VW Arteon named Top Safety Pick in US. Headlights the decider

                WASHINGTON: Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that the 2020 Arteon was named a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with LED headlights and the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) w/ dynamic cornering headlights.

To qualify for a 2020 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award, vehicles must have good ratings in each of the Institute’s six crashworthiness evaluations.

They must also have good or acceptable headlights and available front crash prevention that earns advanced or superior ratings in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.

The 2020 Arteon earns good ratings in the six crashworthiness evaluations as well as a superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention with the standard Front Assist system.

Standard on the 2020 Arteon, Volkswagen’s Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist) is intended to help warn drivers of potential frontal collisions (Forward Collision Warning) with vehicles and pedestrians in front of the vehicle, and in some cases provide automatic braking assistance (Autonomous Emergency Braking).

Other driver assistance features offered on the 2020 Arteon include: standard Blind Spot Monitor (Side Assist) and Rear Traffic Alert, and available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Park Steering Assistant (Park Assist), High Beam Control (Light Assist), and Overhead View Camera (Area View).

The Arteon provides a combination of passive and active safety systems, including eight standard airbags (front, side, and knee airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags for outboard seating positions), and standard electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.

The 2020 Arteon is available in four trims and pricing starts at US$35,995 (RM148,677) for front-wheel-drive models and US$37,895 (RM156,525) for all-wheel-drive models.


Perodua Bezza bookings now at 25,000 units

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua has delivered its 10,000 Bezza to Zetty Aswani Fazwin Mahrol Puthil, 28, from Shah Alam.

The Bezza has collected over 25,000 orders since bookings were opened on 16th July, 2016.

“We are currently working to ensure timely delivery of all our models to our valued customers,” Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd managing director Zahari Husin said at the hand-over ceremony.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh witnessed the hand-over.

Of the 10,000 Perodua Bezza units sold; 44% are from the 1.3L Advanced Version (Automatic Transmission), 43% are from the Premium X 1.3L (Automatic Transmission), 3% from the Premium X 1,3L (Manual Transmission), 9% from the Perodua Bezza 1.0L (Automatic Transmission) and 1% from the Perodua Bezza 1.0L (Manual Transmission).

For the first 7 months of the year, Perodua sold 112,500 units, which accounts for about 35.4% of the total industry volume of 317,900 vehicles.

“In July, we delivered over 2,600 Bezza in the 10-day period it was launched. So far in August, we have delivered 7,400 units,” Zahari said.

The Perodua Bezza price ranges from RM37,300 for its 1.0L standard G (Manual transmission) to RM50,800 for its 1.3L Advanced variant (Automatic Transmission).

The car comes in 6 different colours, which include Sugar Brown and Ocean Blue for 1.3L variants, which are new metallic colours for Perodua, as well as existing colours of Lava Red, Ebony Black, Glittering Silver and Solid Ivory White.

Perodua uses eco-friendly water based paint which also provides a better finish.

Like the Perodua Axia, the Bezza is manufactured from the first Malaysian EEV certified manufacturing plant, Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd located at the organisation’s headquarters in Sungai Choh.

“We would like to take this opportunity to wish all Malaysians ‘Selamat Hari Merdeka’ this 31st August as we move forward in unity and harmony,” Zahari said.


Ben Affleck's 10-year-old son reverses Lamborghini into BMW

Ben let his son take over the wheel of the Urus whose engine was running. — Photo from YouTube screengrab from X17Online
LOS ANGELES: Ben Affleck's son Samuel accidentally backed a Lamborghini Urus into a parked BMW in a luxury car rental dealership here on Sunday.

The 10-year-old, who is the youngest of three children the actor shares with actress Jennifer Garner, was unhurt in the minor incident, which was caught on video by paparazzi.

A representative for the 49-year-old actor-director, told People magazine in a statement: "There was no damage. Everyone is OK."

Affleck's fiancee Jennifer Lopez, 52, was sitting behind the driver's seat of the SUV with its engine running, when he let his son take over the wheel.

That was when the fender bender occurred, according to reports on various entertainment sites.

Samuel was later spotted walking away while holding Lopez's hand, while his father looked noticeably upset.

Lopez, who has two children of her own — twins Maximilian David and Emme Maribel, 14 — with ex-husband Marc Anthony — had paid tribute to the Argo (2012) and Gone Girl (2014) star as a dad on Father's Day earlier this month.

She called him "the most caring, loving, affectionate, consistent and selfless daddy ever".

Affleck has two daughters, Violet Anne, 16, and Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, 12, with Garner, 50.

The five children have reportedly been spending time together after he rekindled his romance with Lopez in April 2021, more than 16 years after their break-up.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Mitsubishi EMIRAI 4 - a concept car that cares

                TOKYO: The Mitsubishi EMIRAI 4 is a concerted conceptual effort to show that the revolution taking place in the automotive industry should be nothing for drivers to be scared of.

If anything, the move to greater autonomy, connectivity and to electrification are all opportunities for drivers to build an even greater bond with their automobiles, and Mitsubishi hopes that its Tokyo concept will demonstrate how this will work in practice.

The EMIRAI 4 is an open-top windshield-free two seater that uses an augmented reality heads-up display to project a 3D map in front of the driver for absolute clarity in terms of route, but also lane discipline and spotting concealed obstacle. It can also make the day seem clear and sunny when weather conditions are in reality impeding visibility, therefore adding to understanding and well-being.

Though a very forward-looking concept in terms of exterior design, Mitsubishi sees this vehicular study as a car that will boast autonomous driving capabilities, but will also need the driver to take over in certain situations. Therefore, a cockpit camera system monitors the driver and passenger to ensure they're alert and comfortable, automatically adjusting systems such as climate control to improve well-being and to be sure they're ready to step in if needed.

The system also works the other way. When the driver wants, and has full control, it monitors potentially dangerous or irresponsible driving behaviour and can give pointers to better road discipline or in serious cases, take over altogether.

The array of connected and other infotainment systems are presented in an intuitive way. A simple sliding knob on which the infotainment screen is mounted turns on or off settings based on preferences and means that the driver need never take his or her eyes off the road.

The final touch is the lighting system inside and outside the car. In the event that a door is about to open, for example, the car will automatically illuminate the space into which the driver or passenger will step so that other road users, such as cyclists are forewarned and can take evasive action.

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


Geely premium automaker Lynk looks to further European growth

                PARIS: Lynk & Co, a carmaker jointly owned by China's Geely and Volvo Car, plans to open its first showroom in France by early 2024 and to expand in Europe, including Britain, says its CEO and founder.

The automaker, which both sells and rents cars on monthly subscriptions, already has what it calls clubs, which look like bars or lifestyle shops, in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy.

Lynk, which only offers a Chinese-made hybrid SUV called 01 in black and blue, will launch a fully-electric model, the 02, by the end of 2024, Alain Visser said in an interview.

"We have plans to enter other European markets in the short term: Norway, Austria, Switzerland and the UK," said Visser, who worked for General Motors, Ford, and Volvo before Lynk.

Visser said Lynk had the "ambition" to also branch out into the US market at some stage.

Though small, Lynk's expansion plans are the latest example of Geely seeking to grow its foothold in Europe as the appeal of Chinese cars, particularly electric vehicles, increases.

The Chinese giant, which controls Volvo and last week increased its stake in Britain's Aston Martin to 17%, in January detailed plans to grow its Zeekr and London Electric Vehicle marques in Europe.

It is also a partner in a new powertrain firm being set up with French carmaker Renault.

In 2022, Chinese-made electric vehicles already had a 9% market share in Europe, nearly double the previous year, according to consultancy Inovev, and the pace is picking up.

Lynk says it had 200,000 monthly memberships in Europe as of April, of which around 25,000 are in France, up from 180,000 and 21,000 respectively a month earlier.

In France, where Lynk plans to open its first selling space in Paris in late 2023 or early 2024, it offers a monthly subscription rate of 550 euros (RM2,696), with a full purchase price of 44,500 euros (RM218,105) in the premium segment, higher than Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation-owned MG Motor.

The French government, lobbying to attract foreign gigafactories and carmaking plants, is planning to make a 5,000 euro (RM24,506) subsidy available to electric car buyers conditional on meeting low-carbon standards when manufactured - which it says would in effect exclude cars not made in Europe.

Visser said Lynk would have to consider manufacturing cars in Europe, also given rising tensions between China and the United States.

"It's becoming more and more necessary to have local manufacturing sites ... rather than import cars from China."


BMW brings satnav to more bikes

                MUNICH: The Navigator Street is a new affordable touchscreen GPS system that works with BMW-built bikes that weren't specified with navigation support.

The device responds to touches from gloved hands and its 4.3-inch display is legible in direct sunlight. Thanks to Bluetooth support it can relay directions as well as incoming calls, directly to a rider's helmet.

It comes with either free European or North American maps for life (depending on where the rider lives) and can be used in conjunction with a PC for detailed route and bike tour planning. There's also a social aspect in that photos, videos and travel information captured during a tour can be easily combined and shared through the device via Garmin's "Garmin Adventures" platform.

Other features of note include an automatic speed limit warning for when the route is unfamiliar and a sub-menu that can indicate restaurants, fuel stations and other conveniences within the local vicinity.


Tesla phases out radar sensors, shifts to camera-based Autopilot

A Tesla Model S is shown in Autopilot mode in San Francisco. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc. updated its website Tuesday to announce that Model 3 and Model Y cars built for North America and shipping this month will no longer be equipped with radar.

On Tesla’s earnings call last month, chief executive officer Elon Musk called radar one of the last “crutches” the electric vehicle maker wants to do away with in its pursuit of full autonomy, which has proven elusive so far. Musk has been famously opposed to lidar technology, which uses pulses of laser light to detect objects. He’s since soured on radar, which uses radio waves to do the same thing. Tesla’s sensor suite previously relied on radar as well as eight cameras.

