Civic customers in Malaysia. Their support and belief in the Honda brand have enabled our models to achieve segment leadership positions including the Civic which is leading the C-segment."

In this holy month of Ramadan, Honda is rewarding all new customers with special rewards worth up to RM5,000 in the “Enjoy the Special Gifts of Ramadan” campaign. The promotion begins on May 1, 2019 and ends on May 31, 2019.


Petron Malaysia launches new High-Temperature Protection (HTP) lubricants

                KUALA LUMPUR: Petron Malaysia has unveiled a new range of High-Temperature Protection (HTP) lubricants including engine oils, automotive transmission fluids and brake fluids, gear oils and greases.

For its engine oils, Petron unveiled the Blaze Racing HTP for petrol engines and Rev-X Turbo HTP for diesel engines.

The fully synthetic Blaze Racing HTP uses polyalphaolefin (PAO) as its base oil, resulting in better oxidation and thermal resistance than conventional base oils and an advanced additive system to meet the most severe and stringent requirements of high performance petrol engines.

It can protect engines against wear and corrosion for longer engine life, and has been approved and certified to specifications of API SN, MB Approval 229.5, MB Approval 229.3, and Porsche A40.

Meanwhile, the fully synthetic Rev-X Turbo HTP is designed for naturally aspirated and turbocharged or supercharged high performance heavy-duty diesel engines.

Also formulated with PAO, the diesel engine oil provides extended engine protection due to its outstanding oxidation and thermal stability while preventing soot and piston deposits for superior engine cleanliness and efficiency.

Rev-X Turbo HTP is approved and licensed according to the specifications of API CJ-4/SN, MAN 3575, Cummins CES 20081, MB Approval 228.31, Volvo VDS-4, and Mack EO-O Premium Plus.

"The Petron HTP is specially formulated to give improved engine cleanliness, efficiency and engine protection - thus offering a  superior choice to our customers in terms of better protection, better performance and more savings," said Petron Malaysia head of retail and commercial business Choong Kum Choy.

The Petron HTP range includes Blaze Racing HTP, Rev-X Turbo HTP, Gear Oil GHTP, Brake Fluid HTP and Grease HTP.

They are available at selected Petron service stations, Shopee online store, Petron authorised distributors and workshops.

- Petron Blaze Racing HTP OW-40 (4L) is priced at RM265
- Rev-X Turbo HTP 5W-40 (4L) at RM210
- ATF Premium HTP (1L) at RM37.60
- Brake Fluid HTP (0.25L) at RM10.90
- Grease HTP (0.5kg) at RM23.70


Ford backs off mask-wearing requirement for Trump’s factory tour

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. is backpedaling from a policy that every visitor to its factories wear masks ahead of President Donald Trump’s tour of a components plant that it’s converted to a ventilator-making facility.

Personal protective equipment use is among the health requirements Ford has put in place at US factories that restarted vehicle production this week.

But although the automaker has shared its protocols with the administration, it will defer to the White House’s safety policies and determinations on Thursday, according to Rachel McCleery, a spokesman.

"I don’t know, I haven’t even thought of it,” Trump said Tuesday when asked if he’ll wear a mask. "It depends. I mean, you know, in certain areas, I would. In certain areas, I don’t. But I will certainly look at it.”

Trump has dismissed suggestions that he wear a mask, saying he is tested frequently for the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that face coverings can prevent those who’ve contracted the virus but aren’t showing symptoms from unknowingly spreading it to others.

Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford donned a face mask and shield when taking 60 Minutes for a tour of one of the company’s plants last month.

The company has publicly released a 64-page return-to-work playbook that states: "Face masks are required to be worn by everyone, in all facilities, at all times.”

Vice President Mike Pence was criticized for disregarding a Mayo Clinic policy requiring face masks when visiting one of the nation’s top hospitals late last month.

Days after Pence then wore a mask while touring a General Motors Co. factory, Trump declined to put one on when visiting a Honeywell International Inc. facility making N95 respirators for health-care workers.

After the Trump administration announced the Ford factory tour on Sunday, the company issued a statement saying that the White House had asked for the visit. The company said it would welcome Trump "as part of Ford’s longstanding history of hosting sitting presidents.”

Ford’s relations with Trump has been rocky since his 2016 campaign. He attacked the company for plans to build a factory in Mexico, then praised it for ceasing construction of the facility shortly after his inauguration.

More recently, the automaker got caught up in Trump’s brief lashing out at GM over federal contract negotiations to build ventilators. The president tweeted that it was "always a mess” working with GM chief executive officer Mary Barra, then demanded that GM and Ford start making ventilators "FAST!!!!!!”. Trump and officials within his administration have complimented the companies since then.


China's GAC presents world's first ammonia-powered car engine

                BEIJING: Ammonia is a highly caustic and hazardous substance but that did not stop Chinese carmaker GAC from coming up with what is billed as the world's first ammonia engine for passenger cars.

The state-owned Guangzhou Automotive Group Co. (GAC) says it has overcome the problem of ammonia burning too slowly so that the technology can now debut in passenger cars.

The prototype 2.0-litre engine can burn liquid ammonia safely and efficiently and GAC says it "is excited about the value this development brings to society and the potential commercial uses."

According to Bloomberg, GAC claims a 120 kW (161hp) peak power output, and a 90%-reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional fuels.

Inflammable petrol, diesel and hydrogen fuels are dangerous as well but the difficulty of handling ammonia has so far seen it proposed only as a potentially clean power source for ships, airliners, trucks and trains.

Ammonia is produced and distributed worldwide in huge quantities and is mainly known for its use as a fertiliser in agriculture.

Hydrogen has long been touted as a fuel of the future, but as an ultralight gas that ruins steel, it still poses some practicality issues.

The Chinese automaker is now looking to use hydrogen in an altogether different way, by using ammonia as a liquid fuel.

As covered by Bloomberg, GAC has been developing a combustion engine capable of running on ammonia. The foul-smelling liquid found in urine is seen as an attractive fuel by the company for both environmental and practical reasons. Containing hydrogen but no carbon, it offers tantalising benefits for combustion with less greenhouse gas emissions.

Ammonia is readily transportable in liquid form at ambient temperatures under mild pressure, unlike hydrogen, and is far less flammable than existing fuels, making it easier to store.

And, by virtue of its chemical composition, burning it produces fewer emissions than conventional fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel. It also bears noting that pure ammonia is unlike the ammonia used as a cleaning fluid in the home, which is in solution with water.

At a recent presentation, GAC revealed a 2.0-litre engine that burns liquid ammonia, with a peak power output of 161 horsepower. It claims the engine cuts carbon emissions by 90% compared to conventional engines.

That's a curious number, as ammonia itself is made up solely of hydrogen and nitrogen atoms. It suggests that GAC may be running the engine on a mixture of ammonia with some level of hydrocarbon content.

GAC refers to the engine as being a "world first."

South Korean researchers had experimented with engines running on a 70:30 ammonia-gasoline blend in the early 2010s.

In diesel engines, ammonia can be successfully used in dual-fuel mode with diesel fuel although an increase in NOx and the unburned ammonia at the exhaust require the installation of after-treatment systems.

Experts said GAC will face an uphill struggle to introduce ammonia to the automotive world since no fuelling infrastructure exists.

The ammonia engine was revealed at a GAC tech day along with a flying car called Gove that looks like a large drone and a Trumpchi minivan powered by a hybrid-hydrogen platform.

This alternative fuel system is being promoted by GAC's Japanese partner Toyota.


Malaysia to reopen borders to international travellers on April 1, says PM

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will reopen its borders to international travellers starting April 1, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

The Prime Minister said visitors, as well as Malaysian returnees, who are fully vaccinated are not required to undergo quarantine upon arrival.

They, however, must undergo a RT-PCR test two days before departure and a rapid test (RTK) upon arrival.

As for travellers who have not been fully vaccinated, Ismail Sabri said the entry procedures will be explained by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Wednesday.

“As part of our “Transitioning to Endemicity” phase, the government has decided to reopen the country’s borders from April 1.

