Takata preparing CEO exit over air bag safety scandal, say sources

                TOKYO: Takata Corp is preparing the ground for the exit of its chief executive, two people close to the Japanese air bag maker said, as pressure builds on a company reeling from the auto industry's biggest recall.

Takata has been under fire for almost two years over defective air bags that can explode with excessive force and shoot shrapnel inside the car - a problem that has ballooned into a damaging safety scandal affecting nearly 50 million vehicles. The company said on Tuesday that an 11th death could be linked to a faulty air bag.

"There are plans for management reforms," said one of the individuals, adding this would involve laying the groundwork for the departure of chairman and CEO Shigehisa Takada, the bookish grandson of the group's founder, and other executives.

 Takada making an appearance at a news conference in Tokyo in this June 25, 2015 file photo. - Reuters

He added Takata will present these reforms as part of its business plans at a meeting with automakers on Friday. The sources declined to say when Takada might step down or who is in line to replace him as head of the 83-year-old firm.

A Takata spokesman would not comment on whether the company was planning a change in management, or if Takada planned to take responsibility for the recalls.

Takata may come under renewed pressure when Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute reports on its investigation into the causes of air bag inflator failures. Japanese media have reported that the findings, commissioned by Takata, are due in the coming weeks.

Fraunhofer was not immediately available to comment on when the final results would be ready.

Partial results of its inquiry released last June showed that the air bag explosions appeared to result from damaged or improperly assembled inflators, and when ammonium nitrate, the chemical compound used to inflate the air bag, came into contact with moisture, a particular concern in humid regions.

Takata said then that it was still unclear what were the root causes of the air bag failures.

If the final report finds Takata liable for defective air bags, it could leave the company with a recall bill already estimated at more than US$3 billion. Automakers, including Honda Motor and Toyota Motor, which have to date been paying for replacement air bags, could also take it as a cue to cut off financial lifelines to Takata.

Separately, Honda has hired US-based engineering consultancy Exponent to investigate the cause of the air bag ruptures, and is also part of a consortium of automakers to commission Orbital ATK to test Takata air bag inflators.

Takada has been widely criticised for keeping a low profile even as the air bag crisis escalated, and automakers accused Takata of mishandling and manipulating safety data.

In his first media appearance in June 2015, more than a year after the recall crisis erupted, Takada apologised for the defective air bag inflators, saying that staying on to lead the company was the appropriate way for him to take responsibility.

A third person close to Takata said Takada could take responsibility for "a range of issues" around the air bag crisis at Friday's meeting with automakers, potentially a first step towards his departure.

Takada, 49, joined the family business straight from university in 1988 and has been CEO since 2013. If confirmed, his standing down would be the highest level departure at Takata in a scandal that dates back as far as 2008.

Those who have worked with him describe Takada as quiet, thoughtful and analytical - in contrast to his ebullient father, Juichiro, who built Takata into Japan's leading auto safety manufacturer. He died in 2011.


Rolls-Royce homage to Silver Ghost

                GOODWOOD: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly announces the creation of a collection of 35 model year 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghosts, created in homage to the original Silver Ghost’s achievement.

Careful consideration has been paid to the defining features of this collection. References extoling the past are skilfully hand-crafted into Ghost’s interior and exterior, creating a contemporary homage which speaks as much of today’s great brand as the ‘Silver Ghost’ does of its day.

A solid sterling-silver Spirit of Ecstasy, the muse that has guided motor cars created by the marque since 1911, will hint at the pioneering heritage of this motor car’s forebear.

 Artist rendition of Rolls-Royce Ghost 2018.

A specially created Hallmark of AX201, the registration plate of the original ‘Silver Ghost’, will be marked on the base of each muse by the British Assay office, an honour reserved for few.

Cassiopeia Silver, a complex Bespoke silver paint that incorporates both warm and cool tones, bathes the exterior of Ghost in a hue that echoes the silver paint of the original motor car.

On opening the coach doors, accents of a specially created ‘Forest Green’ leather provide a nod to the original interior colour scheme.

In addition to the beautiful Bespoke features enumerated above, the ‘Silver Ghost Collection’ also benefits from the several enhancements of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The most immediate of these is the bolder and more sculptured face of Ghost, reinforcing the decisive and dynamic character of Ghost.

The perceived dynamism of the 2018 Ghost’s exterior is also enhanced by two completely new 21” wheel designs.

A quieter cabin sets the stage for the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce multimedia entertainment system.

Entertainment and communication is also enhanced by Blue Ray; Digital Radio capability in more countries, including Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service for the United States market; a new ATM module linked to a 4G LTE standard antenna which will support significantly increased data transfer; enhanced USB and HDMI connections with the motor-car’s systems which also supports Miracast, whilst three sets of Kleer headphones are supported over WiFi.

Meanwhile, at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce will be showcasing three very different Phantoms curated for specific patrons of the brand.

The first of these three Phantoms is known as The Gentleman’s Tourer and harks back to the era of the grandest of Grand Tourers – the Phantom II Continental Saloons of the 1930s.

Two beautiful and very significant Phantom Extended Wheelbase also grace the Rolls-Royce stand at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Whispered Muse and A Moment in Time are the first two new Phantoms commissioned with completely one-off, artist designed Galleries.

Whispered Muse is adorned with a one-off Gallery created by London-based designer Helen Amy Murray. This Gallery reinterprets Charles Sykes’ original drawings for the much revered Spirit of Ecstasy.

A Moment in Time is a second customer-commissioned Phantom Extended Wheelbase present at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

The 2018 Geneva Motor Show is also witness to a transformed Dawn.

The Aero Cowling encloses the rear seat area of Dawn in a beautifully hand-made unit that features two cowls that rise from the leading edge of the tonneau area, which conceals the Dawn hood, to behind each front seat.

The form of the cowls was precisely sculpted to funnel the air gracefully, so to enhance driver comfort.


Bosch wraps up ZF Lenksystem buyout

                STUTTGART: The Bosch Group completed its acquisition of ZF Friedrichshafen AG’s 50% share in the joint venture ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (ZFLS), allowing the group to own all shares in the former 50:50 joint venture.

ZFLS employs more than 13,000 associates in eight countries and the company develops, manufactures, and sells steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles worldwide with registered sales of about 4.1bil Euros (RM20 bil) in 2013.

The company will be incorporated into the Bosch Group as a new division with the name Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH, after a vote was held among ZFLS associates to determine the new name.

ZFLS generates around 60% of its sales from its fuel-saving electric steering systems, which has the potential to save up to 0.8 litres of fuel per 100km, and are increasingly being used in commercial vehicles – particularly its Servotwin.

The electro-hydraulic steering system, presented at the 2014 can be used in commercial vehicles with over 40 metric tonnes of load volume.

The corresponding prototype was presented at the 2014 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) – International Automobile Exhibition, in Germany.

A more compact, locally engineered and cost-effective electric power steering system meant for Asian markets is also available.

Out of ZFLS’ 1,400 employees, more than 10% work in development with roughly 238mil Euros (over RM1bil) spent on research and development in 2013 alone.

The company has filed around 750 patents since its establishment 15 years ago.


Car dealers can claim sales tax refund

                PETALING JAYA: Local car companies can claim the 10% sales tax on unsold stock after the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) – if they can produce documented proof of purchase.

“If you’re holding stocks that had been paid for, you will get a full refund if you can produce the invoice that shows you have paid the sales tax,” said a customs officer who cited the GST Act 2014.

According to Section 190 (1) of the Act, a person is entitled to a special refund equal to the amount of sales tax in respect of the goods held on hand.

Under Section 190 (1) (d), the claimant is required to hold the relevant supplier’s invoice, proving that he is the recipient for which sales tax has been charged, or import documents proving that he is the importer, consignee or owner for which the sales tax has been paid.

The refund is also applicable to suppliers other than a licensed manufacturer, namely those further down the supply chain, such as dealers. However, the second and third tier dealers are not entitled to the full refund.

Among others, the claimant must be able to prove that he is registered, that he is in possession of the goods he is claiming for, and that he has paid the amount shown on the invoice.

Local car companies are requesting from the Government that they be allowed to reclaim the full 10% sales tax on invoices issued prior to the implementation of GST, which takes effect today.

In a statement yesterday, Perodua Dealer Association president Wan Kamal Wan Ismail said its unsold stock, with 10% sales tax already paid, would now be hit by an additional 6% post-GST.

“Each independent dealer will stand to lose an average of RM230,000 on double taxation after April 1,” he said.

The customs officer, meanwhile, said the impact would be minimal on car companies that still had unsold stock post-GST.

“The stock is unlikely to be that big. Furthermore, these are big ticket items and most car companies don’t keep them for too long.

“The impact won’t be adverse. If there are still unsold stock, it will usually be sold within a few weeks.”


Nissan unveils electric Ariya SUV and logo redesign

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor Co. unveiled a new electric vehicle and redesign of its "hamburger” corporate logo, seeking to make a fresh start after months of management turmoil and declining profitability.

The Ariya, an all-electric SUV with a range of as much as 610km, is the first entirely new product to be launched under new management that took over in December. The debut of the model, which has a starting price of about 5 million yen (RM199,000), is the automaker’s latest effort to refresh an aging lineup.

"Ariya has all the essence of Nissan’s technology,” said Makoto Uchida, Nissan’s chief executive officer.

Nissan could benefit from the buzz surrounding a new vehicle, even though it isn’t scheduled to go on sale until mid-2021.

The Japanese automaker had its biggest loss in two decades for the year that ended in March, and the November 2018 arrest of former leader Carlos Ghosn triggered management turmoil that lingers to this day.

The Ariya serves as a reminder that Nissan is still Japan’s second-biggest automaker by output, and that it has been working for years in preparation for the EV and autonomous driving era.

"Expectations are high,” said Koji Endo, an analyst at SBI Securities. "Whether this will sell is going to have a large effect on Nissan’s performance.”

