Nissan on a mission to the moon

                FRANKLIN (USA): Nissan North America is working with US companies Teledyne Technologies Incorporated and Sierra Space, Nissan North America to design a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) for Nasa's new lunar exploration venture as part of its Artemis space programme.

Teledyne Brown Engineering is leading this programme and all aspects of engineering, manufacturing and powering the vehicle. Sierra Space will provide flight software, communications and navigation systems.

Nissan will contribute its expertise in intelligent vehicle systems and autonomous driving.

Through this partnership, the car maker intends to explore new horizons, particularly in the areas of power management, vehicle connectivity and human-machine interfaces.

In fact, all these technologies for driving on the moon could one day find use in developing ever more intelligent cars for driving on Earth.

Nissan joins a growing list of automakers involved in such programmes.

The latest examples include Hyundai, which has already presented its Tiger X-1 prototype, a remotely piloted vehicle capable of exploring the smallest, most rugged and unknown corners of Earth or other planets.

For its part, General Motors recently announced that it was working with Lockheed Martin on a project for a two-seater electric and autonomous rover, also intended for future lunar explorations.


Proton exports Saga in CKD kits to Kenya

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton announced that it has begun exporting cars to Kenya, its latest foreign market.

The first consignment comprised 30 units of the Saga in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits.

They would be assembled by Simba Corporation (Simba), a diversified conglomerate with a track record of sales and assembly experience in the automotive industry.

The cars were exported as CKD kits to benefit from lower taxes imposed by Kenya. Proton said the CKD units would also help spur development in Kenya’s automotive manufacturing industry.

The guest of honour for the ceremonial flag-off ceremony on Friday was Kenyan High Commissioner to Malaysia Francis N. Muhoro.

Muhoro said he welcomed more Malaysian companies to invest in Kenya.

"Proton's entry into Kenya is not just as an entry into a market of 51 million people but it is also a gateway to a potential market of 1.3 billion inhabiting the African continent. Therefore, I am hopeful this will be just the start of more trade between our two nations,” said Muhoro.


Cabinet committee on public transport to be set up in April, says Loke

                PUTRAJAYA: A Cabinet committee to tackle public transport issues will be set up in early April, says the Transport Minister.

Anthony Loke said that committee members would be from various ministries and that it would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"The committee will look to take comprehensive steps in solving the current constant traffic congestion issues plaguing the country, among other issues related to public transportation.

"This is part of the unity government's commitment in continuing to enhance and develop the transportation network in the country.

"The committee would also discuss, finalise and release a report on LRT disruption caused by the crack in a pillar between the Bandaraya and Masjid Jamek LRT Stations," he said.


Car trash to cash: US firm aims to power European stadiums with old car batteries

                OSLO: US industrial conglomerate Eaton, which uses second-hand Nissan electric vehicle batteries to power buildings, is in talks with up to six European football stadiums to help power their facilities, according to a senior executive.

Eaton, a New York-listed firm that makes hydraulics, truck transmissions and other industrial products, says the market is niche but expects it to grow up to 20 times between now and 2022.

In Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Eaton estimates the potential market value to be US$2.3 billion by 2025.

What to do with the used batteries of electric vehicles is becoming a growing concern as their use expands with that of electric cars, which accounted for 1.5% of the 86 million cars sold globally last year, according to researchers JATO Dynamics.

Eaton takes the cells from the batteries of Japanese carmaker Nissan’s returned LEAF electric vehicles and repackages them into new units, a product it calls xStorage, to store power in buildings, both industrial and residential.

It has already equipped the Netherlands’ Johan Cruyff Arena, the legendary home of the Ajax football team, among other buildings, with what it calls “second-life batteries”. Its latest project was in Oslo’s Bislett athletics stadium in Norway, which is partly powered by solar panels.

“The football stadium community is interested. From significant ones, (we are talking) with 5-6 stadiums in Europe.” Eaton’s senior-vice president Craig McDonnell said in an interview on the sidelines of a presentation at Bislett stadium.

With the exception of Tesla which it sees as a competitor in the storage business, the firm is also talking with other automakers to expand its offering. McDonnell declined to give names.

Eaton says its xStorage solution is 20% cheaper than a new battery and every Nissan Leaf car can produce four such units.

It is among the large-scale commercial ones in the developing market, with other projects run by German automaker BMW which supplies second-hand batteries from its i3 electric vehicles to store wind-farm produced electricity.


Proton hires UEM Edgenta to help it save energy

                KUALA LUMPUR: National car maker Proton has engaged UEM Edgenta Bhd to manage and carry out its energy efficiency initiatives at two of its facilities over a period of seven years.

According to a joint statement from both companies today, the Energy Performance Contract (EPC) would be carried out at Proton's Centre of Excellence (COE) headquarters at the Sime UEP Industrial Park and the Tanjung Malim plant.

The EPC will allow Proton to reduce total energy consumption by at least 30% at its headquarters and 10% at its plant.

This translates to a decrease of 4,800kg of greenhouse gas emission per year and savings of at least RM3mil per annum, the companies said. It also includes full maintenance and service on all equipment under the contract.

The move is also expected to reduce Proton's overall operational costs, once the automaker increases its operational hours due to the expected increase in car production volume which starts next year.

“One key principle of Industry 4.0 is the importance of making better things, while making things better," said Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong.

“This initiative will not only allow Proton to grow in a positive manner via our plant expansion as well as product development, but also will enable us to do so in a way where we reduce our overall carbon footprint.”

UEM Edgenta managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Merican said the EPC concept of shared savings helps companies overcome upfront capital commitment with fast results.


Volvo S60 T6 gets EEV status, now RM239K

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Volvo S60 T6 is now priced RM42,000 lower to RM238,888 as it has been given Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) status and eligible for government incentives.

This is the third Volvo model to be declared an EEV. Last month, Volvo Car Malaysia also dropped prices on the XC60 T6, XC 60 T5 and V40 T5 Drive-E.

Like the XC60 and V40, the S60 is equipped with the Drive-E powertrain, which promises increased performance without sacrificing fuel consumption or increasing harmful emissions. The S60 T6 delivers one of the best in-class performance, doing the century sprint in only 5.9 seconds. This is achieved by using a super- and turbocharger combination which results in a big, naturally-aspirated feel with high amounts of torque available across a wider range.

The T6 engine equipped on the S60 outputs a maximum 306hp at 5,600rpm and a maximum torque of 400Nm between 2,100 and 4,800 rpm. The power is managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission with two overdrive gears that conserves fuel when cruising at constant speeds.
The combination of these technologies help the S60 T6 deliver only 6.7 litre/100 km (NEDC combined cycle) in terms of fuel consumption. This means that the current T6 engine produces more power, uses less fuel and produces lower emissions than the previous engine.


Hyundai electric bus fire put batteries in spotlight

                SEOUL: An electric bus made by Hyundai Motor Co caught fire on Monday while in use in South Korea, a fire official said today, months after similar fires in electric cars led to a recall to inspect batteries.

No one was injured in the incident, which occurred as the empty bus was returning to the garage after an inspection, an official at the fire service headquarters in the southeastern city of Changwon said.

The maker of the batteries in the bus has not been identified, the fire official said, but local media reports said the Elec City bus was powered by LG Chem's wholly owned battery division LG Energy Solution's batteries.

"Officials from Hyundai Motor, the transport ministry, Korea Automobile Testing & Research Institute, National Fire Research Institute and Changwon Fire Service Headquarters are expected to have a meeting on Tuesday to discuss inspection," said the fire official.

Neither Hyundai Motor nor LG Energy Solution had an immediate comment.

In October, Hyundai recalled 25,564 Kona electric vehicles (EV) in South Korea over the risk of a short circuit possibly caused by faulty manufacturing of its high-voltage battery cells.

After a fire in a Kona EV that had been recalled and received a software update, South Korean authorities have launched a probe into the adequacy of the voluntary recall, under which only some vehicles get batteries replaced.


Batteries for electric cars speed towards a tipping point

                NEW YORK: The price of battery packs for electric vehicles is fast approaching a tipping point.

According to a price survey conducted by BloombergNEF, EV makers soon will be producing models that are as affordable—and as profitable—as comparable combustion engine models, and without the help of tax subsidies.

The average price per kilowatt-hour for a lithium-ion battery pack, according to the survey of nearly 150 buyers and sellers, has fallen to US$137, down 13 percent from US$157 in 2019.

A decade ago, these batteries sold for more than US$1,100 per kilowatt-hour. The threshold for price parity with gasoline engines, according to BNEF, is around US$100/kWh.

In the report, BNEF analysts said they expect battery makers to hit US$101/kWh in 2023.

For the first time, the survey found some prices reported at the cost-competitive level, with batteries for e-buses in China selling at US$100/kWh.

Cost-competitive EVs in the short-term are inevitable, according to Logan Goldie-Scot, head of clean power at BNEF and one of the authors of the report.

“We’re not talking about that crossover point being a decade away anymore,” he said. “For many vehicle segments, it’s in the next three or four years.”

Even if prices for nickel, cobalt, lithium, and other raw materials used in batteries return to the highs seen in 2018, US$100/kWh packs would be delayed by only a couple of years, the survey found.

The battery pack is the single most expensive part of an electric vehicle, accounting for about 30 percent of the total cost to consumers.

Tesla, the world’s largest EV maker, pays an estimated average of US$115 per kilowatt-hour for batteries, according to the BNEF survey, down from US$128 last year.

At this price, the 80.5 kWh battery pack in Tesla’s long range Model Y would cost the automaker about US$9,250.


Honda gets in with GM and Cruise on autonomous vehicle technology

                SAN FRANCISCO: Cruise and General Motors Co. announced that they have joined forces with Honda to pursue the shared goal of transforming mobility through the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicle technology.

Honda will work jointly with Cruise and General Motors to fund and develop a purpose-built autonomous vehicle for Cruise that can serve a wide variety of use cases and be manufactured at high volume for global deployment. In addition, Cruise, General Motors and Honda will explore global opportunities for commercial deployment of the Cruise network.