“This move will revive the country’s economy, especially the tourism industry that has been heavily affected by the pandemic.

“The decision is made based on science and current facts related to Covid-19, as well as the reopening of borders in other countries.

“The country also wants to provide comfort to travellers and not complicate their travel process.

“Most importantly, Malaysia is now a destination that is open and can be visited by all,” said Ismail Sabri at a press conference in Parliament today.

For foreign travellers arriving into Malaysia, they are no longer required to apply through MyTravelPass.

Ismail Sabri said they are only required to download the MySejahtera app and must complete a pre-departure form.

As for Malaysians, Ismail Sabri said those with valid documents are free to travel to any other country that has reopened their borders to visitors.

Countries that have yet to open their borders such as Singapore, Ismail Sabri said Malaysians can still use the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) method.

He added that the country is also in the midst of implementing the VTL with Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

The country’s borders have been shut since March 2020, while entry of foreign workers has been frozen due to the pandemic.

Nearly 98% of Malaysia's adult population are fully vaccinated, while more than half have received booster shots.

Although the country’s daily cases have shot up past the 30,000 mark due to the recent Omicron outbreak, 99% of the infections are mild or asymptomatic.


Hertz to buy up to 65,000 EVs from Polestar

                WASHINGTON: Rental car firm Hertz Global Holdings said on Monday it would buy up to 65,000 electric vehicles over five years from Swedish EV maker Polestar, the latest move by the rental car firm to add zero-emission models.

Hertz said Polestar cars would be available beginning this spring in Europe and later in 2022 in North America and Australia.

The Florida-based rental car company said that it would initially order the Polestar 2 sedan.

Hertz in October announced its order to buy 100,000 electric cars from Tesla Inc, primarily the EV maker's Model 3.

In March, Hertz added Tesla's mid-size SUV Model Y to its electric vehicle fleet, according to the car rental firm's website.

Polestar, which was founded by China's Geely and Volvo Cars, is set to merge with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Gores Guggenheim Inc this year.

The Hertz partnership "will bring the amazing experience of driving an electric car to a wider audience, satisfying a broad variety of our mutual customers' short- and longer-term mobility requirements," Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said in a statement.


Prices of five car models drop after SST, says Guan Eng

                GEORGE TOWN: Several makes of cars including imported ones recorded a price reduction of up to RM3,000 after the implementation of the Sales and Service Tax (SST), said Lim Guan Eng.

The Finance Minister, when announcing the matter, said the five makes were Perodua, Honda, Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen.

"I have received information that several makes of cars whose prices when compared to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) are much lower.

“This is because we don't collect as much (tax) compared with the GST, the prices of goods can be flexible and it is also adopted by the government to ensure prosperity for the people,” he told reporters at a press conference here today.

Lim said that the price of a Perodua Axia car after the implementation of the SST was RM40,390 compared with RM41,497, a drop of RM1,107 during the imposition of the GST.

"For the Myvi 1.5 car, the price is now RM54,090 compared with RM55,300, Honda Jazz 1.5 is now priced at RM83,633 (previously RM85,750), Toyota Vios RM93,200 as against RM93,980 previously while the Volkswagen Polo is only RM74,900 compared with the current price of RM76,888 with GST," he added.

Besides the five makes of vehicles, Lim said the BMW 118i brand also saw a price drop of RM3,000 to RM185,800 from RM188,800.


Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV takes to London streets for first time

                LONDON: Jaguar has given Brits their first view of its first electric vehicle when it drove the I-PACE on the streets here for the first time following its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

Driving on the streets of London’s famous Olympic Park, the electric performance SUV concept previews Jaguar’s first electric vehicle, the I-PACE, which will be revealed in late 2017 and will be on the road in the second half of 2018.

Jaguar said the I-PACE would be a long distance sprinter that can accelerate to 100kph in around 4 seconds, with a range of more than 500km (NEDC cycle) from the 90kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging is expected to be quick and easy, with 80% charge achieved in 90 minutes using 50kW DC charging. The SUV aims to comepete against the Tesla Model X.

Compact, lightweight electric motors at the front and rear axles produce a combined output of 400PS and 700Nm of torque, with the all-weather benefits of all-wheel drive. The I-Pace is propelled by a pair of electric motors that drive the front and rear wheels. It is also touted as delivering the agility, ride comfort and refinement that will set it apart from other electric vehicles.

“Driving the concept on the streets is really important for the design team. It’s very special to put the car outside and in the real-world. You can see the true value of the I-PACE’s dramatic silhouette and powerful proportions when you see it on the road, against other cars. The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of battery electric vehicle design," said Jaguar design director Ian Callum.

The I-PACE came after the launch last year of the bigger F-PACE, Jaguar's first SUV.


Next-generation Toyota Innova arrives from RM109,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: A little more than year after its launch in Indonesia, the second-generation Toyota Innova (AN140) will be arriving in showrooms nationwide by Dec 9, in two model variants.

With a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, the Innova has been priced on-the-road with GST and insurance at RM109,000 and RM117,000 for the 2.0E with a 5-speed manual and 2.0E with a six-speed automatic respectively. The range-topping 2.0G with a 6-speed automatic is similarly priced at RM126,000.

The Innova has a wheelbase of 2,750mm and measures in at 4,735mm-long, 1,830mm-wide (without external mirrors) and 1,795mm-tall, while having a kerb weight of 1,700kg (2.0E manual), 1,715kg  (2.0E auto) and 1,720kg for the 2.0G.

As standard, there's still the same 2.0-litre (1,998cc) 1TR-FE inline four-cylinder engine at the front - being fed by a 55-litre fuel tank that has been retuned for better low-end power delivery and efficiency, while providing 139PS at 5,600rpm and 183Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

The rear-wheel drive multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) rolls on 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/65 series tyres that obscure the disc (front) and drum (rear) brakes, while the 2.0E variant with a manual or automatic transmission lights up the road ahead with a set of automatic halogen headlamps that has Follow Me Home function and bulbed daytime-running lights.

It also features a combination of silver and matching body colour for its grille, body coloured door handles, external mirrors with integrated turn signal, rear spoiler with LED stop lamp as well as front and rear wipers.

Using a remote-activation jack-knife key fob gains entry into the 8-seater cabin with fabric upholstered seats, while a combination of black, silver and fabric accent the interior that's cooled by front a rear air conditioning vents.

For convenience, a centre console box with a lid along with a lockable lower glove box and upper glove box with cooler function provide storage space.

Along with the one-touch tumble system for the second row and the one-touch fold-up system for the third row, the cabin also has front seat back pockets with a shopping hook, a sunglass holder, cup holders, power windows with driver-side auto up/down and jam protection, five roof-mounted grab handles and two 12V power outlets.

Drivers will notice the back-lit multi-information display (MID) within the instrument cluster after being greeted by a three-spoke silver-trimmed urethane steering wheel with audio, MID and Bluetooth hands-free controls that's not only tilt-adjustable, but is now telescopic too.

The gated gear knob is also wrapped in urethane and while drivers contemplate which driving mode of Normal, Eco and Power to choose from, passengers may be entertained by the six-speaker audio system that plays tunes from a preferred radio station, CD or a list of MP3s stored on a gadget that's connected via the AUX-jack, USB port or stream music through Bluetooth.

For safety, the 2.0E comes with three airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, front-rear parking sensors, speed-sensitive central locking and ISOFIX anchor points.

Opting for the range-topping 2.0G ups the list of goodies that starts with a combination of chrome, silver and black painted grille, chrome door handles, an added pair of front fog lamps and the external mirrors are now power adjustable, retractable and have puddle lamps.

There's now the convenience of keyless-entry and push-start button, leather for the silver and wood accented steering wheel as well as the silver ornamented gear knob and an additional roof-mounted grab handle for the driver.

The driver will now get to peer at the Optitron meter panel that now comes with illumination control and a 4.2-inch colour TFT MID as passengers at the second and third row enjoy the roof-mounted air-conditioning vents, while basking in the hue of some purple (intensity-adjustable) roof-mounted ambient lighting.