“We are continuing the transition to Tesla Vision, our camera-based Autopilot system,” says the company’s website. “Beginning with deliveries in May 2021, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built for the North American market will no longer be equipped with radar. Instead, these will be the first Tesla vehicles to rely on camera vision and neural net processing to deliver Autopilot, Full-Self Driving and certain active safety features.”

The move comes as Tesla’s driver-assistance feature known as Autopilot appears to be under growing regulatory scrutiny in the US. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, as well as the National Transportation Safety Board, launched investigations into a fatal and fiery Texas crash that killed two men in April. A preliminary report by the NTSB said the Tesla owner was initially driving the car.

On May 5, a Model 3 crashed into an overturned tractor trailer at 2:35 a.m. in Fontana, in southern California, and the driver was killed. NHTSA as well as the California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team are still investigating that crash.

“To clarify, there has not been a final determination made as to what driving mode the Tesla was in or if it was a contributing factor to the crash,” the CHP said in a statement May 14.

While Musk has said for several years he believes Tesla is on the verge of delivering Level 5 autonomy —meaning its cars won’t require human intervention — drivers have needed to keep their hands on the wheel when using Autopilot. Tesla raised more than US$2 billion two years ago after Musk made several predictions about robotaxis that didn’t materialise.

Many Tesla customers who have Autopilot say that the features get better over time as the company rolls out new software updates.


Which automakers released the safest cars in 2022?

                BRUSSELS: The Tesla Model S and Model Y both feature among the cars judged to be the safest among all those tested by the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) in 2022.

The Model S has the highest overall scores, ahead of the Model Y and Lexus RX.

Both Tesla models score highest for safety aids (98%) while the Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are the two safest cars for adults traveling in the front (97%).

The Mercedes-Benz T-Class and Citan Tourer score highest for child protection (93%) while the Mazda CX-60 and Lexus RX lead in pedestrian protection (89%).

By category, the Model S leads in the sedan and electric vehicle categories, while the Model Y tops the small SUV category.

The Ioniq 6 is the winner in the large family car category.

Chinese manufacturers new to Europe are also doing well, with the Ora Funky Cat (aka Good Cat) and WEY Coffee 01 gaining the highest scores for large SUVs and small family cars, respectively.

Wey and Ora are two brands from the same group, Great Wall Motor, with Wey offering exclusively plug-in hybrid models and Ora fully electric cars.

Note that none of the cars tested scored lower than four stars, which suggests that the safety level of new models entering the market is particularly high.


Subaru BRZ and WRX on GoCar Malaysia programme now

                PETALING JAYA: On-demand car-sharing platform GoCar Malaysia has introduced a Sports category to its subscription programme.

This new category will enable subscribers to enjoy powerful and sporty models without the hassle of maintenance, depreciation and other related costs.

For a start, the new category offers two models – the 200hp Subaru BRZ with a top speed of 210kph and century sprint of 8.2 seconds and the even more powerful 264hp Subaru WRX which has a top speed of 240kph and 0-100kph dash of 6.3 seconds.

Subscribers have three plans to choose from – a one-year package at RM3,299 per month, a two-year offer at RM2,999 per month or a three-year plan at RM2,699 per month.

All fees are inclusive of road tax, insurance, servicing and wear and tear.

With the addition of the new Sports offering, GoCar Subs’ garage is now expanded to six categories to fulfil more diverse customer needs and lifestyles.

Each category offers a streamlined ‘One Price’ structure ranging from RM799/month for the Econ category to RM2,299/month for the Luxe category and RM2,699/month for the Sports category.

Rates listed are for 12-month to 36-month plans.

GoCar subscribers benefit not only from the most affordable multi-brand car subscription programme in the market, they also need not worry about additional out-of-pocket expenses, vehicle depreciation costs or being locked-in to long-term loan tenures.

For details, visit www.gocarsubs.com.


Volvo Cars now want you to think M mobility service

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars launched M, a new brand that will expand the company’s global mobility operations by providing dependable, on-demand access to cars and services through an intuitive app.

According to Volvo, M will learn about its users' needs, preferences and habits, personalising the customer relationship. It will debut in Sweden and the US in the spring of 2019.

“Volvo Cars is becoming more than just a car company. We recognise that urban consumers are rethinking traditional car ownership. M is part of our answer. We are evolving to become a direct-to-consumer services provider under our new mission ‘Freedom to Move’,” said Volvo Cars president and chief executive.Håkan Samuelsson.

M is developing proprietary learning technology that asks users about their specific needs instead of merely informing them where they can pick up a car.

 Eriksson.

“The services currently available mainly offer alternatives to a taxi or public transit,” said Bodil Eriksson, CEO of Volvo Car Mobility. “We’re focused on the way people use the cars they own, which sets us apart. We aim to provide a real alternative to that experience. It should enable us to live life on our terms, getting things done and maximising precious time. We see the opportunity to offer a premium experience.”

In addition to a team of software engineers, M draws on 20 years of learnings and data from Sunfleet, Volvo Car Group’s car-sharing pioneer. Sunfleet is the leading car-sharing company in Sweden, with 500,000 annual transactions and a fleet of 1,700 cars. It will be fully integrated into M in 2019, making the service available to all existing Sunfleet members.

“Mobility is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and Volvo Cars is leading that change. The launch of M creates new sources of revenue for Volvo Cars and will be integral to the company’s ambition to build more than five million direct consumer relationships by the middle of the next decade,” said Samuelsson.

“Stockholm, Sweden, will serve as M’s base of development and where we already conduct extensive testing. A broader beta test will take place this autumn,” said Eriksson.

Further information about the M service will be released later this year.

 The XC60.


MCVE 2022: All-new MAN TGX flagship model makes Malaysian debut

                KUALA LUMPUR: MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) is confident of a significant market demand for the flagship model of its recently launched Euro V emission-compliant New MAN Truck Generation line-up.

The all-new MAN TGX was officially unveiled by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong at the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo (MCVE) 2022 that is ongoing till March 12.

Following its Malaysian debut, the all-new MAN TGX with a high roof and the largest cab among all the New MAN Truck Generation models, will be offered alongside its more familiar stablemate, the flexible and versatile MAN TGS that is typically the model of choice in this market.

With an exterior width of 2,440mm, length of 2,280mm and height of 2,150mm, the MAN TGX is designed for long-haul and cross-border trips that typically last a few days.

The spacious cabin offers more than 520 litres of combined storage space while the standing height of 2,100mm allows easy movement for the driver and co-driver.

The MAN TGX is powered by the proven MAN D2676 LF08 Euro V diesel engine with a maximum power output of 540hp, maximum torque of 2,500Nm and much lower carbon emissions to comply with stricter Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards that are the norm in today’s business environment.

 O'Brooks (right) presenting a momento to Henry.

The 12-speed MAN TipMatic gearbox promises excellent moving-off and gearshift strategy to reduce fuel consumption and high levels of driving and operating comfort.

In November 2021, MAN became the first truck manufacturer in Malaysia to offer Euro V engines as standard across its entire product portfolio.

MAN Malaysia managing director Andrew O’Brooks said that the move demonstrated the company’s desire to stand-up and be counted in Malaysia’s journey towards carbon neutral status by 2050.

“We are effectively challenging the Malaysian transporters to join the journey and take the lead in reducing carbon emissions.

“In Europe, long distance transport vehicles produce as much as 27% of CO2 gases. Malaysia must look and act now to reduce its carbon footprint, the commercial vehicle industry as well as public service vehicles can do their part in this environmental challenge.

O'Brooks said the new MAN Truck Generation featuring Euro V engines as standard is an all-new product range that leads the way in driver orientation, fuel efficiency, assistance systems, digital networking and above all, sustainability.

“The industry certainly needs to reinvest in new, future-proof trucks that meet these criteria especially in the current business environment that demands strict environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance,” he said.

At MCVE 2022, MAN Malaysia officially signed sale and purchase agreements with Sea Hawk Global Lines Sdn Bhd, Biforst Logistics Sdn Bhd and Azmi Gas Sdn Bhd.

The MAN TGX is available at the MAN Malaysia Pavilion @ Booth No M16.

For details, visit www.man.com.my.


EV startups hunt for low-cost roads to mass production

                BICESTER (UK): Electric car and van startups racing to become the next Tesla Inc all want to avoid Elon Musk's journey through "manufacturing hell."

But electric vehicle firms such as UK van company Arrival SA and Fisker Inc are taking very different roads to overcome the challenges of profitable mass production that almost broke Tesla.

A few have found investors willing to hand over billions to fund their journey. Rivian has raised around US$10.5 billion from Amazon.com Inc, Ford Motor Co and others as it ramps up production to build electric vans, pickups and SUVs.

Startups lacking Rivian's wads of cash need cheaper paths to mass production or risk failing in the EV arms race - a danger Musk highlighted repeatedly on Tesla's July 26 earnings call.

"The thing that's remarkable is that Tesla didn't go bankrupt in reaching volume production," Musk said.

During 2017 and 2018, Tesla struggled to ramp up volume production of the Model 3 sedan, with the then loss-making automaker burning through cash as it contended with an over-reliance on automation, battery issues and other bottlenecks.

It even built a new line in just two weeks in a huge tent outside its Fremont, California, factory to meet its production targets.

The traditional approach taken by many automakers over the years has been to spend above US$2 billion on a factory big enough to build 240,000 vehicles or more annually.

Arrival has opted instead to build electric van and bus "microfactories" - small plants costing US$50 million that are light on expensive equipment. Arrival does not need paint shops - which can cost hundreds of millions of dollars - because its vans are made of lightweight coloured plastic composite.

Arrival plans microfactories close to major customers around the world, cutting shipping costs and hiring local workers.

"You have to raise so much money to do this the traditional way that it keeps startups from coming forward with new ideas," said North American head Mike Abelson - a former General Motors Co executive.

Arrival raised about US$660 million from its March public offering and is building two US plants: one in North Carolina making vans for United Parcel Service Inc, its largest customer to date, plus another in South Carolina that will make buses.