Honda will contribute approximately $2 billion over 12 years to these initiatives, which, together with a US$750 million equity investment in Cruise, brings its total commitment to the project to US$2.75 billion.

In addition to the recently announced SoftBank investments, this transaction brings the post-money valuation of Cruise to US$14.6 billion.

“This is the logical next step in General Motors and Honda’s relationship, given our joint work on electric vehicles, and our close integration with Cruise,” said General Motors chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Together, we can provide Cruise with the world’s best design, engineering and manufacturing expertise, and global reach to establish them as the leader in autonomous vehicle technology – while they move to deploy self-driving vehicles at scale.”

“Honda chose to collaborate with Cruise and General Motors based on their leadership in autonomous and electric vehicle technology and our shared vision of a zero-emissions and zero-collision world,” said Honda executive vice president and representative director COO Seiji Kuraishi. “We will complement their strengths through our expertise in space efficiency and design to develop the most desirable and effective shared autonomous vehicle.”

“With the backing of General Motors, SoftBank and now Honda, Cruise is deeply resourced to accomplish our mission to safely deploy autonomous technology across the globe,” said Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt.

“The Honda partnership paves the way for massive scale by bringing a beautiful, efficient, and purpose-built vehicle to our network of shared autonomous vehicles.”


KLIMS’18: Good deals for auto products and accessories

                KUALA LUMPUR: Besides the latest cars and exotic vehicles, Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2018 (KLIMS’18) visitors can also check out various products to upgrade and spruce up their cars and bikes.

There are attractive offers and promotions from the auto accessories and parts exhibitors on level 2 at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), where the motor show is being held till Sunday.

They include Tint Auto which is giving KLIMS’18 visitors a free LLumar Paint Protection Film (for car door cup) worth RM350, for those who buy the Pecca Smart Fit Leather Car Seat Cover and LLumar Window Films.

3M Malaysia also has a "Guess and Win" contest where the prize is a 3M Vehicle Air Purifier Plus unit.

Buyers of the 3M car wrap or car tinting package (minimum booking fee of RM500) can enter a lucky draw where the winner's car gets a free transformation with 3M Auto Wrap, Auto Film, Nomad Car Mat and Paint Protection Film for the headlights.

Those looking for vehicle video recorders can check out ZMC Automotive's booth which has the latest dash cams from Korean brand Thinkware, while owners of hybrid cars with the automatic engine start-stop function would be interested in advanced batteries from German brand Varta.

Sports car enthusiasts can check out Kakimotor's booth which has an extensive array of car accessories and performance parts from brands such as BMC, KYB, MOMO and Pro-RS, as well as ZerOne suspensions and brake kits.

 www.stevenleong.com

Meanwhile, KDX has attractive packages for its latest premium car window and paint protection films.

"The response at KLIMS’18 has been overwhelmingly tremendous. We have sold a few packages,” said KDX (SEA) Sdn Bhd manager Richie Chok.

There are also plenty of giveaways at KLIMS’18.

At the Toyota booth, a mystery man contest is running every day. If you can identify him by asking him “Are you all about the drive” you can walk away with RM1,000 cash or more.

Mitsubishi is rewarding visitors with the most creative shot with the new Triton with a GoPro Hero 7 Black prize going to the best photographer.

At Hyundai, if you like and follow their social media accounts and answer some simple questions, you will be able to win an Ogawa massage chair.

A Huawei Nova 3 phone is up for grabs at the Osram booth for visitors who snap a creative picture with their brand ambassador.

At Nissan, visitors can register and redeem a coffee/ chocolate art printed with the Nissan Leaf.

KLIMS’18 features over 74 marques of vehicle brands and automotive products spanning over six exhibitions halls covering two levels at MITEC.

Participating automotive brands include CAM, Citroen, Daihatsu, DS, Ford, Kawasaki, Benelli, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Lexus, Petronas Motorsports, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Perodua, Peugeot, Proton, Tata, Toyota and UD Trucks.

KLIMS’18 opening hours are from 10am to 10pm on weekends.

Every entrance ticket purchased stands a chance to win either a Toyota C-HR, a Honda City or a Perodua Myvi through a lucky draw.

The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday night after the show closes, by Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad.

MAA is the organiser of the motor show.

Entrance fees are RM25 on weekends.

For children aged three to 12 years old, entrance tickets are RM5.

There is also a family package where parents and up to five children aged 12 years old and below are charged RM50 (weekends).

Those with special needs (with handicapped card/physically handicapped) get free entry together with one accompanying person.

Star Media Group is the official media partner of KLIMS’18.


MAI expects higher TIV as GST kicks in

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI) expects a higher total industry volume (TIV) of 700,000 units for this year, driven by consumers demand for cars.

Chief executive officer Mohamad Madani Sahari said the TIV forecast was in tandem with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1.

"The GST should stimulate demand for vehicles by reducing prices with the abolishment of the Sales and Services Tax.

"Car sales in January and February performed well...we don't see the reason why demand for cars would drop following the GST," he told reporters after the launch of the Automechanika Kuala Lumpur here on Thursday.

Last year, Malaysia's car industry recorded a total TIV of 656,000 units.

Mohamad Madani said the situation was being closely monitored by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who would adjust their marketing plans accordingly.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Hamim Samuri launched Automechanika Kuala Lumpur, which is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and co-organised by MAI.

Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd deputy general manager Fiona Chiew said Automechanika offered a platform for companies and education institutions to come together to introduce the automotive industry and meet potential career candidates.

The regional trade fair, from March 19-21, is expected to attract over 6,000 visitors and 190 exhibitors from 240 companies in 21 countries including Bulgaria, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, the United States, Brazil and China.


Green & mean Volvo S90 T8

                Just before the Volvo S90 T8 sedan was officially launched, a drive event was organised for members of the media, starting from Subang Jaya, Selangor and we made our way north to the city of Ipoh, Perak.

This was a chance to sample the car, which is very much a “new kid on the block” positioned against the German competitors in the luxury sedan segment.

Having more options as a buyer is always welcome to the consumer. But in a segment which has been largely dominated by German marques in the Malaysian market, does the new S90 have what it takes to compete?

In a word, yes.

The S90 T8 is available in two variants – Inscription and Inscription Plus – with a price of RM368,888 for the former and RM388,888 for the latter. All prices are on-the-road without insurance.

When it comes to innovation, Volvo has taken its own path with its powertrain design combining a turbocharged-and-supercharged petrol engine and an electric motor.

You may argue that it’s just another hybrid powertrain make-up.

While that may be the case, the difference here is the dedicated task of each engine – the petrol mill drives the front wheels and the electric motor, the rear.

Each engine can be used separately and also combined. As such, the S90 T8 sedan can be described as a front-wheel drive, a rear-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive car depending on what drive mode it is in.

The combustion engine consists of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E engine which produces 320hp and 400Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

With both engines combined, the output is rated at 407hp and 640Nm.

With such numbers, it is obvious that there is no lack of power and takes only 4.8 seconds to go from 0-100kph.

This hybrid powertrain has a battery unit, in this case a 10.4kWh rated lithium-ion battery, to power the electric motor.

As more components are needed than a ‘normal’ vehicle with just a combustion engine, space becomes an issue and compromises have to be made.

The usual suspect in most other hybrid cars is the boot where luggage space is reduced to accommodate the placement of the battery.

Not so with Volvo. The Swedish marque devised its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) which places the hybrid battery in the tunnel of the car.

This design improves its handling and, should a collision occur, the battery is well protected due to its placement.

As for safety, Volvo has a history of innovative safety features such as the three-point seatbelt which is a Swedish invention and was used in a Volvo car all the way back in 1959.

Fast-forward to today, and the S90 is equipped with IntelliSafe technology which keeps you safe with automatic breaking functionality, collision avoidance and mitigation as well as a 360 degree surround view camera, blind spot information with cross traffic alert and lane keeping aid among others.

Innovation aside, it is also important that the car is pleasing to the eye. Advanced technology alone will not compensate for a vehicle which is uninspired to look at.

In this regard, Volvo has designed a sedan worthy of its Swedish aesthetic.

There is no disparity between the two variants design-wise. Also, there is no mistaking the S90 with other continental carmakers.

It is long, low and sleek with clean lines on the body with a lean yet subtle muscular creases on the hood.

The front fascia exudes an air of class with its concave, vertical-slatted grille and the striking Thor’s Hammer LED headlights.

The rear however, looks a bit busy by comparison and this is my only complaint of the car but in no way is this a deal-breaker.

This is because you are going to be spending a lot of time in the car and the cabin is a refined compartment to be in covered in fine black Nappa leather upholstery with open-pore Walnut wood trim on the dashboard and doors.

It has tall, vertical air vents and the equally tall nine-inch centre display screen which is user friendly, elegant and contemporary to navigate and use.

The centre console is like an open jewel case with the gear shaft in the form of an illuminated crystal made by Orrefors, a Swedish glassmaker, followed by a ‘jewel stone’ shaped twist start button (it’s not a push start here) and a knurled, flat cylindrical knob to operate the Drive Mode.

While the Inscription comes with a High Performance 10-speaker audio system, it is the Inscription Plus which exudes more luxuriousness with the Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 19 speakers, 12-channel, 1,400 watt Class D amplifier.

We drove both variants of the S90 and it is smooth, quiet and powerful. It was hard to distinguish one from the other but the Inscription Plus does come with Air Suspension. I liked the option of having to choose between front, rear and all-wheel drive and I distinctly preferred all-wheel drive for its power, sharp steering and handling.

If you are looking for something different and refined in this segment, you have found it with the S90 T8.


PLUS introduces 'Putri', the first highway customer chatbot

                KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) has introduced the highway industry’s first-ever chatbot known as "Putri" (PLUS Texting Realtime Interface), to provide a dynamic interface to thousands of enquiries on highway information.