Among other goodies are the one-touch operation for all windows, silver and piano-black finish for the fabric-wrapped door trims, lamps for the sunvisors, soft lid for the centre console box, damper for the lower glove box, foldable seatback table and an easy-closer tailgate system (not to be mistaken for a powered tailgate).

The 2.0G bolsters its safety levels by adding four more airbags (seven in total), as well as brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill-start assist and emergency stop signal.

Available as optional extras for all variants is a security and solar tint as well as an 8.0-inch DVD-AVX capacitive touchscreen DVD-player with smartphone connectivity, wifi, internet browser, voice recognition, HDMI port, USB port, Bluetooth connectivity and reverse camera with guide lines. Opting for the DVD-AVN system instead will include navigation into the mix.

Toyota Innova specs


Toyota Gazoo Racing goes into e-motorsports

                TOKYO: Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) has announced that it will enter e-motorsports with the launch of GR Supra GT Cup for PlayStation4 (PS4).

The Gran Turismo Sport that is the first global one-make race, starts in April. As part of its e-motorsports activities, Toyota Gazoo Racing will also become an official partner of the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championships, an online championship for the Gran Turismo real driving simulator series that is hosted in partnership with the FIA.

Toyota said its involvment in e-motorsports was to make motorsports and sport cars more accessible, and enjoyable across generations. It said its findings obtained through e-motorsports would help it make better cars in the future.

The FIA Gran Turismo Championship World Tour 1, the opening event of the Gran Turismo Sport world series, will be held in Paris on March 16.

At the event, Toyota will announce the GR Supra GT Cup at a panel session with Polyphony Digital Inc president Kazunori Yamauchi and GR Supra chief engineer Tetsuya Tada. It would be broadcast live on Gran Turismo TV, the official Gran Turismo YouTube channel.


McLaren unveils 720S Dubai one-off build

                DUBAI: McLaren Special Operations (MSO) will debut a on-off 720S at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show (Nov 14-18)...and it's already been purchased.

Dubbed the 720 Dubai, the one-off build is dressed in Zenith Black paint with a satin finish while the alloy wheels, cabin accents and a famous Bruce McLaren quote in Arabic script stylised to echo the Dubai skyline are in gold colour.

The quote says: ‘Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone’.

“The quote from Bruce McLaren rings true not only of the history of McLaren, but also the achievements of the UAE and the Gulf states over the last four decades," said McLaren Automotive managing director (Middle East, Africa & Latin America) Andreas Bareis.

Inside, the cabin features a plaque that identifies it as a ‘1 of 1’ MSO commission,

The commission added carbon fibre exterior upgrade packs that includes the front splitter and air intakes as well as the rear bumper and roof panel.

The rear diffuser is also a carbon fibre option, while the door mirror arms, rear aero bridge and deck and engine covers are all from the MSO Defined range of carbon fibre components.

The interior of the car is wrapped in a combination of black Alcantara and black leather, while accented by carbon fibre sill panels, fascia vents and steering wheel, in addition to a regular carbon fibre interior upgrade pack.

Satin gold-paint was added to the extended gearshift paddles, satin gold-coloured centre band for the steering wheel and pinstriping in the same hue for the spokes.

A gold-coloured applique on each door inner completes the visual treatment.

In personalising the car, MSO added more than 120 hours to the production process.

The rear wing alone took 30 hours to complete, using stencils produced by the MSO design visualisation team.

The new owner of the car on display at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show will take delivery of the car from McLaren Dubai after the show ends.

The 720S is powered by 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine that enables it to sprint from 0 to 200kph in 7.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 341kph.

"The UAE and the region are very important to McLaren, not only in terms of our client base, but also because of the support from our shareholders. This car pays tribute to that," added Andreas.


More UD Trucks added to TNB fleet

                KUALA LUMPUR: UD Trucks and its sole distributor partner Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) announced that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia’s largest electricity utility supplier for businesses, homes and industries, has recently purchased six units of UD Trucks’ medium-duty Croner, bringing to a total of 78 units of UD Trucks vehicles the power company currently owns.

A vehicle handover ceremony was held recently at the headquarters of TNB to officially mark the delivery of the trucks and it was attended by the senior management teams of TNB Fleet Management Department, UD Trucks and TCIE.

The trucks would be used to transport diesel fuel to refuel TNB’s mobile generator sets during operation at site.

Datuk S. Viswanathan, Head of Fleet Management Department, TNB shared in a short speech during the truck handover ceremony, “As the national electricity provider, TNB has an important role in ensuring that customers get reliable supply from our system network. The acquisition of UD Trucks’ medium-duty Croner would serve as support trucks to transport diesel fuel for mobile generator sets that would be mobilised in the event of unexpected disruption.

"We need to quickly deploy mobile generator sets to minimise the duration of an outage. These mobile generator sets, which are equipped on trucks including on UD Trucks’ heavy-duty Quester, need to be stationary and operational on-site and must be refuelled from time to time to keep them going.”

Last year, TNB purchased nine units of the heavy-duty UD Quester trucks, which comprised of seven units of 18-tonne trucks and two units of 24-tonne trucks that are now being used as mobile generator sets deployed across the country.

Steve Hedouin, Managing Director, UD Trucks Hub Malaysia & Oceania said, “UD Trucks feels honoured that TNB has decided to purchase UD Croner to provide the support for the mobile generator sets. UD Croner was specifically made for growth markets like Malaysia, with versatility, uptime and safety in mind. It is one of the most fuel-efficient trucks in its category as it combines a new engine series and a more aerodynamic cab design. This truck was built and designed to deliver extra productivity and superior uptime and we truly believe that UD Croner will serve TNB’s needs well.”

According to TNB’s Fleet Management Department, there are positive feedback from their drivers on UD Croner which include easy drivability and comfort over long distance, strong safety alert features, fuel-coaching system that helps to improve driving behavior by prompting the driver to use optimal revs and reduce unnecessary acceleration and TCIE’s fast aftermarket service response.

Jaclyn Loy, Chief Operating Officer, TCIE added, “We would like to thank TNB for putting their solid trust and confidence in UD Trucks and TCIE to provide reliable transport solutions. This truly highlights a successful relationship with a valued customer based on our brand promise to go the extra mile, which comprises quality products and strong aftermarket support that we have been providing to TNB.”


Proton X70 struts out as refined creature in Langkawi drive

                The X70, Proton's first model with its new co-owner Geely, is arguably the best Proton to-date and intends to give its sports utility vehicle rivals a run for the money.

Proton’s long awaited first SUV (sport utility vehicle) had generated a buzz even before its official launch in December last year, and members of the media got to check out whether the X70 lives up to the hype during a recent day-long drive in Langkawi, Kedah.

Over 12,000 bookings have been received for the X70 as of late December, and it is based on the Geely Boyue which is a huge hit among car buyers in China, thanks to its proven technology, premium features, European inspired design and competitive price tags.

Now, unlike the budget entry-level cars like the Saga, Persona and Exora that national automaker Proton is known for, the X70 is positioned as a premium product with all the expected bells and whistles, albeit with price tags that are cheaper by some RM25,000 to nearly RM40,000 than its Japanese rivals.

Does it measure up to the expectations of a premium product that costs more than RM100,000?

Our answer is definitely yes, and we will tell you why.

Our test drive unit was the flagship Premium 2WD variant, which is priced at RM123,800 without insurance.

Besides the Nappa leather upholstery, other features that are exclusive to the Premium 2WD variant include 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, powered front passenger seat, and a nine-speaker audio system with amplifier and subwoofer.

We started driving from the white sands of Cenang Beach, and took a long, circuitous route to visit the peak of Gunung Raya, the highest mountain in Langkawi.

It was a hot, sunny day and the cool, leather clad interior of the X70 was a comfortable cocoon as we sped past sun-soaked beaches and sailboats in a bay.

The 1.8-litre turbocharged mill with 184PS and 285Nm of torque was powerful, and with four adults in the car and a rear trunk area filled with luggage, there was no lack of grunt in propelling the 1.7-tonne X70 to decent speeds.