In addition, it is building a factory in Spain. Abelson said Arrival will announce more plants later this year.

'Microfactory 1.0'

Arrival's first microfactory in Bicester, England, will serve as the blueprint for other plants. The lack of a paint shop is just one of the ways in which the company will steer clear of big-ticket items that traditionally have defined automotive production.

The startup's engineers have built moulds for plastic body panels costing thousands of dollars versus the millions of dollars needed for a traditional metal die. Arrival's engineers have also designed their own moulding machines.

Abelson said Arrival needs around 70 robots per microfactory and the startup is buying only commonly used, generic robots from long-time auto industry suppliers Kuka AG and Italy's Comau - eschewing expensive made-to-order robots. Comau is owned by automaker Stellantis NV.

Robots are programmed to do double or triple duty. In a large traditional car plant, if you need to apply adhesive at different points during assembly you add more adhesive stations along the line to churn out a vehicle per minute.

But in Arrival's microfactory there will be one adhesive station and autonomous wheeled robots, designed in-house, will carry a chassis back and forth throughout the assembly process.

Going small means that Arrival can commit to 10,000 vans annually per plant rather than 100,000, Abelson says. Each microfactory will create around 250 jobs, nowhere near the many thousands created by a large auto plant in the past.

"That means if a plant doesn't work out, it's not a disaster for a local economy," Abelson said. "A major car plant closing is a big hole to fill."

'Work our way backwards'

Electric vehicle maker Canoo Inc has adopted a similar strategy to Arrival's. But CEO Tony Aquila said Canoo will build a "mega-microfactory" to serve as a hub for smaller future factories.

Electric Last Mile Solutions plans to launch a small electric van in the United States later this year and at first will reassemble prefinished vehicles made in China at a former GM plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, adding new seatbelts and other safety features to meet US regulations.

CEO James Taylor said this will initially save hundreds of millions of dollars on stamping dies and body shop welding equipment. As revenue grows it will incorporate more American parts over time.

"We'll work our way backwards, adding more and more local content as we go," Taylor said.

Other startups are outsourcing manufacturing to cut costs.

Tel Aviv-based REE Automotive Holding Inc is leaning in to agreements with American Axle and Mitsubishi Motors Corp to help build its electric platforms for delivery vehicles and people movers at scale.

"The biggest challenge for new players like us is at the end of the day you need to manufacture at automotive grade and automotive scale," said REE Automotive CEO Daniel Barel. "With us, everything already comes at automotive scale because it's American Axle or Mitsubishi."

REE and Fisker also have both teamed up with Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc to build their EVs, while Fisker has a similar agreement with Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Co Ltd.

Contract manufacturing deals reduce upfront costs, in return for Magna or Foxconn taking a cut of revenue and potential profits.

Henrik Fisker, chief executive of the EV startup that bears his name, said the alliances should also help secure equipment and parts at a time when supply chains are snarled.

"Foxconn and Magna, they will get all the equipment they need," said Fisker. "They have the capital. They have the reputation. We are not here to set up our own factory in the desert."


GM develops eBoost trailer brake concept for high stopping power

                DETROIT: The new General Motors (GM) eBoost trailer brake concept has the potential to dramatically reduce stopping distances – in fact, it allows a truck and trailer to stop in the same distance as a truck by itself at its gross vehicle weight rating.

This is done using existing components, including GM’s segment-exclusive eBoost braking system.

Utilizing the truck’s eBoost braking system, GM engineers integrated a trailer with a similar eBoost system and upgraded hardware components such as brake rotors, calipers and tires.

With eBoost systems on both the truck and trailer and proper software to enable communication, the stopping distance of a truck and trailer improved by up to 20 percent from 60 mph to zero when compared to an identical truck and trailer using traditional electric trailer brakes – that’s about a 40-foot difference.

This pioneering technology allowed the truck to command trailer braking like never before, using the existing seven-pin trailer wire connector and without the need for any extra connections.

The advanced trailer braking also helps mitigate trailer sway by using stability control.

"This advanced trailer braking technology is a hint at what’s possible in the future,” said Tim Herrick, vice president of Global Product Programs at GM.


BMW's home plant ready for the electric i4

                MUNICH: BMW says its Munich plant is ready to produce fully electric BMW i4.

After six weeks of intensive conversion work, series production of vehicles has resumed, with around 5,000 workers returning to the line.

“Our plant can now manufacture the fully electric i4 on the same line as diesel-, petrol- and hybrid-powered vehicles,” said plant director Robert Engelhorn.

The entire development and conversion of the plant came at an investment of around €200 million (RM982mil). Some €700 million (RM3.4bil) had already been invested between 2015 and 2018 to install a new, resource-efficient paintshop and extend the bodyshop for production of the 3 Series.

During the conversion of plant over recent weeks, the focus was on integrating the i4 into existing production systems. But systems and processes were also prepared for series production of the M3, which will be manufactured on the same line as well.

The bodyshop is a shining example of smart, efficient integration, as the majority of production processes for the i4 can be carried out on existing bodyshop systems.

Additional systems were required merely for the floor assembly and rear section of the i4, as the electric drive and high-voltage battery mean these are quite different from conventional architectures.

The 550-kg battery pack will be fitted to the body by a new, fully automated battery assembly system, which uses camera systems to check automatically if the battery pack is positioned correctly on the line. The battery pack is also transported to the line and bolted to the body fully automatically.

A new electric overhead conveyor has also been installed for i4 production, along with stronger conveyors in the vehicle finish area. “This has been the most comprehensive overhaul of assembly in the history of Plant Munich,” said Engelhorn.

As the number of driver assistance systems, safety equipment and connectivity features steadily increases, function-testing of the various in-car innovations and technologies during production has become more complex.

To meet the ever tougher quality requirements, the plant is making greater use of digitally connected production and testing systems. Complex logistics and production processes are also supported by myriad digitalisation solutions and interconnected smart systems.

Established back in 1922, the BMW Group’s home plant is now set to deliver a wide-ranging product portfolio that includes not only the i4 but also the combustion- and hybrid-powered 3 Series Sedan and 3 Series Touring, and the new M3.


Toyota suspended Thailand vehicle production amid parts shortage

                BANGKOK: Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp has since earlier this week suspended vehicle production at three of its plants in Thailand due to a parts shortage, the company said.

Toyota Motors Thailand temporarily suspended vehicle production at its Ban Pho Plant on Tuesday, and at its Samrong and Gateway Plants on Wednesday, the company said in a statement.

Toyota has a production capacity in Thailand of 550,000 vehicles per year, according to its website.

"The production operation for the next week will be determined at a later stage," said the statement, which added that the current suspension lasted until yesterday.

The factory closures in Thailand were due to a shortage of parts caused by the pandemic, it said in a separate statement.

A Toyota factory in Japan's Aichi Prefecture will also suspend production on July 29-30 and Aug 2-4 because of the part shortages, the automaker said.

The suspensions in Thailand were first reported by Nikkei Asia earlier on Thursday.

A series of coronavirus clusters among Thai factories in June have raised concerns for the country's export sector.

Thailand is Asia's fourth-largest autos assembly and export hub for some of the world's largest carmakers such as Honda  and China's Great Wall Motor . The industry accounts for about 10% of Thailand's GDP and manufacturing jobs.

Auto exports have also been a bright spot for Thailand as it tries to restart the pandemic-hit tourism sector.

Domestic car sales are also rebounding, up 15% in June from the same period a year earlier.

Thailand on Thursday reported a record 13,655 coronavirus infections and 87 deaths as the Southeast Asian country tightened travel restrictions to curb the latest outbreak.

Over 93% of total 453,132 confirmed infections and 3,697 fatalities occurred after April this year.


Jaguar Land Rover reveals intelligent projection system

                COVENTRY: Jaguar Land Rover has developed a system that projects the direction of travel onto the road ahead of self-driving vehicles, to tell other road users what it is going to do next.

The intelligent technology beams a series of projections onto the road to show the future intentions of the vehicle - for example stopping and turning left or right - as part of research into how people can develop their trust in autonomous technology. In the future the projections could even be used to share obstacle detection and journey updates with pedestrians.

These projections, tested on autonomous pods developed by Aurrigo, feature a series of lines or bars with adjustable spacing.

The gaps shorten as the pod is preparing to brake before fully compressing at a stop. As the pod moves off and accelerates, the spacing between the lines extends. Upon approaching a turn, the bars fan out left or right to indicate the direction of travel.

The innovative system was tested on a fabricated street scene at a Coventry facility with engineers recording trust levels reported by pedestrians both with and without projections.

Pete Bennett, Future Mobility Research Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The trials are about understanding how much information a self-driving vehicle should share with a pedestrian to gain their trust. Just like any new technology, humans have to learn to trust it, and when it comes to autonomous vehicles, pedestrians must have confidence they can cross the road safely. This pioneering research is forming the basis of ongoing development into how self-driving cars will interact with people in the future.”


Heavy traffic on major highways leading to Klang Valley

                KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic was heavy at several locations in major highways, especially those leading to the Klang Valley, as of 10pm today.

A Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) spokesman said that the affected areas include a 21-kilometre stretch from Pendang heading to the Gurun rest stop and 18.3km from Sungai Petani to Bertam, Penang.

"For the northbound direction, there is heavy traffic for 22km from the Gurun rest stop to Pendang, the Sungai Dua toll plaza, Penang to Sungai Petani, Kedah (12.4km) and from Kuala Kangsar, Perak ke Bukit Berapit, Penang (four km),” he told Bernama on Sunday (May 8) night.

On the East Coast, heavy traffic was detected for two km at the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway from Bentong Timur to Bentong toll plaza, Pahang, Bentong toll plaza to Bukit Tinggi (14.7km), Genting Sempah to the tunnel (2.6km) and before the Gombak toll plaza (2.7km).

For routes from the south, there was slow traffic caused by an accident at KM 253 northbound from Pedas Linggi to Senawang.