In a statement today, PLUS said Putri was designed to interact with highway customers and over time, the interactive conversations through its artificial intelligence and machine learning model, will allow Putri to handle over 70% of the 1,500 calls which PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC) receives daily.

“Putri will be able to attend to multiple and simultaneous queries on PLUS highway service, toll fares, real-time traffic information, inquiries on PLUSMiles products, facilities, promotions as well as events,” PLUS chief technology and innovation officer Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid was quoted as saying in the statement.

Putri's support will enhance PLUS traffic monitoring activities by allowing its personnel to focus more on emergency calls and help customers in distress during traffic incidents in a timely manner.

PLUS highway customers can interact with the beta version of Putri on the PLUS website (www.plus.com.my) and PLUSMiles portal (www.plusmiles.com.my) as well as Plus Application. Putri is now in the public pilot phase that was launched on April 27.

The bilingual chatbot, which will soon be available via social media platform and WhatsApp application, is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.


Mercedes-AMG GT-R rolls over bags and accessories — turns them into luxury items

                AFFALTERBACH (Germany): Mercedes-AMG, the 'nutters' that put the 'muscle and hustle' into standard luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles, have collaborated with German bag-maker Destroy vs. Beauty to bring about the BurnOut Collection.

The newly road-rashed collection uses a special tear-proof fabric that took the bag-maker two years to develop.

Subsequently, an AMG GT-R performed a race start and managed to impart some serious road-rash on to it

Of course, the fabric withstood the abuse and instead of being discarded - tyre print and all, it has been used together with the finest German and Italian leather to produce the range of handcrafted bags and accessories.

If the tyre markings of the AMG GT-R isn't to your liking, then perhaps the the AMG C 63 S might be able to whet your appetite or simply make a request for the tyre print of your choice at an added cost.

And as a nod of approval from Affalterbach, they have all been slapped with an AMG badge - hence the Destroy vs Beauty: Mercedes-AMG BurnOut Collection.

The handmade luxury items from Germany are:
- Cash Men Wallet at 179 euros (RM855)
- Big Spender womens wallet at 199 euros (RM950)
- Messenger Bag at 379 euros (RM1,810)
- Chicago Bag at 479 euros (RM2,290)
- Burlington Bag at 479 euros (RM2,285)
- Laptop Bag at 529 euros (RM2,525)
- Speed Week Bag at 579 euros (RM2,765)
- Ocean Drive Bag at 619 euros (RM2,955)
- Weekender bag at 679 euros (RM3,240)


Polestar 3 SUV unveiled with over 600km range

                GOTHENBURG: Polestar has officially revealed the Polestar 3 electric performance SUV.

At launch, the Polestar 3 Long range Dual motor (360 kW, 840 Nm) is available with an indicative launch price of €89,900 (RM413,000).

Orders online began on Oct 12 in all initial launch markets with full specification available at Polestar.com/polestar-3.

Initial launch markets with deliveries expected from Q4 2023 are North America, Europe and China.

Secondary launch markets with deliveries expected in 2024 are Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Polestar 3 premieres a new aerodynamic profile where strong focus has been placed on retaining the hallmarks of an SUV, including a powerful and wide stance. This has been led by subtle yet effective aerodynamic optimisation – including a front aero wing integrated into the bonnet, an aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler, and rear aero blades.

“This car has been designed as a Polestar from the start and features new defining characteristics for us – like the dual blade headlights, SmartZone and front aero wing,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

Materials used inside Polestar 3 have been selected for their sustainability credentials, while raising premium aesthetics and luxury tactility.

These include bio-attributed MicroTech, animal welfare-certified leather and fully traceable wool upholsteries. In line with Polestar’s commitment to transparency, a complete life-cycle assessment (LCA) will be completed on Polestar 3 when production begins. Subsequent assessments will follow through its life cycle and work will continue to constantly find ways of reducing its carbon footprint.

Polestar 3 is the first car from Polestar to feature centralised computing with the NVIDIA DRIVE core computer, running software from Volvo Cars. Serving as the AI brain, NVIDIA’s high-performance automotive platform processes data from the car’s multiple sensors and cameras to enable advanced driver-assistance safety features and driver monitoring.

The infotainment system is powered by a next-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

As a central component of the Snapdragon Digital Chassis – a comprehensive set of open and scalable cloud-connected automotive platforms – the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform will be utilised to provide immersive in-vehicle experiences with its high-performance capabilities to deliver high-definition displays, premium quality surround sound and seamless connectivity throughout the vehicle.

With Volvo Cars embarking on a new era of safety, Polestar 3 carries next-generation advanced active and passive safety technology from Volvo Cars as part of its DNA.

This includes the latest innovation – interior radar sensors that can detect sub-millimetre movements in the interior of the car, to help protect against accidentally leaving children or pets inside. The system is also linked to the climate control system to avoid heat stroke or hypothermia.

Further collaborations with industry-leading safety technology partners like Zenseact, Luminar and Smart Eye, provide Polestar 3 with cutting-edge ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) technology that integrates seamlessly thanks to the centralised computing power.

As standard, Polestar 3 features a total of five radar modules, five external cameras and 12 external ultrasonic sensors to support numerous advanced safety features.

The SmartZone below the front aero wing collects several of the forward-facing sensors, a heated radar module and camera, and now becomes a signature of Polestar design.

Inside, two closed-loop driver monitoring cameras bring leading eye tracking technology from Smart Eye to a Polestar for the first time, geared towards safer driving. The cameras monitor the driver’s eyes and can trigger warning messages, sounds and even an emergency stop function when detecting a distracted, drowsy or disconnected driver.

Android Automotive OS is the in-car operating system, co-developed with Google and fronted by a 14.5-inch centre display.

It is an evolution of the technology first launched in Polestar 2 – the first car in the world with Google built-in – and a revolution of functionality and design for the large SUV segment. Over-the-air (OTA) updates are included to allow for continuous software improvement and the introduction of new features without the need to visit a service point.

Polestar 3 launches with a dual-motor configuration and a power bias towards the rear.

The standard car produces a total of 360 kW and 840 Nm of torque. With the optional Performance Pack, total output is 380 kW and 910 Nm.

Adjustable one-pedal drive is included, as well as an electric Torque Vectoring Dual Clutch function on the rear axle – an evolution of what was first developed for Polestar 1.

A decoupling function is also available for the rear electric motor, allowing the car to run only on the front electric motor to save energy under certain circumstances.

Advanced chassis control is provided by dual-chamber air suspension as standard, allowing Polestar 3 to adapt between comfort and dynamic suspension characteristics, and the car can adjust its active damper velocity electronically once every two milliseconds (500 Hz).

A 111 kWh battery pack provides Polestar 3 with generous driving range of up to 610km WLTP. The lithium-ion battery features a prismatic cell design housed in a protective aluminium case with boron steel reinforcement and liquid cooling.

A heat pump is included as standard, helping Polestar 3 use ambient heat for climate- and battery preconditioning. Polestar 3 is also equipped for bidirectional charging, enabling future potential for vehicle-to-grid and plug-and-charge capabilities.

As with Polestar 2, the list of standard equipment in Polestar 3 is extensive, with few options for easy configuration and simplified production logistics.

All versions include air suspension, a full-length panoramic glass roof, all-LED lighting inside and out, retractable door handles with proximity sensing, and 21-inch alloy wheels.

The Plus Pack and Pilot Pack are fitted as standard for the first model year and include a raft of premium, luxury and convenience features like a 25-speaker audio system from Bowers & Wilkins with 3D surround sound and Dolby Atmos capability, soft-closing doors, a head-up display and Pilot Assist.

Available to order from the second quarter of 2023, the optional Pilot Pack with LiDAR from Luminar will add an additional control unit from NVIDIA, three cameras, four ultrasonic sensors and cleaning for the front- and rear-view cameras, providing accurate real-time data about the car’s surroundings especially in the long-range field.

This enables enhanced 3D scanning of the car’s surroundings in greater detail and helps prepare the car for autonomous driving.

The optional Performance Pack sharpens driving dynamics even further and includes the maximum power and torque output (380 kW and 910 Nm), along with performance optimisation for the air suspension, unique 22-inch forged alloy wheels and additional signature ‘Swedish gold’ details.

Polestar 3 is the first car out on a new all-electric technology base developed by and shared with Volvo Cars. Production for initial launch markets is planned to begin in Volvo Cars’ facility in Chengdu, China, in an incremental ramp-up phase from mid-2023, with first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Additional manufacturing at Volvo Cars’ Ridgeville, South Carolina facility in the United States, is expected to follow towards the middle of 2024 – from which point supply to North American and other markets is planned to switch from China to the US. Initial deliveries from this factory are expected around the middle of 2024.


Ranger drives up Ford sales in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ford has been banking on the Ranger pickup truck to power sales and the latest report shows the faith has not been misplaced.

The Ranger remains its bestseller in Malaysia, and the latest numbers validate its status. The pickup truck achieved a strong first quarter with retail sales increasing over nine percent from the previous year to 1,451 vehicles.

The strong quarterly performance helped Ranger increase its share of the pickup segment to 15.3 percent, a gain of 1.3 percentage points from the first quarter of last year.

“The ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger is continuing to attract a wide range of customers across the country,” said Ford Asia Pacific Emerging Markets managing director Truong Kim Phong.

Sime Darby Auto Connexion managing director Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz attributed the Ranger's popularity to its "bold design and unmatched versatility, safety and capability." Sime Darby Auto Connexion distributes Ford in Malaysia.

The Ranger is sold locally in 10 variants – including the Ranger Wildtrak, Ranger FX4, XLT, XL and Standard variants – catering to a wide-range of work and lifestyles.

To support a growing customer base, Ford and Sime Darby Auto Connexion had announced the recent opening of a new dealership in Kuching.