The 6-speed automatic transmission was smooth and responsive, and the electric power steering was accurate, though it did feel somewhat numb and it was a tad lacking in steering feedback.

Fitted with ContiUltracontact UC6 SUV tyres sized 225/55 wrapped around large 19-inch wheels, the X70’s comfort-biased suspension nicely cushioned the imperfections on bumpy roads.

What stood out for us was the highly refined quality of the drive; the exhaust roar is quite muffled under hard acceleration, and there was hardly any wind and road noise intrusion in the cabin.

We also checked out the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on the twisty uphill route to Gunung Raya, and this is where the car automatically maintains a safe distance with the car in front.

With ACC (operates from 30 to 150kph), the X70 will slow down and accelerate automatically as it follows the speed of the car in front.

The ACC worked very well and it was activated almost all the way as we ascended and descended Gunung Raya.

However, don’t get the idea that the car can perform autonomous driving; for one thing, there’s no Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) here, so you need to steer in case you drift out from your lane.

The brakes have a progressive feel, and are not uncomfortably abrupt.

We also checked out the voice command system, which turned out as expected, based on our experience with similar systems in other cars.

The voice command function works best in a quiet environment and you need to speak clearly and loudly, otherwise you get puzzled responses like “I cannot hear clearly” and “Where will you go?”.

When it works, voice command is really nifty and you start by saying “Hi Proton”. The car will respond with a “Coming”, and you can give commands like “Set temperature to 20”, “Windows down” and “play Havana”.

Also, a highlight here is the Proton Link app where owners can use their smartphones to look at vehicle status data like fuel level, remaining travel range, mileage, average fuel consumption, and a trip log (where the car has travelled) and current vehicle location.

The app also allows searching for Proton service centres, and performing remote control functions like unlock trunk, open and close windows, and activating horn and lights.

Obviously, the Proton-Geely collaboration has put a lot of work into the digital connectivity aspects of the X70.

Also exclusive on the Premium 2WD variant are advanced driver’s assistance technology like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).

In the afternoon, we drove to Stadium Langkawi where we tested the X70’s 360-degree camera, FCW and AEB under supervision.

The 360-degree camera provides a bird’s eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings and in the first session, we got into a car where the windshield had been covered.

And we had to manoeuvred the car through cones, and reverse parked between two other X70 units - with the view from the 360-degree camera as our only visual guide.

We drove very slowly, and while the whole experience was quite unnerving and disorientating, we successfully completed the session without mishap.

Next, it was a test of the FCW where we accelerated to 65kph, and the car in front moved at 30kph.

As we closed the gap with the car in front, the FCW started beeping urgently and we stepped on the brake to slow the car down.

This was followed by a test of the AEB which operates at below 30kph.

This time, we accelerated to just below 30kph, with the car in front crawling at 5kph.

As we closed the gap, the X70 braked hard automatically and came to a full stop,with a harsh, and loud grating noise.

In summary, after a full day spent with the X70, we daresay it’s a very well engineered premium product that is on par with its Japanese and Korean rivals.

The nine-speaker system provides crisp audio quality in the hushed cabin, and the air purifier system seemed to work well, as we didn’t suffer from dust allergy.

Fit and finish in the interior looks nice, and there’s a high quality feel to the plastic surfaces and metallic trim.

We really like the Nappa leather seats which felt soft, smooth and luxurious.

In conclusion, the X70 is arguably as good as the competition and it is cheaper by up to nearly RM40,000 against the flagship rivals.

SPECIFICATIONSProton X70 (Premium 2WD)Engine: 1,799cc 4 in-line, turbocharged, direct injection
Maximum power: 184PS at 5,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 285Nm from 1,700 to 4,400rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual mode
Features: LED projector headlamps, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, Nappa leather seats, panoramic sunroof, two front power seats, 9 audio speakers with amplifier and subwoofer, 225/55 R19 tyres, 4 front parking sensors, electric parking brake, automatic dual zone air-conditioning, rear air-con vents, air purifier system, 8-inch touchscreen, voice command, 6 USB ports
Safety features: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD (electronic brake distribution), brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), hill hold assist, hill descent control, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), tyre pressure monitoring system, 360-degree camera
Price (on the road, without insurance): RM123,800


Jaguar to reveal production I-Pace at event ahead of Geneva launch

                LONDON: The Jaguar I-Pace was first revealed to the world in concept form at the Los Angeles Auto Show as long ago now as 2016.

Since then, Jaguar has periodically come forward with news and images of the I-Pace in concept form, but the all-electric luxury SUV has still to be properly revealed to the world as a production model.

But at last, the much-anticipated I-Pace will finally be officially revealed on March 1 at a special event ahead of its global debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Even ahead of that March reveal, we have now been told by Jaguar about the range and the charging capability of its first all-electric model, which is designed as a direct competitor to the likes of the Tesla Model X and the upcoming Audi e-tron.

The I-Pace will be a four-wheel drive SUV with a range of around 310 miles, although that range is measured using the New European Driving Cycle, which is still considerably more generous than its American EPA counterpart.

What isn't open to debate though, is the impressive charging capability of the I-Pace. When using a 100kW charger, the Jaguar is capable of being recharged to 80 percent of its capacity within just 40 minutes, as long as you have access to a 100kW charger, of course.

A big advantage the I-Pace has over its rival the Audi e-tron is that it will beat the German model into showrooms later this year, which means it will be able to claim the honour of being the first electric SUV from a luxury manufacturer.

Those who champion the Tesla Model X may dispute that fact as the Tesla is already on sale, but insiders claim the Jaguar and Audi will offer a more traditional SUV experience, so both of them should be considered to be in a slightly different segment to the Tesla.

The price of the I-Pace is expected to be about 10-15 percent higher than that of an F-Pace of a similar specification, so although Jaguar is still remaining tight-lipped on final pricing details the I-Pace is expected to cost around £60,000 (RM330,000).


VW's Shanghai EV plant with SAIC has started trial production, says Diess

                SHANGHAI: Trial production has started at Volkswagen AG’s (VW) and SAIC Motor Corp Ltd’s US$2.5 billion electric vehicle (EV) factory in Shanghai, VW’s chief executive said on Friday, the latest development in the race to sell EVs in China.

“The move goes in line with Volkswagen’s (electric) e-mobility initiative,” Herbert Diess told reporters during a tour of the factory.

The announcement comes two weeks after US EV maker Tesla Inc also said it had started trial production at its factory in China, where it aims to produce 500,000 cars a year when construction is completed.

Established automakers and startups alike are aggressively targeting China, the world’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) market, where NEV sales jumped 61.7% to 1.3 million vehicles in 2018.

Volkswagen is trying to leapfrog peers by readying two Chinese EV factories by next year, Reuters reported last month.

Volkswagen’s ID series EVs will be the first to roll off the Shanghai production line, the German automaker said in a statement. The plant will also produce other models such as from VW’s premium Audi AG brand, the joint-venture partners said.

Diess also said Volkswagen plans to make 22 million electric vehicles by 2028, half of them in China. In July, Diess said that by 2035, half of Volkswagen’s annual sales in China will be NEVs.


Nissan’s Infiniti HQ said to be heading back to Japan from HK in mid-2020

                BEIJING: Nissan Motor Co’s premium brand Infiniti is relocating its headquarters back to Japan from Hong Kong, its home since 2012, to create “more operational efficiencies” with its parent company, according to a document seen by Reuters today.

The move planned for mid-2020, and expected to be publicly announced later today, will help the Japanese automaker cut costs amid a slump in its global earnings in the year ended March 31.

“The relocation will further integrate (Infiniti) with global design, research and development and manufacturing functions based in Japan,” Nissan said in the statement, adding that Infiniti would continue to “operate independently”.

The move also was “crucial” for Nissan to follow through on its strategy to electrify the Infiniti lineup, the document said, with plans for every premium model launched from 2021 to be either all-electric or “e-Power” hybrid.

A Nissan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while there was a “fair amount of platform and other base technology sharing” between Infiniti and the main volume brand Nissan, “there could be more”.