There was also heavy traffic for 8.9km southbound from Kulai heading to the Kulai turn off.

The free toll for the North-South Expressway and the East Coast Expressway that began at midnight yesterday will end at 11.59pm tonight.


Three more JPJ services reopen to public

Three more services related to driving licences are now made available. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will reopen three more services related to driving licences, and its counters will be operating seven days a week until further notice.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the three services that can be conducted at JPJ counters starting Wednesday (May 13) are:

> The issuance of Vehicle Ownership Certificates (VOC) and motor vehicle road tax for the first-time transfer of ownership and new registrations;

> The biometric verification of new owners, or buyers, for the voluntary transfer of ownership for private vehicles; and

> International driving licence applications.

He said the move is in line with the government’s implementation of the conditional movement control order (MCO).

Dr Wee added that JPJ counters will be operating for seven days a week starting May 15 in Kedah, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu.

For the rest of the country, such operating times will start on May 16.

“The seven-day-a-week operating times will continue until further notice is issued.

“However, such operating times will not apply for public holidays,” he said in a statement Tuesday (May 12).

For states that observe Saturday and Sunday as weekends (Friday for Kedah, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu), transaction hours will be from 8am until 1pm, with only e-payment options accepted for payment.

“The objective of the new operating times is to enable deferred transactions to be resolved as soon as possible, besides preventing overcrowding,” he said.

He added that members of the public will be screened and they are told to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the Health Ministry.


Trevo unveils offers for Year of the Tiger

                KUALA LUMPUR: Trevo is rolling out promotions to usher in the Year of the Tiger as well as assisting house-to-house visits and family reunion dinners.

From now till Feb 10, Malaysia’s leading people-to-people (P2P) car rental marketplace is offering attractive discounts for vehicle bookings.

> Use the promo code REUNION38 to get 38% OFF your booking (capped at RM188), with a minimum booking value of RM388.

> Use the promo code 88REUNION to get RM88 OFF your booking (capped at RM88), with a minimum booking value of RM288.

Meanwhile, those who clocked the highest amount in combined Trevo  bookings from Jan 17 to Feb 10 stand a chance to win a Huawei P50 PRO smart phone.

This giveaway is open to all Trevo  members and participants must make a minimum of one booking.

The winner will be selected based on the cumulative amount spent during the contest period.

Download the Trevo  app on the Huawei AppGallery, Google Play Store or Apple App Store and follow Trevo ’s Facebook page and Trevo ’s Instagram page for the latest promotions and deals.


Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE: Speeding with confidence

                In 2016, Kawasaki launched the Ninja ZX-10R. Up until now, there has been little change.

This year, the boys at Kawasaki has launched a special edition of the ZX-10R.

The highlight of the ZX-10R SE (Special Edition) is the Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS).

The SE model is also offered with an interesting colour. It comes in pure-stealth Metallic Flat Spark Black / Metalic Matte Graphite Gray paint job with green accents, which is only natural as it is Kawasaki’s brand colour.

The seating position is comfortable. The bike comes with a well-shaped tank designed for a rider’s knees to hug as he speeds off.

The foot pegs are ideally placed and there's good ground clearance when taking sharp corners.

The ZX-10R SE is equipped with a fully digital instrument console that includes a tachometer shaped like a rainbow.

An LCD panel below the tachometer offers a list of information like readouts for speedometer, odometer, trip meters, engine temperature gauge, gear indicator, clock, selected ride mode and many more.

The console also comes with a scrolling feature where I could choose the type of suspension I want.

The bike comes with three ride modes to choose from namely road, track and user.

The engineers at Kawasaki demonstrated to me that a rider is able to pick his/her riding style which allows the machine to choose the correct suspension, compression, rebound, preload and sag set-up.

Such adaptive behaviour is welcomed to those who do not understand the technicalities.

While riding in Genting Highlands, I experienced pleasant throttle response at low speed and a cushy ride, courtesy of KECS.

In traffic snarls, the slim bike was agile and was able to weave in and out of the horrendous Kuala Lumpur traffic on a Friday afternoon.

At low speed, the bike did not struggle through traffic.

It was calm and collected, providing a great riding experience.

There was little heat felt on the legs as I sat astride the bike.

The fan was able to cool down the bike quickly when I was caught in a jam under the scorching sun.

Corners and twisties on this bike were simple to undertake.

I was able to flip the bike effortlessly into every corner and turn confidently. The KECS impressed me after such exercise.

KECS, jointly developed with Showa, adds electronically controlled damping to the high-spec Balance Free Front Fork and BFRC lite (Balance Free Rear Cushion) rear shock.

A state-of-the-art system, KECS combines ride data with road conditions to adapt to riding conditions within milliseconds.

With the push of a button, I was experiencing comfort on back roads and firmness on a track.

The suspension's superb damping character offered a level of ride comfort that almost made me forget that I was riding a machine with race-ready suspension, while outstanding damping responsiveness delivered a planted feel that further cemented my confidence in this machine.

I am not a huge fan of sportbikes but this one grew on me after a few days' riding it.

While cornering in various Kuala Klawang corners at any speed, I was able to hold my line like a pro.

I was amazed the ZX-10R SE was so easy to handle, making for a memorable ride.

The road and track mode offered softer or stiffer base settings.

But the user mode allowed me to tweak the basic settings of compression damping and extension.

I preferred the user mode because I was able to change the settings according to my riding preference.

The Brembo brakes were potent; it made sense when one is riding a missile on two wheels. Every time I braked, I only had to use two fingers.

I did not try any emergency braking because I could feel the front-bite of the Brembo was much more aggressive compared to the rear.

The thought of being thrown off the bike made me avoid braking at high speed.

Don't forget it has ABS and its effect could be felt every time I braked.

After riding the ZX-10R SE for a few days, I was unable to find a flaw in the engine, ergonomics and performance. I was even delighted with the new colour scheme, which looked edgier and is relevant to the present market.

The Kawasaki engineers admitted that they had spent many man hours and money in designing this machine where the integration of technology and electronics had ensured that its handling is the best in its category at this point in time.

This RM131,506 bike is definitely a must-have for any hardcore sportbike lover.

So don your racing suit and have a go with this baby. You will never regret it.


Tesla escapes tiny niche position as Japan starts to embrace EVs

                TOKYO: Tatsuya Arai, a 36-year-old entrepreneur here, never saw the appeal of owning a car until he watched a YouTube video featuring a Tesla car.

The Model 3, with its sleek exterior and innovative dash, looked like a neat solution considering he was moving from the city’s bustling Shibuya district to a quieter waterfront area and needed a way to get around.

"It was like buying a gadget,” he said.

Arai joined a small but growing number of electric vehicle owners in Japan. While EVs account for only 1% of overall car sales, well behind China and parts of Europe, they’re finally starting to catch on.

In 2021, new registrations of imported EVs nearly tripled to 8,610, a small but remarkable shift in a country where overall automobile sales have stalled.

With its high per-capita income and enthusiasm for high-end European cars such as Mercedes-Benz, Japan initially looked like a natural fit to Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who predicted back in 2010 the Asian nation would be Tesla’s second-biggest market after the US.

Yet the country has remained wary of betting too heavily on full electric cars, even after Nissan Motor Co. blazed the trail for affordable EVs with its LEAF over a decade ago.

Japan’s automakers and government have instead preferred to promote hybrids, a category Toyota Motor Corp. pioneered with the Prius around 25 years ago, as a more economically sound model.

There now seems to be a pivot amid international pressure. Toyota, Nissan and Honda Motor Co. have all rolled out new EV strategies as foreign giants from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG pledge to abandon combustion engine cars altogether in the not too distant future.

The Japanese government, pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050, also appears to have shifted from its earlier focus of defending its home-grown auto industry. It now aims to almost halve emissions by 2030 from 2013 levels, and is looking to ban sales of gas-fuelled cars by the mid-2030s.

At the same time, it’s making EVs more affordable for consumers, doubling the amount of subsidies to a maximum of 800,000 yen (RM29,047.20) in November.

That’s encouraging for foreign EV makers, who’ve long ceded the market to Toyota’s Prius hybrids and Nissan’s Leaf, the world’s first mass-market EV.

 The Model 3 is Tesla's bestseller.

"The shift to zero-emission EV cars hasn’t happened yet, but once it does, we’ll see it proceed rapidly,” said Matthias Shapers, president of Volkswagen Japan, noting that Tesla cars were already selling well in neighbouring Taiwan, where its suppliers are booming.

Tesla cars are particularly popular among Japan’s young and wealthy, who live in urban areas where EV chargers are available and buy into Musk’s maverick message, analysts say.

Globally, Tesla delivered over 936,000 cars last year, an 87% increase from the year before, despite a global chip crunch that’s forced automakers to cut production.

"The fact that Tesla’s share price topped Toyota was huge” in boosting its brand recognition in Japan, said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokyo Tokai Research, adding that Teslas have become a status symbol.

IHS Markit estimates Tesla sold more than 5,200 cars in Japan last year, up from about 1,900 in 2020, although it also forecasts a brief pause this year while potential buyers wait for the new Model Y, expected to become available in Japan around year-end.

Discounts could also put Teslas within the reach of more people. In February last year, Tesla Japan cut the price of the long-range version of its Model 3 by 24% to about 5mil yen (RM181,545), mirroring a discount in China.

Tesla is soon expected to announce the start of production at its Gigafactory in Berlin, its first plant in Europe, and at another in Austin, Texas.

"Now that Giga Berlin is coming online, there’s going to be a lot of Teslas made in China going into Japan in 2022” as well as to South Korea and India, said Tu Le, director at Sino Auto Insights, who also forecasts further price cuts in Japan.

Yet some warn it will be difficult for Tesla to expand in any meaningful way, particularly as domestic automakers put more resources into EVs. Even with a growing fan base of young, tech-savvy drivers, Tesla still struggles with poor brand recognition and its direct-to-consumer business model also confounds most shoppers accustomed to white-glove treatment.