10,151 of 16,338 e-hailing drivers qualify for PSV licence so far, says Loke

                KUALA LUMPUR: Some 62% out of 16,338 drivers have passed the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) e-hailing theory licensing test ahead of the July 12 deadline, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said a total 16,338 candidates had sat for the PSV theory e-hailing test, which was developed by a committee comprising various related agencies, between April 1 and June 30.

“From the total, 10,151 drivers passed and qualified for the PSV licence. It shows that the statement made by the Grab Drivers Malaysia Association that claims that only between 10% to 50% of each class had passed was inaccurate,” he told Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (BN-Padang Terap) during the Minister's Question Time in Parliament today.

Mahdzir had asked the ministry to reveal measures taken following grouses made by the e-hailing groups over the PSV e-hailing licensing test.

It was reported that Grab Drivers Malaysia Association president Arif Asyraf Ali had said that only 10% to 50% e-hailing drivers had passed the PSV test while the rest are still finding it too difficult, adding that the fees for the tests are also high.

Loke said his ministry is expecting the numbers to increase by July 12 in line with the introduction of e-courses at selected approved training centres.

He also noted that each driver would have to pay about RM800 to sit for the PSV test and insurance.

The cost comprises RM200 to take up the licensing test, RM300-RM400 annual insurance charge for a PSV vehicle, and a RM20 PSV licence renewal fee.

The government had set July 12 for all e-hailing drivers to apply for a PSV licence, which is also required by taxi drivers.

Loke, who spoke to reporters at the Parliament lobby shortly after, said that the cost of the PSV test would be free if e-hailing drivers choose to take it online.

He also said the Transport Ministry remains firm on making it compulsory for all e-hailing drivers to obtain the PSV licence.

“That is clear. I announced in July last year that every e-hailing driver needs to have a PSVC licence.

“Many drivers are going through the PSV course and we are monitoring this every day,” he added.


Auto-parts supplier’s back-to-work guide shows daunting task ahead

                NEW YORK: With factories shuttered and workers sitting at home as the Covid-19 virus spreads, a return to normal may seem distant. But auto-parts supplier Lear Corp. wants businesses to get ready for that day, so it’s sharing a free guide on steps and best practices it’ll take when it’s safe to resume operations.

Lear’s 51-page Safe Work Playbook outlines protocols ranging from advanced social-distancing practices to on-site health screening of workers, visitors and contractors.

It offers a step-by-step guide to setting up a "pandemic prevention team” to coordinate stricter operations and virus responses across a business.

Lear also recommends training programmes for returning workers, and that plants and work sites first be 100% disinfected.

The recommendations are based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation.

"This has been a difficult time for everyone, and re-establishing a workplace where employees feel comfortable performing their jobs safely is a multi-faceted challenge,” Lear CEO Ray Scott wrote in the manual’s cover letter.

"It is our hope that by sharing this resource we can help other organisations accomplish the same goals.”

Lear isn’t claiming to know all the answers in today’s fast-changing situation. That’s one reason behind one of the first things readers will see, front-and-centre on Page 2 of the automotive seating and electronics supplier’s playbook: a legal disclaimer.


KLIMS'18: Latest Nissan LEAF on parade

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) presented the new Nissan LEAF during at the KL International Motor Show 2018 at the Malaysia Intermational Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC)

The LEAF arrives with an e-POWER system that promises greater intelligent power for more efficiency and even includes ProPILOT autonomous driving technology.

Another innovation that enhances the LEAF's driving experience is the e-Pedal. It allows the driver the simplicity of accelerating, decelerating, stopping and even holding the car's position, by using the accelerator pedal alone.

The exterior design shows off a low, sleek profile. Along with excellent aerodynamics, the styling includes the signature boomerang-shaped lamps, a V-motion flow in the grille and a rear bumper with blue molding.

Inside, the cabin has been redesigned to create a relaxed ambience with a premium and modern feel.

The new front panel in the form of a gliding wing provides a dynamic view for the driver, while the vibrant blue stitching in the seats, dashboard and steering wheel has been incorporated as a symbol of Nissan's electric vehicles.

With a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, it now delivers a longer driving range of up to 400km (380km according to New European Driving Cycle) on a single charge, and outputs 110kW of power and 320Nm of torque, improving acceleration and driver enjoyment.


SUVs, electricity and fun: the most important new cars for 2022

                BERLIN: What new cars will 2022 bring? One thing is clear, a lot of electric SUVs are on the way because this segment combines the two most important current trends.

Audi's Q6 e-tron is scheduled for the end of the year while Ford is also launching a compact SUV electric vehicle at the same time, one which will use technology from the ID3 of its cooperation partner VW.

Meanwhile in the luxury class Mercedes is bringing out the EQS and EQE with SUV bodywork while Nissan is launching the Ariya in the summer. The Polestar 3 will also hit the market.

The second half of the year will see Toyota and Subaru presenting the almost identical, slightly jacked-up bZ4X and Solterra e-compacts.

As well, Skoda will present a coupe version of the Enyaq, and Kia the second-generation Niro, which comes either as electric or with an internal combustion engine. There will also be updates for Tesla’s Model Y and Model X.

Ssangyong is also coming to the charging station with an electric Korando. This spring will see Hyundai’s upmarket brand Genesis release the electric GV60, which is based on the Ioniq 5 and the EV6.

Electric cars in other forms

Those who want to run on electricity, but don’t want to follow the SUV trend will find numerous conventional e-models in all classes.

For example, Renault is launching the Mégane E-Tech in the spring as an overdue counter to the ID models of the VW Group and will be putting out an electric Kangoo this summer.

The Kangoo is only one of several electric vans on the way. Ford has announced an electric Transit, Mercedes is making families mobile with the EQT and company bosses with the EQE, and VW hopes to win over retro fans with the ID Buzz electric van.

Not all new SUVs are electric

Among the non-electric SUVs on the way this year, Alfa Romeo is expected to launch the Tonale, the Stelvio's little brother, this summer while BMW introduces the 550 kW/750 hp XM.

Dacia is launching the Jogger, a cheap seven-seater SUV. At the upper end of the market there’s the Grecale from Maserati and a new GLC from Mercedes.

Classic car types still in vogue

Not everyone is ready for the all-electric mobility revolution, and some prefer a classic body style. For those people there are still plenty of conventional small cars, compacts, and sedans in the premiere range. Most are available at the very least as a plug-in hybrid.

Probably the most important innovation in this league is the new Opel Astra, which will be available as a hatchback in the spring and as a station wagon in the autumn. Honda meanwhile is bringing out the new Civic generation.

BMW is tempting executives with a new 7 Series and families with the next generation of the 2 Series Active Tourer. The German car maker is also launching a 2 Series Coupé.

Ford is turning the VW Caddy into the next Tourneo Connect while Mercedes converts the Citan into the more elegant T-Class.

Citroën is making a comeback in the mid-size segment with the C5 X and Toyota wants to prove with a new Aygo that even subcompact cars have a future.

New sports cars

For sports car fans, 2022 will see semi-affordable models such as the Toyota GR 86 and the BMW M2, and so-called hyper-cars such as the Pininfarina Battista and the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

McLaren is launching the Artura super sports car as a plug-in hybrid while Mercedes will be celebrating the rebirth of its open-top legend, the SL.


Black Badge Rolls-Royce Cullinan shines in photo exhibition

                LOS ANGELES: Automotive culture photographer, Mark Riccioni, was invited by Rolls-Royce to create a pictorial series of Black Badge Cullinan greeting fellow automotive subcultures in Greater Los Angeles, California.

Following his assemblage of these exceptional vehicles, each of which acutely represents the subculture it belongs to, he captured each encounter under the cover of darkness.

Riccioni says, “The things that connect us are always more powerful than the things that separate us, and this series is a wonderful demonstration of that. I selected each subculture because it shares the philosophies that inform the creation of a Black Badge Rolls-Royce.

"From the obsessive attention to detail lavished on a lowrider and visceral power of a hot rod to the bold execution of tuned imports and deeply personal customisations applied to ‘brat’-style motorcycles.”

To assist with this extraordinary project, the Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, created a unique Recreation Module for Riccioni’s endeavour.

The unit, Internally codenamed ‘Urban Photography’, was conceived to incorporate equipment specific to his photography requirements. These include a DJI Mavic Mini drone, 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro and 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro for image capture and editing on location.

In addition, items requested by Riccioni were included, such as Sennheiser PXC550 MkII noise cancelling headphones, Persol PO3225-S sunglasses, outerwear from streetwear brand Supreme and a water bottle. The automated Recreation Module was expertly trimmed in Forge Yellow leather to match the Black Badge Cullinan’s interior colourway.

A gallery of these images, titled ‘King of the Night’, will be on display at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Beverly Hills, 8833 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 from March 2020.


Stalled vehicles must be cleared to prevent accidents, says minister

                KUALA LUMPUR: Stalled vehicles by the roadside must be removed as soon as possible to prevent accidents, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said highway concessionaires or the relevant government agencies had been directed to remove vehicles, which had broken down or were involved in accidents, from the roads.

“Obstacles on the road must be cleared to ensure road users’ safety,” Liow added.

He said Malaysia recorded some 489,600 accidents with 6,706 lives lost on the road last year, making it among the top 20 countries with the highest traffic accidents.

Liow also said the Government was pushing for a daily ridership of 500,000 on land public transport this year – from the current 470,000.

Efforts such as increasing the frequency of commuter and light rail transit trains were being made to achieve the target.

“We will make sure that stage buses and other transportation modes are well connected and convenient for the people to take them from the train stations to their destinations,” he told reporters at the Labour Day celebration held by the Union Network International-Malaysia Labour Centre here yesterday.

While addressing the cost of living pressure faced by the people, Liow, who is also MCA president, called on the working class to enhance their productivity, which would eventually lead to an increased pay.

“Let’s work together with the employers to raise our productivity,” he added.

Noting that the younger workforce these days was more opinionated, Liow urged employers and employees to talk it out if there were problems between them while urging the workers’ union to act as the mediator.

“I know some employers are having a hard time with their workers, and the union can play a part to arrange for a tripartite discussion to resolve matters,” he added.