Shares of Nissan advanced ahead of the unveiling, climbing as much as 8.5% in Tokyo, with analysts citing retail investor excitement ahead of the Ariya’s debut. The stock had lost 39% this year through Tuesday.

The Ariya is a successor to the all-electric LEAF, which went on sale a decade ago in Japan and the US. Refreshed once in 2017, the five-door hatchback is one of the best-selling EVs in the world, with about 500,000 shipped so far. One drawback of the LEAF, however, has been its limited range of about 322km.

With a length of 4.6 metres and height of 1.6 metres, the Ariya fits squarely within the compact SUV category. The interior space, however, is comparable to that of a larger vehicle, thanks to the placement of batteries at the floor of the chassis, like in Tesla Inc.’s models.

The Ariya comes with ProPilot 2.0, the latest version of Nissan’s autonomous driving technology. The feature, which was rolled out last year for the refreshed Skyline, offers lane-changing and driver-monitoring capabilities. The Ariya also has a self-parking feature, and Amazon.com Inc.’s voice-based digital assistant Alexa.

The big question is whether consumers will be ready to buy the Ariya when it goes on sale in Japan mid-2021, and whether Nissan can get its business back on surer footing by then.

For the coming fiscal year through March, analysts project, on average, a loss of 323 billion yen (RM12.8bil) and a 17% decline in sales. In China, the Ariya will face tough competition from Tesla, which has a local plant churning out Model 3 electric sedans and, later on, Model Y SUVs.

"This car is extremely important for Nissan,” senior vice president Ivan Espinosa said in an interview. It is "the first car in a complete shift in our lineup and the way we want to address the market moving forward.”

Nissan is also using the Ariya’s debut to show off a new corporate brand logo, to be used on vehicles and official communication. It’s a simplified version of the prior design, with just two half-circles depicting the sun, fronted by the letters of the company’s name.

The Ariya is debuting just as the pandemic weighs on car demand and depresses economic activity across the globe. Global passenger vehicle sales are on track to slump 23% this year and EVs are set to drop 18%, the first decline in the modern era, according to BloombergNEF. The recovery will be mild in 2021, with China and Europe leading the way, according to researchers.

After going on sale next year, the Ariya will hit the markets of Europe, US and China during the next fiscal year, which ends March 2022.

The Ariya will be available in four versions: a pair of two-wheel drive versions with a choice of different battery capacities, and two high-performance four-wheel drive models with different ranges. The two-wheel drive with the larger battery offers the greatest driving range.

"We now have a dedicated EV platform that will carry over into new vehicles,” Uchida said. "It’s my job, my responsibility, to bring Nissan back to the market.”


Serene new Rolls-Royce Ghost enters post-opulent era

                LONDON: The benign spirit from Goodwood is back in the shape of a revamped Ghost from Rolls-Royce that is less bombastic than the previous edition, but still one of the most luxurious cars on the planet.

Buyers of the entry model will still have to lay at least US$332,500 (RM1.4mil) on the table in order to call one of these 5.5-metre-long limousines their own. The longer-wheelbase version, which has been stretched by 17cm, costs more.

This is a substantial car based on the BMW-owned company's largely aluminium "Architecture of Luxury" platform which it shares with the new Phantom and Cullinan SUV.

Big format, restrained shape

It is also a rolling example of noblesse oblige which exercises a degree of restraint.

Rolls-Royce calls this "post-opulence" and the result is a monolithic shape shorn of much visual adornment apart from the signature grille. It is not only as big and glamorous as before but now illuminated from the inside.

The Ghost retains its authoritative looks and for a monolith it is remarkably quick.

Urge comes from one of the last 12-cylinder engines available in the luxury sector, all 571hp of it. Stab the throttle and this 4.8-tonne leviathan does 0 to 100 kph in just 4.8 seconds. Top speed is governed at 250 kph.

This is an engine without any form of hybridisation, which results in gas-guzzling fuel consumption of 15.2 litres (CO2 output at 347/gm).

Neither customers nor the factory seem to care much about that – plug-in technology is left to the less regal competition from the BMW 7 series.

Magic carpet ride

Thanks to swathes of sound-deadening material, the occupants of this lounge on wheels hear little or nothing from the huge engine or the standard eight-speed transmission as the power surges to all four wheels. Meanwhile all-wheel steering makes parking easier.

On the road, the ride is firm, thanks to adaptive dampers, and the car is surprisingly nimble for such a large machine. Helping it to maintain poise is a camera which links up to GPS data to read the road and feed the information to an anti-roll bar on the back.

Most owners will have a chauffeur to ferry them about and they can enjoy the serenity of the near-silent cabin as the landscape glides past, whether travelling through crowded city streets or cruising on the motorway.

Driving yourself today, sir?

The Ghost is arguably the best model in the Rolls-Royce range for self-drivers and owners can sink back into a throne-like leather armchair behind the wheel with an array of digitalised instruments at their disposal.

The rear seats are supremely comfortable too, with reclining and massage features. There are plenty of high-tech assistance systems to make piloting this liner easier and bizarre touches such as the hundreds of tiny stars which illuminate the front passenger side fascia

The sumptuous interior offers an ideal environment for quaffing the champagne contained in a refrigerated compartment between the rear seats, playing with the built-in tablet computers or adjusting the sophisticated air-conditioning.

When it is time to leave, the doors open themselves. They are fitted with electric motors and gyroscopes which regulate the amount of power assistance needed to suit the angle at which the car is parked on the road.

Understated pomp

Power and luxury as far as the eye can see and more cache that any other car on the road. The Ghost lives up to the Rolls-Royce image yet the makers have pulled off the impossible.

This is still a decadent car but it comes across as being less arrogant and in-your-face than its predecessor. Modern Rolls-Royce owners like their ride to ooze subtle understatement. After all, if you can afford one of these there is no need to shout about it.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine and drivetrain:
V12-petrol, fuel-injected engine with two turbochargers
Capacity: 6.592 cc
Maximum output: 571hp at 5000rpm
Maximum torque: 850Nm at 1,600rpm
Powertrain: Four-wheel drive
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Dimensions and weight
Length: 5,546mm
Width: 2,148mm
Height: 1,571mm
Wheelbase: 3,295mm
Kerb weight: 2,490kg
Performance
Top speed: 250kph
Acceleration: 0-100kph in 4.8 s
Average fuel consumption: 15.2 litres/100km
CO2-emissions: 347 g/km


12 federal, district roads closed in Kota Tinggi due to floodwaters

Flooding in Kota Tinggi.— Bernama
KOTA TINGGI: A total of 12 federal and district roads here have been closed to all vehicles after they were immersed in floodwaters.

Johor Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said the roads have been inundated in floodwaters of between 0.6m and 1.2m and are closed off for all types of vehicles.

“The affected roads are FT003 Jalan Kota Tinggi - Mersing at Kubu, Batu 16, and Risda, FT091 Jalan Kota Tinggi - Kluang, and FT099 Jalan Lok Heng - Mawai - Sungai Mas.

“Roads are also closed at J053 Tai Hong at KM3 and KM4.1, J245 Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, J224 Jalan Semanggar, J172 Jalan Mawai Lama, J178 Jalan Kampung Kelantan - Kampung Panti, and J90 Jalan Sungai Telor, ” he said in a statement today.

He added that the Public Works Department would continue to monitor the situation from time to time.


Exciting Chinese New Year festive discounts for Proton cars

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton registered sales of 4,783 units in January 2018 with a forecasted market share of 10.9%, translating into a 2.1% increase from the 8.8% market share in the previous month.

The Saga, Persona and Exora were the most popular models, making up 80% of total Proton car sales for January 2018.

“As the most affordable and value-for-money car in its segment, the Saga remains to be the most popular choice among Proton customers, making up 41% of overall Proton car sales. Naturally, the Saga has been enriching the lives of more than 1.7 million Malaysian families since its first production," said Abdul Rashid Musa, Proton's vice president, sales and marketing.

“The Saga we have now is the third generation Saga which has gone through a lot of improvement, enhancements and refinements. It has a quieter cabin due to the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) level, with a more stylish design, much more practical, durable and gives customers better value for the good safety features, convenient features and comfort level in the car. From as low as RM35,590.29, or RM390 per month (without insurance), it is affordable to most Malaysians,” Rashid added.

Chinese New Year promotion campaign

In conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration, Proton is offering prosperity discounts (promotion valid until 28 February 2018) - up to RM500 for an Exora, up to RM1,000 for a Saga, up to RM1,000 for a Persona, up to RM5,000 for an Iriz, and up to RM13,888 for a Perdana.

Customers can also drop by any Proton authorised service outlets for a free 20-point safety inspection (promotion valid until 24 February 2018) before starting their long journey back to their home towns.

For details, call Proton Customer Care at 1800 888 398.


BMW to produce X3 plug-in hybrid at South Africa plant

                PRETORIA: Germany's BMW will build its X3 model in South Africa from 2024, investing 4.2 billion rand (RM1bil), to electrify its plant in Rosslyn, the company said in a statement today.

"From 2024, we will produce the BMW X3 in South Africa as a plug-in hybrid and export it all over the world," Milan Nedeljkovic, chairman of the board of management of BMW South Africa, said in the statement.

"With an investment of 4.2 billion rand, the Rosslyn plant will be enabled for electromobility," he added.

The Rosslyn plant currently produces the combustion engine 3 series, with a capacity of up to 75,000 units per year, according to its website.

Export destinations for vehicles produced at the plant include the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada.


Hyundai to invest US$1.55bil in first Indonesia car plant

                SEOUL: Hyundai said today it has signed a preliminary deal to build a new factory in Indonesia, which would be its first car plant in South-East Asia and a crack at Japanese rivals that dominate the market.

The deal comes as Hyundai and affiliate Kia Motors struggle with a prolonged sales downturn in China, where they suspended two factories this year.

Hyundai Motor said it will invest about US$1.55 billion in the Indonesia auto manufacturing plant from now until 2030, including product development and operation costs.