Nissan’s global operating profit plunged 45% in the last fiscal year and would likely drop another 28% to “rock bottom” in the current one, according to company filings earlier this month.

Infiniti’s move back to Japan will reverse a decision made under ousted leader Carlos Ghosn to dilute the premium brand’s Japanese origins in order to foster a more global image.

Its Hong Kong headquarters has about 180 employees who were told about the move back to Yokohama earlier today, according to the Nissan official.

The Hong Kong headquarters and the global image it was intended to promote were seen as critical for Infiniti to make inroads in China, where being Japanese can sometimes be a handicap because of historical animosities.

In 2012, Infiniti and other Japanese brands took a battering in the wake of diplomatic spats over disputed islets known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

Since then, Japan’s bilateral relationship with China has steadily improved and Japanese automakers including Nissan and Toyota are seeing their businesses expand, even as China’s overall auto market has slumped over the past year.


Special edition Fiat New 500 audio system gets Andrea Bocelli touch

                TURIN: Fiat has unveiled its "New 500 La Prima by Bocelli," a special edition of the city car featuring a premium audio system developed in collaboration with the Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli.

In addition to signing up Leonardo DiCaprio, Fiat has enlisted the services of Andrea Bocelli for its "New 500 La Prima by Bocelli" edition, which is billed as the first city car in the world to be equipped with JBL's "Virtual Venues" technology, designed to offer an exceptional audio experience.

In this case, the car features a 320W premium audio system that has been specially mastered by Andrea Bocelli himself. Fiat wanted to create the ultimate acoustic experience, perfectly complementing the quiet nature of this electric car when driving.

The result does not alter the design of the car's interior or trunk.

This "La Prima by Bocelli" edition sports a black livery and ivory upholstery. It also offers a new disinfecting glove box, perfectly suited to the post Covid-19 era. It is, in fact, a device integrating a UV-C lamp inside the glove box.

The system is activated by pressing a button on the center console. From then on, a three-minute cycle is enough to disinfect your smartphone or any other small everyday item.

The "La Prima by Bocelli" range will be available in sedan and convertible versions.

The new single by Matteo Bocelli, Andrea's son, will serve as the soundtrack to this collaboration.

Note that the New 500 is the best-selling electric car model of automaker Stellantis.


Daimler to invest 2.6 billion euros for next-generation diesel engines

                FRANKFURT: Daimler said it will spend 2.6 billion euros (RM12.2bil) by 2019 on developing next-generation diesel engines to help the luxury carmaker meet new pollution measuring standards.

"We are spending the money on engine development and production capacities," Bernhard Heil, vice president of product group powertrain at Daimler AG said.

Part of the 2.6 billion euros has already been invested. Daimler will introduce selective catalytic reduction (SCR) on its smaller front wheel drive cars by 2019, replacing current nitrous oxide trap exhaust systems, the company said.

Currently, only large Mercedes-Benz cars use SCR systems, which require adblue injection systems.


Recycler Li-Cycle eyes Asia foray to feed battery metal boom

                NEW YORK: Canadian startup Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. plans to expand into Asia, replicating its development in North America as soaring demand for the raw materials key to powering electric cars pushes buyers to expand their supply chains.

The recycler will focus on establishing commercial partnerships and building battery-recycling facilities in countries including South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, according to Tim Johnston, Li-Cycle’s co-founder and executive chairman.

"We are really focusing on deployment outside of China in the APAC region,” Johnson said in an interview from the firm’s Toronto offices.

"It’s more challenging these days to do work domestically in China than it has been. There’s a strong desire for a lot of Chinese companies to go globally and to expand outside China. For Li-Cycle, we’re better off supporting them in the ex-China context.”

Li-Cycle is among a handful of companies looking to cash in on demand for the recovered materials, with companies including Tesla Inc. expressing concerns over supplies of nickel and lithium.

As the first generation of EVs nears retirement, a large quantity of electronic scrap is expected to be created.

Electric automakers, mining companies and chemical suppliers are racing to control more supplies of materials that are key to transitioning the world to cleaner energy sources.

With mineral deposits getting trickier and pricier to develop, recycled batteries are expected to play a vital role in helping meet demand and may help tame soaring commodity prices that threaten to deliver the first rise in battery costs since at least 2010.

An estimated 62,000 metric tons of used EV and stationary storage packs reached their end of life last year, and that will rise to 4 million tons by 2035, according to BloombergNEF, Bloomberg’s energy and data analysis unit.

Worldwide, consumers and companies are expected to buy almost 26 million EVs annually by 2030, and junkyards will take in nearly 1.7 million tons of scrapped batteries, according to BNEF estimates.

Li-Cycle already has facilities in Rochester, New York, Kingston, Ontario, and Phoenix, Arizona, and is building plants in Alabama and Ohio as well as Norway and Germany.

The firm inked a battery metals deal with Glencore Plc last month and struck a deal with one of the world’s largest EV battery makers in December. It also got a US$100 million investment from an arm of Koch Investments Group in September.

Such endorsements weren’t enough to stop one short-seller from voicing its skepticism. In March, Blue Orca Capital said it was shorting Li-Cycle, saying its promise of a low cost, low capital expenditure recycling model was "a fiction.’’

"It’s part of the entrepreneurship path - a lot of naysayers. Haters are going to hate,” Ajay Kochhar, co-founder and chief executive officer of Li-Cycle, said in the same interview, the first public comment from the company after the Blue Orca report.

"We stand behind what we do. Our job is to focus on execution. We have many plants to build.”


Introducing Lotus Exige Sport 380 the supercar killer

                LONDON: High powered, highly evolved, and ferociously fast, the Lotus Exige Sport 380 is the most aggressive iteration yet for the Exige model line up.

Taking the fight straight to six-figure supercars, this new, top-of-the-range model carries over the lessons learnt in the development of the acclaimed Exige Sport 350, launched last year, but with significant revisions lowering weight, boosting power and enhancing aerodynamics.

Rather than relying excessively on electronics, or allow sterile interfaces to dull the experience, the extreme Exige Sport 380 offers a pure, undiluted drive that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.

Unrivalled in its class: faster, sharper, and more direct than adversaries, the Exige Sport 380 is definitely not for the timid. With a dry weight of just 1,066 kg with lightweight options, and boasting a potent power-to-weight ratio of 352 hp per tonne, the new, pure-bred Lotus has been conceived to out perform and out manoeuvre so called supercars. The new Exige is blisteringly fast off the line, dispatching 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 178 mph.

From the intricately engineered exposed-gear-change linkage, to the swathes of carbon-fibre components and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as standard, every inch of the Exige has been carefully cultivated. Firmly defined as a Lotus for the enthusiast, the car can be seen as an expression of intense engineering - challenging accomplished drivers to extract the car’s true potential.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Group Lotus plc, commented: “We’ve saved something special for our last new car of 2016. We have built upon the foundations of the excellent Exige Sport 350 and developed a perfectly proportioned, intuitive and attainable supercar for real roads. The cut in weight is nothing short of drastic and, combined with the hike in power and its enhanced agility, we’ve created something exceptional - far greater than the sum of its parts. The Exige Sport 380 is so good, that it is no longer the best in class, it’s now in a class of its own.”

Unashamedly analogue and unfiltered

A true supercar car for the road, the Exige focuses on the three key attributes that have made the company a firm favourite with driving enthusiasts: reduced weight, higher performance and honed aerodynamics.

Raised on the roads around Hethel, and exercised on the company’s famous test track, the new car can trace its lineage back to the very first Exige, launched in 2000. Now the headline car of the range, sitting above the Sport 350 model, it is instilled with Lotus’ DNA and packed with a potent 375 hp engine into Lotus’ acclaimed two-seater.

Weight less

While employing some of the high-performance components premiered on the Exige Sport 350, Lotus returned to the Lightweight Laboratory in order to cut kilos from the kerb weight. Infused with carbon fibre from front to back, the Exige Sport 380 features hand-made, high-gloss visible weave components as standard to deliver a weight saving when compared to the Exige Sport 350.