At the event, six companies received “Smart Partnership 2016” awards for maintaining a good relationship with their employees. They were Aeon Big Malaysia, Proton Edar, DiGi Telecommunications, Pos Malaysia, DHL Global Forwarding and Rengo Packaging.

Twelve leaders from various workers’ unions were also recognised for their outstanding performance.


VW launching ID.5 SUV coupe by end of May

                BERLIN: VW is gearing up to launch a more coupé-like version of the ID.4 electric SUV, bringing with it a sleeker design, smarter software and a slightly longer range of up to 520km.

Rolling out at the end of May in Europe, the new ID.5 with a sloping rear will cost at least €46,515 in Germany, making it €1,600 more expensive than the hatchback, the manufacturer says.

Customers should not expect any loss in space and practical features. The legroom remains the same, while the interior height above the rear seat shrinks by only a few millimetres.

According to VW, the boot is also the same size at 549 litres. Only when you're trying to pack luggage up to the roof does the ID.5 lose out to the slightly more practical ID.4, but it still offers 1,561 litres of load volume.

The ID.5 is the first model in the family to receive a major new software update.

According to VW, this means that it has better voice controls, smarter assistance systems and can use Plug & Charge technology to connect to charging stations without a card or chip.

On the technical side, there's little difference. Always equipped with a 77 kWh battery, the ID.5 is available in three power levels, according to VW: As a rear-wheel drive with 128 kW/174 hp or 150 kW/204 hp or as an all-wheel drive GTX with a second electric motor in the front and a system output of 220 kW/299 hp.

However, since the ID.5's design means less drag, it can travel slightly further on one battery charge. VW gives a range of 490 to 520km.

In a recent development, the latest ID.5 assistance technologies were rated "very good" and reached 4 out of 4 possible points - the highest possible score - in the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme).

The testers were impressed by the innovative systems of the ID.5 highlighting maximum comfort and an excellent level of assistance.

With the "Driver Assistance Test", Euro NCAP has expanded its test scheme beyond the classic crash test and introduced a structured evaluation and classification system in the area of comfort and assistance systems.


New Paul Newman documentary reveals star's 'racier' side

                As one of the few true Hollywood icons, when asked if they know something about Paul Newman other than his eight Best Actor Academy Award nominations people will most likely point to his philanthropy and his Newman's Own range of food products. However, Newman was just as accomplished behind the wheel as he was in front of the camera.

A new documentary by Adam Carolla, called "Winning: The racing Life of Paul Newman," which premieres on April 16 in Los Angeles and goes on general release on May 22, aims to understand just what it was about the sport that so mesmerised the actor and to highlight just how successful he became as an individual driver and as a team owner.

This obsessive love of racing is why Newman never signed on for a film that would shoot between April and October for fear that it would drag him away from the sport.

And in order to highlight how remarkable Newman's racing life was - he was still fully involved in the sport until his 81st year as an endurance racer, competing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in 2006 - Carolla has managed to rope in everyone from Robert Wagner and Robert Redford to Patrick Dempsey, Jay Leno, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti and Tom Cruise, to help shed light on the man and his commitment to the sport.

A well-known radio host, broadcaster, comedian and classic car collector - who just so happens to own five of Newman's racing cars - Carolla is himself somewhat of an expert on Newman's track-focused achievements. He has been toiling away on the documentary since 2013.

"I decided somebody's got to make a documentary about Paul Newman, the racecar driver with little to no acting involved, just racing. And I thought, 'Well, why not the guy who has five of his cars Okay, let's do it.' So I started doing a documentary on Paul Newman, the racecar driver," Carolla told Racer at the time.

Newman's single greatest achievement as a driver is coming second in the 1979 Le Mans, on that occasion driving a Porsche 935. But the cars that he will be most closely associated with are Datsuns and later, Nissans when the company changed its name. Some would argue that Newman singlehandedly made the brand cool in the US, driving them to victory at four SCCA professional national championships between 1979 and 1986.

"Paul Newman not only won an Oscar as an actor, but also amassed four national championships as a driver and eight championships as a team owner, with many of his most significant victories coming behind the wheel of Nissan and Datsun vehicles," said Nissan North America's Jeremy Tucker. "Paul never stopped racing, winning his last race at the age of 82, and we're excited to help honour his rich legacy as a racer and humanitarian."


RFID toll collection system to be expanded to southern region in 2021

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology system will be extended to several highway toll plazas in the southern region early next year.

Director-general of the Malaysian Highway Authority, Datuk Mohd Shuhaimi Hassan, said this is following pilot tests conducted at nine toll plazas in Kedah and Penang on July 22.

"We are at the trial stage in the northern states, we will next try (the RFID system) in Johor and then we will try for all (opened and closed highway system nationwide).

"We have to test again to gauge the effectiveness of the system and to improve it to benefit over 1.7 million highway users," he told reporters at the Works Ministry’s New Norms campaign at the Sungai Buloh Rest and Service area (R&R) near here on Saturday.

The campaign was launched by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith, who also spent an hour handing over souvenirs to highway users.

The RFID implementation is an early step towards a Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system in highways to improve the quality of toll payment service in the future by speeding up traffic flow at toll lanes.

RFID has been tested and implemented at 62 open-toll system plazas since Jan 1 this year, including the North-South Expressway (PLUS), Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (LINKEDUA), Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS), Cheras-Kajang Expressway (GRANDSAGA), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) and the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK).


Proton and Petronas offer free 20-point inspection

                SUBANG JAYA: In preparation for the upcoming Aidil Fitri festivities and holidays, Proton  Holdings Bhd along with Petronas is offering customers a complimentary 20-point safety inspection this month.

The 20-point safety inspection consists of checks on the tyre treads and pressure, brake system, pedal operation in the brake and clutch, suspension, battery, wiper blades, belts, all switches and also fluid levels such as engine oil, brake fluid, power steering, coolant and wiper washer.

In view of the positive feedback received from the implementation of mobile inspection centres previously, Lingkaran Trans Kota (Litrak) has also approached Proton to set up a mobile station at their location for Proton customers who are travelling along the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP).

The free mobile safety inspection at LDP will be carried out at the “Hentian Sebelah Petaling Jaya” from Puchong to Sunway bound from June 20 to 22 from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

The Proton  mobile inspection teams will also be present at five selected Petronas stations located in Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan, from June 21 to 23, from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

The mobile centres are located at Hentian Sebelah Petaling Jaya, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya (Puchong to Sunway bound); Petronas Station Laguna Merbok, Sungai Petani, Kedah; Petronas Station Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Petronas Station Jerteh, Terengganu; Petronas R & R Gambang (East bound), Pahang and Petronas Station Gua Musang, Kelantan.

The campaign is part of Proton’s continuous nationwide safety campaign where Proton owners are encouraged to visit any Proton authorised service centres to receive the free 20-point safety inspection before embarking on a long journey.

The mobile centres are set up for added convenience for customers who are unable to take time off to send their cars in for inspection.

In the spirit of festivities, Proton owners will also be given a mystery token of appreciation for their support.

Proton believes that this safety campaign will go a long way towards creating awareness to the general public especially our customers, on the importance of vehicle maintenance and safety; and provide opportunity to educate and promote safety to reduce road accidents especially during the festive seasons.

For more information log on to www.proton.com or call Proton Customer Care at 1800 888 398.


Daimler, BYD to restructure China EV venture Denza

                BEIJING: Daimler AG and its Chinese partner BYD Co Ltd have signed an equity transfer agreement to restructure their China EV venture Denza, Daimler said on its company website.

Daimler said its holdings in Denza will be reduced to 10%, and BYD will hold the remaining 90% equity interest after the transfer.

BYD is currently boosting premium electric models to compete with Nio and Tesla.


Porsche puts brake on all-electric 911

The 911 Carerra
STUTTGART: Most vehicle manufacturers are now rushing to electrify their vehicle ranges by introducing brand new hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs, as well as electrified versions of existing models.

Porsche is a brand at the forefront of embracing electrification with models such as the Panamera, Cayenne and the upcoming Mission E, but as far as the iconic 911 sports car going over exclusively to battery power anytime soon, forget it.

The German automaker expects 25 percent of all its sales to be made up of fully electric and hybrid models by 2025, but the one model that's not going to get the full electrification treatment is the legendary 911.

There is going to be a high-performance plug-in hybrid version of the 911 in the future, but Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said to reporters at the company's annual results conference recently that the 911 will never be fully electrified.

According to Automotive News Europe, Blume said: "We are waiting for the further evolution in battery technology so you should not expect a plug-in version in the coming years. It's currently planned when the 992 is refreshed."

Although a battery powered 911 isn't on the cards, Blume did confirm Porsche had been looking at the possibility of producing all-electric versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, which are the current entry point to the Porsche brand.

However, as the 718 Boxster and Cayman were only introduced in 2016 it was decided there was no need to act just yet. Speaking of these models, Blume said: "We launched the 718 Boxster and Cayman in 2016. We are not yet at the point where we have to decide how things will progress."

The Mission E will be the brand's first all-electric model and is set to be launched as soon as next year. Porsche has now revealed a new detail about the performance of the eagerly awaited new model, which we now know will be able to deliver a range range of 100km after just four minutes of battery recharging.

It was also confirmed Porsche will build more variants of its Mission E, including one that's set to be based on the Mission E Cross Turismo that was recently unveiled at the Geneva auto show and is expected to be launched in 2021.


Racing fears for future after Goodwood crowd trial axed

                LONDON: Glorious Goodwood felt more like Gloomy Goodwood this weekend despite the sunshine after a pilot scheme to welcome 4,000 spectators was cancelled at short notice due to an uptick in coronavirus cases.

The scheme had offered hope for dozens of racecourses in Britain that they could admit the public at some point this year following the financial pain of the virus shutdown.

Collectively the courses are losing £5 million (RM27.7mil) a month, said Racecourse Association CEO David Armstrong.