The facility, to be built in the city of Bekasi, east of Jakarta, will start production in late 2021, with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and a plan to grow that to 250,000 vehicles a year, Hyundai said.

Hyundai plans to make small sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), while electric vehicles (EVs) tailored to Southeast Asian market are under consideration.

Hyundai said it is building the production facilities to avoid import tariffs ranging from 5% to 80% in the Asean region. The plant will cater to Indonesia, the region's largest automobile market, and other countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), it said.

The plant will allow the automaker to secure future growth to help it "combat slowing demand in the global automotive market", Hyundai said in its statement.

The deal was signed at an event attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung. Widodo is in South Korea for a meeting of ASEAN leaders hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Moon has been pushing a "New Southern Policy" aiming to deepen ties with Southeast Asia as Seoul seeks to curb its reliance on traditional trading partners like China and the United States.

Hyundai is far behind Japanese rivals in Southeast Asia, with its sales reaching 122,883 vehicles versus Toyota's 854,032 from January to September this year, according to research firm LMC Automotive.

LMC Automotive forecast a 4% year-on-year decline in total vehicle sales in the ASEAN region in the fourth quarter, partly because the slowdowns in the Thai and Indonesian economies show no signs of abating.

Hyundai said key Asean countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore are expected to see combined vehicle sales grow to 4.49 million units in 2026, from 3.16 million in 2017.


Audi and Porsche to join F1, says VW CEO

                BERLIN: Volkswagen's premium brands Audi and Porsche will join Formula One after convincing the German automaking group that the move will bring in more money than it will cost, VW chief executive Herbert Diess said on Monday.

Discussions by the board of directors about the two brands' plans had created some divisions, said Diess at an event in Wolfsburg, where the German carmaker is headquartered.

But ultimately the brands, which next to VW's China business are the group's most important income suppliers, made the case that they would pull in more money for Wolfsburg with a Formula One commitment than without one, according to Diess.

"You just run out of arguments," he said.

There has been speculation for several months that the two brands were negotiating partnerships to enter the highest class of international motor racing, which for much of the last decade has been dominated by Volkswagen's German rival Mercedes.

Diess said on Monday that Porsche's preparations for entering Fomula One were a little more concrete than Audi's.

Audi is ready to offer around €500 million (RM2.3bil) for British luxury sports carmaker McLaren as a means to enter, a source said in March, while Porsche intends to establish a long-term partnership with racing team Red Bull starting in several years' time.

In addition to the brands' economic argument, Formula One's high advertising impact was apparently also convincing. Diess said that as a result Porsche will reduce other racing activities and concentrate more on that circuit.

The decision comes as Volkswagen prepares for a possible listing of Porsche AG in the fourth quarter of this year, though sources have said the entry into Formula One racing would only be likely to happen in a few years' time.


You might actually get 4 Michelin tyres free. Here's how

                PETALING JAYA: Buy a set of Michelin tyres and stand a chance to win a full refund.

Michelin Malaysia is offering a “Go nuts with TYREPLUS!” promotion from today until Dec 31.

The promotion not only rewards customers but also the TYREPLUS outlets who sold the set of four Michelin tyres to the winning customers. Both the winning customers as well as the TYREPLUS outlet will be eligible for a total refund of the value of their purchases and sale respectively.

To be eligible, customers need to buy four MICHELIN tyres at any TYREPLUS outlet during the promotion period. Customers are then required to send a picture of the receipt through WhatsApp and complete the slogan “I love TYREPLUS because ……….” in 20 words.

Michelin will go through all submissions each week to determine the weekly winner. During the campaign period, a total of eight winning customers and eight TYREPLUS outlets will be announced on TYREPLUS’ Facebook page. The winning TYREPLUS outlet will also organise prize presentation ceremonies which will be streamed on Facebook Live at the TYREPLUS outlets where the winners had bought their tyres.

TYREPLUS is Michelin’s global brand of its retailing concept that has an independent network of tyre retail stores across markets such as China, Thailand, Australia, India, the Middle-East and South America.

Since its introduction, TYREPLUS has grown to be the largest independent car maintenance network in Malaysia, boasting over 50 outlets.

Michelin Malaysia managing director Pascal Nouvellon said the campaign was organised as its way to thank consumers who frequent TYREPLUS outlets for car maintenance services.


Ford's best-selling cargo van is going electric

                DETROIT: Ford has announced that its 2022 Transit cargo van will be filing in alongside the Mustang Mach-E SUV and F-150 pickup after it gets the first electrified powertrain in the model's history.

This zero-emissions cargo van will be outfitted with smart technologies to help businesses be better connected with their drivers and track their journeys. Integrated driver assist systems will increase vehicle operator confidence while also reducing the likelihood or severity of collisions.

As a model designed for commercial use, the electric Transit will be available in several different configurations including cargo van, cutaway and chassis cab options. Three different roof heights and body lengths will be available.

More details about the cargo van will be revealed at a later date.

The all-electric Transit is expected to launch in the US and in Canada next year with a 2022 model year designation.


EU Commission to intervene in tech, carmakers' patent dispute, document shows

The European Commission will first engage with the automotive sector to explore the possibility of effective licensing solutions. — AFP
BRUSSELS: The European Commission plans to step into the patent dispute between tech companies and carmakers and may set up a system to check whether some patents are essential to a technology standard as claimed, according to a Commission document.

The move by the EU executive comes as Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia and German automaker Daimler battle in German courts over the level of royalties for key navigation and communications technologies and who should pay them.

The proposals are outlined in the Commission’s Intellectual Property Action Plan, seen by Reuters, which European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager and EU digital chief Thierry Breton will present on Nov 24.

As a first step, the Commission will engage with the automotive sector to explore the possibility of effective licensing solutions, the document said, adding that the industry’s needs are the most acute.

While the car industry currently faces the most problems between standard essential patent (SEP) holders and licensees, the issue is also relevant in the digital and electronics sectors and internet-connected devices in energy, health and smart manufacturing, it said.

The Commission to date has refrained from the disputes and has urged the companies to resolve the issue themselves, with some seeing it as a contractual issue. Carmakers, however, see it as an antitrust issue, with Daimler lodging a complaint with Vestager.

Patents are a lucrative source of revenue for Nokia which makes 1.4 billion euros in licensing revenues annually. It says Daimler has been using its cellular standard-essential patents (SEPs) without authorisation.

Daimler however wants Nokia to license its suppliers rather than with the company itself, a move which could cut the level of fees.

To further clarify the regulatory framework for declaring, licensing and enforcing SEPs, the Commission will consider regulatory reforms such as setting up an independent system of third-party essentiality checks, the document said.

Such vetting would look into whether some patents are essential to a standard as claimed by the patent holders and also counter fears that some royalties are calculated at too high a level due to companies licensing unnecessary patents.

Experts, however, say essentiality checks may be difficult to carry out in a global market and that it may be difficult to find a qualified body with the technical competence to do them.


VW’s boss warns the troops: we don’t want to end up like Nokia

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen AG is at a critical juncture. It has weathered the pandemic relatively well but is fretting about cases going up again. It has electric cars rolling out but is well behind Tesla Inc. And it has massive manufacturing scale but desperately needs to rethink its vehicles as rolling software devices.

It’s this last issue that chief executive officer Herbert Diess drives home with VW’s more than 635,000 employees. The transition in competencies from industrial might to software prowess will be an immense challenge for automakers that are vast, deliberate and some say ripe for disruption. Car companies that get it wrong risk ending up like Nokia Oyj – failed hardware makers doomed by more nimble and technologically adept upstarts.

"Nokia is probably a good example of how such a change can happen – if you’re not fast enough, you’re not going to survive,” Diess, 62, told Bloomberg at VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. "I’m always telling our people this example.”

During an almost hour-long virtual event a week before VW’s supervisory board meets for its annual review of spending plans, Diess discussed how he’s readying the company for Covid-19’s next wave, a possible new occupant of the White House and the rise of electric vehicles.

The following excerpts from the interview have been condensed and edited.

How has the pandemic altered VW?

"We are very tense, very concerned all around the world because the cases are increasing again. We are better prepared than for the first wave because we established a lot of testing. For instance, alone here in Wolfsburg, we have test capacity of 2,000 tests per day. So we’re trying, really, if we have cases, to fence everything in. We want to make sure that our people are safe and confident if they come to work.”

VW is a massive organisation with lots of interests within the company. How do you make Volkswagen more nimble?

"We are facing two transitions: one is a transition in drivetrains – cars becoming electric – and we are prepared for that transition very well. We are building up battery capacities, we are changing entire plants toward electric cars, and we are training our people. For many people, it will be very difficult to decide against an electric car.

"The bigger transition automotive will face is really as the car is becoming more and more of a software device, gathering huge amounts of data, and then building up from the data artificial intelligence, knowledge about the driver, road conditions, safety, and then improving the way this device behaves.

"There’s a decision we have to make: are we becoming the providers of kind of a shell, a body style which then is equipped with a computer from a third party that is running the cars, or are we able to convert this exciting, precious device into a real Internet device?

"These are competencies which we didn’t own before, which we have started building up over the past couple of years but there’s still a long way to go.”

To achieve this, do automakers need their own operating systems?

"Yes, we need our own operational system to really be able to manage the car, keep the car safe, connect the car to the cloud, get all the intelligence from the cloud into the car, and we want to have the ownership of this process. This would be the ‘brain’ of the car, and we want to give it to other parties.

"We see that probably as the most important race and decisive point for our industry in the next five to 10 years.”

You call Tesla a competitor. Do you see them as a potential partner, as well? You seem to have a fairly friendly relationship with Mr. Musk.

"We think it’s a very important competitor because he’s really pulling the industry. Coming from a software background, he has capabilities which we still have to build up. He’s a reference for us. If we look into our future and what the car has to become, it has to become electric and it has to become an Internet device.