"It’ll be a tight battle,” said Takeshi Miyao, an analyst at Carnorama, an automotive consultancy. "Japanese automakers are strong globally, but they’re even stronger at home. It’s a very difficult market for foreign carmakers.”

Miyao predicts particularly strong competition from Toyota’s bZ series, a line of electric-only sport utility vehicles unveiled last year. Toyota is planning to spend US$35bil (RM146.49bil) to speed up its shift to EVs.

Nissan and alliance partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. are spending a combined €23bil (RM110.13bil) over five years to roll out 35 new battery-powered cars by the end of the decade.

Domestic carmakers will also have the upper hand when it comes to providing charging stations, helped by their existing networks of dealerships throughout the country, including in rural areas.

Nissan already has a network of charging stations and is planning to build more as part of a global, 20bil yen (RM0.73bil) project. Toyota has said it will equip EV chargers at all its dealers throughout the nation by around 2025.

Tesla’s charging stations meanwhile are concentrated in metropolitan areas. It won’t say how many chargers it will build in Japan this year, but is currently looking for a charging stations project deployment manager, according to its website.

Volkswagen Japan has said it will build the country’s largest rapid charging network, equipping 90-150 kilowatt rapid chargers at some 200 points by the end of this year. Installing them can cost as much as 25mil yen (RM0.91mil) each.

Stellantis NV has also started talking to energy providers to expand its charging network. Pontus Haggstrom, chief executive officer of Stellantis Japan, said he wants to see the government take a more active role.

"As far as infrastructure is concerned, it’s not for the manufacturers to work on. It’s what the government needs to work on,” he said.

Tesla fan Arai says he’s satisfied with the Model 3’s driving range of about 540km. While he wishes there were more charging stations along highways, the slight inconvenience is outweighed by the ease of the car’s technology, including over-the-air software updates and features including the ability to lock the door with his smartphone.

"I’m seeing more Tesla owners day by day,” he said.


Euro NCAP reveals Best in Class cars of 2015

                BRUSSELS: Euro NCAP has announced the Best in Class cars of 2015 out of over 40 vehicles released during a very busy year.

In 2015, the new full width frontal test has, as was hoped, had a significant influence on the fitment of rear seatbelt pre-tensioners and load-limiters across all sectors and autonomous braking technology continues to become more widespread. The ratings showed a marked difference between newer cars that have been developed for the latest safety technologies and older vehicles, whose safety has not been updated and which now lag behind the leaders.

The best performing large off-roader, and the car with the best overall performance of 2015, was Volvo’s XC90. The Swedish company’s new flagship achieved an outstanding 97 percent for adult occupant protection and a maximum 100 percent for its safety assist technologies.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is the best small off-roader of 2015. In the large family category, two cars performed equally well: the Jaguar XE and the Toyota Avensis gave identical overall results. The Jaguar takes top honours in this category as all of its safety equipment is standard. The Toyota has some driver assistance technologies as an option, however comes at a generally lower price.

The best performing small family car was the Infiniti Q30, with strong performance in all areas of assessment. The Q30’s active bonnet helped it to gain results for pedestrian protection which were amongst the best of 2015, and it performed well in all other areas too.

In 2015, two superminis gave the same overall safety performance. The Honda Jazz and the Suzuki Vitara were neck and neck overall, one car edging the other in one or other part of the assessment.  However, the Jazz is Euro NCAP’s Best in Class, based on Honda’s fitment strategy for advanced safety systems.

The VW Touran was the best performing small MPV; The Ford Galaxy/S-MAX just beat the Renault Espace for top place in the large MPV category. Finally, last year Euro NCAP has paid special attention to the roadsters, a category of relatively expensive cars but for which the importance of safety is often downplayed by vehicle manufacturers. None of the tested roadsters could achieve 5 stars, lacking new avoidance technology in particular. Nevertheless, with 4 stars, the Mazda MX-5 is the best in its category.

Cars from Germany, Sweden, Japan and Britain are amongst the class leaders of 2015. 2016 brings new challenges as Euro NCAP introduces an assessment of AEB Pedestrian systems. Some cars, mostly in the premium sectors, already have this technology and should be well placed to lead the ever-improving safety of tomorrow’s car fleet.


Michael Bloomberg calls out carmakers on safety

                NEW YORK: Businessman, former mayor, World Health Organisation (WHO) ambassador and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg is using his celebrity and his fortune to encourage US and European automakers to build cars for Asia and Latin America that are safe rather than simply affordable.

According to Global NCAP research, if the United Nations' most basic regulations for new car safety were adopted by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico today, within 15 years 40,000 lives could be saved that would have otherwise been lost to car crashes and a further 400,000 would have avoided a serious injury.

However, across emerging Latin American and Asian markets, the most popular new cars all too often come with little in the way of crash protection — even something as basic as an airbag can be a cost option, if offered at all. What compounds the problem is that most of these best-selling cars are being built by established US and European companies — firms who are scoring five-star safety ratings in their home markets with very similar models.

"This is a major public health crisis that has not gotten anywhere near the attention it deserves, and it demands an urgent response both by governments and automakers," said Bloomberg at this week's Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles in Detroit.

"Automakers have argued that producing cars without airbags and other basic safety features helps keep them affordable in lower-income markets. But the cost of basic safety features is so low that incorporating them into production would have little impact on affordability."

Progress is being made. In India, where over the last year 600,000 new cars were sold that would score a zero-star safety rating under NCAP testing criteria, new regulations are about to come into force. Following years of consultation, the country has finally established its own form of NCAP testing and from October, new cars will have to come with airbags and a system for reminding people to wear their seatbelt, as standard equipment.

In Latin America, an NCAP testing organisation has been operating officially since 2014 (partly funded by Bloomberg's philanthropic fund) and attempting to help consumers make an educated choice when choosing a new car, but, according to Bloomberg, more pressure needs to be applied to governments and auto firms if the safety gap is to be closed.

"Governments should create and enforce better vehicle safety standards," said Bloomberg. "Automakers should make voluntary commitments that all of their cars swiftly reach or exceed the safety standards adopted by the United Nations. Cars sold in the US, most of Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia already meet these or equivalent national standards, but not those sold in most of the rest of the world."


Ferrari Purosangue SUV all set for Sept 13 world premiere

                MARANELLO: Ferrari has released a teaser image of its Purosangue SUV on Twitter that is embedded with a Sept 13 world premiere date.

It has been four years in the making when Ferrari revealed it would be making its first SUV in its 2018-2022 roadmap.

And here we are, a few days away from the big day when plans come to fruition. Deliveries will start in early 2023.

We know for a fact that the Purosangue, said to be the FF/GTC4Lusso's spiritual successor, will feature Ferrari's gas-guzzling 12-cylinder trademark engine.

As Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna said in May: "We've tested several options, it was clear that the V12, for the performance and driving experience it could provide, was the right option for the market."

The Purosangue is expected to be equipped with air suspension and all-wheel drive. It is based on a platform that can also cater to a hybrid powertrain. It gets a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. As a four-seater, it is expected to be roomier than the previous shooting brakes.

Ferrari plans Purosangue production to form only 20 percent of the total number of cars it makes. It's calling the Purosangue an FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle) instead of an SUV, probably to make customers feel they are getting a special car, far removed from the ordinary SUV, which is, oh so, bourgeois.


Taking a motorcycle trip? Here's how to load up baggage properly

                BERLIN: Planning a holiday on your motorcycle? Maybe you even want to bring someone along? Motorcycles are a great way to travel flexibly, but once you start piling on the baggage, things can get tricky - especially when travelling with another person.

For one thing, you have to make sure not to exceed the permissible total weight of the bike.

However, this can be hard to work out, as the unladen weight of the bike indicated in the vehicle papers is often not sufficient for determining the cargo load, since these are often approximate values, according to Europe's biggest car club, Germany's ADAC.

The number you need to work out is not the official unladen mass, but the bike's real weight including a full tank and optional equipment, which you need to measure yourself.

Believe it or not, you can do this with a set of weighing scales, though they will have to be sturdy enough. Move the motorcycle - without additional equipment but with a full tank - onto the scale, first the front wheel, then the rear wheel.

You can try putting a board next to the scales to make it easier to roll the wheel onto the scale. It may also help to have a second pair of hands to support the motorcycle.

The sum of the two measurements is the real base weight. The difference between the maximum permitted weight indicated in the papers and the determined base weight is the payload.

The permissible cargo load isn't as high with current models as you might think, and most bikes are in the range of 125 and 270 kilograms. Mind you, this also includes one or two humans in full gear.

When loading the motorcycle, make sure to put the heaviest items at the bottom and distribute an equal amount of weight in each side bag.

The weight should be placed as close as possible to the centre of gravity of the motorcycle. Try to avoid shifting weight off the front wheel - that means keep heavy things in the tank bag, rather than in a top case at the rear.

If you're adjusting the rear wheel suspension, tyre pressure or headlights, check with the manual for guidance.

Since the centre of gravity shifts when carrying luggage, you might need to use your body more when changing your lean angle in curves. In addition, the motorcycle generally becomes more unwieldy and can lift off in the front when accelerating.

Acceleration and braking behaviour can also change. It makes sense to get accustomed to a fully loaded machine by doing a few practice laps before setting of on your trip.


Porsche 718 Cayman arrives, price starts from RM530K

                PETALING JAYA: The new Porsche 718 Cayman has arrived in Malaysia.

Retail base price for the new 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S starts from RM530,000 and RM700,000 respectively. The price includes duties except registration fee, road tax and insurance.

The same new four-cylinder flat engines with turbocharging as in the 718 Boxster are being deployed in the 718 Cayman.

As a result, coupé and roadster have an identical engine output for the first time. The entry-level version starts with 300hp from two litres of displacement.

 Limpert (left) and Bayer with the 718 Cayman S.

The S model delivers 350hp with a displacement of 2.5 litres. This represents 18 kW (25hp) more power compared to the predecessor models with an NEDC fuel consumption of 8.1 to 5.7 l/100km.