That is an improvement from the £8 million (RM44.2mil) they were losing after lockdown was introduced in mid-March — the return to action on June 1 meant revenue from media rights and betting was restored.

For the Goodwood staff of around 100 — who will be put on the government's furlough scheme again this week -- the last-minute cancellation was a body blow after the physical and emotional effort they had put in to prepare the venue to meet stringent hygiene requirements.

One employee, wearing a panama hat that is traditionally sported at the five-day festival, talked of the "demoralising feeling" that swept through the course on Friday when the news broke.

A car park attendant spoke of the backbreaking 10 hours' work rolling out the white lines in a car park only to have to then erase them.

Some spectators on Saturday turned out with picnics to sit on Trundle Hill overlooking the picturesque racecourse situated in the Sussex Downs, southwest of London.

Adam Waterworth, managing director of sport at the Goodwood Estate, said the pilot scheme was never about money but about providing feedback to the government on how the measures put in place had worked.

The course, like local hotels, bars and shops, has taken a significant hit as usually 100,000 spectators turn up.

Waterworth is concerned that any further delay could put in doubt the magical date of October.

Before the recent rise in virus cases the government had announced fans might be able to return to sports stadiums across England on October 1.

"Hopefully the work we have done will enable other racecourses to deliver," he said. "At least I know we can do it."

'Battle on'

Armstrong admitted the situation was challenging and the cancellation was a "temporary major blow," but he believes the crunch will come next year.

"I am anxious the way we are positioned," he said.

"Will racecourses survive coming into 2021? The racecourses' pinch point is most likely to be in 2021 as they can cobble through till then.

"It will be harder then because they have asked annual members and those who bought tickets for the festivals to roll over their tickets to next year.

"That means there is a little less pressure this year but into 2021 you cannot sell that ticket or membership twice."

Waterworth, who says 75 percent of Goodwood revenue comes from ticket sales and spending on hospitality, agreed.

"We have started budgeting for next year," he said. "From my point of view next year we will be hit harder than this year.

"What assumptions do we make? Will we be at 30, 50 or 80 percent capacity? I do not know how long racecourses can survive under such restrictions.

"At least we have the backing of Goodwood Estate but if we are feeling it hard, other colleagues must be really struggling."

Waterworth, though, says racing is resilient and has come through previous crises such as foot and mouth and equine flu.

One pilot did go ahead at Goodwood, performing two fly-pasts in a Spitfire fighter thanking the NHS (National Health Service) staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

Waterworth reflected the spirit shown by the Royal Air Force, who despite being outnumbered defeated the Luftwaffe in 1940. "We will battle on."


Australia takes Mercedes to court for downplaying Takata airbag risks

                MELBOURNE: Australia's consumer watchdog has filed a court case against Mercedes-Benz alleging that the company downplayed the risks involved with the use of Takata airbags in its vehicles.

The defective airbags, which in rare instances lead to a rupture in inflator and send potentially deadly metal fragments flying, have resulted in the world's largest automotive recall impacting 100 million vehicles.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Wednesday that staff at Mercedes call centre told customers it was "okay" to use vehicles that were more than six years old and that the recall was precautionary as there have been no major incidents.

By downplaying the risks, the watchdog said consumers were exposed to potentially serious injury or death.

"These alleged representations used language which was inconsistent with the requirements of the compulsory recall notice," it said.

Voluntary recalls in Australia due to the defective airbags began in 2009, but it was made compulsory in 2018 to four million defective airbags identified for replacement after a car crash in Sydney that led to one death.

Germany's Daimler AG, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, said its vehicles were not fitted with Takata "Alpha" airbags that were identified as a higher risk by the ACCC.

It said since its vehicles were fitted with "Beta" airbags, the "recall process overseen by the ACCC did not require affected Mercedes-Benz vehicles to be off the road or owners to cease driving them until the repair was undertaken".

The ACCC, however, said its recall notice included both Alpha and Beta airbags, citing the death in Sydney and a serious injury to a driver due to defective Beta airbags.

Daimler said 97.7% of affected airbags have been replaced to date and it has cooperated with the ACCC through its investigation and made improvements to internal systems and call centre operations to address concerns.


Bugatti air-conditioner so potent it can cool a Euro apartment

                PARIS: A car air conditioning system works best when occupants don’t notice it.

Setting it up just right is a complex process especially when you are talking about the ones built into high performance cars, said Bugatti air-conditioning systems designer Julia Lemke.

The entire air conditioning system includes the cooling circuit for the interior, air flow, electrical system, electronics and the air conditioning unit as the system’s central control unit.

"At first glance, our air conditioning system appears to function like a conventional system. But it’s a real challenge to perfectly harmonise the highly complex system of a small-series hyper sports car so that it works impeccably even at maximum speed and engine load,” said Lemke.

Lemke conducts research and development on maximum cooling capacity as well as efficiency, system acoustics and draught reduction. This includes reducing and refining the refrigerant circuit so as to minimise the use of refrigerants and energy consumption.

Lemke designs new air conditioning systems to ensure that the air flow and air conditioning work well in the new Chiron Pur Sport, Divo and all other Chiron models.

It’s a task with considerable responsibility: two air-conditioning condensers ensure heat dissipation from the vehicle, a central air conditioning unit is responsible for control, and a compressor drives the entire system. This system is made up of air conditioning lines with a considerable length of 9.5 metres due to the mid-mounted engine concept.

One challenge when adjusting the air conditioning system is that each individual has their own individual sensation of temperature. Europeans usually feel comfortable between 21 and 22 degree Celsius, while most Americans prefer it a few degrees colder.

“For us, it’s important to ensure that the selected temperature is quickly established. But there mustn’t be any draughts."

The requirements are huge: “Our vehicles travel very fast. In order for the air supply to work properly at maximum speed too, we need to ensure the ventilation and air conditioning are particularly well controlled,” said Lemke.

For this purpose, the air conditioning system changes the air flow at fast driving speeds. In conventional vehicles, air is forced into the interior at the lower end of the windscreen, but in a Bugatti this only happens up to about 250kph.

From this point onwards, there is a switch to negative pressure: a sophisticated control system with an additional ram air flap and an optimised blower ensures that air continues to enter the interior.

The Bugatti hyper sports car also has other unique features: because of the incredible speeds reached, sometimes well over 400kph, the body is designed to be particularly streamlined.

This requires a flat windscreen with an inclination of just 21.5 degrees. This increases the surface area of the glass to 1.31 square metres – a conventional compact car has a glass area of around 0.70 square metres and an angle of inclination of around 30 degrees.

As a result, the interior of a Bugatti heats up more due to the higher solar radiation or solar load. Sky View – the glass roof option popular among Bugatti customers – further increases the level of interior heat when the sun is shining.

To counteract this, the Chiron models and the Divo have a powerful air conditioning compressor with a cooling capacity of up to 10 kW and two air conditioning condensers – enough to cool an apartment in Europe measuring 80 square metres. About 3kg of coolant per minute can be compressed from a pressure of about 2 bar to a high pressure of up to 30 bar.

In addition, the compressor mounted on the engine is exposed to very high ambient temperatures due to its proximity to the exhaust system, so this is cooled by another sophisticated system.

Lemke's mission is to continue perfecting and adjusting the air conditioning system so that the vehicle occupants feel comfortable and do not hear or feel any draughts. The job is done only if they don’t notice anything at all.


Want to change your car's colour without repainting? Wrap it

                STUTTGART: You’ve found the car of your dreams: the price is right and everything is perfect except for the colour. What to do — keep looking, live with a colour you don’t want or repaint?

Actually, there is a fourth option: wrapping the car in a vinyl or PVC sheet. This has decisive advantages, according to Marco Kimme from the industry association for car wrapping in Germany.

"The customer then has the car in their desired colour standing in the yard, the original paint underneath is protected and it is cheaper than a complete repaint," he says.

Once the vinyl sheet or film is applied, all of the painted parts of the car are covered. The original vehicle colour is then only visible in places such as inside the doors or the trunk.

However, a car wrap always remains something of a temporary second paint job because the life of the films is limited.

"Good car wrapping films made of PVC last about four to five years. Then the colour is already much paler and the film can show the first signs of wear," says Coco Mulansky, who runs a car care business in Germany.

Environmental impacts such as UV radiation, tree resin or bird droppings affect a car wrap just as they do a paint job. After the film has been applied, a special ceramic sealant can be added that considerably extends the life of the film.

Wrapping saves cash

In Mulansky's view, the big advantage of wrapping is the significantly lower cost compared to repainting: "A complete wrapping job costs between €1,800 (RM8,935) and €4,000 (RM19,856), depending on how large the vehicle is. A paint job starts at maybe €3,000 (RM14,892)."

Her clientele is primarily concerned with individualising their cars. For this, wraps offer an almost infinite number of possibilities.

"For example, if a customer wants a new car in a very specific colour that the manufacturer doesn't offer, car wrapping is the ideal solution," Mulansky says.

In addition to coloured wraps for a different look, special paint protection films can also be applied, most of which are transparent.

"These so-called PPF films are made of PU and are significantly more stable than the coloured PVC films," says Marco Kimme.

These protect the paint even better, for example against stone chips. Paintwork protected in this way helps to maintain the value of the car and consequently contributes to a better resale price.

According to Kimme, a wrap can also be worthwhile for leased vehicles as it can prevent minor scratches and scuffs that would otherwise be expensive to get rid of. If a wrapped car part is damaged in an accident, it can be repainted without any problems.

It won't work everywhere

However, not every surface on a car can be wrapped. For example, a film's adhesive won’t stick to unpainted plastic components such as trim panels.

Before a vehicle can be wrapped, extensive preparatory work is necessary. The surface to be covered must be absolutely clean before the film can be applied.

"The car is washed twice by hand, followed by peeling with mineral clay, which is used to remove the last remnants of flash rust or tar," Coco Mulansky says.