This includes the front splitter, revised front access panel, new rear wing and rear diffuser surround, which together save 2.7 kg. A lightweight, transparent polycarbonate rear window saves 0.9 kg over the glass equivalent in the Exige Sport 350.

In addition, the carbon race seats (-6 kg), lithium- ion battery (-10.3 kg), ultra-lightweight forged wheels and grooved two-piece brake discs (-10 kg) combine to cut a massive 26.3 kg. A new design of rear transom panel now has two rear light clusters, rather than the four on the Exige Sport 350, with reversing and fog lights now mounted inboard, cutting weight by a further 0.3 kg.

In line with its illustrious lineage, the Exige Sport 380 employs Lotus’ lightweight extruded and bonded aluminium structure, as the company continues to lead in the field of advanced automotive construction techniques. Lotus is working continuously to engineer out the excess mass from its cars, and the company’s chassis technology remains the benchmark.

Power play

The company’s powertrain division has left its mark on the car, with the uprated 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine generating 375hp at 6,700 rpm and 410Nm  of torque at 5,000 rpm. Refined from extensive testing and development, it’s a design that’s proved its mettle by powering some of Lotus’ latest supercars, including the track-focused 3-Eleven and the recently revealed Evora Sport 410.

The power boost comes from a revised supercharger pulley, which increases charge pressure, an uprated fuel pump, a recalibrated ECU and the introduction of a revised exhaust system – as used in the Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410. Allowing owners to enjoy the new Exige for longer between fuel stops, it also comes with an enlarged, 48-litre petrol tank.

Providing faster, cleaner changes, the Exige Sport 380’s six-speed manual gearbox uses Lotus’ acclaimed open-gate design. Eliminating lateral movement, by precisely aligning components, it features light-weight machined and cast aluminium parts. Aesthetically appealing, the open transmission mechanism also helps contribute to the car’s reduced weight. The manual gearbox has been further enhanced through the introduction of a new oil cooler, ensuring the gears operate at the optimal temperature no matter how hard they are performing.

The Lotus Exige Sport 380 is also available with an optional six-speed automatic gearbox, where drivers can select gears sequentially via the forged aluminium paddles located behind the steering wheel, or rely on the gearbox’s fully automatic mode. The automatic gearbox option will be available from Spring 2017.

The Lotus Exige Sport 380 features Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) which provides enhanced ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings. Proportionally increasing throttle response, lowering traction slip thresholds and removing understeer recognition, it provides the driver with a finer level of control before the system intervenes. DPM also utilises an engine exhaust bypass valve at mid-to-high engine speeds, further reducing back pressure to boost throttle response and engine performance in both ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ settings.

Aero advantage

As with all Lotus cars, aerodynamic efficiency plays a key role in the Exige, helping it to drastically expand its performance envelope. Extensive CFD modelling work has allowed Lotus’ design team to fine tune specific areas, in order to deliver a substantial overall improvement. The revised front access panel modifies the air flow exiting the car’s horizontally mounted radiators, before it travels over the car, while the carbon front spoiler and rubber lip spoiler combined with the carbon barge boards reduce pressure under the vehicle.

In addition, twin pairs of front canard wings, mounted forward of the front wheels, a carbon rear wing and air blades behind the rear wheels, all work to help raise downforce to a massive 140 kg at maximum speed - a 60% gain over the Exige Sport 350, which generates 88 kg at its maximum speed. This increase in downforce does not come at the penalty of drag which remains the same as the Exige Sport 350.

Favouring mechanical solutions over electronic systems, including key parts such as unassisted steering, means that the Exige Sport 380 delivers the driver an intuitive experience. The extensive use of carbon fibre on the bodywork has lowered the centre of gravity, helping contribute to the Exige’s exemplary steering feel and precision handling characteristics.

Making the most of its performance potential, the Exige Sport 380 is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as standard (265/35 ZR18 rear and 215/45 ZR17 front). Selected for their tenacity, and 10mm wider at the front that on the Exige Sport 350, the increased mechanical grip is complemented by the car’s ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, which are available in either black or silver. Either option is complemented by AP Racing forged, four-piston brake callipers and grooved performance two-piece brake discs.

In addition to its already impressive credentials, it’s possible to sharpen the Exige further still. Opting for the full exhaust system in titanium improves the car’s overall balance, by removing 10 kg from beyond the rear axle. For customers who frequently go to the track, the optional Track Pack provides Nitron two-way adjustable dampers and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars.

The optional Carbon Exterior Pack contains a one-piece carbon roof panel and a distinctive carbon louvered tailgate. The carbon roof panel is 2 kg heavier than the standard soft-top but this weight increase is offset by the carbon louvered tailgate which saves 2 kg.

As befitting such a stand-out car, the Exige Sport 380 is sprayed and hand finished in one of ten individual colours. Providing some drama and drawing the eye to the beautiful composite carbon components, an optional exterior accent pack is also available in one of five key colours to deliver some finer detailing to the car’s undeniable presence.

The car’s kerb appeal is enhanced by revisions to the Exige’s design front and back. Distinctive blackened headlamp surrounds provide a more aggressive demeanour, whilst to visually accentuate the width of rear of the car, a new rear transom features two lamp clusters rather than four.

The hand finished detailing continues inside, with the carbon fibre sports seats trimmed with either Alcantara®, leather or tartan, with all featuring contrast stitching.

The optional lightweight carbon fibre sill covers provide a motorsport theme when entering or exiting the Exige Sport 380 and, thanks to their lower profile and contoured finish, aid ingress and egress. The Interior Colour Pack provides contrasting surrounds to the transmission console, HVAC surround, carbon seat eyelets and electric window bezels in one of four colours. A new integrated entertainment system can also be specified, including iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth® functionality, along with air conditioning.

For owners wanting more, the new Exige Sport 380 can be personalised through the increasingly popular Lotus Exclusive programme. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, the service inspires customers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options.

The Lotus Exige Sport 380 is available as a roadster as standard and as a coupe as an option.


Want to buy an Audi? Head to Audi Drive Weekend

                KUALA LUMPUR: Audi Malaysia is holding the Audi Drive Weekend on Nov 4-5 at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan.

The event would offer promotional deals on selected Audi models and merchandise.

The promotions apply for models such as the A4, Q3 and Q7. Each Audi car comes with a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

On a separate matter, Audi Malaysia is kicking off #derSchnurrbart (German for ‘The Moustache’) campaign for November, which aims to raise awareness and funds to address men’s health issues by getting men to grow their beards. Touted as a family event, participants can take part in a number of health-centric activities. Go to Audi Malaysia's Facebook page for the details.

Audi A4
The new A4 made its local debut last year with the 2.0 TFSI and more variants were added early last month. The A4 comes in 1.4-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.0-litre with quattro, and subdivided into various trim lines. Prices start from RM219,000. READ MORE.

Audi Q3
The facelifted Q3 features improved styling, better performance and enhanced features. The front façade of the compact crossover features a redesigned grille and headlights that come standard with xenon plus technology and LED daytime running lights. Two variants are on sale, with the 1.4 TFSI engine priced at RM219,000, while the 2.0 TFSI quattro is around RM255,000. READ MORE:

Audi Q7
Introduced locally late last year, the Q7 2.0 TFSI quattro joined the Q7 3.0 TFSI quattro that came about a year earlier.

Both the fully imported variants look the same on the outside except for the downsized 19-inch five V-spoke design alloy wheels in the 2.0-litre version; the 3.0-litre gets 20-inch cast aluminium wheels. The Q7 front is dominated by a bold Singleframe grille as well as LED headlights and signature LED daytime running lights. The 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre Q7 are priced at RM525,000 and RM590,000. READ MORE.


Uber stops use of 'Greyball' technology to evade authorities

                SAN FRANCISCO: Uber Technologies Inc has prohibited the use of its so-called "Greyball" technology to target regulators, ending a programme that had been critical in helping Uber evade authorities in cities where the service has been banned.

Uber is reviewing the different ways the technology has been used and is "expressly prohibiting its use to target action by local regulators going forward," Uber Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan said in a blog post on Wednesday.