The 718 Cayman with PDK gearbox and Sport Chrono Package accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 4.7 seconds.

A 718 Cayman S with comparable equipment completes this sprint in 4.2 seconds. The top speed of the 718 Cayman is 275kph, while the 718 Cayman S can reach a speed of 285kph.

Like all Porsche cars sold by importer Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP), the Cayman comes with a four-year warranty and free maintenance package which includes complimentary service, parts and labour.

The model was launched in conjunction with the opening of the the new Porsche Centre Penang today.

The 3S centre is located along Jalan Baru in Seberang Perai, Penang's automotive hub, and is easily accessible from Penang Island via the first bridge.

With an investment of over RM15mil, the new Porsche Centre Penang occupies a build-up area of 35,575 sq ft on 102,524 sq ft of land.

“We are thrilled to be moving into Penang with our third Porsche Centre in Malaysia," said SDAP chief executive officer Arnt Bayer. "This new 3S centre will enable us to deliver a higher level of customer satisfaction and a unique ownership experience for all Porsche owners and enthusiasts in the northern region.”

The centre can display up to 10 cars in its showroom. The new facility has two air-conditioned meeting rooms and a spacious aftersales reception, integrated with the Carrera Lounge, which offers luxurious comfort and modern conveniences to customers during their visit.

The centre’s workshop features nine service bays as well as a warehouse for spare parts. In addition, Porsche customers can browse through the Porsche Driver’s Selection shop, which offers a selection of the latest Porsche apparel, personal accessories and toys.

Also present at the event was Porsche Asia Pacific managing director Martin Limpert.

Porsche 718 Cayman and Cayman S

Porsche Centre Penang


Europe’s EV push nearly faltered over fringe fuels that are years away

                BERLIN: It sounds inconceivable that Europe’s plan to usher in the age of electric vehicles almost went awry because of a prohibitively expensive technology that’s virtually unavailable, but that’s exactly what happened.

For several weeks last month, Germany refused to back the European Union’s effective ban of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, demanding that Brussels protect vehicles running on e-fuels.

Given the auto industry employs around 786,000 people in Germany, it’s understandable that Berlin would try to protect jobs threatened by the phasing out of engines. Still, the fight for e-fuels made little sense.

Analysts doubt that the synthetic fuels will ever make a meaningful contribution to the industry achieving carbon neutrality.

Only 2% of the EU car fleet can fully run on e-fuels in 2035, the lobby group Transport & Environment said in October, citing industry forecasts.

Many argue the scarce supply of e-fuels that are years away would be better put to use by sectors that can’t transition to battery power as easily, such as aviation and shipping.

One of the biggest inhibitors is cost. E-fuels are made using renewable electricity to split hydrogen from water and combining it with carbon, an inefficient and expensive process.

Synthetic diesel costs between US$3.50 and US$7 a litre to produce, according to BloombergNEF estimates — about four to seven times the price of traditional diesel in the European wholesale market.

Even after years of scaling up production, e-fuels for passenger cars probably will remain around four times more expensive than fossil-fuel gasoline, while improvements in battery technologies will make EVs more affordable and enhance their performance, LMC Automotive’s Al Bedwell wrote in a blog post last month.

Gerrit Marx, the CEO of Italian truck and bus maker Iveco, last week called the technology “the champagne of propulsion” that makes sense only for a small group of wealthy individuals who’d like to hang on to their combustion luxury and performance cars.

“If you have a Ferrari or if you drive your Porsche Turbo once a weekend, you’re not going to care whether a litre costs €5 or €8, but that’s not a fuel for the future,” Marx said in an interview.

So why did Germany throw such a tantrum?

Many point to the country’s unpredictable coalition government of centre-left Social Democratic Party, environmental Greens and pro-business Free Democratic Party.

FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner and his party colleague Volker Wissing, Germany’s transport minister, led the e-fuels blitz in Brussels.

German media reported in July that Oliver Blume, then just the head of Porsche and now also the CEO of Volkswagen, was in regular contact with Lindner about e-fuels.

A few months earlier, Porsche had joined a group of investors betting US$260 million on a startup building an e-fuels plant in Chile.

While the FDP has said it wants to keep all technology options open as the industry cuts emissions, critics have accused the party of trying to woo voters and raise its profile in the German government following a series of poor performances in regional elections.

Either way, Brussels eventually caved, giving Germany assurances that vehicles such as Porsche’s 911 sports car — a model Lindner has owned — may get a future exemption if they run solely on e-fuels.

While most industry leaders breathed a sigh of relief that Europe is going ahead with phasing out fossil fuels in cars, Germany’s last-minute strong-arming left some worrying that Berlin set a dangerous precedent for approval of other parts of the Green Deal.

“What if other governments decide to do something similar on whatever issue? The procedural rules are for everybody,” Teresa Ribera, a deputy Spanish prime minister, said last month.

The German government’s behaviour underscores the disruptive nature of Europe’s bid to become carbon-neutral by mid-century.

The country’s auto industry spent decades perfecting the production of crankshafts, diesel injectors and other components not needed for electric motors, and is now under pressure to retool products and factories with potentially devastating effects to employment.

Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche have started the transition, but remain well behind Tesla in EV sales.

There’s no debating this transition will be politically risky. Unfortunately for government leaders, e-fuels look like an unlikely savior of “das Auto” or German jobs.

“E-fuels are a hot topic, offering a way for an industry undergoing enormous change to get some politically useful concessions from regulators,” LMC’s Bedwell wrote.

“But the evidence today points to e-fuels in Europe’s light-vehicle sector being backed into a very small corner, or not getting off the ground at all.”


PM will look into TnG monopoly of highway toll collection system

                KUALA LUMPUR: The issue involving the Touch'n Go (TnG) monopoly of the highway toll collection system will be addressed, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Touch'n Go has operated for more than two decades and there are no convincing developments in its system.

“We will reconsider the Touch'n Go monopoly (of highway toll collection system),” said Anwar at a youth dialogue session at the Youth Empowerment Fair at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

Anwar was asked by an audience member on whether he would look into the highway toll collection system that was monopolised by Touch'n Go.

There have been calls by certain groups to end the current Touch'n Go monopoly of the highway toll collection system.

During the dialogue session - moderated by actress Amelia Henderson - Anwar had fielded questions from youths.

Among issues raised were improving the public transportation system and cannabis legalisation.


Michelin launches Pilot Sport 4 S performance tyre

                PETALING JAYA: Michelin has launched the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S, an ultra-high performance tyre  designed for sports car and premium sedans.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is designed with technologies that improves performance and superior handling capability, shorter braking distance in wet as well as on dry road, and optimised durability for longer usage.

“The new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is the result of a unique know-how developed by engineers passionate about their work that redefines the standards of the category. Adapted for driving at the highest levels on road and on track, it has already positioned itself as the best in its class,” said Pascal Nouvellon, Michelin Regional Director for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S has several criteria including the High Level of Reactivity with ultra-reactive tread pattern design that adapts continuously to the road for optimized traction; Excellent Steering Control with the ‘Dynamic Response’ technology that ensures optimum transmission of steering instructions onto the road through a hybrid belt of aramid and
nylon.

Exceptional Dry Grip and Improvement of Wet Braking with the bi-compound technology using a novel hybrid elastomer on the outer side for dry grip, and a new mix of compounds with specific ‘functional elastomers’ and silica on the inner side to provide excellent wet grip and braking; Premium Touch Finish with velvet effect that creates a variety of black contrasts on the exterior sidewall, giving premium visual appearance; and Deep Rim Protector to provide protection for all kinds of wheels.

The Pilot Sport 4 S is now available in Malaysia to fit rims 19in and above, with a starting price ofRM1,100. It is distributed across Tyreplus and Michelin outlets nationwide.


Consider replacing the Causeway, says Johor Sultan

                JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor has urged the various stakeholders to mull the idea of replacing the Johor Causeway with a bridge.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said he hoped Johoreans and Singaporeans could give their views on how the flow of traffic could be improved.

“I feel sorry for the thousands of Malaysians and Singaporeans who are stuck in traffic jams at the Causeway daily due to the congestion. It is worse during holidays and festive seasons.

“Also, many people are walking to Singapore daily due to the bad traffic jams,” he said.

Sultan Ibrahim said that if Singapore disagreed with a tunnel, then a swing bridge could be considered.

“I am sure if you work with Singapore, they will accept as it will be a win-win situation for both countries, but you will have to give a good reason to replace the Causeway,” he added.

Sultan Ibrahim pointed out that it would be meaningless if after the new connectivity, there were still jams.

“The water at the Causeway has stagnated for so many years. Both countries should put aside their differences and come up with solutions to improve mobility,” he said, adding that the projects should have been completed many years ago.

He also spoke about the need for the extension of the rapid transit system (RTS) from Singapore to Johor Baru to improve connectivity.

He also urged the Malaysian Immigration Department to keep all its booths open all the time, as there were a lot of complaints that many of the booths were not open during peak hours and holidays.


EU says VW repairs most cars with cheating devices

                BRUSSELS: Volkswagen has fixed millions of cars found with emissions cheating software since a 2015 scandal, but must do more to satisfy consumers, the EU said Monday.

"Volkswagen has largely fulfilled the action plan they promised, EU consumer affairs commissioner Vera Jourova said.

However, she said the firm's attitude to European car owners was one of "think small," borrowing a slogan from the automaker in 1959 to draw consumers to smaller cars.

In the United States, Volkswagen agreed to pay compensation to owners and dealers.

Jourova said the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, and the national consumer authorities also "regretted that the company did not give a full and clear guarantee in case of problems after the repair."

The firm rolled out the action plan to fix emissions software after admitting in 2015 to having installed so-called defeat devices on 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide to cheat regulatory tests.

Jourova said Volkswagen had repaired about 80 percent of the 8.5 million cars in Europe found to have the defeat devices.