Depending on the size of the vehicle, the entire wrapping process can take several days. And then? A wrapped car can be washed normally. Mulansky advises hand washing, however. If you do go to the car wash a basic wash is enough.

“Sealants or hot wax can attack the film. Also, be careful with nylon brushes, because they can leave fine scratches,” Mulansky says. If a spray lance is used, a distance of about 50cm should be maintained.


US transport agency updates cybersecurity best practices for new vehicles

                WASHINGTON: The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a set of best practices guidelines that advises automakers to build in cybersecurity measures in their cars to improve safety.

The pdf document - "Best Practices for the Safety of Modern Vehicles" - is an update to its 2016 edition.

The 2022 Cybersecurity Best Practices leverage agency research, industry voluntary standards, and learnings from the motor vehicle cybersecurity research over the past several years, and is updated based on public comments received on the draft that was published in the Federal Register in 2021.

Though the document is non-binding, it contains important best practices that will influence the industry going forward.

NHTSA said in the guidance that automakers should follow a robust product development process based on a systems-engineering approach with the goal of designing systems free of unreasonable safety risks, including those from potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.

Safety of vehicle occupants and other road users should be of primary consideration when assessing risks, it said.

An emerging area of cybersecurity is the potential manipulation of vehicle sensor data.

NHTSA said manufacturers should consider that vehicle systems and their behaviour could be influenced through sensor signal manipulation in addition to traditional software/firmware modifications.

Manufacturers should consider the risks associated with sensor vulnerabilities and potential sensor signal manipulation efforts such as GPS spoofing, road sign modification, Lidar/Radar jamming and spoofing.

NHTSA routinely assesses cybersecurity risks as well as emerging best practices and will consider future updates to these best practices as motor vehicles, motor vehicle equipment, and their cybersecurity evolve.

“As vehicle technology and connectivity develop, cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for every automaker, developer, and operator,” said NHTSA’s administrator Dr Steven Cliff.

“NHTSA is committed to the safety of vehicles on our nation’s roads, and these updated best practices will provide the industry with important tools to protect Americans against cybersecurity risks.”


Proton introduces Saga Plus variant

PETALING JAYA: Proton has unveiled a new Saga variant called the Saga Plus which gets five additional items at no extra charge.

Slated as the replacement for the Saga SV variant, the Saga Plus comes with a set of 14-inch alloy rims, a full body kit, spoiler, rear garnish body colour and a “Plus” grade mark.

The new variant carries the exterior of the Saga Executive variant while retaining the SV’s price bracket.

The Saga Plus is priced from RM33,242 to RM36,576 depending on transmission type and colours. Transmission is available in the five-speed manual or continuously variable type while engine is a 1.3-litre CamPro IAFM.

“This means that there is no price increase despite having the improved looks. The Saga Plus design not only appeals to those with a small family but also to youths and young executives who have just entered the employment market,” said Proton chief executive Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah.


Indonesia says lithium, anode plants are being built to support EV ambitions

                JAKARTA: Indonesia is building a lithium refinery and an anode material production facility to complement its nickel-based battery materials industry, an official said, as it aims to set itself up as a hub for making electric vehicles (EVs).

Investors are currently building a lithium hydroxide plant with 60,000 tonnes capacity in the heart of the nickel industry in Morowali, Septian Hario Seto, a Deputy Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, told an industry conference today.

An anode material plant with 80,000 tonnes capacity is set to start construction in January, he added.

Both materials are needed to make EV batteries.

"We are building an ecosystem, so we are not only producing nickel- and cobalt-based components alone," he said.

Indonesia has already started producing EV battery parts extracted from nickel, but other materials are also needed to produce EV batteries, Seto said.

Indonesia currently does not have its own lithium mine. He did not elaborate on how the lithium ore for the plant would be sourced.

The government has banned exports of unprocessed nickel to attract investment at home and secure material for domestic production of nickel metals and battery materials.


Kia unveils first three-row EV9 electric  SUV as automakers go big

                SEOUL: Kia Corp unveiled a large new electric sport utility vehicle that it said can run for 541km on a single charge, and as many as 239km with about 15 minutes of ultra-fast charging time.

Pre-orders for the EV9 - Kia’s first three-row electric SUV - begin in South Korea in the second quarter this year, before sales are expanded to "selected global markets” from the second half, the company said in a statement today.

The vehicle, which is about 5 metres long and 1.7 metres high, is equipped with level-3 autonomous driving technology, Kia said.

"The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities,” chief executive officer Ho Sung Song said in the statement.

The EV9 will be displayed at the Seoul Mobility Show later this week.

Such a large EV marks a newer phase for the industry, said Jin-Woo Kim, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities.

"The vehicle is definitely targeting the US,” which would be the biggest market for such a segment, he said.

General Motors Co.’s electric Hummer EV or Cadillac Escalade could be potential rivals to the EV9, once they are released, Kim said.

FULL DETAILS ON KIA EV9


Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure and Continental GT S V8 arrive from RM1.06mil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bentley Kuala Lumpur today introduced the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) Azure sports utility vehicle and Continental GT S.

Price for the EWB Azure starts from RM1.091mil (excluding duties, taxes and registration) while the Continental GT S V8 is similarly priced at RM1.059mil.

Order books are opened with the initial batch having already been spoken for. The company declined to reveal the number of orders made.

Bentayga EWB Azure

For colour options, there are seven standard paints for choice as well as 56 extended options and the ability to bespoke something. The EWB Azure on-hand sports the standard Onyx (black) paint job.

Based on the second-generation Bentayga, it has grown an additional 180mm in length.

The EWB Azure achieves its 1,039mm of rear legroom via its 3,175mm (+180mm) wheelbase and measures 5,305mm-long (+180mm), 2,222mm-wide and 1,739mm-tall (+11mm) over the standard Bentayga.

This SUV is able to propel its 2,514kg kerb weight forward with its 4.0-litre (3,996cc) twin-turbo direct-injected V8 engine, which has cylinder deactivation and is fed with fuel from an 85-litre tank.

The eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox manages power that has been rated at 550PS at 6,000rpm and 770Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,500rpm for its all-wheel-drive system with a Torsen limited-slip differential - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 290kph.

Although the EWB Azure is available with 21-inch wheels, this already-spoken-for unit has been specced with the larger 22-inch 10-spoke design wheels wearing 285/40 series tyres.

The wheels partially hide the front 400mm and rear 380mm cast-iron disc brakes that get abused by the front six-piston and rear mono-piston callipers.

Opting for a set of Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) discs (front - 440mm and rear - 370mm) will mean front callipers are swapped out for a beefier pair of 10-piston callipers.

The EWB Azure uses a combination of steel and aluminium monocoque chassis that's accompanied by lightweight superformed aluminium front fenders and aluminium front hood to help bring its centre of gravity closer to the ground.

All that gets suspended by the front four-link double wishbones and rear trapezoidal multi-link setup that's been mated to a self-levelling air suspension system with continuous damping control.

Additionally, a 48V electric active anti-roll bar system helps owners adjust this SUV's ride and handling characteristics for comfort or corner carving duties.

Flanking the Bentley grille are the full matrix LED headlights with signature daytime running lights while the rear LED clusters have an intricate design.

The interior, or "sanctum of well-being" as Bentley describes it, is where technology meets opulence with the standard issued 10.9-inch central touchscreen with gesture control, navigation with 3D map, DAB radio, optional Digital TV, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

There's also voice control with text-to-speech, six USB Type-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, 4G modules for mobile and wifi Hotspot, a rear cabin touchscreen remote and optional rear seat entertainment tablets with wireless headphones.

Audio entertainment can come from the standard 12-speaker 580W Signature Audio system but why settle for less when there's the 20-speaker 1,720W Naim for Bentley Premium Audio system seen here.

The seats have five standard hide colours, including 10 extended options while eight wood veneer species including three open pore types are offered.

Available as an optional extra is the company's world's first auto climate and advanced postural adjustment rear seat - dubbed Bentley Airline Seat specification.

Here, there are 22 ways of adjustment that come replete with a new auto climate sensing system and postural adjustment technology.

A Relax mode will spoil rear-seated passengers by reclining up to 40 degrees as it is "motored" forward while a leather-trimmed footrest deploys from the back of the front passenger seat.

The Business mode will have the occupant in an upright position to help provide a more conducive position when working on the move.

Meanwhile, the auto climate seat technology will help to maintain the optimal thermal well-being of the passenger as the postural adjustment system automatically makes up to 177 micro-adjustments over a three-hour period to the seating position and pressure points to ensure comfort is always maintained.

Keen eyes will notice the existence of an exclusive diamond quilting pattern throughout that's complimented by Azure badges on the illuminated scuff plates, front fascia panel and embroidered into the seats.

Continental GT S V8

The Continental GT S V8 uses the same powertrain and AWD system as the Bentayga EWB Azure.

This grand tourer's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 318kph. It has a 90-litre fuel tank.

With a kerb weight of 2,165kg, it has a 55:45 weight distribution between the front and rear axles.

Although it doesn't have a wheelbase as long as the EWB Azure, the 2,851mm wheelbase is accompanied by a body that measures 4,850mm-long, 2,187mm-wide and 1,405mm-tall while providing some 358 litres of boot space.

Wheels and tyres are available in either 21-inch with front 265/40 and rear 305/35 series tyres or optional 22-inch wheels with front 275/35 and rear 315/30 series tyres.

The suspension's springs and dampers utilise a three-chamber air suspension system with continuous damping control.

Stopping power comes from the front 420mm and rear 380mm discs with front 10-piston and rear four-piston callipers.

Power sent to the AWD system can be split between the front and rear axles with 38% of torque sent to the front when in Bentley or Comfort modes and up to 17% when in Sport mode.

The exterior panels are made from superformed aluminium while the rear boot is of a composite build that's been integrated with the antennae.

The interior is equipped with a larger 12.3-inch central touchscreen system when compared to the EWB Azure's and this includes a hard drive to store maps for navigation purposes, two SD card slots, Bluetooth connectivity and Wifi streaming.