"We also have a few advantages over Tesla. If you drive a Porsche Taycan or e-Tron, you get a different product substance, you get really premium quality. We want to compete with Tesla and try to get close to and, in some areas, probably overtake. When it comes to the battle for market leadership, the race is still open.”

VW’s annual supervisory board meeting where medium-term plans are decided is next week. Are you going to have to reduce investment?

"The pandemic has an influence. There are several million cars missing in our planning, so we have to adapt. But we don’t compromise on our technology roadmap. The investment in software, in autonomous driving will increase. Investment in EVs will increase. But yes, we are putting more pressure on the complexity of our product portfolio. We cannot work in every niche.”

How do you keep people within the organisation focused on this transformation when you have all these distractions around them?

"Everybody thinks probably day in and day out about what happens with Covid, but in the long run climate change will be the biggest change mankind is facing and I would say nobody is losing sight. Even with Covid, we’ve seen that there’s more focus on electric cars, on keeping climate change in mind, preparing societies for the change.

"Both themes are in our mind – short term, Covid, and long term, climate change.”

How does a Trump presidency or a Biden presidency affect your planning?

"There are different programmes from the Democrats and president Trump’s leadership is different. A Democratic programme probably would be more aligned with our worldwide strategy, which is really to fight climate change, to become electric.

"On the other hand, I would say over the past years we have established a really trustful relationship with the Trump administration and government. We did a lot also to contribute to build America. We are investing a lot.”

How will you measure success for yourself?

"I think we are the best prepared company for the EV age. Europe will be one of the main hubs of electrification and we are well prepared, so I’m happy. You have to measure a car manager by what’s happening at least three years from now, probably four years – that is what we decide today. I’m quite optimistic that the next two, three years will be very positive years for the Volkswagen group.

"The big thing is managing through that transition. In 2024 and 2025, when cars really become Internet devices and start self-driving, I hope that we took the right decisions.”


Honda to supply F1 power units to Red Bull Racing

                TOKYO: Honda and Red Bull Group have signed an agreement whereby Honda will enter into a partnership with Red Bull Racing to supply it with power units for two years from the start of the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship.

This will be in addition to its current agreement with Red Bull Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Two Red Bull-owned teams will run identical specification of the Honda engines.

"Having two teams means we can access twice as much data as previously. We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and Championships, building two strong partnerships," said Honda president Takahiro Hachigo.

"We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own," said Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner.


Toyota GR Yaris and Vios GR-S: Having a GReat time

                WITH Toyota’s Gazoo Racing (GR) brand taking a more prominent stage in international racing, it should bode well for the Japanese car maker to offer its legion of loyal fans a taste of motorsports excitement in production cars.

Since the arrival of the GR Supra in late 2019, local Toyota vehicle distributor UMW Toyota Motor has expanded its GR-themed line-up with the World Rally Championship-homologated GR Yaris and the Vios GR-S, which was developed from experience obtained from the one-make Vios Challenge.

We got to try out both cars at the GR Dynamic Drive Experience held at the sidelines of the recently held Toyota Gazoo Racing festival’s Race One of Season Four at the Sepang International Circuit.

GR Yaris

Dubbed as a competition rally car refined for the road, the three-door GR Yaris combines motorsports pedigree with aggressive street appearance.

The GR Yaris, built at the Motomachi factory in Japan which also produces the Lexus LFA supercar, uses an unique platform combining Toyota’s new GA-B platform (from the new generation Yaris hatchback) and a rear section adapted from the GA-C platform (used for the Corolla and C-HR).

Powering the car is a class-topping 1,618cc three-cylinder DOHC intercooler turbo engine that delivers 261PS and 360Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission featuring a fulltime four-wheel drive system (GR-Four).

It can do the 0-100kph sprint in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed limited to 230kph. In addition, the GR Yaris also gets drive modes of Normal, Sport and Track.

In Normal mode, the torque is split 60:40 front to rear, in Sport the torque split is 30:70 and while in Track, the torque split is a perfectly balanced 50:50 distribution.

The GR Yaris sold in Malaysia comes with the Performance Pack Edition that gets sportier suspension, Torsen limited slip differential, forged BBS 18-inch alloy wheels and 225/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

A wet patch around the size of a badminton court was created for us to try out the rally car-style handbrake-induced sharp turning as well as getting the car to do a “donut.”

Yanking the handbrake lever hard with a quick flick of the steering when on the wet patch would get the car snapping into a turn immediately.

However, we had to switch off the hot hatch’s Vehicle Stability Control System first or the GR Yaris would start braking and cutting off engine power, thinking that the driver had lost control.

To get the car’s tail to slide out on the wet patch, we had to stomp on the throttle hard to get the rear wheels to spin as much as possible to lose traction and steer the car in the direction we want to go.

Later on the Sepang circuit, the GR Yaris’ short wheelbase of 2,560mm and its all-wheel drive system made it a nimble car especially around tight corners.

Its transmission also comes with i-MT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) that automatically increases the engine revs when downshifting, resulting in a smoother gear change.

This is helpful especially when you are braking hard upon approaching a corner and want to keep the revs high while dropping two or three gears at the same time.

The clutch pedal does not feel stiff and should not tire out the left foot even during long drives.

At the final grandstand straight, we could easily reach 180kph before needing to slow down to take a sharp right turn.

Its sporty suspension ensured exceptional handling and planted feel even when driven hard.

Besides, the large 356mm front and 297mm rear disc brakes offered good stopping power and allowed us to slow down from high speeds with confidence.

Easily a very fun car to drive, the GR Yaris is priced from RM286,896 without insurance, road tax but with SST exemption until June 30.

Vios GR-S

Though based on the current Vios G grade, the Vios GR-S (Gazoo Racing Sport) is a motorsports-derived variant with edgier enhancements and embellishment costing RM7,700 more at RM95,284.

The enhanced Vios GR-S gets the exclusive GR sport grille, sports-tuned suspension, GR-S Aerokit, suede and leather-wrapped sports seats and a one-size up 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45 low profile tyres.

The transmission is now a 10-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT) with three more “speeds” over those in the regular Vios.

Drawing enormous technological know-how from three seasons of the one-make Vios Challenge, the Vios GR-S shows that even the Vios family sedan can be tuned up to serve thrilling street-driving performance while remaining within the budget of many enthusiasts.

It is also the first first locally-engineered model to proudly wear the Gazoo Racing Sport badge.

While still using the same 1.5-litre DOHC with Dual VVT-i delivering 109PS and 140Nm of torque in the Vios line-up, the Vios GR-S felt faster off the block.

This is probably due to the CVT being programmed at Sport mode to delay upshifts longer until the rev needle reaches the redline and allowing the engine unfurl its full potential to the front wheels.

The Vios GR-S’ much bigger and wider tyres with lower profile along with stiffer suspension, gave it good cornering performance around the tight turns of the Sepang track.

The steering also offers much feedback and has adequate direct feel to make the Vios GR-S enjoyable to drive fast.

Aside from having good straight line stability, the Vios GR-S was also able to sustain tight fast turns without running astray from your intended driving line.

Despite these, the Vios GR-S is still not a purpose-built sports car and can run wide at tricky corners if you had charged in too fast or taken a wrong entry line.

While the Vios GR-S may not match the GR Yaris’ speed and cornering agility on the Sepang circuit, it is still nevertheless an affordable spiced-up car.


GM, Google, others join retreat from CES over rising Covid-19 cases

                DETROIT: General Motors Co, Alphabet Inc.'s Google and its self-driving auto-technology company Waymo on Thursday joined the companies no longer attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in person early next month due to rising Covid-19 infections.

GM chief executive Mary Barra had been scheduled to give a keynote speech at the annual conference on Jan 5, during which the company would have shown its electric Silverado pickup truck for the first time.

Barra will still make the speech and presentation remotely, a spokesman said.

"We have decided to move to an all-digital approach with our activation at CES 2022 in January," the US automaker said in a statement. "We are continuing with our plans on Jan 5 to share our significant company news, including the reveal of the Chevrolet Silverado EV."

A Google spokesperson said in a statement: "After careful consideration we have decided to withhold from having a presence on the show floor of CES 2022," adding that Google would continue to "identify and support virtual opportunities."

Waymo said in a blog post that it hopes to participate virtually if possible at the Las Vegas event, which traditionally has drawn over 180,000 people from around the world to discuss emerging technologies and party through the night with business contacts.

ByteDance-owned TikTok said it would hold a virtual event for partners and advertisers. Also on Thursday, Intel Corp said it would minimise staffing at CES.

"The health and safety of our employees, partners and customers  is  always a top priority," the chipmaker said. "Our plans for CES will move to a digital-first, live experience, with minimal on-site staff."

Several other companies, including Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Twitter Inc, Lenovo Group, AT&T Inc and Amazon.com Inc dropped in-person attendance plans earlier this week, saying they would not send employees out of caution over the spread of Omicron.

CES officials said the event will still be held in person from Jan 5-8 with "strong safety measures in place," including vaccination requirements, masking and availability of Covid-19 tests.

"Our mission remains to convene the industry and give those who cannot attend in person the ability to experience the magic of CES digitally," CES said in a statement.

"CES 2022 will go forward as important innovation for world health and safety, mobility and solving problems will be exhibited."

It added that while it had received 42 exhibitor cancellations since last Thursday, that was less than 7% of the exhibitor floor and 60 others had been added.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 was first detected last month in Hong Kong and southern Africa, sparking global concerns about a fast-spreading new version of the virus.

Coronavirus infections have soared wherever highly infectious Omicron has spread, triggering new restrictions in many countries.


Sime Darby expects luxury car demand to stay robust

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd expects demand for its luxury cars to remain strong in its markets despite the uncertainty amid the COVID-19 endemic phase.

Group chief executive officer Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson said this is backed by the fast and huge growing upper middle class group that has more disposable income in the markets where it operates.

"They have money to spend and they will spend on nice and luxury cars,” he said in a virtual media briefing on the group’s second-quarter results ended Dec 31, 2021 (Q2) of financial year 2022.