The ride-hailing company last week confirmed the existence of the "Greyball" programme, which uses data from the Uber app and other methods to identify and circumvent officials who aimed to ticket or apprehend drivers in cities that opposed Uber's operations.


Emma Watson and Kristen Stewart to appear in 2020 Pirelli calendar

Emma Watson and Kristen Stewart (below).
PARIS: Italian tyre company Pirelli has released behind-the-scenes images from the next edition of its legendary calendar.

Nine actresses were invited to portray their personal interpretations of William Shakespeare's tragic heroine Juliet. Shot by photographer Paolo Roversi here and in Verona, the calendar will be released at the end of the year.

Selected images from behind the scenes at Italian fashion photographer Paolo Reversi's shoot for the 2020 Pirelli calendar have been released, giving an early peek at "Looking for Juliet." Inspired by Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," nine stars presented their interpretations of the classic heroine.

Actresses Emma Watson, Kristen Stewart, Claire Foy, Mia Goth, Indya Moore, and Yara Shahidi, singers Chris Lee and Rosalia, and artist Stella Roversi presented their visions of Juliet in the series of personal, emotional shots.

"I am still searching for my Juliet and I will be searching all my life. Because Juliet is a dream," said the photographer in a statement.

Published since the 1960s, the Pirelli calendar features the work of the world's top photographers. Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Mario Testino, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Sorrenti, Karl Lagerfeld, and duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, among many others, have contributed their talent over the years.


Empty trains, clogged roads: Americans get behind the wheel to avoid transit

A passenger sleeping inside an MTA subway car, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in New York City earlier this month. — Reuters
NEW YORK: As Americans plan for life after pandemic lockdowns, many want to avoid public transport and use a car instead, straining already underfunded transit systems and risking an increase in road congestion and pollution.

Several opinion polls show Americans plan to avoid trains and buses as stay-at-home orders ease, with some city dwellers buying a car for the first time. A potential boon to coronavirus-battered automakers, the shift poses a challenge to city planners end environmental goals.

Similar dynamics have played out in China, where transit ridership in large cities remains down about 35% two months after lockdown restrictions were lifted while car purchases increase.

Ford Motor Co chief operating officer Jim Farley said the company has seen an uptick in Chinese demand for higher-priced utility vehicles fuelLed by upscale office workers who used to take public transport.

Volkswagen AG has also seen its sales in China rise above prior-year levels in the final week of April, driven by the desire to avoid public transport, according to Juergen Stackmann, in charge of VW’s passenger car sales and marketing.

Sales of passenger cars jumped 12.3% between April 20 and APRIL 25, according to China’s Passenger Car Association

Transit ridership has plummeted by as much as 95% in large US cities during the pandemic and America’s leading transit agencies forecast massive budget drops and revenue deficits well into 2022.

They call for US$33 billion in federal support in addition to the US$25 billion they were granted as part of a March US coronavirus stimulus bill.

Transit agencies argue they are essential to a comprehensive economic recovery that avoids gridlock, but surveys show Americans plan to reduce their use of shared transportation.

In an April Ipsos poll among US transit riders, 72% said they would either reduce their use of public transportation or wait until it was safe again. That compared with 68% of US consumers who said they will use their car as much or more than before the pandemic.

In New York City, where some 5.5 million people commuted daily on subways and buses before the pandemic, residents are mulling their future transportation needs.

Chana and Mordechai Lightstone, a couple living in Brooklyn with their five children, never owned a car, but in early April finally made a decision to buy a Honda Odyssey MPV.

“We really prided ourselves on being subway people, but a car simply is the safest way to go outside right now,” Chana Lightstone said.

Some businesses, like the New York Stock Exchange, have told employees they are not allowed to take public transit to work.

Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, said his members in recent weeks frequently heard from customers concerned about taking transit to work.

In a survey by online vehicle sales platform TrueCar, 8% of US shoppers said avoiding public transportation was their primary reason for leasing or buying a car.

But as more people switch from transit to cars, the risk of congestion increases, a team of US researchers found.

ModeLling commutes in US metropolitan areas, they found that individual commutes increase by as much as 20 minutes if one in four transit riders switches to a private car.

“If officials fail to convince the public that public transportation is safe, we could see a permanent shift away from transit,” said Dan Work, a professor at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering and one of the study’s co-authors.

Trying to rebuild trust, US transit officials look to Asia and Europe where cities instituted temperature checks, mandatory face coverings and in some instances try to enforce physical distancing by condoning off seats and sections on platforms.

Cleaning and disinfection procedures for everything from ticket machines to elevator buttons and handrails have been implemented by all transit agencies.

In New York City, those additional cleaning measures will cost up to US$500 million per year.


Ford's launches GT-badged Mustang Mach-E with 487hp

                BERLIN: With the new GT version of the Mustang Mach-E, Ford wants to inject some steroids into an electric car scene that is plagued by range anxiety.

The company's best electric sprinter certainly has plenty of muscle to flex, but it also comes at a price.

Costing almost €30,000 (RM145,000) more than the basic version in Europe, the latest Ford Mustang electric is priced at upwards of €72,900 (RM353,000).

For that extra price, however, you get a jacked-up crossover with more power than any of the company's other electric cars, as well as more than most with combustion engines.

According to Ford, the Mach-E GT is limited to 200kph, but it only needs 3.7 seconds to go from 0 to 100kph. This makes it even better than the conventional Mustang sports car.

This is made possible by an upgraded drive system, which uses one motor per axle with a combined 487hp.

The electric motors are powered by a lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 88kWh. This gives the Mustang a range of up to 500km in the WLTP cycle.

After that, it needs a recharge and according to the manufacturer, it can tap enough power for 99km in 10 minutes at 150kW.

In addition to the more powerful drive, there is a tighter-tuned chassis and another driving profile that is primarily intended for race tracks, where it slows down the electronic control systems, according to Ford.


Accessorise your Volkswagen with Sound & Style

                PETALING JAYA: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia announced today its newest and loudest offering – the Volkswagen "Sound & Style" range for audiophiles.

The range is an accessory package available with the Volkswagen Golf R-Line, Passat Comfortline, Passat Highline and Tiguan Highline and is packed with accessories worth up to RM16,000, depending on model.

The range is fitted with a Volkswagen Approved Accessory Helix 300W Soundbar made by German hi-fi audio specialist, Helix.

Installed in the luggage compartment of the cars, the soundbar is a 5-channel amplifier with an integrated sound processor and subwoofer.

 Helix 300W Soundbar by German hi-fi audio specialist installed in the luggage compartment.

This system adds on to the 8-speaker sound system available  in the car and elevates it to a higher level of sound quality and clarity, with precise calibration of sound profiles according to the different models, said Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia.

Other Volkswagen approved accessories fitted on the range include aluminium sports pedals, aluminium side scuff plates and VW tint.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia managing director Erik Winter said the "Sound & Style" range would meet the needs of drivers.

“Malaysians love to drive. They love their radio stations and playlists. The ‘Sound & Style’ range strikes the perfect chord as we are not just offering cars that are pleasurable to drive, but also next-level music quality. Fans of our brand can continue to expect more special edition offerings."

The "Sound & Style" range is available for viewing at the Volkswagen Tour happening at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya from May 14 till the May 20, 10am to 10pm.

Customers who place a booking on any Volkswagen model at the event will receive an additional RM500 rebate on top of the free RM1,000 petrol card and promotional savings on selected models.


Khazanah hands in proposal on toll highways

                PETALING JAYA: Khazanah Nasional Bhd says it has submitted a proposal on toll highways to the government alongside several other proposals from various parties.

“There have been several proposals on toll highways submitted to the government, including from Khazanah.

“It is up to the government to consider and decide on these proposals, ” said the sovereign wealth fund in a statement.

It has been reported by an English daily that the government has received a fresh proposal to take over 15 highways, including PLUS Malaysia Bhd, for a total of RM43bil.

The report said, quoting sources, that under the proposal, Khazanah would set up a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to be named as “highway trust” and act on behalf of the government to buy all the toll highway concessionaires.