A CD/DVD slot is still present here, along with access to digital radio, Apple CarPlay, Sirius satellite radio, a 60GB hard drive, a 4G telephone system and Google StreetView / Earth / online Point of Interest search.

An optional Bentley Rotating Display is also available and is able to switch between touchscreen, three analogue gauges (compass, chronometer and external temperature and unbroken veneer.

Entertainment comes from a standard 10-speaker sound system or an optional 16-speaker 1,500W Bang & Olufsen with four Digital Sound Processor (DSP) modes and a Beo Sonic interface.

Taking it a step further is another optional 18-speaker 2,200W Naim sound system with eight DSP sound modes and Active Bass.

For added safety, the Continental GT S comes with a head-up display, night vision, lane assist and traffic sign recognition, among others.Bentayga EWB Azure
Continental GT S V8


2016 Paris Motor Show: Lexus UX Concept in world debut

                PARIS: The UX Concept made its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, showcasing Lexus' vision for a compact SUV of the future.

It was designed by ED2, Lexus' design centre in the south of France. The UX Concept highlights Lexus' intention to attract an ever-wider group of new, younger, ever-connected urban customers -“Urbanites”- to the brand for the first time.

The concept is a four-seater crossover which contrasts the almost brutal appearance and real 4x4 presence of an off-roader with a low ground clearance and a coupe-like driving position.

At the heart of the design is an “inside-out” approach which creates a synergy between exterior and interior styling.

In top view, this is represented by an X-shaped movement in the architecture from the cabin outwards and vice-versa.

To the front, the fenders flow into the cabin to form housings for e-mirror screens showing the image from door-mounted, rear facing cameras. The dashboard top sits lower than these screens to combine a deconstructed look with high forward visibility. To the rear, the bodywork again flows into the cabin, here forming the main structure of the rear seat headrests.

X-shaped movement from the inside outwards is reinforced through the 4x4 style emphasis of the fenders, with aerodynamically-efficient wheel arch cladding adding a further dimension to the design.

The “inside-out” styling theme is further emphasised by the wheel arches, roof bars and door cameras. They are all finished in the same material, and represent a form of continuous yet interrupted bone structure; the inner skeleton of the vehicle coming into view as, for instance, the roof bar penetrates the cabin -creating the A pillar structure- and re-emerges as the door camera mounting.

The spindle grille has also been revised. The whole volume surrounding the grille has been moulded into a more three-dimensional feature that hints of the bodyshell shape. The newly-developed Immersive Amethyst paintwork serves to highlight volume changes, giving definition to the sculpture and expressing the car as a volume rather than simply a line-oriented design.

The L-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRL) -traditionally located below the main lamp structure- are now positioned to pierce the main lamps. And the rear lamp design is now more three-dimensional and integrated within the rear spoiler.

The unique 21-inch tyre design uses hi-tech laser carving processes to express two unique aspects. The tread pattern is of a sports direction, maximising road contact for dynamic grip, whilst the side wall emphasises a cross over feel through unique sections and seamless integration with the wheel design. A section of the wheel continues into the rubber making the spokes a visual joint between different sections of tyre; the result is the reading of the wheel and tyre as one, rather than separate elements.

A unique, “see-through” A pillar blurs the boundaries between the exterior and interior. Whilst the creation of a fully-transparent polycarbonate A pillar is feasible, the UX Concept communicates the message of transparency through the use of polycarbonate fins attached to an aluminium member.

The cabin offers two different perceptions of luxury in one volume.

The front suggests agile sophistication and driver engagement, the rear - styled as a welcoming, soft lounge sofa which wraps around into the rear hinged back doors - the comfort and spaciousness of an SUV.

Linked by a central axis console element which floats the full length of the cabin and the visual transparency of a unique front seat design, front and rear space differences are further reinforced by the interior colour scheme. The front is dark, to communicate a premium, driver-focused environment, whilst the rear is light and far brighter to create an attractive, welcoming space.

“Deconstruction” is a second key design principle employed in the new Lexus UX Concept. This is most powerfully represented in the front of the cabin where, in place of a conventional dashboard, sharp, angular forms overlap and flow past each other to create a strong interplay of shadows and contrasts, making it difficult to identify where they begin or end and reinforcing the mystery of the “inside-out” approach.

The seats of the Lexus UX Concept are inspired by Lexus' new seat technology, the Kinetic Seat Concept to further enhance the driver experience.

A development of Lexus' dual-zone instrumentation approach, all on-board HMI technology has been designed to offer progressive customers who live and work in an ever-connected environment an innovative, three-dimensional driver experience.

The three-dimensional feel of the instrumentation is a further example of the radical, deconstruction techniques used in the UX Concept, the in and out flow of the meters - near for air-conditioning, far for navigation- making the cabin space feel larger.

The centre console houses a prominent, faceted crystal structure within which a hologram-style display of air-conditioning and infotainment system is visible to both driver and front passenger.

The car features electro-chromatic windows, and the door mirrors are replaced by sleek e-mirror camera housings.

All switchgear is electrostatic, and housed under transparent covers. And the front passenger, who has a different experience of the deconstructed instrument panel to that of the driver, has a separate centre display track-pad control built into the door armrest panel.

The fin motif used on the A pillar is repeated on the dashboard to provide a new audio experience - a de-mountable sound bar built into the passenger side of the dashboard.

In a new departure for Lexus' Human Machine Interface (HMI) concept, the ergonomics of the cockpit area flow from the driver's body, via the seat, up to the steering wheel, rather than from a traditional dashboard layout.

Combined with innovative, three-dimensional HMI technology, this design approach creates an immersive driving experience.


Ang Pow rebates for red Volkswagen cars

                KUALA LUMPUR: With the "Volkswagen Red Campaign!" sales initiative, held in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, the German marque is giving "Ang Pow" rebates ranging from RM3,999 to RM9,999 for selected red vehicles.

This sales campaign will run from January 1 to February 28, 2015 in Volkswagen dealerships nationwide.

For example, rebates of RM3,999 are offered for a red-coloured locally assembled Polo and Jetta, while a red Golf GTI gets a RM6,999 rebate.

In a statement, Volkswagen Group Malaysia said this limited time offer guarantees value-added savings and showcases its efforts in making German engineered vehicles more affordable for Malaysian consumers.


Proton's 1.5-TGDI engine to power future models

                TANJUNG MALIM: Proton's locally-assembled 1.5 Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engine is expected to be a feature in its future models that are derived from Geely platforms.

Designed to provide good fuel efficiency, smooth drivability and high specific power output, the 3-cylinder 1.5TGDI engine is capable of future development to reach the stricter Euro 6 emissions level.

The wider usage of the 1.5TGDI engine will also allow Proton to optimise on its investment in the new assembly line for the engine.

 Proton Engine and Transmission Manufacturing building.

Among the traits of the 1.5TGDI that produces 177PS and 255Nm of torque are compact size, high tumble intake ports, variable valve timing, optimised thermal and lubrication systems, and a low inertia turbocharger.

The 1.5TGDI engine's development started in 2012 with the Volvo and Geely Engine Joint Development Programme at Volvo R&D centre and China Euro Vehicle Technology Gothenberg.

 VVT sprocket installation.

Aside from powering the Proton X50 and the recently launched facelifted X70 sports utility vehicles, the award-winning engine has also been featured in multiple Geely Group automotive brands and equipped in over 750,000 vehicles sold globally.

At the unveiling of the 1.5TGDI's assembly line at Proton's Engine and Powertrain facility here today, the media was briefed on the hi-tech equipment used in its production and testing.

 Valve assembly.

As a showcase of Geely technology sharing with Malaysian vendors and talents, the 1.5TGDI project is also part of the RM1.8bil earmarked by Proton to upgrade its facilities at Tanjung Malim.

The assembly line, which is one of the most advanced of its kind in the country, has been operational since April and is also the first outside China to produce the 1.5TGDI engine.

 Turbocharger.

Occupying an area of 18,000sqm, the line has a current maximum capacity of making 180,000 units a year when running on three shifts.

Featuring 88 stations comprising of 17 automatic, 15 semi-automatic and 56 manual stations, the 1.5TGDI assembly line was built using an IR 4.0 approach featuring a high level of automation to boost productivity.

The line is a climate controlled clean environment which has an anti-static station to discharge static electricity and protect the high-tech electronic components used.

 Hot testing.

It uses a conveyor system that is not only smoother but is also cleaner, more durable and less costly to operate than those using a chain system.

All workers have undergone extensive training with Geely as well as the suppliers of the machines used, which include names such as ABB, COMAU, FEV China, FEV India, WiBeda and Hangxin.

The line also deploys Internet of Things (IOT) technology such as intensive data capture and analysis tools to ensure quality meets the standards required and are maintained.

 Dyno test monitoring.

Additionally, 207 Error Mistake Proofing (EMP) controls and 34 intelligent high-resolution cameras have been installed on the line to prevent process and assembly defects and reduce downtime with 100% real-time defect detection capabilities.

The 1.5TGDI engine uses parts sourced from Malaysian and regional suppliers with 72 parts supplied by 19 Malaysian and four Asean vendors.

In addition, the 1.5TGDI project also allows Proton to advance its human capital development goals with 202 workers directly employed to work there.

With an average age of just 24 years, they represent the next generation of automotive talents for the nation.

 Engine line-off.

Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer Roslan Abdullah said the company kept its promises to its stakeholders by introducing the new engine assembly line.

“When the agreement was made to partner with Geely in 2017, one of our commitments was to invest in Malaysia’s automotive industry both financially and through the introduction of new high technology components.

“Quality is the main priority at our new engine assembly line. We know we need to show Malaysians that Proton is capable of building reliable high-quality products, so we have left nothing to chance.

“Aside from the quality monitoring measures deployed on the assembly line, we also work closely with our counterparts at Geely to troubleshoot issues and share best practices in our efforts to produce a world-class engine,” said Roslan.