However, he said the group is experiencing some supply constraints in the automotive sector such as shortages of chips, whereby its manufacturers in Germany rely on chips, namely from South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan to produce the vehicles.

"Besides, due to a strong recovery in various industries in economies such as the United States (US), they are importing most autoparts to their markets. This means that there is a shortage for the rest of the world,” said Jeffri.

Nonetheless, he said this situation is temporary and would eventually recover, although it would take some six months or so.

"Generally, despite the constraints, I still think we should be able to get enough volume of cars to sell,” he said.

Add to that, Jeffri also does not see any passive impact arising from the interest rate increase in the US given its strong order book and strong demand from countries including China and Malaysia.

On the electric vehicle (EV) segment, he said prospects for EV continues to be good in Malaysia and the group would consider EV assembly and the EV charging business in the future.

Commenting on the impact of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) exemption for new vehicles that would end on June 30 this year, he said people are rushing to buy vehicles before the deadline.

He foresees there would be a natural short-term dip in demand of about two to three months before demand restabilises.

The SST exemption was first announced in June 2020, and was extended several times to spur demand within the local automotive market.


US firm, FAW to build sports cars under Chairman Mao's favoured brand Hongqi

Supercar Hongqi S9 is presented at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show last September. — Reuters
BEIJING: A little-known US-based engineering and design firm said it plans to invest 10 billion yuan (RM6bil) to make sports cars with China’s FAW Group under the brand of choice of late revolutionary leader Chairman Mao Zedong, Hongqi.

Silk EV said today it has signed a memorandum of understanding with FAW to launch a joint venture in the state-owned automaker’s hometown of Changchun, northern China, to make cars it has dubbed the S-series.

The plan was first reported on Friday by state media CCTV and Xinhua. FAW confirmed the CCTV report.

Silk EV is a full auto solutions provider focused on the China auto market, its website showed.

It launched a company in Shanghai’s free trade zone in April last year with registered capital of 1 million yuan ($141,281), showed a filing on the official National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System.

Hongqi, meaning Red Flag, was launched by FAW in 1958 and is widely regarded as a symbol of China’s ruling Communist Party, with former leader Mao often seen riding in high-end black saloons.

It has undergone several revamps over the decades, falling out of favour in the 1980s and now enjoying a revival as the government promotes home-grown brands.

FAW aims for annual Hongqi sales to double to 200,000 vehicles this year and reach 1 million by the end of the decade. Its plans for the brand include having 21 models by 2025.


Losing control: Three things every driver should know about wet roads

                BERLIN: Heavy rain and wet roads can pose a real danger to drivers thanks to the phenomenon of aquaplaning - when your car's wheels suddenly start to slip and slide along the road surface and you can no longer steer to safety.

It occurs when the tyres can no longer divert all the water passing through their treads and the consequences can be fatal if you don't know how to act and what to watch out for.

When to be wary

When there's a continuous film of water on the road surface, drivers should exercise extreme caution. Loud water sounds in the wheel arches or along the underbody can indicate a high potential for aquaplaning, as can spinning tyres or a jerking steering wheel.

If tyre tracks of the car ahead of you are disappearing very quickly in water, that indicates deep wheel ruts and an extremely high risk of aquaplaning, road safety experts say.

However, if traces of suds are visible on the road, that’s a sign that a dangerous slippery film has built up on the roads, typically after a long period of dryness followed by a rain shower.

In both cases, it is of the utmost importance to slow down and drive at double the normal safe distance to the vehicle in front, says vehicle inspection agency Tuev Sued.

How to avoid aquaplaning

In general, the inspection agency advises drivers to brake lightly here and there in wet conditions, as this can help dry off the brake coatings and discs.

In case of emergency, the tyres will then be able to grip the road more quickly. Modern and more expensive car models often take this step automatically.

The deeper the treads in a car's tyres, the better they can cope with potential aquaplaning. A new tyre with a tread seven or more millimetres deep will still be able to divert water at around 80kph, whereas a 3-millimetre tread will only be effective up to 70kph. At a bare minimum depth of 1.6 millimetres, the tyres will lose traction at just 50kph.

If aquaplaning happens, brake gently, then steer

If a driver of a vehicle equipped with ABS has the feeling the car is starting to aquaplane, the advice from technical experts is to not touch the steering wheel.

Just take your foot off the gas and don't brake too cautiously or tentatively. Only when the wheels re-establish proper traction on the road should the driver start steering again.

Trying to steer out of an aquaplane has little effect with a film of water between the tyres and the road. And the danger is that if the tyres do grip, the car could suddenly change its direction of travel.

Drivers can always carefully check with small steering movements whether the tyres have traction again. Cars that are gliding with worn-out tires on the other hand will suddenly swerve as soon as the tyres have contact with the road again.


Faraday Future unveils concept electric race car

LAS VEGAS: Start-up electric car venture Faraday Future on Monday previewed a technology-heavy concept race car it hopes to develop into a range of connected vehicles that can challenge luxury rivals like Tesla and Audi in the growing global market for non-gasoline cars.

The California-based company, which has backing from Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting, has remained tight-lipped about its plans since its launch 18 months ago. Days ahead of this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it still had revealed no details about its debut vehicle, expected for 2017.

Faraday is part of a group of Chinese-funded start-ups hoping to capitalize on disruption in the auto industry amid global regulatory demand for electric or hybrid vehicles, a growing trend of connectivity in cars and a sharp rise in interest in mobility alternatives, such as Uber.

At the center of the new wave of China's electric vehicle (EV) producers is Jia, founder of LeTV , or Leshi Internet Information & Technology Co. Jia has also funded another California EV start-up, Atieva, and other EV efforts. His deep pockets have investors speculating about whether Faraday can take on publicly traded Tesla, although executives insist there is room in the expanding market for both companies.

 The concept car gets a media preview at CES 2016 ahead of the show's opening on Jan 6. - Reuters

LeTV, whose many areas of focus include film production, smart TVs and consumer electronics, is an advantage for Faraday.

Experts believe the technology for self-driving cars will be ready by 2020, and as it is adopted over the following years, there will be more opportunities for drivers to focus on a screen.

Faraday sees a growing market for electric vehicles in the United States, despite low gasoline prices that have curbed consumer demand in the short term. Its ties with China open up that country's fast-growing, second-largest EV market in which others, including Tesla Motors, have struggled.

Faraday's senior vice president of R&D and product development, Nick Sampson, told Reuters ahead of the unveiling that the company's first electric vehicle for consumers would be a premium car built in a US$1 billion Nevada manufacturing plant.

The plant will be built near Las Vegas beginning in the next few weeks.

"We are building premium pure electric vehicles, that's what the manufacturing site will produce, and we are demonstrating that over time we will produce a range of vehicles," Sampson said. He said buyers of owner-operated vehicles will be only one potential market.

"Initially they'll be sold to owners, but we also see the changing landscape in the industry, there are far more people that will want just mobility in the future," he said.

With its teardrop shape and aerodynamic tunnels that allow air to flow through the car and cool the batteries, the FFZERO1 Concept race car shown in Las Vegas is not intended to be produced, Sampson said.

"It's more an illustration of what is possible" with its underlying tech currently being tested in other cars, he said. Central to that is a proprietary engineering platform model that supports a range of vehicle types, cutting back on development and production time. The adjustable chassis can accommodate strings of batteries that are more easily changed than single batteries. The number of batteries would depend on car size.

The concept car features four motors that produce a total of over 1,000hp. On paper, it could sprint from 0 to 100kph in under 3s, and accelerate to a top speed of over 322kph.

Faraday has been poaching talent from rivals such as Tesla and BMW. The company, based in Gardena, California, outside Los Angeles, now has more than 550 employees.

Underscoring China's efforts to encourage electric vehicles, both Beijing Electric Vehicle Co, an affiliate of government-owned BAIC Motor Corp Ltd, and state-owned Chinese automaker SAIC Motor Corp have opened research centers in Silicon Valley.

Sampson denied that Faraday's main competitor would be Tesla, whose premium Model S electric vehicle has shaken up the traditional automaking industry. Like Tesla, Sampson said, Faraday will target buyers of luxury gasoline-powered cars to expand the still-tiny EV market in the United States.

"Thinking about us and Tesla squabbling over 1 percent of the market, it's not really part of the equation," he said.

 Source: Bloomberg Source: Bloomberg Source: AFP Source: Bloomberg


Porsche training dealerships on high-voltage battery repairs

                STUTTGART: Li-ion batteries can be repaired and this is what Porsche is doing as it introduces its multi-stage service concept for high-voltage batteries.

The Porsche concept covers sourcing and manufacturing, consulting, sales and servicing, and logistics and recycling.

By 2025, half of all new Porsche sales are expected to be electrified – either fully electric or as plug-in hybrids. By 2030, more than 80 per cent of new Porsches would be all-electric.

The transition from combustion engines to electric motors is changing today’s service business, especially in the Porsche dealership organisation. Porsche Aftersales is systematically preparing its dealers for this change with its "Road-to-X Initiative". Among other things, it includes measures designed to increase service loyalty and to boost productivity in workshops.

“Our dealers are the face we present to the customer and our brand ambassadors on the front line,” said Daniel Schukraft, Vice President Aftersales and Customer Care at Porsche. “We are working intensively on a plan of action for our dealership organisation to ensure that it is as well prepared for the age of electromobility as possible.”

A holistic concept for servicing all-electric Porsche vehicles has also been developed. As the sports car manufacturer’s first all-electric model, the Taycan has some very different service and repair needs compared to vehicles with combustion engines.

For example, the electric sports car has a service interval of two years or 30,000km.

However, since tasks such as spark plug and oil changes are no longer relevant, the scope of maintenance is likely to be reduced by around 30 per cent, as initial indicators in relation to the Taycan reveal.

In addition, the electric powertrain, including the high-voltage battery, is completely maintenance free.

However, repair work on electric vehicles requires expert training and specialist tools that Porsche Centres must obtain before they can offer these services.