The SPV would then raise debt papers to take over the highways.

The proposal would see the government offering to buy highways, including PLUS Malaysia, for RM30.8bil; Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) for RM3.1bil; Gamuda Bhd for RM5.6bil; and IJM Corp Bhd for RM2.7bil.

However, it is still unknown who had come up with the recent proposal.

Analysts pointed out that the likelihood of Gamuda accepting the offer was dim, as the company has given its nod to the offer proposed by the Finance Ministry.

“Furthermore, the Employees Provident Fund is likely to turn down any offer that doesn’t value PLUS adequately, which takes into account the debt and future cash flows of its highways, ” an analyst said.

The government, on June 21, announced a RM6.2bil offer to acquire four toll concessionaires - Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings Bhd (Litrak), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat Holdings Sdn Bhd (Sprint), Kesas Sdn Bhd and Projek SMART Holdings Sdn Bhd. Gamuda owns a 44% stake in Litrak, 52% in Sprint, 70% in Kesas and 50% in SMART.

Based on Gamuda’s effective interest in these toll highways, the proposal values Gamuda’s highway assets at RM2.36bil.

PLUS received a proposal in 2017 from Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed of Maju Holdings Bhd to buy the group for RM37bil, including taking over RM30bil of PLUS’ debts. PLUS is the biggest highway concessionaire in the country, operating eight expressways under five concessions.

Its highways are the 772km North-South Expressway, which runs from Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah near the Malaysia-Thai border to Johor Baru; the New Klang Valley Expressway; Federal Highway Route 2; the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway; the NSE Central Link; the Malaysia Singapore Second Link; Lebuhraya Butterworth-Kulim and the Penang Bridge. Its concession is expiring in December 2038.

It has been reported that Abu Sahid is submitting a fresh proposal that entails buying out PLUS from the government with a promise to reduce toll rates by running the highway more efficiently.


Continental Tyres celebrate returning Malaysians driving to Europe in classic Volkswagens

                PETALING JAYA: A group of Malaysians, known as the #Live2Drive team, made the brave journey on road from Malaysia to Europe, spanning 30 countries, using the Trans-Siberian Highway in their classic Volkswagens (three Microbus and a Beetle) were given a warm reception by Continental Tyres Malaysia (CTM).

CTM supplied the tyres for the #Live2Dream team which used the ComfortContact 6 (CC6) and UltraContact 6 (UC6).
The #Live2Drive team spent eight months during this long and hard journey and spent 607 hours driving with over 52,000km of road travel.

“I am a complete believer of Continental tyres because we used these tyres through all sorts of terrain - desert, icy roads and off-road - during our journey and I only changed one tyre throughout this trip and that was because of a puncture. Our cars kept breaking down but we never had problems with the tyres,” said #Live2Drive member Stephen Pang who drove a Microbus.

 From left, Moses, Pang, Wilson, Nathaniel and Quaranta.

Managing director of CTM, Cameron Wilson said, “We are delighted to welcome the #Live2Drive team back to Malaysia. We are also delighted that the robustness and durability of Continental tyres have successfully taken the #Live2Drive team safely across various terrains and roads which can get rough at places.”

Also present were market manager for CTM, Frederic Quaranta and #Live2Drive members Cliften Nathaniel and Terence Moses.


Perodua dealers and vendors laud SST

                PETALING JAYA: The Perodua Dealers Association (PDA) and Kelab Vendor Perodua (KVP), or the Perodua Vendors’ Club, welcomes the new Sales and Service Tax (SST) structure as it managed to help reduce the prices of Perodua vehicles.

The SST structure, which imposes a tax of 10% for sales and 6% for services, is only applied once at the beginning of the business value chain.

“Thank you very much to the government for engaging and explaining to the industry players how this new tax structure is implemented. Based on this new tax structure, the overall costs of Perodua vehicles was able to be brought down between 1% and 3% (compared with prices under 6% GST),” said KVP President Musa Zahidin Tan Sri Ahmad Zaidee.

Perodua announced that the prices of its vehicles will be reduced by between 1% and 3% for most of its models compared with the price list under the previous 6% Goods and Service Tax (GST) era.

According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Perodua sold 140,900 units between January and July 2018, which is an increase of about 18.8% from 118,600 vehicles in the same period last year.

Musa hoped that the government would continue to engage the Malaysian automotive ecosystem stakeholders, ranging from the auto vendors and original equipment manufacturers to the dealers, on future policies.


Swarm of bees in Wales attack woman's car for two days to 'rescue' their queen

                SINGAPORE: A woman in Wales was harassed by a huge swarm of bees on her car for two days after she apparently snared their queen on her drive home from a nature reserve.

Carol Howarth, 65, was shocked to find a swarm of over 20,000 insects covering the back end of her silver Mitsubishi Outlander.

A team of three beekeepers, a national park ranger and members of the public helped to capture and contain the swarm inside a cardboard box while Mrs Howarth was away shopping.

The incident occurred shortly after she had parked her car in the town centre of Haverfordwest, West Wales, at lunchtime on Sunday (May 22), CNN reported.

Speaking about her "incredible" ordeal on Tuesday, Howarth told The Telegraph newspaper she had "never seen anything like it".

The sight of thousands of bees on the car boot caused many passers-by to stop and take pictures of the spectacle.

In a pun-filled Facebook post, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ranger Tom Moses called it a "Bee-rilliant swarmathon".

He said a "drunk bloke" from a nearby pub got stung after attempting to sweep the bees off the car with his bare hands.

Concerned that the insects might be destroyed with pesticide, Moses contacted the Pembrokeshire Beekeepers Association (PBA) for assistance in tackling the swarm.

"I was a little bit concerned, with it being in the middle of town outside a pub, that someone might do something stupid and get hurt or do something stupid and hurt the bees," he said.

"I had seen swarms before settle on things like this but never one as large as this. It was quite a thing to see - certainly a 'wow' moment."

But the drama did not end there. After returning to her car, Howarth drove home believing the problem had been resolved - only to discover on Monday morning that the swarm had returned.

She was then forced to contact the beekeepers for a second time, who finally managed to remove the bees for good that evening.

PBA official Roger Burns said: "It is possible the queen had been attracted to something in the car - perhaps a sweet or food in the car.

"I brought over a cardboard box and carefully brushed them into there as quickly as possible as I was aware it was a big swarm in the middle of the high street.

"I got about 15 or 20 stings for my trouble. I then left the cardboard box on the roof while we waited for the last few hundred bees to leave the boot."

With the queen still not found, Howarth remains puzzled by the bees' behaviour.

She said: "I still don't really understand why because they couldn't see the queen anywhere. Perhaps they just like the heat of my car."


KLIMS'18: Kawasaki Ninja superbikes launched

                Kawasaki recently launched two new superbikes during the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS'18).

The motorcycles are none other than the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.

The Ninja ZX-10RR is the closest thing to a World Superbike Championship machine.

With production limited to 500 numbered units worldwide, the Ninja ZX-10RR is only for the lucky few.

This 999cc machine is able to churn out the 201hp. Kawasaki has also raised the flat torque curve of the previous model, maintaining the Ninja ZX-10RR’s nimbleness while offering increased power.

 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR (in green) and ZX-6R (in black).

Other notable features include Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF), Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), Kawasaki Launch Control Model (KLCM) and Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS).

The single-seat Kawasaki ZX-10RR comes in Kawasaki green only.

Meanwhile, the Ninja ZX-6R comes with the iconic 636cc Ninja powerhouse.

The ZX-6R offers stronger low and mid-range torque which is practical in everyday street-riding conditions.

Its chassis setting has been tuned to focus on winding roads suitable for the track and the highways.

This machine offers 127hp and comes in black. This model is equipped with Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), Power Mode, Kawasaki  Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS) and Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) (upshift only).

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R will be made available at selected Kawasaki dealers, at the tail-end of first quarter 2019.

 Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd executive chairman Ahmad Faez Tan Sri Yahaya seated on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, and Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) general manager and director Datuk Jeffrey Lim Chee Sing.