She said the repair rate varied from 96 percent of cars in Germany to 36 percent of those in Romania but added customers who have not done so yet would have now until 2020 to have their cars repaired.

Cars


US carmakers pledge 5 million ‘talking cars’ in FCC airwaves bid

                WASHINGTON: The US auto industry will deploy millions more wireless systems to help prevent traffic collisions if the Federal Communications Commission abandons a proposal that would take away most of the radio frequencies reserved to carry those signals, according to an industry trade association.

If the commission agrees to preserve those airwaves for vehicle safety, auto companies will install at least five million so-called vehicle-to-everything radios on vehicles and roadside infrastructure over the next five years, far more than have been deployed so far, Alliance for Automotive Innovation president John Bozzella said in a Thursday letter to FCC chairman Ajit Pai and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The group represents most major carmakers in the United States.

It’s the auto sector’s latest bid to maintain a 21-year grip on coveted radio airwaves that the FCC reserved in 1999 to link cars, roadside beacons and traffic lights into a seamless wireless communication web to help avoid collisions and alert drivers to road hazards, among other uses.

After years of development and few commercial deployments to date, critics contend the airwaves have been underused and should be used instead to expand access to high speed Wi-Fi.

In an interview, Bozzella said the scope of the industry’s commitment demonstrates that the sector is ready to deploy the connected-vehicle systems in larger numbers, so long as the FCC lets automakers maintain full use of that spectrum.

“Those 75 megahertz were granted to save lives on America’s roadways. Let’s not wait any longer to get that done and that’s why we’ve stepped forward with this significant commitment,” he said.

Under Pai, the FCC in December proposed assigning most of the airwaves in question to Wi-Fi or a newer auto safety system, and relegating the older connected-car technology to a sliver. The change needs another vote to pass the FCC.

The plan is backed by cable companies and others hungry for additional wireless bandwidth and opposed by automakers in addition to both state and federal transportation officials, who argue it will undercut road safety.

The FCC on Thursday will vote on a plan to give Wi-Fi a different, far larger swath of radio spectrum.


Stellantis unveils new platform underpinning move to electric vehicles

                MILAN: Stellantis has unveiled its new "STLA Medium" vehicle platform, the first of four new electric-centric bases that will underpin all future models made by the world's fourth largest carmaker by sales.

The Amsterdam-based producer of Jeep, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo cars was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler with France’s PSA Group in 2021.

It sold around 6 million vehicles last year.

It has plans to move all its future products onto four new BEV platforms, STLA Small, Medium, Large and Frame, starting with STLA Medium from Europe this year.

"STLA Medium is intended to be manufactured in many countries: France, Italy, Germany and then in North America in different locations," CEO Carlos Tavares said, adding further locations could added at later stage.

The group said on Wednesday all its new platforms were designed with provisions for future battery chemistries, including nickel- and cobalt-free and solid-state batteries.

"This enables Stellantis brands to tailor vehicle capabilities for the ideal balance of cost and performance," it said.

The STLA Medium platform will support several propulsion configurations; in full electric configuration it will feature a standard range of over 500km, which can be raised to up to 700km with a "performance pack".

Battery charge from 20% to 80% will take 27 minutes, Stellantis said.

"BEV is the focus of the design of this platform," Tavares said.

Stellantis said it currently offered 26 models in the market segments which will be served by the STLA Medium platform.

Aimed at the mid-sized cars, the STLA Medium platform will be the base for up to two million Stellantis vehicles a year, built in several plants across the world, the Italian-French group said in a statement.

Stellantis, whose brands also include Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Citroen and Opel, has plans for 100% of its European passenger car sales and 50% of its US passenger car and light-duty truck sales to be battery EVs by 2030.

On Tuesday, Stellantis NV unveiled two new electric vehicles in Italy as the carmaker comes under rising pressure from local politicians to safeguard production and jobs in Fiat’s home country.

The company unveiled the battery-powered Fiat 600 compact sport utility vehicle and an electric revamp of the 1930s Topolino mini car at its factory in Turin on Tuesday.

The cars are produced at plants in Morocco and Poland, respectively. The SUV starts at €35,950 (RM183,000), while the Topolino - Italian for "little mouse” - will cost from €9,890 (RM51,000). — Reuters/Bloomberg


April 13-19: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the period from April 13-19.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

The weekly retail prices of the products were set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Subaru unleashes limited edition STI 209 beast

                DETROIT: Subaru has introduced its latest high-performance S209 that's going on sale only in the US market.

The Subaru Technica International (STI) S209, is currently undergoing final assembly in Kiryu, Japan, and will receive upgrades in terms of its looks, power, handling, aerodynamics and driver engagement.

Because it is receiving engine modifications and bodywork alterations that in total require it to be homologated for the US by STI, the S209 is thus considered the first “STI-built” Subaru to be sold in the US.

The S209 carries on a high-performance tradition that dates to STI-built models that were exclusive to the Japanese domestic market – the S201 (2000) through to the S208 (2018).

Designed with a focus on high-performance driving, the S209 draws inspiration and tech transfer from STI’s most formidable track machine - the WRX STI Nürburgring Challenge racecar, which won the SP3T class at the 2018 24 Hours of Nürburgring, marking the fifth time STI dominated the SP3T class at the grueling endurance race.

Like the Nürburgring Challenge racecar, the S209 wears an expanded wide-body exterior treatment, which extends the vehicle’s overall width to 1,839mm (+43mm) over the standard WRX STI.

The bulging fenders accommodate +15mm wider front/rear tracks and exclusively developed 265/35 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600A tyres fitted to lightweight 19 x 9.0 forged BBS alloys to help it achieve a maximum grip of over 1.0g.

Vents on the front fenders provide additional engine cooling, while vents on the rear fenders rectify air turbulence to reduce drag.

The Brembo brakes, with cross-drilled steel rotors and six-piston monoblock front calipers and dual-piston monoblock rear calipers with upgraded high-friction pads provide the stopping power with improved fade-resistance.

Beneath the S209’s broader body are specially developed Bilstein dampers, stiffer coil springs, a 20mm rear stabilizer bar and pillow-type bushings for the front/rear lateral links.

Additionally, reinforcements have been provided to the front crossmember and rear subframes and just like the Nürburgring racecar, it has a flexible front-strut tower bar and flexible front/rear draw stiffeners.

The tower bar, unlike a conventional rigid bar, is split and joined with a pillow ball joint in the center to be longitudinally mobile while helping laterally stiffen the body of the car.

This results is optimum tyre grip during lateral moments combined with compliant ride during longitudinal moments.

Meanwhile, the draw stiffeners apply tension between the body and cross member to optimize chassis flex, improving stability when cornering and delivering better ride, handling and steering response.

Other Nürburgring racecar tech that trickles down to the S209 are the front, rear and side under spoilers; front bumper canards; carbon-fiber roof panel and rear wing.

The legendary EJ25 2.5-litre Boxer engine has been thoroughly reworked to provide 341hp thanks to the bigger HKS turbocharger with larger turbine and compressor that ups the pressure by 6% and 8% respectively, compared to the WRX STI.

In this instance, maximum boost has been increased to 18psi (16.2psi for the WRX STI) and to handle the pressure are lighter and stronger forged pistons and connecting rods.

Midrange torque, too, gets a notable bump, up 10% at 3,600rpm, delivering higher corner exit speeds when driving on track.

For ultimate driver engagement, the S209 comes exclusively with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that routes power to a full-time Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with front/rear limited-slip differentials, a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD), Active Torque Vectoring and Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control.

A recalibrated SI-Drive system offers three modes of Intelligent (I) for improved fuel economy and smoother power control, Sport (S) for optimized power balance between response and control and Sport Sharp (S#) for achieving the best acceleration times.

The STI engineers recommend Sport over Sport Sharp for circuit driving, as the less aggressive throttle map allows for greater driver control.

To feed more air to the EJ25, the S209 uses a high-flow intake system featuring a new intake duct, induction box with conical air filter, silicone turbo inlet duct and, a nod from the 2004-07 WRX STI, an intercooler water spray system that lowers intercooler temperature via manually operated steering-wheel paddles.

More air demands more fuel, so the S209 receives a new high-flow fuel pump, larger fuel injectors and an STI-tuned engine control module.

High-performance mufflers deliver 17% less airflow resistance while larger hand-polished stainless-steel exhaust tips – 101mm in diameter – deliver an aggressive appearance and acoustics.

The S209 receives multiple tweaks to elevate it from other STI sedans. An STI badge replaces the traditional Subaru star cluster on the center of the D-shape steering wheel, which is wrapped in Ultrasuede with silver stitching, a treatment that carries over to the lid of the center console storage box.

Also, an S209 serial number badge resides on the center console, and S209 badges adorn the passenger-side dash and the headrests of the Recaro front bucket seats, which feature new silver-hued inserts.

Outside, special S209 badges are affixed to the front grille and fenders as well as the rear decklid.

Around 200 units of the STI S209 will be built and have been earmarked exclusively for the U.S.

Available exterior colour/BBS wheel combinations will be WR Blue Pearl/gray wheels and Crystal White Pearl/gold wheels.


Mercedes-Benz bets on India's nouveau riche to drive luxury car sales

                PUNE: Mercedes-Benz is betting that a growing crop of young new millionaires will drive demand for luxury cars in India, growing sales at a pace faster than that of mass market cars, a top company official said.

India's increasing numbers of "dollar millionaires" include young entrepreneurs or high-earning professionals who appreciate the luxury element and technology of the cars, said Martin Schwenk, chief executive of Mercedes-Benz India.

"The base is getting broader and gradually moving beyond our traditional customers," Schwenk said in a recent interview in the western industrial city of Pune, home to Mercedes' India headquarters and plant.

"Going forward, we will see higher growth rates in the luxury segment than we see in the mass market," he said, adding that buyers' average age had also fallen below 40, from more than 45 earlier.

Global carmakers' biggest growth hurdle, however, is a shortage of semiconductors and logistics woes worsened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. For Mercedes India, this has led to an order backlog of 4,000 cars, Schwenk said.