The service concept for electric vehicles comprises several stages: the basis for this is the high-voltage support centre, which is specifically configured for HV battery repairs, has suitable specialist tools and has specially trained high-voltage experts as well.

The sports car manufacturer is also establishing cross-regional hubs at certain qualified centres, which will handle repairs on high-voltage vehicles in areas where there is no high-voltage base close by.

The Porsche Centre that originally accepts the vehicle for repairs will take it to the high-voltage hub, where the work will be carried out along with a final quality inspection, before it is returned to the original Porsche Centre.

If transporting the vehicle to a dedicated repair centre is not possible, a ‘flying doctor’ repair technician will be deployed. These mobile high-voltage experts can repair defective high-voltage batteries on site. Ahead of this, the relevant Porsche Centre receives all the high-voltage tools and replacement parts required for the work.

Technicians must be up to the task. Porsche has defined three levels of technicians who are allowed to service batteries. They are qualified electricians, high-voltage technicians and high-voltage experts.

Qualified electricians have a basic qualification that allows them to perform standard repairs to high-voltage vehicles, such as changing the tyres or wiper blades. They must be briefed and supervised by a high-voltage technician when working on a high-voltage vehicle.

The Taycan is the first production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts, and requires a clear division of tasks and responsibilities.

High-voltage technicians are trained to work on vehicles that have been disconnected from the voltage supply, and are familiar with classifying and storing lithium batteries.

They are also qualified to remove and pack high-voltage batteries classified as "Normal" and "Warning".

High-voltage experts have the highest qualification level at a Porsche Centre. They are the only people allowed to perform work inside high-voltage batteries, handle high-voltage batteries with insulation faults and prepare and pack these types of batteries for transportation.

The know-how necessary to work with high-voltage systems is taught in a specially coordinated training concept for all task areas.

“We offer the qualification as a high-voltage technician as part of a train-the-trainer approach,” says Stefan Schierle, HV Trainer at Porsche Aftersales.

“Local market trainers in the respective country qualify the high-voltage technicians at Porsche Centres. We currently only train high-voltage experts centrally at the on-site training centre at Porsche.

From 2022 onwards, however, we intend to organise this in a decentralised manner and plan to establish eight training locations worldwide.”

Porsche also plans to offer an app solution that will enable customers themselves to find out the health status of their vehicle.

“The total battery capacity is determined by the worst cell – if a cell loses capacity, it limits the range,” said Christian Brügger, Product Engineer in Porsche’s Aftersales Electrics division.

“We can detect a defective cell using the diagnostic tester in the workshop. For example, if the voltages don’t match, we know which module needs to be replaced before the repair.”

Cell modules that are still functional but no longer suitable for powering a vehicle can be used for stationary tasks.

As part of its second-life strategy, Porsche is working on a pilot project that will allow high-voltage batteries to be re-used. These batteries are dismantled down to the module level and installed in stationary energy carriers.

Working with the Volkswagen Group and other professional partners, Porsche has been making ongoing improvements to its existing recycling processes with the aim of increasing the proportion of raw materials in circulation and in order to re-use these materials in new batteries.


Tesla batteries better than expected

                SAN FRANCISCO: Anyone with an interest in electric vehicles will be well aware that the biggest thing stopping them becoming the mainstream is the limited capacity of the batteries.

And critics of EVs often point to the batteries as an example of their overstated environmental credentials of electric cars, due to their manufacturing processes and their limited lifespan before needing to be replaced and disposed of. As far as how long EV batteries last though, it appears they may have been seriously underestimated.

That's because data gathered by a Dutch-Belgian Tesla owners group shows Tesla batteries are lasting considerably longer than they were expected to.

Tesla currently doesn't have a battery degradation warranty on its Model S and X luxury EVs, but it does guarantee the Model 3 will retain 70 percent battery capacity after 193,000km for the long-range battery and 160,000km for the shorter-range version.

That's already a little more generous than the 66 percent over 160,000km Nissan offers on the LEAF for instance, but, according to the survey data, the Tesla batteries do much better than that.

The survey of 350 owners shows that the Tesla EVs lost around five percent of their capacity after the first 80,000km, but degradation is much slower from that point onwards. If the trend identified in the survey holds true, most Tesla vehicles will still retain some 90 percent of their battery capacity after around 300,000km, and as much as 80 percent capacity after a massive 800,000km.

As might be expected, some examples in the survey lost battery capacity considerably faster than the average for unknown reasons, but the overall findings based on real-world usage should prove reassuring to EV buyers who are likely to be concerned about potential battery life issues. It also bodes well for the used market for EVs as potential buyers could be put off buying a used model due to the worry of having to replace the expensive battery before too long.

After all, how many retail vehicles do we see for sale with half a million miles on the clock? If the data proves to be correct in wider surveys it could also encourage the likes of taxi and delivery companies to more open to the idea of using EVs.


Modesto tops San Francisco with worst vehicle-theft rate in US

                SAN FRANCISCO:  The Modesto, California, area had the worst auto theft rate in the U.S. last year, overtaking the San Francisco Bay region.

Modesto, 126km south-east of here, had 756 thefts per 100,000 people, up from about 573 a year earlier, when it ranked fifth-worst in the country, the National Insurance Crime Bureau said Monday in a report. Albuquerque, New Mexico, had the second-highest rate. San Francisco improved to No. 5 from No. 1 in 2014.

California, which is the most populous state in the US and is known for its vast network of roads, is an attractive target for car thieves. With borders along the Pacific Ocean and Mexico, the state is vulnerable to criminals who break into newer, high-end vehicles and then ship them abroad. Older vehicles are stolen primarily for parts, the NICB said in the statement.

In a state with so many residents, “along with the very decent people, you get other people who make a living or do things on the dark side,” Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the NICB, said in a phone interview. “So we have a lot of auto thieves, always have, in California.”

The state held eight of the top 10 “hot spots” in the ranking, including No. 3 Bakersfield. The San Francisco area, which includes Oakland, had about 656 thefts for every 100,000 people last year. That compares with 110 in the New York City area. A representative for Modesto's police force didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Salisbury, Maryland and State College, Pennsylvania, are among the nation's least-vulnerable regions to car theft. Each had less than 30 per 100,000 people.

Auto theft nationwide was up about 1 percent in the first six months of 2015, as drivers made more trips amid lower fuel prices. Still, the crime has mostly been in decline in recent years, in part because of improved technology. Alarms can thwart criminals, as can devices such as smart keys, which make it harder to hot-wire vehicles. The NICB also encourages common-sense prevention, such as removing the keys from the ignition when making quick stops.

The bureau is a not-for-profit organisation funded by insurers that seeks to prevent and combat insurance fraud and other crimes. The Des Plaines, Illinois-based NICB uses data provided by law enforcement and the US Census Bureau to assemble its car-theft reports for the metropolitan statistical areas.

 Computer hacker silhouette of hooded man with binary data and network security terms


Chevrolet Malibu tested

Chevrolet’s Malibu LTZ D-segment sedan does not fail to impress with its list of features.

When someone mentions “Chevrolet”, it is likely that the images that come to mind are that of the classic muscle cars like the Chevelle, Camaro and of course, the iconic Corvette sports car.

Back in the 1960’s, these cars came with huge petrol guzzling engines, heaps of power and a style that many motoring enthusiasts could not help but fall in love with.

Fast forward about 40 years later, Chevrolet still produces the Camaro and Corvette but somewhere along the line, the Chevelle nameplate was replaced with the Malibu.

Local Chevrolet distributor Naza Quest introduced the Malibu in September and the car now joins the D-segment sedan battle that is being fought by the likes of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Teana and Mazda6.

The Malibu remains true to its muscle car heritage and at the very first glance, you would notice the quad tail lamps are strikingly similar to the Camaro’s.

From the outside, the car looks sleek, although visibly smaller than the other cars in its class.

Looks, however, can be deceiving, as there is surprisingly plenty of leg room for rear passengers even with the front seats pushed all the way to the back.

Although the 165hp and 225Nm of torque produced by its engine are low when compared to those of the Camry (181hp), Accord (173hp) and Teana (171hp), the 2.4-litre Ecotec powerplant is capable of allowing the Malibu to do the 0-100kph dash in 9.6 seconds.

The Malibu promises a fuel economy of 7.8 litres/100km which is similar to that of the Toyota Camry.

Taking this sleek sedan for a test-drive along the North South Expressway to Johor Baru was a pleasant experience for me.

Stepping hard on accelerator pedal brings the powerplant to life, making quick overtaking an easy task.

The six-speed automatic transmission does the job of translating that power to the huge 18-inch wheels.

At highway speeds, the Malibu hugs the road with its stiff chassis setting.

MacPherson struts at front and multi-link suspension unit at the back do a fine job of soaking up the road irregularities.

In the city, the size of the Malibu seems ideal, and was easy to navigate through heavy traffic.

The Malibu LTZ available here, boasts gadgets such as HID headlamps with washers, tyre pressure monitoring system, cruise control, heated wing mirrors with turn signals, auto dimming rear-view mirror, eight-way power adjustable seats (with lumbar) for both driver and passenger, keyless entry with push start and 462 litres of boot space.

Luxurious and comfortable leather seats hug the body of driver and passengers apart from the three-spoke steering wheel as well as shift knob wrapped in the same material.

The rear seats split at a 60:40-split to make way for more boot space if needed.

The “MyLink” six-speaker sound system with seven-inch touchscreen gives the driver and passengers a proper in-car entertainment experience with AUX-in, USB interface, Bluetooth, a reverse camera and steering controls.

The touchscreen flips up to reveal a storage area which can easily store and conceal a GPS unit or SmartTag device.

The car also features acoustic-laminated windows for noise reduction and a remote engine start function which is great for getting the air-conditioner up and running to cool down the cabin on a hot day before passengers get in.

The instrument cluster again bares a striking resemblance to the Camaro spirit with its square and hooded design and illuminates in a cool shade of blue.