India's start-up frenzy and stock market boom are creating a new breed of wealthy splurgers on luxury brands such as Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, the 2021 Hurun India Wealth Report showed.

The number of Indian households with a net worth of at least a million dollars grew 11% in 2021 to 458,000 and is expected to increase by 30% over the next five years, the report said.

India is largely a small and low-cost car market in which luxury models account for just over 1% of total annual sales of about 3 million.

Mercedes is the top-selling luxury brand, with a market share of more than 40%, says auto market data provider JATO Dynamics, and it competes with Audi, BMW and Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover.

Its India sales rose more than 40% to 11,242 cars in 2021, coming off a low of 7,893 during the pandemic-hit year of 2020.

But Mercedes saw growth of 80% in top-end models such as the GLS, S-Class and GLS Maybach, all cars costing more than 10 million rupees (RM557,000).

Schwenk said while the pandemic had driven some of this demand, as more people "spent for their own pleasure", India's luxury car market showed potential for higher growth, a feature missing over the last six to eight years.

To capitalise on the momentum, the company plans to launch 10 models in 2022, including its locally assembled electric sedan EQS. read more

While growth in India's luxury and mass markets are not directly comparable, Mercedes' high-end models doing well reflects the wealth of the nation, said Ravi Bhatia, president for India at JATO.

"The rich have become richer and some of them have ended up upgrading their lifestyle," Bhatia said.

JATO's analysis also showed that Mercedes' product mix and pricing led to a lower average weighted price of its cars, putting upgrades to the luxury segment within reach of more customers, he added.

Mercedes' sales in 2021, however, are still lower than its peak of more than 15,500 cars in 2018. Schwenk said sales could approach 2018 levels this year if there were no further supply chain disruptions because of Covid-19 or geopolitical issues.

Lowering Indian taxes on luxury cars, which he said were among the highest in the world, would also help grow the segment and benefit the car market.


Brits can now buy a Peugeot online

                LONDON: Car buyers in Britain can buy a new vehicle and access all the latest consumer offers through Peugeot Buy Online.

The virtual showroom allows customers to buy any new Peugeot from the comfort of their home using a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Established in 2017, customers using Peugeot's Buy Online can configure their chosen Peugeot, get an extremely competitive part exchange valuation on their current car, personalise their finance and then place an order, which will be delivered as soon as British government guidelines allow.

Customers using the Buy Online portal can fully configure their preferred model, choosing version, powertrain, gearbox, colour and interior, as well as any optional extras to meet their requirements.

After configuring their preferred vehicle, customers can then select and edit their finance, including the deposit, annual mileage and contract length, and see the monthly price update in real time.

As customers personalise and select their Peugeot they will receive a provisional delivery date. When ready to check out, customers can then reserve their car for delivery.

They are also able to select a preferred delivery date and time based on when the car becomes available.


Special flood relief assistance for Nissan vehicle owners

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd. (ETCM), together with Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn. Bhd. (TCEAS), is offering a special Nissan Flood Relief Assistance programme to its customers impacted by the recent flash floods nationwide.

This programme offers 30% discount on parts and labour charges that will help alleviate the financial burden on Nissan owners whose vehicles are affected.

On top of that, special upholstery restoration prices are available at RM1,655 nett for sedans and RM1,988 nett for multi-purpose vehicles, sports utility vehicles, pick-up trucks and vans respectively.

Additionally, Nissan owners can have better peace of mind with Easy Payment Plan (EPP) up to 12 months interest-free installments on total bill, and six months or 10,000km warranty (whichever comes first) on Nissan Genuine Parts replacement.

Extended services such as free towing (terms and conditions apply), Door-to-Door Towing for vehicles that are badly affected and Collect & Delivery service for usual maintenance service over the weekends are also available.

Nissan owners can contact Nissan Customer Care Centre Hotline at 1800-88-3838 for further assistance, and call the nearest TCEAS outlet or Nissan Authorised Service Dealer for an appointment.

Nissan and Tan Chong said the customers’ peace of mind is of utmost importance to both companies, and are sadden with the losses suffered by flood victims.

"We would also like to reaffirm that both ETCM and TCEAS are committed to ensure our customers’ safety and satisfaction are of the highest level, and are working together to promptly address this unforeseen situation," ETCM said in a statement.

For details, call Nissan Customer Care Centre Hotline at 1800-88-3838.


BlackBerry and Amazon team up on smart car software platform

                TORONTO: BlackBerry and Amazon on Tuesday announced an alliance to create a cloud computing platform that cars could link to for services and insights based on data from vehicles and users.

The Intelligent Vehicle Data Platform called "IVY" is intended to be a cloud-connected software platform that could be used by any car maker to analyse sensor data in real-time and give drivers useful information.

"BlackBerry and AWS share a common vision to provide automakers and developers with better insights so that they can deliver new services to consumers," BlackBerry chief executive John Chen said in a joint release.

Modern cars and trucks are built with thousands of parts from an array of suppliers, typically with proprietary hardware and software involved, the companies noted.

The vision is for the platform to quickly make sense of all that data for drivers, while also serving as a platform for additional apps or services from developers.

Car makers have "almost zero software skills," and IVY promises to be a secure, cost-effective platform for them to tap into cloud computing power, Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry said in a note to investors.

The jointly operated software will run on car or truck systems, but will be managed remotely from the cloud, according to Amazon.

Examples of potential capabilities included IVY spotting dangerous road conditions such as ice or heavy traffic and prompt drivers to take safety measures.

Drivers of electric vehicles could share battery information with charging networks to reserve charging slots along routes, and parents could get sensor data regarding their teen-agers' driving, the companies said,

"AWS and BlackBerry are making it possible for any automaker to continuously reinvent the customer experience and transform vehicles from fixed pieces of technology into systems that can grow and adapt with a user's needs and preferences," said AWS chief executive Andy Jassy.

BlackBerry has shifted gears to concentrate on software and services since being dethroned in the mobile phone market more than a decade ago by touchscreen phones powered by Apple or Android software.

The BlackBerry keyboard is to live on in a new 5G smartphone planned for release next year from Texas-based OnwardMobility.


70% discount on traffic compounds tomorrow to mark Ipoh City Day

                IPOH: Discounts of up to 70% on traffic compounds will be given in conjunction with the upcoming 34th Ipoh City Day.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the discount would only be for one day, namely tomorrow.

“The compounds can be paid at all Ipoh City Council counters or through Park@Perak mobile app or the city council’s official website.

“The public can also check their unpaid compounds at our WeServe counters or on the website or Park@Perak app,” he said during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration with media at a hotel in Ipoh.

“We strongly encourage the public to settle their compounds via the application or online,” he added.

Apart from the discount offered, Rumaizi said people could also enjoy several other freebies by the city council.

“From May 27 until June 26, the public can enjoy free boat rides at Gunung Lang Recreational Park.

“No fee is required to swim at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre on May 27,” he said, adding that there would also be a special Ipoh Car Free Night event on May 28.

“Also on May 28, we will hold a Family Picnic Night at the city council square in Greentown from 8pm to 11pm where buskers will be performing to entertain visitors.

“We will also hold a four-day sport tournament between local governments that includes football, darts and hockey,” Rumaizi said.


Naza Group to contribute to Tabung Harapan Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: The Naza Group announced it will contribute RM1,000 towards Tabung Harapan Malaysia for every car sold by the Group, from June 1 to Aug 31, 2018.

The Naza Group is an importer and distributor for a diverse range of international automotive brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Kia in Malaysia.

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman and CEO, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd said, “The Naza Group is proud to play its part by contributing to Tabung Harapan Malaysia as a responsible and patriotic corporate citizen.

"Our contribution is also our way of thanking the Government for the stable economic and political landscape and most of all for the 3-month tax holiday which has spurred sales of cars to achieve record levels this year.

“As a homegrown company, it is our obligation and responsibility to assist wherever possible for the betterment of our beloved nation, especially as we soon celebrate our 61 st anniversary of Merdeka and 55 th Malaysia Day.”

Naza's move followed in the footsteps of Proton, which on June 1 announced it would donate to the trust fund.

Proton is believed to be the first car maker to voice support to the fund, and has pledged RM10 from every Proton car purchase. It will donate money to the fund from June 1 until Dec 31, 2018. It had managed to collect RM61,730 in the first month.


SAIC Motor holds groundbreaking ceremony for Thai energy park

                BANGKOK: Chinese car manufacturer SAIC Motor has expanded its current portfolio in Thailand by breaking ground on a new energy industrial park as part of its long-term development plan in the South-East Asian country.

The new energy park in Chon Buri province’s Eastern Economic Corridor Special Zone, spanning 120,000 sq m, features a power battery plant, a production line for electric vehicle (EV) components, a container yard and a logistics warehouse to enhance transportation efficiency.

The industrial park is expected to attract core component suppliers and further bolster the supply chain capability upon completion.

Zhao Feng, president of SAIC Motor-CP, a joint venture between SAIC Motor Corp and Charoen Pokphand Group, said that the new park will provide crucial support for Thailand’s transformation towards a “green and low-carbon” society.

SAIC’s MG brand, which entered the Thai market in 2013, became one of the most popular brands among Thai customers, with over 180,000 users in the country, Zhao said.

Thailand aims to become an EV production hub, with EVs accounting for 30% of its total vehicle output by 2030.

As a result of government stimulus and subsidy policies, the preference for electric cars has significantly strengthened among both EV makers and consumers in recent years.

Last month, another Chinese EV giant BYD broke ground on its Thailand factory, slated to start production in 2024, with an annual capacity of 150,000 new energy vehicles.

According to data, Thailand’s new EV registrations have increased steadily in the first quarter of this year. In March, new battery electric vehicle registrations reached a record high of 8,522 units.

During a Bangkok motor show, which ended earlier this month, SAIC received nearly 4,000 orders, ranking third among all participating automakers. — Xinhua