The dashboard and front doors also illuminate the same hue in ambient lighting which, at night, brings the interior to life.

In terms of safety, the Malibu offers four dual-front and side airbags, a “StabiliTrak” electronic stability control and anti-lock braking system with brake assist.

Built in South Korea, the Malibu is priced at RM155,444 (on-the-road excluding insurance) and is covered by a five-year/200,000km warranty.

Overall, the Malibu is a comfortable and enjoyable car for long distance cruising.


VW able to build 1 million EVs a year in China from 2023, says Nikkei

                BERLIN: Volkswagen will be able to build 1 million electric vehicles a year in China in 2023, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Ralf Brandstaetter told Nikkei on Wednesday, boosted by a new plant in Anhui province.

The plant, a joint venture with China's Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co (JAC) first announced in 2019, is set to produce 300,000 electric cars a year, with production starting in 2023.

Together with production from two further joint venture plants - one with FAW Group, and one with SAIC Motor - this should bring total capacity to the 1 million mark, Brandstaetter said.

Volkswagen was not immediately available for comment.

The German automaker sold 70,625 of its ID electric vehicles in China last year, missing its goal of selling 80,000 to 100,000 cars, with production also affected by regional Covid-19 outbreaks in addition to chip-related issues.

Volkswagen’s China chief Stephan Wollenstein told a briefing in Beijing in January that the automaker would like to double sales of its ID battery electric vehicles this year but cautioned that low semiconductor supplies could hamper its efforts.

Brandstaetter is due to take over Volkswagen's China business from Aug 1.

Under his watch, the carmaker will ramp up local development in China, Brandstaetter told Nikkei.

"In the past, our approach was to develop in Germany and localise in China," he was quoted as saying. "But this approach will be changed significantly by setting up more local resources for R&D, especially for software, to be faster, to be more independent in China."


No more monthly fuel price announcements

                KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no more announcements of monthly petrol and diesel prices from now on, said Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek.

"We have decided to stop the practice of announcing the prices on the last day of the month.

"From now, motorists will only know if the prices at midnight," he told reporters after attending an Umno Youth GST Open Day briefing here today.

Last month, the announcement of the fuel prices was made through the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry website.

In June, motorists were informed that RON95 petrol and diesel would be priced at RM2.05 a litre, while RON97 fuel was RM2.35 per litre, inclusive of the Goods and Service Tax.

The ministry decided to set the prices of petrol and diesel on a managed float from Dec 1 last year.


Shell looks beyond road fuels to secure future of refining

The former Shell refinery in Port Dickson. It underwent a name change in February to Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad after Shell sold off its 51% stake to Malaysia Hengyuan International Ltd. The company is part of China's Shandong Hengyuan Petrochemical Company Limited.
LONDON: While the world braces for the electric-vehicle revolution, Royal Dutch Shell is betting on growing appetite for asphalt and plastics to sustain its century-old oil refining business for the coming decades.

Converting crude oil into products ranging from gasoline to industrial chemicals has long faced obstacles due to volatile profits, high costs, safety issues and pollution and more recently, forecasts of peaking demand for oil.

But refining, together with trading, marketing and chemicals - known together as downstream - has proved its importance during the oil industry’s downturn since 2014, providing the bulk of Shell’s profits as the price of crude collapsed.

Shell has in recent years transformed its downstream business by selling some plants and upgrading others to have them better resist oil price fluctuations and shifts in demand, delivering double-digit returns on capital employed.

“Refining will continue to be part of our portfolio for decades to come,” said Shell’s head of manufacturing Lori Ryerkerk, who is in charge of refining.

Shell is perhaps the most aggressive in its sector in forecasting that the demand for gasoline could reach an apex by the 2030s as drivers shift to electric vehicles and traditional engines become more efficient.

But still, Shell says, the continued expansion of the world’s economy, particularly in Asia, means consumption of other refined oil products and petrochemicals is likely to grow.

For instance, there are no economically viable substitutes for asphalt, needed to build roads, or for the polymers and chemicals used to produce plastics for cars, toys and clothes, Ryerkerk said.

“While the peak demand for our products will come, it won’t come in decades. There are still many products that we make for which there is no other alternative at the moment – heavy transport, industrial applications that require high heat.”

The Anglo-Dutch company plans to double the size of its chemicals business by the middle of the next decade with several new plants including in Louisiana and Pennsylvania that benefit from access to cheap shale gas, said Shell’s head of chemicals, Graham van’t Hoff.

It also wants 20 percent of sales from its fuel stations worldwide to come from recharging electric vehicles and low-carbon fuels by 2025.

The oil sector’s outlook for growth in demand for oil and plastics could prove wrong if governments around the world introduce regulations to reduce fossil fuel consumption in their fight against pollution and global warming. A study published last week said a quarter of the world’s oil refineries risk closure by 2035 if those targets are met.

Just as some countries such as China and India contemplate banning gasoline and diesel vehicles, rules to limit consumption of plastics such as bottles and bags could dampen demand, analysts said.

“Regulation is one of the biggest risks to the business,” said Jason Kenney, head of European oil and gas equity research at Banco Santander.

Overcapacity is another danger as other companies including Exxon Mobil and France’s Total also expand into petrochemicals.

“Shell currently offers double-digit returns on capital employed from downstream and chemicals. But then you could have a flood of capacity and it will be a difficult sector to remain competitive for decades,” Kenney said.

Even when demand starts to fall, Shell says its refining arm will have an edge over many competitors thanks to the company’s access to its own, cheaper crude and complex trading operations that curb its vulnerability to fluctuating oil prices.

It has 43,000 petrol stations in 70 countries, making Shell the world’s largest fuel retailer. Shell recently introduced battery charging spots at a number of stations in Britain and plans to develop hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany.

Shell also supplies 11 percent of the world’s lubricants needed in cars, trucks and heavy industrial machinery. It has one of the world’s largest aviation fuel businesses, fuelling a plane every 40 seconds.

“Downstream is a highly resilient business. It is pretty independent to changes in crude price,” said John Abbott, head of Shell’s downstream business.

“We have a competitive edge going into the energy transition,” Abbott said.

Shell has interests in more than 20 refineries and processed around 2.6 million barrels of oil per day in 2016, while its 15 petrochemical plants processed 6.2 million tonnes last year.


BMW offers to help authorities probe cause of fire

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia woke up this morning to news of a BMW catching fire and killing its driver, and immediately offered to help the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department as well as other authorities investigate the incident.

"This is a very unfortunate incident and we are really saddened with what has happened," said BMW Group Malaysia in a statement.

"We sympathise with the victim and the family members affected by the incident. We understand that at the moment, the cause of the fire has not been ascertained."

According to The Star report today, the man was believed to have been drunk, and had pulled up at the Sprint Highway toll plaza in Damansara to sleep with the engine running when the car caught fire, killing the driver. No one else was in the car.

The vehicle involved in the tragedy was a older-generation BMW car.


Porsche Centre Perth assembles 38 Taycans led by art car

PERTH: Porsche Centre Perth recently held an exclusive event for its first Taycan owners.

Thirty-eight all-electric Taycan participated in the drive, which began at a waterfront location in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The event is one of the largest gatherings of Taycan sportscars anywhere in the world since the car’s launch in 2019.

Porsche Cars Australia contributed one car to the group – the art car it unveiled last year. The spectacular Nigel Sense-styled Taycan led the pack, driven by Porsche Cars Australia CEO and managing director Daniel Schmollinger.


Honda Malaysia jumps for joy as BR-V bookings zoom past target to hit 4,000 units

                PETALING JAYA: The new Honda BR-V is a wildly successful product, going by its sales performance. Three weeks after launch, over 4,000 bookings were registered, surpassing Honda Malaysia's expectations.

The company had initially set a monthly sales target of 800 units, but the 4,000 bookings is equivalent to the total sales target for five months.

Honda Malaysia said that although there was overwhelming demand for the seven-seat compact crossover, which we reviewed recently in Thailand, the delivery period remains at 1 to 2 months as it is able to scale up production across two production lines. The  V variant leads the number of bookings at 83% of the total number followed by the E variant. The V and E variants are priced at RM92,800 and RM85,800 respectively.

Honda Malaysia said many of the bookings were from first-time customers who had never owned a Honda before. The BR-V, powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine, also attracted urban and suburban customers nationwide, it added.

To celebrate the huge windfall, Honda Malaysia said its CEO, Katsuto Hayashi, would send a hand-drawn BR-V birthday greeting card to all Honda customers in conjunction with their birthdays.

 The boss, an artist too. Hayashi's handiwork will be seen in a BR-V birthday card to be sent to all Honda customers in conjunction with their birthdays.


Concept 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered hybrid announced

                PARIS: The Concept 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered — unveiled Thursday, February 21, 2019, by the French automaker — is the forerunner to a new range of top-performance hybrid production vehicles. The concept car will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.

This concept is a high-performance iteration of the Peugeot 508 Hybrid. It features three engines: a PureTech 200 petrol engine, as well as a 110hp electric engine at the front and a 200hp electric engine at the rear. Plus, four-wheel drive promises exceptional performances, with this 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered concept managing 0-100kph in 4.3 seconds for a top speed of 250kph.

Peugeot claims the concept has CO2 emissions of just 49g/km and the ability to run for up to 50km in 100% electric mode.

In terms of aerodynamics, the concept has an impressive 3D-printed valance with floating blades, specifically positioned to direct air towards the radiator. The 20-inch alloy wheel rims reveal a glimpse of the Peugeot Sport Engineered signature on the brake calipers.

On the inside, the Peugeot i-Cockpit is designed for performance with a compact steering wheel, head-up instrument panel and new "comfort-fit" seats. Plus, the 100% Kryptonite 10-inch HD touchscreen and 12.3" head-up digital pad promise total immersion.

Peugeot Sport CEO, Bruno Famin, said in a statement: "Electrification has enabled us to develop the sportiest line ever seen at Peugeot."


Ferrari 812 Superfast: Speeding bullet

                Ferrari 812 Superfast. Here's the supercar that Ferrari deemed necessary to drop the “berlinetta” nomenclature for something a lot more ostentatious — meet the 812 Superfast.

This is the successor to the F12berlinetta and while it sounds fancy to us non-Italian folk, it’s really just a coming-together of an alphanumeric designation.

Loosely decoding the F12berlinetta into English, it’s really just a ‘F’errari V ‘12’ ‘little saloon’.

But with the 812 Superfast, it now sounds a lot less exotic (at least to our ears) and a lot more egoistic.

Here, its name simply refers to the ‘8’00PS of performance and the ‘12’ cylinders in V-configuration before describing how it actually drives...’superfast’ indeed.

The 6.5-litre F140 GA naturally aspirated 65-degree V12 engine has been up-rated to an increased displacement of 6,496cc - producing a whopping 800PS at 8,500rpm and 718Nm of torque at 7,000rpm.

This is quite a significant improvement compared to the F12’s 6,262cc F140 FC engine that has an output of 740PS at 8,250rpm and 690Nm of torque at 6,000rpm.

Indeed the 812 Superfast is a lightning-quick ‘Cavallino’ (Italian for racehorse) capable of bolting off from 0 to 100kph in 2.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 340kph.

On top of that, it has a base price of almost RM1.388mil which excludes duties, customs and anything else because the customer is the one that dictates the way it will be bespoked and in turn will dictate how it will be priced.

It’s all about form-following-function for this car, with much of its looks carried over from the F12berlinetta, from its short rear overhang to its long disappearing hood and gaping wheel arches.

Inside, the driver-centric cabin is of typical ‘Ferrari’ in that it blends luxury with racing emotions.

Meaning, soft, smooth and supple Nappa leather stitched exquisitely together by a skilful artisan before pairing it up with elements of Alcantara, lightweight carbon fibre, aluminium, LCD panels and LEDs to add colour and contrast within.

Looking fast

Without any contest, the 812 Superfast proudly displays its heritage from the F12berlinetta with its long hood and stubby rear end or what designers call a two-box design.

But ultimately, it really takes after the 365 GTB/4 Daytona.

The body, while retaining much of the F12, includes a combination of active and passive aerodynamics that helps to improve the supercar’s drag coefficient over its predecessor.

The front air intakes and ducts not only direct air to the front brakes but also redirects air to the underbody and the sides of the car to ensure it gets suction-cupped to the road. At the rear, the 812 Superfast also has F12-inspired active flaps that operate at high speeds to reduce drag.

For added differentiation from the F12, it gets slapped with new full-LED headlights, revised air vents, quad circular taillights and a matching rear diffuser.

Depending on what’s been chosen on the options list, getting into this Ferrari can be akin to strapping yourself inside a fighter jet.

The interior of the 812 looks ‘Ferrari-ish’ and it’s no secret that its inspiration comes from the F12 with a highly driver-centric set up within.

Almost everything is within easy reach for the driver, leaving the passenger relegated to feeling like a weighted ballast.

The seats are stiff, but at least they hug well and the leather provides some semblance of luxury feel. Upfront, the combination of leather and carbon fibre on the dashboard and steering wheel sets the luxury-racing tone.

But here’s where things get a little more serious.

Looking forward, the driver is simply overwhelmed by a plethora of buttons, paddles and dials to name a few.

Not to mention, the large yellow tachometer staring back with its black needle dipped in white with a red inlay and an integrated gear indicator in the bottom right indirectly tells its driver to ‘watch the revs mate’.

This is flanked by two LCD panels with information from multimedia to car setup that the driver can cycle through.

The only time the driver needs to reach for a button is for the dual-zone climate controls, power window, multimedia, cruise controls or to activate Reverse and the Automatic mode or Launch (a personal favourite).

V12 goodness

Other than it looking ‘bellisimo’ sitting there waiting quietly, firing up the 6.5-litre V12 engine sends its aggression factor rocketing skyward...exponentially. With a quick blip of the throttle, the engine’s evocative howl easily penetrates the cabin.

As the revs drop back down towards idle, it’ll pop and grumbling - as if disgruntled with the lack of conviction to bring the V12 engine to full voice at its 9,000rpm redline.

The 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 dishes out 800PS and 718Nm of torque for the rear wheels and is managed by a seven-speed Getrag dual-clutch transmission.

For a naturally aspirated car to be able to sprint to 100kph in 2.9 seconds is the sort of performance that definitely earns itself a spot on the ‘widowmaker’ list - as all supercars would.

Flooring the throttle turns all 800 ‘ponies’ into unicorns as the needle fast approaches the engine’s redline so drivers will need to get used to what the engine sounds like just before the limiter kicks in and paddle up a gear.

Regardless of what crazy levels of performance it has at the ready, the engine still allows for an easy drive.

At about 1.75 tonnes, the 812 Superfast is currently the company’s most powerful naturally aspirated production car ever, with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.18kg per horsepower (PS).

Pure indulgence

No one in their right mind would buy a vehicle from Scuderia Ferrari bearing the ‘prancing’ Cavallino to fit the family because this car only serves one purpose - to go fast and make its driver look good while at it.

There are only two heated 16-way powered stiff sports seats available and that means a single front passenger gets the honour of becoming a weighted ballast.

However, despite the seemingly taught interior, the wide stance of the 812 Superfast accords plenty of shoulder room from the front passenger and at 175cm-tall, headroom isn’t an issue.

Drive experience

This two-seater is a mixed bowl of nuts with the ability to overload the senses with excessive speed and yet remain docile and putty while in traffic.

There’s only one way to drive a Ferrari of this calibre - hard, and that’s why the 812 rolls on 20-inch forged lightweight wheels with staggered 275/35 (front) and 315/35 Pirelli P Zero tyres that have been paired with a stiff suspension setup.

Blipping the throttle will do little to help prepare for an onslaught, but it can provide occupants with a glimpse of what to expect, which is anything but a plush ride and a quiet interior.

This supercar is meant to go around corners as fast as possible and feel stable on the straights while at a top speed of 340kph.

It is for these reasons that the suspension will feel almost as rough as a racecar and this experience can never be omitted - so long as Ferraris continue to be built the infusion of its racing heritage will never be omitted.

Such heritage may be watered-down or intensified and in this case, it is properly intense.

The sporty ride will assure its owner that it will remain flat around corners when at speed while being fed with details of what each wheel is doing.

Rear-wheel grunt is ever-present regardless of driving mode.

In Race, CT Off (traction control off) or ESC Off (Electronic Stability Control off) modes, less experienced drivers will need to properly acclimatise to them.

Venturing into these modes will be unchartered territories for many and experiencing the car’s handling limits (while in such modes) is ill-advised when on uneven roads.

When in capable hands, drivers will generally experience a neutral feel thanks to the engine being mid-mounted at the front (ie behind the front wheels) which gives the 812 a weight distribution of 47% (front) and 53% (rear).

Playing along tight winding routes, the steering will feel accurately sharp and highly responsive while gearshifts will feel rudely abrupt when punching the throttle - almost racelike.

The top of the steering wheel will illuminate its blue LEDs before flashing red, reminding the driver that it’s ready to up-shift on the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission via the right paddle-shifter located behind the steering wheel.

At this point, a quick glance down at the speedometer can alarm the senses when noting the triple-digit speeds while sling-shotting from one apex to another.

Don’t forget to periodically take note of the fuel-gauge though, because as alarming as this writer’s heartbeats per minute were after a drive, so was how fuel-thirsty this Cavallino was.

Under heavy braking, the 812 will pressure-test blood vessels in the head every time the 398mm (front) and 360mm (rear) carbon-ceramic Brembo brake system gets abused.

Toning things down, the 812 Superfast can be putty in anyone’s hands when in a crawl, but it’ll feel unnatural after having experienced some of its abilities.

Options to go

As with all Ferraris, there are a plethora of options for owners to choose from under the company’s Personalisation Programme in order to provide a unique and tailored service for its clientele.

This includes a 12-speaker audio system boosted by a 1,280-Watt amplifier with Quantum Logic to up-rate sound quality.

For this vehicle, the options list include:

> adaptive headlights with SBL function
> yellow brake callipers
> carbon fibre driver zone with LEDs
> coloured inner details
> coloured safety belts
> suspension lifter
> Cavallino stitched on headrest
> ‘Scuderia Ferrari’ shields
> front and rear parking cameras
> 20-inch forged painted rims
> yellow rev-counter
> powered seats
> coloured special stitching.

Basically, the more options added the higher the price point gets.

All Ferrari vehicles are accompanied by a seven-year maintenance programme with unlimited mileage and the 812 Superfast is no different.

Regular maintenance intervals are recommended at every 20,000km or once a year (whichever comes first) and are conducted by staff trained directly at the Ferrari Training Centre in Maranello, Italy.

Such service is also available to owners buying pre-owned Ferraris.

The takeaway

This is undoubtedly one of the sharpest and exhilarating Ferrari vehicles to have ever rolled out.

Not only does it look smart, but there’s also an element of beauty, elegance and sophistication beyond the sporty vents and ducts.

Sure, it has a hard ride, but that’s all in line with its provisions for a racing-like experience.

Any driver - amateur or connoisseur, needs to learn to respect this car’s 800 willing ‘horses’ that can let loose within a moment’s notice.

Although it might feel hard to make a mistake with what seems to feel like a fool-proof car, underestimating it would prove highly detrimental.

It’s blindingly quick and feels rather well-balanced with plenty of traction from the wide tyres.

Equally enough, the brakes will help its driver stop on a dime if needed.

This supercar may be capable of being in stop-go traffic, but all-round visibility might require some getting used to - especially the long reach of the hood, low ride height and wide stance.

Nonetheless, this particular Ferrari is one for the purists that can go at it hard on the track and then maybe cruise through a few congested routes on the way home, but for sure, this Ferrari is definitely “for those who dare”.